I have been busy over the past few weeks, though not with bloggable things. But I have missed writing, so I am going to do a post on some of my favorite travel photos. They aren't necessarily great photographs, but they bring me good memories and feelings of happiness and I felt like sharing.

That's right, it's the modern version of your nerdy friend's vacation slides. The good thing about the modern version, however, is that you aren't trapped in my living room and can walk away whenever you wish.

If you are still here...

Sicily - we met this well-dressed gentleman outside the park that houses the Orecchio di Dionisio - The Ear of Dionysius - an ancient limestone quarry. That was spectacular, as was the ancient amphitheater nearby, but this guy really made an impression. The hat. The tie. The casual confidence he showed chatting with the ladies. He is my model for growing old.

Montreal - Marla, Alessandro (AKA Lupo), and me. We were there during a heat wave. We had walked all over Olympic Park and the Botanical Garden. And when we hit this spot of lawn, with the shade and the cooling breeze, we collapsed. To this very day I see this picture and I immediately feel the cool grass on my back, my feet tingling because I am finally off them, and my eyes closing as I am seduced into sleep.

I never adjust this picture to its real, horizontal orientation, because as it is here it captures how I was feeling at the time: like I was floating in space without a care in the world.

Leidseplein, Amsterdam. We were sitting in this lively square, enjoying a beer, when I noticed a man in what looked like his 60s (and since this is the Netherlands and everyone is so healthy and young looking he may have been much older) setting up these poles and a thick rope. He proceeded to strip down to a silver lamé thong and climb up the rope, whereupon he began doing acrobatic tricks.

Some people watched, most just went about their business, I fell more deeply in love with the city and its people.

Speaking of stripping down... Marissa took this picture of me admiring a Palmers billboard smack dab in the middle of Berlin. You probably haven't seen me yet, so try to draw your eyes down to the bottom right corner. Yes, there I am, my knees turning to jelly and my heart racing. By the way, my favorite is fifth in from the right, just above the E.

If I remember correctly, we were walking down the street looking for the Opernpalais, so that we might enjoy some tea and sacher torte. Suddenly this vision of cakes of quite a different kind was practically blocking our path. A sweet beginning to a sweet afternoon.

Standing on a bridge in the City of Light, feeling the cold breeze on my face as I watch the boats move quietly underneath. "What should we do now - go for a crêpe? Perhaps a drink? No, let's just sit here a little while longer and take it all in."

If you are indeed still here, let me say thanks for indulging me in this little slide show. I've enjoyed putting it together probably more than you know.