Showing posts with label landscape photography. Show all posts
Showing posts with label landscape photography. Show all posts

11.01.2020

planning a cross-country road trip

 


I reported the news in my last post that we are moving from Berkeley, CA to Asheville, NC. Claire and I will be driving cross-country, visiting some places both old and new to us along the way. Here's our tentative itinerary. I'd love to hear your suggestions about places to visit or site inspections to make during our journey — message me on Facebook.

Beverly Hills, California — We begin with a drive down the coast to Los Angeles where we'll spend a couple of days with my daughter who lives there — Virtuoso hotels in LA and Beverly Hills.

Sedona, Arizona — Famous for its red rocks, I think I may previously been near Sedona, but I've never spent any time there. I see this as a great opportunity for some landscape photography — Virtuoso hotels in Sedona.

Santa Fe, New Mexico — I actually spent a month here during the summer of 1991. A very interesting small town with wonderful Native American art and culture and great Mexican cuisine — Virtuoso hotels in Santa Fe.

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma — It will be a long slog across the Texas panhandle into Oklahoma, a state I've never before visited. I'm thinking of staying at the 21c Museum Hotel en route.

Little Rock, Arkansas — Another state I've never visited, we're interesting in seeing the Clinton Library. The Capital, the Virtuoso hotel in Little Rock, is apparently closed for renovations, so we'll stay at the DoubleTree.

Nashville, Tennessee — I've never been to Nashville, the home of the Grand Ole Opry. We may stay at one of the Virtuoso hotels in Nashville or possibly The Joseph, a Luxury Collection property.

Asheville, North Carolina — Our new home in this beautiful city surrounded by mountains, Asheville has been called the Berkeley of the East. 

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10.22.2019

Sydney Opera House | take the tour

Sydney Opera House at dawn (c) 2019 by David Ourisman, all rights reserved

Sydney's Opera House is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that dominates the skyline of Sydney's harbour. Our Deluxe Harbour room at the Park Hyatt Sydney (# 343) directly faced this landmark, and we were able to enjoy this sight whenever we were in the room.

If you're into landscape photography, you'll want to venture outside your room to get shots like the one above. I set up my tripod about a half hour before sunrise. The morning was still and clear, and the surface of the harbor was smooth and reflective.

during our Opera House tour (c) 2019 by David Ourisman, all rights reserved

You can get tickets for a tour of the Opera House. The number of visitors in each group is limited, so book online to get the day and time you want ... and a 10% discount. Tours last about one hour and run daily between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Our very interesting guide told the story of the competition that led to the building's unique design and the challenges encountered in actually building it.

Great opera house views can also be found from guest rooms at the Four Seasons Sydney and Shangri-La Sydney, and you can enjoy significant savings (complimentary breakfasts and hotel credits) by booking through a Hyatt Prive, Four Seasons Preferred Partner, or Shangri-La Luxury Circle travel advisor.