A Guide for the Golden Gate

Point Bonita Lighthouse, Point Bonita, California, USA

Since 1877, the Point Bonita Lighthouse has warned ship captains away from treacherous cliffs and rocks as they passed through the Golden Gate into and out of San Francisco Bay.  Reachable only by a narrow suspension bridge, the lighthouse had to be relocated in the 19th century so it could be seen in the famously thick fog.

Runways Without Approach

Naval Air Station Alameda, Alameda, California, USA

Naval Air Station Alameda (NGZ) closed in 1997 and has not been used for much since that time.  We took this photo while climbing out of San Francisco International Airport (SFO), which is located just across the bay.

Cities by the Bay

Miami and Miami Beach, Florida, USA

When you hear the phrase City by the Bay, you likely think of San Francisco.  Miami and Miami Beach are also on a famous bay, Biscayne Bay.  We took this shot during a scenic approach to Miami International Airport.  From the west, we overflew the Everglades, came south past the airport over Dinner Key and Coconut Grove, and then circled through Miami to land.

In this photo you can see Biscayne Bay, downtown Miami, Miami Beach, the cruise ships at Dodge Island, US 1 and Interstate 95, as well as the Rickenbacker, MacArthur, Venetian, and Julia Tuttle Causeways.

Eilat of Boats

Marina, Eilat, Israel

These tour boats were readying for tourists early one December morning.  Situated at the northern tip of the Red Sea, Eilat is a popular destination year round for Europeans, Israelis, and others.  Although it is called the Red Sea, the water is usually very clear and at least one of the boats in the foreground has a glass bottom for viewing fish, coral, and urchins.

Heading Southwest

AirTran Boeing 717, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

AirTran Airways will soon be a part of history.  Having been purchased by Southwest Airlines, AirTran is being merged into the Southwest brand and livery.  This 717 was photographed on a wet and foggy morning back in 2005.  Atlanta was AirTran's main hub since the 1990s and gave Delta Airlines some serious competition.

Essential Oil

Chanukah Sufganyot, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Besides lighting the Chanukah Menorah, cooking in oil is essential during Chanukah.  For kids and adults alike, these delicious Sufganyot (doughnuts) are fun to make and eat!

While olive oil is preferred for Chanukah cooking, vegetable oil is better for cooking sweets like Sufganyot.

A Colorful Buffet

Hotel Breakfast, Eilat, Israel

When we travel, we like to indulge in the local foods.  Like the USA, Israel is a melting pot of many different cultures and cuisines.  This breakfast was a small sampling of the offerings at the Dan Panorama's breakfast smörgåsbord.  It was all delicious!

Watson Observation

Sunset and Dodge Island, Miami, Florida, USA

We saw this beautiful sunset from Watson Island while watching cruise ships sail by.

Watson Island is in Biscayne Bay and is accessible via the MacArthur Causeway, which connects Miami and Miami Beach.

Dodge Island, which is across the way from Watson Island, contains the worlds largest cruise ship port.

Hard Working

Fishmonger, Seattle, Washington, USA

Today being Labor Day in the USA, we want to celebrate the hardworking men and women who keep our nation moving and productive.  This fishmonger helps prepare and sell raw fish.  This is hard and dirty work and we salute you.

A Matter of Perspective

Railroad Tracks, Stone Mountain, Georgia, USA

This is what we imagine railroad tracks look like to squirrels and crawling insects.  It's amazing how different the world looks depending on your vantage point.  From here, you get no sense of the purpose of these tracks nor of their design and construction.

Red, White, and Blue

Saab 340's, Memphis International Airport, Tennessee, USA

These cute Saab 340 airliners of commuter service Northwest Airlink were awaiting passengers to transport across the Deep South, Ozarks, and beyond.

This picture features N451XJ, the 500th Saab 340 to roll of the assembly line.

Memphis International Airport (MEM) was a major hub for Northwest Airlines.

In honor of our nation's Independence Day, we share this photo of red and white airliners against a blue sky.

United With A Mainliner

Boeing 727 Prototype, Everett, Washington, USA

This is the tail of the first Boeing 727 ever built.  Currently at the Museum of Flight Restoration Center, this prototype ultimately was delivered to United Airlines and carried around 3 million passengers and logged over 48,000 landings.

Beyond the historic nature of this bird, the tail is just so cool to look at in its vintage color scheme.  Being united with this Mainliner really took us back to the Golden Age of Aviation.

Florida Rains

Essex House Hotel, Miami Beach, Florida, USA

Florida is known as the Sunshine State, but it does rain there.  In South Florida, a md-afternoon thunderstorm often comes and is gone in 20-30 minutes.  The day this photo was taken of this Art Deco gem was no exception.

Big Bird

Boeing 747, Los Angeles International Airport, California, USA

This view of a 747 at LAX gives you a real perspective of this giant plane's true size.

Deli Style South

Deli Counter, Pompano Beach, Florida, USA

A good New York deli counter is often a confusing place with a seemingly endless assortment of ethnically Jewish foods (and some not so Jewish).  Many folks joke, and rightfully so, that somewhere in Southeastern Florida is the sixth borough of New York City.  While not as large or confusing as many New York City delicatessens, this place in Pompano Beach had delicious renditions of all the main comfort foods like bagels, pastrami, knishes, stuffed cabbage, and buckets of pickles.

Gnarly, Dude

Twisted Tree, Stone Mountain, Georgia, USA

This twisted tree was found at the top of Stone Mountain.  We don't think it was living anymore, but it was certainly interesting.

West Into the Sunset

America West Jetliner, San Francisco, California, USA

America West Airlines was a US airline which has since merged with US Airways.  During its later years, it was derisively known by many as "America's Worst".  We flew America West once, on a short flight from Phoenix to Orange County.  It wasn't bad at all.

Red on Red

Sunset, Red Sea, Eilat, Israel

Whenever we travel to a place on or near the water, we try to do two things.  First, we want to dip our toes in the water.  Second, we want to see the sun rise or (more often) set on the water.  This was the sunset on the Red Sea from Eilat one fine November day many years back.  We not only went for a swim in the sea that day, but also saw this amazing sunset.

Towering into the Clouds

Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, California, USA

In clear weather, the Golden Gate Bridge is instantly recognizable from afar.  Here is an up close, side view of one of the towers.  The famous San Francisco fog makes it impossible for us to see the top of the tower and we think this effect makes this photo more interesting.

A Still Life in Motion

San Francisco, California, USA

We snapped this photo several years ago while climbing out of San Francisco.  With a quick click, we captured the city, its famous bridges, the nearby mountains, fog, and bay traffic.  At this moment, the busy city and bay look still.