Australasian Gannets at the Muriwai Gannet Colony

australasian-gannet-at-the-muriwai-gannet-colony-waitakere-new-zealand-2

Bob and I had a long list of sights to see in New Zealand and first up was the gannet colony at Muriwai Regional Park just outside of Auckland.  About an hour’s drive north of Lone Kauri Lodge where we were staying on the North Island, it made for the perfect day trip.  Over 2,000 Australasian Gannets make up the colony at Muriwai, which is one of only three mainland gannet colonies in New Zealand. Read more

Green Kingfisher In The Mangrove Swamp At San Blas

Green Kingfisher male, mangrove swamp, san blas, nayarit, mexico, pic 2

Bob and I were so excited as we set off from the pier on our mangrove swamp tour.  With Chencho at the helm of our substantial launch, we were confident that many tropical birds would not allude detection.  One species that caught our eye on several occasions was a Green Kingfisher, seen here perching at the edge of the San Cristobal mangrove estuary. Read more

Our Stay at a Vineyard Retreat near Gaiole in Tuscany

italian cypress evergreen trees at ll colombaio di cencio Vineyard, gaiole in chianti, itay

laneway to the Cottage at Il Colombaio di Cencio, Gaiole, Chianti, Tuscany, Italy, 10

Bob’s and my sense of adventure was high the day we set off from Rome into the rural region of Tuscany.  After picking up our rental vehicle at the airport, beneath damp, grey skies, we negotiated the ring road out of Rome and soon found ourselves scooting along narrow country roads that would lead us to our farmhouse retreat at a winery near Gaiole. Read more

Visiting the Spanish Steps in Rome

photograph of the Spanish Steps in Rome, Italy

The Spanish Steps in Rome, Italy

On the afternoon that Bob and I landed in Rome, Italy, we were in dire need of a stretch given the long hours of travel time from Toronto.  Our accommodation,   Hotel Manfredi,   was centrally located in the Old Quarter so The Spanish Steps were less than ten minutes by foot from the hotel lobby.  It seemed a likely destination given its close proximity. Read more

Northern Potoo In The Mangrove Swamp At San Blas

Northern Potoo in the mangrove swamp at san blas, mexico, pic 5

On our boat tour through the mangrove swamp near San Blas, in Mexico, we saw no less than three Northern Potoos, one of the most highly-sought-after species for birdwatchers.  Bob and I had booked a week’s stay in the tiny fishing village on the Pacific Coast and planned to use our time wisely.  Known as a birding hotspot, the town attracts scores of avian enthusiasts, so we had to secure our guides and tours promptly upon arrival to ensure availability. Read more

Our walking tour of Piazza del Popolo in Rome

Piazza del Popolo in Rome, Italy

piazza del popola viewed from pincian hill, rome, italy

Bob and I seemed to find ourselves drawn to Piazza del Popolo a few times during our stay in Rome.  From our hotel, we could walk to this large pedestrian zone within minutes and always found something of interest to investigate. Read more

Exploring The Colosseum And Its Underground In Rome

An image of the Colosseum in Rome, Italy. Photography by Frame To Frame - Bob and Jean.

Of all the ancient ruins in Rome, Italy, for me it was The Colosseum that I most looked forward to seeing and exploring.  We did not make straight there on our first full day in the city, but instead preferred to set the stage by checking out The Roman Forum just east of there which gave us a sneak peak of the iconic stadium from one vantage point. Read more

Reflections on our Travels to Rome

photograph of the Roman Forum in Rome, Italy

Rome Italy Skyline

In August 2015, Bob and I celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary so we wanted to further mark the occasion with a memorable trip.  Never having visited Italy, we figured that a jaunt to the city of Rome would be a good place to start our 3-week vacation.  After all, it is considered amongst the top ten romantic cities in the world. Read more

Our Visit To Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge

An image of Bob on the rope bridge at Carrick-a-Rede Island in Northern Ireland. Photography by Frame To Frame - Bob and Jean.

When visiting Northern Ireland, Bob and I spent part of one afternoon exploring the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, an attraction that would test our resolve and sense of balance. Read more

1 12 13 14 15 16 23