The quiet around here is deafening. I suppose we all have a lot of weird weather and rain.

[Mira]

I've been scraping glue off walls after tearing wallpaper down, hour after hour.
No picture opportunity in that activity.

Before I turn in, with every bone creaking, let me show you where our President will be in the next day or so.
Strasbourg.
I was there Christmas before the last one. And here are a few snapshots.

He will be in Baden-Baden first. My Mom who lives very close to that says that 15000 policemen are on duty. To me that is re-assuring this time. Protect my President has a new meaning after "Protect THE pResident" who is so hated that he can't afford any chances.
This time, no manhole covers have to be welded shut. This is not about assassination attempts, it is about the protesters in general.

Note the awesome, beautiful, reliable, modern streetcar.



IMG]

[Blue_In_AK]

1. These are beautiful, Mira.

I've never been to Europe, but your photos take me there.

I haven't been posting much here lately because I've been spending hours sorting and captioning my shots from the Iditarod. I handed out quite a few cards, and promised pictures, to several people in Nome, so I've had my work cut out for me to get something up on the website before they forget about it.

I'm almost finished with the first gallery, the ceremonial start of the race here in Anchorage and the "restart" in Willow, so I'll be posting a link soon.

[Mira]

2. Thank you Blue. I was pushing my Mom in a wheelchair and believe me it was

not a time to compose good shots, besides, I was so utterly enchanted with what I saw I had to be there in the moment to let the beauty soak in.

What you have afforded me with your pictures (remember my innocent question to you, which you answered with patience: What is an Idiatrod) is to partake in something I would not have ever even known about. And to partake in such an intimate and beautiful and personal way.

I thank you for that.
Look forward to the link.

And if the best possible could ever happen, I could be your guide and translator and show you a thing or two in Europe.
I am so pleased the Obamas are who they are.
Europe, leaders and populations have not only known the Bushes were imposters and personal shits, they knew we were held hostage by them.
It will all get better.

[intheflow]

3. Very nice!

Denver has brand new commuter rail system, but it doesn't look as cool as Strausberg's.

The rest are lovely, but I like the 3rd one best. Nice perspective, lots of angles drawing my eye in. And the lighting is great! :thumbsup:

[Tindalos]

4. I really like the last one

Everywhere I look, there are more details to ponder. All the lights and architectural lines are interesting and very pretty. I could look at it for hours. Y'know, I think my Dad was posted in or near Baden-Baden when he was in the army. He always spoke very highly of Germany and the people there. One day I'd like to see it.

And yes, it has been very quiet in here. I'm supposed to be writing a paper, studying, and researching several projects. Unfortunately, that means I have to avoid DU or I won't get any work done.

[CC]

5. Mass transit?

Here is is a battle to even get the powers that be to consider letting Amtrak stop in Elkton a couple times a day.

All of them are great photos though have to say the last two are favs. Beautiful lighting in 3 all the way around. The last one is just so lively and warm.







Here is some great info on what a TENS unit is. http://arthritis.about.com/od/assistivedevicesgadgets/g/tensunit.htm

[Mira]

6. Imagine the following, which is what happens in Karlsruhe, a large city that is

BTW only 30 min away from Baden Baden where the Obamas were today, and where my Mom who lives there tells me every single person getting off the incoming trains was IDd for Obama's safety.
In Karlsruhe the streetcars do their runs through the city, everyone uses them all the time, and they run every few minutes.
Here is the fabulous thing:
They can go to the edge of town, are designed to simple roll onto the real train tracks, turn on more power, make fewer stops, and become trains for the outlying small towns.

So people can get on the train in their town, go to the big city for work or play, and as they arrive their train converts to a streetcar that stops on all corners.
So the towns are full of people doing their thing, but there are much fewer cars.

Now if we are number One, and the Greatest, as the Freepers keep howling, why don't we have anything like this. (or health care...)

[JeffR]

7. Oooo

Now these are nice. The lighting in the third one is a real visual feast.

What a beautiful city.