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Columbia National Wildlife Refuge Palouse Falls

We spent half a day stomping around Columbia National Wildlife Refuge, and then swung by Palouse Falls for a selfie on the way home.

Potholes Coulee Frenchman Coulee

Potholes Coulee and Frenchman Coulee both spill into the Columbia River just north of Vantage Washington, in theory also hosted an Ice Age Deluge.

Dry Falls

At 3.5 miles long and 400 feet high, Dry Falls is a bucket-list hiking destination.

Oneonta Gorge

On a cold, rainy Sunday Morning in December, the parking lot at Multnomahfornia Falls was full. So we stopped at the Horsetail Falls Trailhead to stretch our legs.

Canyonlands

We visited Canyonlands National Park in Utah.

Million Dollar Hwy

High in the Rocky Mountains, Million Dollar Hwy in Colorado is a bucket-list item.

Valley of the Gods

If you're too cheap to visit Monument Valley, then Valley of the Gods will suffice.

Vermilion

After dry-camping in our tent in Kaibab national Forest, we headed towards Colorado.

North Rim

Our first visit ever the North Rim of Grand Canyon.

Fire Valley

We woke up at Fire Valley State Park and did some hiking there, before going to the Grand Canyon North Rim.

Devils Golf Course

We visited Devil's Golf Course and eventually ended up at Lake Mead.

Dantes View

After sleeping in a tent at Thorndike or Mahogany Flat (I can't remember exactly), we woke up and made the long drive to Dante's View.

Ubehebe Crowley Zabriskie

We woke up at Peavine Creek Campground and headed into Death Valley.

Criterion Tract

Criterion Tract is above the Deschutes River just South of Maupin.

Wygant Trail

Some more random hiking photos from Columbia River Gorge.

Angels Rest

Angels Rest is a short hike in the Columbia River Gorge near Corbett.

Gnarl Ridge

After climbing Gnarl Ridge from Elk Meadows, I crossed Newton Creek and descended in the dark using hand poles and a headlamp.

Elk Meadows

From Elk Meadows Trailhead, I made a loop to Elk Meadows and Gnarl Ridge, and then crossed Newton Creek and returned in the dark.

Mount Hood Meadows

I made a loop of Newton Creek Canyon and Mount Hood Meadows.

White River Canyon

White River Canyon from Timberline Lodge is a gut-busting working, climbing on soft ground.

Eden Park

We hike to Eden Park from Vista Ridge Trailhead.

McIntyre Ridge

McIntyre Ridge is on Wildcat Mountain.

Salmon River

In April I returned to the Salmon River just outside Welches.

Gordon Creek Trail

I have no idea where I started from or destination, but apparently I was not in the mood to take photos.

Devils Peak

From Salmon River Trailhead, I climbed Green Canyon to Devil's Peak, and then returned via Kinzel Lake and the Salmon River.

Cairn Basin

We either hiked or almost hiked to Cairn Basin.

Mazama Trail

Easy Sunday Afternoon hike on Mazama Trail.

Cathedral Ridge

There was frost on the ground, but as I ascended the layers came off.

Timberline Trail

Timberline Trail south of McGee Creek offers views of Mt Hood.

Top Spur

Timberline Trail and Pacific Crest Trail converge near Top Spur Trailhead.

Ramona Falls

Ramona Falls is an easy hike on the East Side of Mt Hood.

West Berlin

During the Cold War, West Berlin was an exclave of West Germany, and much more prosperous than East Berlin.

Prenzlauer Berg

Prenzlauer Berg is a trendy district in the former East Berlin.

Die Mauer

You know communism is a total failure when you have to build a wall to stop people from leaving.

Brandenburg Gate

Brandenburg Gate stands at the West end of Unter Den Linden Straße.

Mitte

Mitte is Berlin's historic core.

Unter den Linden

Unterdenlindenstraße runs east and west between Brandenburg Gate and Museum Island.

Pergamon Museum

A spectacular museum full of looted artifacts from Egypt, Mesopotamia, Asia-Minor, and Persia, the first museum you visit in Berlin should be Pergamon.

Deutsches Historisches Museum

Deutsches Historisches Museum is an newer museum, conceived in 1987 in West Germany shortly before reunification, but of course its ultimate location is in the former East Berlin.

Treptower Park

East Germany was under the thumb of the Soviet Union during the cold war, and Treptower Park was correspondingly filled with Soviet Monuments.

Stasi Remand Prison

When political prisoners were disappeared in DDR, they would first be incarcerated in Stasi Remand Prison.

DDR Museum

We continued our adventure in East Berlin with a visit to DDR Museum and looked at graffiti on the Berlin Wall.

Palmer Engels and Marx

On Wednesday morning Palmer, Engels, and Marx met for several hours in East Berlin to discuss the proletariat of the masses, whilst Mrs Trent grazed about for Ostalgia.

Checkpoint Charlie

Upon arriving in Berlin, we visited Tempelhof Airport, Checkpoint Charlie, and Reichsluftfahrtministerium.

Green Vault

Grünes Gewölbe should be the first museum you visit in Dresden. Then we explored Neustadt.

Dresden Altstadt

We returned to Altstadt in order to take advantage of the morning angle of sun light. Yes, that's a thing.

Kathedrale Sanctissimae Trinitatis

Hofkirche is a Rococo Church in Dresden that was elevated to status of Cathedral in 1964. I have questions.

Zwinger

Zwinger is Dresden's primary palatial complex.

Furstenzug und Frauenkirche

Frauenkirche is a bucket-list item for anyone even remotely interested in history, and resonates hope.

Saints Peter and Paul Basilica

Saints Peter and Paul Basilica originates in the 11th Century, but has been rebuilt in neo-Gothic style.

Vysehradske Sady

Fort Vysehrad is so vast, we have here enough photos from just the SouthWest Bastion.

Vysehrad

To the South, overlooking Vltava River, Fort Vysehrad is Prague's "other castle".

Vltava in Cesky Krumlov

Vltava River in Cesky Krumlov flows in a deep canyon that curves and loops around the city.

Krumlov Castle

Krumlov Castle and Garden appears in some of our photos from Cesky Krumlov.

Cesky Krumlov

On Friday we day-tripped south to Český Krumlov.

Right Bank Vltava

After continueing to explore Prague, we turned around and continued continueing to explore Prague.

Life in Prague

After visiting Prague Castle we continued exploring Prague.

Prague Castle

Prague Castle is one of the main tourist attractions in Prague.

St Vitus Cathedral

On Thursday we visited Prague Castle beginning with St Vitus Cathedral.

Charles Bridge

Karlův Most is iconic, historic, and scenic, and worthy of several photos.

Exploring Prague

Upon arriving in Prague we explored the city, taking photos of historic sites.

Wenceslas and Mucha

We began our exploration of Prague in Nové Město (New Town), surrounding Wenceslas Square.

Danube in Regensburg

At 5 O'clock, Regensburg grabs a beer and heads down to the river.

Medieval Sky Scrapers in Regensburg

Sky scrapers that were built in the 13th Century are cool.

Everlasting Imperial Diet of Regensburg

You aren't wrong to think of Vienna as the Capital of the Holy Roman Empire, but from 1663-1806, it's Diet was in Regensburg. I recommend the guided tour.

Regensburg Cathedral

Regensburg Cathedral is an important Gothic Cathedral which is notable for its stained glass, organ, and bells.

Neupfarrkirche Regensburg

After returning to Regensburg from Walhalla, we visited Neupfarrkirche, Kollegiatstift unserer Lieben Frau zur alten Kapelle, and St Ulrich.

Walhalla

Walhalla is a German Hall of Fame in a (neo)-Classical Temple Structure East of Regensburg. While scenic and impressive, the historical context is even more interesting.

Landesgartenschau Park

Cascading down the bluff north from Festung Marienberg in Würzburg, are a series of international gardens built for Landesgartenschau 1990.

Festung Marienberg

Before Würzburg Residenz was built, the Prince-Bishops lived in Marienberg Fortress on the other side of the River Main.

Marienkapelle Wurzburg

Marienkapelle is a Gothic Chapel that seems large enough to be a Church.

Wurzburger Dom

If your city (Würzburg) had a Bishop, then you also had a Cathedral.

Wurzburg Residenz

As Würzburg was an ecclesiastical Prince-Bishopric of the Holy Roman Empire, Residenz was home of a Prince-Bishop.

Exploring Bamberg

Bamberg is a story-book UNESCO World Heritage Site full of Medieval Cobble-Stone streets.

Churches in Bamberg

We took some pictures of Pfarrkirche Unsere Liebe Frau, and Bamberg Cathedral.

Bamberg Altes Rathaus

We visited the Altes Rathaus in Bamberg.

Rothenburg Churches

We also visited Church of St James, Rothenburg's large Gothic Church.

Rothenburg Inside and Out

Because we have so many photos from Rothenberg, this particular post has only photos not related to infrastructure or Churches.

Rothenburg Infrastructure

Walls and towers of Rothenburg ob der Tauber.

Fascism in Nuremberg

Nazi Party Rally Grounds Documentation Center is a short train ride outside Nuremberg.

Streets of Nuremberg

Unlike Munich which was rebuilt on the cheap following World War II, Nuremberg retains all its charm.

Pegnitz River Nuremberg

The Pegnitz River in Nuremberg makes for some fantastic photos.

Deutsches Museum Verkehrszentrum

Deutsches Museum of Transportation is a delightful collection of trains, trucks, planes, automobiles, and racecars.

Schlosspark Nymphenburg

Nymphenburg Palace Park has ponds, canals, fields, and small buildings and lodges from where the Royal Family would hunt.

Nymphenburg

Both outside of Munich to the north-west, Dachau and Nymphenburg pair well together logistically.

Munich Residenz

On MayDay we visited Munich Residenz, home of Wittelsbach.

Mayday in Munich

Our first two days in Munich, we explored the city. Our room was near the Oktoberfest Fairgrounds.

Palazzo Nuovo

We concluded our visit to Capitoline Museums by touring the Halls of Palazzo Nuovo, as well as the ruins of the Temple of Jupiter, and the Tabularium.

Palazzo dei Conservatori

The primary wing of Capitoline Museums is Palazzo dei Conservatory, where you can see pieces of a giant statue of Emperor Constantine, and the Capitoline She-Wolf.

National Museum of Rome

Palazzo Massimo also contains ancient mosaic and fresco.

Palazzo Massimo

The best Museum for Ancient Roman Statuary is National Museum of Rome.

Via Appia Antica

Appian Way is in really great shape for being 2300 years old.

Acquedotto Claudio

We travelled by Metro from Central Rome to Giulio Agricola and hiked across Aqueduct Park.

Sant Ignazio

Chiesa di Sant' Ignazio di Loyola is the premier manifestation of the Jesuit affinity for trompe-l'œil, baroque illusionary fresco painting.

Santa Maria Maggiore

Originally built in the 5th Century, Santa Maria Maggiore has the opulence which is characteristic of the four major Vatican Basilicas of Rome.

Palatine Hill

We climbed to the top of Palatine Hill to admire the view.

Roman Forum

We continued our tour on the south side of the Roman Forum, where surrounded by 2000-year-old Virgins, we felt right at home.

Foro Romano

After visiting the Colosseum, we toured the Roman Forum

Flavian Amphitheatre

We visited the Colosseum, so named on account of Nero's Colossus, which stood there previously.

Vatican Museums

We continued our tour of Vatican Museums in the Renaissance Wing.

Palazzo Apostolico

Vatican Museums is full of art and we began with sculpture.

Tiber After Dark

Hiking back to our flat, we crossed the Tiber in darkness. Upon awakening the next morning we stopped on Capitoline Hill to take photos of the Roman Forum and King Victor Emmanuel II Monument.

Cupola di San Pietro

From the roof of St Peter's Basilica, the view is panoramic.

Basilica di San Pietro

St. Peter's Basilica is the greatest Church in Christendom.

Piazza San Pietro

We visited St. Peter's Square in Vatican City.

Santa Cecilia and Villa Farnesina

After stopping at a Cafe for Breakfast, we filled up on more art, history, and culture at Basilica Santa Cecilia and Villa Farnesina.

Trastevere

We spent the morning exploring Trastevere, beginning with Basilica di Santa Maria in Trastevere.

Altar of the Fatherland

The Victor Emmanuel II National Monument is Rome's largest modern monument and City Hall.

Rome After Dark

Our Sunday Evening ended by visiting Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, and Quirinal Palace.

Galleria Doria Pamphilj

Rome's Greatest Palace still under private ownership is a Gallery of the family's private art collection with a tour narrated by the Prince himself.

Piazza Navona

Piazza Navona is an ancient athletic stadium reborn as a baroque public square.

Ghetto in Rome

From the 16th Century until 1870, Jews in Rome were forced to reside inside a walled Ghetto.

Saint Peter in Chains

Basilica di San Pietro in Vincoli commemorates the Apostle Peter's imprisonment.

San Paolo Fuori le Mura

St Paul's Outside The Walls was rebuilt in the 19th Century, is lovely if somewhat sterile, contains mosaic portraits of all 266 Popes and translucent Alabaster windows.

Castel Sant'Angelo

Castel Sant'Angelo was originally built as a Mausoleum for Emperor Hadrian, was alternately used as a Fortress and Prison.

Piazza del Popolo

Piazza del Popolo is the historic North Entrance of Rome.

Borghese

Borghese Gallery nestled in the vast Villa Borghese Gardens, high atop a bluff overlooking the entrance to Rome, is a Palace Museum displaying the private art collection of Cardinal Borghese.

Pantheon

Pantheon is the best-preserved ancient monument in Rome. "Pantheon" means "all the gods", thus Pantheon was originally a temple to all the gods.

Gesu and Sopra Minerva

On our way to see the Pantheon, we swung by Teatro Marcello, Gesu Church, and Sopra Minerva.

San Giovanni in Laterano

Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran is the Cathedral of the Pope as the Bishop of Rome, and as such, ranks even higher than St. Peter's Basilica.

Exploring Rome

We traveled by train from Florence back to Rome and immediately began exploring Circus Maximus, Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano, Piazza Farnese, and Campo de' Fiori.

Boboli Gardens

We marinated in the stunning views of Boboli Gardens behind Palazzo Pitti.

Accademia

On Thursday we visited the Accademia in order to see David, the greatest sculpture in the World, carved in Marble by the World's Greatest Sculptor.

Salone dei Cinquecento

We continued our tour of Palazzo Vecchio, viewing the Grand Hall, touring Pope Leo X's Apartments, and then visited the Christmas Market at Piazza Santa Croce.

Palazzo Vecchio Apartments and Terrace

At Palazzo Vecchio we were delighted by the Bust of Macchiavelli, enjoyed the view from the terrace, and were awed by the Hall of Justice.

Bargello First Floor

We continued our tour of Bargello viewing Verrocchio's David, Donatello's David (bronze), Donatello's St George, and the famous Baptistry Doors Contest submission.

Bargello Ground Floor

At the Bargello, we began by viewing the Courtyard, Michelangelo's Bacchus, Giambologna's Flying Mercury, and Donatello's Marble David.

Uffizi Lower Floor

The lower floor in Uffizi contains High Renaissance Paintings by artists such as Titian, Raphael, Da Vinci, and Parmigianino.

Uffizi Top Floor

Chronologically, Uffizi begins on the top floor, starting with Medievel and Early-Renaissance Art.

Giotto's Campanile

We climbed to the top of Giotto's Campanile (Bell Tower) to admire the views.

Opera del Duomo Museum

Many of the original works of art from the Cathedral, Baptistry, and Bell Tower in Florence reside now in Duomo Museum for preservation.

Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore

Florence Cathedral is the fourth-largest Church in the world, with the largest brick dome in the world.

Basilica of Santa Croce

In Basilica di Santa Croce in Florence, we visited Baroncelli Chapel, Pazzi Chapel, the Sacristy, and Refectory.

Basilica di Santa Croce

Santa Croce, Church of the Holy Cross, is the largest Franciscan Church in the world and was built in the 14th Century.

Brunelleschi's Dome

From the summit of Brunelleschi's Dome, Florence glows in the Tuscan Winter Morning Sun.

Cupula de Santa Maria del Fiore

It's 463 stairs to the top of Cúpula de Santa María del Fiore, and the view is great.

San Miniato al Monte

San Miniato al Monte is a Romanesque Church (and abby), with a Romanesque Marble Facade, the place to hear live Gregorian Chants.

Oltrarno

We spent the afternoon exploring Oltrarno, including Brancacci Chapel, enjoying the views.

Galileo Science Museum

The Galileo Science Museum in Florence Italy is full of historic scientific equipment and curiosities!

Pitti Palace

Too much Palazzo Pitti for one post, so we continue.

Palazzo Pitti

Palazzo Pitti is the Grandest Palace in Florence, primary residence of de' Medici family, and second-most prestigious art gallery in Florence.

Basilica di Santa Maria Novella

Santa Maria Novella is the first large is the first large Basilica in Florence. Right next to the train station, it is also the first Basilica you see upon arriving.

Cappelle Medici and Piazza Santa Maria Novella

We visited Cappelle Medici inside Basilica of San Lorenzo, and then photographed the facade of Basilica di' Santa Maria Novella, from Piazza Santa Maria Novella (before touring the basilica).

Palazzo Medici and San Marco

We visited Palazzo Medici and San Marco Basillica and Convent in Florence.

Exploring Florence

After arriving in Florence, we went exploring and took pictures of Basilica of Santa Croce, Palazzo Vecchio, Ponte Vecchio, and Palazzo Pitti.

Traveling to Florence

We flew to Rome with a stop in Atlanta, and from there took the train to Florence.

Wiener Staatsoper

On our last full day in Vienna, we exlored Ringstraße, Kunsthistorisches Museum, and attended Opera.

Hofburg and Museums

On Friday we visited Hofburg Imperial Palace and Museums.

Life in Vienna

I have a few photos from Friday that don't really fit the context of our primary activity that day, so enjoy.

Schoenbrunn Palace

Our first full day in Vienna, we visited Schoenbrunn Palace, the summer palace for the Habsburg Imperial Family, one of the greatest palaces in the world.

Round Vienna

Upon arriving in Vienna, we took a ride on the Ferris Wheel after taking a look at Donaukanal.

Leaving Salzburg

As we slowly move in the direction of the train station, we take one last look at Salzburg.

Life in Salzburg

After a whirlwind weekend of travel, we hung out in Salzburg for 2 days.

Augustiner Keller

Enroute from Füssen back to Salzburg, there just happened to be a Biergarten right next door to our connecting train-station in Munich.

Neuschwanstein

After visiting Hohenschwangau we visited Neuschwanstein.

Hohenschwangau

On Monday we made a (long) day-trip from Salzburg to Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau.

Festung Hohensalzburg

We visited Hohensalzburg Fortress where the courtyard was filled with live holiday brass music.

Salzburger Dom

Salzburg Cathedral is in the very center of AltStadt, and very Baroque.

Deutsches Museum

On Saturday we made a day-trip from Salzburg to Munich and saw Deutsches Museum and a Soccer game.

Traveling to Salzburg

We traveled to Salzburg via Chicago and Vienna.