Voyages & Images

Read the blog: News of the Planet

2009-10-03T22:41:00.005-03:00

Dear readers.
This blog is not being updated anymore.
The complete informations about voyages and images are now in the blog:

News of the Planet

in three options of languages: Portuguese, English and French.

Click in one of the links above and be welcome!

New Blog

2008-09-12T17:43:00.002-03:00

Hi.

Reports of recent voyages and images are now being posted to the new blog Notícias do Planeta, only in portuguese (http://noticiasdoplaneta.blogspot.com). This blog (Voyages & Images) is now deactivated. The reports of voyages and images of the travel to Scotland and England were posted to the new blog (Notícias do Planeta).

The site Voyages & Images, in english and portuguese (http://voyagephotos1.googlepages.com) has been completed revised. The images are larger and with more details due to the new graphic design. The site has the complete material of the travels from 2005 to 2008.

Best regards.

New blog and new site!

2008-07-27T16:52:00.010-03:00

Dear travel companions.

I invite you to visit the site Voyages & Images at the address http://voyagephotos1.googlepages.com/ which has been completely revised. The site has passed through a complete graphical revision with larger images with more details. The material is basically the same of this blog, with some revisions. Within the next weeks the site will be progressively fed with the images of the 2008 Tour in Scotland and England.

Best regards to all.

Anaheim

2008-04-06T02:40:00.002-03:00

Anaheim is a city of the Orange County, California, where Walt Disney built his first great thematic park, the Disneyland, in 1955. In 2001, another park was built - the Disney's Adventure Park, beside the original one. Originally an orange plantation, now the parks are completely surround by the city.

The entrance to Disneyland is through Main Street - USA, which tries to reproduce an American town of the beginning of the 20th century with its typical constructions and stores.

At the end of Main Street we find the statues of Walt Disney and Mickey with the Sleeping Beauty's Castle in the background.

There are amusements for all ages like whirling around the Mad Tea Party or visiting Mickey's Toontown.

There are places that make the visitors believe he or she are somewhere else like the rivers of America or a little Alpine village.

For youngsters of all ages there is also the opportunity to meet and hug their favorite characters.

The attractions of Disney's California Adventure are mainly for adolescents and adults. At the entrance of the park there is a reproduction of the Golden Gate bridge.

The movie industry theme is found everywhere in the park.

The movie theme is present in stores, theatres and attractions like the Hollywood Tower Hotel.

The part of the park named Paradise Pier tries to reproduce the amusement parks of the California piers, like the one in Santa Monica. There we can find a giant roller coaster - the California Screaming - and a giant Ferris wheel - the Sun Wheel.

A visit to the Disney parks in Anaheim, California, will not disappoint the dedicated photographer or, as they try to make us believe, it can be a photographer's dream come true…

San Diego

2008-04-05T00:58:00.003-03:00

San Diego is the southernmost coast city of California. It is also the third biggest city of the state e has a mild climate. Founded by the Spanish in the 18th century, it belongs to the United States since the 1850's and is very close to the border of Mexico.

The center of the city is compact and can be explored by foot. Trolleys and buses can be used to move around the city. I also used taxis during my visit to San Diego in March 2008, because the distances between the sites of interest are not very far.

The center of the city is being renovated in the last years with modern skyscrapers, but there are still large open spaces by the bay.

A bridge, high enough to allow the passing of large ships, links the continent the Peninsula del Coronado, which offers a natural protection for the port of San Diego.

The famous Hotel del Coronado is situated in the peninsula beside the beach. Founded in 1888 and with more than 700 rooms, the hotel keeps the high standards which have attracted famous guests for decades.

Beside the hotel, a villa was built recently along the beach, with the same architectural characteristics of the hotel.

The San Diego Zoo is among the best of the world. Below, we can see images of vicunhas, natural from the Andes, and a gorilla baby among the many species that can be seen.

The Seaworld of San Diego, besides presenting the traditional shows with dolphins and killer wales…

…has artificial habitats for some species like sharks, sea lions…

…penguins and flamingos, among a lot of other species of marine mammals, fishes and reptiles.

Next to the center of the city, the Seaport Village Mall is situated along San Diego bay. Its stores and restaurants are located in the open air, in a very pleasant environment.

Los Angeles

2008-04-04T15:49:00.005-03:00

How is it possible to know a megalopolis in just a few hours? That is just what I had when I visited Los Angeles in March 2008. For that reason I had to plan a very selective visit.

Although there are subway lines covering part of the city and buses all over the place, it is better to move around the city by car due to the great distances between the sites.

Starting from downtown, my first visit was to Hollywood Boulevard, from where I captured images of the famous sign by the hillside, the most recognizable landmark of Los Angeles.

In Hollywood Boulevard we can find other famous attractions like the Walk of Fame, with names of artists since the beginning of the 20th century, the Grauman's Chinese Theatre, where premieres of great productions have taken place and the Kodak Theatre, where the Academy Awards ceremonies take place annually.

Around Hollywood Boulevard we can find a lot of subjects for capturing interesting images.

Below, to the left: an image of the corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue. To the right: an image of the famous Sunset Boulevard, close to Hollywood.

My second visit was to Santa Monica Beach and its Pier.

The Santa Monica Pier was built in 1908. There we can find an amusement park and the famous Ferris wheel of the Pacific.

The pier is a very pleasant place and present many opportunities for capturing images.

Following the coast, my next visit was to Venice Beach with its curious people and unconventional stores.

In the end, I went back downtown just in time to capture the last rays of sun on the Union Station and the famous building of City Hall, built in 1928, under the light of late afternoon.

Did I get to know Los Angeles? Certainly not. There was, though, enough time to capture great images, like this detail of the roller coaster of Santa Monica Pier.

Orlando

2008-02-02T01:50:00.000-02:00

It is impossible to dissociate the parks of Disneyworld from Orlando, Florida. In fact, many visitors do not even get to know the city, because they go directly to the Disney parks which have their own hotels.

The Magic Kingdom park was the first to be built in Florida. The Cinderella Castle stands out in the central region, at the end of Main Street USA (below at the left).

There are a lot of attractions to please children, young people and adults.

The giant Mickey's wizard apprentice hat from Fantasia stands out in Disney - MGM Studios park, which contains many attractions related the history of cinema. Suddenly, an imperial tank may get out of the forest or, during a blink of the eyes, you may be transported to the planet Tatooine.

There are also some examples of open air film scenarios like the streets of New York in the 1930's.

A gigantic geodesic dome stands out in Epcot park, where you can find reproductions of constructions and views from some countries: a "tropical" Paris, typical views of Morocco…

… a reproduction of the Square of San Marcos in Venice, a small German village, a Japanese pagoda…

… and, even, an Aztec pyramid: a breath taking marathon even for "los tres amigos".

The Disney parks in Orlando offer great opportunities for capturing images.

Rio de Janeiro

2008-01-16T17:44:00.000-02:00

Traveling and capturing images of the world are my lifelong passions. There are times, though, that nature blesses us with stunningly beautiful images right where we are: all we have to do is to look outside our windows. Just like magic.

In a summer afternoon in Rio de Janeiro, after a thunder storm, the menacing dark clouds of rain turned themselves into exuberant multicolored clouds, under the sunset light.

Although it lasted just a few minutes, there was enough time for the attentive eyes of the photographer.

Rio de Janeiro

2008-01-05T22:08:00.000-02:00

The New Year's Eve celebrations in Rio de Janeiro city are not limited to Copacabana beach. There are fireworks in various parts of the city.

At the images below we can see three moments of the fireworks in Flamengo Beach, on the first minutes of 2008.

Below we can see a panoramic view of the Guanabara Bay with fireworks in Flamengo Beach, at the left, and the fireworks at Icaraí Beach, in Niteroi city, at the right, on the other side of the bay.

Happy New Year and many new images for all in 2008!

Paris

2007-09-06T01:10:00.000-03:00

Best known as the "City of Light", Paris can also be considered the city of architecture, culture and history. In my second trip to Paris, I intended to know all the interesting attractions which I had not visited in my first trip to the city. I am afraid the task is still incomplete...

View of the Ile de la Cité from the Pont des Arts.

Following again the advice of a friend, I left Paris for the end of an itinerary made in May 2007 by train, initially, in Austria and Switzerland. I reached Paris by high speed train - TGV - from Geneva. The amount of attractions to be seen or experimented in the city is only limited to the available time of the visitor. The central boroughs (arrondisements) of Paris should be explored by foot. The excellent subway service must be used for longer distances between the boroughs.

The Eiffel Tower attracts visitors like a magnet and stands out in the central region of the city. The construction, almost a hundred and twenty years old, still amazes the visitor as a great engineering achievement and for its architectural style.

Any effort, like standing in long queues, is worth to reach the top of the tower, where one can see a 360 degree panorama of all Paris. Below, some views from the top of the tower are presented. Left: a view of the Arch of Triumph at the Place de l'Etoile. Center: a view from the Place du Trocadéro and its famous gardens, artificial lakes and springs. Right: a view of Field of Mars, a great park between the tower and the Military School, with the Montparnasse Tower in the distance.

The Place du Trocadéro offers excellent views of the Eiffel Tower. The place itself is an interesting one for capturing amazing images.

A stroll by the River Seine allows us to see some bucolic scenes at the very heart of one of the biggest cities of the world. Bellow: two views of the Pont Neuf. The image at the right shows the Pont Neuf in the distance from the Pont des Arts.

A visit to the Louvre Museum is mandatory. At the external area, the contrast of modern and traditional architectural styles amazes the visitors.

Situated between the buildings of the Louvre, we can find the great pyramid built of glass and metal, which has become one of the symbols of Paris.

The artistic and historical collections of the Louvre Museum are very rich and are displayed along kilometers of galleries. The Egyptian collection, among others, stands out for its grandiosity.

One of the best known symbols of Paris, the Arch of Triumph, is located at the Place de l'Etoile, in the center of a frenetic road junction.

From the top of the Arch of Triumph one can see the 360 degree panorama of the twelve avenues that reach the Place de l'Etoile. We can also see the "great axe" that goes from the Louvre Museum to the Great Arch in the borough of La Defense, passing through the Arch of Triumph. Below, to the left we can see the first part of the "great axe" from the Louvre and passing in the Tuileries Gardens, Place de la Concorde and Avenue of Champs-Elisées. In the center we can se the second part of the axe along the Avenues de la Grand Armée, Charles de Gaulle, till the Great Arch in the borough of La Defense. In the right we can see a view of the Avenue d'Iéna with the Eiffel Tower on the background.

At the beginning of the "great axe", next to the Louvre Museum, we find the Arch of Triumph of Carrousel, built by Napoleon to commemorate military achievements. On its top we can find a quadriga (a four-horse chariot). Originally, it was surmounted by the horses of Saint Mark's Cathedral in Venice, captured by Napoleon. The horses were later returned to Venice.

Originally, the present building of the Church of Saint Madeleine, was commissioned by Napoleon, in the form of roman temple, as a memorial of military victories. At the same place there was an old church dedicated to Saint Madeleine since the 12th century. The construction was transformed into a church after the fall of Napoleon.

To the right, we can see an image of the great interior of the Notre Dame Cathedral, of gothic style, located in the Ile de la Cité.

A stroll in the bucolic streets of the borough of Montmartre take us to the highest point of Paris, where is located the Sacre Couer Church, one of the main buildings of the city.

The Center Georges Pompidou holds the National Museum of Modern Art, besides various other shows and artistic manifestations. There is also a restaurant with a magnificent view of central Paris.

Below we can see a view of the Panthéon from the Boulevard Saint-Michel, at the Quartier Latin in Paris.

Below we can see two images of the gardens and palace of Luxembourg, when a summer storm was approaching the city.

Paris is an endless source of images. The opportunities may be in the well known attractions, like the Fountain of the Medici in the Gardens of Luxembourg or in the singular forms of the city rooftops. Paris is a feast to the eyes.

Yvoire

2007-09-01T13:29:00.000-03:00

Yvoire is a pleasant and cozy French medieval village located at the south border of Lake Léman (also known as Lake Geneva).

I visited Yvoire in May 2007, when I traveled by train in Austria and Switzerland. The city can be reached by regular boat lines from Geneva and Lausanne in Switzerland. The historical center must be explored by foot.

This small village, which completed 700 years in 2006, stays in a region that was considered strategic in the 14th century, when some fortifications were built. After that, it became a village of farmers and fishermen which kept well preserved historical constructions. Yvoire is a member of the Association of the Most Beautiful Villages of France and has received prizes in international contests of flower decorations.

A stroll in the narrow streets of the historical center sends you back to the past. A well preserved ruin of a medieval fortification tower can be seen in one of the entrances of the village. The St. Pancras church stands out in the center of the village. Its foundations probably date back to the 11th century. Its onion-shaped dome was replaced recently (1989) and is made of stainless steel and gold leaves.

Yvoire, with its historical constructions and its privileged position at the borders of Lake Léman, is a dream place for the eyes of the dedicated photographer, which will not be disappointed visiting this pleasant village.

Geneva

2007-08-28T20:45:00.000-03:00

Geneva is the second largest city of Switzerland and is among the cities with the best quality of life of the world. Situated on the borders of Lake Léman (also known as Lake Geneva), this pleasant and cosmopolitan French speaking city is surrounded by French territory and is connected to Switzerland by the lake and by a narrow corridor of land.

Geneva was the eighth and last city of an itinerary made by train in Austria and Switzerland in May 2007. The Old City and the quays along Lake Léman must be explored on foot.

A stroll in the narrow streets of the Old City will take us to St. Pierre Cathedral which was adopted as home church by John Calvin in the protestant reform in the 16th century.

Still in the Old City we can find the Place Bourg-de-Four, with cafés and restaurants, and streets with sophisticated stores.

The Jet d'Eau in the Gustave-Ador quay is the symbol of Geneva. The spring throws water 138m into the air above the lake. The arch formed by the falling water follows the direction of the wind and is illuminated differently during the day.

Along the borders of Lake Léman we can appreciate ancient constructions e historical sites as the Genève Paquis quay, where the Archduchess of Austria, Elisabeth of Bavária (the Sissi) was murdered in 1899.

Several boats link Geneva to cities and villages of Switzerland and France along the borders of Lake Léman, in a region of exuberant natural environment.

A visit to Geneva and regions around Lake Léman will be a pleasant experience for a dedicated photographer.

Other Voyages:
London-Paris-Buenos Aires-Venice-Florence-Pisa-Rome-Pompeii-San Francisco - Vienna - Salzburg - Innsbruck - Zurich - Lucerne - Interlaken - Lausanne

Lausanne

2007-08-25T20:59:00.000-03:00

Lausanne is the fifth largest city of Switzerland situated in the French speaking Vaud canton. Originally built above three hills, the city is located at the borders of Lake Léman (also known as Lake Geneva).

Lausanne was the seventh city of an itinerary made by train in Austria and Switzerland in May 2007. The historical center in Upper Town must be explored on foot. The surroundings of the city can be reached by the public transportation.

The Cathedral of Lausanne stands out in the Upper Town. It is situated 150 meters above the level of Lake Léman and is one of the most impressive gothic churches of Europe.

A stroll in the narrow streets of the Upper Town leads you to the Château of Saint-Marie, built between the 14th and 15th centuries. Today it houses administrative offices of the canton.

The Lake Léman can be seen from the Upper Town, over the rooftops of the historical center.

Aristocratic hotels and restaurants can be found in the borough of Ouchy, situated at the borders of Lake Léman. From its port, boats sail to many localities around the lake.

Ouchy is a starting point for aquatic sport activities in Lake Léman. It is also a privileged point of view of the French Alps in the Savoy region, on the other side of the lake.

Other Voyages:
London-Paris-Buenos Aires-Venice-Florence-Pisa-Rome-Pompeii-San Francisco - Vienna - Salzburg - Innsbruck - Zurich - Lucerne - Interlaken

Interlaken

2007-08-24T01:26:00.000-03:00

Interlaken is a pleasant Suiss city, visited by tourists all year round. The city is surrounded by an exuberant natural environment and next to snow-capped mountains of the Alps. Around the city we can also find many villages among dazzling landscapes.

Interlaken was the sixth city of an itinerary made by train in Austria and Switzerland in May 2007. The city is located between the lakes Thun and Brienz in the Bernese Oberland. The best way to explore the city is on foot.

The Jungfrau Mountain dominates Interlaken. The most famous view of the mountain is from Höheweg Park, in the center of the city.

A stroll around the city offers the opportunity of capturing great images.

A trip to the Jungfrau Mountain may be considered Interlaken's visit highlight. A railroad links the city to Jungfraujoch, the highest train station of Europe, 3,400 meters high. The trip allows the visitor to appreciate breathtaking views of extremely beautiful alpine regions.

One of the ways to reach Jungraujoch passes through Grindelwald, an alpine village surrounded by dazzling natural scenarios.

At the Jungfraujoch train station, one can see the top of Jungfrau Mountain and the surrounding snow-capped region.

Interlaken and the surrounding regions are an endless source of great images that will never disappoint the dedicated photographer.

Other Voyages:
London-Paris-Buenos Aires-Venice-Florence-Pisa-Rome-Pompeii-San Francisco - Vienna - Salzburg - Innsbruck - Zurich - Lucerne

Lucerne

2007-08-06T20:09:00.000-03:00

Lucerne is a pleasant city that represents the image of a typical Swiss city, with its narrow old streets, towers, covered bridges, springs and buildings with frescoes. Situated among an exuberant nature environment, the city is one of the most visited towns of Switzerland.

Lucerne was the fifth city of an itinerary made by train in Austria and Switzerland in May 2007. The city is located at the north end of Lake Lucerne. The center of the city is relatively compact and can be explored on foot.

In the center of the city we can find many historical constructions like the Hofkirch, the main church of the city; the Church of the Jesuits of baroque style and the rectangular tower of the Altes Rathaus - the old city hall - of renaissance style.

The River Reuss, which drains Lake Lucerne, cuts the center of the city. Hotels, restaurants and historical buildings line on both banks of the river, composing a remarkable architectural style.

Two covered wooden footbridges cross the River Reuss, close to the historical center. The famous Chapel Bridge, with its octagonal tower, crosses the river diagonally and is the symbol of Lucerne. It is one of the most preserved wooden bridges of Switzerland. The Mills Bridge was built in 1407 and is one of the oldest covered wooden bridges of Europe.

The historical center we still can find many buildings with timber framing structures and with painted façades.

The areas on around both banks of the River Reuss attract many visitors and offer great opportunities for capturing images.

The region around the Lake Lucerne is famous for its scenery and for the bucolic villages along its banks.

A visit to the Mount Pilatus, 15km south of Lucerne, is very appreciated by the tourists. At 2,100 meters of altitude, visitors find two hotels, restaurants and leisure areas.

From the top of Mount Pilatus we can see a panoramic view of Lucerne and the mountains with snow-capped peaks all year round.

The dedicated photographer will not be disappointed with a visit to Lucerne and the regions around the city.

Other Voyages:
London-Paris-Buenos Aires-Venice-Florence-Pisa-Rome-Pompeii-San Francisco - Vienna - Salzburg - Innsbruck - Zurich

Zurich

2007-08-02T17:49:00.000-03:00

International financial center and biggest city of Switzerland, Zurich is among the cities with the best quality of life in the world. Situated in the northern part of Lake Zurich, the city preserves a pleasant historical center of notable architectural style.

Zurich was the fourth city of an itinerary made by train in May 2007. The historical center must be explored on foot. The regions around the city can be visited using the excellent network of public transportation, including the tram lines which cover the whole city.

The well preserved buildings of the historical center offer opportunities for capturing great images. There we can find the St. Peter's Church, with the biggest clock face of Europe and the Grossmunster with its two impressive towers.

The city is crossed by the Limmat River. A stroll on its banks is a nice opportunity to appreciate the architectural style of the center.

The Bahnhofstrasse, the main street of the center of Zurich, cuts the city from the main train station to the shores of Lake Zurich. There you can find sophisticated stores and the headquarters of the main financial institutions of Switzerland. The tram lines dominate the street.

A special mountain train links the center of the city to the Uetliberg - the "peak of Zurich" - in a nearby mountain, which offers a panoramic view of the city and nearby regions.

From Uetliberg one can see privileged views of the Lake Zurich, of fields and forests around the city and of the snow-capped peaks of the Alps in the distance.

Other Voyages:

Londres-Paris-Buenos Aires-Venice-Florence-Pisa-Rome-Pompeii-San Francisco - Vienna - Salzburg - Innsbruck

Innsbruck

2007-07-18T22:18:00.000-03:00

Economical and cultural center of western Áustria, Innsbruck is a beautiful city surrounded by the Alps. Capital of the state of Tirol, the city has already been the center of the Holy Roman Empire in the 15th and 16th centuries. Today it is an important center of winter sports, but visited all year round.

Innsbruck was the third city of an itinerary made by train in Austria and Switzerland in May 2007. The historical center is compact e must be explored on foot. The nearby attractions can be visited using the public transportation.

The Maria Theresia Street, in the center of the city, is the main street. The historical center is situated on the north extremity of the street. On the south extremity is situated the Triumphal Arch, inspired on those of Rome.

In the Maria Theresia Street is situated the St. Anna's Column, built in 1706. On the left, a detail of the base of the column with the mountains the surround the city as background.

In the historical center we can find buildings from various periods of history, restaurants e commerce. The architectural style of the buildings and the contrast with the Alps mountains offer excellent subjects for photography.

One of the most photographed attractions of the historical center is the Golden Roof - a luxury three stage balcony, where the emperor Maximilian I used to watch the tournaments on the square bellow.

The City Tower, also situated in the historical center, is a former prison built in the 15th century. From its top it is possible to appreciate the view of the center, the surrounding areas and the mountains around.

The St. James Cathedral, of baroque style, was heavily damaged during the Second World War and was totally restored.

The city is situated very close to Alps Mountains, offering beautiful views in every direction. Therefore, a visit to Innsbruck will not disappoint a dedicated photographer.

Other Voyages:

Londres-Paris-Buenos Aires-Venice-Florence-Pisa-Rome-Pompeii-San Francisco - Vienna - Salzburg

Berchtesgaden

2007-07-13T00:42:00.000-03:00

Berchtesgaden is a quiet medieval alpine village situated in Bavaria, south Germany, close to the Austrian border. The village is situated among the peaks of the Watzmann mountain, which, according to a local legend, were once an evil royal family turned into rocks by God as a punishment.

Berchtesgaden is only 25 km from Salzburg. I visited the village for just some hours in May 2007, during my visit to Austria and Switzerland.

Typical alpine houses can be found in Marktplatz, in the center of the village. At one end of Marktplatz, a 16th-century arcade leads to Schlossplatz where is situated the Stiftskirche (Abbey Chuch), from 1122, and some of the oldest constructions of the town.

Left: the façade decoration of a house of Marktplatz.

The National Park of Berchtesgaden is a region of exuberant beauty, 5 km south of the village. There is situated the Königsee lake with steep mountains on its shores.

Salzburg

2007-07-07T01:47:00.000-03:00

Salzburg is the fourth largest Austrian city, capital of Salzburg State and situated amongst one of the most panoramic alpine sceneries of Europe. Originally a principality of the Holy Roman Empire, Salzburg was separated from Bavaria in the 14th century e joined Austria in 1816.

Salzburg was the second city of an itinerary made by train in Austria and Switzerland in May 2007. The attractions of the historical center can all be visited on foot.

Crossed by the Salzach River, the historical center of Salzburg is famous for its impressive e well preserved baroque architecture. The Hohensalzburg Fortress dominates the city. This is the biggest well preserved castle of central Europe.

A visit to the Hohensalzburg Fortress is mandatory. From its 122 meters of altitude, the fortress offers breath taking views of the historical center, the regions close to the city and the Alps.

Salzburg attracts, till today, tourists who wish to visit the sites which were used to shoot the 1965 film Sound of Music.

The front part of the Leopoldskron Palace was used as the residence of the Von Trapp family. The scene when the children fall in the water was filmed in the Lake Leopoldskron, in front of the palace. From the lake, we have privileged view of one of the landmarks of Salzburg: the Untersberg Mountain, situated between Germany and Austria.

The façade of Hellbrunn Palace has also been used as the residence of the Von Trapp family. Next to Hellbrunn, the Frohnburg Palace and the road in front of it were used as the back entrance of the family residence.

The glass pavilion used on the film, was reconstructed in the gardens of Hellbrunn Palace. The Residenz Square and Residenz Fountain were used in some sequences of the film with Maria.

On the film, the Mozart Bridge is crossed by Maria and the children as they stroll around the city. The entrance of Nonnberg Convent, where Maria was a novice, is shown in different takes along the film.

Maria and the children are seen dancing the gardens and stairs of Mirabell Palace on the film, scenes which still inspire new generations of fans.

The church where the marriage of Maria and Capitan Von Trapp was filmed is situated in the little town of Mondsee, not far from Salzburg. In real life, the marriage took place at the church of Nonnberg Convent.

Salzburg and its outskirts offer some unique opportunities for capturing great images. A dedicated photographer will not be disappointed with a visit to this beautiful city.

Other Voyages:

Londres-Paris-Buenos Aires-Venice-Florence-Pisa-Rome-Pompeii-San Francisco - Vienna

Vienna

2007-06-28T23:43:00.000-03:00

"Anyway, down I came, all the way to old Vienna, happy as a lark and without a dime", line of Holly Martins character in the film The Third Man.

Vienna is a cosmopolitan city with 2,000 years of history. Founded by the Romans, it has played an important role in the history of Europe during the Holy Roman Empire, later as the capital of the Empire of Austria and Austro-Hungarian Empire in the 19th century and as the capital of the Republic of Austria in the 20th century. Besides, Vienna has been a center of arts and music for centuries.

Vienna was the initial point of an itinerary made by train in Austria and Switzerland in May 2007. The historical center can be explored on foot or by using the excellent network of public transportation which can take you everywhere in the city.

Situated at the historical center of the city, the Hofburg - the former winter palace of the Habsburgs - is a complex of buildings constructed in different times since the 13th century. There you can find the imperial apartments of the archduke Franz Joseph and his wife the archduchess Elisabeth of Bavaria (the Sissi) as well as a museum especially dedicated to Sissi.

The Church of the Augustinians is situated at the Hofburg complex. Throughout history, several royal weddings have taken place there, like the weddings of Maria Antoinette and Louis XVI of France, Marie-Louise of Austria and Napoleon (by proxy) and Franz Joseph and Elisabeth of Bavaria (the Sissi).

The Kunsthistorisches Museum, close to the Hofburg, possesses an extraordinary collection of art gathered by the Habsburgs. The museum houses works of art of great European masters, besides an exceptional collection of Egyptian and Greek ancient art.

The cathedral of St. Stephan, in the historical center, began to be built in the 12th century. It is one of the symbols of Vienna. The cathedral has suffered with fires and wars throughout its existence. During the Second World War, the construction was damaged by bombings. It was reopened in 1948 after works of restoration.

The Belvedere Palace, southeast of the historical center, houses an extraordinary gallery of art of the 19th and 20th centuries.

The sumptuous Schonbrunn Palace, situated outside the historical center, was built to be the summer palace of the Habsburgs. There, the archduke Franz Joseph was born and lived his last days. During his long reign, he occupied the imperial apartments with his wife, the archduchess Elisabeth of Bavaria (the Sissi).

The palace is situated amongst a giant garden, inspired in the Versailles Palace. A peculiar construction in marble, the "Gloriette", stands out in the gardens of the palace.

Situated at the Prater amusement park, the "Riesenrad" giant wheel is one the symbols of Vienna. It has been going around since 1897 and reaches 67 meters at its highest point.

Vienna is not, essentially, a photogenic city. Nevertheless, impressive public buildings around the historical center offer great motives for capturing exceptional images.

Other Voyages:

Londres-Paris-Buenos Aires-Venice-Florence-Pisa-Rome-Pompeii-San Francisco

Tour 2007

2007-06-26T11:29:00.000-03:00

In May 2007, I crossed Austria and Switzerland by train from Vienna to Geneva, following an itinerary among an exuberant natural environment - a photographer's dream come true...

The next posts will describe the trip which left pleasant memories and thousands of photographs that will need months to be organized.

Have a good trip!

Rio de Janeiro

2007-04-22T20:21:00.000-03:00

In April, 21th 2007, a competition of the Air Race World Series took place in Botafogo bay, Rio de Janeiro. For the photographers, the event was a great opportunity to capture great images of acrobatic planes having Rio de Janeiro city as background. I used a 100-300 zoom lens, which becomes a 160-480 mm lens attached to a Canon EOS 350D camera, because of the 1.6 correction factor. In order to get images with frozen movements, a minimum time exposure of 1/1000 of a second was used.

Before the competition, two F5 jet planes crossed the Botafogo bay a couple of times.

"Air gates" have been installed in Botafogo bay, forming a circuit which the pilots should fly in the shortest possible time.

Pilots must pass through the red gates with the planes in vertical position.

Pilots must pass through the blue gates with the planes in horizontal position. The constructive nature of the gate pylons is prepared to withstand shocks without damaging the planes, as we can see in the image below at the right, captured just a few moments after the shock.

The audience of the event was estimated in one million people.

Photographers at the event were not disappointed.

Other Voyages:

Londres-Paris-Buenos Aires-Venice-Florence-Pisa-Rome-Pompeii

San Francisco

2007-04-05T18:39:00.000-03:00

"I'm going home to my city by the bay" - Douglass Cross, George Cory.

I stayed in San Francisco for 24 hours in July 2006, but I had just some hours to capture images of the city: a real challenge for any photographer.

In the Financial District, at the center of the city, the Transamerica Pyramid stands out among a cluster of high-rise towers.

San Francisco is a cosmopolitan city and its population is composed of immigrants from various parts of the world.

Two great bridges cross the the San Francisco Bay. The most famous is the Golden Gate Bridge at the entrance of the bay. The other one is the Bay Bridge that links the San Francisco peninsula to Oakland.

The island of Alcatraz, a former maximum security prison, is an attraction for tourists since the 1970's.

The historical and traditional cable cars cover the main boroughs of the central area of the city and can not be missed by the visitors.

In the agitated center of the city, it is possible to find some thematic restaurants.

It is needless to say that one afternoon is not sufficient to know and properly photograph one of the most interesting cities of the world.

Other Voyages:

Londres-Paris-Buenos Aires-Venice-Florence-Pisa-Rome-Pompeii

Reno

2007-04-03T00:39:00.000-03:00

Reno entitles itself "the biggest little city in the world". Although it has not the glamour of Las Vegas, Reno has big casinos open 24 hours a day.

The city is located in an arid region with extreme temperatures in the summer and winter. In July 2006, when I visited Reno, the temperatures would rise to more the 40 degrees C every day.

Other Voyages:

Londres-Paris-Buenos Aires-Venice-Florence-Pisa-Rome-Pompeii

Pompeii

2007-04-01T16:54:00.000-03:00

Covered by tons of ashes and pumice stone caused by eruption of the Vesuvius, in 79 AD, Pompeii reappeared after centuries of sleep, giving us a rare opportunity to see how the life of a Roman city was 2,000 years ago.

Amidst the modern Pompeii, the area of the ancient city is an open air museum and a archeological site where excavations are still going on. It takes just 45 minutes of train from Naples to reach the city. The exploration of ancient Pompeii can only be made on foot. During the day, the region may be very hot, as I could confirm in my visit in May 2006.

The distant silhouette of the Vesuvius volcano can be seen from almost all Pompeii, reminding us that the destiny of the region can be changed at any minute.

Scattered all over the city, you can find 2,000 years old remains of rich houses with well preserved works of art of artists whose names have been lost in time.

The great amphitheatre, which could accommodate more than 20,000 people, is one of the most preserved constructions of Pompeii.

The great gymnasium, a place used for practicing sports, is located beside the great amphitheatre and is also very well preserved.

In some isolated places of Pompeii, it is still possible to imagine the city in ancient times, as if some old dweller would get out, at any moment, from one of the houses. The main alleys are almost always full of hordes of tourists.

Capturing quality images in Pompeii is a challenge for the photographer, due to the peculiar conditions of illumination of the constructions, to the great quantity of tourists, to the heat and dust. Nevertheless, photographers are not easily discouraged by these kinds of challenge.

Other Voyages:

Londres-Paris-Buenos Aires-Venice-Florence-Pisa-Rome

Rome

2007-03-28T22:02:00.000-03:00

"Tutte le strade portano a Roma" - Italian proverb.

Rome was once the center of the world. Its construction icons and works of art are the witnesses of a historical past that influenced all eastern civilization. If it was not enough to make it mandatory a visit to the eternal city, differently from other city capitals that not always mirror the culture and way of life of their countries, Rome is the heart of Italy.

The quantity of historical monuments and works of art in museums, churches and basilicas in Rome and in the Vatican is a challenge for the visitors planning capacity, as I could confirm in my visit in May 2006. Although the regions of the center of the city and the ancient center must be explored on foot, the subway or taxis may be used for longer distances.

The Pantheon, in the center of the city, is the most preserved ancient construction of Rome. The building has a cylindrical structure with a huge hemispherical dome (bigger then the Basilica of Saint Peter). The dome has a radius that equals the height of the supporting cylinder. Built as the temple of all gods around 110 AD, it was transformed into a church in the 17th century.

At the top of the dome, the Pantheon has a circular opening - the "oculo" - that lights the interior of the building.

The Pantheon is situated at the Piazza de la Rotonda, surround by typical roman constructions.

The Spanish Steps, close to the Square of Spain, attracts many visitors who like to seat on the steps and watch the time and people go by.

The Fontana de Trevi is the biggest and most famous spring of Rome and is always full of tourists. If possible, the visitor must also visit the spring by night and appreciate the artificial illumination.

A place of combats between gladiators and fights between savage animals, in the ancient times, the Coliseum is till today the most magnificent construction of Rome. It is a unique experience to visit its internal alleys, passages and stairs, where the Romans used to gather and watch the shows.

In the ancient center are situated the ruins and constructions of the Roman Forum, the political, social and commercial center of ancient Rome. Among the ruins are the Temple of Saturn, the Arch of Setimo Severo, the foundations of the Basilica Julia and the three remaining columns of the temple of Castor and Polux.

In the ancient center is also situated the Palatino Mount, where Rome may have been founded. It has been, for centuries, the place of residence of Roman emperors and aristocrats.

Close to the ancient center, you can find the monument to Vitorio Emanuele, the first king of the unified Italy.

The Basilica of Saint Peter, with its 186 meters of extension and with a dome of 136 meters of altitude, dominates the Vatican and houses many works of art of artists like Michelangelo and Bernini.

A visit to the Vatican Museum is mandatory. Among the works of art of the impressive collection of the museum are Michelangelo's paintings at the Sistine Chapel and Rafael's paintings on the private chambers of Pope Julio II. The decoration of the various chambers and some construction details surprise the visitor like the decoration of the Vatican library and the double helicoid stair.

The colorful borough of Trastevere - "beyond the (river) Tiber" - has an active night life and a concentration of restaurants and bars.

Rome with its agitated life, historical monuments and remains of the old Roman empire scattered all over the city, is a never ending source of images for the photographer.

Other Voyages:

Londres-Paris-Buenos Aires-Venice-Florence-Pisa

Pisa

2007-03-27T23:41:00.000-03:00

"Gli errori sono necessari, utili come il pane e spesso anche belli: per esempio la torre di Pisa" - Gianni Rodari.

The inclined Tower of Pisa is of the most famous architectural icons of Italy. It is, in fact, the tower bell of an impressive group of buildings of the Campo dei Miracoli (Field of Miracles) in the city of Pisa.

Pisa is located in the Tuscany region and is just one hour away from Florence, by train. From the central station, the Campo dei Miracoli can be reached by taxi or bus. If you prefer to walk, the distance may be done on foot, as I did in May 2006.

The bell tower (Tower of Pisa), the church (Duomo) and the baptistery are the evidences of a richer era when Pisa dominated the trade in East Mediterranean Sea. This one of the most beautiful group of buildings of Italy, but the tower has been attracting almost an exclusive attention of visitors because of its peculiar inclination.

The tower was built over a sandy soil between the 12th and 14th centuries. The inclination started during construction and reached a critical point in 1995. In a recent work of engineering, the inclination was reduced, making the tower safe again for visitors. It is possible to climb to its top and appreciate the magnificent view.

The visitor that goes to the Campo dei Miracoli, having just the tower of Pisa in mind, will be surprised with the grandiosity and beauty of the baptistery.

If possible, the photographer should reserve a whole day for the Campo dei Miracoli in order to capture the changing of light from dawn to dusk over such interesting group of buildings. The reward is guaranteed.

Other Voyages:

Londres-Paris-Buenos Aires-Venice-Florence

Florence

2007-03-27T23:11:00.000-03:00

"Meglio una cosa fatta che cento da fare" - Florentine proverb.

Florence possesses an impressive collection of works of art of the Renaissance in museums, churches, palaces and squares. Some of these works are icons recognized by all mankind and produced by some of the most famous artists of history. Besides that, the city is in Tuscany, an Italian region famous for its historical traditions and views. Considering all that, I could not leave Florence out of my journey to Italy in May 2006. The historical center of the city is relatively compact and all attractions can by explored on foot.

The Church of Santa Maria del Fiore, with its huge dome, forms with the bell tower and the baptistery a group of buildings that is a symbol of Florence. The church is the fourth biggest of Europe and stands out on the historical center of city.

The Piazza della Signoria has been the center of the social e political life in Florence along the centuries and is always crowded with tourists.

Constructed in the Middle Ages, The Palacio Vecchio is situated at the Piazza della Signoria and houses Florence's city hall, till today. Its majestic tower is one of the symbols of the city.

Among famous statues located at the Piazza della Signoria, like Perseus and The Rape of the Sabine Women, you can find a copy of Michelangelo's David, beside the entrance of Palacio Vecchio, at the exact place the original statue was till 1873.

The original Michelangelo's David, with 5,2 meters of altitude, is inside of the Galleria dell'Accademia. For many visitors, the appreciation of this master piece and icon of mankind is the high point of a visit to Florence.

The Uffizi Museum is the largest art museum of Italy. There you can appreciate the main collection of Italian Renaissance paintings: among them the Birth of Venus and Primavera from Botticelli.

The Pitti Palace, former residence of the Medicis, shows a collection of works of art accumulated by generations of one of the most powerful families of Europe. The palace lies amidst the extensive Boboli Garden, with symmetrical geometrical patterns.

The church of Santa Croce is decorated with frescos of Giotto from the 14th century. There you can find the tombs of Michelangelo, Galileu and Maquiavel.

The Arno River cuts Florence and is crossed by many bridges. The oldest of them and the only one that was not destroyed during World War II is the Vecchio Bridge, which houses jewelry stores and is always crowded with tourists.

Not far from the center of the city, you can appreciate views of the Tuscany region with its typical cypress trees and constructions.

From the Piazzale Michelangelo, you can get a special view of the historical center of Florence, specially at the end of the day when it is possible to capture fine images of the Arno River and its bridges, under the light of sunset. Another copy of Michelangelo's David is located at the square.

A visit to Florence is a special opportunity for the photographer, considering its unique gathering of cultural, historical and architectural characteristics.

Other voyages:

London-Paris-Buenos Aires-Venice

Venice

2007-03-27T01:03:00.000-03:00

"Venezia è come mangiare un'intera scatola di cioccolata al liquore in una sola volta" - Truman Capote.

Venice is a feast for the eyes. The city is unique for its channels, alleys, bridges, "piazzas" and one of the most important collections of works of art in museums, churches and palaces. During some days in May 2006, I had the privilege of visiting Venice and capture some images of this extraordinary city.

Venice is a city to be explored on foot. The transportation by boat must be used for long distances and for visiting the islands of Murano, Burano and Lido.

The San Marcos Square attracts a large number of visitors for its restaurants, live concerts and, mainly, for one of the most astounding groups of architectural icons of mankind. From the top of the bell tower, rebuilt in the 20th century, it is possible to have a 360 degree view of the city.

The Basilica of San Mark is one of the greatest constructions of Europe and mixes architectural styles of the east and west. The interiors are decorated with mosaics of the 12th and 13th centuries.

The Palace of the Doges (Palazzo Ducale), the ancient government headquarters, shows evidences of the rich past of the Venetian Republic in its sumptuous rooms and works of art.

The Great Channel is the main way of communication of the city. It cuts Venice from the Saint Lucia train station to the San Mark Square and it is always full of vaporetos (public transportation), taxi-boats and gondolas.

Two architectural icons of the city are located close to the mouth of the Great Channel: the church of Santa Marial della Salute, in baroque style and the church of San Giorgio Maggiore, with its bell tower, which has a privileged view from San Mark Square.

The gondolas and the gondoliers nourish the dreams of the tourists and are a special attraction in Venice.

One of the best programs in the city is to get lost in the maze of alleys. In some parts of the city, away from the hordes of tourists, it is possible to observe the every day life of the Venetians.

At night, the city reveals other enchantments.

Venice possesses a unique architectural style and presents a never ending source of images for the dedicated photographer, who should consider a fine privilege the opportunity of visiting this city.

Other voyages:

London-Paris-Buenos Aires

Nova Friburgo

2007-03-27T00:53:00.000-03:00

In a recent trip to Nova Friburgo, in the mountain region of Rio de Janeiro, I took a walk on a trail with my faithful camera.

Capturing images of trails is tricky. It is not easy to get the balance between the lighter and darker areas in order to avoid under or super exposure, specially when the sun partially lights the path. It is important to get an average metering of the camera photometer and capture at least three images around the average metering, changing the combination of the shutter speed and lens aperture. Additional adjustments can be made, later, with an image editing software.

It is not easy to get good images of flowers in close up because the natural swing caused by the wind, the reduced depth of field caused by large lens apertures and petals in different focal planes. The image of these flowers of "quaresmeira" (tibouchina mutabilis) was captured with the help of a fill in flash.

Along the trail there were some clearings where the sky could be seen. In order to get more contrast of the clouds against the sky, a polarizing filter was used on these images.

At the end of the day, scattered summer storms reached some areas of Nova Friburgo. In order to isolate the image of this storm, a zoom lens set at 200mm has been used.

Outras viagens:
London-Paris-Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires

2007-03-27T00:12:00.000-03:00

"Mi Buenos Aires, tierra florida, donde mi vida terminaré, bajo tu amparo no hay desengaños, vuelan los años, se olvida el dolor" - Carlos Gardel and Alfredo le Pera.

Buenos Aires surprises the visitor with its Parisian-style boulevards, great planned avenues, cozy cafés and bookshops, a highly educated population and mild weather. All over the place, monuments and historical constructions are a testimony of a rich and grand past of Argentina. Buenos Aires may be the most European-like Latin American city, but with unique cultural and historical characteristics.

I have been five times to Buenos Aires between 2005 and 2006. Nevertheless, the list of attractions below is not extensive. Most of the interesting sites in the center of the city can be visited on foot or by subway, which is one of the oldest of the world.

The Casa Rosada is situated in front of the Plaza de Mayo, a place that has witnessed the most important public manifestations of the history of Argentina

Planned as a Parisian boulevard, the Avenue of Mayo links the Casa Rosada to the Argentine Congress. Along the avenue runs the line A of the subway, which still has some trains from the beginning of the 20th century, made of wood and kept for tourism purposes.

The building of the Argentine Congress is situated at the Plaza de los Dos Congresos, a place also frequently used for popular manifestations.

The Ninth of July Avenue is the largest of the world and crosses the city center. At the intersection with the Corrientes Avenue, stands an obelisk that was built to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the city. It is one of the symbols of Buenos Aires and Argentina.

Florida Street is Buenos Aires' high street, where you can find the most important shops and department stores.

The best of the Argentine cuisine can be found at the excellent restaurants of Puerto Madero, an old dock area that has been recently restored.

Every Sunday afternoon there is a fair in the borough of San Telmo, where you can find antiques, works of art, typical tango orchestras e and tango performers.

A group of streets that still keeps examples of old immigrant's constructions is located at the borough of Boca, where you can also find street performers, shops, restaurants and bars. The main street is know as the "Caminito".

The historical constructions spread all over the city and the cultural life of Buenos Aires form a peculiar environment that offers special opportunities for the photographers.

Ohter voyages:

London-Paris

Rio de Janeiro

2007-03-25T01:47:00.000-03:00

The search for new emotions and images sometimes requires the planning of a trip, hotel reservations and availability of time and resources. Even so, it is possible not to find what we had in mind.

Sometimes what we look for is very close to us, for example just outside our windows. Of course, you will be in advantage if you live in Rio de Janeiro.

These images have been captured right before twilight, at the "magic moment" - a period of few minutes starting twenty minutes after sunset when the lower part of high altitude clouds are lighted by the Sun already under the horizon.

Well, do not forget your camera…

Other voyages:

London - Paris

Paris

2007-03-25T00:17:00.000-03:00

"We'll always have Paris." - Rick to Ilsa in Casablanca.

When I told a friend that I intended to go to Paris on my planned travel to Europe, he suggested leaving the city to the end of the journey. I asked him why and he said: "Because nothing compares to Paris…"

From the urban point of view, Paris is a live exhibition composed of some of the most impressive monuments and architectural icons of mankind. From the cultural point of view, the city has an amazing gathering of works of art of all times. From the historical point of view, you can find references at each corner, from evidences of the Roman occupation to indications where heroes of the French resistance have fallen. From the gastronomic point of view, there are restaurants and cafés of all styles and prices, allowing the visitor to appreciate the special French cuisine. Perhaps nothing really compares to Paris… I can not deny that I had this impression in May 2005, when I first visited the French capital.

Defining what can not be missed in Paris is a difficult task. The quantity of attractions to see and experiment is only limited to the visitor's available time. The service of Paris metro is excellent and covers the whole city. In spite of that, the exploration of the central region of the city must be made on foot.

A walk in the Ilé de la Cité, take us to two religious monuments built in the Middle Ages. The cathedral of Notre Dame, a great gothic architectural monument by the River Seine is one of the symbols of Paris and France. The Saint-Chapelle is a jewel of the Middle Ages, with notable stained glass windows representing passages of the Old and New Testament.

The Gardens of Luxembourg, at the Quartier Latin, is the place where many Parisians like to stay on the sunny days, mainly at the weekends. During the week days the park is usually full of students of the nearby University of Sorbonne. Close to the Gardens of Luxemburg, the Pantheon, an astounding architectural achievement originally built as a church, holds the tombs of many historical personalities of France.

The Museum of Louvre has got a priceless collection of artistic treasures and objects of civilizations of all times. The glass pyramid and the underground complex, built in the 20th century, provide an unusual contrast to the original architectural style of the palace of Louvre. The Museum d'Orsay has got an impressive collection of French artists of the second half of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, including an extensive collection of master pieces of the Impressionism.

Les Invalides is a building complex of monuments and museums, originally built as a hospital for veterans of war. There you can find the tomb of Napoleon, in a specially built crypt under a huge golden dome. The Rodin Museum, beside Les Invalides, stands in the middle of a beautiful garden with sculptures of the famous artist.

A mandatory experience in Paris is to take a walk along the great axe that goes from Museum of Louvre to the Arch of Triumph. Starting at the Louvre and passing through the Arch of Carrousel, Garden of Tuileries, Place de la Concorde (where the Obelisk of Luxor is situated), Avenue de Champs Elysees till the Arch of Triumph.

The great axe goes, in fact, till the Great Arch de La Defense, in a modern borough of Paris. A line of the metro runs along the axe, so if you ever get tired, you can always get a shortcut.

At the top of the hill of Montmartre lies the astounding church of Sacre Coeur, from where you can get a view of good part of Paris. Close to the Sacre Couer you can find the Square of Tertre, a place where you can buy works of art from popular artists and painters and even have your own portrait painted.

An entire day must be reserved for a visit to the Palace of Versailles, 17 km away from the center of Paris, which was the residence of the French royalty till the 1789 revolution. The palace is situated amidst a giant garden that stretches itself as far as the eye can see.

A visit to Paris would not be complete without a visit to the Eiffel Tower. Do not bother to stand in long queues to go to the top of the tower because it will be an unforgettable experience. The 360 degree view of the city from the top is breathtaking. From the Palace of Chaillot in Trocadero, you can get one of the best views of the Eiffel Tower, specially at night where you can watch, from a privileged point of view, the show of multicolored flashes every hour on the hour.

Paris is perhaps the most photogenic city of the world and, therefore, a never-ending source of subjects for all sorts of photographers, and not only for the most experienced ones.

Other voyages:

London

2007-03-24T01:50:00.000-03:00

When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford." - Samuel Johnson.

London is a cosmopolitan city, with historical, architectural and cultural references at each corner. The visitor is impacted by quantity and quality of works of art, spread over museums, palaces and churches and by the respect to historical traditions.

In spite of all that, I realized that I was really in London, in May 2005, when I heard the unique sound of the chimes of the Big Ben watch tower.

Moving around the city becomes easy after figuring out the maze of the efficient subway lines. Another option is to use the well behaved red buses that cover the whole city.

Listing what can not be missed in London may be an impossible task, considering different tastes and preferences. Some attractions, however, would be on the list of most visitors.

The British Museum has a huge collection of historical objects and works of art from all civilizations since ancient times. For some people the opportunity to visit the British Museum would justify a trip to London.

A visit to the Tower of London allows the visitor to know the historical events that have taken place inside its medieval walls along the centuries. There you can also find the jewelry of the British crown.

A cruise in the Thames River allows the observation of the city on both banks and the bridges that cross the river. The most famous of them is the Tower Bridge, an engineering and architectural monument recognized as one of the symbols of London and the United Kingdom.

The Westminster Abbey is one of the most beautiful architectural monuments of Europe. There the visitor finds the tombs of many British monarchs and historical personalities like Newton.

London has some of the most beautiful urban parks of Europe. In the Hide Park, at the central part of the city, the visitor can appreciate the impressive monument in honor of Prince Albert, consort of Queen Victoria.

If you have time, visit the most famous pedestrian crossing of the world in Abbey Road, immortalized in the cover of a Beatles album, and leave your message on the indentification plaque.

A large number of monuments can be found in the city, like the one situated in front of the Buckingham Palace.

Well and, of course, there are the luxury department stores like Harrods, the restaurants and the pubs.

London may not be considered essentially a photogenic city, but the trained eye of the photographer will always find interesting subjects.

Teresopolis

2007-03-23T23:05:00.000-03:00

In a recent hot and rainy weekend in Teresopolis, Rio de Janeiro, I found some surprisingly photogenic bromeliads, some of them with multicolored patterns.

In one of these bromeliads, a spider posed patiently for the photographs.

The little girl decided to make some drawings and wait for the weather to get better.

How to succeed in life?

2007-03-23T10:50:00.000-03:00

My father once told me a story of an executive of a large firm that would spend most of the year planning an annual vacation of 15 days on paradisiacal resort close to a lake, where he used to go fishing.

During the vacation periods by the lake, the executive used to spot a man who seemed to share with him the same passion for fishing and probably the same passion for that resort. He imagined that both of them, coincidently, went on vacation on the same periods. One day the executive decided to introduce himself. He learned, then, that his fishing companion had lived all his life on the lake whereabouts. The executive then asked him if he had ever desired to have a career and succeed in life. The man answered that he would not know how to improve his life because he was already doing what he liked most: go fishing by the lake almost everyday of his life and not just 15 days per year.

Mixing the passion for photography with the pleasure of knowing new places and cultures is an irresistible combination for me. I would like to have more time available for voyages and photography. Unfortunately, my travel periods are short. Perhaps, as compensation, I am investing more and more time in planning new travels.

After having adopted the digital technology, the volume of captured images has increased considerably. As a result, the time needed to select and edit the best images has also increased, giving me a feeling of "extending" my travels.

Besides showing my images in exhibitions and video presentations, I decided to create this blog and present the images captured during my travels, forming an unpretentious photographic guide for those who wish to follow the same ways.

I do not know why, sometimes, I remember the story told by my father. Perhaps Christopher Morley(*) had the answer when he said: "There is only one success - to be able to spend your life in your own way".

(*) American journalist, novelist, poet, and playwright.