Getting the Boat Ready...

My husband Chris, getting the boat ready for splash down. It goes into the water this week...
Shine that hull!

Welcome Spring!

Fire Island and the snow....

With warm, sunny weather yesterday, the snow melted quickly.

Happy First Day of Spring!

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Click on each photo to see the larger version!

Fire Island and Winter

Snow has fallen on Fire Island.
It is still a beautiful place to be, to walk and enjoy the outdoors.

Drive to Robert Moses State Park and park in Field 5.

It is a short walk along the boardwalk.

You may see deer and you will see a beautiful, peaceful island.

Fire Island in snow....

A panoramic shot of Fire Island, taken today.

The walkways and sand dunes were covered with snow, but it was beautiful!

I was surprised to see so many people walking the beach.

I guess a sunny day get everyone motivated to walk.

Where better to walk than the beach?

Click on the photo to see a larger version.

Road to Agrigento, the town of my maternal grandparents....


An artichoke.....Produce in Sicily is usually sold with leaves intact, to show freshness!

Click each photo to enlarge and see more details.

An olive tree that is said to be 2,500 years old. In Agrigento you need a permit to cut down an olive tree, I'm told.
This is near the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento...

More of Sicily

Ear of Dionysius....a cave in Siracusa, Sicily. It is said to have unusually wonderful acoustics. Water was channeled from the top of the cave to help excavate the quarry stone.

Riding a bike through the streets in Sicily is a common mode of transportation.

Marsala, Sicily

Touring Sicily

I often have to take a break from posting photos of Long Island. After all, Long Island women do go on vacation. It also give me new and interesting object to photograph.
My most recent vacation....Sicily!
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The ancient Greek ruins and the town of Agrigento...beautiful countryside, wonderful people, and the ancient ruins from Greek period.

Beautiful rolling hills filled with lush green vegetation and lots of wildflowers...

Villa Romana de Piazza Armerina....Mosaics from an ancient Roman Villa, set into the floor of this estate.

Tourism in Sicily

Tourism is one of the major industries in Sicily. The economy cannot be sustained by agriculture or fishing alone.

Unemployment, I was told, is about 20%.

The people seem to be happy and healthy, so I guess it is not such a major problem. Somehow people make enough money to enjoy life, share a good meal with family and friends, sit at the coffee bar and enjoy a coffe and conversation.

A big bonus: health care is free from the government, so that is one big worry/expense that is non-existent.

The fishing village of Cefalu...the boats are in, waiting for the warmer weather.

Agrigento, Sicily

Agrigento, Sicily

My mother's parents were from Agrigento. I never got to meet them but the people I met in this city are wonderful. Everyone smiled at the Americans with the cameras and wanted to stop us and communicate. "Where are you from?" "Oh, New York! You have family from Argrigento?"

As my husband and I walked through the narrow streets, one lady wanted to know why I was walking around with a short-sleeve shirt. "Aren't you cold?" I could understand even though my Italian is limited to a few words. It was 65 degrees F (about 18 C) and the Sicilians were wearing winter coats...no kidding....heavy coats with fur collars. I was so warm and over-heated from walking up and down those many hills and steps.

Every street twists and turns and brings you to another hill or staircase through an alleyway. I loved it!!! I could feel the history and thought of my grandparents having to leave this country for a better life. I can't imagine how poor and/or desperate they must have been to want to leave such a beautiful country.

It was Sunday and I could hear the pots banging in the kitchens, and ladies speaking Italian...and the smells!....wonderful tomato sauce cooking for Sunday dinner. It brought back wonderful memories from my old Brooklyn. Brooklyn was like that at one time, a lifestyle taken from the "old country."

I wish I had met my grandparents.

Sewing the nets....Cefalu, Sicily


Cefalu...


The Sicilian town of Corleone...selling fennel


The men of Corleone...friendly and eager to communicate with Americans.

Marsala, Sicily...


Palermo....fishing boats


The town of Cefalu....


Cefalu, Sicily...

Arriving in Italy...


Palermo....


The ruins in Segesta, Sicily...


The town of Marsala..... 

I joined YouTube so I could show you some of my movies!

Okay, you knew I would do this eventually!

I shot this short movie clip while in Bonaire. I'm not sure I will do this much but it's another "toy" for the blog.

Soon, you will be seeing photos from Sicily! Stay tuned!

Yes, it's winter!

Snow and cold.....20 degrees F today......I'm waiting for the warmer weather.

New York City

You just have to look up and see the buildings in NY City. I know I look like a tourist when I do that but, I guess I am a tourist.
Where I live on Long Island, is just about an hour and a half from the city. Fast enough to make it a "day" trip. We often go to see a play or meet friends for dinner or lunch.
I feel so fortunate to live close to one of the greatest cities in the world.
It is an international city, in the sense that it is much like London or Rome or Hong Kong.
There are differences of course but it feels global, international.
Walk through the streets and you can feel the energy!
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The Helmsley Building
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A day in New York City

The subway.....7th Ave line. We usually park uptown, around 57th Street and take a cab to run downtown to our favorite store, B&H Photo. Today we decided to jump on the subway and beat the weekday traffic. I haven't been on the subway in at least 20 years.
It is just as I remembered....sad in a way, isn't it?
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Boarded up and posted. Usually it says, "Post No Bills"
I guess this didn't say that.
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The temperatures on Long Island were in the 20s. Cold and frozen but still beautiful.

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Click on the photo to see the larger version.

more of Florida

Ah, the weather was warm and the trip interesting.

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Click on the photos to see the larger versions! ;-)

The Elizabeth A. Morton Wildlife Refuge

This photo was taken at The Elizabeth A. Morton Wildlife Refuge.
Click here for more details about this wonderful place to hike!

Apalachicola, Florida Again

Nautical hodgepodge in "The Tin Shed"...Apalachicola, Florida


"We Care, We Share, We're There"...Bar-B-Que in Apalachicola, Florida


Homes or shops made of tin survived the hurricanes but are evacuated.


A dock that hasn't been repaired is still waiting for renovations.

Apalachicola, Florida

In the path of hurricanes, Apalachicola is still repairing the damage to the city. Unfortunately, you cannot repair a tree.
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A small town where oysters and shrimp are collected, processed and sold.
Apalachicola still has an "old time" Florida feel and has not been hit by high-rise condos that seem to be everywhere else along the shores in Florida.

Buick in DeFuniak Springs, Florida

Civil War Re-enactment

In the town of DeFuniak, Florida...Civil War re-enactment complete with horses, tents, muskets and the very loud canon.

Bed & Breakfast, Southern Style

Quaint little town...Apalachicola, Florida

St. Mary's, Georgia and low tide

There is a big difference between the low and high tides here in Georgia.
Boats are often left on the sandbar until the change of tides.

Apalachicola, Florida

Apalachicola, Florida....a quaint little fishing town on the Gulf of Mexico. People still fish and gather oysters for a living.

It is just the type of little town that I enjoy the most.

Fresh seafood and interesting places to photograph make it fun and a real adventure!