Friday, December 5, 2008

Hotel Belley, Quebec City

If you don't like pretension, you would love this little hotel in Quebec City. It only has a few rooms, each quite different, and few frills but in my mind you can't beat a hot croissant, a cup of espresso and the Globe and Mail in the bar, to start your day. In the summer you can sit in their sidewalk cafe and do the same.
In the evening, there isn't a better way to end the day but to have a beer and watch people play boules in the small park.

Sunday, October 19, 2008

Amsterdam Canal

Amsterdam on a sunny Sunday Morning. We stayed at the Bulldog Hostel not for from here.

Seine River Barges


This shot is taken just east of the Pont Neuf looking toward the Iles Notre Dame in Paris. Having been born in the 1940's and raised on all those old black and white spy movies, the walkway beside the river held such memories for me. Under the bridges I expected to see shady characters in trenchcoats passing attache cases and microfilm.

The Regent's Canal

Early evening on the Regent's Canal in Camden Town. It is uncharacteristically quiet. We looked for Amy Winehouse but, no such luck.

L'Escalier Casse-Cou

This is another of my Quebec City early morning shots. These stairs, leading to the Lower Town are almost always teeming with tourists.

Quebec Church


It is tough to get shots of Quebec City in the summer without masses of tourists. I got up early one Sunday morning and was walking around the streets about 7:00. Very few people were out and about. This is Notre Dame des Victoires in the Lower Town

Saturday, October 18, 2008

York in the Rain

York truly is one of my favorite cities. I love walking the streets although I do confess that this day caught me a couple of kilometers from our apartment and I really got soaking wet. My old running shoes got so wet, I threw them out.

York Minster from the Wall

Shelley, Morgan and I walked about half of the wall around York one Sunday afternoon after a robust pub lunch. I really love this view of York Minster from the wall with the Minster gardens and grounds in the foreground.

Gorran Church

One afternoon we walked from Mevagissey, down the coast to Gorran Harbour then back overland to our starting point. On the way back we passed through the village of Gorran Church. This was taken from the laneway behind the church.

Morgan's Favorite Chinese Noodle Restaurant in London

One day in London Morgan brought us to this small and delightful Chinese noodle restaurant. The food is delicious. The woman in the window spends her day making noodles and dumplings.

Big Ben

I love this shot of the Parliament Building and Big Ben looking across the Thames . It is a good example of what can be done using HDR. The result is somewhat surreal.