Crete

Time flies, and summer seems like a far-away memory.  To bring it back, here are some of the pictures I took this July on the picturesque island of Crete. Amid the charming old buildings, quaint cafes, and panoramic bays, what struck me was signs of the hardship and poverty the Greek economic meltdown brought to this lovely island. Graffiti abounds, many of the buildings are in disrepair, and there are boarded up storefronts everywhere. Don't get me wrong: Crete is still beautiful and vibrant. We had a great time exploring the market, tasting some wonderful Greek food and wandering the narrow streets. I do hope there will soon be renewed prosperity for this pretty island in the Mediterranean Sea. 

Colorful doors and buildings

A New-Old Hawaiian Home

Lucky me, I get to visit broker's open houses on many a Thursday, because of my friend and realtor extraordinaire, Debbie. Here are some photos I took at a lovely Kailua home. This home is brand new, but its layout and feel is very "old Hawaii". It is spacious without being pretentious, open to the cooling winds and has a lovely canal-front setting. Check it out if you have a chance. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy my photos.

Owls Everywhere

Do you like owls?  It seems to me that they are popping up everywhere lately.  Here are a few of my owl inspirations:

I got this adorable owl ornament in Santa Fe

Santa Fe

Here are some of the photos from my recent visit to Santa Fe. A picturesque town with many galleries, shops and spas.

Misty day on the Big Island

Last week we hopped over to the Big Island of Hawai'i for a couple of days. One of the places we visited is the Mountain Thunder Coffee Company, in the hills above Kona town. It was a wet and cloudy day, and I enjoyed taking these photos of their picturesque property deep in the rain forest.