travel – Page 4 – Joe Alexander

Notre Dame of Paris back in the day

Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris in 2000. - photo by Joe Alexander — Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris in 2000. – photo by Joe Alexander

I was fortunate enough to visit Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris about 20 years before the fire of April 15, 2019.

In the first photo you can see the famous spire that collapsed in the fire.

It was wonderful to watch on TV earlier this week as Notre Dame reopened to the public.

Joan of Arc statue in Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris in 2000. - photo by Joe Alexander — Joan of Arc statue

Pieta sculpture in Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris in 2000. - photo by Joe Alexander — Pieta inside Notre Dame

Charlemagne and His Guards statue outside Pieta sculpture in Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris in 2000. - photo by Joe Alexander — Charlemagne and His Guards statue

You can see the famous spire atop Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris in 2000. - photo by Joe Alexander — You can see the famous spire atop Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris in 2000.

Remembering a stroll through Paris

The Eiffel Tower around sunset in Paris, France in spring 2000. - photo by Joe Alexander — The Eiffel Tower around sunset in Paris, France in spring 2000. – photo by Joe Alexander

I spent almost a week walking the streets of Paris in the spring of 2000.

The weather was mostly cloudy and sometimes rainy – not unusual for that time of year in Europe.

Although it is easy to get around via the Metro (subway), Paris is a great city to see on foot.

The Eiffel Tower in Paris, France in spring 2000. - photo by Joe Alexander — Eiffel Tower in Paris

Louis XIII in Paris, France in spring 2000. - photo by Joe Alexander — Louis XIII in Paris

The River Seine in Paris, France in spring 2000. - photo by Joe Alexander — River Seine in Paris

July Column at Place de la Bastille in Paris, France in spring 2000. - photo by Joe Alexander — July Column at Place de la Bastille

Pont Alexandre III in Paris, France in spring 2000. - photo by Joe Alexander — Pont Alexandre III in Paris

Fountain at St. Sulpice in Paris, France in spring 2000. - photo by Joe Alexander — Fountain at St. Sulpice

St. Sulpice in Paris, France in spring 2000. - photo by Joe Alexander — St. Sulpice in Paris

Paris, France in spring 2000. - photo by Joe Alexander — Paris, France

Hotel des Invalides in Paris, France in spring 2000. - photo by Joe Alexander — Hotel des Invalides

Louvre in Paris, France in spring 2000. - photo by Joe Alexander — Louvre in Paris

Jardin du Luxembourg in Paris, France in spring 2000. - photo by Joe Alexander — Jardin du Luxembourg

Arc De Triomphe in Paris, France in spring 2000. - photo by Joe Alexander — Arc De Triomphe

New Jersey Shore: Atlantic City, Stone Harbor, Wildwood

Atlantic City, New Jersey in late September 2024. - photo by Joe Alexander — Atlantic City, New Jersey in late September 2024. – photo by Joe Alexander

Long before the beaches of New Jersey hosted reality TV, my family used head this way for summer vacations.

I made it back in late September. It was well past tourist season, especially on a weekday, but it was still warm enough for some enjoyable walks on the sand and boardwalks.

Stone Harbor, New Jersey in late September 2024. - photo by Joe Alexander — Stone Harbor, New Jersey

Wildwood, New Jersey in late September 2024. - photo by Joe Alexander — Wildwood, New Jersey

Memorials and public art in Atlantic City, New Jersey

9-11 Memorial near the Boardwalk in Atlantic City, N.J., in September 2024. It honors first responders lost at the World Trade Center in New York. - photo by Joe Alexander — 9-11 Memorial near the Boardwalk in Atlantic City, N.J., in September 2024. It honors first responders lost at the World Trade Center in New York. – photo by Joe Alexander

There are a number of murals and other public art near the Boardwalk in Atlantic City, N.J.

The New Jersey Korean War Memorial and 9-11 Memorial are also just steps from the Boardwalk.

Mural near the Boardwalk in Atlantic City, N.J., in September 2024. - photo by Joe Alexander — Atlantic City mural

Bench on the Boardwalk in Atlantic City, N.J., in September 2024. - photo by Joe Alexander — Atlantic City bench

Korean War Memorial near the Boardwalk in Atlantic City, N.J., in September 2024. - photo by Joe Alexander — Korean War Memorial

Dissent is Patriotic mural in Atlantic City

Dissent is Patriotic mural near the boardwalk in Atlantic City in late September 2024. - photo by Joe Alexander — Dissent is Patriotic mural near the boardwalk in Atlantic City in late September 2024. – photo by Joe Alexander

This is my favorite mural of those I found near the boardwalk in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

“Dissent is Patriotic” is even more colorful if you get to see it when the sun is shining on it. I just happened to be passing through on a cloudy day in late September.

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Sunset at Canadarago Lake in New York

A late September sunset on the banks of Canadarago Lake in New York State. - photo by Joe Alexander — A late September sunset on the banks of Canadarago Lake in New York State. – photo by Joe Alexander

I spent a quiet evening in the back yard of an inn on the east side of Canadarago Lake near Richfield Springs, New York.

The lake is not far from Cooperstown and about halfway between Albany and Syracuse – but off the beaten path of the interstate system.

It was the last weekend of September and was still warm enough to enjoy the sunset without needing a jacket.

Fall foliage begins changing colors in Poconos

Trees beginning to change colors along Interstate 81 in the Pocono Mountains in Pennsylvania in late September 2024. - photo by Joe Alexander — Trees beginning to change colors along Interstate 81 in the Pocono Mountains in Pennsylvania in late September 2024. – photo by Joe Alexander

Some of the trees in the Pocono Mountains in northeastern Pennsylvania were beginning to change colors as I drove through on Interstate 81 last weekend.

The weather hadn’t turned cold yet but it looked like autumn with drizzly rain and fog.

Peak time to see fall colors is probably another week away at the higher elevations and later in October in other parts of northern Pennsylvania and southern New York State.

Colorado Day 7: State Capitol in downtown Denver and Art District on Santa Fe

Colorado State Capitol in downtown Denver. - photo by Joe Alexander — Colorado State Capitol in downtown Denver. The statue of the bison and Native American was done by Preston Powers in the 1890s. – photo by Joe Alexander

The Colorado State Capitol, Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception and Civic Center Park are all in close proximity in downtown Denver.

Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in downtown Denver. - photo by Joe Alexander — Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception

Civic Center Park in downtown Denver. - photo by Joe Alexander — Civic Center Park

The best known mural in the Art District on Santa Fe is Love This City Denver by Pat Milbery. There’s plenty more art around just about every corner of this neighborhood.

Mural in the Art District on Santa Fe in downtown Denver, Colorado. - photo by Joe Alexander — Art District on Santa Fe

Love This City Denver mural by Pat Milbery on Art District on Santa Fe in downtown Denver, Colorado. The colors of the mural will look much brighter if you catch it on a sunny afternoon. - photo by Joe Alexander — Love This City Denver mural by Pat Milbery on Art District on Santa Fe in downtown Denver, Colorado. The colors of the mural will look much brighter if you catch it on a sunny afternoon. I just happened to be in the neighborhood in the morning when it was in the shade.

Colorado Day 6: Garden of the Gods and Rocky Mountain Lake Park

Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs in late August 2024. - photo by Joe Alexander — Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs in late August 2024. – photo by Joe Alexander

I’ve been to the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs a few times before and I was looking forward to going back. Showing up late in the morning on one of the last weekends of summer vacation, however, killed any chance I had for much room to myself. Both parking and views that were free of other tourists were hard to come by. I found a parking space in one of the more isolated lots, that was still almost full, and I hiked in far enough to get a few pictures.

From there, it was north to Denver. I was pleased to find a nice little park with a small lake (or very large pond) near my hotel on the north side of Denver. Other that a healthy throng gathered at a softball field and a few joggers, I had Rocky Mountain Lake Park mostly to myself. With a noticeable lack of humidity on a warm afternoon, I got in a good walk without breaking a sweat.