Sending a little color in the winter

A diverse group of plants live in Hawaii.  Like the visitors and fauna, many are non-native.  Regardless, they can still brighten a winter day.  These plants were growing in the Old Airport park nature trail in Kona.

This plant is named the Seashell Devil's Backbone.  It is in the genus Euphorbia and native to subtropical North America and Central America.

Bougainvillea are frequently used in landscape plantings here.  They come in a variety of colors and are native to South America.

Plumeria (aka frangipani) is native to South America.  Their flowers are fragrant, and the plants always amaze me when they bloom abundantly before their leaves come out.

Cacti were also blooming today.  I think this is a prickly pear cactus, native to the Americas.

Aloha until next time.

Music in Kona

We have been here less than 2 weeks and already seen two concerts. 

The first was an open-air classical performance by the Chamber Orchestra of Kona. 

The second was and indoor jazz performance at the Aloha theater headlined by the Bill Noble Jazz Ensemble. 

The classical conductor (from a week ago) played trumpet in the jazz ensemble.

The ensemble had a great singer, Pamela Umaili.

Part of the opening act (Black Moon) showcased the future of music in Hawaii with 9-yr old London on the guitar.

Another season of Aloha

This morning, I went walking down along the ocean.  At the nearest beach, I saw a fisherman using a cast net to catch some fish.

As I was leaving the beach, I noticed that he had just netted some fish and was bringing his catch to shore.  I asked him if I could take a photo of him and his catch: convict sturgeonfish (Hawaiian name manini.)

It's always nice to see something that I wouldn't encounter on a walk at home.

Warm wishes from Hawaii.

A night at the opera (house)

Last night, we attended a performance of the ballet Sylvia in the Garnier Opera house.  This ballet, music composed by Leo Delibes and choreographed by Manuel Leris, had its premier here at the Palais Garnier in 1876.  The Opera house is a gorgeous building that was built from 1861 to 1875 and reflects the ornate tastes of the times.

Much of the exterior of the building is under restoration and shielded by wrap.  What remains exposed is still lovely.

Inside, the auditorium is beautiful and a little over the top at the same time.  The musically themed ceiling is fairly modern. It was painted by Marc Chagall in 1964.

Chagall's ceiling

We were seated under the Magic Flute (La Flute Enchantee)

Ceiling art

Box seats

Photos are not allowed during the performance, but cameras came out for the curtain call.

Place Igor Stravinsky

Today was a cloudy, wet day in Paris, but there are always plenty of things to see and do, even when it is raining.

Including enjoying the animated fountain structures in the Place Igor Stravinsky.  

Notre Dame in Paris

Today we arrived in Paris via TGV train.  Three pleasant hours of travel that would take us about 8 stressful hours by car.  

Although we have taken many cab rides from the Gare de Lyon station to our hotel, today's was exceptional in that we crossed the Seine twice.  Our hotel and Gare de Lyon are both on the right bank of the river, but the taxi driver's GPS took him across the river twice to get here.  We had a good look at Notre Dame along the way.

After lunch, I went walking back to Ile de la Cite, the island on which Notre Dame is located.  I crossed 4 bridges to access the island, cross to the other side of the Seine, and return.  Here is some what I saw.

I didn't go inside Notre Dame today.  There were really long lines streaming in and out of the church (and time admission tickets are required).

Notre Dame from the west

From the SSW

Still under restoration

From the SW

The Seine, just south of Notre Dame

The Conciergerie, a former palace and courthouse, on the north side of Ile de la Cite

Adieu to Arles

Today is our last full day in Arles.  So I'm sharing a couple of photos from today.

Street art, that translates to "Feel the prose"

A door into une petite jardin

A European goldfinch

My last cup of cafe creme in Arles

J'adore Arles.  À l'année prochaine.