ELSEWHERE 2026

 First morning in Seattle 

Mt Rainier, yesterday 

Elsewhere: 2017.01.12 Austin, Texas

Elsewhere:  2017.01.12 Austin, Texas

Michael's mom lives about 2 miles from Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.  

Click here for my photos & videos from our walk.

Michael had been before, but this was my first visit.   It must be fantastic in the spring, with the bluebonnets, primroses and Indian Paintbrush in bloom.  Even with almost nothing flowering, it was delightful place to walk; so much open space.  We happened to have glorious weather:  lots of great clouds and a steady breeze, so it was warm but not hot.

The center sits on 279 acres of gardens, woodlands, and savannahs.





Facebook page for Lady Bird's Wildflower Center

Wayback Machine: 2009.05.18 Barcelona, Spain

Elsewhere:  2009.05.18 Casa Mila in Barcelona

So, today a friend asked me about a beautiful glass dish, which got me talking about Gaudi, which led me to discover that I'd never posted these photos to flickr.  I think I had some kind of idea that there were too many, and I was going to edit them down.  Never did.

finally posted to flickr



https://www.lapedrera.com/en/what-is-casa-mila

Casa Milà, popularly known as ‘La Pedrera’ (the stone quarry), an ironic allusion to the resemblance of its façade to an open quarry, was constructed between 1906 and 1912 by Antoni Gaudí (1852-1926). For its uniqueness, artistic and heritage value have received major recognition and in 1984 was inscribed on UNESCO World Heritage List, for its exceptional universal value.

Elsewhere: 2016.06.20 day trip from Locarno

Elsewhere:  2016.06.20 day trip from Locarno

We rented a car and drove up into the Centovalli (Hundred Valleys) area.     http://www.myswitzerland.com/en-us/centovalli.html

Some of the tightest hairpin turns (and the steepest) I've ever been on. Also, really narrow streets in some of the tiny villages.


DOUBLE Click here to see 24 photos from our day.

Here's one sample.

2016.06.18 - 19 Two days in Locarno

Clicking here will take you to 52 photos of Locarno, Switzerland

We  took a taxi, then a ferry, then a train to get from Varenna, Italy to Locarno, Switzerland.  Once there, we took a funicular, a cable car & a chairlift up to fantastic views.  This photo shows our route.  Click the photo to enlarge it.

Click here to visit the website for Madonna del Sasso, in Orselina.

Elsewhere: 2016.06.17 Varenna - the Fiumelatte (waterfall)

On our last day in Varenna (Italy), Michael and I walked up to “the shortest river in the world” ...

Click here to see 16 photos and one video of the Fiumelatte

The river is mentioned by the name Fiumelaccio in Leonardo da Vinci's Atlantic Codex:
It's the Fiumelaccio, which falls high from more than 100 ells from the vein where it is born, straight down on the lake, with inestimable uproar and noise.  -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiumelatte_(river)

Elsewhere: 2016.06.15 Lake Como Views

2016.06.15 Lake Como Views

Click here to see 13 photos and 1 video from Lake Como

2016.06.15 Villa Carlotta: ceilings like I've never seen before! Have you?

2016.06.15 Villa Carlotta: ceilings

From our trip to Italy in June, 2016

Click here for a link to Villa Carlotta's website

Click here for a 3 minute video tour, from their website

Click here to see 12 (of my) photos of the magnificent ceilings at Villa Carlotta

Click on the photo to enlarge it.

2016.06.15 Villa Carlotta: interiors

Click here for a link to the Villa Carlotta site

"The last kiss of Romeo and Juliet"

If you click on any of these photos, you can see a full size version,
with the option to look at the rest as a slide show.

The tour guide told us that the colors in this painting represent the hopes for the unification of Italy; the owner was fully in support.

Click on the photo to enlarge

The little black dots have to do with enlarging a sculpture using reference points.
So this is a chalk model.

Ummm... Alexander the Great,

I think.

Probably should not 

wait so long 

to label photos!

2016.06.15 trip to Villa Carlotta

Click here for 29 photos from Villa Carlotta

Link to the website for Villa Carlotta

Elsewhere: 2016.06.14 a little trip to Bellagio

Elsewhere: 2016.06.14 Bellagio on Lake Como 

(click here for 13 photos)

Elsewhere: 2016.06.14 Strolls around Varenna

Strolls around Varenna 
(click here to see 26 photos)

Something easy, and peaceful.

Click here to see 30 photos of Neighborhood Walks

PS--This little photo quilt isn't linked to anything.

Click link above if you have time for more photos.  

If not, just enjoy these.

2016.06.13 Hike to the Castello di Vezio

(Click here for 19 photos and 2 videos)
 2016.06.13 Hike to the Castello di Vezio

It was a very steep climb, but the weather was cool and sunny.  I only saw two other people on the same trail.  The path got very narrow, and it seemed like I was miles away from anything.  I felt like such an explorer, when I could see the tiptop of the castle's tower over the treetops.  Only a little farther to go...

Then -  what to my wondering eyes should appear:  a clay tennis court, with lights and a chain link fence.  Not quite as adventuresome as I thought I was.

Turns out there is a very small town just below the castle (see map below)... you can see the tennis court, too.  I met up with the husband of one of Michael's math colleagues as I was leaving, and he suggested the other path back down to Varenna.  It was wide and cobblestoned. Didn't feel so much like Dora the Explorer, but that other path had me spooked at times:  pretty narrow with a steep drop-off.


Anyway, my time at the top was lovely, with incredible views and very peaceful.  I especially loved hearing all the church bells from below -- got a nice video of that which I hope you'll enjoy.

Click here to see notes on the map

2016.06.12 Varenna, Italy: Math Conference

(Click here) Math Conference in Varenna, Italy (7 photos)




(Click here) 10 Photos and a video of our room




(Click here) Hotel Villa Cipressi (26 photos and 1 video)

Elsewhere 2012.09.12 Up on the Roof

Elsewhere 2012.09.12 Up on the Roof, a set on Flickr.

links to flickr

Elsewhere 2012.09.12 Up on the Roof

The view from the 8th floor roofdeck of our building always fascinates me.  This morning I went up (the stairs) in the morning; this afternoon I went up (the stairs) again to see a completely different scene.

The south-east was still sunny with puffy white clouds, but to the north and west there were very dark panels of falling rain.  Even more striking was the nearly sheer curtain of lighter (and closer) showers to the north-west, which were moving at a fairly fast clip; I could see the slant clearly.  Didn't have my camera then, but judging from other days, I'll have another chance.