View allAll Photos Tagged Two
Photoshoot of sisters modeling bikinis and swimsuits.
Cowgirl models with cowboy hats, revolvers, and cowboy boots.
They just arrived this afternoon. I should have purchased them long time ago instead of purchased too many pullips. Two more spoiled girls added to my family. Furara and Cinnamoroll. Absolute love. They're really floppy though, JP quality is always an issue.
“Parallel lines have a lot in common but they never meet.
Ever.
You might think that’s sad.
But every other pair of lines meets once and then drifts apart forever.
Which is pretty sad too.”
A holga multiple exposure of the conquistadors and mariachi marching through the downtown square in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
The last two airworthy Lancasters, photographed at the Portrush airshow 2014. Converted to black + white for a vintage feel.
Here is Birdhead and Dirkstrude, my two mail cockatiels. They have the habit of mirroring each other.
Trude always jumps and his wings go up when the camera flashes. LOL
Fotografia:
Elena Cristófol
Catarina Fontoura
Yadira Salvador
Maquillaje y Peluqueria:
Marta Romero, Beatriz Masip, Raquel Garces
Modelos: Paula Berlanga, Cristina Sendra de Carmen Duran Agency
Mackinac Island, Michigan, is a beautiful island. Located in the Straits of Mackinac, it's about 8-9 miles in circumference.
There's the actual town of Mackinac Island, where the ships dock. Since 1898 (I think), there have been no motorized vehicles allowed on the island (for consumer use, at least) as they scared the horses.
Your modes of transportation are one of three:
1. Horse (and carriage) as a taxi, personal rental, or part of a tour (for about $30/adult). Or, just rent a horse for $50/hour/horse.
2. Bicycles. For rental all over the place in town.
3. Your two feet.
The town of Mackinac Island. Its Main Street -- the first thing you see after passing under the portico from any of the ferries -- is actually Huron Street. One parallel street behind, you have Market Street. There are a number of other streets in the town, too, all easily walkable (obviously). Since this is basically a tourist resort, you'll find about 80% of the establishments in town fall into one of the following categories: fudge shops (12 different companies have fudge shops here), bed & breakfasts, bike rentals, or restaurants (pizzeria, bar/saloon/burger joint). The only eyesore on the island is a Starbucks. It disgusts me to no end. If you intend to spend the night on the island, be prepared to have your wallet lightened substantially, especially in season (Memorial Day to Labor Day).
For overnight accommodations, the most famous place on the island is the Grand Hotel, which has the longest covered porch of any building in the world (660 ft./200 meters). It'll set you back over $400/night. There's no air conditioning. It was built in 1887 and is perfectly imperfect. They finished it in three months. Even to wander the grounds, you have to pay $10 per their signage. On a sunny summer day, it's beautiful, especially with all of the flags flying along the porch. If you aren't inclined to pay through the nose here, the B&Bs, during summer, would probably set you back around $300/night, but don't quote me on that. (The more frugal folks -- like me -- stay in Mackinaw City, slightly expensive, but reasonable, and take day trips to the island.
Speaking of "in season," Mackinac Island has less than 500 year-round residents. Yet, I think they clear 2 million tourists a year. The majority of them come from May-September.
To support that massive influx, there are 600 horses on the island in summer, but only about 200 stay on for winter.
More than the horses, they can't survive without a temporary summer workforce. On the island (and also in Mackinaw City and possibly St. Ignace), you'll find the majority of summer workers are eastern European. They stay until the end of September. This year, I bumped into Turkish, Polish, Montenegran, Serbian, Kosovan, and I'm not sure which other nationalities. Expect to meet some incredibly friendly and happy Europeans.
What's the history of this area? Recent (1600-now), is about all most people focus on. It was originally Native American land, then the French arrived, followed by Brits, and finally Americans.
As a result, there are forts around. Michilimackinac (in Mackinaw City) was the first fort, from the Brits, then Americans. Then the Brits relocated to the island (more strategic) and built Fort Mackinac. While at Fort Mackinac, they also decided to build a more rudimentary fort on the highest ground on the island: Fort George (which the Americans renamed Fort Holmes).
The forts were eventually in the Americans' hands and Fort Mackinac was garrisoned until 1895. So here's your fun trivia: Yellowstone National Park was the first national park created in the U.S. (and world) in 1872. The second national park in the U.S.? Mackinac Island, actually.
The island was a national park (as the parks were actually administered by the military prior to the creation of the Department of the Interior & National Park Service) and it was maintained as a national park until 1895 when the federal government trimmed back a bit and stopped having an active presence on the island. (At this point, the island went to the state and the entire island is now basically Mackinac State Park.)
As it's a state park, you'll find the majority of the island is actually natural -- lots of woods and beautiful walks and trails. Should you have a little wanderlust to get away from the town, you'll find the following:
1. A small airport in the middle of the island.
2. Two 9 hole golf courses (Jewel & Wawashkamo), though you could be creative and call it one where the front and back nine are a bit away from each other.
3. Cemeteries: Protestant, Catholic, and Military. (The military cemetery is one of only 5 in the nation that are permitted to fly flags at half mast year-round due to the unknown soldiers buried here.)
4. Hiking trails that lead to Fort Holmes, Skull Cave, Arch Rock, and other areas on the interior. (Skull Cave is very underwhelming in its current condition, though its history is interesting.)
Among the buildings in town that don't fall into one of the generic categories mentinoed above, you'll find at least 4 churches, the old fur trading store, a police station, a U.S. post office, a school, an old county courthouse (not current as Michilimackinac County no longer exists), an art museum, and a yacht club.
Fort Mackinac, by the way, is actually in town and the price of admission is $13.50 as of this writing. They have soldiers in period uniforms do weapons demonstrations (rifle, cannon), and have all of the buildings maintained to the time of its use (1875-95 or so). Some of the views of the town, Marquette Park, and cove with its two lighthouses are nice. Is it worth $13.50? I don't think so, but hey...if you're only here once, you ought to have a look, especially if the weather's nice and sunny.
During the summer, you'll find that June is the best time to come for flowers -- so many lilacs that the air smells more like flowers than horses. There are also the two boat regattas (Port Huron to Mackinac & Chicago to Mackinac) that end here in the straits. I believe those are in May or June.
All in all, there's a good reason that Mackinac Island is usually voted one of the ten best summer getaways in the country. It's unforgettable and, more than that, it's relaxing. Even with the excessive crowds. I know I haven't covered everything, but it's certainly enough to give you a good idea.
Here are mine and my friends soda cans in Millenium pizza in cambridge, with the remenants of our chips in the back ground...
21st April 2018 -Two third generation Transits (pre facelift in front, post facelift behind) parked on Bittern Road, Sowton Industrial Estate, Exeter, UK.
An Australian goanna, Varanus gouldii, with its head reflected in the water it is partially submerged in. It is quite aquatic, and found across the northern parts of Australia near swamps, billabongs and rivers.
___________________________________________________
I really appreciate all who visit to view, comment and/or fave my nature offerings from various parts of Australia. Thank you!
All my photographs are © Copyrighted & All Rights Reserved. Please do not reproduce or transmit in any form or by any means without full acknowledgement of it being my work. Use without permission is illegal so please contact me first if you’d like to use it.
Queenstown had to be my favourite place we visited in New Zealand, I loved every minute of our stay there.
Blogged about here: raspberriesinwinter.blogspot.com/2011/02/queens-town.html
Limestone talatat block depicting two young girls, perhaps princesses, daughters of Akhenaten. From Amarna, Dynasty XVIII.
Musee du Louvre. E26016
I sold two cars this week... my 1979 450SLC 5.0, and 1983 300Dt with 4 speed transmission. Both were very interesting cars and will be missed. They are shown here waiting for their ride to their new homes.
Now, to find some new projects!
Pulsa L para ver mejor sobre fondo negro.
Press L to see black background.
The trek path from Kodandarama Temple to Vittala temple practically passes through this double storied pavilion like structure. Two empty cubical shrines are located on either sides of this structure. Probably once they’ve enshrined images of guardian deities like Hanuman. The structure is partly damaged, but still conveys its intent.
The pavilion is made of tall cubical granite pillars and stands on this uneven hilltop with an amazing balance. May be you would not find this any surprising as by this time you’ve already seen enough of Hampi’s style of architecture.
This elevated area is especially notable for the numerous tiny shrines scattered all around. The elevated platforms on either side possibly used by the guards. You can take advantage of its position to do a survey of the locality. Like other elevated locations near by, the Two Storied Gate way is a vantage point to see the river Tungabhadra wriggle through the narrow gorges and then expands to create many tiny boulder islands. Also you can spot the Chandramoulishwara temple located on the other bank of the river and the remains of the ancient bridge leading to it. It is not unusual to see tourist take a temporary halt at this pavilion thanks to the shade offered by it in the middle of a trek path.
This 5-meter or so tall ‘balance’ is located near the Vittala temple. Also called as Tula Bhara or Tula Purushadana, the king used to weigh himself with gold, gems, silver and precious stones, and distributed to the priests.
It’s believed that this had been done during the special ceremony seasons like solar or lunar eclipses. You can spot three loops on top of the balance, into which the balance actually hung. Also in one of the pillars you can spot the king’s image carved along with his concerts.
This structure almost appears like as archway at the end of the Kampa Bhupa’s Path just behind Vittala temple. The path in fact passes through this arch like structure.
Venue : King’s Balance, Hampi, Karnataka, India.
Lens : Canon EF-S 10-22mm F3.5-4.5 USM
©All rights reserved
Do not use this image without my permission.
You can mail me on sukanta.maikap@yahoo.com for further details.