The World Through Our Lens
Photography of birds, animals, landscape and places we have traveled to around the world.
Maritime weather might be foggy and rainy, more likely freezing with severe Nor’westers and dastardly blizzards in winter, but everyone agrees that St. John’s, Newfoundland is a feast for the eyes despite the climactic conditions. Colourful facades light up any day no matter the time of year. Read more
Having left the hustle and bustle of Paris behind, Bob and I next planned to spend a few days in the countryside. On our list of must-sees were some of the Loire Valley Castles such as Château de Chenonceau, seen above, as well as Monet’s Garden in Giverny and a tour of the Palace of Versailles. Read more
While in New Zealand, we had a real mixed bag of weather conditions. Our time spent in Mt. Tongariro National Park was under grey skies for the most part with driving rain, snow, sleet or hail. Our hopes of hiking the Tongariro Alpine Crossing were dashed owing to strong winds, so we made the best of things and opted for some other scenic hikes, one of which was the Tawhai Falls Walk. Read more
Way before Bob and I decided to go to New Zealand, I held close to my heart the idea of one day visiting Hobbiton. When we viewed the movie, The Hobbit, I fell in love with the whimsical Hobbit Holes that Bilbo Baggins and Frodo called home. The dome-shaped dwellings captured the imagination of my inner child, and the seemingly utopian bucolic lifestyle struck a chord with me. Read more
Despite our intentions of arriving at the Leaning Tower of Pisa early in the day, we found ourselves landing at the popular tourist destination alongside hundreds of fellow sightseers. This world-famous freestanding bell tower is considered one of the most remarkable architectural structures from medieval Europe and possibly the tallest bell tower in Europe. Read more
Lynde Shores Conservation Area in Whitby, Ontario, Canada, had all the looks of Christmas one year. Read more
During our several night stay at Il Colombaio di Cencio Vineyard near Gaiole in Chianti, Italy, Bob and I enjoyed a leisurely pace where we set our own schedule. The morning after a day trip to the Leaning Tower of Pisa and Cinque Terre, we awoke to a subtle clangor emanating from the sleepy, sun-drenched vineyard. Soon after, we found ourselves helping with the grape harvest in Tuscany. Read more
Our morning started out rather ordinary with the sun shining brightly and fluffy clouds floating across the sky. Wait! What’s that? What the heck!
Bob and I were so excited as we set off from the pier on our mangrove swamp tour in San Blas, Mexico. With our guide, 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
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 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
