Welcome to a Room with a View

Mr. Hunter would like to share with you a bit of the bliss

that comes from waking up in in Florence, Italy.

How you pad across the darkened room, 

how you reach up to unlatch the heavy white interior shutters,

and there, just outside your window,

the glory of your particular view.

The sun is rising over the bell towers, over the red rooftops of Florence.

You are on holiday here. You have the chance to ask yourself:

How shall I spend this delicious day?

Buongiorno!

                        

Here's a longer look at the morning view,

this time featuring a hint of the Duomo and the Palazzo Vecchio

and, ah, the chiming church bells!

Florence, Italy

October 2016

Flying to the Bahamas

Mr. Hunter and family recently braved the heat and humidity of July in the Bahamas.  Here's Mr. Hunter admiring the view on the flight out to New Providence Island.

We'd been flying for awhile when we saw this island.
It could be Bimini.

Here's some video of when we were flying over the northeastern section of Andros Island.  I love the blues and blue-greens.

We were on a prop plane,
and the camera gave the propellers a notable look.

flying over the Atlantic Ocean

The Bahamas

July 2012

Hail Mr. Hunter!

Mr. Hunter loves the rain, so his representative, Flat Mr. Hunter, was excited one afternoon last May when it unexpectedly started hailing.  

Since he's laminated, Flat Mr. H had no problem lying down and enjoying a lovely spring shower.

Here he is, showering...

May 2011

The Red Umbrella

Have you ever seen those interactive ads for Travelers Insurance that are projected on the walls at some airports?  We've seen them at Bradley Airport in Hartford and at the Minneapolis Airport.  

Mr. Hunter finally asked if he could get in on the action and set some of the umbrellas in motion.

The umbrella, waiting.

See for yourself...

The little red umbrellas are on the move.

Bradley International Airport

Hartford, Connecticut

September 2011

Shelburne Falls

Mr. Hunter has been concerned to read news of the floods caused by Hurricane Irene, including floods that affected a favorite spot of his: Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts, home of the Bridge of Flowers and the glacial potholes.

Mr. Hunter admires the glacial potholes
in quieter times on the Deerfield River.

Video of the flooding where the glacial potholes are usually visible:

What the glacial potholes usually look like.

This next video shows the Ann Brauer quilt studio being swept down the Deerfield River.  Sheesh.

What the Bridge of Flowers looked like in 2005.

Another view of the Bridge of Flowers, from September 2008.

And this is what you could see of the Bridge of Flowers after Hurricane Irene came through:

Mr. Hunter loves the Bridge of Flowers.

New England--and other places affected by Hurricane Irene--

we are thinking of you!

Bridge of Flowers and the Glacial Potholes

Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts

September 2008

The Cotopaxi Climb

After two doses of coca tea and various breaks to get our bodies accustomed to the altitude, we finally made it up to the snow line on Cotopaxi.  From there, we got out of the car and started our climb.  

Here comes the snow!

Our guide told us to carry as little as possible (though our water bottles were a must), so we grabbed our cameras, and I tucked Mr. Hunter into my jacket pocket.  He emerged for a couple of poses, even thought the cold and the wind and the sleet and the snow made taking pictures a bit of a challenge.  Those of us who'd had the tea avoided altitude sickness, but the climb was still strenuous, and we all got quite a soaking.

Standing together at 15,456 feet

GPS proof

Out of the car and ready to start the climb.

Early on in the climb

A snippet of the weather at 15,500 feet:

Brrr!

15,546 feet up Cotopaxi Volcano

(which rises 19,347 ft)

Cotopaxi National Park

Ecuador

June 2011

Mr. Hunter Recommends: Mirador Rio Blanco

On our first day in mainland Ecuador, our tour guide drove us to a restaurant in Los Bancos.  It was pretty late in the day, and we were hungry after our ziplining adventure in Mindo.  We walked into the dim restaurant and realized that it had a deck out in back that overlooked this stunning river valley.  

The river, I believe, is called Rio Blanco.

When we first stepped out onto the deck,
the valley was shrouded in mist.

The view of the valley was wondrous enough, but what really made Mirador Rio Blanco a favorite stop on our trip was the birds.  Out on the deck, there was a hummingbird feeder that attracted many varieties of hummers, including (of course) many we had never seen before.  I spent a lot of time lingering nearby and snapping pictures.  By the time our late lunch was finished, I found that the hummers had grown a little more accustomed to my presence, so that I could get closer.

Video of the bird feeder action:

                      

The hummingbird feeder was only one part of the birding magnificence at Mirador Rio Blanco.  Just outside the windows alongside our table inside the restaurant, there was a row of trees with pieces of bananas nailed to the the branches.  Throughout our (delicious) meal, we could turn and watch tanagers, woodpeckers, and more as they stopped to dine.  

I got so excited when I realized that this Thick-billed Euphonia
was not just black and yellow but also BLUE.

And then a Pale Mandibled Aracari arrived!
We hadn't even dreamed we might see a toucan.

Video of the banana bar action just outside the window as we ate.

The pale blue birds are Blue-gray tanagers.

Here's a video of the view from Mirdaor Rio Blanco's deck.  

It's a spot I will always revisit in my mind.

                      

If you find yourself in Ecuador, Mr. Hunter and I hope you have a chance to spend a bit of time at Mirador Rio Blanco!

Hostal Restaurante Mirador Rio Blanco

Los Bancos, Pichincha

Ecuador

June 2011

The Bernini Fountain

Don't let my tired expression fool you: I really liked this Bernini fountain in St. Peter's Square.

Mr.  Hunter liked it, too.

Here's a peek of the fountain in action, accompanied by the bells of St. Peter's Cathedral.

St. Peter's Square
Vatican City
June 2008

Dwarfed (but not slimed) by a gigantic pooch

On Main Street in Park City, Utah, there's a store called Love Your Pet. 

They sell special pet food, pet accessories, and even paintings and sculptures of dogs.

But the store is also home to several giant Newfoundland dogs.

Here's one sniffing Mr. Hunter now...

At one point some teenage boys came into the store.  Teenager-like, they were interested in the Newfies but also trying to play it cool, more unimpressed than engaged.  That is, until one of the dogs decided to shake itself and sent drool spraying all over the guys.  A total "I've been slimed" moment!  Then the boys laughed hysterically and at the same time let out a collective, "Ewwww!!"

  

Here they are reacting to the slime attack.  The dog who perpetrated the slime is just standing there looking ever so innocent.

And here's another photo of the Newfies, just to give you a sense of just how enormous they were.

Park City, Utah

May 2009