There's More to St. Andrews Than the Golf Course!

Although I must say golf is likely the primary reason most people visit St. Andrews, we found it to be a quaint and fun little town.  While Paul and Bryan played 36 holes of golf in one day, Maria and I had a lot of time on our hands in which to take in some other sites. 

We found out there is a University of St. Andrews and we actually met a girl who came all the way from New Mexico to go there!  The campus was nothing like any university we are used to, although it may be a bit like some of the older ones in the East.  As we wandered through the University campus, we came across the gift shop for The Castle.  We found out we could buy a ticket to see just it or to see it and The Cathedral.  Such a deal…we went for both!!!

As it turned out, The St. Andrews Castle is a ruin.  What was funny to us was that we had made a detour on the way from England to Scotland to see the Nottingham Castle, which was not only a ruin (one wall we think) but was also closed on Mondays!!!  It was not too disappointing though because the castle and grounds had an awesome view of the sea…or whatever the body of water was outside it.  We spent some time looking at the views and then headed off to find The Cathedral.  In case you haven’t already guessed, it is a ruin as well.  It does have the largest and most amazing cemetery I’ve ever seen, with headstones going back centuries and some from the 2000s.  What we paid for was to climb the winding stairway of 157 steps to the top of the tower.  By the time we got to that point, I had decided I would wait for Maria to do it.  Unfortunately, her token didn’t work…and then neither did mine!!  Bummer for her…

Next we went off to see what was in town and do some shopping.  We didn’t buy much but did have fun going into some of the stores.  And of course…I found more doors and a church to add to the collection.  The funniest part of the day was probably seeing the two of us trying to separate Euros from Pounds and then to figure out what we had and how much we should tip the bagpiper we wanted a photo with!!  I don’t think we gave him much but we got the picture anyway!

University of St. Andrews

THE CASTLE...or what's left of it!

The Cathedral and Cemetery

We swore this guy was posing for us! He sat very still for a long time.

 

 

There is no shortage or old churches in Europe.  And I am fascinated by them all!

Looks like there is something other than Guinness on this table.  We also liked Tennant!

Just a door to some, but not to me...
When one door closes, another opens!
See you next time at Royal County Down in Newcastle, Ireland.



Blessings to you and yours,

"Friends are kisses blown to us by angels." ~Author Unknown

Home Sweet Home

Sizzling Arizona summer temperatures approaching the 115 degree mark and traveling photographers have sort of put a hold on the demand for outdoor photo sessions.  But wait…there’s a silver lining here.  It allows us to pursue another passion we have and that is photographing nature and the beauty of our surroundings.  For me, despite what seems like little relief during any 24 hr. period from the heat, I am finding it bearable enough in the wee hours of the morning or evening to sit on my back patio or balcony. I’ve been wandering outside around 5 a.m. with my wake-up armamentarium: 1) iPad (for reading my e-books) 2) camera (ready for that Kodak moment) and 3) a cup of freshly brewed coffee (one of my few vices!) The desert comes alive with the sunrise over Scarface Mountain and the sound of quail families navigating their way through the wash behind my house.  Why do they never fly, even when eminent danger presents itself? They just run really fast!

Just thought I’d share of few of my recent (most from this week) photos mixed in with a few of my all time favorites. All have been taken from the yard or balcony of my humble abode.  This is what makes my house my castle and I consider myself nothing short of superbly fortunate to enjoy this!

This morning's sunrise in sequence..breaking light



Peeking over Scarface



within 20 minutes it turned to this...
what an awesome sight!

 

the quail family



A partridge in a pear tree...NOT!



Wiley Coyote



Mr. and Mrs. Jack Rabbit



In the evening it’s a different story as I prepare dinner and the golden hour shows its colors through my kitchen windows.  Camera on counter, I am always ready for the ever-changing skyline.  Couple that with the unusual cloud formations and dust storms often seen during Arizona’s monsoon season and you can’t go wrong! 

Last night's sunset


Regrettably the “Big Haboob” arrived toward the front of my house and by the time I was alerted and got outside I was immersed in it.  Not wanting to subject my camera equipment to the ravages of the 60mph blowing dust I was standing in, I quickly snapped a couple of dusty shots and bailed. I had missed the wall rolling in, but I’ve seen some awesome photos of it!

The Big Ha- what?

The full moon always let’s me know it has arrived without even looking at the calendar via an “aura” that is present at work.  I try to be ready with my zoom lens and tripod on those nights.  Most recently I tested my steadiness by grabbing my camera and running outside.  I got some fairly decent shots without a tripod!  Sometimes it’s the moonrise that is spectacular and sometimes it sets right over my bedroom balcony, its moonbeams casting their brilliant glow through my bedroom window calling me awake in the wee hours of the morning.  I even have kind friends who know of my passion for those perfect shots and message me to tell me to grab my camera in case I might miss an opportunity.  

moonrise from my front yard

Last week's full moon



This week



My favorite moonset of all times...from my bedroom balcony overlooking Phoenix

Don’t forget to appreciate the beauty of your surroundings….get out and take it all in, rain or shine!

Every Golfer's Dream Come True

St. Andrews, Scotland:  The Home of Golf, Where it All Began, The Royal and Ancient Golf Club (6 centuries ancient!) and The Reason for Our Trip…at least as far as Bryan was concerned.  This was truly a longtime goal and dream that was finally coming true!  The whole trip was originally supposed to be a golf trip to Ireland…until Bryan said he wasn’t going to go that far and NOT play St. Andrews!  And so we made it happen…and it was wonderful and so worth it!

On our first day in St. Andrews, Paul and Bryan played 36 holes on two different courses.  There are no photos from those days because Maria and I went sightseeing in the town of St. Andrews.  But…those were necessary in order to assure the tee time at the St. Andrews Old Course.  I walked the course that day and I sure was glad I did.  It was amazing and like nothing I had ever seen! 

It is a Links Course, so once I committed to walking I had to go all the way.  It was a workout but it was also a beautiful day.  There were clouds and on 17 it actually rained enough for me to grab Bryan’s umbrella, mainly to protect my camera.  But…as quickly a it started, it was over!  There were awesome views all the way and I was so happy to be there, in the fresh air and looking at the beauty surrounding me.  There were a few times I was a little too loud for golf course etiquette, but Bryan quickly brought me back in line.

The guys had caddies and it was a good thing.  They were able to tell them how far the hole was and lots of other important information, plus what a bonus to have someone carry your clubs!  The bunkers were the scariest things I had ever seen and the caddies were able to tell them to hit it out backwards or sideways because they would never get out of them any other way!!!  There were some amazing greens that were huge where one green was actually for two holes, one for the front nine and one for the back!!!  They differentiate them with red and white flags.  One of the caddies told me on one green you could actually have a 100-yard putt!!!

As we came in on the 18^th fairway, Maria met us and we took the token photos on the bridge.  We had a view of this bridge from our rooms and it was lots of fun to watch all the groups stop there.  The guys had said when they started that they just wanted to be sure to shoot par on 18.  They both did that and it was quite exciting!!!  Bryan had about a 12-foot putt in front of all the onlookers and when he made it, it was quite exciting!

All in all, I’m sure Bryan would say playing St. Andrews was the highlight of the trip and a dream come true!

This is it!!...Where it all began...the golfer's mecca, St. Andrews, Scotland - The Royal & Ancient

The Trip of a Lifetime!

This was originally intended to be a blog dedicated to the photo shoots we have and how much fun we have doing it.  Somewhere along the line we added a category for “On The Road” because we have so much fun taking photos of the places we go! 

Having just been on a two-week odyssey in Scotland, England and Ireland I have had lots of questions about when and how I was going to “post” photos!  Between my photos and those of mi commadre, Maria, I can guarantee that no one wants to look at all of them…with the possible exception of my sister!  I thought maybe I could break down the best of the best in a few short blog posts.  I don’t think Tina would mind my using this forum for my travel photography!

So, if you have an interest…please read on!  If you don’t, be sure to let me know and I’ll take your name off the distribution list!

So many of the pictures will really only have meaning to us, for one reason or another.  One of the things I am most fascinated by, though, is the age of things…buildings, cemeteries, etc.  Even the oldest buildings in America are new compared to some of the buildings in Europe.  We saw gravestones from the 1600s and churches that have been standing for centuries.  Sometimes the beauty is more evident in real life and you wonder why you took the photo.  But sometimes the photo captures something very special.

When you drive through the country roads, or along the “motorway” in England you see lush, green farmland on both sides of the road.  The farms are divided either by hedges or stone walls and are odd shapes.  Many of the plots of land are dotted with sheep and to us it was quaint and something new.  After asking for a chance to pull over and take photos I finally got one.  The photo of the field of sheep was not near as interesting as this guy who stared at me for awhile and then wandered off.  I guess the blue spot that looks like cotton candy is in lieu of a brand since all the sheep had the same marking.

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After just a short time in the car, I developed an obsession with doors…all colors of doors – red, green, blue, yellow, black, you name it!  I’m guessing I could print a full book of just doors!!!  Of course it didn’t hurt that the buildings were so unique as well.  Most of the time, I took photos of just the door but I loved this building as well!

We spent our first night in Stratford Upon Avon which is Shakespeare’s birthplace.  Avon means river and the river truly runs right through the town.  We loved our hotel, The Swan’s Nest,  and what we saw of the town in the short time we were there.  We had Stella Artois beer at the restaurant and had a little fun playing with the perspective on the beer glasses.  I guess you could say we were tired enough to entertain ourselves easily!  Once we got to Guinness country, it was the last we would see of Stella for awhile!

Before leaving town and heading for Scotland, we took the time to visit Trinity Church which was where Shakespeare was married and buried.  We found it odd two weeks later in London when the guide on our Red Bus told us “this is the place where Shakespeare is buried” so we don’t really know what the deal is there!  By the way, old churches fascinate me as much as doors so you can guess that I got a few of those as well.

There is a cemetery in front of the church...

Shakespeare is buried here at the front of the church...OR is he?

This is the beautiful pipe organ in the church!  I would love to hear it!

Oh my...this is only Day 1 and 2.  How will I ever narrow these down? 

Blessings to you and yours,

″A traveler without observation is a bird without wings.” – Moslih Eddin Saadi

Across the Pond

I feel very blessed that I can call my sisters my best friends.  It should come as no surprise then that since my sister has been traveling abroad for the last two weeks I miss my daily communication with her something fierce.  She tells me they have acquired over 1500 pictures.  I guess I’ll have to live vicariously “through my sister’s eyes” since I don’t foresee such a trip for myself anytime in the near future.  

Her memories will last forever, but her pictures will sure help her jog that memory as the years go by.  She’ll be home soon and left to return to life’s daily rituals. Me...I'm looking forward to hearing about all 1500 pictures!  Meanwhile, I don’t think she’d mind if I shared a couple of pictures she has sent of her relaxing and living the good life!  

Don’t forget to grab your camera while you’re making life’s memories. Perhaps it's time to schedule a session for or with your loved ones for life’s milestones…or better yet,  just because!  You might just brighten someone’s day like she did mine and besides that…life’s a gift!  




St. Andrews Scotland

  


Scotland





St. Andrews Golf Course~Scotland




Cork, Ireland





Big Head Golf Course~Ireland