My online journal where I share my interests in photography, nature, journaling, fountain pens, bicycling, coffee life, spirituality and the mystery of it all.
On my last trip our schedule changed due to the heavy fog in and around the Charlotte area. With funky weather we can find crew, aircraft and passengers in all sorts of places we do not want them. So, instead of having a 16 hour overnight in Sarasota we had a 22 hour overnight in Burlington, VT. It actually worked out for me. I like Burlington and the weather as rather nice, 51 degrees and a light mist. With camera in hand I walked the area near Church Street, one of my favorites places. You can find a wide range of different people in the mall area and any choice of restaurant you desire. Did some people watching and then treated myself to the mustard-crusted salmon at Sweetwaters. After eating I enjoyed a couple of hours of conversation with a woman named Toni who was visiting the area from Portland, OR. When I returned to my hotel they had freshly baked cookies and milk in the lobby for me. Cookies and milk help make life pretty good!
We landed in Burlington yesterday around noon and were greeted with cloudy skies, temperatures in the mid 30’s and a mix of rain and snow. Not the sort of day to plan a picnic. But heck I’m in Burlington, Vermont and the downtown area of known as Church Street has a fascination with me. As I had not eaten all day I ventured down there with camera in hand looking for a photo or two and a sandwich. I’m glad to say I found both. After a couple of hours of walking the streets, pressing the shutter button a few times and window shopping, I stopped in at a coffee shop. I ordered a hot apple cider as it seemed like the perfect drink for the season and the cold day. Sitting at the table next to me were two young girls. I noticed the one girl raise up a camera and take a photo of the other girl. But wait, something was different.
The sound I heard when she took the photo was different. What I heard was the shutter and then I heard her wind the camera and cock it for the next shot; it must be film I hear. Turning to look I noticed she was shooting a Canon AE-1. Being the nosey individual I am, I poked my nose in the middle of their conversation and asked a few questions about the camera. I discovered they were high school students and one of them was taking a photography class. The camera belonged to the school and her assignment for the week was to shoot black and white images of family and friends. She enjoys photography and by all indications will for many years to come. Anyway, I asked if I could take a photo of her taking a photo of me. she agreed so here is “The Photographer.”
I met this young lady and Luther while walking along Church Street in Burlington, VT. They were enjoying time with her family and seemed to be spoiling Luther with a whole lot of love. Look at that smile.
I like to venture around my hotels during overnights for the exercise, just to get out and to see what I can find. The hotel in Burlington, VT has a marshy area with path circling a pond. On this particular cloudy morning walk birds were singing happy songs to the world, a snake raised its head to keep alert to every move I made. I loved the tall grass that surrounded me on the path. The grass was well above my head and offered another one of nature’s true works of art.
Seems like I’m traveling a lot, never home, always looking in my roller board for clean underwear. Such is the life of flight attendant. Actually, I’ve gotten to the point where I can look at my bag and know what’s missing. Some call it a system and some consider it repetition.
One of my favorite overnights is in Burlington, VT. If I’m lucky enough to get the longer overnight, we get in around 11:00 in the morning which gives us time to check in our rooms, change clothes (the clean underwear), relax a bit then head for Church Street. About five blocks west of Church Street is Waterfront Park. All five blocks are down hill, so coming back up requires some huffing and puffing. Along this grassy park you will find people sitting on benches or rock walls looking out over Lake Champlain. It’s not unusual to see inline skaters, or jugglers or a Frisbee or two flying through the air. Most of the times I’ve been down there I’ve found boats tied up to the docks. But in this image there were no boats, presenting a different scene for me to photograph. Yep, I like Burlington, VT.
It’s good to get out, plain and simple. If we don’t get and take steps to see the world around us then we have missed out sights and experiences we need in life. Sitting in my hotel on this particular afternoon was not going to work. It was cold and cloudy, but no snow. So, I spent some time walking my camera around Church Street in Burlington, VT. And what did I find?
Well, my first stop was at a place called Outdoor Gear Exchange. The “shopper” in me likes to look around, touch all the toys, gadgets, clothes, backpacks; all the things I really don’t need. Thankfully, I walked out without buying anything so it was a good experience.
Enjoying a latteRainbow of Plates
I then warmed up with a mocha at a place called Speeders and Earls Coffee. It had a good location and was one of those long narrow stores with this lime green color giving it a warm and inviting feeling. They had local artwork on the walls. There were small tables along a wall while on the opposite wall was solid mirrors. The service was wonderful as the young lady made my latte and initiated a nice conversation. I sat down at one of the tables to enjoy the flavor, rest my feet and of course to warm up. The above image is yours truly in a self portrait.
Later on, I grabbed a sandwich at a small restaurant called new moon. They describe themselves as a place to enjoy authentic espresso and creative eating. I had their grilled chicken and brie sandwich with an excellent apricot mustard. Check out the menu to see what other temptations they have. I skipped on their coffee as I had just finished one so I have no idea what theirs are like. The young man making my sandwich as a Nikon guy so of course you know where our conversation went: cameras, digital and film and what we want to do with our photography.
My final stop before going back to the hotel for some much needed rest was a store called Homeport that specializes in furniture housewares and gifts. When I first walked in the door the bright colors caused my trigger finger to start itching. Oh, and the different patterns were causing my eyes to twitch. I found myself standing there looking at the patterns and colors of this row of stacked plates, my mind trying to figure out the composition and exposure. A woman named, Betty, snapped me out of my trance and asked if she could help me. I told her I want to take a photo and was granted permission. I gave her my blog address and picked up a store business card.
I got some interesting images and met some interesting people. I’m glad I got out!
This is not a technically well done image but because it has a powerful message, it speaks volumes to me.
This child is enjoying life, living it as it should be lived. She is experiencing life and at the same time is learning what happens when you jump in puddles of water. I love it! I was amazed at her focus, oblivious to all that was around her. The child within her, and is also within us, was fully alive. Some where along life we lose some of the childlike curiosity, thinking adults must not act in certain ways. I ask, why not?
I also like how her parents, whose feet you see in the background, are letting her splash. As a grandparent I’ve come to enjoy the experience of watching children play and even joined in. I’m reminded of a time I climbed up on a slide behind my oldest grandson. When we reached the top and he noticed I’d followed him, he told me too big grandpa. I answered, “Oh, yeah! Watch this.” and down the slide I went, more than once. Why don’t we encourage others to splash more?
