Christmas Walk in the Harbor

Last Sunday I spent the afternoon/evening in the Gig Harbor area taking pictures. It's always a festive sight. Residents there really get into the Christmas Spirit with decorating and gathering near the lighted tree at Jerisich Park for caroling.

I could spend a week wandering with my camera and not get bored. There is so much to see in such a small footprint of the Puget Sound.

November highlights

The number of northwest photos this month have been few due to my trip to Russia. Here are some photos I've shot since I've been back.

In sight of Moscow

I went to Russia to visit a couple of friends. One teaching in Moscow and one learning abroad in Saint Petersburg. I stayed in diplomat housing in the heart of Moscow. Russia has never been on my "bucket list" however, I am grateful to have visited and wouldn't have traded the experience.

It had been quite a few years since I had taken such an involved trip. I was glad to have good friends to visit and buffer the culture gap that would have been otherwise overwhelming. Having friends made it easier to take that extra oomph needed to step into a foreign place.

An afternoon in Holland

I recently took a trip to Russia and took an overnight in Amsterdam on my way to Moscow. The first time I visited Holland was in 1975 at the beginning of a two-month German exchange trip. I have great memories of that trip which hold lasting impressions I still carry to this day!