Gilded Cafes

Long Before Starbucks serving a cup of coffee was an art. Cafe' A Brasilera is one of Lisbon's iconic destinations for coffee and a sweet pastry.

Fatima

The site of pilgrimage, meditation and prayer, Fatima is a very special slice of Portugal. The Basilica holds the tombs of Francisc Marto and Jacinto Marto, two of the three shepard children who witnessed the Apparations of Our Lady of Fatima.

National Flag Unfurled

October 5th will mark Portugal's Centennial. Preparations for the big event are citywide, a formal ceremony to unfurl the flag was held at Rua Augusta. Lisbon is in a rather festive mood!

City Of Hills

Built on a series of hills, Lisbon provides the visitor with surprise vistas at several turns!

Plazas and More Plazas

Full of surprises in it's many nooks and crannies, Lisbon has more than it's share of glorious plazas as well. This plaza, "Praca Do Comercia" sits along the riverbank to welcome travelers to the city.

Trams

Lisbon's timeless mode of transportation is Very popular with the tourists! The trams certainly beats walking the steep hills of Lisbon's varied neighborhoods!

Lisbon

Always time for new discoveries in old cities! :-)

The Journey Continues..

"The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page" ( St. Augustine)

Where's The State Line?

"They don't have these in Indiana either"....Brother Bill explores the coast!

Time to Travel

I think I can almost see my seat... :-)

Water's Edge

An empty beach, an endless view and a delicious breeze.....my kind of September day.

Stiff Breeze

September is sailing by....

September Bayside

Ahh....September and the crowds are gone!

Bill The Sailor

"They don't have these in Indiana"... from the "Sibling visit gallery".

Feeling Conflicted

...and we're confused. (From the"Department of Signs" gallery)

Marine Patrol

Suffolk County's finest maintaining security and order on the Great South Bay.

Windy

Certainly one way to check the direction of the wind....

Empty Ferry

A sure sign that the summer of 2010 is on the wane, the ferry still runs but the beach is empty!

Always Remember

A time to remember, ...a Time to weep, a time to mourn...a time to rebuild.

September Breeze

Plenty of wind this first part of September combined with comfortable temperatures make for ideal sailing!

Marsh Creek

Pennsylvania's weekend sailors always in search of a body of water. :-)

Pots

Time to think about the September garden, time to switch from petunias to mums. :-)

Seeds

Wait till next year??

Tranquil Sailing

Ah!..nothing like the solitude of a peaceful Labor Day sail on the lake! Someone here has the "right of way" but no one seems to care. :-)

(better appreciated in large format)

Heads Up

Keeping one's head above water has become a goal, not merely a strategy!

Labor Day Weekend

In spite of Long Island's brush with Hurricane Earl, summer's unofficial finale looks like a banner weekend! :-)

Rag Top Day

The quiet before the storm. Earl, with all the rain, wind and mayhem should arrive early tomorrow!

August's Last light

As August slowly sinks in the West I realize that September has become my favorite time of the year. After an excessively hot summer, September promises cooler temperatures, less crowded beaches and fewer boats on the bay. Oh yea, and all those kids go back to school! :-)

Danielle and Earl

Long Island is experiencing a "High Surf Advisory" as distant Hurricanes Earl and Danielle churn in the Atlantic. Long Islanders will keep a nervous eye on Earl which is expected to pass perilously close to Fire Island by the end of the week.

Summer Reflections

Just looked at my calendar....Can that really be Labor Day Weekend on my radar??

Honey Do

The fruit of those who had a buy summer!

Shed Treasure

Old sheds, dusty and dark can be treasure troves of long forgotten items of gardens past. Something about shed aromas as well, earthy and refreshingly dank with just a hint of old soil and fertilizer. Sort of an attic for the garden....and well worth exploring once a summer! :-)

Belle Of Fire Island

It's the only real "ride" in town and Ocean Beach's main connection to the motorized world across the bay. Life is good!

August In Ocean Beach

Fire Island's "Main Street", busy on a weekday in August will be empty weekdays after Labor Day. But while it lasts, the area has a festive and carefree atmosphere of ice cream and tee shirt shops. Summer to be savored... :-)

Relax

Life is short. The summer is much shorter! :-)

Stand Out

There's always one in every group! :-)

(better in large view)

Feeling Jumpy

Out by the Peconic River yesterday where this nervous guy sat still just long enough.... :-)

Read The Rules!

Click on the image to see the larger version and to be better able to read the law of the land. Ocean Beach, aka the land of "NO" may be a local media joke but these folks are very serious. It's hard to imagine too many former communist countries where eating a sandwich or riding a bike could land you in jail (seriously!!). So, visit if you dare but don't bring snacks and leave that bike at home on the weekends!

Ocean Beach Express

An iconic Fire Island image as the ferry arrives at Ocean Beach. The total absence of cars and highways adds to the charm of Fire Island!

Afternoon Marsh

Looking East towards Fire Island's "Wilderness Area" the view is miles of undeveloped wetlands, dunes and beachfront. (Large view is best)

Hazy Sail

A perfect sea breeze makes an otherwise muggy evening a delightful time for a sail on the Breat South Bay! Life is Good. :-)

Pouting

Just where do they learn to pout? Is it a process of natural selection or are clandestine lessons in pouting given during the commercials in those kid shows? Pouting: somewhat of a useless social skill but hey, help yourself. We'll still love ya! (From the proud grandpa series)

Bay Clouds

A cloudy afternoon on the Great South Bay with a promise of some much needed rain for all of our parched lawns and gardens!

Along for the Ride

Much too late for a change of heart....

Seaside Fashion

Summer....gotta love it!

Late Shift

WTC site construction is a 24 hour a day project.

Fine Dining

The original and landmark Nathan's maintains it original atmosphere. No stuffy pretense here....!

Mother Nature

She's just every where this summer, doing what's natural.

Ants

Macro summer subjects are often overlooked! ( best in large format)

Wave Runner

Summer visit with the grandkids, plenty to see and do! It's a cliche' and a fact: the do indeed grow much too fast. :-)