Tag Archives: travel

Photographs: Europe, Photographs: France, Photographs: Travel

Marché de Noël, Paris

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Marché de Noël, Paris
“Marché de Noël, Paris” — Crowds at the Paris Christmas Market in the Tuileries Garden.

Last year’s late-fall and early-winter travel that took us to Germany, France, and Spain. We were in Paris for a few days about a week into December, and holiday festivities were in full swing. Stores had their decorations up, some streets had overhead holiday lights, and the Christmas markets were open. We briefly walked through this one at the Tuileries Garden near the Louvre.

Although the German markets seem to be the most famous — or at least the best-known in the United States — Christmas markets are all over Europe. Here it Paris it is the “Marché de Noël.” The basic idea is similar everywhere we went, from Germany to Spain. Vendor booths are set up in a public place, often a town square. They sell seasonal items, gifts, and local food and drinks. Mulled wine is the popular drink — vin chaud in France and gluhwein in Germany.

G Dan Mitchell is a California photographer and visual opportunist. His book, “California’s Fall Color: A Photographer’s Guide to Autumn in the Sierra” (Heyday Books) is available directly from him. Blog | Bluesky | Mastodon | Substack Notes | Flickr | Email

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Photographs: Croatia, Photographs: Europe, Photographs: Travel, Photographs: Urban/Street

A Trogir Street

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A Trogir Street, Croatia
“A Trogir Street” — A person sits at outdoor tables along an empty street in Trogir, Croatia.

During the summer of 2023 we took a 10-week looping trip through parts of Europe. We concluded the trip with about a week and a half in Croatia. The first few days were spent in Dubrovnik, and then we moved on to the vicity of Trogir, not far from Split, where we joined a big group of extended family members. Being so close to historic Trogir, we spent a good amount of time there.

The old town of Trogir is picturesque enough that it is now very popular with tourists, for better or for worse. Much of the construction is of these very light colored stones — they are found in the buildings, the walls, and the streets and sidewalks. I photographed this scene while out on a little photo walk with my friend Franka M. Gabler who knows this area well.

G Dan Mitchell is a California photographer and visual opportunist. His book, “California’s Fall Color: A Photographer’s Guide to Autumn in the Sierra” (Heyday Books) is available directly from him. Blog | Bluesky | Mastodon | Substack Notes | Flickr | Email

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(All media © Copyright G Dan Mitchell and others.)

Photographs: Albania, Photographs: Europe, Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Travel

Albanian Farm Valbona Valley

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Albanian Farm Valbona Valley
“Albanian Farm Valbona Valley” — A gravel road leads toward an Albanian farm in the Valbona Valley.

This is another photograph from our fascinating but brief foray into Albania from our Kosovo home base back in the summer of 2023. A member of our “European family” who is from Kosovo took us on a tour up in to the Valbona Valley where we saw the spectacular Albanian Alps. On our return trip down the valley we briefly paused at this spot.

If I’m remembering the event correctly — and not superimposing two separate stops — we spotted a rural mosque across the river in this beautiful valley with the peaks in the distance. I wanted to photograph it, of course, so we all stopped and briefly walked around the area. Just upstream from a bridge across the river I saw this farm — or is it a homestead, or something else entirely?

G Dan Mitchell is a California photographer and visual opportunist. His book, “California’s Fall Color: A Photographer’s Guide to Autumn in the Sierra” (Heyday Books) is available directly from him. Blog | Bluesky | Mastodon | Substack Notes | Flickr | Email

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(All media © Copyright G Dan Mitchell and others.)

Photographs: Europe, Photographs: Kosovo, Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Travel

White Drin Waterfall

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White Drin Waterfall, Kosovo
“White Drin Waterfall” — The White Drin Waterfall , near Peja, Kosovo.

For this American, used to spending time in our national parks and in our wilderness areas, my visit to this place was a bit of a culture shock. This waterfall and a nearby cave complex are part of a “natural monument” in Kosovo, at the village of Radac a few miles west of Peja, Kosovo. Much to my surprise, the crowds here were absolutely huge. The first challenge was finding a place to park, and it turned out to be almost impossible. It seemed like everyone in Kosovo was walking this trail — families, foreign visitors, you name it. Booths along the trail sold food, drink, and trinkets.

On one hand, this was not exactly a wilderness experience. On the other hand… people clearly love this place. And it is quite beautiful. The river flowing below this waterfall is full of picturesque boulders, and lush trees overhang the water. My understanding is that this waterfall is regarded to be the source of the White Drin River, which flows from here into Albania.

G Dan Mitchell is a California photographer and visual opportunist. His book, “California’s Fall Color: A Photographer’s Guide to Autumn in the Sierra” (Heyday Books) is available directly from him. Blog | Bluesky | Mastodon | Substack Notes | Flickr | Email

Join the discussion — you are welcome to leave a comment or question. (Comments are moderated and may not appear immediately.)

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(All media © Copyright G Dan Mitchell and others.)