— On our last trip to Big Bend NP, the scenery was quite different from previous visits. Even though it was late September, contrary to what one would expect for end-of-summer vistas, we found the park blooming everywhere we went. … Read More

— In order to accommodate the large number of pilgrims who visit the Sanctuary of Fátima, Portugal, the Basilica of the Holy Trinity was built across from the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary. It was obvious that on … Read More

When we visited Portugal in 2018, we had several cities and sites we were certain we would want to visit. Besides the historical connection to Brazil, there were some specific cities in our list where we knew we would make … Read More

— After six and a half long years, we finally spent a few days revisiting one of the most scenic state parks in Texas: Caprock Canyons SP. Located towards the Texas panhandle, Caprock Canyons SP is known for its rock … Read More

— Certain national parks simply do not get as much attention as others. Take, for example, North Cascades NP. The 20th largest national park in the National Park Service, covering an area of 504,781 acres, is listed by Reserve America … Read More

— Our first visit to Canyon de Chelly (pronounced d-SHAY) National Monument was back in 2006, when we were returning from our Grand Canyon South Rim visit. We had not planned on going by Canyon de Chelly until someone told us … Read More

— Part of our southwest vacation in 2010 included Aztec Ruins NM and Chaco Culture NHP. The first and foremost thing to learn about this national monument is that its name, Aztec, is a misnomer. A nineteenth century erroneous belief, according to … Read More

— Getting to Mariscal Mine in Big Bend National Park may not be easy. High-clearance vehicles with four-wheel-drive are required. When we did our first visit to this area in 2007, the ranger told us that he was not sure … Read More

— Spiderworts symbolize immortality, optimism and moral authority. Although its most common color is blue to purple, there are also pink, red, or white varieties. The photos you see here were made at two different locations in Austin. The top … Read More

— On April 5, 1933, through an executive order, President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). A part of the New Deal legislation, this public voluntary work relief program aimed at providing jobs to unemployed and unmarried … Read More

— Exactly a year ago today, a couple of friends invited me to come along with them for a hike at LCRA‘s McKinney Roughs Nature Park. We had just started feeling the effects of the pandemic and were looking for … Read More

— Whenever I bike, I don’t often have the privilege to enjoy the scenery in its entirety. However, my eyes are always scanning my surroundings. If something catches my attention, it is very likely I will return to the location … Read More