Split, Croatia. October, 2012

David Hasselhoff? Evidently a bigger draw in Europe than he is in the US of A. Good luck to him. The other surprise of a similar nature that I had on this trip was when I saw the posters all over Monaco announcing a big concert by “still available” Lionel Ritchie. Good luck to him, too.

Pula, Croatia. October, 2012

Our first trip to Croatia. And our first stop there on our Windstar cruise: Pula. See the Roman ruins, check. Head for the fish market, check. The day’s catch was just being unloaded and this bounty of orada caught our eye. Pula is so close to the Italian border that many of the people we met there spoke Italian. Good thing, too, as my Croatian is a bit rusty (aka nonexistent.)

Venice, Italy. October, 2012

Few cities benefit from the muted filter of fog better than Venice. The dazzle of mosaics and battered gold inside the churches and palazzos, the reality-based daily life outside. Like ’em both.

Jaimanitas, Habana, Cuba. February, 2012

What madness to be seen here in this mosaic’d neighborhood on the outskirts of Havana, not far from the super-secure complex where Fidel lives. At the urging of local artist José Fuster, many of the residents have covered every conceivable surface with bits of mosaic tile, creating a vision that’s hard to reconcile with everyday life as most of us know it. All just part of the “anything goes” life in Havana.

Venice, Italy. October, 2012

In the Basilica of San Marco, Venice’s most elaborate church, the observant visitor doesn’t really know whether to look up at the golden mosaics in the domes and on the ceiling, or to look down at the elaborate mosaics and tilework on the floor. You can do both, of course. Here’s a downward look from a recent visit.

Tucson. April, 2013

I have run past this mosaic lizard many, many times. It’s on my “running route” along the dry Santa Cruz riverbed, just where a welcome water fountain sits. And as much as I love seeing it, I never have my camera with me as I run. Until this last visit when I made a point of bringing along my trusty Canon point-and-shoot.

Gloucester, MA. July, 2013

Our friend Mary takes such good care of our Gloucester gardens. And I take good care to cut flowers and arrange them from time to time. Seen here, a small bouquet with old roses, wild daisies and a beautiful green shade of zinnia, one of three arrangements I put together, laughing, for a July wedding.