Devil's Bridge Kite Festival - Monday, 24 Mar 08 (Part Two)

Here are a few more photos of some interesting and colorful kites from today.
This ghoulish figure was an interesting kite amongst the other with its all white appearance. As it floated on the winds it cast it's eerie shadow on the ground below.
Long tails were customary on several kites being flown. This red, white and black one had nice colors against the blue sky above.
Here is a vibrantly colored kite with more long tails. As the sun hit the multi-colored body and tails they shown even more vividly as the waved in the breeze.
As this kite weaved thru the sky I was able to catch it as it shaded me from the bright sun. It took a few tries to get it, but eventually I was able to snap the shot at the right moment.

Devil's Bridge Kite Festival - Monday, 24 Mar 08 (Part One)

A partly cloudy, yet windy day was the perfect setting for Antigua's annual Kite Festival.
A grouping of vertical flags placed together created the Antigua & Barbuda's national flag.
This purple and blue fish was probably about 20 feet long. A beautiful display in the sky.
The little shark trailing the scuba diver gave this kite a comical appearance.
I'm not really sure what this was supposed to be, but the colors were probably the most brillant out there today.
Even the amatuers were enjoying the day flying their own kites.

Sunset At Dickinson Bay - Friday, 21 Mar 08

Mother Nature continues to give us glorious sunsets to end our days. This is Dickinson Bay outside The Beach restaurant on a day that had unusually rough seas for the area. Normally only small lapping waves are present here.
Even with the rougher seas present the sun still casts a beautiful golden glow across the water's surface as it continually falls lower in the sky.
An old styled lampost outside a beach-side restaurant at Sandals Resort provides a soft glow over the colorful tree behind it.
Small catamarans are lined up along the wall of Sandals Resort as the skies turn dark and the lights brighten the beach.

Quiet Days In Thomaston, Georgia - 2-4 Mar 08

The final days of vacationing in the states were spent at Joel n Kayla's home in Thomaston, Georgia. They have an amazing home nestled in the wooded countryside along the river; the perfect place to enjoy friends and relax.

As the morning sun warmed the natural wooden floor in the living room it cast an array of shadows; including those created by the candles setting in front of the fireplace.
The beveled glass on the front door created this multi view of the lantern styled fixture that hangs just outside the door to light the entrance every evening.

One evening was shared with family and friends gathered around the table where Felix and I served several Spanish dishes we spent the afternoon creating. Shown here is Picadillo in a toasted roll. It was a wonderful evening of tasty food and excellent togetherness amongst some very special people.
Joel's boat sits idly along the river bank patiently waiting for the next time they go out on their next fishing adventure.
After an evening rain the river moved a little faster and took on the muddy color of the Georgia soil that was deposited from the run off upstream. Watching and listening to the river is another part of what makes their home a beautiful country paradise!

The Historic City of Savannah, Georgia - 28 Feb-2 Mar 08

Since my first visit to Savannah I've looked forward to every chance I get to return and see more. I could spend days meandering through the squares and taking in the history this city has to offer.
The fountain if Forsythe Park is a prominent figure there. Here a touch of the afternoon sun was glistening off the surface as the fountains spouted water in all directions.
Some times the simplest things can be the most beautiful. The intricacy of the iron work here is wonderful, but when viewed with its shadow against the red brick wall it adds a definite punch to something most of walk right by without even noticing.
The stains flowing down the wall from each of the windows adds so much character to the side of this building.
This is me and my very dear friend, Kayla. Part of being in Savannah was to celebrate her birthday as well as her and her husband Joel's anniversary. We had a great time doing that, as is seen here with big smiles and cheerful faces.

Sunny Days In Key West! - 22-26 Feb 08

The palms stand tall in the sunny sky along Whitehead Street; occasionally providing a small bit of shade during the walk toward the Hemingway's house and other historic sights.
The old lighthouse still towers high above the surrounding trees. A touch of color is provided by the hibiscus in the foreground.
I doubt this guy has any historical significance, but he was an interesting part of the decor on one of the many guest houses that are scattered throughout the island.
This vintage Harley sits on the front porch of the Parrot Bar gift shop. The gift shop was originally one of the numerous older homes that have been converted into a business establishment.
One more shot of the sun providing an extremely bright background to our American flag as it waves freely in the tropical breeze.

A Few More From Puerto Rico - 18-22 Feb 08

Another day in Puerto Rico allowed some scenic drives through the hilly areas in the central part of the island, a stop in the city of Ponce along the southern shores and some moonlight kayaking into a bio-luminescent bay in the northeast.As the sun shown brightly on this fountain in the square the hint of a rainbow appeared to bring an unusual bit of color to an every day item.
More brightly shining sun casts its glow behind a lampost outside the cathedral square. Carnival had recently taken place in Ponce and the decorations were still on display.
A full moon brightens the evening sky and casts its reflection across the bay. This was the bay where the kayaking tour started. After paddling across this bay and through a channel amongst the mangrove trees we arrived in the bio-luminescent bay. The brilliant light given off my the micro organisms was amazing. I can only imagine how much more could have been seen on a completely darkened night.

Old San Juan, Puerto Rico - Monday, 18 Feb 08

Old San Juan was probably the best part of Puerto Rico. The old castle and surrounding fortifications were in amazing condition. There was a great deal of history in this area.
Here is one of many small spiral stairways that allowed access throught multiple levels of the castle. I really do love experiencing castles of all types. This one wasn't the same as many of those I've seen in Europe, but still a beautiful structure!
Once a week a traditional dance event is presented in the main open area within the castle walls. It was a very colorful and energetic performance. I'm glad timing was ideal to take in this event.
This is just one of the many lookout posts that are repeated along the original city walls. Most of these lookouts are just like this one; protruding out from the wall and overlooking the sea.
I think this is my favorite photo from Puerto Rico. The full moon adds so much to the shot with its position behind the foot of one of the figures of the sculpture and also as casts its glow on the nearby clouds. I wasn't sure what to expect the camera to capture. I'm so glad this shot came out!

A Few Artistic Shots

A day at the beach with a camera in hand allows for some interesting/artistic shots to be captured. It was fun to take dozens of pictures in hopes of getting a few good ones. Here are a few worthy of sharing.
I saw this pose once before and liked it very much. It was like the photo was saying "come to me" in a kind and gentle way. I loved it.
Apparently it's much harder than it looks to put half of yourself under water, open one eye and look comfortable doing it. Felix makes it look easy though.
No, I'm not trying to stick my nose out to mimic the front of the Hawksbill rock protruding from the water in the distance. It just turned out to be a cool shot that reminded me of some vintage look.
Once we stopped laughing about rolling around in the sand to get low enough to take a shot from this angle we actually were able to capture a few good ones, like this.
And as the sun goes down once again it provides the perfect background for another excellent photo.

As The Sun Goes Down

The intensity of the sun as it falls toward the horizon almost make these pics appear to be black n white. However, there's a hint of blue sky that still shows beyond all else that appears darkened to prove they really are all in color.
A gathering of stones in the sand and some pieces of shells hung from a large piece of driftwood were collected in this area to make, what appeared to be, a memorial of some sort. Whatever it was, it made for a nice photo with the sun casting it's rays in the sky behind it.
As the sun bursts it's rays across the sky the seas below continue their never ending movement of bringing wave after wave to the sandy shores. You can faintly see some splashes of water on the left side of the picture where the water has been tossed in the air after hitting the rocks.
Here you see a larger splash as the sea hurls itself against the rocks. The shards of sunlight continued to cast themselves in all directions as the sun made it's way toward the horizon. The ending of another magnificent day!

Some Black n White Art From Half Moon Bay

Amongst the colorful atmosphere of Half Moon Bay Felix was able to capture some black n white shots that provide a different perspective to the surroundings.
This is a small and somewhat hidden 'stairway' from the beach to a private home above the bay.
A snapshot of Inma and I as we walk along the beach on our way to view the crashing waves around the bend of the bay where the sand meets the rocks.
With the right light, shadows, clouds and rocks a simple shot can turn into a piece of art. Felix has an eye for capturing those moments. I'm glad for this one; it makes me look rather fit!

An Evening At Shirley Heights

A Sunday evening at Shirley Heights is always in order whenever someone comes to visit Antigua. The steel drum band, flowing rum punches, view of English Harbor and sunset over the ocean are all wonderful ways to end a day of vacation!
They Halycon Steel Drum Band performs for the crowd at Shirley Heights.
After a day in the sun Felix and Inma enjoy a fun-loving embrace as the pose for the camera.
As the band plays on and the rum punches flow the sun continues to drop from the sky to give us another beautiful sunset!

A Day At Sneaky Pete's

Sneaky Pete's became a favorite spot for my friends Felix and Inma during their visit here from Spain. It was a nice sanctuary from the winds that blew against the other side of the island.
A nice cluster of palms rustle in the breeze above as white clouds pass by with the blue sky behind.View from the lounge chairs in front of Sneaky Pete's Beach Bar.
Felix and Inma returning from a fun time at sea on their jetski.
Inma and a cloudy sky as reflected in Will's sunglasses.