Riga, Latvia - May 27, 2008

The architecture is preserved and is marvelous. My photos do not do justice to the beautiful city of Riga. You MUST go see! The band was playing in the town square to celebrate some notable occasion... my notes of the day are practically non-existant, sorry to say. I spent quite a bit of time trying to get photos and missed a lot of the information from our most excellent guide, Sylvia. The yellow tower is taken from inside our hotel room and is the last one of Riga. I have so many photos that it has been a daunting task to try to choose the best and tweak any that needed it. But here is a glimpse of Riga. Beautiful city. Must go back again. Farewell Riga!

At home things are pretty calm at the moment. The Victoria Grid Project is in my neighbourhood, so I even got out and shot a few and loaded 3, so far, to the Grid. We expect to have the carpet up the stairs, livingroom, dining room and hallway installed in about 4 weeks. We have paid Home Depot for it. Hope they have a good installer. We were completely spoiled by Wally from Hourigans. They are more expensive, though. Draperies are up and the bill is paid after discussion of it with Leigh from Pacific Blinds. Quite a hit. But on checking back to our verticals of 20 years ago and the ones today... just the verticals costs less this time. Its the valances and panels that have brought the price up. Ah well, its done. I have hung a few pictures in the guest room and moved the extra book case in there to contain blue glass and a few other knicknacks. I think these curtains in the library and the guest room make the walls look muddy. I should have insisted on a solid color. Well, maybe when the green carpet is down it will harmonize with the gold in the stripes of the curtains.

I have been spending a bit of time on the new site. Man, that place is going to be terrific. Its a huge site and they are really getting a lot done lately. Can't wait until its done and Cyrus gets his just reward for all his hard work. Brilliant designer and a good internet friend.

A bridge

This last photo looks almost like it might be a Holga with the vignetting. But this is what happens with the S3 IS if you do not zoom the lens all the way when using the teleconverter. I rather like it and I might even do more fake Holgas with this teleconverter.

Recently, I have joined Facebook and Flickr, so I have been kind busy other than my blog and my page. But, I have got a bit more done on my page. Its all fun. Some of the features on Flickr are pretty nice. Its a huge place. And to think it got started right here in Victoria. Although, I know, we have a very vibrant group of young professional computer programers and software developers here. Makes me almost wish I was younger and in to the loop. But retirement is much too sweet, in reality.

I think I might have advanced a baby step in my dilemma about my photography. Lately I have been shooting 'studies' of things. Unplanned, but it seems to need to be done. Maybe its a stage I am going through, on the way to finding out what I can do with my cameras.

So here is my study of the little bridge that goes over one end of the Esquimalt Lagoon. Its a lovely spot. We took the van and a deli sandwich out here for lunch on an overcast day.

There is more to this few hours at Esquimalt Lagoon, but this is all for now. Hope you like it.