Cannon Beach panorama Dec 2011

L'Arcano resturant, Rome

We were sitting at a little cafe in Rome with Rick and Iva Curry and had a good view of this restaurant a small way down the road. I took several shots of it but an employee stood at the entrance, arms crossed looking at me. He remained until I pretended to give up and sat back down at our table. He then went inside and I got up and got the shot I had been looking for.  

Chevy Truck Not For Sale

On my way to workout each morning I drove by this old Chevrolet truck.  After several times of telling myself that I needed to go during good light to take a picture, I finally did. While taking some shots, the owner of the truck came out to see what I was doing. I wondered if he would be upset that I was trespassing on his property or be fine. He was very happy that I was taking pictures and gave me a bit of background on the truck. One interesting tidbit was concerning the "Not for sale" sign. His wife got fed up with so many people stopping to ask if they could buy the truck. To appease her, he posted the sign. I feel that sign makes the shot much better.

Wizard's Hat Fountain

We had a great opportunity to take some our our kids and grand kids on a Disney cruise. While on board I took a few shots in different locations of the ship. I combined an outside shot of the wizard fountain along with a shot of a wall in the toddlers play area inside to get elements for this picture. 

Rome

This photo, for me, gives a contrast between the gladiators and the Christians who were obviously at odds with each other. At the location of the cross near the top is where Caesar sat while watching the lions kill Christians. 

Cover photo of Morocco book

Inside cover page

Essauria

Argan Oil Cooperative

Chella Necropolis in Rabat

Tree climbing goat and Argan nuts processing

Rabat and group meal

Doors

Cooking tangine and bread

Pictures from Fes

Roman ruins in Morocco

Cooking etc

High Atlas Mountains

Tea tradition

Camels as transportation

Having fun on Saraha sand dunes

Fun in the Saraha

Leather Tanning

Ruins of old building - Group posing on roof

Morocco images

Child merchants and Nomad family

Kids and teacher in classroom

Olive Mill

Women of Morocco

Back page of book

Fruit

Teri and I were spending a week at Sandcastle Inn in Birch Bay, Washington near the Canadian border. The Inn is part of a timeshare we own and although we can go to more exotic places, we find this one of the most relaxing locations. During this trip we went to the market to buy some fresh fruit. We were about to prepare them to eat when I suggested we wait while I take some pictures of the fruit. After taking several shots, I assembled these, putting them together for this piece. The background is taken from a painting that was on the wall of our room. 

The lost empire.

This was an attempt at an idea I had but as I am not looking at it again a couple of years later, I see that I don't like it much. 

Daily work. Cracking Argan Nuts

While on our tour of Morocco we went to visit the family of this woman. She is cracking argan nuts with a rock. She separates the shells from the nuts, placing the nuts in the cloth covered bowl. She then places the nuts in the device to her right. She grinds the nuts that turn to a paste similar to peanut butter. This is her daily job, earning a good portion of the families income. 

Home cooking in Morocco

Birch Bay

Each day that we are in Birch Bay, I enjoy going for long walks. Often, I take my camera and watch for interesting opportunities. Alone, each of these shots weren't very impressive so I put them together to create, hopefully a good picture. 

From my walk around Birch Bay

Growing Wild in Birch Bay, Washington State

This is a compilation of various wild plant along the road I take each day for my walk. 

Plants in the wild.

More wild plant pictures. I like this one more than the one above. 

Frank, a traveling companion in Morocco

This and the next two shots are of Frank and his wife Ellen. We met them on our Morocco/Sahara desert adventure with OAT travel company. We had the opportunity to attend a special local event, during which Frank and Ellen were chosen to take part in a wedding ceremony mock up. They and the other travel mates were fantastic people and fun to travel companions.

Frank and wife Ellen participating in marriage mockup.

Frank

Family

Water Fountain at Mosque

Fishing boats at sunset

We were rewarded with so much insight in other cultures of the world while in Morocco. Traveling with OAT gave us an opportunity to meet many people and to participate in local tradition. We look forward to travel to other locations where we can experience and appreciate other cultures. 

Tree climbing goats in Morocco.

One of our tours was to go to an argan nut forest where goats climb the trees to get the best leaves and nuts to eat. We were told that sometimes tourist get there just to find all the goats on the ground. During our first visit, we say a couple of goats place a foot or two on a tree but none climbed. Later on our way from another tour we went back to find this and other goats climbing hight in the trees. 

Potter. The way it's been done for thousands of years.

This man does pottery in a time proven method handed down through centuries. He was a very friendly guy and had great pride in his work and loved to show how it is done. He is the last potter in Morocco who still used this method. He has tried to get his kids and grandkids to take up the trade but none of them would take it on. 

Tree Blossom

Making a shovel

Man in market

Merchant