Montenegro & The Walled City of Kotor

August 12, 2022August 12, 2022Jeff

After a few days in Dubrovnik it was time to bid the city farewell and travel onward to the country of Montenegro.

Map courtesy of Owl & Mouse modified by J. Ross for this post

Shortly after boarding the ferry at the Bay of Kotor (Boka Kotorska), the beauty of the area was on display.

A peninsula in the bay of Kotor with houses

Against such a backdrop even a humble transport ferry somehow becomes more photogenic.

The crossing of the bay to Porto Montenegro took approximately 15-20 minutes.

After disembarking the ferry, travelers can take a brief ride to the marina with its impressive yachts.

Adjacent to the waterfront was a beautifully detailed shopping mall where visitors can feel like they are in an episode of Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous.

The mall ran alongside the hotel and “commuter” marina for smaller watercraft.

After a quick visit to Porto Montenegro it was off to the ancient walled city of Kotor.

Gurdic Gate (South Gate) City of Kotor

The small city with winding streets and steep hillsides has numerous attractions and charming characteristics. A favorite stop for tourists is the Cathedral Of Saint Tryphon (Sveti Tripun) which dates back to 1166. Parts of the Cathedral were rebuilt and modified after earthquakes as evidenced by the differences in the two towers.

The brick columns and vaulted arches offer the sanctuary the impressive countenance it’s history demands.

Interior of the Cathedral Of Saint Tryphon

The gilded altar is one of the city’s prized possessions.

Not far from the Cathedral is a square where one of the oldest trees in the world can be found. This black poplar was reportedly planted around 1667.

Black Poplar (Populus nigra) – read more HERE

The thick brick walls and amply spaced viewpoints reinforce the concept that Kotor is a fortress.

It is a wonder how some of the more delicate artifacts such as this carving of the Venetian Lion under an archway have withstood the centuries.

Every town or village of this era has at least one fountain.

Built along the base of the mountainous cliffs, residents of Kotor made use of steep, outdoor stairways that have become quite worn over the years.

Exterior steps to the next level of the city

In any area that beckons travelers, there are dining venues and Kotor was no exception.

Inside the city’s walls one can see just the tips of the cliffs of Mount Lovćen. Once outside of the wall the scope of the mountains becomes more apparent.

Mountain views from outside the city wall

The domed buildings inside the wall are nestled between the mountains and the Škurda River.

The Skurda River along the walls of Kotor

Near the North Gate/River Gate

**********
Notes:

If you are interested in a detailed guide to Kotor, check out Toms Port Guide to Kotor.

See Previous Posts in this series:

Dubrovnik, Croatia – Pearl of the Adriatic
Old Town Dubrovnik – Above it all
Old Town Dubrovnik – The Low Down
Dubrovnik from the Adriatic and Mt. Srd

Vide-Ohs: Amazing Hummingbirds

November 25, 2020November 26, 2020Jeff

I feel fortunate to live in an area that attracts quite a few hummingbirds and some are year-round residents. The beautiful video below has some magnificent footage of these aerial acrobats.

Just as fascinating are all the facts about hummingbirds. Did you know they have the largest heart per animal size?

From the video’s website:

Over 20 amazing Facts about Hummingbirds. Slow motion footage of the hummingbird in Full HD. Great for school nature projects. Watch hummingbirds fly in ULTRA slow motion. Watch the humming bird (the hummer) hover and fly backwards in slow motion. Videos of hummingbird babies (chicks) being fed. Learn about the hummingbird tongue and it’s eating habits. Discover how fast it’s heart beats and how fast it’s wings beat.

The white hummingbird can be leucistic or albino. The leucistic hummingbird has partial loss of pigmentation so it’s not totally white and can be a little patchy in places. The very rare albino hummingbird is totally white with pink eyes, beak and feet.

The colibri (hummingbird) is a sacred bird for the Taino Indians because it is a pollinator and as such, brings life.

More Vide – Ohs

To See additional Interesting Videos Click HERE

**********

All original content on this blog is copyrighted by Jeffrey B. Ross with ALL Rights Reserved. While reference links back to JBRish.com are appreciated and encouraged #please acquire approval for any reproduction of original content from this website.

©Jeffrey B. Ross 2014 – 2020 – JBRish.com

Award Winning Vide-Oh: Ticket Without a Seat

August 25, 2020Jeff

This movie has won the Oscar for the best animated movie..It’s duration is only 3 min…. See how life can change when our perception changes. An outstanding movie!!!

This short animated feature is engaging and poignant. It has a life lesson about preception and reality!

More Vide – Ohs

To See additional Interesting Videos Click HERE

Photography: My Shot – Beautiful Hillside in Sintra, Portugal

August 6, 2020August 7, 2020Jeff

Whether I am traveling to foreign countries or hiking the national parks, one of my major goals is to capture the experience through my photography. Of course weather is not controllable and under adverse weather conditions, photography can be challenging.

When traveling with a tour group another “tricky” variable is how much time will be allotted at a given site and what areas will be available to view before needing to get back to the group.

In the picture below, I was with a group touring the National Palace in Sintra, Portugal. It is just a short ride from Lisbon via bus. The town is historic with very narrow streets and many pretty houses.

While we were touring the various rooms of the Palace, windows were open to allow air to circulate through the building. One procedure I have developed as a photography enthusiast is to look for pictures within pictures. When I looked through a palace window, I saw the scene pictured below.

Although the sky was cloudy and the light was not great, I thought it was remarkably picturesque. The details and colors of the buildings juxtaposed against the lush foliage certainly caught my eye. While my movement was limited because of the narrow window I thought the composition was also worthy.

I hope you concur that this is an interesting picture taken on a cloudy day.

**********

Metadata

File Name: 0000350 Picturesque view of the mountainside of Sintra Portugal 2622r.jpg
Capture time: 9:17 AM
Capture date: May 10, 2018
Exposure: 1/125 sec @ f/9.0
Focal Length: 55mm
ISO: 100
Camera: Nikon D3300
Lens: 18.0 – 55.12mm f/3.5-5.6
Edited in Lightroom

Photography: This I Learned is True

July 10, 2020July 10, 2020Jeff

“I guess I’m trying to say, grab anything that goes by.
It may not come around again.”
— John Steinbeck —

I am not a professional photographer. I am a hobbyist. I enjoy beautiful photography and the beauty to be found in the “vision” of others. We can all visualize the same vista, but the gifted photographer can find the ultimate beauty in the scene. This is very difficult. Having said that by way of introduction, this post is about something quite different.

Most of my photography is of the landscape or scenery genre. What this means is that we often spend a full day hiking in remote locations to see things that many will never see. My joy and pleasure is to capture a photograph that will, in some way, bring that beauty to those who view the photograph.

Here is the truth that I have learned by being a photography enthusiast. If you have a camera with you and you enjoy photography. When you come across a scene that calls to you, stop everything and take the picture.

There have been many times in my past that I said to myself: “I don’t want to stop now. I will take that picture on the return trip.” It may be a variation of this theme, but it has happened a significant number of times.

This is the truth that I have learned. Most of the time that scene will not be there when you return. The clouds will move, the light will change, your mood will change, your vision may be altered and the picture you envisioned will remain a vague memory.

Having regrets is a terrible thing and I have a good number of photography regrets of pictures I wished I had taken when I had the opportunity. When the vision appears – when the moment strikes you – stop what you are doing and take the picture. Even if it turns out to be a disappointing capture, you will reduce the number of regrets you have for those photos that might have been. There is little or no downside to this. You will have some very good memories and a perhaps a few remarkable pictures because they encase your vision; your idea of beauty.

Case in Point

We visited Yellowstone National Park. This was a bucket list trip for us and we hiked all day every day. There was no time to waste and no time to be tired. We waited for this a long time so no matter what, we awoke early and went on our way!

When we arrived at the Mammoth Springs area of Yellowstone, we were only five miles from Gardiner, MT. We knew from others that there was a great pizza place there and a variety of stores: supermarkets, hardware stores, pharmacies, etc.

After a day at this location, we received a warning from our car that the battery in our fob needed replacement. Our Subaru has no manual override for starting and we had fears of being stranded in this remote location without a way to start the car. It is the fob or nothing. Obviously this made us a bit nervous so we took one afternoon off to headed to Gardiner.

Just as we were leaving the park with Gardiner in plain view a few blocks away, we came upon the Roosevelt Arch. This is a wonderful tribute to Theodore Roosevelt who was a national park visionary. I was worried about finding a replacement battery for my fob and I really was anxious to see which vendors in town might have it. I was very focused on that issue.

On the other hand, the cloud pattern was interesting and the sky was blue. I forced myself to pull over to take a picture of the arch. There were people standing in the way, but I waited. I cannot claim that I wasn’t distracted, but I didn’t want to miss this opportunity.

Although I would not declare this is a great picture or one of my best photographs, it has been very popular on various websites. More than anything else…it has helped me avoid another photography-related regret.

To summarize my photography truth , don’t wait to take a picture. Carpe diem when the moment strikes! There is a reason a scene resonates with you. Don’t wait. Take the picture and avoid the regret of what might have been.

**********

Metadata
Capture time: 12:21 PM
Capture date: Sept. 13, 2018
Exposure: 1/640 sec @ f/9.0
Focal Length: 18mm
ISO: 200
Camera: Fuji X-T2
Lens: XF18-55mm, F2.8-4 R LM OIS
Edited in Lightroom

See more photography posts HERE and visit Jeff’s Instagram site HERE

**********

All original content on this blog is copyrighted by Jeffrey B. Ross with ALL Rights Reserved. While reference links back to JBRish.com are appreciated and encouraged, please acquire approval for any reproduction of original content from this website.

©Jeffrey B. Ross 2014 – 2020

Gardening When It Is Hot, Hot, Hot

May 11, 2020Jeff

Living in the Valley of the Sun when temperatures in April can reach 100 degrees and by May 100 seems as though it is a daily occurence, gardening still goes on. To deal with the unusual heat and direct brutal sun, however, certain accommodations must be made.

Because of the unusual emergency situation in the US this year, we were late in getting to some of our planting. One family of plants that is reliable even in the heat and sun of Phoenix, AZ are gazanias.

While gazanias can be grown everywhere, they do very well in hot weather. After all, they are native to South Africa. In areas that receive cold weather, these would be annuals. In the desert, they can be weathered over, but to be honest, they get bedraggled after one year and need much pruning and tender care to keep them going.

We find it more beneficial to introduce new plants each year.

I have written about them HERE and HERE

When planting even these hardy sun-loving plants, the gardener can’t just place them in their pot or garden space with appropriate fertilizer and water and anticipate that they are going to adjust and adapt easily.

What we have found that works well, is to provide a covering or some shade for two or three days and then remove the covering towards the evening of the last covered day when sun is no longer on them so they are prepared for the next day.

Here is what it looks like in our garden when we plant during the heat of the season!

The picture above is of a newly planted gazania. We use rock mulch to hold the emitters in place and help keep the lower layers of soil damp.

This is the same plant with its “hat” on. Notice that there is some light that gets to the plant, but not extreme sun. These simple baskets can be found at stores that sell things for a dollar (+/-). Of course there are more expensive coverings as well. We have a plastic milk crate we sometimes call into action for larger planters.

NOTE: If wind is going to be an issue, place a rock or other weight on top, making sure the covering is not crushing the plant.

We also use shade cloth when necessary because it is the only available covering at the time or the pot is large. We hold the covering above the plant by inserting bamboo garden stakes and using medium stationery clips to affix the cloth to the stakes; strong twist ties would do as well.

Gazanias are striking plants with exquisite color variations. They are very forgiving and I recommend them. The flower to leaf ratio is generous so there is much color in the area when they are cultivated.

Read more about gazanias.

How To Grow Gazania Treasure Flowers: Care Of Gazania Flowers

**********

Photography: My Shot – Amazing Formations @ Cathedral Gorge

November 25, 2019November 28, 2019Jeff

National Parks receive much earned praise and attention, but there are many state parks which provide unique experiences every bit as exciting in their own right.

One such treasure is Cathedral Gorge State Park in Nevada. Erosion over time has created sculptured columns of soft bentonite clay that form arrays of spires in brownish, orange and contrasting lighter colors.

The towering cones cluster together forming alleyways and maze-like areas which, in our experience, lead to dead ends sooner or later. They are fun to explore. Some “rooms” had abundant groupings of tumbleweed.

The photo above shows one section of spires which beckons hikers to come and explore. The clay is very soft and quite susceptible to erosion. Notice the “window” forming at the top-right of the central arc.

Cathedral Gorge
111 Cathedral Gorge State Park Road
Panaca, NV 89042

Photography: My Shot – The Serendipity of Art

August 30, 2019November 25, 2019Jeff

I presume most of us are familiar with the expression “Beauty is in the Eyes of the Beholder” and that is quite true. Personal taste or recent life events may color a person’s perception and one individual may view something very differently than the next person.

As a photography enthusiast, I have learned to look at the little things and the everyday objects for beauty that often lurks under our noses and yet goes undetected. A few years ago on a trip to Japan, I “discovered” this item which I found immensely appealing.

The area was crowded and I had to wait to take the picture to avoid other people entering the frame. I edited some of the surrounding area that might have been distracting to enable the viewers to appreciate the delicate and well-balanced beauty of this artwork.

I am sure many of you know what the item in the picture is. Why not leave a comment a) with your suggestion of what the item in the photograph might be, or b) about the piece itself?

Another quote about the perception of art and/or beauty:

“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes.” – Marcel Proust

**********

Metadata

File Name: Japan_IMG_2598a.tif
Capture time:
Capture date: July 24 2015
Exposure: 1/250 sec @ f/6.3
Focal Length: 5.8mm
ISO: 100
Camera: Canon PowerShot SX50 HS
Lens: 5.8-23.2

Edited in Lightroom & Photoshop

**********

Check out Jeff’s Instagram account for more interesting photos!

Nature’s Color Bounty on Display at Glacier NP

July 24, 2019July 24, 2019Jeff

We spent a week hiking at Glacier National Park, Montana which is one of the most remote national parks in the United States. As the glaciers release the waters frozen in their winter larder, the streams and waterfalls flow freely. Although the sun was not dominating the sky on this day, the colors rendered all around us were magnificent.

While hiking along the Johns Lake Loop, we came across a number of vistas similar to the one below which was remarkable in the natural beauty rendered.

Nature's colorful palette on display at Glacier National Park'

**********

Metadata

File Name: 000053_XT2A2321_glacier-HDR.dng
Capture time: 11:59:32 AM
Capture date: July 12, 2019
Exposure: 1/45 sec @ f/20
Focal Length: 18mm
ISO: 400
Camera: Fuji X-T2
Lens: XF18-55mm F2.8-4 R LM Ois
Edited in Lightroom

**********

See more photography posts HERE and visit Jeff’s Instagram site HERE

**********

Desert Garden Ablaze with Color

May 13, 2019Jeff

The desert has been ablaze with color over the last two weeks reaching its peak perhaps just a few days ago. It is still stunning in the variety of colors and blooms brought on by more than the customary amount of spring rains thus far.

The Palo Verdes are always a treat, but this year they have outdone themselves.

The contrast of the yellow flowers against the blue sky is wonderful.

Here is a close up of the flower clusters on one portion of a branch in our backyard.

The color palette is expanded below when the Palo Verde in the foreground leads the viewer to the flowers of the Orange Jubilee or Orange Bells hybrid (Tecoma Hybrid).

Orange Jubilee or Orange Bells hybrid with Palo Verde in the foreground

Naturally a closeup of the Orange Bells is called for as well. The clusters are beyond vibrant in the early morning sun.

Each morning at this time of the year, I prepare my coffee looking out our family room window and I am blown away! (To the right and north of the saguaro, but out of view, is Black Mountain which adds even more wonderment to the scene.)

We have some performers starring in our front landscape too. This cactus was started from a cutting just a few years ago and when it blooms, it puts on quite a show. It will eventually grow arms and as a mature plant, may have a dozen or more flowers open at once. I can’t wait! While I am not able to make an absolute identification, I am fairly sure it is a Trichocereus hybrid.

Here is a picture of the mature mother plant from a friend’s house nearby!

Above picture courtesy of L. Herring

**********

JBRish.com – quips & queries

A life of musings, queries, quips and quandaries

beauty

Montenegro & The Walled City of Kotor

Vide-Ohs: Amazing Hummingbirds

More Vide – Ohs

Photography: My Shot – Beautiful Hillside in Sintra, Portugal

Photography: This I Learned is True

Gardening When It Is Hot, Hot, Hot

Photography: My Shot – Amazing Formations @ Cathedral Gorge

Photography: My Shot – The Serendipity of Art

Nature’s Color Bounty on Display at Glacier NP

Desert Garden Ablaze with Color