In September of 2001 I boarded a flight for Rome.  It was two weeks after the 9/11 attack on the world trade center.  Air travel just re-opened after flights had been grounded for over a week.  I had tickets purchased in May and probably could have been reimbursed for those tickets.  I went anyway.

That trip was remarkable because everywhere I went in Italy people were sympathetic and very pro-american.  Things have changed; world politics being what they are, but you'll find a slide show of that trip to Tuscany in the slide show section of this website.  You'll also find photos from Rome, one of my favorite cities because I'm so interested in the ancient Romans who conquered the world. 

My most recent trip to Whistler, British Columbia was in 2006.  I got some great shots of both Whistler and Blackcomb mountains, and I absolutely loved the Blackcomb glacier.  This year (2009) I'll be heading to Paris to visit friends in France and Belgium.  It will be my third trip abroad since the terrorist attacks, but will be one of many more trips.  I've been all over the world; Europe, South America, Africa, and have only Australia and Asia left as continents to visit.  My sister has invited me on a cruise to the Panama canal at the end of the year.  I might have to give up a week of skiing, it'll be tough.  I've always wanted to go to Nepal and Tibet.  Maybe 2010.  After reading Greg Mortenson's "Three cups of Tea" I'm intrigued by Pakistan and Afghanistan.  Those are dangerous places for an American, but perhaps K2 some day. 

My pictures of Italy (Tuscany and subsequently Rome) were taken with 100 and 200 speed Kodak film and when developed were printed and made into CD's with JPGs.  Some of the photos are quite nice (if I do say so myself...) and are actually suitable for framing.  My next trip to Europe will be all digital.  Wish me luck!