Last Days in Beijing
Tiananmen Square & Forbidden City
Tiananmen Square & Forbidden City
Tiananmen Square & Forbidden City
Tiananmen Square & Forbidden City
It was mobbed with tourists of course!
Tiananmen Square & Forbidden City
Paul and our guide, Summer
Tiananmen Square & Forbidden City
Tiananmen Square & Forbidden City
Tiananmen Square & Forbidden City
Tiananmen Square & Forbidden City
Tortoise, symbol of longevity
Tiananmen Square & Forbidden City
Tiananmen Square & Forbidden City
Tiananmen Square & Forbidden City
Tiananmen Square & Forbidden City
Tiananmen Square & Forbidden City
Tiananmen Square & Forbidden City
Tiananmen Square & Forbidden City
Tiananmen Square & Forbidden City
Tiananmen Square & Forbidden City
Crane, another symbol of longevity
Tiananmen Square & Forbidden City
Tiananmen Square & Forbidden City
Tiananmen Square & Forbidden City
Tiananmen Square & Forbidden City
Garden, Tiananmen Square & Forbidden City
In the garden
Juniper tree
Oh, the elegance! :)
Some of the elegance...
Leaving the garden
Paul's gorgeous lunch arrives
At Lama Temple, Beijing
Lama Temple
wooded walkway at temple
Lama Temple
Offerings
Meredith & Summer
Lama Temple
Lama Temple
Lama Temple
Huge, huge statue
We couldn't take photos inside the shrines, but it was HUGE!...
Meredith spots a Starbucks in Beijing
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Quick visit to the University
Two professors at the University, Denis and Paul
Adorable girl who sang poems to us
So cute!
The group in the library
After dinner at the school
Meredith, Jami & Paul
Last Day in Beijing...First Glimpse of the Great Wall
The area we hiked to...
It was a remote section and we had a lot of it blissfully to ourselves. A magical way to end our trip.
The Great Wall
The Great Wall
The Great Wall
The Great Wall
The Great Wall
The Great Wall
The Great Wall
The trail up
...and up
Paul touches the wall for the first time
Meredith touches it for the first time
We had to climb this ladder to get up on the Wall
Paul heads up
Mer heads up
and up..
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The last step is a doozy!
Denis heads up
Our guide
One flight of stairs and we're on the top!
Starting to walk up to the next tower
LOTS of stairs...whew!
We were literally walking up on an angle. Tiring!
You had to lean way forward so as not to lose your balance
The walkway
Walkway again
Hiking back down
One last hill before lunch
View from our lunch table
What a way to say farewell to an incredible journey!
China 2011 Xining & Xi'an
Muslim in China
Driving back to Xining from Tongren County, we drove through whole Muslim villages
At Museum of Tibetan Medicine, Xining
We spotted Naropa on a huge scroll Thangka painting on display
Naropa
Founder of Tibetan Bon
Boys playing video games
In the lobby of our hotel in Xining
Banquet table our last night in Xining
We were invited to a huge banquet our final night in Qinghai Province with local media figures, the Vice Mayor, and others.
Banquet
Our first afternoon in Xi'an
We visit the city's ancient wall, right across from our hotel.
Part of the wall in Xi'an
Heading up the stairs to the top of the wall
Atop the wall
Looking through wall to more modern Xi'an
Atop the wall
Trees growing in grooves of roof
Meredith atop the wall
Paul taking a photo of tourists taking photos
Meredith ready for a lift from her henchmen
Another wall shot
Room service hotel splurge! Yum!
Emperor outside the Terracotta Warriors Museum
Terracotta Paul
Terracotta Mer
First view of the warriors in Pit One
I loved the face on this one...
This gives some idea of how large this pit was
In Pit Two, fallen warriors
Chinese princess with ice cream
Cutie seen in shop near warriors
Inside the museum
Misty view of the Emperor's burial mound
They say he was buried with his entire library. China is trying to raise the money it will take to enter the ancient tomb.
Marker at burial mound
Denis and Paul at Wild Goose Pagoda
Day two in Xi'an...
Another little girl who wants a pic with the Westerners
Lion outside temple
ornate stairway carving in marble
SIgn above temple
offerings
The pagoda...we climbed to the top!
Kuan Yin
Buddha statue in gardens
Prayers left at the statue
Story of what's inside the pagoda
Paul heads up the stairs
Looking down from second level
Ceiling at top of pagoda
View in one direction from the top
Another view
View #3
View #4
I wouldn't want to lose my luggage here!
...but you can pick up a nice new-to-you bag! Ha.
On the grounds around the pagoda
View of pagoda
Another altar on the grounds
Small wild goose pagoda, not open inside
At Temple to Du Fu, the Chinese poet
Outside the temple
A snail tries to get in...
We couldn't get in either, it was closed...
Poems lining the staircase
staircase view
Lush and misty at the temple
China 2011-Tongren County Day 2 & 3
Paul & Prayer Wheels
At Longwu Monastery, Day 2 in Tongren County, Qinghai Province
prayer wheels at Longwu Monastery
Door to Longwu Monastery
Outside Longwu Monastery
Inside Longwu Monastery
Prayer wheels inside
Doorway inside
View inside
700 monks live here, but they can house up to 3000 during festivals
Longwu
Longwu
Longwu
Longwu
Temple at Longwu
For offerings
A kitty!
Only the second one we've seen
INfo
Outside Longwu
Kids playing on the street
They were so cute!
China doorway detail
Girl on the street
Posted bills
Driving to Bongya Monastery, Day 3
Scenery on the drive
So lovely...
Great views on the drive
The river was rushing from a thunderstorm last night
Views
Mountain and stupa
Views from the road
Prayer flags...we must be close...
First view of the monastery
Bongya is a Tibetan Bon Monastery. There's been a Bon presence on this site for more than 1000 years.
Farmer near the road
View from below
Views
Views
From below
A boy watches us go by.
A woman watches too
We were the only people here except for the monks and workers.
On the grounds
Monks working on the temple
temple in progress
Soten, one of the monks, approaches
Sign inside
Where monks take seclusion
Soten, Denis & Paul
Soten, Denis & Paul
Woman walking by us
We got some hard stares!
Man working on temple
View of valley below us
Inside of temple painting in progress
INside temple
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Inside temple
Bongya Gelek Lundrub Rinpoche
Current Lama at the monastery
Paul & the Lama
The Lama
Young monks helping with temple
Temple roof
The temple is made entirely of wood
The Lama & young monks
Soten giving Paul his email address :)
Us with The Lama
Our crew with the Lama
All the young boys rushed over to be in it
Temple detail
2 of the four towers
one for each direction will be inside the temple
paint pots inside
All mineral pigments are used
Painters inside working
paining detail
Painter working on the temple interior
Unfinished wall
You see the red paint started at the top
Holy symbol in Bon culture
It represents eternity. It suggests that the temple will exist forever.
Paul and Soten walking together
Paul & Soten
Inside the monk's home
Views on the way back
Views
Stupa
Barley fields
Barley fields
Local girls
roads in the village
Satellite dish atop adobe home
Locals
Locals
Gorgeous gold fields
Boy in town
China 2011-Tongren County Day One
Crispy Pimp!
The day after the conference ends, this is on the menu. Our new favorite name for a dish.
Men's bathroom symbol
The square has to do with working the fields
Women's bathroom symbol
It's supposed to show a woman in submission.
Skinny local
He told Denis we was feeling too skinny. I said I wished I had that problem!
About to cross the Yellow River
This is the spot where it starts to turn yellow. We were driving to Tongren County, a more remote area of Qinghai Province with Denis, a driver and several guides.
on a canyon wall
Canyon alongside roadway
views from the road
We're in the country now!
The farmers were threshing wheat ON the roadway.
Treated like royalty
On arrival, we were welcomed by being draped in white scarves and offered sips of barley liquor.
Our lunch spot
We had heard that the food might be questionable in this area, but this first meal laid all fears to rest!
Roasted Watermelon Seeds
Delicious!
Ornate green tea presentation
Those are fresh and dried fruits in the glass along with the tea.
Tsampa Fixings
A local staple consisting of yak butter, yak cheese and barley flour mixed together into a sort of paste with hot water. It's totally delicious!
The food keeps coming
Fresh vegetables. The turnips were especially good.
The sweetest corn we have ever tasted
The best lamb ever!
We were told that the animal had lived on a hillside far from pollution.
The lunch crew
shrine inside restaurant
shrine
Ceiling, tibetan carving and hornet nest
This particular hornet apparently kills spiders.
doorway at restaurant
courtyard at restaurant
What's that contraption?
It's a solar heating element!
They use it to boil water and cook.
Outside the restaurant
Tibetan Wood Carving
Outside the Thangka Painting School & Gallery
Entry to School/Gallery
Thangka
Thangka Painting s a Tibetan silk painting with embroidery, usually depicting a Buddhist deity, famous scene, or mandala of some sort. The thankga is not a flat creation like an oil painting or acrylic painting. Rather, it consists of a picture panel which is painted or embroidered, over which a textile is mounted, and then over which is laid a cover, usually silk.
Magnifying glass shows detail
Thangka are extremely detailed with very very minute, precise brush patterns.
Mineral pigments for painting
Mineral pigments
The mineral pigments will never fade, and use only organic matter.
Offerings
Long before Hitler misappropriated the image
Detail depicts buddha birth
Legend says he was birthed from the side (torso) of the woman. The woman below with the cloth is waiting to catch the baby.
Student at work
in the courtyard
Students at work
Student at work
Practice makes perfect
Color pots
Outside the school
Students stringing canvas
It's actually cotton, not canvas material.
Doorway at another group of Thangka artists
We visited another studio after the school
Straw coming through!
At the artists studio
Most in the town make art or do work that has to do with the art of Thangka.
Line drawing before painting begins
Birds in the courtyard
Boys at play
On our way to meet a famous Thangka painter
The spread for us when we arrive
Note the Tsampa makings!
Noodles too!
The living area where we ate and talked
Making our Tsampa and noodles
Tsampa
The artist
Will add name when we can look it up!
Looking thru doorway after rain
Mud walls of home, looking out from porch
courtyard
courtyard 2
Rustic, but wired!
Strange to be in a home with mud walls, surrounded by mud streets, and see satellite dishes and electric lines.
Government award for artist
Some of his work
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More of his work
Detail
Piece that Denis purchased
Long life Buddhas
Us with our gift from the artist
It's a medicine Buddha.
All of us
Detail of our gift
It's lovely!
China 2011-Kumbum Monastery
At Kumbum Monastery
It's a home for older monks. Kumbum Monastery is outside of Xining and is part of the yellow sect of Tibetan Buddhism.
Entryway to home for older monks
Entry to temple where the monks pray
Roof of main pagoda
The legend is that a bodhi tree with 100,000 leaves grew from the spot where the leader was born. A pagoda was built around it to protect it. If you are close to Buddha, you can see the image in the leaves. If not, you will only see ordinary leaves.
Sister tree from the root system of the original tree
Sister Tree
Prayer wheel
Paul in square inside monastery
Roof details
Looking at Golden roof above pagoda
Made of real gold
Another roof shot
Paul & Manjul
Home of living buddha
Just six years old now
Puppy in entryway
Yak Butter Buddha
They make a buddha out of yak butter...and it looks unbelievable!
Looks peaceful, right?
No, the place was mobbed!
Kumbum Monastery was a little bit like Tibetan Disneyland. It was totally PACKED.
The story
Mer's new hat
She goes from muslim to cowgirl...in terms of sun protection. Purchased outside monastery.
Mer with hat & pashmina
A vision in pinks!
China 2011-Guide County
Tibetan Landscape
After we left Qinghai Lake, we headed for Guide County and traveled through some gorgeous countryside
Tibetan Landscape 2
Yakmondina
Paul finds yak fur and suggests a new look for Mer
Landscape shots from the road
In our Guide Hotel lobby
morning walk goats
We took a morning walk in Guide and saw these goats
Guide walk
Chinese graffitti
View in Guide
Chinese Rock Shop
Apparently it's a big business to sell these decorative rocks, mined from the surrounding area.
Rock for sale
Rock pattern
We spent a lot of time looking for this
Paul and China Post box
It's August Poetry Postcard fest time, even in China! :)
On our Guide walk
Our Guide Hotel
We realized immediately how spoiled we were in Xining after staying here.
Entry to Jade Emperor Temple
On the way to the temple
Statues on way to temple
Temple gate
Jade Emperor temple is about 500 years old.
Bridge inside entry gate
Lion statue inside temple
Inside Temple
Incense offerings
Statues inside temple
Looking toward main pagoda
Info
Statues inside temple
Looking up toward pagoda
Looking down from pagoda
That's the outer wall built to protect the temple.
Inside the pagoda
Views from pagoda
Inside the pagoda
Jami Xu
Jami made the climb to the top with Mer
Another wall view
Ceiling paint detail in pagoda
Another view from the pagoda
Sunflowers & Temple wall
Temple doorway
offerings
Painting in temple
Paul & Mer & Coco
Coco was our AMAZING guide on the bus and on our excursions outside of Xining. She goes by Coco, she says because "Coco like coconut!"
Paul strikes a pose
Paul & Manjul
Paul and one of the Chinese poets
Will add name when we can figure it out!
Tattered American Flag
We got a kick out of that and the ASU flag symbol too.
Mer at Nanhai Temple
Featuring at enormous golden statue of Quan Yin
Manjul photographing Mer
Manjul was so cute!
Gigantic statue, teeny tiny Paul
Paul at Quan Yin's Feet
Us & Quan Yin
Lotus fountain
Flag shadows on temple stairs
Map of temple
View of the Yellow River
It's still blue in Guide County, where it begins.
View from the road
Another view
At Guide Geological Park
The site of Paul's outdoor poetry reading and blistering HOT weather with gorgeous views.
At the park
Festival Banner
Paul & one of the translators
Will add him name when we get it...he's a bigger basketball fan than Paul!
Paul's reading
Mountain views
Gorgeous!
Park Sign
China 2011-Qinghai Lake
Paul & Jamilyn Xu
Jami was another poet we really connected with. Taken at Qinghai Lake
Qinghai Lake Sign
Prayer flags at lake
Qinghai Lake
Qinghai Lake is a sacred spot to Tibetan Buddhists.
Sign with Lake info
Mer & sign
The Lake
Another shot of Qinghai Lake
Lake Shot #3
Paul & Qinghai Lake
Mer & Qinghai Lake
More Prayer Flags at Lake
Some of the most amazing configurations of prayer flags were at this lake and the shrine.
I love this shot
Prayer flags in sand
They were scattered everywhere, as people leave them as offerings.
More info about the lake
Love the flags!
Messages beneath flags
People leave messages and offerings
Messages outside shrine
Outside the shrine
Prayer wheels inside shrine
Large prayer wheel inside shrine
Flags littering steps
Atop the Shrine view
The shrine altar
Paul and Jesus David Curbelo from Cuba
Paul & Mer
Paul & Pilar Gonzales Espana from Spain
Another shrine view
On the altar
On the altar 2
Shrine flags
Still more lake info!
Drums leading to shrine entrance
Horns near shrine entrance
Entry gate
Mer & entry gate
One of our buses stuck in sand
Love how some are pushing while some take photos. :)
Parting shot of Qinghai Lake
Fun Sign #1
Tourist Yak
These yaks were all over for people to sit on and take photos. It was kind of sad, actually.
Interesting history of Lake area
In the folk art museum
World Wheel
Spinning of the stars wheel
Astrology Wheel
Mask in folk art museum
Another mask
A Piece we liked
Mer & Tibetan Entrepreneur
This little girl was asking for 2 yuan to take a photo with her. We said "no..one yuan.." And she insisted on 2 until we walked away...then relented and agreed to one yuan.
Character near the lake
FUn Sign #2
Poetry Wall
The poetry wall is where the poets from the conference get their names engraved in stone each year, and there are homages to famous poets all along the wall.
Lorca
Neruda
Langston Hughes
Signature examples
We know this guy!
Afternoon Concert & Award
They put on a huge concert and award ceremony in the hottest part of the day to honor (?) the poets of the conference. It was long and exhausting.
Stage at concert
The emcees
They must have been HOT.
Again, amazing press coverage
AT least 30 photographers and many news crews.
Gold Tibetan Antelope Award
Winner was Lithuanian poet Tomas Venclova
Mer goes Muslim
A necessity in the heat
She's not the only one!
Mer with Gig Ryan from Australia
Random penguin
Clearly didn't know it was 90 degrees.
Paul signs his name on the wall
His name will be engraved in stone!
China 2011-Arrival & First Days
Sign in Beijing Bathroom
We found out later that the intent of the sign was to warn against slipping and falling in the bathroom.
Paul the VIP
We arrived in Xining, Qinghai Province and got these fancy VIP badges to wear for the conference.
Separate Beds, but Five-Star
We know now how much we were spoiled by the five-star Qinghai Hotel.
View from Hotel Window
A monastery across from the hotel
Another hotel view
Even five-star hotels have gas masks
We were amused to fine these in the closet about our terrycloth robes and shoeshine kit.
Paul and Gidi Majia
Paul with the Governor of Qinghai Province, and poet, and force behind the conference.
Paul and I in the lobby
Another lobby shot
Paul & Kristin Dimitrova from Bulgaria
Qinghai Hotel
Qinghai Hotel
Paul & Manjul from Nepal
One of the first poets we connected with, an absolute sweetheart.
Opening Ceremony Marquee
Tried to catch all the scrolling words. The opening ceremony was nuts! We have never seen so much press coverage and hoopla!
More Marquee
Still more marquee
And even more
Paul & Denis Mair at the Opening Ceremony
Denis has been our indispensable guide since we have been here.
Paul and lovely girl at opening ceremony
Paul & Niels Hav from Denmark
Opening ceremony stage
Opening ceremony pomp
The girls brought out a huge ribbon that all the officials cut together to open the festival.
Sign at ceremony
Balloons outside ceremony hall
Paul marveling at the Qinghai scenery
:) :)
So real, he could pluck a flower!
Paul & Denis prepping for Paul's presentation
Paul's presentation, with Denis translating
Paul's presentation
Entry to opening ceremony
Banners for Festival
More banners
Fun with translation
Conference Logo
I loooove this logo.
Interesting Chinese Dish
We were not sure what to do when this arrived at the formal banquet. Meredith said no, but Paul was brave and said it was not too bad.
Golfing poets?
Sign at our table at the banquet
Better not to read the menu...
We did avoid the cow stomach salad.
A toast with Gidi Majia
At the formal banquet
scroll at the banquet
scroll detail
Paul with Javier & Roberto
Javier Bello from Chile and Roberto Alifano from Argentina.
Us with Javier Bello
Mer and Javier
Javier and Mer became fast friends.
Oregon Trip July 2011
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Mount Rainier Park, on our way South
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First Stop: Cherries!
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Paul w/ cherry.
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Wind power near Columbia Gorge
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We thought this was funny...especially said in a theatrical voice: "JOURNEY THROUGH TIME!"
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Is that Mount Hood...or???
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YES! Thank you, Mountain Identifier.
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Paul liked these bumper stickers...
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Looking up the cinder cone at Newberry Volcanic Monument
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Inside the cone/crater.
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Looking across to another cinder cone
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One view from the cone
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Scavenger chipmunk at the top
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view from the cone
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Snag with lava in foreground
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Lava
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Lave with cone
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view from lava
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lava and new plant life
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At Big Obsidian Flow, a huge field of lava turned into glass/obsidian by heat thousands of years ago.
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Obsidian
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Obsidian
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obsidian
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Snow at the top of the flow.
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obsidian
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Paulina Falls, at Newberry Monument Park
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Entrance to lava river cave, a tube of lava that goes one mile underground
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From inside, looking back toward the entrance
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Crater Lake!!!! What follows are a large number of different views and photos of the lake...so stunning. I will add notes to some as needed.
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Paul thought Crater Lake Espresso Beans were particularly funny.
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This is a stream of pollen floating on the lake
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The white at the bottom is snow.
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That's a reflection in the lake...upside down mountain!
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Our path took us along the Rogue River to the Oregon Coast.
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Summer road construction
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Osprey nest, with mama and babies!
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Devil Canyon, Rogue River
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Rogue River
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The one lane road we took through the wilderness to the coast.
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The coast!
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Windblown tree on the coast
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Oregon dunes
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Dunes
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Our home at Point Lookout
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Master of FIRE.
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Morning beach walk
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Just in case we got lost...
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flowers growing out of the cliffs
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Amazing green lichen/moss!
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Moss
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Paul finds a quiet cove and mini cliff waterfall
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the cliffside barnacles and sea life was so cool
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Pattern left in sand after waves recede
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Heart shaped rock. Awww...
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I found two sand dollars!
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First view from our Cape Lookout Trail Hike...about 5 miles.
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IMG_1290.JPG 2011-07-06
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Another view
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Indian Paintbrush
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Swirling water below!
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View from Cape Lookout
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Scavenger squirrel
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flowers on the trail
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Munson Falls on our way home
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I love moss!
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CHeck out my Moss-stache
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Flowers near the falls
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IMG_1323.JPG 2011-07-07
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IMG_1325.JPG 2011-07-07
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NICE sticker.
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At Kurt Cobain memorial park in Aberdeen.
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Paul wrote an AWESOME poem here
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The bridge where Kurt hung out as a child
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IMG_1337.JPG 2011-07-07
Cali Road Trip
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Sunset from the car our first day on the road
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Sunset, day one from the road
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At Paul's grandmother's house in Glendora, CA...Bomma.
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Paul at Bomma's
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Paul thinking he's picking limes, actually unripened oranges.
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Back of Bomma's house
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All up inside the orange tree, trying to get ripe ones
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Us and Paul's cousin Dan & wife Janet.
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The view from our condo in Dana Point.
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View!
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Paul's hand on my knee in the car while driving.
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Doheny Park Beach
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Paul's two avorite things: vanilla yogurt and a beautiful sunset
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Sunset in Dana Point
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At Mission San Juan Capistrano
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Inside the chapel
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Inside the chapel
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My requisite "head in a cut-out" shot.
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Orange tree
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Paul in action, on bikes riding to San Clemente Pier
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San Clemente Pier
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Surfers
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On the Pier
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At Mission San Luis Del Rey, near Oceanside CA
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I found this plaque a little creepy...
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BUT THIS was even CREEPIER!
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Water used to come through this gargoyle in the Lavendaria, where Indians did their washing
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Steps to lavanderia
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My friend Nansi's personalized CA plates, after she left WA. HA!
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Paul & his Cousin Steve
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Us with Steve and Nansi at Las Brisas in Laguna Beach
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View from Las Brisas
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View of Dana Point Harbor
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Me & Nansi
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I think we look stoned in this pic...HA!
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Us and Steve at Las Brisas
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Sunset light
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Sunset Light
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Another gorgeous sunset
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At the Japanese garden in Balboa Park, San Diego
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Amazing artist Miya Hannan at the Japanese Garden
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There's a whole story about this bone looking like the buddha, having the buddha in your throat. Really cool.
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in the garden, before the rat...a story best told in person.
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in the garden
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Part of the architecture of the building holding Spreckels Organ, a giant organ in Balboa Park
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Leaving Dana Point, heading north up Highway 1 on our way home
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Prettiest view at a bathroom stop ever!
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Santa Barbara Cemetery, Kenneth Rexroth's grave.
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The sun started to come out as we headed toward the coast, but the fog took over soon.
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Cool frog sculpture in Cambria, CA
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ELEPHANT SEALS!
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Elephant seals!!!
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Those two in the water are mating
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Elephant seal!!!!
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The blue sky tried sooooo hard!
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You can really get a sense of the fog in this photo...
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At Robinson Jeffers house in Carmel, CA
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View of the tower from the road. Robinson hauled every single boulder in that tower himself, one by one, to build that tower for his wife. Now that's love!
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From inside the family home looking out toward the tower
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From his wife Una's room in the tower
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Looking down on the property from the tower
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At Point Lobos Park, Carmel CA
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Our GPS assured us that we were getting on the Golden Gate Bridge
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There's a bridge here somewhere
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Yep, there's a bridge under that fog I think.
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This reminded me of a hobbit door, in the hedge outside Joanne Kyger's house in Bolinas, CA
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In Bolinas, we happened upon a roadside artist selling cool art. He asked us to drive up to the gate to park...and THIS was the GATE! WOW! He made it!
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Gate detail
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A second gate that leads to his home
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We passed the home of Wallaby yogurt! Paul's favorite. We tried to say hello, but no one was home.
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This doesn't even begin to describe the twisting roads.
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View of cypress trees, taken from the car
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Unknown flower we love, still trying to find out what it is.
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Sunset from Route 1
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End of the Pacific Coast Highway!
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Town Square in Arcata, CA
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Seen in downtown Eureka, CA
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Public art in downtown Eureka, CA: Paul bangs the drum.
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Mural in downtown Eureka. While I was taking the pic, a dilinquent walked by and said "what's so special about THAT?"
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Public art, Eureka CA
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Square in Eureka CA
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Remember Zoltar from the movie BIG?
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On the boardwalk, Eureka CA
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Cool mural in Eureka
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mural detail
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Morris Graves Museum, Eureka CA
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Inside the museum
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inside the museum
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Checking out the redwoods, which were breathtaking!
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Even leaning your head all the way back, you can't see the top.
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Perspective: the trees on the right are normal sized trees.
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Teeny tiny Paul and a redwood
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Teeny tiny Meredith and a redwood
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Oregon coast
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Oregon coast
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Oregon coast
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Oregon coast
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Oregon Coast
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Looking up as we cross a bridge in OR
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Strange things happen after many many hours in a car...
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Morning light on Oregon sand dunes the morning after we camped near Florence, OR
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Bridge into Florence, OR
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Tasty tasty breakfast in Newport. It's a pig with a plate of pancakes, what could be wrong?
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You can take the girl out of Wisconsin, but you can't suppress her love of cheese curds!
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Oregon Coast
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Oregon Coast
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Oregon Coast
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Meredith at Oregon Coast
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Bridge entering Washington
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Just moments from home... after a long incredible journey!
Professional Wedding Pics
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120-69350004.jpg 2010-08-06
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120-69350001.jpg 2010-08-06
Wedding BBQ & Rehearsal
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Curt&Alm&Tahoma.jpg 2010-07-24
Several_People.jpg
Several_People.jpg 2010-07-24
Michelle_&_Jane_&_Magnolia.jpg
Michelle_&_Jane_&_Magnolia.jpg 2010-07-24
Allison_Dietz_Steven_Joe.S_PEN.jpg
Allison_Dietz_Steven_Joe.S_PEN.jpg 2010-07-24
Lavender.jpg
Lavender.jpg 2010-07-24
Matt_&_RR.jpg
Matt_&_RR.jpg 2010-07-24
The_Sherwins.jpg
The_Sherwins.jpg 2010-07-24
Bambina.jpg
Bambina.jpg 2010-07-24
Buffy&Dietz.jpg
Buffy&Dietz.jpg 2010-07-24
Curt_&_Justin.jpg
Curt_&_Justin.jpg 2010-07-24
Rehersal2.jpg
Rehearsal Day: Jon, Rebecca, Matt & Mary
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Ruby & Meredith at the Rehearsal BBQ
Wedding Cruise
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RR_Matt.jpg 2010-07-24
MA&RR.jpg
MA&RR.jpg 2010-07-24
Matt_C&_Jenn.jpg
Matt_C&_Jenn.jpg 2010-07-24
Mer_Onyeali.jpg
Mer_Onyeali.jpg 2010-07-24
PEN.jpg
PEN.jpg 2010-07-24
PEN_&_Jon.jpg
PEN_&_Jon.jpg 2010-07-24
MER_Olympics_PEN_4.jpg
MER_Olympics_PEN_4.jpg 2010-07-24
MER_Olympics_PEN_3.jpg
MER_Olympics_PEN_3.jpg 2010-07-24
MER_Olympics_PEN_2.jpg
MER_Olympics_PEN_2.jpg 2010-07-24
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MER_Olympics_PEN.jpg 2010-07-24
PEN_RR_&_Matt.jpg
PEN_RR_&_Matt.jpg 2010-07-24
PEN_&_RR.jpg
PEN_&_RR.jpg 2010-07-24
Matt_Castrina_Mer_Jenn_Huntzinger.jpg
Matt_Castrina_Mer_Jenn_Huntzinger.jpg 2010-07-24
Mer_&_Jane Gilles.jpg
Mer_&_Jane Gilles.jpg 2010-07-24
Magnolia_3.jpg
Magnolia_3.jpg 2010-07-24
Magnolia_2.jpg
Magnolia_2.jpg 2010-07-24
Magnolia.jpg
Magnolia.jpg 2010-07-24
Bannon_&_Brian.jpg
Bannon_&_Brian.jpg 2010-07-24
Bannon_&_Mer_&_Brian.jpg
Bannon_&_Mer_&_Brian.jpg 2010-07-24
Mariska_&_Brian.jpg
Mariska_&_Brian.jpg 2010-07-24
Wedding
Just the beginning of wedding pics!
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Officiant Mike Hursh
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Barb reading
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Barb reading, with Mt Rainier
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You're married! Kiss!
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First dance shot
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Roger, Carl & John at Reception
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Elaine & Roger
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Reception1.jpg 2010-07-27
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Elaine & Jon
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photo_2.JPG 2010-07-25
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laughing at ceremony.jpg 2010-08-02
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me and cupcakes.jpg 2010-08-02
flower girl.jpg
flower girl.jpg 2010-08-02
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hands and rainier.jpg 2010-08-02
Salt Spring Honeymoon
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Just off the ferry, columbine in bloom
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Our gorgeous cabin
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Welcome basket featuring farm fresh eggs, gluten free breads and more!
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Our loft bedroom
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Part of our backyard
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Paul found the hot tub while I was taking photos
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Morning visitors
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We spent a lot of time in the hammock!
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Took this picture just for my dad!
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A nod to Paul's sister, now my sister-in-law...Barb.
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His and hers "something blue" honeymoon toes
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This seemed to be a good omen
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Mmmmm! Outdoor couples massage!
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Views from Mount Maxwell
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Prayer flags atop Mount Maxwell
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Apricot tart from Tony's Tarts. We had one tart per day...at least!
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Paul on his way to the hot tub.
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Beach at the Indian Reserve
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Yes ladies, back off. That's my husband!
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The white part is ground up shells
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PURPLE STARFISH!
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Another starfish!
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Happy couple
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We rented a double kayak for four hours
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Eagles everywhere!
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Blue heron!
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Our lunch stop
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One of many heart shaped rocks we found
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Friday night live music. Folksy/blues guy.
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A view from Ganges
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Sunset, of course.
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Mariners-Sox Game
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Brussels
Brussels
The first photo I took in Brussels, while we were wandering around lost trying to find our flat.
L' Homo Erectus
The running joke of our trip. The name of the gay bar across the street from our flat.
54 Rue De Pierres
The exterior of the building where we stayed.
Inside our Flat
Looking from bathroom into living room
Inside our flat
Looking toward bedroom area
Inside our flat
Bedroom
Inside our flat
Looking toward bathroom and kitchen. (Kitchen is behind the windowed wall.)
Grand Place
Right around the corner from our flat!
Grand Place
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Grand Place
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Our first day in Brussels
Memorial for Jews who died in WWII.
Our first day in Brussels
Part of the memorial.
Day One, on the way to the Magritte Museum!
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Day One
Weird/cool art piece we saw through a window.
Day One
Whole different country, same parking technology as in Seattle.
Day One
Outside the modern art museum.
Day One
Photo of Magritte inside the Magritte Museum.
Day One
Photo inside Magritte Museum.
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Day One
In Sablon Square, where we had lunch.
Day One
Lovely flower mounds in park near Sablon Square.
Day One
Lovely flower mounds in park near where we had lunch.
Day One
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Statue street performer
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The famous Manneken Pis
Manneken Pis is like the mascot of Brussels. You see his likeness everywhere! The first time we saw him, he was wearing this little outfit.
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Paul being zen in the Grand Place
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Random Grand Place tourists
Paul walked up next to the person taking their photo and snapped one to be funny. They were amused!
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Manneken Pis in chocolate
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Belgian beer everywhere!
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Jazz club 2 doors down from our flat
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At the jazz club
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At the jazz club
The band was pretty good for awhile, but then everything sounded the same. It was fun to hear songs in French as well.
At the jazz club, after a few belgian beers!
No better time for a photo shoot.
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Day trip to Bruges
Paul calls Bruges a "medieval theme park." But I thought it was quaint and lovely. Guess which one of us enjoyed the day trip?
Bruges
Guess what the main mode of transportation is?
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Bruges
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Bruges
Walking from the train station toward the town center.
Bruges
Lovely flowers in a park...
Bruges
I loved the architecture/stonework and buildings in the town center.
Bruges
The entrance to an old 15th Century monstery
Bruges
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Bruges
Paul calls this the drooling horse of Bruges. Brussels has its pissing boy, Bruges its drooling horse. Ha!
Bruges
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Bruges
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Bruges
I took this photo for my mom, as it reminded me of a mask I got her in Italy. This one was bolted to a wall and taller than me, so it wouldn't fit in my carry-on. :)
Bruges
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Bruges
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Bruges
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Bruges
Paul trying to get away from me and my crazy picture-taking ways.
Bruges
He succeeded!
Bruges
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Bruges
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Bruges
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On the canal boat tour
I was excited to see the bridges!
Canal boat tour
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Canal boat tour
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Canal boat tour
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Canal boat tour
This is a spy window in an old guard tower. It's only about 8 x 10 in size.
Canal boat tour
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Canal boat tour
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Canal boat tour
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Canal boat tour
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Canal boat tour
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Canal boat tour
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Bruges
These ornate sculptures above doorways are everywhere in Bruges.
Canal boat tour
On the boat, before it started raining, in happier times. :)
Bruges
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Bruges
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Bruges
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Bruges
One of the working windmills of Bruges.
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Bruges
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Bruges
Paul's face is a good illustration of our moods by this point, we were very wet from the rain.
Bruges
Another ornate over the door sculpture.
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Bruges
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Brussels Day Two
Looking toward Grand Place
Oh my, the Belgian chocolate!
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Oh my, the Belgian waffles!
Street vendors sold these everywhere.
Belgian waffle topping possibilities
I went for bananas and chocolate, Paul had strawberries and whipped cream.
Manneken Pis, Day Two in all his glory!
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Brussels street view
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Another iteration of Manneken Pis
CHEF Manneken Pis.
Crepes!
We shared chevre and spinach, then a dessert crepe with caramelized bananas. Yum! Paul calls this my posing face.
Crepes!
Paul says this is the real me. Ha! :)
Gay Brussels, right outside our door.
This is the second gay club across from our flat. These clubs went all night, people stumbling out at 7am some mornings. Thank god for ear plugs!
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Gay pride flags
These criss-crossed all down our street. The month of May...yes, the whole month, is Pride month.
Me & chocolate rendering of Manneken Pis.
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Paris trip!
Off our train and onto the Metro platform, headed to Pere LaChaise Cemetary. I loved how smart the public transportation was here and in Belgium. It tells you exactly how long your wait is for your train.
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Pere LaChaise
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Pere LaChaise001
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Pere LaChaise002
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Pere LaChaise003
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Pere LaChaise004
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Pere LaChaise005
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Pere LaChaise006
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Pere LaChaise007
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Oscar Wilde
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Pere LaChaise008
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Pere LaChaise010
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Pere LaChaise011
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Pere LaChaise009
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Pere LaChaise012
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Gertrude Stein
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The stone we placed on the headstone
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Alice
When I came around the back and saw this, I welled up! I had no idea they were buried together and was very moved.
Pere LaChaise013
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Auschwitz memorial
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Another death camp memorial
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Paul Eluard
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Pere LaChaise014
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Nazi death camp memorial
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Edith Piaf
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Pere LaChaise015
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Pere LaChaise016
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Pere LaChaise017
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Pere LaChaise018
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Pere LaChaise019
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Pere LaChaise
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We stumbled upon this grave
The founder of homeopathy!
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Jim Morrison
The whole place is cordoned off now. I was able to sit there and write when I went 18 years ago. Alas, no more. Too many vandals spoiled it for everyone.
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Pere LaChaise
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Pere LaChaise
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Pere LaChaise
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Eiffel Tower!
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Eiffel Tower
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Eiffel Tower
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Eiffel Tower
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Eiffel Tower
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Eiffel Tower
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Eiffel Tower
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Inside the elevator-Eiffel Tower
The elevator goes on an angle and was a little bit unnerving!
View from the tower
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View from the tower
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view from the tower
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French ad for Chucks.
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Musee D
HUGE queue we waited in to get into the museum. Found out after we got in that it was the free first Sunday, thus the huge wait.
Musee D
Outside while queue'ing.
Staying positive during our long wait!
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French flag shots
again, taken while waiting in line!
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Musee D
Outside, after we saw the incredible Monet and Van Gogh exhibitions. They had 5 Rouen Cathedral paintings, and other Monet and Van Gogh neither of us had ever seen. Incredible!
By the Seine
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Footbridge over the Seine
We walked across and there was a street musician playing, of ALL things.. "Chicago is MY kind of town." Paul loved it!
Along the Seine
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Freaky overexposed shot
We thought it was still a cool shot. :)
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Paul and Winston Churchill
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Long walk from Arc D
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Long walk from Arc D
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Long walk from Arc D
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Long walk from Arc D
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Long walk from Arc D
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Long walk from Arc D
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Long walk from Arc D
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Long walk from Arc D
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Long walk from Arc D
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Long walk from Arc D
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BEST. CROISSANT. EVER.
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The Louvre
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The Seine
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Notre Dame
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Notre Dame
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Notre Dame
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Shakespeare & Company Bookstore
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Paul finds his spot!
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Headed back to Brussels
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Inside Gare Du Nord, Paris
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Another Chicago reference!
Inside a travel agency near our flat.
Ah, the pissing dog sidewalk art!
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Conference Hotel
I thought this was a cool bottle setup in the hotel bar, day one of the conference.
Square D
Statue in the square across from where the conference was held.
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On the Brussels metro!
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Paul and Charlie on the Brussels Metro
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European pastries rock!
I had some of the most incredible fresh rhubarb pastries. Yummiest! Paul loved all things apricot.
Paul
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Mandalas painted by artist-in-residence
These were hanging up at the conference venue(s).
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Paul, Gillian Parrish, Me and Charlie
At the conference. Gillian is awesome (smart, bright, talented writer) and we totally connected with her. She is hoping to come out to Seattle to visit us in the winter.
Chapel in Uccle, near conference
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Quiet street in Uccle
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Another brilliant public transportation sign
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The red dots represent trains, the arrow is the stop where you are.
You always know how far away your train is! Brilliant!
Atomium
Brussels version of the Space Needle, built for the 1958 World's Fair. The connecting arms house escalators and stairwells.
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Atomium
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Atomium
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Atomium
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Atomium
Stairwell in one of the "arms."
Atomium
Escalator in one of the "arms."
Atomium
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Atomium
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Atomium
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Sacre Couer Basilica, Brussels
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Sacre Couer Basilica, Brussels
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Sacre Couer Basilica, Brussels
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Sacre Couer Basilica, Brussels
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Sacre Couer Basilica, Brussels
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Statue in Grand Place
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Looking toward Grand Place
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Looking toward Grand Place
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Chapel near our flat
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Outside the chapel
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Historic former stock exchange building
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Our Favorite Manneken Pis Send-Up
Yes, that's a Frite pissing mayo onto a pile of fries. Now that's a logo!
Another drooling statue
This one next door to L'Homo Erectus. Coincidence?
Me & the Brussels Metro map.
We became great friends, the metro and I.
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Wolvendael Park, next door to the conference site004
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We were puzzled by this duck like bird that was like a duck on steroids (big!) and strangely colored.
Wolvendael Park, next door to the conference site006
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Wolvendael Park, next door to the conference site008
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Wolvendael Park, next door to the conference site009
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Paul and Franca Bellarsi, the conference organizer
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Paul
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Paul
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Paul
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Looks tasty, right?
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Found on our last day!
The best, freshest healthy food in Brussels. Yum!
Clever graffiti art near Belgian Comic Strip Center
The artists painted wanted posters of themselves on the graffiti wall.
Belgian Comic Strip Center
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Belgian Comic Strip Center
The smurfs were created by Belgian artist Peyo.
Belgian Comic Strip Center
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Belgian Comic Strip Center
Loved their comic signs for the men's and women's restrooms!
Belgian Comic Strip Center
The men's room sign
Belgian Comic Strip Center
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Belgian Comic Strip Center
cool shadows hanging from ceiling
Belgian Comic Strip Center
TinTin was the star of the museum
Belgian Comic Strip Center
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Belgian Comic Strip Center
Cool larger than life book exhibit
Belgian Comic Strip Center
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Belgian Comic Strip Center
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Belgian Comic Strip Center
SMURFS!
Belgian Comic Strip Center
An early drawing of Smurfette
Belgian Comic Strip Center
Smurf village
Belgian Comic Strip Center
Early strip, in French
Belgian Comic Strip Center
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Belgian Comic Strip Center
Early Smurf sketches
Belgian Comic Strip Center
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Belgian Comic Strip Center
Smurf creator Peyo.
Belgian Comic Strip Center
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Belgian Comic Strip Center
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Belgian Comic Strip Center
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Belgian Comic Strip Center
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Belgian Comic Strip Center
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Belgian Comic Strip Center
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Belgian Comic Strip Center
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St. Michael
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George Clooney peddling coffee in Belgium
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Heavily photoshopped Uma Thurman peddling Givenchy in Belgium.
These ads were in every Metro station, and her body looks completely out of proportion and weird! A lot of photoshopping, methinks.
Parc Cinquantennaire, Brussels
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Parc Cinquantennaire, Brussels
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Parc Cinquantennaire, Brussels
They call this Brussels' version of the Arc D'Triomphe.
Parc Cinquantennaire, Brussels
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Parc Cinquantennaire, Brussels
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Parc Cinquantennaire, Brussels
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Parc Cinquantennaire, Brussels
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Parc Cinquantennaire, Brussels
When I got to the main area there was a huge military ceremony going on and everyone was being quiet. Only the tourists were wandering around looking confused.
Parc Cinquantennaire, Brussels
Even this puppy had to stop playing ball...
Parc Cinquantennaire, Brussels
much pomp and circumstance
Parc Cinquantennaire, Brussels
Dignitaries
Charlie and Paul with ice cream and waffles, our last night in Brussels
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Even Coca Cola gets in on Manneken Pis
This vending machine reads "Taste the Coke side of Belgium" beneath the pissing Manneken Pis image. Nice one!
Alaska Road Trip Part One
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Our first stop: The Whistler Hostel. Beautiful views, but run by a crazy hostile front desk person, we called it the "ho
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One view from the hostel
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Another view from the hostel
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In Whistler...too cool not to take a pic!
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Totem pole in Whistler
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Totem Pole Detail
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These signs were all over for the upcoming Olympics.
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Paul and Charlie at the verrrry ritzy Whistler Golf Club.
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Shot of the green at Whistler Golf Club
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On the road from Whistler to Tomslake, BC... a log jam.
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Another log jam pic
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On the road to Tomslake...Cayoosh Creek.
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On the road to Tomslake
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The original jail in Lillooet
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public art in Lillooet
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We found this funny and sad...from a bridge in Lillooet
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Our car mascot, Joey...provided endless entertainment probably funny to no one else. Acquired from a seafood restaurant
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Many remote spots required pumping from the above-ground gas tank. One gas station in BC had a handlettered sign that sa
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On the way to Tomslake...more scenery from the car.
Chetwynd, BC
This town was full of chainsaw carving, and its welcome sign proclaimed it the chainsaw carving capital of Canada.
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We arrive at Tom and Gina's in Tomslake, BC. Paul makes an instant friend...Charlie the cat.
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Our home at Tom and Gina's farm for two nights: Cabin on the right and outhouse on the left. They had 160 acres!
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Turkey on the farm
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Bantam chickens. Note the feather "socks" on their feet!
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This reminded me of the woodstove we cooked on when I was growing up.
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Beaver Dam on Tom and Gina's property. There was also a bear and cub in the next field over, so our loud talking scared
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Part of the farm
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Target practice!
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Dinner our last night
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Me and Charlie
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Don Gina and Paul sitting around the campfire.
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Sunset in Tomslake
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Sunset in Tomslake...and it still didn't get dark until well after midnight!
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Warming our soles by the campfire
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The journey from BC to Alaska begins!
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Taken where else? Toad River.
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The famous Sign Post Forest
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We thought it was cool that the stoplights told you how many seconds you had to wait!
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Seen on the back of a truck...and ain't that the truth!
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roadside lovliness...these were everywhere in BC/Yukon.
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Cow Parsnip...good luck for travelers. We saw a TON of them.
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Natural hot springs at Liard River, BC
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Charlie did not want his pic taken. This is courtesy of Paul.
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This almost captures how incredibly lush it was near the hot springs.
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Saw this sign long before we saw our first bear.
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And Wolf it Down we did at our first stop for the night in the Yukon.
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What they drink in the Yukon
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Overlooking Teslin
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Fireweed
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Nootka Rose
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Took a detour through Tagish...other than a bear sighting, this house is a good representation of the disappointing alte
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On a car in front of us...We thought it a good omen.
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Dead spruce trees. The spruce and pine beetles have decimated large parts of the forests in BC and Yukon. It's pretty sa
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Kluane Lake, Yukon
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Kluane Lake, Yukon
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Third bear sighting, first actual photos attained!
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Alaska Road Trip Part Two
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WE MADE IT!
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We had never seen this before. Being led through road construction.
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Our stop for breakfast in Tok, Alaska. We liked the logo with the bear chasing the pizza guy.
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Paul wanted to have the boobs for a change.
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How Charlie was seen most often...snapping pics!
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Part of the Chugach Mountains
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Chugach Mountains
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On the road to Anchorage
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Charlie about to chow down on Snow Crab in Anchorage
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Anchorage, 11:15 PM...The sun just hangs there in the sky and doesn't really set. It stays like twilight until 4AM or so
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Himalayan Poppies, outside of Homer, AK
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Wild Geraniums, outside of Homer, AK
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Coming into Homer, AK
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Kachemak Bay, Homer AK
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The Homer Spit, jutting out into Kachemak Bay
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We had the best Halibut EVER while in Homer.
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Kachemak Bay, from the Homer Spit
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Kachemak Bay, from the Homer Spit
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Kachemak Bay, from the Homer Spit
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Lupine in bloom. Meredith's new favorite flower...wedding bouquet perhaps?
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Our home in Homer!
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On a walk to the beach off Kachemak Bay
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Paul in full vacation mode
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On the beach off Kachemak Bay. I found zero sealife, think the gulls had breakfast before we arrived.
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Beach off Kachemak Bay
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Me and the lupines on Kachemak Bay
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Grewingk Glacier on Kachemak Bay
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Great farmer's market. Bought honey, homemade beauty products, sampled pickled kelp and more!
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Paul and Charlie outside the Pratt Museum in Homer
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Another Grewingk Glacier view
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Dwarf dogwoods at the Wynn Nature Center, Homer
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Now on our way to Haines Alaska, Portage Glacier outside Anchorage
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Matanuska Glacier outside Anchorage
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This is just how they roll on the Alaska Highway
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Grizzly off of Haines Highway
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Million Dollar Falls off Haines Highway
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Driving the Haines Highway
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Tree Hugger???
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NO! Hammer Hugger! Outside the World's Only Hammer Museum...Haines, AK
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Octopus Mask inside the Sheldon Museum, Haines AK
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Tlingit carving inside Sheldon Museum, Haines AK
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Fireweed
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The bay in Haines, AK
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The bay in Haines, AK
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Me on the bay in Haines
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Our first ferry on the Alaska Marine Highway, destination Juneau!
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Seen from the ferry on the way to Juneau
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Coming into Juneau, that's Mendenhall Glacier above the tree line.
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I guess they'll be changing this sign pretty soon!
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Yep. That's a porcupine in a tree near Mendenhall Glacier.
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Mendenhall Glacier
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Calves from the glacier
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Paul and I at Mendenhall Glacier
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Waterfall near the glacier
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Part of an elaborately carved Tlingit Thunderbird door at the Alaska State Museum in Juneau
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On our second ferry to Prince Rupert, BC, we camped on the solarium deck for two nights.
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Our surprisingly comfortable home for two nights.
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Solarium roof
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Our second ferry, the Taku
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Coming into Petersberg, AK
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Harbor in Petersberg, AK
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Going through the Wrangell Narrows
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Going through the Wrangell Narrows
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Sign in Wrangell, AK
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Eskimo Mer and her ghost dog.
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Paul doing his best velvet Elvis impersonation
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Sign in Ketchikan, AK. Hey, however you can make a buck, right?
Mom and Dad's Visit
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Baltimore-DC Trip March 2009
Paul's old pad
Paul in front of where he used to live in B-more...24 years ago!
Paul & Michael
A good friend of Paul's from B-more
Baltimore Oriole
Walt Whitman Way
in downtown DC
National Gallery Sculpture Park
In DC
Looking through the hole
Can you spot Paul?
In the Sculpture Garden
Paul & Van Gogh
Paul & I & Matisse
Matisse Cutouts @ National Gallery
Paul & I & Matisse
Jackson Pollack
Paul & I in a Pedi-cab
in DC
Paul & White House
ANOTHER Sox fan at the White House
Mural near my old house in DC
Mariska & Brian's wedding ceremony
Mariska & Brian's wedding ceremony
At the wedding
Onyeali & I
Kristine and I
At Fell's Point
in B-more
Fell's Point Shot 2
A Fell's Point Institution!
Zydeco Father & Son Musicians
in Fell's Point
Valentine's Day Road Trip 2009
At Cape Flattery
The northwesternmost tip of the continental U.S., where the Strait of Juan de Fuca meets the Pacific Ocean.
Tatoosh Island
Cape Flattery View
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Cape Flattery Waters
Incredible blue!
Shoreline caves
When the surf is rough, you can feel the earth vibrate as the water fills the caves beneath.
Paul & I & Seal Rock
Cool roots on the trail
Sekiu Welcomes Us...
...With a fish statue in a bra top and sneakers! What?? Haha!
Mount Baker from Dungeness Spit
On Dungeness Spit
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Dungeness Spit
Teeny tiny birds
in Port Townsend
The end of the line
The easternmost end of the Strait of Juan de Fuca, where it meets Puget Sound.
Seagull with starfish
breakfast!
Mer in gorgeous Madrone
Mount Baker