Chip

Taxi!

I have already posted one photo of a London icon that I took on a rainy evening in London. So here's another: the London Taxi.The traditional London cab is black. But it was obvious to Deb and me that that they are toying with that tradition since we saw several taxis that were customized with interesting paint jobs, such as this one. We've even heard rumors that there is one painted with a Wall Drug sign.Canon 5DII 1/8s f/9.0 ISO250 58mm

London, Paris & Rome - 1999

I came across this photo by accident this morning and decided to post it on the off chance that someone pictured looks at this blog from time to time. I suspect that a photo like this has very little meaning to anyone other than me and those pictured, though it may be interesting to study the people and their various reactions to the fact that I was taking yet another "group photo."This photo was taken in Florence, Italy, not too far from the Duomo. The trip took us to London, Paris and Italy. I have fond memories of our travels, in part because of the young people I traveled with (including my son, Brian) but also because my friend Scott P. joined us.I haven't traveled with students in several years and I miss it. Even though bus rides and tight itineraries are not my style of travel these days, I always enjoyed being surrounded by the un-jaded enthusiasm of young people learning about and then embracing the virtues of foreign culture and history.I also think it is safe to say that there isn't person in this photo that wasn't changed in some profound and positive way by the experience. And, of course, I was always happy to be part of that.Incidentally, the people pictured (in no particular order) are: Brady Warrick, Karl Ehresmann, Chris Bartelt, Christine Harte, Sarah Berg, Leah Reichling, Leah Bergan, Meagan Schmidt, Erin Strickerz, Heather Beck, Theresa Steichen, Nicole Berg, Brian Shephard, Micah Likness, Jason Jungers, Amber Gregersen, Cathy Barkley, Sandi Hagen, Anne Madison, Lori Reichling.If you know any of these folks, please forward the link to them. If you are one of these people, I'd love to hear from you - especially impressions that you might have about your experiences in Europe in 1999.

The Charles Bridge

This is the famous Charles Bridge (pedestrian only), which crosses the Vltava River in Prague. I think I took this photo from the top of the St. Vitus Cathedral.

A Good Head

I'm on a Czech Republic kick this week, I guess. I often take photos of glasses of beer when we travel in Europe, especially when they are photogenic.The Czech Republic, incidentally, has the highest per capita beer consumption rate of any country in the world. How much does each man, woman and child drink there? About 42 gallons a year. The US is 13th on the list, with each American drinking about 1/2 of what each Czech drinks. If you are intrigued by all of this, check out this map.

Another Traffic Mirror; Another Self-Portrait

This time I'm with my good friend Scott P. and we are in Prague, Czech Republic.

The Little Tourist

More than once in the US when I have pointed my cameras at a child to get a candid photo, I've gotten dirty looks. For that reason, I don't take many photos of kids when I am wandering around.But in this case, I couldn't resist. Plus, I was in Lisbon, Portugal, and his parents smiled when they saw me taking his photo. It's a different culture, I guess. The location is the Jeronimos Monastery and what I like about this picture is the child's casual stance. I also like how he is looking at me in a way that isn't fearful or suspicious.

Another Bride, Another June

Every summer when we are traveling in Europe, Deb and I manage to bump into at least one wedding. In this case, we were visiting the the National Palace in Mafra, Portugal, when we found a wedding party moving into the basilica. Here, of course, is the bride being escorted down the aisle by a man whom I presume is her father.

07-24-10 Churchill's Bunker

One of the more interesting places we visited while in London this summer was the command center bunker that Churchill and others used to run operations during the London Blitz. It was very well preserved and the room that presented the history of Churchill and London's survival during WWII was impressive.As you may know, Churchill had his idiosyncrasies and faults but his strong leadership during the War made up for these. In the bunker museum, there was a great quote from Churchill: "We are worms. But I believe that I am a glow worm."Another quote attributed to Churchill (but not displayed in the museum) goes something like this: A woman at a dinner party said to Churchill, "Sir, you're drunk!" Churchill's response was "Madame, you're ugly. At least in the morning I'll be sober." I wonder if a president could get away with this kind of repartee?

The Stargazers Are Back!

I promise to move on to something other than lilies sometime soon. But for now, you'll have to indulge my passion for these amazing flowers.

Stormy Weather

Our part of the state was in a "tornado watch" yesterday when our daughter-in-law Katie called our attention to the clouds that were visible through our living room window. The bulges are evidence of turbulence but fortunately all we got was heavy rain for a while.

The Morning Commute

Deb and I were waiting to catch a train in London this summer and I was struck by this group of businessmen on the way to work. One of the things that strikes me about mass transit in big cities is that it is oddly intimate but not gregarious - like being in an elevator full of silent people who all seem to be pretending that the other people aren't present.These gentlemen seem oblivious to each other, and because they have the luxury to do so in this setting, they have each carved out their personal space.