Istanbul: Eyup Cemetery

After leaving the cafe we walked down through a cemetery built on the hill. It was lush and peaceful - and peace is sometimes hard to find in a city as big and busy as Istanbul.

Some of the plots and monuments were incredibly old. We learned that during a certain period, the design at the top of the monument indicated the career or background of the person who was buried.

I was touched by the site of this man carrying water up to water the plants on the plot he was maintaining. I couldn't help but think of the love it takes to keep the plant life on the plots thriving in the hot Istanbul summers.

We eventually made our way to the base of the hill where the mosque was located. 

As I wrote this post I was listening to Jason Lytle's "Somewhere There's a Someone" and I couldn't help but think of the many carrying the water up the hill. Pin It

Istanbul: Pierre Loti Cafe

One lazy Saturday I made my way to the top of Eyup, a neighborhood in Istanbul, to the famous Pierre Loti Cafe. It was the perfect place to snap a few photos and enjoy a bit of fresh air.

I dream of having a kitchen with tile work like this in it someday. Isn't it amazing?

The perfect setting to spend a few hours visiting with friends or reading a book. The best part was, of course, the people watching. This cafe didn't seem to be a big tourist hang-out which is a big plus in my book (even if I am essentially a tourist!)

The very best part was the view of the Golden Horn - amazing!

The hours spent here were so relaxing - a bit like this Crooked Fingers song "Heavy Hours."

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Head Full of Doubt

The Avett Brothers - Head Full of Doubt Pin It

Zion National Park: Down the Path

We didn't have a ton of time to go hiking during this visit to Zion, so we just took a few of the shorter, easier trails, but even that much was amazing and made me more and more eager to spend more time in Southern Utah so I can make hiking in Zion a more regular part of my life.

My dad, taking the lead.

It was early spring when we visited and so all the paths were on the muddy side.

This set of trails leads to the end of the narrows, making it more of the more popular.

I set off down the main trail, hoping to get somewhat close to the narrows, but it was still early enough in the season that the trail was closed - just a reason to get back again soon.

I think this Colin Devlin song is so moody and rich: What Good is Love.


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Zion National Park: Nature's Art

Zion's National Park must be one of the world's most photographed places, I know I couldn't stop snapping while I was there. From the majestic cliffs to the individual layers and swirls you could see in the rocks when you got up close, every bit of is was fascinating.

Visiting Zion's always makes me wish I'd paid more attention in my science classes so I would better understand how the canyons and layers were formed and worn down over the years.

Have you fallen in love with Of Monsters and Men yet? I have, here's their Mountain Sound. What do you think?

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Freckles

Natasha Bedingfield - Freckles
This lyric is in honor of my niece - who turns five this weekend. She loves her freckles and we love her. Pin It

Zion National Park: Skyline

There are some cities that can be recognized in an instant thanks to their unique (and beautiful) skylines. New York, Paris, London, Hong Kong, etc. These man-made skylines tell us where we are and about the history of the city. The skyline in Zion National Park is equally unique. This nature made skyline has been refined over millions of year and in the layers and jags of the cliffs you can see the history of this beautiful and fascinating place.

Walking through the park makes me feel so free, Zac Brown Band's Uncaged gives me a taste of that same feeling.

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Zion National Park: Sunrise

I'm in London for an event you might have heard about somewhere on the news....Because I plan to experience as much of the Games as I can, I've scheduled some posts to keep this little blog of mine going while I'm gone (and to help me catch up with my never ending backlog of photos taken on other trips.) If you want to keep up with me in real time, and see a few of my London photos, catch me on Instagram @jamieshaw_lj.

This spring my parents and I spent the day in Zion National Park, one of the most beautiful places on earth. We got there early enough to catch the sun rising over the mountains. My parents patiently waited while I attempted to capture the sun flares the rising sun was sending up over the red cliffs.







For some reason Flo Rida and Sia have been stuck in my head for days, maybe sharing Wild Ones here will help me get it out of my head. Pin It

Everybody Needs Love

Drive-by Truckers - Everybody Needs Love Pin It

Lausanne Botanical Garden

I'm getting very near the end of my fall photos of Lausanne - this last set was taken in the Botanical Garden. I loved that it was wild and a little less manicured. I also loved, that because it was a cool day, it was nearly deserted.

Do you remember Savage Garden, a one-, or is it two-hit wonder from back in the day? I wonder what ever happened to them. Here's their: I Knew I Loved You.

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