Seattle Totem

Totem : Pike Place Market : Seattle, WA

This totem sits in a park at the north end of Pike Place Market. I don't know what story is carved into it, but I'm sure it's something about the blessed fabulosity of Seattle or some such thing...

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 2/12

Parking through Prague

Palace Gardens : Prague, CZ

The last time we were in Prague, we joked about "porking through Prague." We weren't referring to some kind of illicit, sexual orgy, but rather that every night, we tried out a different pork or meat dish at dinner. On this trip, we discovered or were shown some really fabulous gardens and have decided that on our next trip to Prague, we will be "parking through Prague." These gardens below the Castle were once part of the Castle vineyards. If you start at the top and work your way down, you get to see some lovely spaces and views of the city. There is a fee to visit the parks, but it's worth every crown.

Parking through Prague : Prague, CZ

Quaint little fountain in a park : Prague, CZ

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 7/11

As Seen from St James Park

 Unknown Scene from St James Park : London, UK

Just off the Mall is St James Park. I have no clue what we're looking at here in the top photo, but it was kind of pretty, so I snapped a picture. My best guess, based on satellite photos on Google Maps is, the Household Cavalry Museum on the left, but who knows? Of course, that round thing peeking above the trees is the Eye. Other than that, it's anyone's guess. If you know, please leave a comment!

London's Eye as seen from St James Park : London, UK

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 6/11

Madrid on the Rebound

Smooth Jazz meets Fussy Monument : Parque del Retiro : Madrid, ES

Coming home from Fuerteventura, we overnighted once again in Madrid. We were too tired to go out the evening we arrived, but the next morning we went out for a couple of hours and visited the Parque del Retiro.

Real meets Imagined : Parque del Retiro : Madrid, ES

The walkways all feature names of countries in South and Central America. It was quite lovely and featured some unique art pieces and monuments. To see photos in the park, go here.

Clean meets Dirty (or, Window Washers in Silhouette) : Palacio del Cristal :
Parque del Retiro : Madrid, ES

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 10/10

toilettes

Is the writer asking us to delete the word "toilettes"? And if we do, will the toilettes then cease to exist? : Ferney-Voltaire, FR

We went walking through the municipal park in Ferney the other day and the combination of stonework, graffiti, light, and shadows on the side of the public toilet struck me. Anyone who speaks French know what the graffiti says? I have no clue. I thought it spelled "caze", but maybe it's "cage"? (Note to the Ferney Department of Public Works: the toilet needs to be cleaned. Badly. And what's up with the French not leaving toilet seats on their public toilets? I suppose I shouldn't rant too much, though. At least this public toilet had a real toilet and was not a Turkish toilet.)

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 1/10