Wednesday, December 05, 2007

What is that in there?


Is that really an eye-ball looking out at us? Hard to believe. What could it be? Whatever it is, it looks like its glasses have slipped down around its nose!

Monday, October 29, 2007

A Beautiful Resting Place





Recently, I took a walk through the Cesis kapi (cemetary). It's a lovely, peaceful, park-like setting for contemplation. How fragile we are...

Saturday, October 20, 2007

A Piper Seeks the Ghost of Ivan the Terrible


As I walked towards town at midday, I wandered through Castle Park and heard the plaintive notes of a solitary bagpiper. His tune drew my thoughts back to sadder times when these grounds suffered at the hands of Ivan and his murderous minions.

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

A Cloudy Day in Cesis


A lovely old kindergarten.

A Russian Orthodox Church.

The old Cesis brewery, until this year the oldest continuously operating in the Baltics. Now it will be renovated to be an arts and cultural center. When it's finished, it will be a wonderful addition to our community.

Thursday, October 04, 2007

Sunday, September 23, 2007

Jammin' With The PMS Band...(Pete, Mike, Scott)




Last summer in Seattle every Friday night was "jam" night with my brother on guitar and Pete on bass. Usually other musicians would show up for a little fun and quite a party would develop. These fotos have been given the "blasted" treatment in post processing (possibly reflecting the condition of the players by the end of the night?)

Friday, September 21, 2007

Vertical Things


In the town of Matisi.

The Cesis water tower.

The Riga Freedom Monument.

The Riga train station clock tower.

The Cesis water tower from the living room window.

Thursday, September 20, 2007

Monday, September 17, 2007

Saturday, September 15, 2007

Friday, September 14, 2007

Nature's Beauty



These were taken out the kitchen window using the Fuji F30. The first one is at about 3X zoom and the second one is two fotos made into a panorama using the free program photostitch.

Thursday, September 13, 2007

Rezekne At Night

Rezekne night2Rezekne night

These were taken from an upper floor of the Hotel Latgale. 

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

Friday, September 07, 2007

Parnu, Estonia





We just returned from a little side-trip to Parnu, Estonia, about 3 hours by car from Cesis. It's a little like Jurmala in Latvia. They both began as Czarist-era bathing resorts and are now just nice places to visit. Parnu has noticeably improved since our last visit two years ago. Everything just looks brighter and more cheerful. The beach is still fabulous fine sand and now there are more modern amenitities for travelers, many nice guest houses, and hotels in period architecture. If you're ever in the Baltics, it's definitely worth a vist.

Sunday, September 02, 2007

What the...?


An interesting look to Doma Laukums - Dome Square - by using artwork on the otherwise blank side of an adjacent building. Nice work.

Saturday, September 01, 2007

Back to Riga



This view is from Kipsala island in the Daugava River across from the Old Town of Riga. It's not really an island but a long, narrow peninsula that paralles the south bank of the river. It's getting some much-needed development upgrades as housing, condos, restaurants and a boat haven have all sprung up in the past five years. Now it's a nice place to walk and admire the scenery.

Thursday, August 30, 2007

Return From Seattle





Seattle is a beautiful city with many hills which provide great views. Also, it has an extensive ferry system giving you even more views. The last two photos are of the Experience Music Project designed by Frank Gehry with the Monorail running through it, and the University of Washington Library where my wife worked last summer.