There's More

Hope you're not tired of Napa Valley drive bys, because here's one more.

Highway 29

Scenic Highway 29 in California's Napa Valley in Fall.

Driving By a Charming Old City

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Nürnberg/Nuremberg is definitely one of the most charming cities I've ever been too. It's clean and has a sense of peace to it, whether one chooses to drive or walk the scenery and views are just stunning.

While we were there, we drove around in a used renault megane hirecar since my father-in-law's car needed repairs. We went around the city viewing the more famous sites. The cobble stones, plaid tablecloth and restaurant umbrellas were a beautiful sight to look at. Even a VW driving by us was so irresistible, I kept clicking on my camera and I have to say the picture came out really well!

Napa Valley In Autumn

Napa Valley, California. November 2011

Blue Star Memorial Highway

California State Route 58

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One of the many highways marked to pay tribute to the U.S. armed forces.

Cruising By The Bay

On board the Red and White fleet as we watch the city of San Francisco during one of the Sunset Cruises.

Tropical Feel

Driving to Miami Beach.

Waiting

Everything one does in life, even love, occurs in an express train racing toward death. To smoke opium is to get out of the train while it is still moving. It is to concern oneself with something other than life or death.

-Jean Cocteau

I enjoy taking photos of the elderly while at the train stations. Reminds me of how life just passes by - as each train goes on to their destination, the tracks are not always as smooth but they do come by, taking people here and there leaving footprints as they do.

Considering Vancouver Renovation and Relocation

 

(photo by hubby while touring in Vancouver)

One of hubby's unexpected trip while on vacation was Vancouver. I never thought he'd be going so I was late telling a friend about his visit. They managed to squeeze in a few hours though and I was told that they talked about a lot of things. Mind you it was their firs acquaintance. From how hubby enjoyed the city, to the cold breeze it has compared to Vienna. 

My friend later emailed me that they were even talking about Vancouver renovation and relocation. How it is much easier there and there are certain companies whose aim is not to just make homes marketable but a comfortable living quarter. I haven't asked hubby about it but he's coming home today so let's see. We're off to the airport for now. Tata!

On to the Riches

This lovely and clear blue sky was taken during hubby's trip to Nevada...where else but Las Vegas! He met up with friends and has been posting photos of him playing on slot machines, world renowned hotels Bellagio, MGM Grand Las Vegas and the Vdara Hotel and Spa...

Can't blame him, what else to do in sin city but be merry, be a glutton, be greedy...I'm not tolerating this though, I do hope the hubby did everything in moderation and no to red light districts! Hmph!

Pasadena

It was a sunny day in LA when hubby arrived and on the morning of Steve Jobs passing too.I expect a lot of drive by shots from the hubby...teehee! And snow globes as well! ;)

Italian Villas – The Perfect Places to Stay in and Take Drive By Shots

The distinctive ‘click’ can be heard as the button is pressed. A moment later, a small image pops up on the digital camera; just a bit distorted by the glass of the car’s window is a tall building sitting regally atop a hill. Down one slope, the image shows a seemingly endless line of grape vines, and you can just barely make out the age of the dark stone of the castle.

It can be a hard task to find someplace really good to take pictures from if you’re traveling abroad. Trains are always an option, of course, but trains don’t see every sight. For more casual vacationers, a luxury villa can be the perfect place from which to take Drive By Photographs.

In particular, European locations such as Italian villas offer a great home base from which to drive out, see the countryside, and take photographs of what you see. Unlike modern hotels, which are usually placed in locations most convenient for tourism, villas tend to be homes out in the countryside that have been converted to serve as rentals for travelers. In some regions that have been settled for a long period of time, these villas can include places originally constructed by noblemen or other individuals of importance who were looking to build hunting lodges or vacation homes for themselves… and, practically speaking, this means that many villas are located in particularly scenic areas expressly chosen because of how beautiful they are to start with. The local agriculture often makes a beautiful accompaniment to villas, particularly just before things are taken off trees and vines. With many locations far away from modern cities, it’s easy to drive for hours through Europe’s beautiful terrain from a private villa, taking pictures as you go.

Of course, the terrain isn’t all there is to photograph. Rental villas themselves make excellent material for casual and serious photographers alike; whether it’s a castle perched atop a hill, an ancient town nestled snugly in a lush valley, or even just a home in a modern neighborhood, villas come in many shapes and sizes, and quite a few of these old world wonders can make outstanding images for someone passing by. For a journey to take the best images you can as you pass them by, there’s no place quite like an Italian villa to take a snapshot of your life.

Traffic jam...

Torino, Italy

Being at the front seat gives one all the opportunity to take shots, I think our co-blogger Photo Cache would agree. I miss her drive by shots. 

I'm not knowledgeable about cars and their models so I won't try identifying each in the photo. You can! ;)

Rodina Mat (Motherland Statue), Kiev

Mother Motherland (Ukrainian: Батьківщина-Мати) is a monumental statue of the "Mother Motherland" in Kiev, the capital of Ukraine. The sculpture is a part of Museum of the Great Patriotic War, Kiev. Built by Yevgeny Vuchetich, the titanium statue stands 62 m (203 ft) tall upon the museum building with the overall structure measuring 102 m (335 ft) and weighing 560 tons. The sword in the statue's right hand is 16 m (52 ft) long weighing 9 tons, with the left hand holding up a 13 by 8 m (43 by 26 ft) shield with the State Emblem of the Soviet Union. The Memorial hall of the Museum displays marble plaques with carved names of more than 11,600 soldiers and over 200 workers of the home-front honored during the war with the title of the Hero of the Soviet Union and the Hero of Socialist Labor. On the hill beneath the museum, traditional flower shows are held. The sword of the statue was cut because the tip of the sword was higher than the cross of the Kiev Pechersk Lavra. (wiki)

Kiev, Ukraine - March 2011 

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Scenic Sunday

Of Trucks and my Dad

(photo taken while on the opposite road in Italy, on our way to Venice)

Would you believe that a big part of my teenage life were spent around trucks? My dad has retired from his work as a seaman then and decided to engage into a trucking business, later on a nipa hut business with own delivery to clients. At some instances he would personally drive one. I guess that comes with his want to always be out travelling and seeing other places. This would give us (mom and I at most) uneasy and sometimes sleepless nights.

That's mostly because trucks travel more conveniently at the wee hours of the morning --- no hassles of travelling around smaller vehicles, not much pedestrian or totally none - means less accidents and faster travel time too. The sleepiness however is a big factor. It is never a good thing to travel when one didn't have enough sleep earlier on. So we had to request daddy to hire a number of drivers to relieve us of the worry regarding his safety on the road.

In those years I got acquainted with a lot of parts truck though earlier on I knew some auto, bicycle parts - because whenever daddy tinkers with them, I get to be around and familiarize myself.

Of course, I learned stuff like disc brake, alternator, bug shield and  heater hose...that's one of the most common sources of coolant leaks in vehicles. These hoses allow hot coolant to enter and leave the heater core to heat the interior of the vehicle...they tend to be brittle and then they crack. I remember dad has to have those as spare ready especially when he's out to travel long distances. It was his habit of checking that everything is in place before leaving and travelling.

We had to sell the trucks when daddy got older...I'm sure he had his own memories of seeing different scenes and fields, meeting different vehicles along the way, having his own drive bys. The only difference with our drive bys is, I get to capture what I see with my camera, his; etched in his memories.



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This is a true story written for a Bucks2Blog campaign .

Tiltshift attempt

I haven't been successful with tiltshifting photos taken on eye-level...I make better ones when the photo was shot from top view. What do you think?

To Experience Vancouver Kayaks

This photo is blurred not because my hand is shaky but because we were in the train when I clicked the camera. This is one of the many drive by shots I took during our 6-hour-travel back from Nurnberg. I didn't realize that there was a kayak and saw it only when I viewed the shots later on.

Some posts ago I mentioned that the hubby plans to go on a US and Canada trip. Riding on the famous Vancouver Kayaks and fishing are listed on his to-dos. Hubby is an adventurous guy so I bet he'll enjoy hiking, camping or boating along with kayaking and other activities that Canada has to offer.

Find an Investment Real Estate Broker Who Will Put Your Interests Ahead

If you like traveling, then youhave been to a lot of different places and you have also seen how diverse real estate structures can be from one country to the other. Has the thought of owning a property in a foreign land ever crossed your mind? If it has then it’s probably for good reasons.

Perhaps you are looking to have sort of like a family rest house in a nearby town or country, a place where you and your family can hie off to when you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life. After all, booking a hotel room during the holiday rush is never easy. With your own place, you could get to relish your vacation to the full.

At any rate, it would be a good idea for you to look for an investment real estate broker who could provide you with the best listings in a particular area. You should also look for someone who could give you the best prices available and would ensure that they have your best interests at heart and not simply out of their need to rake in commissions.

Ripples

Probably the most featured form of water in this blog, the Danube. There's a window reflection too, I was standing by the train's door when we passed by....just had to click.

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Sky Photo Postcard

I've used this quote a while back but I'm using it again. I think it's just to show how I admire our creator. :) How he never got to create two same skies is a wonder!

If you've been to my other blogs then you might have seen that I do a lot of photo postcards. Most of them are on my Postcard Perfect blog - which by the way also accepts contribution like this one (www.postcard-perfect.com). I layout my photos to postcards and have them printed. I found a reasonably priced postcard printing service that prints my photos in good quality. I just need to email my photo, set the borders, the size and the number of prints I want, put in my name and address and pay online via credit card or bank account and voila! I'm really contented at 0.20€ a piece plus about 3€ for shipping. My postcards arrive in 3 days at most. I find it really convenient and very personal.

So far I've sent about 10 of my personal printed postcards to friends. It's a great way to send as personal gifts to family members especially if the print are those of my kids.  I print landscape photos too and I send them out as giveaways to readers.

You know, it's always been my dream to see my own photos on those postcard stands...I just don't know where to begin. So this is actually my first step to do that...hopefully. :)


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Skywatch Friday.

Sky's alive

(Movement noticeable...)

And so's the soil.

Can't tell why the field has those different colors appearing in stripes but surely looks pretty...

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Field

Yellow, yet nothing's planted yet. Travels that are as far as 5 hours are worthwhile with scenes as refreshing as this.


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Taken 2 hours away Nürnberg (perhaps just when the train left Passau).
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Scenic Sunday.

One second

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That's the difference that one second makes.

Still from the Vienna to Nürnberg series.
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Skywatch Friday.

Painting Clouds

Saturday, we left Vienna via train to Nürnberg. We're visiting mom-in-law in Fürth and it will take 5 hours travel. It's the perfect time to do drive by shooting! ;) (Read: excited!)

I had lots of these photos from the train so expect to see a view of the green and yellow fields...cotton candy clouds which my kids refer to as painting clouds --- they say that these puffy nimbus clouds are painted by God - that artists painted such clouds imitating Gods'. :) Glad I thought them the bible and creation. 

Psalms 19:1 The heavens are declaring the glory of God;
And of the work of his hands the expanse is telling.

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A camera is also a fitting gift to be able to capture God's creations so we can savor the moment years from now. It is also a great gift to live when knowledge is so easily attainable; you can just go online to further your education. I'd definitely would take online photography classes to keep current with the latest techniques, given time and the chance to do so.

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Toy cars

Took this photo while in the train outside of Vienna ---- some meters high up. This is one of the many traffic light stops for the cars...that day  I realized how faster trains travel than cars. lol

Tiltshifting and Shooting

One of the many aspects in photography that I long wanted to try is tiltshifting----well this is more on editing than photography....no matter, I like how real cars appear to be so small --- a toy in here. ;)

Vintage Summer

Driving by the old Danube.

I was shooting and shooting that day, I didn't notice that my setting has too low an ISO, metered too low so most of the photos were dark. This was the only one I got with good color after finally adjusting the setting...too late, I caught the bar at the train station!

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Watery Wednesday

Two's a couple...

One of the many snapshots I took on our way to St. Pölten. It was the early part of summer so the fields were green and yellow. Some are posted here too.

Will show more soon :)

Sweater Weather for July 13

The picture was taken June 4, 2011, but the weather today is exactly like this. It's cold and gray and it is July 13 - summertime - here in the San Francisco Bay Area. And yes, I am wearing a sweater :)

Ivy-covered Wall

I love taking this road on the way to the Asian grocery store, especially when the ivy covers this wall that separates this city sidestreet with the busy freeway.

Driving Thru Yucatan Peninsula

This street scene made me nostalgic for my country the Philippines. I remember as school kids in uni hanging out on the streets like this while waiting for the bus/tricycle or just hanging out with friends. And this is under the scorching sun too.

Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, June 2010.

On the road

Kiev, 2011

I saw this photo from hubby's files, taken last time he went to Kiev. I was chuckling as I can't make out what's on top of the car. They don't look like tents, luggages or other camping equipment to me...appears like wires of some sort.

The blurry shot was an effect of the car's glasses, not to clean! lol. The husband went to a business trip but he appears as though he was going to camp. He took his camping bag instead of the usual sturdy traveling bag. He said he doesn't need one that's too big and settled for the smaller but somewhat firm and okay to use too.

He later on posted a photo of it, wet from he said he doesn't know kind of something. lol. So much for camping equipment, bags and that...I'm just glad he survived 5 days without me and that he took lots of photos! :D

Calming Effect

The waters connecting Alaska and Canada offer the most picturesque sights. It has a calming effect too.

Taken on a cruise to Alaska - June 2007

Don't jump!

I saw this guy as the train left the station, he seems to be deep in thought. The train station is elevated and he was looking down on the vehicles below. There was a metal divider by the tracks that I caught on cam...the man was standing on the other side of the platform...

Chennai

A Shatabdi sunrise by GVK.

"I like the view through the window of Shatabdi Express on its Chennai-Mysore run." 

Took out my camera to give this sunrise a shot. The train leaves Chennai Central at 6 a m, when it is still dark outside. This shot was taken some 45 minutes into our five-hour train journey....

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Chennai is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal.

Visit more of GVK @ http://bittenbythephotobug.blogspot.com/

Madrid @ Night

Rainy night in Madrid - still sightseeing ontop of a double deck tour bus.

Valladolid, Mexico

Colonial architecture in a colorful town and street scene captured while tour bus zips through town.  Wish we left the bus and walked and photographed this town.  Maybe next time????

Spring feel

It was one of those days that the train windows were scheduled clean. :D

An almost spring feel but the photo was actually taken sometime in January. View of the Danube and a bridge were the tram going to our place runs by.

A post for Watery Wednesday.

Lake - partly frozen

Partly frozen lake, the Danube - Vienna.

This lake never fails to amaze me...whether it be summer, spring or winter there are endless possibilities of photo opportunities.