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Category: Travel Photo Essays

Travel tips, photos & travelogues from all over the world.

M is for a Murder Memorial in Texas

Garden of Angels Murder Memorial At their trial, Carolyn Barker was horrified to hear two men not only confess to killing her granddaughter, but remark that they hoped to get famous for the deed. That’s when she decided something is wrong with society’s glorification of murderers, and that it is their victims who should be celebrated and remembered. Barker placed a small white cross in memory of Amy Robinson, her 19-year-old granddaughter, in the area where her body was discovered by police. Soon, other crosses appeared. As of 2013, 102 white crosses stand in memory of Texas murder victims. Different…

L is for Larry McMurtry’s Booked Up

Larry McMurtry’s Booked Up In 1988, Pulitzer Prize winning author Larry McMurtry returned to his hometown of Archer City, Texas with the dream of transforming it into a book-themed town. He even took out ads in literary magazines proclaiming, “Miraculous birth! Visit the newly born book town of Archer City, Texas, and help the endless migration of good books continue.” For those who can’t quite place the name, Larry McMurtry has written dozens of novels, several of which have been turned into movies, including the Oscar-winning “Terms of Endearment” and “Brokeback Mountain.” Even if his name is not familiar, you…

K is for Kaleidoscopic Koi

Japanese Gardens of Fort Worth A few weeks ago, my husband and I popped over to the Fort Worth Botanic Gardens and wandered through our favorite section, the Japanese Gardens. As usual, I went snap-happy, taking lots of photos. The ones I’m sharing here show bright koi fish swimming beneath the swirling reflections of the trees. I found it really hypnotic! Follow me on Instagram & I’ll follow you back! I’ve gone from turning up my nose at the idea of cell phone pictures, to being an avid iPhone photographer, which is why my theme for the 2014 A to…

J is for Jolly St Nick Cacti

Christmas in the Desert My family and I spent last Christmas in the desert. Needless to say, it was not a white Christmas, although the opening lines of that famous Irving Berlin song, did apply: The sun is shining, the grass is green The orange and palm trees sway There’s never been such a day In Beverly Hills, LA But it’s December the 24th And I’m longing to be up north At least, they sort of applied. We were actually in Arizona, and I don’t think any of us were longing for snow or New York. It was tough to…

I is for Indie Interview & Icons

Indie Author Interview & Interesting Icons Rather than describe all the silly stick people in today’s photo essay, I decided to let them speak for themselves. Keeping with the letter I theme, however, I’m posting an interview with indie author Anthony St. Clair in which all the questions begin with the letter I. Win a Free eBook Anthony will also be the guest at #StoryDam chat on Twitter tonight at 8pm EST. I hope you will join us for a fun chat about writing, travel, and beer brewing. Oh – he is also giving a copy of his eBook, Home…

H is for Happy Hour in London

Happy Hour Yes, H is for Happy Hour in London – which, according to the chart in my second photo, appears to be 24/7. Indeed, as I tap the keyboard for this particular A to Z entry, I see that I should be imbibing a “Fancy Smile.” What is the proper cocktail for you at this moment? Hendrick’s Gin I’m not much of a drinker, but I am a sucker for festive, foo-foo beverages. Gimme a tissue paper parasol, a skewer of fruit, or a plastic monkey hanging off my glass, and I’m happy. As a former coffeehouse owner and…