My "birthday escape" trip in April was spur of the moment, a rarity for me, and so when I arrived in Port Lavaca I really didn't have a plan. A few blocks from my hotel was the Formosa Wetlands Walkway and Alcoa Bird Tower and it was the perfect subject for my camera as the sun set. The walkway stretches 3,000 feet into Lavaca Bay and is completely made of recycled plastic. The...
My "birthday escape" trip in April was spur of the moment, a rarity for me, and so when I arrived in Port Lavaca I really didn't have a plan. A few blocks from my hotel was the Formosa Wetlands Walkway and Alcoa Bird Tower and it was the perfect subject for my camera as the sun set. The walkway stretches 3,000 feet into Lavaca Bay and is completely made of recycled plastic. The walkway goes out into the marshes and over to Lighthouse Beach.
A quick post to let you know that I am still alive and I feel bad for neglecting my beloved blog. I really like the system of posting multiple images in one post, but it certainly is easy for me to let time slip away from me and suddenly not have photos up for a week. In the old system of one photo a day I would never have let that happen. I'm not sure how to remedy it, but it...
A quick post to let you know that I am still alive and I feel bad for neglecting my beloved blog. I really like the system of posting multiple images in one post, but it certainly is easy for me to let time slip away from me and suddenly not have photos up for a week. In the old system of one photo a day I would never have let that happen. I'm not sure how to remedy it, but it will definitely be something on my mind.
The beginning of the school year is always hectic with long hours and a struggle to establish new routines. But hopefully soon the new routines will be established and I will be back to a more regular posting schedule.
This is a night shot of the Half Moon Reef Lighthouse that I first showed you in the Port Lavaca set.
Part of my birthday road trip in April was a desire to escape to a beach. I drove down to Port LaVaca and then worked my way up the coast the next day. I stopped at Matagorda Beach for a few hours and sat in the surf, walked along the shell strewn beach, took a birthday self portrait and just generally enjoyed one of the few things in life that completely relaxes me. There is...
Part of my birthday road trip in April was a desire to escape to a beach. I drove down to Port LaVaca and then worked my way up the coast the next day. I stopped at Matagorda Beach for a few hours and sat in the surf, walked along the shell strewn beach, took a birthday self portrait and just generally enjoyed one of the few things in life that completely relaxes me. There is nothing like the sound of the waves and taste of salt water in the air.
For my birthday in April, I took a spontaneous weekend roadtrip down to the city of Port Lavaca and then drove back up the coast the next day. This is very unlike me mainly because a.) I don't like driving and b.) I am not spontaneous, but I really needed to get away that weekend and I'm glad I went.
Port Lavaca is a town of about 12,000 and located on a bay. I was looking for...
For my birthday in April, I took a spontaneous weekend roadtrip down to the city of Port Lavaca and then drove back up the coast the next day. This is very unlike me mainly because a.) I don't like driving and b.) I am not spontaneous, but I really needed to get away that weekend and I'm glad I went.
Port Lavaca is a town of about 12,000 and located on a bay. I was looking for destinations that would get me the closest to water. Before I started my coastal drive back to Houston I walked around a little section of downtown with my camera.
The mural is on the side of the Main Street Theater which opened in the 1930s. It fell into neglect after it closed in the 1950s but reopened in the mid-90s.
The lighthouse is on the way out of town. The lighthouse was built in 1848 and was located in Matagorda Bay. It was in operation until the 1940s. It is the oldest surviving wooden lighthouse in Texas.
In March the Assignment: Houston photo group had an opportunity to photograph Wabash Antique & Feed store . I had never visited the store so when a representative approached me about bringing the group I decided to stop by and do some scouting. From the outside I did not think it was going to be nearly big enough to hold a group's photographic interest for long, but oh was I...
In March the Assignment: Houston photo group had an opportunity to photograph Wabash Antique & Feed store . I had never visited the store so when a representative approached me about bringing the group I decided to stop by and do some scouting. From the outside I did not think it was going to be nearly big enough to hold a group's photographic interest for long, but oh was I wrong. One room, leads to another, leads to another, leads to the outside gardens and statuary. Such a wonderful treasure and so strange that I can go 10 minutes from downtown and buy hen scratch and goat pellets.
Flickr set: Wabash Antique & Feed
I want to be one of those people who has a whilrwind life. I don't want to sit in my apartment all the time. I want to go out on a weeknight and have my weekend dance card full. I want to go, go, go.
But seriously, how do those people who live like this have time to get anything done? I've only been back at work two days and I already feel like I'm going to fall behind....
I want to be one of those people who has a whilrwind life. I don't want to sit in my apartment all the time. I want to go out on a weeknight and have my weekend dance card full. I want to go, go, go.
But seriously, how do those people who live like this have time to get anything done? I've only been back at work two days and I already feel like I'm going to fall behind. There do not seem to be enough hours in my evening off time to do everything that I want to do. Ride a bike, keep up with the apartment, cook a meal, read a book, scan negatives. These are things I want to do with my evenings, but I am lucky if I get one in. One of the great things about the new part of town I live in is that I can go and do all kinds of neat things in the evening, but who has the time?!?
Turning off the TV and the computer (gulp!) will help to reclaim some last time. Scanning images is at the top of the list. I have two rolls I still need to scan and I have five rolls of film that I need to send to be processed and then scanned. It isn't like I'm not taking pictures. I'm just falling behind on the sharing part. But I'll get a good routine going. Hopefully.
In the meantime a trio of flower shots that have been waiting for the perfect time to be posted.
Continuing with photos from Casco Viejo. You can read the history of the area in my first entry .
The Iglesia de San Francisco is one of the original structures from the settling of Casco Viejo. It has been ravaged by fire twice in the 1700s. It was restored in 1998.
This building and it's amazing interior is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the arm of the government...
Continuing with photos from Casco Viejo. You can read the history of the area in my first entry .
The Iglesia de San Francisco is one of the original structures from the settling of Casco Viejo. It has been ravaged by fire twice in the 1700s. It was restored in 1998.
This building and it's amazing interior is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the arm of the government that deals with other nations. The view from the inside looks across the pacific all the way to Panama Viejo. And all I had to do to get in was to sign my name to a book. Try that with our state department. At one time this was a school that my cousin attended as an elementary student. Can you imagine this being your school? The building was recently renovated in 2000.
A few more of the lovely buildings in Casco Viejo.
The building with flag is Palacio de las Garzas (Heron's Palace). It is the official name of the presidential palace, named for the numerous herons that inhabit the building. The original building was constructed in 1673. Again, a guard checked my bag and that was it. The next thing I knew I was standing in front of the presidential residence. It was very interesting to observe the difference between this small country and the superpower of the United States. The government has dealt with terrorism and assassination attempts in the past, but it is more accepted than it is in the U.S. Not to say that the country approves of it, but it is the way of the world that I think the U.S. is just now realizing.
The Metropolitan Cathedral is located on Plaza de la Independencia which is the site of many events throughout the year and through Panama's history. The cathedral is a wonderful representation of Spanish architecture in the country. Construction began in 1673 and took more than 100 years to complete. The building had a 4 million dollar restoration in 2004.
Many more photos from Casco Viejo in my Flickr set.
Flickr set: Panama
Originally built and settled in 1671 after the destruction of Panama Viejo (The original location of the City of Panama) by the privateer Henry Morgan, Casco Viejo de Panama was constructed as a walled city on a peninsula 8 kilometers away from Panama Viejo to protect its settlers against future pirate attacks.
Casco Viejo has much of the original 16th & 17th century Spanish &...
Originally built and settled in 1671 after the destruction of Panama Viejo (The original location of the City of Panama) by the privateer Henry Morgan, Casco Viejo de Panama was constructed as a walled city on a peninsula 8 kilometers away from Panama Viejo to protect its settlers against future pirate attacks.
Casco Viejo has much of the original 16th & 17th century Spanish & French Colonial architecture still standing, the most in all of Panama. UNESCO designated Casco Viejo as a World Heritage Site in 2003. The area is undergoing a revitalization as businesses and residents are moving in and renovating these old buildings.
If I could live anywhere in Panama, it would be Casco Viejo. To say that I took a lot of pictures here would be a serious understatement. It was the first day I really had to walk around part of the city (until then most of my travels had been by car). Combine walking the area with my love of history and architecture and the fact that it is just flat out beautiful and my camera went into over drive.
A little bit about a few of the photos in this set.
The abandoned structure is Club Union built in 1917. For many decades Club Union was the most exclusive and elegant social club in Panama City. With the decline of Casco Viejo the affluent families moved away from the old city and the club was abandoned. Under Manuel Noriega, it became the Club de Classes y Tropas and hosted lavish parties for the General’s classes and troops. After the U.S. invasion, the building fell into ruin. It is currently being demolished to make way for a five star hotel. I'm glad I got to see it when I had the chance.
Las Bovedas was part of Panama City's colonial fortification and is part of Plaza de Francia. If you start at Paseo de Esteban Huertas the walkway will lead you down to this plaza. Las Bovedas, which means vaults, have been used as at one time or another as stores, offices, a jail, dormitory and restaurants.
The blue building is the French embassy. It is located at the very front of Calle 1, the first street in Casco Viejo.
The church of Santo Domingo was built immediately after the settling of Casco Viejo, but underwent a fire in 1756. The wood church was destroyed and not rebuilt was but a flat arch inside the church still stood. The flat arch is famous because engineers had deemed it impossible that such a flat arch could remain in place without some sort of support. It was considered to be proof that Panama is relatively free of earthquakes. Unfortunately it succumbed to lack of maintenance and fell in November 2003. It is presently being restored.
The National Theater was opened in 1908 and its interior has been completely restored. It seats 800 and presents a programs of music, dance and theater.
As you walk down the streets you see newly renovated buildings next to ones that have not been touched. It is obviously a work in progress and a shift back to the affluent community that used to make this area it's home.
Flickr set: Panama
I meant to put up more than one post last week but allergies sidelined me and followed me to a convention in San Antonio. But I'm back and feel better and I'm looking forward to sharing photos with you this week from one of my favorite areas in Panama, Casco Viejo.
We start at the Paseo Esteban Huertas. This walkway was laid out in 1744 on a well-preserved part of the old colonial...
I meant to put up more than one post last week but allergies sidelined me and followed me to a convention in San Antonio. But I'm back and feel better and I'm looking forward to sharing photos with you this week from one of my favorite areas in Panama, Casco Viejo.
We start at the Paseo Esteban Huertas. This walkway was laid out in 1744 on a well-preserved part of the old colonial city wall. It is a waterfront promenade jutting out into the Pacific. Merchants set up along the walkway to sell their wares. From the promenade you get beautiful views of the ocean and the skyline of the city of Panama which is growing at an incredible rate.
Flickr set: Panama
