View of Melbourne from Southgate

As we arrived in Melbourne last month, their spring was just beginning.  It was a beautiful city being the capital and the largest city in the state of Victoria.  It's been ranked in the top three of  'world's most livable cities' over the past three years (according to the Economists Intelligence Unit, whoever the heck they are) as well as having the world's largest tram system.  Getting around Melbourne was extremely easy.  Not only did we use their tram system, we also took the trains to nearby communities.  So easy and efficient.  In the above image, you can see Flinders Street Station, the central commuter station (the long gold building).  Huge.  HUGE!

Melbourne was a delight to photograph, with its mix of Victorian and 21st century architecture, coffee shops almost on every corner, restaurants and quaint alleys.  We stayed in Southgate, which looks over Melbourne from across the Yarra River.  It provided a great location from which we could bike, walk, or train to see more of the city.  More on that in the next blog.  Today ... just images of their beautiful city from my different viewpoints.  Hope you enjoy!

Great weekend for a hike

Since we were treated to an awesome weekend of warm weather and friendly skies, 

The Professor and I went for a long hike, something I haven't been able to do 

for the past year due to my knee.  

It was sweet to be able to walk again without pain!

Of course, most of my motivation for hiking was to try to capture some interesting photos.  

March doesn't usually lend itself to much beauty.  

The earth is filled with too many shades of unremarkable browns 

but with a little editing with DistressedFX on my iPad,

 there was hope for some of the images.

We came upon this old building along the stream.  

It didn't appear to be an old mill 

and I'm not sure what's its purpose was in its glory days.  

But it did lend itself to some interesting images.

I wonder who 'ALBERt' is?

And why all caps except for the 't'?

My little female Cardinal who lost her tail, still comes to feed.  

You can see her new tail growing back (dark area under her wing tips) 

in the image below that I captured during our snowfall on Friday.

And thankfully, that snowfall melted pretty much away by the end of the day 

giving us this beautiful weekend.

 Makes me swoop with delight

that spring is around the corner!!!

Mountains of concrete

We have returned from Utah and all is well.  The Professor enjoyed his meetings and skied well and I gained a few pounds while sitting around while my knee continued to heal.  Ugh!

For several days we had beautiful weather during our stay in Snowbird.  But then a heavy snowstorm was predicted and not wanting to be stranded since we didn't have a four-wheel drive, we decided to leave ahead of it. Unfortunately, we didn't leave EARLY enough and found ourselves inching down the mountainside in low visibility traveling barely two miles an hour.  It was quite intense as we passed a number of cars that had slid off the road.  

What was amazing to me was the number of cars that were coming UP the mountain!  I guess there is nothing like fresh powder for those who love to ski.

Me, though ... I'll take sugar-white beaches of sand versus snow.  Too cold in those mountains! Although I do love Utah's beauty and wide open spaces.  The mountains are breathtaking.

Unlike my view today in downtown Philly.

 

I guess one could call these buildings or better yet,
these 'concrete mountains",
as breathtaking.

And in a way, they are breathtaking.

But whenever I feel enclosed,

I find myself looking skyward.

It makes me feel more free.

My preference always is and always will be wide open spaces

filled with critters and birds, beaches and shorelines.

And that's why while in the city today between my appointments, 

I found this delightful window view where I could write this post.

Even in a city filled with concrete,
beauty and space can be found.
We only have to look up!