Plage du Prophète

looking south. winds have swept up some waves

Google Map

Ski Pra Loup

SAY MARS SAY YE

View from my terrace

March 17th,  2011 (St. Patrick's Day)

On rainy days

The devastation due to the magnitude 8.9 earthquake off the coast of Japan and following tsunami has left my heart humbled. We are feeble when compared to the power of the planet.

Hiroshige

Hokusai

choices choices, at least we have them.

Photography is an art that is entirely subjective and objective at the same time. If you know what you want to accomplish sometimes making the best choice possible is difficult. In shopping for a lens and reading reviews, there are always suggestions that begin to lead your focus to a broader or perhaps different perspective making lens choice so frustrating! I begin to think, "yes this is the lens I want to use," then someone makes a good point that makes you have to think about what's truly important to you. I think I'm going to have to rent a couple before I decide on a piece of equipment to invest in.

Countin' the years

Today I returned to the Alps for a day of shredding with friends. I hopped on a charter bus at 4:45 am to get there. Killer deal, totally affordable and convenient. Well, these slopes were covered in those pull lifts. They are called téléski. In all my years snowboarding, I've only been on them twice. It got me thinking "how many years have I been riding?" I counted. 17 years. Holy cow. These téléski lifts were brutal. I'll begin by reminiscing about my first experiences using these.

It was my first day on a snowboard, I was eight. The day before, I had been on skis. But I wanted to snowboard like my brothers, so I insisted. My oldest brother was a lifty at a mountain in our vacation spot, so he was more than happy to teach his baby sister. I remember he took me to the bunny slope and that's where those pull lifts tend to dominate in the states. (Must be why I'm not accustomed to them.) Naturally, I fell off the lift. My bro was behind me on the lift and I remember he ran me over with his board. It hurt, I cried. Honestly, that's one of my few memories of the trials and tribulations of learning.

Téléski lift. Not me, and I didn't take this photo.

Walk

The weather has been so beautiful lately, it has simply been too nice to take the métro. The beautiful sunlight is perfect all day. The sun never really reaches directly over head either. Perfect. I'm finding myself taking easy strolls through the city streets enjoying the quiet happiness. I've been taking long one hour walks home from friend's homes just because, je ne suis pas pressé. (I'm in no hurry).  Everyone seems to be delighted by this shift in weather. Must. Be. Outside. Ciao.