Enjoying Festive Christmas Trees During Our Travels

It is quite common to find a festive Christmas tree lit up in the center of town for everyone to enjoy. Sometimes they are located inside of the local church or even in the lobby of the hotels. We have seen many different trees in various countries and cities, all uniquely different. We certainly couldn’t choose a favorite since each is special in its own way. Here are a few of our favorite trees that we have seen throughout our travels.

Christmas Tree in the Old Town Square of Prague
Christmas Tree in Frankfurt, Germany
Christmas Tree in Brasov, Romania
Christmas Tree in Denver from 2019
Christmastime in Strasbourg, France
Christmas Tree on a Restaurant Wall in Strasbourg
Christmas Tree in Las Vegas
Fountain and Christmas Decorations in Punta Cana

The Tradition of Arches as Monuments

Manmade arches have been used to commemorate both people as well as historical events all throughout history. Many of them draw tourists to see their grandeur, architecture, and beauty in cities around the world. One of the most famous, of course, is the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, but there are many others as well. If you visit the Colosseum in Rome, you will find the Arch of Constantine with its three arches. One of the more interesting arches that we’ve seen was Patuxai (Victory Gate) in Vientiane, Laos. All of them are truly fascinating to see and to understand the history that they memorialize.

Washington Square Arch in New York City
Patuxai in Vientiane
Arch of Constantine in Rome
Entrance to Hoa Lu in the Ninh Binh Province of Vietnam
The Arc de Triomphe in Paris on a Rainy Day

Not a Cloud in the Sky

Although clouds often enhance sunrises and sunsets, there is something about a crystal clear blue sky that is quite amazing. If the weather isn’t too hot, we really enjoy going on a hike when the skies are perfectly clear. Taking photographs when the blue sky silhouettes the objects in the foreground often really makes those objects stand out even more. Obviously you can’t just order up a clear sky when you want it, so when it happens it is certainly a wonderful treat. Here are just a few photographs of clear skies not just from hiking, but from places that we’ve visited as well.

Beautiful Arch and Blue Skies in Utah
Clear Blue Sky Behind the Statue in Laos
Clear Blue Sky Behind Pine Trees
Red Rock Framed by the Sky
Seagulls Filling the Sky