Tumbleweeds
Bits of Inspiration
Photos taken by me. Click on the snapshots in the gallery to read about the captured memories.

Visiting the exquisite Taj Mahal--the top item on my bucket list checked off! As they say--it's love immortalized in marble (2023)

The moonboats scattered along the shores along the Bay of Bengal (2023)

Portland Head Lighthouse in Cape Elizabeth captured during an autumn sunset (2020)

Enjoying the coastal life at the very western point of Africa (2017)

The very heart of the country, Australia's beating heart, is an expansive red-earthed desert that has been important to many Aboriginal peoples (2025).

Amazed by the little giants--the baby elephants-- at the David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage, which strives to care for those who have lost their parents to poaching (2017)

Icebergs refracting blue light in the frigid waters surrounding the great white continent (2024)

Shoppers' paradise--touring the world famous souks of Morocco, where countless stalls selling jewelry, textiles, pottery, leather goods, and so much more! Be prepared to haggle! (2008)

Paradise on earth--enjoying the island life on the eastern shore where the Indian Ocean's waves crash into the white sandy coast (2018)

Machu Picchu off the bucket list! (2024)

A summer study program at the university with an elective course on British architectural history--in awe at the 12th century church of St. Peter at Kettle's Yard (2005)

Visiting a Buddhist monastery right outside of the city (2023)

Just a 20 minute boat ride out of the capital and you find yourself on this exotic (and quite deserted) island where the waters are a mesmerizing aquamarine (2017)

"Little Hagia Sofia," a scaled-down version of the famous Byzantine era church-turned mosque just a few blocks away (2013)

Church of the Society of Jesus at the city's historic center or Plaza de Armas (2024)

A beautiful stretch of sandy beach after a climb up rocky El Morro mountain! From the highest points, you can see Haiti! (2007)

In awe touring the third largest mosque in the world--the craftsmanship and artistry are a testament to Morocco's beautiful contributions to Islamic art (2012)

The best tasting food is the food you've grown on your own! The carrots grown on the farm here in rural South Africa were the best I've definitely tasted (2006)

From any angle, the infamous Opera House of Sydney is breathtaking. The harbor in which it sits is a bustling thoroughfare for ferries and boats and is a popular spot for tourists and locals alike (2025).

Ornate door at the city palace of Jaipur (2023)

View of the Sun Pyramid from a hot air balloon (2022)

Scenic view of historic Cairo from one of the minarets of the Al Azhar Mosque (2010)

Breath-taking aerial view of Rio's most notable landmark and prized jewel of its cityscape, the statue of Christ the Redeemer (2019)

My second summer restoring historic monuments in the French countryside--the volunteers slept in tents under the stars, temporarily living where we worked! (2005)

A tropical getaway, dipping into the warm waters of the Atlantic and after... savoring Senegal's famous rice and fish dishes (2017)

Gauchos at an estancia outside of Buenos Aires keep old traditions alive, demonstrating to visitors the key place of ranch life in Argentine culture (2019)

Upon arrival to the entrance, I was persuaded by a young local to take one of his horses to tour the sites. On horseback and under the year's most searing heat, I went across the steep and rocky terrain to the gem of Jordan. (2015)

Right in my own backyard--the walking trail in balmy south Florida, which I am proud to call home (2016)

Coexisting with the bustling and modern metropolis of Nairobi are the national parks where these amazing creatures live... seeing them up close was quite a treat! (2017)

Addis is incredibly rich in culture... the orthodox churches are just one of the many powerful symbols of this East African country (2017)

Centerpiece of the town center's landscape , competing with the sky-high palms as it towers above the adjacent famed marketplace (2008)

Twilight hangs over Metropolitan Cathedral at the Zócalo, Mexico City's historic center (2022)

The infamous giant status of Genghis Khan (2023)

A unique experience of soaring above breathtaking views of intriguing rock formations and rough terrains of central Turkey (2013)

Strolling on the esplanade of Lac Leman in Geneva-taking a break from our summer study program to take in the stunning city and nestled between mountains and lakes (2010)

A colony of penguins--after surviving a crossing of the Drake Passage, ice, ice everywhere... and penguins almost as plentiful! (2024)

Just close your eyes, and you can imagine a Spain of long ago, or al-Andalus, as the region was called, in the times of the 'convivencia' when Muslims, Christians, and Jews lived peacefully side by side (2012)

Touring the orthodox churches of the very eastern part of Romania while visiting for a dear friend's wedding (2013)

Aerial view by helicopter of the Praia de Ipanema on the south coast of Rio (2019)

UNESCO World Heritage Site in Uttar Pradesh, a wonder of Mughal architecture built by Emperor Akbar in the late 1500s (2023)
