luluThe hubby and I have been to Paris several times with guide book in hand to make sure we didn’t miss anything. This time was different. We did very little that could be considered touristy as our focus was on people and place.
Because we were close to Notre Dame, we passed by several times a day.
It was impossible to resist taking photos from every angle and at different hours.
Crazy as it seemed, we realized we’d never been inside, so one morning, with there seeming to be no waiting crowd, we went in. To say the least it is an impressive structure causing me once again to marvel at the ability to create and build that existed centuries ago.
Looking around at the people snapping selfies, I couldn’t help but wonder if they were more interested in capturing themselves in the building than in studying its grandeur.
Close by is Sainte Chapelle, one of my favorite places in Paris. There was no way I could pass by without going inside to again experience its dramatic beauty.
Seeing the majesty of it and Notre Dame made me appreciate the courage of those who disobeyed Hitler’s orders to destroy Paris.
With those two visits behind, the remainder of our experience was exploring, primarily Ile de laCite and Ile Sainte- Louis.
I so enjoyed the characters on the street.
There seemed to be no limit to what they did to draw attention.
No matter the act, I can’t imagine the euros earned are enough to provide more than a meager livelihood.
What I liked best about walking the streets was capturing unposed versions of people doing what they do.
It might be a child finding a new friend on a playground
or two friends enjoying the sunshine while walking the dog
or a couple sharing a special moment at a sidewalk cafe.
In the dark of night Paris is aglow.
The changing colors of the Eiffel Tower light the sky
and a smaller version of the Statue of Liberty stands proud on the banks of the Seine. I had no idea that existed, but it makes sense as Lady Liberty was a gift to the U.S from France.
Yes, my view of Paris is forever changed thanks to a workshop that encouraged paying attention to all that can be experienced beyond the familiar tourist attractions.
i so appreciate your visit and the comments you leave behind
One thing that has not changed is the Pike Place Market. 
Throngs of people crowd the area, many there out of curiosity and some actually trying to shop.
Now, I’ve been to farmers markets in many different places, but the Seattle market may be among the most interesting. Fresh seafood is a specialty, and its fishy smell permeates the market.
There are foodstuffs of every kind from baked goods to pasta 
There is a section for arts and crafts, and if all the wandering makes you hungry there are a number of restaurants and food vendors inside the market.
No where have I ever seen so many flowers. It was hard to pick favorites with such an abundance of choices.
Selecting was made easier by the women behind the flowers who combined beautiful blooms into works of art. From what I observed, many folks had a hard time resisting their creations.
Being surrounded by so much temptation, it was impossible not to indulge in a few things which made for a most enjoyable tini time on our hotel’s rooftop sitting area. 
From there we could take in all the action below us, watch the ferris wheel go round and round and take in the comings and going of cargo ships and huge cruise liners. Somehow I enjoyed that as much as being surrounded by mass humanity.
As wonderstruck as I was being surrounded by Alaska’s natural beauty, there is more to its southeast coast.
There are mountain goats climbing high on craggy mountains, 
There are harbor seals floating on beds of glacier ice
and sea lions soaking up the sun.
Eagles soar over the water,
their sharp eyes looking for a meal to snare.
Once I spotted an eagle’s nest and only after looking at my photos did I see a white head sticking out of the twigs.
Perhaps most exciting of all are the whales that make way to Alaska’s waters to feed. Every time a blow was spotted, everyone on the boat ran forward or back to get a view.
More often than not all we saw was the whale’s back,
but sometimes it came out of the water, mouth open wide.
Other times its tail came up and we learned that was followed by a big splash fluke.
Alaska abounds with breathtaking natural beauty.
Snow capped mountains and islands covered with hemlock, spruce and cedar are enough to satiate the senses, but there’s more.
Even the sunsets are wondrous on drizzle free days.
We were fortunate to witness two technicolor skies, one intense and dramatic.
The other was softer and cast its pastel glow over mountains and water.
When I see sights like this
and this, it renews my faith in a power greater than man and fills my heart with gratitude.
Whatever is seen at sea level is only a portion of the glacier which is likely to have originated some distance away and higher on the mountain. 
The visible portion may not look large from a distance, but do not be deceived. It is likely to be hundreds of feet tall and more than a half mile wide.
Much of a glacier appears to be some shade of icy blue which I learned is a function of density and the way light is reflected. 
The more color the denser the ice meaning that it contains very little air. 
Sometimes a glacier has dirty looking areas resulting from mudslides that leave behind dirt that gets locked in the ice.
On occasion there is a loud crack followed by a chunk of ice breaking off and becoming an iceberg only 10% of which is visible above the water. These lovely pieces of floating ice can be very dangerous as the Titanic sadly experienced.
Some things you’ve thought about doing for a long time aren’t always what you’d hoped they’d be, but that isn’t what we found to be true of an Alaskan cruise. Our seven days on Admiralty Dream exceeded expectations and took us to places full of wonder.
As with other places we would visit, much of Sitka’s economy depends on fishing for halibut, salmon and rockfish.
The days of wonder began when Admiralty Dream left the dock at Sitka and headed to open water and sights startlingly beautiful. 
As lovely as snow capped mountains were clouds hanging low splitting the mountains in half.
Though it doesn’t seem so, most of the mountains are higher than 5,000 feet which explains the snow. At that height, precipitation is snow and ice whereas at lower levels it becomes rain.
Because of those rocky surfaces rain cannot be absorbed so it is not unusual to see water cascading down the mountain creating some pretty impressive waterfalls. Should there be a few days without rain, rare I’m told, the waterfalls disappear.
Along the coast we stopped in places where we were exposed to new opportunity for discovery whether it be beachcombing
or learning about the Tlingit culture that has existed in southeast Alaska for hundreds of years. 
Theirs is a complex, socially organized matrilineal society whose stories and tradition are communicated in many ways. Tlingit stories that have been passed down through generations enhance knowledge of the physical changes that have occurred in southeast Alaska over the years.
It is impossible to capture the experience of seven days in one post, so you will have to come back for more about the days of wonder.
Compared to Houston, West Texas is like another country. 
It is wide open spaces with rolling hills and deep canyons.
It is where animals roam free
There’s not much to do in most of West Texas, but if you like to be away from it all and experience the great outdoors, 
The decor fits the environment, rustic with wonderful accents.
While at the ranch, it’s OK to take siestas on the inviting sleeping porch
or lounge by the pool under blue Texas sky.
Before the day gets too hot, going with a ranch hand to explore the surrounding area is a real adventure.
The ride is teeth jarring and can be a little scary as the trail gets a bit close to the edge.
It appears that the craggy landscape is best handled by mountain goats who seem nonplussed by its roughness.
Though pretty desolate now, there is evidence that the area was once occupied, likely by Indians who were tough enough to survive its challenges.
As amazing as the sights are,
it’s good to get back to the ranch for a refreshing pause. A stay at the Cibolo Creek Ranch doesn’t make the west seem too wild.