Blues, Grays, and Viewfinders


Sketching on the bow of our cruise ship at 0700 in the morning I was attempting to capture what was a magnificent panorama. Sweeping vistas dazzle our sight and motivate us to grab our sketchpads. Yet these same landscapes are some of the trickiest to capture. Over the years I have spent hours on them…

Cruise Dining, Part II


We have four days left on our third cruise. This time it is on the Norwegian Star from Tromsø ending up in Iceland by way of Longyearbyen, the northernmost inhabited village. The Star had a few of the same restaurants we saw on the other ships – an Irish Pub, Le Bistro, La Cucina, and…

The Top of Europe, 71 Degrees North


On our last morning in Tromsø I had coffee again at Kaffebønna Stortorget. The Hermes II is moored just a across the street, so a sketch seemed natural. It took me back to summer days a couple years ago when I was sketching at the Center for Wooden Boats in Seattle. Then at 12H00 we…

Chartres – Cathedral a 10, Food ??


On Thursday we took the two-and-a-half-hour drive to Chartres. It is a big, modern, and clean city; quite nice. After lunch we went straight to the Cathedral, the city’s main attraction for most visitors thanks to its historical importance. It has some of the best Gothic construction ever, according to those who know such things….

La Rochelle, Not New Rochelle


La Rochelle is located in Nouvelle-Aquitaine on the Atlantic coast, about a four hour drive southwest of us. Though rich in history and reputation, thanks to the Dick van Dyke Show, my enthusiasm did not match Tricia’s though I never said anything. Every time she would mention going there, reminding me of the city’s frequent…