Elsewhere...

Want to see fantastic photos of lava? (they aren't mine, sadly)

2012-02-05T19:12:00.001-05:00

We met this photographer today at the Volcano Village Farmers' Market... wonderful work, and great lady to talk with.

Elsewhere 2012: Waiting Area, Honolulu Airport

2012-02-05T19:05:00.000-05:00

Loft Lighting

2011-01-23T06:08:00.002-05:00

Loft Lighting, originally uploaded by Laura Grace.

We invited some friends & neighbors (old & new) and some of Michael's colleagues from the Math Dept. at Georgia Tech and had a very informal party, which ended up being great fun, especially after the puppy arrived... We asked everyone to bring a little tealight candle... as it turns out, we have enough left over for the next year, because our Decatur-across-the-street neighbors were cleaning out their attic, and brought over a grocery sack FULL of tea lights and a bunch of those cool little glass holders...

What I was thinking about...

2011-01-21T11:07:00.001-05:00

kitchen's almost done!, originally uploaded by Laura Grace.

I was remembering my very first place of my own, in 1975. It was the upper floor of a house in a fairly sketchy neighborhood of Hazel Park, we lived about 3 blocks from 8 Mile Road. Yes, The 8 Mile Road as in the movie (which I haven't seen, but maybe you have).

I remembered being there alone for the first time, before getting married for the first time, and cleaning out the clunky old fridge; I was really excited about having our own place.

After I was done, I walked down to The Blue Dot Cafe, and ordered some fried chicken... I asked what were "hush puppies" and the dear lady said "Oh honey, you've never had hush puppies? You have to try them!" and I did and I liked 'em a lot, and now I live in hush puppy land. By the way, the area was known as HazelTucky because so many people had migrated north to work in the auto factories, and the Blue Dot lady did NOT sound like a Michigander...

And now, Michael & I are living in the loft which is owned by our daughter and her husband-to-be... and I was alone cleaning a kitchen and being excited about new times, and thinking about old ones.

early morning light

2011-01-21T10:57:00.001-05:00

early morning light, originally uploaded by Laura Grace.

so wonderful to see the sun again! And... this morning it was so quiet that I heard a church bell ringing the hour... I love that sound.

Elsewhere: Castleberry Hill....Across the Gulch, from Peters St. Bridge

2011-01-21T09:41:00.001-05:00

Across the Gulch, from Peters St. Bridge, originally uploaded by Laura Grace.

From now until the end of the semester (ie late April) Michael & I will be commuting between our home in Decatur and Emma & Stefan's new loft space in Castleberry Hill. They've been encouraging us to consider moving down here, and this just worked out well, since they aren't ready to sell or rent their current loft, which is just down the street.

The experiences have been interesting enough, to me anyway, that I'll do a bit of writing about it, now and then.

my travel map

2010-11-06T19:53:00.000-04:00

View my profile
Create your own travel map or travel blog
Vacation rentals at TripAdvisor

(NOT MY PHOTO) Uspensky Cathedral, Helsinki, Finland

2010-10-12T06:29:00.001-04:00

Uspensky Cathedral, Helsinki, Finland, originally uploaded by 3dphoto.net.

taken by: 3dphoto.net / Jeffrey Cooper

Gone The Sun... (from 2008)

2010-09-04T11:58:00.000-04:00

gone the sun...
Originally uploaded by Laura Grace

Taken from the top of a 3-story tower at The Mountain, a Unitarian Universalist retreat center near the Georgia/North Carolina border. This is a truly relaxing place, with fantastic views across the Blue Valley.

http://www.mountaincenters.org/

CLICK HERE: PHOTO BY: Scott Sansenbach: Staghorn Coral

2010-03-24T15:14:00.003-04:00

Also, not in Puerto Rico. But very much like what we were swimming above this morning; I don't have an underwater camera (yet?!) so I'm looking for good photos on flickr of what we saw...

Photo is by Scott Sansenbach

copyrightscottsansenbach2008

Tres Palmas Nature Reserve (click here)

2010-03-24T15:07:00.002-04:00

We were snorkeling there this morning.... it was WONDERFUL!! We followed a huge school of bright blue fish for a long time...

Flor de Perita, Malay Rose Apple (Syzygium malaccense) - 4

2010-03-23T19:10:00.001-04:00

Flor de Perita, Malay Rose Apple (Syzygium malaccense) - 4, originally uploaded by Laura Grace.

Taken from the balcony outside the door to our hotel room; there is a lovely little garden there; these blooms are typically WAY up there, so having a 2nd floor balcony helps a lot.

Click here to see lots of wonderful info on the Rincon area! Wish I'd found it earlier...

2010-03-23T10:26:00.001-04:00

San German streets and buildings - 13

2010-03-22T18:27:00.001-04:00

San German streets and buildings - 13, originally uploaded by Laura Grace.

A beautiful little town, with scenes like this interspersed with decaying buildings. The second oldest city in Puerto Rico.

Iglesia German de Auxerre Nave - 3

2010-03-22T18:25:00.003-04:00

Iglesia German de Auxerre Nave - 3, originally uploaded by Laura Grace.

trompe-d'oeil (painted) ceiling. The priest let us come in and we had a lovely conversation with him...

Porta Coeli Museum... tiles

2010-03-22T18:25:00.001-04:00

Porta Coeli Museum... tiles, originally uploaded by Laura Grace.

These were in a museum created to house religious art and artifacts. An excellent example of using images to tell the stories of the Bible.

Recent Visitors to my blog (last 36 hours)

2010-03-22T16:39:00.001-04:00

I can guess who a lot of these visitors are... let me know if I was right...

Anasco, PR

Atascadero, CA

Athens, GA

Atlanta, GA

Austin, TX

Bloomington, IN

Bratislava, Slovakia

Columbus, OH

Conyers, GA

Decatur, GA

Detroit, MI

Fryeburg, ME

Grosse Pointe, MI

Lithonia, GA

Louisville, KY

Marietta, GA

Mayaguez, PR

New Westminster, BC Canada

Pune, India

Roswell, GA

San Luis Obispo, CA

Smyrna, GA

Vancouver, BC Canada

Viby, Arhus, Denmark

West Chicago, IL

Yerevan, Armenia

San German - my patient husband

2010-03-22T12:22:00.001-04:00

San German - my patient husband, originally uploaded by Laura Grace.

I wait patiently while theorems dance through his head and fall out, in ink, on paper. He waits patiently while I photograph everything in sight...

Love you, dear!

reserva marina tres palmas - 2

2010-03-21T14:55:00.001-04:00

reserva marina tres palmas - 2, originally uploaded by Laura Grace.

just down the street from "the mall"

my kind of mall...

2010-03-21T14:54:00.001-04:00

my kind of mall..., originally uploaded by Laura Grace.

flora - 8

2010-03-21T14:52:00.003-04:00

flora - 8, originally uploaded by Laura Grace.

flora - amarillo

2010-03-21T14:52:00.001-04:00

flora - amarillo, originally uploaded by Laura Grace.

Roads to Rincon - Second Beach - 03

2010-03-19T18:53:00.003-04:00

Roads to Rincon - Second Beach - 03, originally uploaded by Laura Grace.

Roads to Rincon - Second Beach - surfers

2010-03-19T18:53:00.001-04:00

Roads to Rincon - Second Beach - 24, originally uploaded by Laura Grace.

Roads to Rincon - Second Beach - 13

2010-03-19T18:52:00.001-04:00

Roads to Rincon - Second Beach - 13, originally uploaded by Laura Grace.

Roads to Rincon - Second Beach - 23

2010-03-19T18:51:00.001-04:00

Roads to Rincon - Second Beach - 23, originally uploaded by Laura Grace.

Roads to Rincon - Second Beach - 30

2010-03-19T18:50:00.001-04:00

Roads to Rincon - Second Beach - 30, originally uploaded by Laura Grace.

Roads to Rincon - PR22 - karst

2010-03-19T18:02:00.001-04:00

Roads to Rincon - PR22 - karst, originally uploaded by Laura Grace.

Arecibo Karst Hills (photo credit: GeoSpaceJPK)

2010-03-19T17:23:00.001-04:00

Arecibo Karst Hills, originally uploaded by GeoSpaceJPK.

I wanted a photo better than the one I took as we were whizzing along Route 22. Thanks to GeoSpaceJPK for allowing blogging of his images.

Elsewhere: Puerto Rico -- Today's Quiz

2010-03-19T17:12:00.018-04:00

Elsewhere's Exclusive Quiz for the day: What do areas outside of Bloomington, Indiana have in common with the areas outside of San Juan, Puerto Rico?

The third important physiographic feature is the karst region in the north. This area consists of formations of rugged volcanic rock dissolved by water throughout the geological ages. This limestone region is an extremely attractive zone of extensive mogotes or haystack hills, sinkholes, caves, limestone cliffs, and other karst features. The karst belt extends from Aguadilla, in the west, to a minor haystack hills formation in Loíza, just east of San Juan.

http://welcome.topuertorico.org/geogra.shtml

And... if you'd like to learn ALL about karst, and see some good photos: look here

Lava Sunset - taken by Eddon B, my nephew

2009-06-07T14:00:00.001-04:00

Lava Sunset, originally uploaded by EchoDeltaDeltaOscarNovember.

I am just blown away by this, Eddon!

Michael & Laura at the Parque de Retiro, Madrid

2009-05-25T03:25:00.002-04:00

Michael & Laura at the Real de Retiro, Madrid, originally uploaded by Laura Grace.

Our 3rd and last evening in Madrid. This formal garden is only a tiny part of the former Royal Retreat (Real de Retiro). We had to shelter under the trees at one point during a sudden rain shower...

Sunset over Barcelona, from Montjuic

2009-05-24T12:49:00.001-04:00

Sunset over Barcelona, from Montjuic, originally uploaded by Laura Grace.

Barcelona

2009-05-22T13:31:00.001-04:00

IMG_6375, originally uploaded by Laura Grace.

Bye for now... Peter, Stefan & Emma leaving for the airport

2009-05-19T19:08:00.000-04:00

Evening in Barcelona

2009-03-24T17:32:00.001-04:00

Evening in Barcelona, originally uploaded by Laura Grace.

My last night here until I return in May. We had a lovely stroll up above the city with Armen & Maricarmen, who are graduate students working with Michael.

After this, we had a fine meal of tapas...

Michael's anxious expression was because he was judging that our "guest photographer" was pointing the camera too low to get much of the city... and he was correct.

This was taken on the steps above the Placa Espana.

Mysteriously Beautiful Building, Cadaques.

2009-03-22T13:08:00.003-04:00

Mysteriously Beautiful Building, Cadaques., originally uploaded by Laura Grace.

Michael, heading back from our hike.

2009-03-22T13:08:00.001-04:00

Michael, heading back from our hike., originally uploaded by Laura Grace.

The coast, just next to the lighthouse...

2009-03-22T13:07:00.001-04:00

Sitting up by the lighthouse, originally uploaded by Laura Grace.

cove near the lighthouse

2009-03-22T13:06:00.001-04:00

cove near the lighthouse, originally uploaded by Laura Grace.

Hiking to the Lighthouse

2009-03-22T13:05:00.001-04:00

Hiking to the Lighthouse, originally uploaded by Laura Grace.

Great Big Michael; little bitty lighthouse.

Hiking near Port Lligat, Catalunya (Spain)

2009-03-21T12:02:00.001-04:00

Hiking near Port Lligat, Catalunya (Spain), originally uploaded by Laura Grace.

Within sight of Salvador and Gala Dali's seaside home.

In other news, I have purchased a new scarf (back at "home" in Sant Cugat, because it was cold. And a new hat because it's very sunny in Cadaques. And a "hoodie" because it's very cold here, too!

Casa Nun: salmon, mango & baked parmesan

2009-03-21T12:00:00.001-04:00

Casa Nun: salmon, mango & baked parmesan, originally uploaded by Laura Grace.

following our hike... followed by paella!

just after sunrise...

2009-03-21T11:59:00.001-04:00

just after sunrise, originally uploaded by Laura Grace.

and just before I went back to sleep... Michael didn't even know I was up long enough to step out on our balcony...

Cadaques: view from our balcony!

2009-03-19T13:39:00.001-04:00

cadaques: view from our balcony!, originally uploaded by Laura Grace.

I'm not gonna lie to you -- we are VERY happy to be here! The little seaside town is gorgeous; we are in a perfectly lovely hotel on a quiet street; the walk into the main part of town is along the seawall... I'm so glad Michael picked this place for us.

On my way home; The National Art Museum of Catalonia (MNAC)

2009-03-18T15:39:00.002-04:00

On my way home; The National Art Museum of Catalonia (MNAC), originally uploaded by Laura Grace.

"The National Art Museum of Catalonia (Catalan: Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya), abbreviated as MNAC, is a museum of Catalan visual art located in Barcelona, Catalonia.

It is housed in the Palau Nacional, built for the 1929 World's Fair. Situated on the Montjuïc hill at the end of Avinguda de la Reina Maria Cristina, it was rehabilitated by the 1992 Summer Olympics."

source: wikipedia

MNAC website

mediterranean

2009-03-18T11:53:00.001-04:00

mediterranean, originally uploaded by Laura Grace.

Before going to the Jardin Botanic, I walked along the pine-tree lined path that led to the fortifications. An incredibly lovely day!

hillside, botanical garden, Barcelona

2009-03-18T11:52:00.001-04:00

hillside, originally uploaded by Laura Grace.

sun daisy

2009-03-18T11:51:00.001-04:00

sun daisy, originally uploaded by Laura Grace.

This should be a much larger photo than the one I posted earlier.

wattle?

2009-03-18T11:50:00.001-04:00

wattle?, originally uploaded by Laura Grace.

South African blooms?

2009-03-18T11:49:00.005-04:00

South African blooms?, originally uploaded by Laura Grace.

sticky wattle

2009-03-18T11:49:00.003-04:00

sticky wattle, originally uploaded by Laura Grace.

sun daisies (?)

2009-03-18T11:49:00.001-04:00

sun daisies (?), originally uploaded by Laura Grace.

menacing hens & chicks

2009-03-18T11:48:00.003-04:00

menacing hens & chicks, originally uploaded by Laura Grace.

lily?

2009-03-18T11:48:00.001-04:00

lily?, originally uploaded by Laura Grace.

budding tree

2009-03-18T11:47:00.003-04:00

budding tree, originally uploaded by Laura Grace.

gum tree -- I was so happy to see gum trees again!

2009-03-18T11:47:00.001-04:00

gum tree -- I was so happy to see gum trees again!, originally uploaded by Laura Grace.

Wattles and gums in the Jardi Botanic, Barcelona. What a treat! And no swooping birds, either!

graceful

2009-03-18T11:46:00.001-04:00

graceful, originally uploaded by Laura Grace.

California Section

2009-03-18T11:45:00.001-04:00

California Section, originally uploaded by Laura Grace.

california poppy, in barcelona

2009-03-18T08:32:00.001-04:00

california poppy, in barcelona, originally uploaded by Laura Grace.

The Jardi Botanic has sections for different Mediterranean climates around the world. I spent some time hanging around in "California" and was delighted to see this poppy, just like ones I've enjoyed with my nephews. In fact, so delighted was I that I called Michael & asked him to email -- right then -- my brother & mom and tell them "all about it"...

Knife-leaf Wattle

2009-03-18T08:07:00.001-04:00

Knife-leaf Wattle, originally uploaded by Laura Grace.

jardi botanic

2009-03-18T07:47:00.001-04:00

jardi botanic, originally uploaded by Laura Grace.

beauty in the jardin botanic

2009-03-17T16:00:00.003-04:00

beauty in the jardin botanic, originally uploaded by Laura Grace.

More, much more to come... but I walked 9.75 miles today, so I'll be recovering tomorrow and should be able to sort out & upload more photos, and write a bit, as well!

Here's a link to the garden.

the tree

2009-03-15T16:23:00.002-04:00

tree, originally uploaded by Laura Grace.

me and the tree

2009-03-15T15:29:00.007-04:00

... and the tree, originally uploaded by Laura Grace.

When Michael first got to Sant Cugat (west of Barcelona) he sent me a link to a photo of this tree, and later, photos of his own. And now, here I am. We walked 4.13 miles this evening, coming back to town as the stars were coming out and the birds singing. The frogs stopped their evening sernade as we walked by. Being who we are, we were delighted to also see some bats. And being who we are, I was amazed to be the first one to see a bat!

Really ELSEWHERE... Brazil (taken by a friend)

2009-03-15T08:32:00.001-04:00

ESTOY AFERRADA..., originally uploaded by MAR_MAXI_LUNA.

ESTOY AFERRADA...

(from Laura: I liked this so much & wanted to share it with you all... This was taken on a Brazilian beach, by Mari, a lovely lady that Michael & I met in Buenos Aires. We got to go on photo safaris with an excellent, friendly group called "Portenas" and that's where we met Mari. We also took a trip to Tigre with her, and had a great time!)

If you click on the photo, you can see other photos that Mari has taken.

friends y familia

2009-03-14T13:57:00.001-04:00

friends y familia, originally uploaded by Laura Grace.

exhausting and exhilarating day! off to take a bath.... more photos to post later!

Clay at Biblioteca

2009-03-13T16:50:00.001-04:00

Clay at Biblioteca, originally uploaded by Laura Grace.

I've posted two day's worth of photos on flickr. (It's a lot faster than adding photos to Elsewhere, so unless I'm writing, I'll probably just post one or two photos *here* and the rest on flickr.

To see them on flickr, click on this photo!

vista from campus

2009-03-13T14:56:00.001-04:00

vista, originally uploaded by Laura Grace.

I did a lot of playing around with this, using iphoto. Hope you like the result. You can see the famous cathedral at the top of the mountain.. if you squint...

A great view from campus

2009-03-13T14:55:00.001-04:00

campus-2, originally uploaded by Laura Grace.

at the university

2009-03-13T14:52:00.001-04:00

campus-3, originally uploaded by Laura Grace.

Biscuit Babies-3 of 3

2009-03-11T18:58:00.002-04:00

Biscuit Babies-3, originally uploaded by Laura Grace.

At last! I am offered a tasty biscuit, only slightly gummed.

I politely decline.

Biscuit Babies-2 of 3

2009-03-11T18:57:00.002-04:00

Biscuit Babies-2, originally uploaded by Laura Grace.

Baby Sister is still not quite sure about me...

Biscuit Babies: 1 of 3

2009-03-11T18:56:00.002-04:00

Biscuit Babies, originally uploaded by Laura Grace.

I got the biggest charge out these twins; eventually they were ok with that (see photo #3)

buildings

2009-03-11T18:55:00.001-04:00

buildings, originally uploaded by Laura Grace.

And this is another reason I love being able to take pictures in new places!

ChocoChooChoo

2009-03-11T18:54:00.001-04:00

ChocoChooChoo, originally uploaded by Laura Grace.

fruteria

2009-03-11T18:53:00.001-04:00

fruteria, originally uploaded by Laura Grace.

yellow bloom

2009-03-11T18:52:00.001-04:00

yellow bloom, originally uploaded by Laura Grace.

Anyone know what kind of plant this is? (close up of a shrub)

wall

2009-03-11T18:51:00.001-04:00

wall, originally uploaded by Laura Grace.

Because my Aunt Ginni was so interested in geology, I think of her whenever I see natural or humanly-made rock formation.

pasticeria

2009-03-11T18:50:00.003-04:00

pasticeria, originally uploaded by Laura Grace.

no Ferrets (ask Michael)

2009-03-11T18:50:00.001-04:00

no Ferrets (ask Michael), originally uploaded by Laura Grace.

monastery tower

2009-03-11T18:49:00.003-04:00

monasterytower, originally uploaded by Laura Grace.

monastery cross

2009-03-11T18:49:00.001-04:00

monasterycross, originally uploaded by Laura Grace.

monastery apse

2009-03-11T18:48:00.003-04:00

monastery apse, originally uploaded by Laura Grace.

Michael & Monastery

2009-03-11T18:48:00.001-04:00

Michael&Monastery, originally uploaded by Laura Grace.

monastery door, afternoon light

2009-03-11T18:47:00.001-04:00

monastery door, originally uploaded by Laura Grace.

Happy, Happy, Happy

2009-03-11T13:53:00.003-04:00

******

Comments from friends:

Bruce: "I have heard wonderful things about that place - experience it deeply."

Distant Hills

2009-03-11T10:59:00.003-04:00

Iris (color-manipulated)

2009-03-11T10:58:00.001-04:00

Iris 2 (color enhanced, etc)

2009-03-11T10:57:00.001-04:00

Un Chien Catalan

2009-03-11T10:56:00.001-04:00

2009-03-11T10:55:00.001-04:00

2009-03-11T10:54:00.003-04:00

2009-03-11T10:54:00.001-04:00

Sun Dial

2009-03-11T10:52:00.000-04:00

2009-03-11T10:51:00.000-04:00

All roads lead to everywhere...

50 Steps in Barcelona...

2009-03-11T09:04:00.005-04:00

Up to our lovely apartment in San Cugat... (also see: 52 Steps in Buenos Aires )

Tree at sunset

2009-03-07T14:56:00.002-05:00

Monastery of Sant Cugat

2009-03-07T14:54:00.003-05:00

especially for Stefan...

Sunset near San Cugat

2009-03-05T09:13:00.002-05:00

Clouds cleared up just as the sun was setting. This is a view to the east from the Universidad Autonoma Barcelona Campus.