travel

Postcards from Colorado

April 2000

Rocky Mountain National Park. Sky Pond and Taylor Glacier. Colorado hikers on the Loch Vale Trail are awarded close up view of Taylor Glacier reflected in the frigid waters of Sky Pond. Photographer – Ron Mauer

Bear Lake, Long’s Peak in background. An easy drive and a vacation wonderland to remember.

Bear Lake in Early Fall, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

The golden Fall color of mountain aspen highlights the ever changing beauty of Bear Lake, nestled beneath 14,255 foot high Long’s Peak.

View of the Gore Range, Vail, Colorado

Mt. Ypsilon (13,307 ft.) and Mummy Range as seen from the High Drive in Rocky Mountain National Park.

Ypsilon from Trail Ridge Road, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

Pillars of Hercules – illuminated at night in South Cheyenne Canyon, Colorado Springs, Colorado. The roadway to Seven Falls passes between these gigantic rocks, and they as well as the entire canyon and the falls themselves, are lighted at night during the summer season.

The Stanley Hotel, Estes Park, Colorado

Broadmoor Hotel mirrored in the lake, Colorado Springs, Colorado. Internationally famed resort hotel with every recreational activity imaginable.

View from Trail Ridge road, a few miles below Timberline, looking toward the ever snowy Mt Ypsilon, with Y-snow formation. (Estes Park, Colo. Vicinity) Photo by Ted and Lois Matthews

San Francisco, California

We flew from Christchurch to Auckland to San Francisco on Air New Zealand. It was a comfortable flight but miserable. Very long and I can’t sleep on airplanes. I got this amazing shot out the window. My friend told me the glass was tinted to that kind of burst my bubble.

I spent a few days in San Francisco mainly going to art museums and hanging out with friends.

We took the ferry to Angel Island. We were hoping to go the Immigration Station museum but they had just changed their hours so we got there too late. Next time. It was a beautiful day and we enjoyed it anyway.

Lyttelton and the Akaroa Peninsula

Lyttelton is a port just east of Christchurch. At the top of the hill above town is a timeball constructed in 1876, and now is a registered heritage site. A time ball is a large painted wooden or metal ball that drops at a predetermined time, to enable sailors to check their marine chronometers from their boats offshore. 

A friend of mine lives in Lyttelton and she took us on a day trip through Akaroa Peninsula. Amazingly beautiful. Along the way we came upon a Maori village.

Christchurch, New Zealand

Christchurch is a lovely town full of parks and public art. We spent several days wandering around. There was a major earthquake in 2011 that destroyed many buildings. You can still see evidence of the damage today. Some buildings are still under restoration.

There is a memorial along the river to remember those who died in the earthquake.

Around town…

Postcards from Nigeria
Postcard: Yoruba Coronation Cloth (detail) – Nigeria. To benefit UNICEF.

Igu Mask, Nigeria

Paris, March 1973
We are on our way to Amsterdam. I’ll take KLM to Chicago, Bill to Frankfort and Lagos. The Paris weather has been cold but clear and sunny – lovely. I walked miles to know Paris a little better. Had lunch with Zina yesterday – she says Lisa is very unhappy here – she’s going to US for Easter. Do keep warm, for that helps to recover and prevent colds. 
Love to you, Mom

1985. NIGERIA
The most populous single African nation on the continent of Africa, lies on the west coast and has a rich tradition and culture closely connected with her religious beliefs and the rites and practices relating to them. Traditional religion has given the people a heritage of culture and tradition which is still noticeable despite later influence by Isalm and Christianity. The agriculture, music, art, craft, language and economies of the country still bear traces of this influence.

Ibadan, Nigeria

Premier Hotel, Ibadan, Nigeria

Tinubu Square and Central Lagos

December 1973
T & J got here about 4 hours late but happy and not too tired. We are gradually hearing about their trip to Europe, their life in Australia. 
You can see Bill’s office at the top right of the photo.
Hope you are well, Love, Dede

East Coast of New Zealand

We had planned an overnight at Mt Cook or Aoraki but the road was closed so we stayed an extra night in Dunedin and made an early start the next day. On our way to Christchurch we stopped in a couple of small towns.

At Lake Pukaki we could make out Aoraki in the distance. Aoraki can be translated as “cloud piercer”, an apt name as it is usually hidden by clouds.

Mt Cook

We had lunch at Lake Tekapo and then crossed the plains into Christchurch.

It’s a mural!

Dunedin, New Zealand

Drove through several small towns on our way to Dunedin on the east coast.

Baldwin Street in Dunedin claims to be the steepest residential street in the world; it reportedly averages 1:3.41 (16.33° or 29.3%) for 161 meters but its maximum is claimed to be 35% for an unknown distance. My friend in Auckland said that when she was at University people would ride down it in trash bins. Apparently somebody got killed doing that so it is discouraged.

The train station is lovely.

Dunedin is home to the only dental school in New Zealand. It is commemorated by molar statues by the sea.

The road to Mt Cook was closed so we ended up staying an extra day in Dunedin. We were then scheduled to go on a boat excursion to see some wildlife but that too was cancelled due to bad weather. We did spend a lovely afternoon at Larnach Castle at the end of the Otago Peninsula. The castle was built by William Larnach and completed in 1874. Larnach had several personal and professional setbacks including the loss of his first wife in 1880, his second wife in 1887, and his favorite daughter in 1891. In 1898, he shot himself with a revolver. The property has changed hands several times since then and is now open to the public.