TRAVEL ALONG WITH ME


Travel is one of my passions, but another is photography. Since my trips are only occasional, I have decided to add more of my photographic experiences to this blog.

Since you are obviously here, please enjoy.

BELOW ARE PAST ADVENTURES. CLICK A LINK TO SEE WHAT MY EYES HAVE CAPTURED.

All pictures are for your enjoyment, and are copyrighted. Please ask permission before downloading.

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Flowers, Flowers, everywhere


Spring in Arizona - unbridled beauty - a plethora of color.

I travelled with a group of fellow photographers to Peridot Mesa on the Apache reservation near Globe Arizona, where we found a carpet of Mexican poppies, and the opportunity to crank up our creative juices to capture our vision of the scenery.  While there, atop the 3000 foot mesa, I received a phone call from my son who was flying to Duluth, MN on his way home after visiting here with our grandchildren, stating that the plane had to make an alternative landing site as a blizzard was preventing a landing there.  Being assured that all was well, the contrast between our locales increased my appreciation of where I was standing.









     

A Monet or a Mort?




On our way to returning home, we stopped at Boyce Arboretum in Superior to add more images to our days' portfolio.

Abandoned cabin




Hopefully in the next few weeks more varieties of flowers will carpet Arizona.

Friday, March 22, 2013

Where has the week gone?

I was on a photo shoot on Monday near Globe, AZ, to capture the wild flowers on the Apache reservation, but haven't had the time to process them as yet.  

In the meantime I got distracted by the blooming of an Argentine Giant cactus in our backyard, so I decided to practice my time-lapse photography skills (practice, practice, practice).  The result is not perfect, but I think I might be getting closer to an acceptable skill level.

Take a look @ - http://youtu.be/fBE8AVDUF7A

Have a great weekend, and come back soon.

Friday, March 15, 2013

A time to brag (a little). 

 A photography web site that I post to, has just notified me that I have received an award for one of my favorite pictures .

(quote) - My photo The  Faithful©MortBerman was selected by the judges as one of their favorite photos - (unquote)          

On my last trip to China, I was walking on a narrow side street in a river town near Shanghai when I looked into a courtyard and saw many people entranced, listening intently to an elderly man.  Unfortunately, not speaking the language, and having no one close by who could translate, I have to leave it up to my imagination the reason for the gathering.  Regardless, it has remained one of my favorite images. 

The  Faithful©MortBerman 

Monday, March 4, 2013

Costa Rica - February, 2013

Following a short (5 hour) non-stop flight from Phoenix to San Jose, we began our Caravan Tours journey with an evening briefing and dinner at the Hotel Real Intercontinental.  The following morning, up bright and early,  we spend the day exploring the cloud covered Poas volcano and hiking in the cloud forest - all to no avail as the the crater remained invisible (the picture in the slide show is from a previous trip made in 1999 - obviously a better day for visibility).  We also toured the Cafe Britt coffee plantation (where I was a co-star in the coffee tasting presentation), bringing back memories of  our first visit to Costa Rica those many years ago. 



   


We then travelled to La Pavona on Costa Rica's northern Caribbean coast, where we boarded a boat on the Rio Suerte river to cruise to Tortuguero National Park, accessible only by plane or water, our home for the next 2 days where we cruised the scenic rivers and canals, looking for crocodiles, caimans, many varieties of birds and monkeys.  This jungle paradise is truly one of natures' most beautiful offerings.





As we said farewell to Tortuguero National Park, our heaven in the Costa Rican jungle, cruising back to the mainland, and our motor coach, we head for our next stop in the San Carlos valley - Fortuna, stopping along the way to visit an organic pineapple plantation and taste the fruit - always a favorite, but being this fresh, we are now spoiled for life.  Fortuna is in the shadow of an active, but now sleeping volcano - Arenal.  Unfortunately while we are there, it is continually shrouded in rain clouds.  While in this area, we cruise the Rio Frio to see many birds and monkeys, and before turning and returning to the dock, briefly enter Nicaraguan waters for a photo op.





                         


           
         









We are past the halfway point of our trip and although exhausted with the early morning awakenings and the fact that our trip is sadly nearing its end, we board our motor coach and stop for walk on hanging suspension bridges though the forest canopy, then a circuitous drive around Lake Arenal,  and enter Guanacaste province on the Pacific Ocean and our next 2 nights at JW Marriott luxury resort for a little R & R.






                                           
Our last day of our tour, we drive towards San Jose, stopping for a bird and crocodile spotting cruise on the Tarcoles River.  Upon arrival, we pack for our return flight home and after farewell dinner, we await an early morning departure back to Phoenix. While this trip is coming to an end the talk is all about what future points of the compass will we soon visit.


                                             


With the constant moving of motor coach and boats, focussing on the wildlife was all but impossible.  The fact that a poor quality picture is better than no picture at all, I hope you enjoy the beauty of Costa Rica that my eyes have witnessed.



Costa Rica in many ways, still a diamond in the rough, has made amazing strides  economically and politically in contrast to the other countries of Central America.  Perhaps with such small population, many obstacles cannot be overcome, but with the gift of fertile soil, plentiful rainfall, and the ability and willingness to learn from others, Costa Ricans are moving forward with education and healthcare. 



To view many of the pictures of this trip, click the following

http://youtu.be/zLZsC-T9GB0