When I first saw this I thought of rum drinks on a tropical island somewhere. However this hut is actually a bike rental stand in at Fort DeSoto park in St. Petersburg, Florida. As it was close to sunset it seemed that all bikes had been returned and the attendant long gone, probably to have a tropical drink at some other stand. I’m still looking for that hut.
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Downtown Arts
After several days of typical rain I (and everyone else) headed out for a walk around the city. From the looks of it the flowers enjoy the rain and are now growing abundantly throughout downtown Vancouver. Just about everywhere you look you’ll see public art. This sculpture sits in a park across from the Vancouver Art Museum. Unfortunately they don’t allow cameras inside and I wasn’t about to part with mine, so that will be saved for another day.
Flagler College Fountain
The Ponce DeLeon hotel catered to select clientele during it’s peak and is now a four year college in St. Augustine Florida. The architecture here is worth checking out and if you’re ever in St Augustine take the forty minute tour. This is the the courtyard fountain which is a sundial and each of the twelve toads are slightly different in some subtle way.
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Lights From Above
This is the downtown section of Vancouver viewed from Grouse Mountain ski lodge. I’m not sure in what other North American cosmopolitan city folks have access to the slopes with public transit, but in Vancouver it’s not uncommon to see people standing at a bus stop with their snowboard or skis. This evening I took a tram and was rewarded with a spectacular view. While there I met other photographers and a poet from Brazil, it seemed everyone was inspired by the vista. I had no trouble using up two or three hours taking photos and enjoying the view.
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Olympic Fountain
By day this is a fountain. A few weeks ago I noticed huge flames coming out of it, which is when I realized this fountain is in fact the Olympic torch, …silly Florida guy. Nonetheless, I guessed something important must be up, so I grabbed my camera and headed down the street to get this shot.
I thought perhaps some Olympic delegation must be town for a meeting. I mean, they don’t light the Olympic flame for just anything, right? Later I asked someone at the hotel and it was explained rather matter-of-factly that if you have ten thousand dollars they’ll light it up for you. Really? The Olympic flame? Now, thinking back, as I was composing the shot, a gentleman and his wife walked out of an adjoining restaurant and into a waiting limousine right in front of the torch where I was standing. Just before the man stepped inside, he took one long look at the flame and remarked to his wife how bright it was in real life. If I didn’t know better, I might guess that he was the guy that paid to have this burn for his dinner. But that’s just my musing, such as it is.
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Bradenton Beach at Sunset
This was taken at Bradenton Beach just after sunset. It seemed this Blue Heron was happy to pose, or perhaps it was just eyeing a fish. Nevertheless, everyday at sunset hundreds of visitors and residents alike line up on this beach to snap a photo as the sun goes down. We have a favorite restaurant on this beach and there’s usually live music at sunset, a nice setting. For years they had this musician who always sung “Here Comes the Sun”. To me that seems a little odd, …isn’t that about a sunrise?
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Empty Mountain Cafe
As I was here on a Monday afternoon, the Chalet cafeteria was closed. I was waiting for the sunset so I ducked inside as I thought the wood beams and neatly stacked chairs kind of interesting. I quickly setup my tripod before anybody noticed but just then a kitchen staff walked right by me without even taking notice. Either they thought I belonged there or they get a lot of folks with cameras and I was just one in a long line. Nonetheless I got the shot and didn’t get kicked out, chalk one up for the good guys.
Lobby Reflections
I can never get tired of the architecture of Vancouver condos. On a recent post I showed this building from another perspective. I came here to take a picture of a colorful glass sculpture which faces the sidewalk. Those pictures didn’t turn out too well, but the others, like this lobby passed muster. Just going with the flow.
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Inter-terminal Walkway
On one of my trips home a connecting flight was delayed. Actually on dozens and dozens of flights home, but I digress. On this particular delay I had the presence of mind to pull out my camera as I’ve always wanted to capture this walkway between D and C terminals in the Dallas / Fort Worth International Airport (DFW). To get to another terminal travelers are instructed to take the sky-link tram, however to stretch your legs this is a pleasant walk and as you can see somewhat removed from the crowds. The moving walkway is about a quarter of a mile long so if you prefer you can just relax. It’s an option if you’re ever passing through because the odds are, …you’ll have the time.
Lions Gate At Dawn
This bridge connects the city of Vancouver with the city of North Vancouver. I’ve taken dozens of photos of this bridge but on about my third trip I realized that you could walk across it. On this morning it was just before dawn and not much traffic, it felt a little erie to be the only person on such a large structure. However, as night gave way to day there was a little surprise. Hundreds of thousands of tonnes of steal started to make a sound I can only describe as a moan. I was a little unnerved and decided to finish up the shoot and walk back to land. Upon reflection I surmise it was the light causing normal stresses which happened to be audible. Lets just say it was an experience I’ll not soon forget.
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