New Years Eve Ready

New Years Eve Ready, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
Wishes for a healthy and happy 2013!

Abandoned

Abandoned, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
The Streets of Havana: .....classics in need of renovation are everywhere.

Street Scene

Street Scene, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
The Streets of Havana...rhythm of the city.

Street Side Dodge

Street Side Dodge, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
The Streets of Havana....urban Cuba.

Dodge V Eight

Dodge V Eight, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
Cuban Taxis: I was told more than once,"If you're a cabbie in Cuba, then you are also a mechanic". Amazing that those wheels keep turning....

Snowman

Snowman, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
Merry Christmas!

Christmas Angel

Christmas Angel, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
Peace On Earth....

Taxi

Taxi, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
With the increase in Cuban tourism why not make lemonade out of lemons? Reborn classics as taxis! 

Havana Highway

Havana Highway, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
Hey.....gas is expensive! The afternoon and evening traffic, while not congested, is much more active.

Red Buick

Red Buick, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
The morning commute, Havana style!

Good Morning Havana

Good Morning Havana, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
Where the city meets the sea, another beautiful morning in Havana!

Tobacco Plow

Tobacco Plow, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
In the Cuban farmland this method of working the land is far more common than more modern methods. In candid conversations the average Cuban citizen will point out that the American embargo is much more hurtful to the average person than it is to the Cuban government.

Like New

Like New, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
The time capsule that is Cuba includes over 150,000 American cars that date prior to 1962. Some are kept in pristine condition, spare parts are often homemade. A local joke is that if you are a cab driver then you are also a mechanic!

Havana Afternoon

Havana Afternoon, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe
Havana, Cuba...a time capsule filled with warm and welcoming people! Having just returned from our week of "People to People" we are reflecting on our very positive experience.

Imagine

Imagine One, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
..."you may say that I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one..." John Lennon

Surfer Girl

Surfer Girl, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
While Christmas in New York has it's romantic appeal....I'm developing a real appreciation for December in Florida! Life is good.

Jetty Sunrise

Jetty Sunrise, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
The sun also rises.....in Florida! Just as pretty as Long Island and quite a bit warmer :-) .

Browns River Sunrise

Browns River Sunrise, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
It's time for this snowbird to bid Long Island farewell for the winter. This is view I will take with me, after so much  Sandi sadness and destruction Long Island's natural beauty still shines through. So, until the warmth of Spring returns it's Florida sunshine that I seek.

Windy Marsh

Long Island Windy Marsh, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
The temperatures are plunging, the sun is setting in the afternoon, the "breeze" is now a steel cold wind and a seasonal corner has been turned. This snowbird feels an inner compass that's pointing south......

November Marsh

November Marsh, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
Happy Thanksgiving!

Blue Heron

Blue Heron, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
This guy is checking things out now that the flood water have retreated...

Fire Island Fox

Standing Fox, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
I find myself wondering how the Fox family made out during the storm. We hear that water washed over Fire Island in depths of 4 to 8 feet. 

November Marsh

Two Deer, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
Sandy with her coastal flooding was felt by these guys as well.....

My Favorite Veteran

A salute to ALL veterans today and a special Thank You to my dad and all his 8th Air force buddies.

November Sunset

November Sunset Two, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
Long Island continues to go through a traumatic and heart breaking recovery and clean up from hurricane Sandy. It warms the soul to still find nature's beauty around us.

Bayview Flanders

Bayview Flanders, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
Tranquil interlude......Long Island is now bracing for it's first true Nor'easter of the season only eight days after hurricane Sandy.

Fire Island Perspective

Fire Island Perspective, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
The view before Sandy.....Suffolk County officials have declared Fire Island "off-limits" to all but emergency personnel. Individuals coming ashore in private boats will be arrested for trespass. News footage indicate that the island's dune system has been destroyed putting the south shore of Suffolk County at high risk for additional flooding. It is difficult to envision miles of dunes (as seen in this shot)  just vanishing. We are being told that the geography of the island is forever changed.

Beach Patrol

Beach Patrol, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
On a much happier day......

Powerful

Passing Storm, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
Sandy has departed. The destruction, heartbreak and chaos lingers. I am left pondering the serendipitous nature of random catastrophic events. Why are folks just miles away devastated? Why is my house spared? What cosmic forces are at play here?  Nature's power is indeed awesome and evokes a new sense of respect.
Fortunate? Blessed? Lucky?....What I am is grateful, thankful and eager to be helpful....

HMS Bounty

Bounty Stern, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
On a much happier day the HMS Bounty was dockside in Greenport, Long Island. Almost a side-bar to Hurricane Sandy's awful destruction to the US East Coast is the fact that the Bounty went down some 90 miles off the coast of Cape Hatteras. As of this posting, the ship's captain remains missing and there is one confirmed death. Fourteen crew members were rescued by the US Coast Guard.

Boating Sunset

Sunset Fishing, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
Usually, Long Island's boating season comes to a gradual close by mid-November. With hurricane Sandy approaching (aka the "Frankenstorm"), the season is ending with a frenetic flurry of boats being pulled. Marinas are working overtime and the wait time at area boat ramps can be extensive. It will be awhile before the area waters will appear this calm again. Batten down the hatches.......

Fire Island Nature Walk

Fire Island Nature Walk, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
The vista from Fire Island....gorgeous sky and crisp air! Life is Good.

World Series Trophy

1986 Trophy, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
The Games of October...It's that time again and this year it's the Detroit Tigers vs. the San Francisco Giants. It's been a long season since that first hopeful opening pitch in April, a "tip of the hat" to these two survivors!

Doe See...

Doe See, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
YOU lookin' at Me?........Wildlife on Fire Island.

Fire Island October

Fire Island October, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
An empty marina, a vacant beach, temperatures in the 70's and a picnic lunch... must be October on Fire Island!

Fire Island Marsh

Fire Island Marsh, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
A Fire Island marsh...looking a bit like a field in the midwest! Life is good.

Two Monarchs

Two Monarchs, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
Monarch March....the annual southward migration of the Monarch butterflies has been underway for awhile now. Along the dunes of Fire Island the stragglers are bring up the rear!

Deer By The Pond

Deer By The Pond, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
Catching the moment.....one of those times when you pat your own back for having the camera with you!

Dune At Sailors Haven

Dune At Sailors Haven, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
I just love these kind of "gifts"....a perfect October day on Fire Island. Miles of spectacular beach, comfortable temperature, brisk fresh air and not a single person in sight! Life is indeed good.

Letting Off Steam

Steam, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
Goodness, there was a substantial amount of steam being vented the other night.....(at our polite and couteous presidential debate).

Fort Wadsworth

Fort Wadsworth, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
Guarding the "Narrows" that is the entrance to New York Harbor, Fort Wadsworth is one of the country's oldest forts. Some Staten Islanders joke that the fort was built to protect against an invasion from Brooklyn...a point rendered useless with the construction of the Veranzzano Bridge! :-)

Decided Voters

Desparados, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
Looks like folks are getting ready for tonight's presidential debate. Nothing like a civil exchange of opinions to "fire" things up.

Staten Island 9/11 Memorial

Staten Island 9/11 Memorial, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
Staten Island, for me, has always been on the way to the Jersey Turnpike. Staten Island as a destination/day trip revealed much that I was unaware of including this memorial. The memorial is in a direct line of sight with the World Trade Center and commemorates those Staten Islanders lost on 9/11. This unique site uses a "postcard" theme with a carved profile (taken from family photographs) of each victim. Impressive and moving.....

Victory Trot

Victory Trot, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
Staying clean...holding the lead on a muddy track keeps those silks looking like new! The last place finisher was headed to the dry cleaners!

Taking The Lead

Taking The Lead, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
More action from my spot along the rail.....just enough mud to make things interesting!

Backyard Osprey

Backyard Osprey, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
This guy has become a daily visitor in our backyard. Osprey (aka fish-hawk) have re-established their presence on Long Island after decades of decline (see:DDT). Impressive as they are, their low "chirp" belies their prowess as efficient hunters. 

Foggy Harbor

Foggy Harbor, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
Fun on a rainy day, fog shrouded Manhattan as seen from Staten Island.

Headshot

Headshot, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
Hamming it up for the camera?...or just horse-ing around?

On Watch

On Watch, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
Not all of the horses at the track are in a hurry.......

Five

Five, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
At the turn...looks like a horse race!