some more Israel

I’m lucky enough to have been to Israel a few times, now. This winter, I went with my grad. school program. I find that each time I go, part of the connection I feel has to do with the land– and I really enjoy exploring more in depth, and paying attention to details that I might otherwise overlook. I also love that even during the winter in Israel flowers bloom (far less dreary weather-wise than the snow and sludge here!).

 

The day before the program started, I made my own walking tour of Jerusalem. It’s such an interesting city– I find the juxtaposition of very old and very new to be so fascinating (the fact that all the buildings there are made of Jerusalem stone really makes it look even older). The windmill is a mark of Yemin Moshe, the first Jewish neighborhood in Jerusalem outside of the old city. It’s so interesting to think of the changed landscape (socially as well as physically). 

 

Montefiori's Windmill

 

dead weed

stemmy plant

Taiwan

 I spent a few weeks in Taiwan in 2004, and was lucky to be able to take a short tour of the country (granted, it is a small country!). I loved how green and mountainous some of the views were. The terrain was thick, lush, and green, and clouds loomed low over the peaks. I didn’t have as much fun at the time, though, especially after trying to walk in that little stream without shoes!

a shrubbery!

I see a lot of really cool, interesting plants while I’m walking around (my dad happens to live right across the street from a bike path, where there are all sorts of plants and trees (er… and garbage)). In this photo, I love the stark difference between the clearly defined foreground, and the beautiful green shapes and colors in the background, and how your eye travels in a lovely curve around the perimeter of the photo.

I am way too excited

 

Tube-thingies

 I keep finding more and more of my favorite pictures as I get ready to transfer all my pictures to my new computer. Here’s some tube-thingy flowers that Leslie and I bought in Minnesota. I really really love flower pictures.