Approaching Vinci

Leonardo da Vinci was born less than two miles from this little town in the Tuscan hills. A must-see is the Leonardo Museum, which contains working models of many of his designs.

Thanks to Shadowhouse Creations for the added texture.

Along the Dijver

Dijver is the name of both the street and the canal in the scene above. The Church of Our Lady rises in the background. At 367 feet, it is the tallest structure in Bruges and the second tallest brickwork tower in the world according to Wikipedia.

I've added textures by Emma Cox and les brumes on Flickr.

Empty Headed

This giant head sculpture by Igor Mitoraj in Boboli Gardens, Florence is titled Tindaro Screpolato which means Tyndareus shattered. Tyndareus was a Spartan king.

I've added a gold texture by batabidd.

Statue of Pan

This statue is located in the Luxembourg Gardens in central Paris. The dome you see in the background belongs to the Pantheon. I've added a texture from Kerstin Frank Art.

Circus Days

This bit of nostalgia was part of a fascinating exhibit at the Ringling Circus Museum in Sarasota, Florida. Textures from Shadowhouse Creations and playing with brushes have been added.

Sorrento Harbor

The harbor of Sorrento with its rocky coast and the Lattari Mountains forming a backdrop. I've added a texture by Shadowhouse Creations.

Celebrating the Dawn

This photo was taken at Celebration just after dawn. I had flown to Florida in order to visit my cousin and I was curious about this master planned community.

I've added a texture from Tim in Ohio, posted on the Flickr free texture site.

Girl with Iguana

This photo was taken at Lovers Point in Pacific Grove, California. Walking along the coastal path, I peered over a rock ledge and was surprised to see this young woman reading while her pet iguana sunned on the rock.

I've added a postcard texture from joes sistah and another texture from Shadowhouse Creations.

Gravensteen Castle

Travel Partner and I visited Ghent on a very inclement spring day. Somehow the weather suited this castle, built in 1180 and modeled on the castles of the Crusaders. It was the seat of the Counts of Flanders for several centuries until it was used for other purposes until its restoration around 1885.

I've added textures from Shadowhouse Creations,  smith fine art, and brian nolan79.

Campanile, Venice

This view of the well-known bell tower was taken from the Giardini Ex Reali (Royal Gardens) adjacent to Piazza San Marco. A musical texture from Shadowhouse Creations was added.

Lunch in the Peristyle

The ruins of Diocletian's grand palace in Split contain a monumental court called the Peristyle which is a popular place for both tourists and locals to hang out. Comprising the center of the old town, these ruins are the most complete remains of a Roman palace found anywhere.

I've added two textures from Shadowhouse Creations.

Sacre Coeur from Montmartre

The Basilica of Sacre Coeur sits atop the highest hill in Paris and has amazing views of the City of Light.  A texture from Shadowhouse Creations was added.

Lone Fisherman

This photo of a lone fisherman on Monterey Bay was taken early in the morning. I've added textures from pareeerica and ruby blossom.

Pink and Blue

This photo was taken at Monterosso-al-Mare, the Cinque Terre town with the nicest beach. The pink ice plant was a colorful contrast to the azure waters. I've added textures from pareeerica.

Chapel of St. Nicholas

Originally dedicated to St. Nicholas in the 12th century, this chapel is located between the second and third arch of the famous Saint Benezet bridge on the river Rhone in Avignon. The bridge was the origin of a popular children's song. It suffered many collapses due to flooding and by the 17th century was deemed beyond repair.

Textures from les brumes and Shadowhouse Creations have been added.

Oberammergau

Oberammergau is touristy, no doubt about it. We visited the Bavarian town on an excursion and we had precious little time to walk around and see the beautiful murals on the facades of the buildings. However, the town has an undeniably beautiful setting and I tried my best to venture away from all the stores selling interesting but similar merchandise so that I could see parts of the town that felt more residential and authentic.

I've added textures from Shadowhouse Creations and pareeerica.

Door, Avignon

This door with its distinctive panels and hardware was located in a quiet courtyard near our hotel in Avignon.
Textures from Shadowhouse Creations and pareeerica were added.

Menton

Located on the Mediterranean, Menton is nicknamed "The Pearl of France." More relaxed and unassuming than other towns on the French Riviera, perhaps reflecting its close proximity to Italy, Menton seems very livable and friendly.

A texture from Shadowhouse Creations was added to my original photo.

Hernnbrunnen, Rothenburg ob der Tauber

This historic fountain is located near the Plonlein in Rothenburg. I wish I could find more information about the  fountain and what it represents, but several Internet searches have been unsuccessful.

I've added textures by joes sistah and Shadowhouse Creations.

Number 12

There are few places I can think of that are more fun to explore than the streets of Taormina on the island of Sicily. The mixture of terracotta, carved wood and stone and pots of succulents is a combination that is hard to beat.

I've added a texture from Shadowhouse Creations.

Mainz

Travel Partner and I began a trip of Germany with an overnight in Mainz. The city, situated near the confluence of the Main and Rhine rivers, was a good jumping off point for our trip through Bavaria and on to Dresden and Berlin.

I've added textures from les brumes and lisabee73.

Monteriggioni

This is a view of the walled medieval town taken from a walking path through the Val d'Elsa in Tuscany. There are fourteen towers built into the wall and you can walk along portions of it for wonderful views of the surrounding countryside. The town itself is very pleasant to wander.

I've added textures from Shadowhouse Creations and an old Italian postcard.

Taormina Postcard

With the addition of a texture from Shadowhouse Creations, my photo of Taormina, Sicily has changed into a vintage postcard. This beautiful town does indeed seem somehow time. Mt. Etna is visible in the background.

Maui in Layers

My original photo was taken on the beach at Wailea on the island of Maui. I added a bold graphic texture from Yuna.

Fishing Boats in Riomaggiore

These fishing boats were taken in Riomaggiore during a whirlwind visit to the Cinque Terre last spring. As you may or may not be aware, several of the Cinque Terre villages suffered devastating floods this past October.  Riomaggiore was left relatively unscathed compared to Monterosso and Vernazza, which will probably need a lot of work and aid to recover.

I've added textures from irfan and cleanzor from the Flickr textures4layers group.

Dreams of Olympia

These columns are remains of the vast complex at ancient Olympia in Greece, site of the first Olympic games. Textures from Shadowhouse Creations and Kerstin Frank have been added.

Sailing Near Toulon

This petite lighthouse sits at the end of a pier just off Saint-Mandrier-sur-Mer, a village in southern France near Toulon. Textures from cathair studios and Shadowhouse Creations have been added for effect.

Bruges Belfry

Bruge's medieval bell tower was first erected on the main market square of the town in 1290, but fires and multiple modifications over the years have resulted in the current tower. You can climb 366 steps to the top for a fine view over the town and countryside.

Textures by Shadowhouse Creations and ruby blossom were added.

Christmas Truck

During our stay in Rothenburg, our hotel, the Eisenhut, was located right next to Kathe Wohlfahrt's Christmas store and its darling red truck topped by brightly colored packages. The store itself is indeed magical, with every sort of toy that a child could wish for, including my childhood favorite: cuddly stuffed animals.

Charlemagne Statue

This statue of Charlemagne stands in front of the Historical Museum in the Romerberg, the old section of Frankfurt dating from medieval times. In the background is Haus Wertheim, the only half-timbered building in the area which did not suffer damage during WWII. It now houses a pub and a bakery.

Added textures are from Shadowhouse Creations.

Rue des Bouchers

The Rue des Bouchers in Brussels, Belgium is one of those European streets that is so atmospheric in the evenings. Lined with tempting outdoor cafes offering all types of cuisine, tourists are drawn in by the friendly waiters competing for diners.

I added textures by cathair studios and Shadowhouse Creations.

Bicycle in Tuscany

A green bicycle in front of a house with green shutters in Montecatini Terme, Italy.

Shadowhouse Creations created the texture I added.

Cruising the Elbe

This river boat cruises the peaceful Elbe River from Pillnitz Palace to Dresden, Germany. This short cruise was a highlight of our trip to Germany.

I've added a texture from boccacino.

Bright Bougainvillea

Bougainvillea frame a brick arch leading to a quiet courtyard at Mission San Juan Capistrano. I've added a texture from Shadowhouse Creations.

Hydrant and Cactus

This photo was taken about a block from our home. The prickly pear were still blooming, but many of them had already dried up and fallen off. I liked the way in which the cactus was encroaching on the hydrant and threatening to surround it.

I've added textures by jana s, rubyblossom, and Shadowhouse Creations.

Alcatraz Lighthouse

Textures by Shadowhouse Creations and Brian Nolan create a stormy background for my photo of the lighthouse on Alcatraz Island in the San Francisco Bay.

Pienza

Taken during my trip to Tuscany a few years ago, this photo of a facade of a house in lovely Pienza features an added texture by distressed jewel.

Squirrel

This squirrel was sitting on a rock in the park by the Mountain View city library.  I've added a texture from DJ Pettit.

Siena

During my visit to Siena, the duomo facade was undergoing restoration and I had trouble taking any good exterior shots. This photo was taken from the former Medici Fortress, now a public park.

I've added textures from Les Brumes, Shadowhouse Creations and Sy Parrish.

Avignon

The Palace of the Popes was just a few minutes by foot from out hotel. During our stay in Avignon, I never tired of walking past its Gothic facade and observing its moods change from daylight to darkness.

I've added textures from boccacino, Shadowhouse Creations and sophie g.

Montepulciano

Beginning with a photo I took of a quiet back street in the Tuscan hilltown of Montepulciano, I then added a crumpled paper texture by ol wizard, resulting in an even more weathered look.

Something Different

This started out as a photo of Nyphenburg Palace in Munich. I added textures from Shadowhouse Creations and les brumes and liked the effect I ended up with after a few more adjustments.

Ships in Harbor

This small, peaceful harbor is at Enkhuizen in the Netherlands. I've added a texture by joes sistah.

Open Window

This photo was taken in Split, Croatia. I really enjoyed walking around this town and entering these old courtyards with the laundry hanging overhead. Split is a very vibrant city.

I've added textures from muffin and Shadowhouse Creations.

Protector

This statue near the Grand Canal is said to depict the winged lion protecting the Virtues of the City of Venice. The winged lion, which represents San Marco, the patron saint of Venice, is everywhere you look, not just in Venice itself, but in other towns like Verona, which were once ruled by Venice.

I've added textures by ruby blossom and les brumes.

Imagination

I like using the burst mode on my camera, but sometimes I'll wind up with a "surprise" photo I never even knew I took. Occasionally these turn out to be happy coincidences. This photo was one of those - a pensive boy against a background of blue sky with clouds. I've added a texture by pareeerica called "dreamy skies" which seems especially appropriate.

Window in the Cannaregio

I photographed this window, a study in terracotta and green, on a quiet street in the Canareggio area of Venice.  I especially liked the contrast of the lacy white curtains with the weathered and peeling shutters.

I've added textures by cleanzor and brenda starr.

Roman Colosseum

During my last trip to Rome, I finally had an opportunity to see the inside of the Colosseum and it did not disappoint. Despite the crowds, it's one of the best time machines I've encountered. I've added textures from Shadowhouse Creations and crafty dogma to this iconic sight.

Palms at Sunset

Another sunset photo from our recent Hawaii trip. I love the look of palm trees in silhouette. I've added textures from NanceeArt and boccacino posted in the Flickr free textures group.

Roots

Roots growing down over the lava rock create a sort of primeval curtain near Ke'e Beach on the island of Kauai. I've added textures from Shadowhouse Creations and joes sistah.