Harvey Travel Arts

Five years ago this month, Brian and I were moving back to Texas from an eight month stay in New Jersey. Five years ago at Christmas, we were told that everything had burned up on the back of the moving truck. What a devastating loss! We were thankful that we were okay, and that we had a roof over our heads (an apartment at the time). However, we were so upset over losing such unique items...military awards, paintings, antiques, things that can not be replaced. The photos shown here are the first year anniversary of that loss. We were blessed with a beautiful garden home in New Braunfels, and we purchased a new tree, decorations, and ornaments that year. From loss to abundance...God will provide. Please remember our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as you celebrate this Christmas season!

On a recent off season trip to the Outer Banks, Brian and I visited Kitty Hawk and the Wright Brothers' Museum. Flying is something most of us take for granted these days. Brian and I fly everywhere. We see an opportunity for travel, and it's only an airport and plane trip away. Years ago, before the Concorde was put to rest, a trip from New York to London took 3 and a half hours. Looking back, it is amazing to think that it took humans thousands of years to fly...or did it? Leornardo Da Vinci's drawings and designs inlcuded gliders. Some speculate that he could have flown a bit, maybe a few feet, with one. Either way, we know it took man a long time to fly. But only sixty years passed from the time the Wright brothers took flight, to the first space trip to the moon. By this time, the world had seen the Golden Age of flying. A beautiful luxury. Today's flights are filled with hours of security, checks, fees, and very little luxury. The routine at the airport is just th...

The D Day memorial in Bedford, Virginia is one of the most creative tributes I've ever seen. Like the Korean War memorial in DC, lifelike statues and surroundings put viewers right in the middle of the action. I was truely able to "flash" in my mind to what those beaches must have been like. The soldier lying on the ground tugged at my heart and made me ever so thankful for those that serve. Out from the water sprays "bullets." The sound it makes fills in the overall picture even more. I can just imagine these two men trudging through the wet sand. The photo on the bottom makes me feel victorious just looking at it. However, some of the men saw no victory. They were much like the man represented at the top, laying down his life for his country.

As I've said before, Brian is the resident photographer about 99% of the time. He has a lot of patience to capture the most artistic light and angles. I remember him taking these photos, and was disappointed when they originally came out too dark. However, playing around with the exposure is a lot of fun and recaptures the original scenes that were before us. The castles we visited were lit from the ground and inside at night, which is why the trees below look so green. That and they're in Ireland, where the grass is just greener . The rain contributes to this, of course. But then we complain about how wet and muddy everything gets. Brian and I like to travel in the off season. For one, it is much cheaper. It is also much less crowded at tourist attractions. However, we deal with the cold wet air. I think in life it's a good reminder you can't have it all!

Above is a cross, one of the symbols of my Christian faith. However, symbols are just that: reminders. In and of themselves, they have no power. The true testimony of a Christian is their relationship with Jesus Christ. He has to be Lord of your life before any change can occur. I think back to Ecclesiastes where we learn that without Christ, our works are meaningless. That sounds very direct, but it is true. We live life on this earth to further His kingdom and His love. Take a different example, the example of religion. Religion being man's way trying to reach God, whereas Christianity is God reaching out to man. The bottom picture shows an ancient burial ground in Ireland. The window to it lets in sunlight only once a year, at the winter solstice. Ironically, there are similar pyramiddic structures in the western hemisphere that also point toward winter and summer solstice. What were men trying to do? Who were they trying to please with their large structures, symbols and precis...

How appropriate that a week and a half before this election, I was browsing through the Art Institute of Chicago. Take a look at American Gothic, above. Artist Grant Wood was certainly trying to charicature various themes from the working American. The hard working, serious family portrayed here that almost seems ironic in today's society. We still have hard working families, but the traditional roles of men and women have been lost. Today's family wouldn't necessarily display a woman standing in a supportive role of her husband. Today's family might have the woman in front with her own pitchfork. I wish there was a healthy balance. As scripture indicates, women are to love and submit to their husbands, but husbands are to love and respect their wives. Both need to work together in their God given roles to provide a loving home for each other and their family. Many would like to toss the pitchfork out of the picture. Without an instrument of hard work in our hands, we...

Last weekend, Brian and I went to Chicago to see, among other things, Frank Lloyd Wrights creations. Despite his personal quirks, he was a brilliant planner when it came to architecture. Unfortunately, we don't have photographs of the inside of the houses we toured, but I can share with you some of the innovative ideas he had. Inside his own house (below, above is the Robie house), he designed a playroom instead of an attic for his children. The family was very musical, and he wanted to install a baby grand piano. However, he didn't like the fact that pianos took up so much valuable space. So, he did what any of us would do. He designed a cubbyhole above the stairwell and cut the legs off the back of the piano to fit and stabilize it above the stairs. The piano is still there today! Architects plan and design structures for the families they will be living in. Sadly enough, both of these Wright structures fell into disrepair for years before being restored. In a simila...

From the top of a double decker bus, we were able to get some incredible views and shots of Madrid. The architecture there is intricate and beautiful, and there is a movement in the city to incorporate traditional facades on modern new constructions, allowing for consistancy. I know that many people see the bus tours as being 'too touristy,' but they allow you to learn a little history. If they are included in a pass, like they were for us, we were able to use them for three days, and they make for a great rest in between all the walking and climbing. Our Madrid card was well worth the money spent, as was a rail pass that took us out of town one day at no extra charge when we needed a break from the hustle and bustle of the large city.

Brian and I just got back from a trip to Madrid. Despite the fact that Brian checked with the Spanish liason for Iberia, we had no idea that October 12 was a national holiday, and that along with that holiday, there would be a parade. Following the parade, there was an unrelated second parade called VivAmerica, which is a festival for Spanish and Central/South American cultures. Both brought out throngs of people. These pictures, taken from the double decker tour bus, are both of the VivAmerica festival. Although the Palace was closed for the entire length of our stay due to this holiday, we found that we were able to creatively find alternative things to do. The morning of the national military parade (hey, there were even US military personnel in it!), we were able to go through the archaelogical museum and book museum with hardly anyone else...we had the museums to ourselves. We still managed to catch some of the parade, and could see the colorful cloud of smoke from the air di...

Of all the awe-inspiring monuments in DC, this is, in my opinion, the most creative. Walking past the Korean War monument, you can almost hear the fighting, feel the struggle and visually surround yourself with the experience. The agony in the carved soldier's faces brings a great pain to my heart. To see so much in a mere monument; I can't imagine the reality that must have been. The etching on the wall mirrors the etching in our hearts.

In the midst of all the concrete that is Washington DC, the Botanical Gardens add a soft, delightful touch. Due to its location, it also provides a good place to stop and visit while waiting on the Capitol tour. These flowers remind me of being in a tropical paradise. Even the dessert areas of the gardens have lush beauties throughout. The vibrant pinks, purples, yellows, reds, flowers of so many shapes, the flourescent green ivies, the fuzzy cacti, all part of our Creator's neverending imagination. Makes me wonder: if there is this much beauty on this earth, how much more vibrant it will be in Heaven!

Reims, France. Another beautiful city full of ruins, historic architecture, art, and these arches. I especially enjoy the sunlight through the archway of the image below. Our lives are like the archways. We have our thoughts, actions, feelings, our very soul tucked inside, and those close to us can see into our arches. So can God. Nothing can be hidden from Him. If we have Christ as Lord of our lives, He is then the light that shines through us, much like the arch below.

These ghostly images were taken in Luxembourg. Luxembourg was an old walled city, and much of that wall is still in place today. I found it fascinating to be able to walk the borders, and to look down to the cityscape. The old church (above) caught my eye. I can imagine people in worn out clothing, traipsing through the fog, cold and mud in order to worship their God. How sad it is today, with all of our conveniences, we now find easy excuses not to visit. So many churches across Europe are primarily tourist attractions, or they have been abandoned and turned into restaurants and bars.

The fact that some of these flags still remain is astounding to me. I do not remember what eache of the flags symbolized, but they were all various Gettysburg flags. Brian and I first visited Gettysburg in 2003--a very sobering experience. Since then, they have built a new museum which is one of the most comprehensive battlefield museums I've seen. They also have a few CD audio tours that are well worth the money. Walking up through the fields and trails, getting up close with the battles, it is all very difficult to do. You think of those who were in that spot 150 years ago; let your mind rest.

Today I do not yet have pictures of the new Pentagon 9-11 memorial, which was beautifully designed from what I could tell in this morning's Washington Post. So in its place, I have put a couple of other memorials, two of many in Washington. Washington's himself, and Lincoln's. But on this post, I want the photos to stand alone. Say a prayer for those who have lost loved ones seven years ago. Or for those that have lost loved ones during this war. God bless you all.

Colonial Williamsburg, one of the most well preserved historical towns in the US. I came across these pictures this morning and couldn't resist! There was a field of sunflowers, and the light was just right. Brian picked this one to photograph. It is so cheerful! I try not to listen to those who call them "weeds." Really, how can this delightful beauty be a pest? This garden/maze area was also fun to look at. So green! If it weren't for the obvious water hose down in the left hand corner, it would be a picture of pure nature. Hard to find these days!

Today's photos are more examples of the intricate architecture of Scotland's past. Throughout Europe, one can find countless cathedrals, castles, theaters, etc. that were designed uniquely for one place. One purpose. The handiwork of the artists, sculptors, craftsmen, masons, whatever their trade is just that: hand iwork. Sure, they had basic machinery. But the carvings were done by hand. The plans were laid out by hand. Each person contributed a part of themselves. They had to apprentice for years before their work was ready for such large projects. Such incredible feats of accomplishment! Today a lot of the handiwork has been lost. Yes, there are still beautiful buildings being created. I am an enthusiast of modern architecture. I know that computers have simplified the craft. Years of education is still required to design today's modern structures. But there is a generic feel to so many of today's structures that saddens me. Truely unique buildings are still being de...

I've just submitted another story for publication consideration, and decided to take a break. Putting yourself out there for rejection is a nerve wrecking task for someone who takes criticism personally like I do. "Develop a thick skin," is what the advice says on the forums. Knowing that rejection will happen in the writing world isn't going to make it any easier when they start flooding in. However, getting rejected for small pieces will hopefully cushion the blow for when I get my novel ready to go. I'm hoping to have it ready to go soon, possibly by the first of the year. It's about time. I've been working on this thing since 2003. Of course, one should know that I laid it on the shelf for a few years before tackling it again recently, now with more determination than ever. I'm setting goals, and sticking to them! Okay, now on to today's photograph. There is but just one. I saw this picture of a cathedral in Strausbourg, France. Just...

Today I'm feeling lighthearted and relaxed after a great long weekend. In honor of the long weekend, I thought I would share some fun pics that we took several years ago in the Mulhouse Automobile Museum in France. One of the many things we enjoyed doing while living in Germany was traveling to see exhibits such as these! We loved the road trips; they were always filled with beautiful scenery and good roadside food. Even a simple stop on the highway meant a delicious fresh sandwich or a hot cup of soup--often served in the adorable lion bowls. From the most sleek of vehicles (above) to the most humble (below) visiting this museum was a fascinating day for us both.

This, my friends, is the recently opened Native American Museum in Washington DC. This museum has been beautifully done. We spent a couple of hours in there, and only got to see part of it. The exhibits were in cozy alcoves, a maze that reveals each new tribe or season as you turn through the darkened paths. The sounds that surround you tell the stories of those who were here long before we were. These Native American cultures have an interesting history. One of the things that I found fascinating was their culture's search for a creator, and search to know their creator. Of course, as a Christian, I know my Creator is God in Heaven. These tribes had legends of the people living in sickness and dying off because they had stopped listing to their creator. A man from their tribe took a journey and learned from the animals and plants how to take care of himself, came back, and retaught the people. It makes me wonder how God revealed Himself to these people. They were obviously searchi...

This is the amazingly long--for a resort--beach that Brian and I had access to while in the Dominican Republic. Beyond the trees was another trail that went for a ways, followed by a rocky cliff that we crossed about halfway before it got to difficult. We had talked of going back out there but instead discovered other hidden beaches at the resort. Looks like every other beach, doesn't it? That's what we thought. Anyway, looking at this picture reminded me of our wedding and honeymoon, exactly six years ago today...in Jamaica. I have a lot of pictures of us in Jamaica since that time, but our actual honeymoon pictures burned up in a fire in December 2003. Fortuneately for us, my mom, in her wisdom, had requested a copy of all of our pictures from our wedding on. Today I have a discs and some prints from all of those trips. Someday, my hope is to get those on here and share them with you, my reader. Until then, enjoy the sands!

This was our backyard in Fort Worth until a couple of months ago. The neighborhood we lived in was adjacent to some parks. Brian and I have always enjoyed the various kinds of wildlife that we come across in our yard wherever we live: gheckos, lizards, squirrels, birds, dragonflies...all kinds of creatures. We often reminisce about our life in New Braunfels when we would even have deer in our yards. I would say the only experience that I didn't particularly enjoy was the bees that we got in Heidelberg because we had to leave the screenless windows open during warm weather. However, this was the only occassion that we were able to photograph any of the creatures. We watched a pair of ducks in our yard for several weeks. I told Brian that one day we were going to have a whole family there, and he would sigh. The day arrived one afternoon when I came home from work. I spotted them learning how to navigate the water with momma in the lead. I ran inside to Brian where he came out with h...