my red diary
I'm not a diarist except when traveling and this has been my favourite travel diary. I love the texture, colour and pattern of the cover, and that it was a gift from a dear friend. Though it is last... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 25/09/2011 | 15 comments
themes: Photoworks, Textures, Travel
beach walk, Victoria (2)
More of my favourite images from our walk on Cordova Bay, on our visit back in May. Can you spot which of these show the hand of man upon nature? P.S. Happy 140th Birthday, British Columbia! No, really.... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 20/07/2011 | 13 comments
themes: Canada and BC, Photography, Travel
beach walk, Victoria
I'm so glad to have my blog back after the server problems - strange how it broke my rhythm in writing. As I'm thinking of what to post, I remembered that I'd not finished describing the latter half of... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 15/07/2011 | 14 comments
themes: Canada and BC, Photography, Travel
sensuous rocks
Still sorting through photos of our little Gabriola vacation, I'm enjoying revisiting the excitement of many discoveries. Each beach we visited had amazing rock formations, with some similarities in their rough weathered hole-y textures, common also on Hornby Island,... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 08/06/2011 | 9 comments
themes: Canada and BC, Photoworks, Rocks, Textures, Travel
Gabriola Petroglyph Park
Back to our visit and explorations a month ago (already!) on Gabriola Island. I previously featured a few images taken of some petroglyphs we found on one forest trail. The next day we visited the Gabriola Museum. Though closed... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 07/06/2011 | 8 comments
themes: Books, Canada and BC, Rock Art & Archaeology, Travel
on Pilot Bay
Too too busy** to write more about Gabriola Island's petroglyphs but I will as soon as able. Instead, here are a few of my favourite photos taken on the beach of Pilot Bay on Gabriola. I do love these... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 02/06/2011 | 16 comments
themes: Canada and BC, Photoworks, Rocks, Travel
Gabriola's petroglyphs 2
Learning of our interest in petroglyphs, our excellent B&B host on Gabriola Island told us of one accessible trail to one collection of them. We were warned that many are so worn that it is hard to spot them... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 30/05/2011 | 13 comments
themes: Canada and BC, Photoworks, Rock Art & Archaeology, Rocks, Travel
Gabriola's petroglyphs
a Gabriola Island petroglyph I have more photos plus notes to share on the petroglyphs we saw on Gabriola Island, along with many more rock photos.... when I have some time. I've been quiet on this blog for we... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 26/05/2011 | 9 comments
themes: Canada and BC, Photoworks, Rock Art & Archaeology, Rocks, Travel
Malaspina Galleries 4
Still more rocks by the Malaspina Galleries on Gabriola Island, these adorned by the many colours of lichen.... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 22/05/2011 | 7 comments
themes: Canada and BC, Photoworks, Rocks, Textures, Travel
Malaspina Galleries 3
Some exciting-to-me details of the rocks near the Malaspina Galleries on Gabriola. Did I mention that I shot hundreds of photos on this island, mostly of rocks? Such a rich abundance of Nature's amazing creations....... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 18/05/2011 | 27 comments
themes: Canada and BC, Photoworks, Rocks, Travel
Malaspina Galleries 2
As we move further out to the point away from the most striking 'wave' rocks of the Malaspina Galleries on Gabriola Island, we continue to see and admire amazing formations and textures and colours. Nature's art work worthy of... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 16/05/2011 | 8 comments
themes: Canada and BC, Photoworks, Rocks, Travel
Gabriola's Malaspina Galleries
(photo by FVR) (photo by FVR) (photo by FVR) As mentioned in my last post, we recently visited Gabriola Island and its noteworthy limestone formations called the Malaspina Galleries. We were told that they have eroded a great deal,... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 14/05/2011 | 5 comments
themes: Canada and BC, Photoworks, Rocks, Travel
island getaway
As some readers may have suspected, we've been away on a week's getaway to a couple of islands. The day after our disastrous federal election, we took a ferry from Horseshoe Bay to Nanaimo on Vancouver Island, then a... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 11/05/2011 | 18 comments
themes: Canada and BC, Travel
Montréal: highlights
We walked quite a lot around Old Montréal, the Latin Quarter, and some of the downtown. Thanks to Beth and J and their car tour we saw even more beyond. Here are only a few of our favourite photos of... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 18/06/2010 | 8 comments
themes: Travel
Montréal: feasts
Montréal was a feast for the eyes, the soul and the stomach! We enjoyed a variety of ethnic meals in a variety of cafés and restaurants: African, Bretagne, Lebanese, Chinese, and of course French from casual to haute cuisine. A... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 14/06/2010 | 11 comments
themes: Culture, Travel
Montréal: roofs
Our hotel was located on the edge of the Latin Quarter so we were really able to enjoy the mix of architectural styles and details in the variety of buildings in the area when out walking. I was particularly... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 12/06/2010 | 8 comments
themes: Culture, Travel
back from Montréal
Late last night we returned from several lovely days in Montréal. This was my first visit there, not counting passing through on the train from the ship in Halifax to Winnipeg as a five-year-old immigrant with my family long ago!... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 10/06/2010 | 9 comments
themes: Blogging, Travel
a year ago, May 14th
I ran out of time and steam to write much about the last week of our Europe trip a year ago, and since I'm rereading my paper travel diary almost daily, I thought I'd put in a few snippets from... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 14/05/2010 | 8 comments
themes: Travel
a year ago
...we arrived in London! I've started to reread my posts about our trip to the UK and Paris (under the 'travel' category). Here is the first one about getting ready for the big trip. Interesting to note how much later... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 27/04/2010 | 10 comments
themes: Travel
Paris: Notre Dame #2
All in a row.... repetition as an artistic device seen in a lot of art, works magnificently around these magestic cathedrals of Europe, I love it! ... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 23/11/2009 | 11 comments
themes: Culture, Other artists, Travel
Paris: Notre Dame
Too tired for words, so it's a good time to post more of our photos of Paris. Notre Dame de Paris is a magestic awe-inspiring beauty, both architecturally and sculpturally. Just across the Seine and short... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 18/11/2009 | 10 comments
themes: Culture, Travel
Paris: arches
Arches beguile me, these ancient architectural and structural elements, these passages of invitation to something magical beyond... (Should you have missed them, earlier posts about our spring trip to the UK and Paris... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 17/10/2009 | 17 comments
themes: Travel
Paris: details #4
Even in Paris, birds of a feather stick together. Even the lady has had a visit from feathery friends. ... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 13/10/2009 | 15 comments
themes: Culture, Travel
Paris: details #3
Sculptures everywhere in Paris, an abundance of art in everyday life, feasts for the eyes and the soul...... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 01/10/2009 | 17 comments
themes: Culture, Travel
Paris: details #2
Some time ago already I had finished the posts about our London and UK portion of our spring trip. Since then I've been trying to find time to get back to writing about our week in Paris before this... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 29/09/2009 | 6 comments
themes: Photoworks, Textures, Travel
London: details #6
Continuing the photo series of street furniture in London's Muswell Hill neighbourhood... I love Thomas Dudley, Dauntless Ductile who sounds like a character in a children's storybook. See also: London: details (#1) London: details #2... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 23/08/2009 | 11 comments
themes: Photoworks, Travel, Urban
visiting Tate Modern
On the morning of our last day in London we went to the Tate Modern to see their collection of modern and contemporary art to balance out the older works seen previously. With us were our daughter and granddaughters who... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 19/08/2009 | 11 comments
themes: Art Exhibitions, Other artists, Travel
visiting the National Gallery
On our last two days in London, we really packed in the sights and gallery visits. I wrote about the morning of our second-to-last-day's visit to the Annette Messager exhibition at the Hayward Gallery, after a ride... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 17/08/2009 | 13 comments
themes: Art Exhibitions, Other artists, Travel
London: details #5
More details underfoot and on garden walls in London's Muswell Hill neighbourhood See also: London: details (#1) London: details #2 London: details #3 London: details #4... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 14/08/2009 | 20 comments
themes: Photoworks, Travel, Urban
Annette Messager
Annette Messager: Casino - image from Art Knowledge News After our London Eye ride, we walked over to the nearby Southbank Centre and left the granddaughters to play with their Opa. Elisa and I went into the Hayward Gallery... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 13/08/2009 | 2 comments
themes: Art Exhibitions, Other artists, Travel
London Eye
A ride on the London Eye with daughter and granddaughters. It's touristy, it's expensive, it's scary for height-phobics like me. An impressive work of engineering and what fantastic views to satisfy the human eye. A hazy cloudy... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 08/08/2009 | 11 comments
themes: Culture, Travel
the Greenwich tour
Back to my travel diary and our last few but extra busy days in London.... Our 'Londoner' daughter had once taken one of the walking tours of London and enjoyed it so she suggested we all take the Historic Greenwich... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 02/08/2009 | 10 comments
themes: Culture, History, Travel
more blog friends
Thoughts about meeting blog friends are still on my mind. I recently wrote about one meeting among several such meetings on our trip. We had one more meeting on our last day in London. Barrett Bonden of Works Well... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 23/07/2009 | 12 comments
themes: Blogging, Travel
London: details #4
More from London's Muswell Hill neighbourhood See also: London: details (#1) London: details #2 London: details #3 PS July 28th: Compare these to some in Vancouver... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 21/07/2009 | 13 comments
themes: Photoworks, Travel, Urban
Tunbridge Wells, Joe, Heidi
Photos top to bottom: The Pantiles area, Heidi (in green jacket) and I chatting, and Joe. One of the great delights of our trip to England has been the opportunity to meet a few blog friends.... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 19/07/2009 | 13 comments
themes: Blogging, Culture, History, Travel
Ancient Britain: Avebury
Last of our destinations during our day long tour of Ancient Britain was Avebury. Like Stonehenge, Avebury is very well-known and many believe it is the superior stone circle. Certainly it is... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 16/07/2009 | 15 comments
themes: Culture, History, Rock Art & Archaeology, Travel
Ancient Britain: Silbury & West Kennet
Soon after passing the White Horse we could see Silbury Hill, a huge man-made chalk mound near Avebury. It is the tallest prehistoric man-made mound in Europe and one of the world's largest. Composed... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 14/07/2009 | 13 comments
themes: Culture, History, Rock Art & Archaeology, Travel
Ancient Britain: White Horses
Leaving Stonehenge, our drive continued on through the lovely Wiltshire countryside towards nearby Avebury, with a few quick highlights along the way. A very quick sighting was of a White Horse, a chalk hill figure. My... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 13/07/2009 | 11 comments
themes: Culture, History, Travel
Ancient Britain: Stonehenge
The high point of our guided tour of some of Britain's ancient sites has to be Stonehenge. It is so well known, researched and written about that I won't even try to touch... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 10/07/2009 | 14 comments
themes: Culture, History, Rock Art & Archaeology, Travel
Ancient Britain: flint
Odd title, I know. One of the very interesting tidbits of knowledge passed on by our tour guide was that the Wiltshire region of England, home of the ancient sites we visited on our tour,... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 07/07/2009 | 19 comments
themes: History, Photoworks, Rocks, Travel
Ancient Britain: Old Sarum
After visiting Salisbury on the first stop of a guided day tour to several ancient sites of Britain, we moved on to nearby Old Sarum. This hilltop is surrounded by banks and ditches with layers of 5,000 years of... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 06/07/2009 | 6 comments
themes: Culture, History, Rock Art & Archaeology, Travel
Ancient Britain: Salisbury
A highlight of our trip to the UK was a guided day tour to the ancient sites of Salisbury, Old Sarum, Stonehenge, West Kennet, Silbury Hill and Avebury. I don't usually link to commercial sites but this tour pleased us... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 29/06/2009 | 21 comments
themes: Culture, History, Travel
Anna, Courtauld, Westminster
The day after our outing to Brighton, husband and I headed into central London and Somerset House (house? it's a palace!). Here we were to meet long-time blog-friend Anna of Self-Winding who was coming in from Norfolk to... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 23/06/2009 | 11 comments
themes: Art Exhibitions, Culture, Travel
Brighton's roofs: details
Some closer shots of Brighton's fascinating roof panorama and some of its wild life. The seagull nest attracted me, and soon the watchful seagull came closer... in warning or in friendly interest? Note the... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 20/06/2009 | be the first to comment
themes: Photoworks, Travel, Urban
Brighton's roofs
Lunch in Brighton was in a lively large Italian restaurant. We were seated upstairs in a bright room next to large windows that looked out onto rooftops. The roofs and chimney pots in London... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 18/06/2009 | 7 comments
themes: Photoworks, Travel, Urban
visiting Brighton
After our weekend in Birmingham, already the next day we were off on another train trip with our daughter's family, this time for a day trip to Brighton. Our son-in-law had accepted a long-standing invitation from a cousin whom he'd... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 17/06/2009 | 8 comments
themes: Culture, Other artists, Travel
visiting Birmingham (UK)
I'm falling behind in reporting on our trip to London and a bit beyond and to Paris. I've been so busy gardening and watering that by the end of each incredibly warm day I'm too tired and hot to think,... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 13/06/2009 | 11 comments
themes: Culture, Travel
London: details #3
Continuing my photo series of details that caught my eye in London... The earlier ones are here and here. More still to come. UPDATE: details #4... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 09/06/2009 | 12 comments
themes: Photoworks, Travel, Urban
London: British Museum
The day after the art-filled visit with Natalie, and feeling a bit more confident with the transit system, my husband and I ventured out on our own on the double-decker bus. We sat up on top, front row and... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 05/06/2009 | 14 comments
themes: Rock Art & Archaeology, Travel
London: blogger meetups
(left to right: Jean, Lady Penelope, yours truly, Stuart, Natalie and Dick) I was very excited to meet a few blogger friends while visiting the UK. The very first meeting, only two days after arriving in London, was with... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 02/06/2009 | 10 comments
themes: Being an Artist, Blogging, Travel
London: Tube, Piccadilly & more
Enough relaxing around Muswell Hill! Later that day, our son-in-law announced that we are all going into central London to the Apple store then dinner to his favourite restaurant in his favourite part of the city. That was our... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 30/05/2009 | 11 comments
themes: Culture, Travel
London: details #2
When I did take photographs, it seemed to be mostly when I was captivated by interesting or unusual details. In London's Muswell Hill neighbourhood, I was amazed at the great variety of utility covers underfoot... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 29/05/2009 | 14 comments
themes: Photoworks, Travel, Urban
London: Muswell Hill
After a long overseas flight, it's wonderful to have family welcome us into their home and let us gradually acclimate to the new surroundings. As I mentioned before, our middle daughter, British son-in-law and their two little girls... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 28/05/2009 | 11 comments
themes: Culture, Travel
home again
My apologies for being so silent for the past month, even now that we are at home after our three-and-a-half-week trip to the UK and Paris. My good intentions of blogging frequently did not happen and I often... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 25/05/2009 | 23 comments
themes: Being an Artist, Travel
Paris: details
Throughout our trip to London, a few parts of England and now Paris, I've been constantly looking, seeing, feeling, soaking in everything and letting my husband do most of the photography. Now and then I feel the urge... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 19/05/2009 | 6 comments
themes: Photoworks, Travel, Urban
London: details
See also: London: details #2 London: details #3... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 12/05/2009 | 12 comments
themes: Photoworks, Travel, Urban
travel update
Time for a quick travel update while we're having a much-needed restful pause here in London at our daughter's home. We've seen and experienced so much around here as well as trips to Birmingham, Brighton, Tunbridge Wells and several... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 09/05/2009 | 8 comments
themes: Being an Artist, Culture, Travel
travel bug
Oh, I've had no time to blog! Instead I've been: - printing itinerary, packing lists, maps, addresses - transferring some of my files to husband's MacBook so that I can keep 'connected' - shopping for gifts, special requests,... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 24/04/2009 | 19 comments
themes: Being an Artist, Travel