Up With the Stars

Elevator Doors, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Every day, millions of people ride elevators (lifts) to go up and down multistory buildings.  These beautiful elevator doors were found in Vancouver's Marine Building.  Designed in the 1920s and completed in 1930, the building is an Art Deco landmark.

We're Flying

Somewhere over Tennessee, USA

Sometimes you look out of an airplane window and experience that magical feeling of "I'm flying".  This was one of those moments.

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.

Not So Soft

Cactus, East Hampton, New York, USA

Up close, this little succulent looks like it has a soft pillow of ticklish grass to rest upon.  In fact, these soft little blades will stick in your fingers and be hard to take out!

Circle, Square, Triangle

Azrieli Center, Tel Aviv, Israel

These architectural gems revel in the simplicity of a circle, a square and an equilateral triangle and are reminiscent of those childhood learning toys which required us to match the shape with a corresponding hole.

Ungrounded Goodness

Salmon Burger, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

While Canada is just north of the USA and most of its cities are within a hundred miles of the US border, it never ceases to amaze us how different Canadian customs and phrases are from ours.  Sometimes the differences are minor (e.g. washroom vs. bathroom) and sometimes the variation is more substantial.

Take the salmon burger as an example.  In the USA, a salmon burger is generally a patty of ground up salmon with some seasonings.  In Canada, it is a fresh filet of salmon grilled to perfection and served up on a hamburger bun.  You cannot imagine our delight upon receiving this lovely meal in the middle of our trip.  We thought maybe this was a peculiarity of the restaurant, but even, at the end of our trip, a cafe in the Vancouver airport served up a salmon burger that was a delicious, made-to-order filet on a bun.

Desert Island?

Beach, Jekyll Island, Georgia, USA

Over a decade ago we took a trip to Jekyll Island to relax and enjoy nature.  Our motel was right on the oak tree lined beach.  It was the middle of winter, so only the jellyfish were swimming, but the beach was still a wonderful place to lose track of time, fly a kite, and stroll.  We look forward to returning to Jekyll again one day and hope it is no different than before.

Working for Peanuts

Squirrel, Zion National Park, Utah, USA

This squirrel was neither shy nor afraid as he stood posing for our photos on the banks of the Virgin River in Zion National Park.  We know he wanted to be paid in peanuts for his modeling work, but for his own good (and ours) he worked for free.

The Sun Is Shining When The Moon Is Out

Metal Sun Yard Sculpture, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

As children, we learned that if our parents said the sun was shining when it was dark and the moon was out, we were to go along with it and trust their judgement.  This sun is always shining and beaming, even when it is dark and the moon is out.  Guess our parents were right some of the time.

Late Night Snack

Pizzeria, Miami, Florida, USA

When we were kids, we didn't order big-chain pizza on the telephone and wait for it to come to the house.  Instead, we went with our parents to a family owned pizzeria, placed an order for takeout, hung out while our pizzas were prepared, and then sat with hot boxes on our laps during the car ride home.

Marc's grandmother was very fond of pizza and was known to spontaneously suggest getting a pie late on many evenings.  Frankie's, still open after 55 years, was one of her regular suppliers.

I Can See For Miles

Above Ransom, Kanaas, USA

Sometimes when we fly, we marvel at how we can look out the window and see only farmlands or wilderness.  In this case, looking northeast from high above Ransom, Kansas, we see plenty of farmlands, but no sign of big cities.  Even with cities like New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, and Atlanta, much of the USA is rural and wild.

A Flower Which Lasts All Year Long

Lily Sculpture, Washington, DC, USA

This aluminum lily sculpture sits in the Woodrow Wilson Plaza.  Together with a rose sculpture, it makes up the Federal Triangle Flowers.

Natural Piers

Fishermen, Rosh Hanikra, Israel

Everyday millions of folks fish for their meals and recreation.  This beautiful fishing spot is near the famous grottoes of Rosh Hanikra.  We don't know if these folks are fishing for fun or food, but there is no doubt that this is a very scenic and unusual place to fish.

All Black and Blue

Fresh Berries, East Hampton, New York, USA

This bowl of fresh blueberries and blackberries was a delicious breakfast treat during a cool summer morning on Long Island.