Florence, Italy
River Arno
Photo by Jeff
Florence: Fyodor Dostoevsky; Roman vs. Byzantine; Statue of David, Cappuccino by (photo by Izia); Machiavelli; Leonardo; Gold-smithing; Renaissance; Seqway; classical literature.
October 31, 2006
October 30, 2006
Monte-Carlo, Monaco
Ducked Behind Alley
Photo by Jeff
City-state, Formula 1 Moncao Grand Prix, haute couture, Place du Casino (Grand Casino), James Bond, architecture, Grace Kelly, pomegranate trees, tourism.
[Gallery casino fountain picture courtesy Izia.]
Nice, France
Biscuitier Building
Photo by Jeff
South of France: Villefranche; Nice, where famous painter and artist Matisse lived until he died; city shops; French Riviera; olive oil; architecture; funny trucks and tiny cars; Promenade des Anglais; Adriatic Sea; beachfront complete with "for hire" sunning spots and umbrellas; holiday in the sun, 1920's style.
October 29, 2006
Chihuly Abroad
Chihuly Abroad, Barcelona
Photo by Izia
The Pacific Northwest, alive and well in southern Europe. I feel like a coffee. Chihuly's glass-works have been celebrated around the world, including floating down the canals and waterways of Venice! This piece was discovered in a storefront in old town Barcelona.
Barcelona, Spain
Pharmacy
Photo by Jeff
Barcelona is much like other famous southern European port cities, with an older "city within a city" inside it's borders. Along the famous La Rambla boulevard, shopkeepers sell everything from small jewelry and trinkets to live animals like parrots or chickens.
Architecture is of some significance in Barcelona, chiefly owed to one Antoni Gaudi, who's gothic styled works are best shown in his unfinished church "La Sagrada Familia." He is also attributed the honour of the origin of the word "gaudy" for "being showy in a tasteless or vulgar way." Gaudi died in 1926 after being run over by a tram, and was buried in the crypt of his basilica masterpiece.
October 28, 2006
Sunrise on the Flight to Frankfurt
Sunrise on the Flight to Frankfurt
Photo by Jeff
Flying into daylight, this view from the window of the aircraft showing sunrise.
October 24, 2006
Silverado Resort, Napa, CA
Silverado Resort, Napa, CA
One of those things. One of many places in northern California which require a certain amount of investigation. Napa/Sonoma, in the the heart of Californian wine country, lives a beautiful place called the Silverado Resort. A hilltop fire erupted while I was there, mainly due to the incredibly dry conditions. The Silverado hosts two championship golf courses, on a compound 1200 acres in size. The mansion pictured above was constructed in the 1870's.
I left this place on October 26th, stopping in Vancouver for one brief night before flying to Spain.
October 18, 2006
Hallowe'en 2006: Stanley Park Ghost Train
Hallowe'en 2006
Photo by Jeff
The Stanley Park Ghost Train: Something lurks down below! Click, if you dare, for a photo gallery of ghoulish proportion!
October 12, 2006
Seattle Night Light
Seattle Night Light
Photo by Jeff
Took another trip to Seattle, decided to share the views from the hotel room at night.
September 25, 2006
What Stalks the Night?
Sprocket
Photo by Jeff
Sprocket stalks the night.
A Birthday Party
Happy Carolyne!
Photo by Jeff
Hosted a birthday party for Carolyne. Good times, good food, good people.
Happy Carolyne!
Patio Light
Solar Illumination
Photo by Jeff
Some solar powered patio lanterns, y'all.
Red Sky At Night
Building Sky
Photo by Jeff
Look up, look way up... set your camera on stun, and see what a long exposure will grant. This photo taken at 9:30 PM, a few minutes past twilight, with the sky black in colour to the naked eye. No colour adjustments made.
September 11, 2006
Giant Meegee Invades Vancouver
Giant Meegee
Photo by Ryan
[Vancouver, BC] Last night at about 11:00 PM, this photo was taken of a Giant Meegee stomping her way through Vancouver, apparently distraught in search of a Canada Post truck containing her missing scooter helmet.
September 4, 2006
Local Smoke
Local Smoke, Okanagan Lake
Photo by Terry
Hot summers in the Okanagan Valley. Smoke from a local fire in the Bellevue Creek area hangs inverted over the lake, providing a filter for the sunset; this view taken from the back porch in Penticton. Smoke has been part of the everyone's lives in the Okanagan this summer with the wind pushing smoke from fires burning in Washinton State northward up the valley across the border.
August 27, 2006
Summer Fun
Lions' Gate Bridge, Vancouver, BC
Photo by Jeff
Viewing from Stanley Park, the Lions' Gate suspension bridge connects Vancouver with the North Shore. When the tide is high, the cruise ships coming into Burrard Inet almost touch the bottom of the span, which height totals 200 feet.
Green Bay, Kelowna, BC
Photo by Jeff
Had some pictures left over from the last trip to the Okanagan. A quiet community nestled right on Okanagan Lake, living in Green Bay offers more than one way to get home: by car, boat, or float plane.
Vaseux Lake, Oliver, BC
Photo by Jeff
Hard to believe that one could retire to a vineyard on the lake with this kind of view, but it's true! This lake is surrounded by environmental reserve, meaning the view will protected for a long, long time. Nice work, Barry!
August 9, 2006
San Francisco with a Bullet
Building on Geary
Photo by Jeff
Another whirlwind trip to California, with a bullet. Across from the Savoy Hotel in San Francisco, this building. Inside the Savoy Hotel? The Millennium Restaurant, the best vegetarian restaurant I've been to, EVER.
Further Up Geary Sunset
Photo by Jeff
Into the end of the day.
Ellis in the Morning
Photo by Jeff
From Ellis street toward sunrise. The city is alive 24 hours a day.
San Francisco International Airport
Photo by Jeff
And off we go on another flight.
August 1, 2006
Keremeos
Keremeos
Photo by Jeff
The drive back to Vancouver from the Okanagan on Route #3: Keremeos.
July 31, 2006
Mission Hill Family Estate
The Terrace
Photo by Jeff
The Mission Hill Family Esate is another great winery in the Okanagan Valley in British Columbia. In addition to the wine shop and cellar tours, dinner is enjoyed outdoors on the terrace. On warm summer evenings, this is a nice treat, especially with the view overlooking the vineyards toward Lake Okanagan.
Lake Okanagan from Mission Hill
Photo by jeff
Looking left from the table where we sat, this was the view.
The Archway
Photo by Jeff
The archway leads from the parking roundabout into the garden square, where the terrace, wine shop and wine tour buidlings live.
The Outdoor Dining Terrace at Mission Hill
Photo by Jeff
A look at the restaurant from the Archway.
The Ampitheatre (view included)
Photo by Jeff
The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra played here last week. I think I might ask to live here.
Outdoor Hallway
Photo by Jeff
More places to wander and view the rest of the estate from atop the hill. If you get the chance, go visit this place!
July 30, 2006
Burrowing Owl
Burrowing Owl Winery
Photo by Jeff
Up to the Okanagan in British Columbia, there are amazing vineyards and wineries. We took a visit to the Burrowing Owl vineyard, and looked around. The Wine Shop at Burrowing Owl is the same building where they are adding apartments to stay in. Kind of a bed and breakfast, except that you might be inclined to help out working the grapes!
Inside the Tower
Photo by Jeff
Opposite the Wine Shop are the restaurant, tower and winemaking facilities. Inside the tower is a staircase that leads you up to amazing views of the valley and the rest of the property. The staircase includes a self-guided tour of the the various aspects of winemaking, including windows into the different stages of the operation itself.
Valley View
Photo by Jeff
You may notice in the above picture a slight hue to the sky. In fact, smoke from the recent forest fires in Washington state drifted northward across the border into the Okanagan, causing the sky to become dark at times, with falling ash that coated anything left standing outside, even for just 5 minutes! Heavy falling ash, of course, led to the following observation:
BUGS!
Photo by Jeff
Ah, yes, my favourite. Bugs. June bugs. Is this one as big as the last one I saw in Las Vegas?!
July 13, 2006
Manitoba Heat
Leg 3 of the last city stop: Winnipeg, MB.
The heat in this town is sweltering, dry and dusty. The dirt carried by the hot wind is the only hint of the blistering thunderstorms to come. Day 2 here, and flash floods are quickly becoming a reality. And I didn't even bring a jacket on this tour, because, hey, it's summer and it's supposed to be hot, right?! The rain that falls in Ontario and the Prairies is not normal. At least when compared to the Left Coast. It downpours like marbles falling out of the great gumball machine in the sky!
Jeff Booth
July 11, 2006
Big Smoke
YYZ
Photos by Jeff
Whirlywind tour through YYZ again. Leg 2 of 3.
July 10, 2006
Montreal, Québec
Toward the Saint Lawrence
Photo by Jeff
View from the top of the hotel South toward the Saint Lawrence river.
View at Your Own Risk
Photo by Jeff
37 floors?
Jennifer Batton, Montreal Jazz Festival
Photo by Chaffik
Here's the follow up to the Jennifer Batton story from July 8th. I met her at the Montreal Jazz Festival, where she was participating in guitar clinics. Jennifer travels the world doing clinics for Digitech, maker of some of her guitar gadgets.
July 8, 2006
"La Belle Province"
View From a Downtown Montreal Hotel Room
Photo by Jeff
Back in Montreal. It's the Montreal Jazz Festival time again. Here's a view from my hotel window. And here are some more from around the corner!
Montreal, Night and Day
Photos by Jeff
Met up with Jennifer Batton today at the Jazz Festival! She's played a little guitar with a couple of fellas you may have heard of... Jeff Beck... Michael Jackson.
More to follow!
June 16, 2006
Toronto Travel
Downtown Toronto at Night
Photo by Jeff
Whenever I'm on the road and have a little spare time, I like to see what's going on, who's on tour and in town, who's doing one-off gigs locally. It turns out that I had a little time to spare this time around, so I looked up our old rehearsal space mates The Flairs and checked the tour schedule. What did you know? They were playing the Horseshoe Tavern that night!
The Flairs at the Horeseshoe, Toronto, Canada
Photo by Jeff
Dee-Dee, Ginger, Jen and Ryan, rockin' up some good times. They are featured in the latest Guitar Player magazine, July 2006.
If you like Girl Rock, like the Donnas or Veruca Salt, check out The Flairs! They're also on MySpace.com.
The Flairs
June 6, 2006
Victoria Harbour
Victoria Harbour
Photo by Jeff
Spent some time on Vancouver Island again. Thought about the sunset looking north over the Harbour and snapped this photo. Where does the time go?
Delta Victoria
Photo by Jeff
The Delta Hotel Victoria from across the harbour at dusk.
May 25, 2006
Coming Off the Road
Livin' Large
Photo by Jeff
Everick Golding. Bass player, man about town. Here he is in the element he has grown accustomed to. I think this picture was taken right after we landed back in Vancouver. Note the bass right next to him on the seat. I think it was kind of bumpy, hence the blur. Hey, I'm no Ansel Adams, what can I say!
UPDATE: Been working on putting a new studio together, called recRoom, with a couple of friends of mine. Having lots of fun! A few bands are going through as we speak. Looking forward to demoing some of the songs I've been writing for the next record! I may post some up on MySpace in the future. Lots of goodies!
Keep yer rock on!
April 29, 2006
Giant Las Vegas
The Wheel of Fortune
Photo by Jeff
There are many things in life that can grab your attention. Like the ringing of C Major chords in a casino, promising a world of fun and enjoyment, all the while sucking your cash into the machine that is Las Vegas. Or giant things, since the city is built like a carnival.
Giant Hotels
Photo by Jeff
This 5,500 room monstrosity cannot really be sized appropriately unless it can be personalized in some way. So, how about the walk from the elevator lobby to my room? The following are 4 pictures I took, walking from the main elevator atrium on the floor my room was located. Follow along by looking at each picture's center, to where I walked and snapped the next photo, 4 times. How many football fields long would this be?
Start Here
Photo by Jeff
Walk down the hallway to the center of this picture...
Picture #2
Photo by Jeff
Continue down the hallway...
Picture #3
Photo by Jeff
Keep walking...
Picture #4
Photo by Jeff
You can see the end of the hallway marked by a tiny little red EXIT sign. Now THAT is GIANT!
Giant Bug
Photo by Brian
How about giant bugs, like this one, on the windshield. Now THAT should grab some attention. Hello, bug!
April 18, 2006
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Winnipeg International Airport
Photo by Jeff
Ah, yes, the prairies -- again. What plans would be complete without a trip to the wonderful city of Winnipeg? A city full of unexpected surprises, like 24 degrees Celcius and sun in April? I had the great pleasure of experiencing these wonders and more.
Empty
Photo by Jeff
As if snow had simply disappeared last week while summer set in, the weather here is sunny and warm. Beautiful sunsets, warm winds and dust. Not exactly something you might expect for this time of year, yet here it is. It's as if the city woke up one morning and saw the heat of summer hazing in over the front porch, not sure if this was exactly what was happening, as if it were a dream. Like an airport with no one in it.
Silence
Photo by Jeff
April 15, 2006
Big Sky, Part 2: Clouds
"41,000 feet"
Photo by Jeff
"For Your Frame of Reference"
Photo by Jeff
Photo by Jeff
Photo by Jeff
Photo by Jeff
Photo by Jeff
Photo by Jeff
Ok, I'm done with a blog entry on clouds. Jeez.
April 14, 2006
Big Sky, Part 1
"An Edmonton Hallway"
Photo by Jeff
I've started a segment of abstract photos that will illustrate glimpses of interesting moments in time and place. There are no real stories behind any of these pictures, just perspectives.
"YVR"
Photo by Jeff
Vancouver Interntational Airport. An important place, where important people do important things. Like rifle through your luggage.
"Light Reflected"
Photo by Jeff
Is it obvious I've got a new camera?!
April 7, 2006
To the Interior!
"In the Air"
Photo by Jeff
Flying into the Okanagan is a fun experience, especially if you are used to making the 4.5 hour drive one way. It's a 39 munite flight, and suddenly you are dropped into one of those uniquely BC places... tip of the desert, California hot in the summer, snowy cold skiing in the winter.
"Pool at Night"
Photo by Jeff
The view from the room.
"Burnaby in the Distance"
Photo by Jeff
The return flight into Vancouver, with an amazing view of Burnaby/Vancouver from the air. Four cities down, two more to go!
April 2, 2006
Victoria, British Columbia
Freighter Afloat
Photo by Jeff
The travel to and from Victoria is one of those things that is a spectacularly west coast experience. Spending the past few weeks traveling through more than a few cities, Victoria had sights to offer unlike any other.
Motor Cars Afloat
Photo by Jeff
One of the ocean island passes along the Victoria/Vancouver journey allows a close up view of fellow travelers going the oppostite direction.
End of Day
Photo by Jeff
Life is in seeing the little things.
March 26, 2006
The New Pornographers
The New Pornographers
Back stage, The Paramount, Sat March 26, 2006
Photo by Jeff
Friends The New Pornographers played the Paramount in Seattle last night to a sold out crowd, while yours truly watched from side stage.
Side Stage Pornos
Photo by Jeff
The band opened up for Belle and Sebastian for the last show of their tour. The New Pornos continue on with dates into May and April, in Canada, the US and Europe. Hard workin' folk, I tells you!
Fancey-man
Photo by Jeff
Todd Fancey plays guitar (among other intruments). He's fancy.
Hey— Who's that?! Kurt Dahle?!
Photo by Jeff
Kurt Dahle a.k.a. Deet plays the drums. Hey, I know you! He's funny. For those of you scoring at home, check your liner notes for "DELUXE."
Good times!
March 25, 2006
Air Force One
Air Force One
Photo by Jeff
One of the many interesting exhibits at the Museum of Flight at Boeing Field in Seattle is Air Force One. These Boeing aircrafts (with the military designation of VC-25A) carry the President and his staff with all the tools and resources needed to continue to be in communication with and run the affairs of government. The 707 model on display even has a traditional, wall-mounted pencil sharpener in the communications seat. High tech!
Commander in Chief
Photo by Jeff
Here the President can make air to land calls on his personal telephone, upon which a sign states that all communication through the phone will be monitored.
Communcation Control
Photo by Jeff
This is where the communications operator sat, plugging in wires and pushing buttons. This is also where the pencil sharpener lives.
Air Force One—The Cockpit
Photo by Jeff
Jump seat, anyone?
A Flight of Fancy
The Concorde
Photo by Jeff
The Concorde holds the record for the fastest trans-Atlantic crossing, at 2 hours, 59 minutes, 53 secs. The first supersonic commerical jet airliner, the Concorde began its' life in 1976, until retired in 2003.
Here's a look at the interior seating of the Concorde:
Interior Seating of the Concorde
Photo by Jeff
The Concorde seated 100 passengers.
Although the Concorde has been retired, there has been some discussion about the research and building of "Son of Concorde," a joint effort by Japanese and French governments. Although the research is ongoing from these two countries, it should be noted here that British billionaire Sir Richard Branson is hard at work on his own brand of travel, Virgin Galactic.
Seattle Weekender
Elliot Bay
Photo by Jeff
Part of the waters of Puget Sound, Elliot Bay is the main shipping lane into Seattle, and the hub for water travel, whether it is by ferry to Alki Beach, or to Victoria, BC on the Clipper.
Space Needle—Day/Night
Photos by Jeff
The Space Needle is one of the Pacific Northwest's finest landmarks, attracting more than one million visitors each year. The structure stands 605 feet tall, and is capable of withstanding an earthquake of 9.1 in magnitude.
Note the crumpled soda can inspired architecture of Frank Gehry's "Experience Music Project," just to the right of the Space Needle.
These photos were taken 43 floors above sea level in downtown Seattle, looking North.
March 22, 2006
Travelin' Man
Calgary, Alberta
Spent the last couple of days in Big Sky Alberta. That Calgary cowtown sure knows how to snow! If you ever get the chance, go check out the ski jump on the outskirts of town. Calgary's one and only ski hill.
February 20, 2006
Toronto & More...
"401 East"
Photo by Jeff
Toronto is one of those cities in the dark... frosty cold nights, long winter freeway drives — or sits, depending on the time of day.
"Period Piece."
Photo by Jeff
When's the last time you got into a rental car and stared NASA in the face?!
More to follow...
February 6, 2006
Into the Bay
Bay Bridge, San Francisco to Oakland, Ca.
Here's a view into traveling from San Francisco to Oakland over the Bay Bridge (lower deck) at night. The total length of this bridge is 4.35 miles. I wonder how difficult it would be to build a bridge from Vancouver to Victoria? The Lake Ponchatrain Bridge is 23 miles long.
January 31, 2006
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco, California
I used to think that traveling to exotic places was something new. Now, unfortunately, it's not really that. It's utility. And if you travel to places frequently, the appeal, the romantic appeal, quickly devolves into something that is imperative, something that is a requirement. That's not a thing that everyone can understand, nor relate to, unless you travel a lot. So here we are. A hotel in San Francisco. Although it's not a picture-perfect postcard of the Golden Gate bridge, or of Coit Tower, or of the Wharf; it's a utility. Such is life.
January 20, 2006
Los Angeles, California
Two Palms
Photo by Jeff
California in January: It's a brisk 17 degrees Celcius, partly cloudy, chance of haze. I always love coming back to California.
There are some natural hidden treasures here. Take, for instance, the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. North of Malibu, where 6 foot breakers from the Pacific Ocean crash into the Pacfic Coast Highway; north of Hollywood, where 15 million people sit alone in their cars waiting to proceed; you'll find a winding highway which apprehends picturesque twitches and turns through beautifully blood red rich mountain peaks and lush green valley belows. A complete disconnect from the thrashing metropolis mere miles away.
The triangle, found between the 3 points of Thousands Oaks, Malibu and Beverly Hills, combines the unique qualities of space within a crowd, peace inside the din, and the eye inside of a hurricane.
If only there was more time!
December 28, 2005
Oddities & Remarks
"Up Ahead"
Photo by Izia
Here's something to consider: If you plan on driving through mountains in the dead of winter, be sure to bring a roll of string, a piece of chocolate, candles and matches. Why, you ask? Silly boy.
"Gasp of Air"
Photo by Izia
There is always a new perspective, once you travel high enough to see beyond your troubles, in reality, and view them for what they really are. Perspective isn't an option; it's a choice.
[How are you liking the picture titles so far? I'm feeling so avant garde today.]
"Not a Stock Photo"
Photo by Izia
It always amazes me to see stuff that looks fake, but to realize the true beauty of it. Take this picture, for example: I was there. I saw it. Yet it looks like someone randomly picked out this postcard and paid $1.98 for it (plus postage) and mailed it with the words, "Merry Christmas" or "Wish you were here" written on it. Is it genuine?
"City at Night"
Photo by Jeff
Does the city sleep?
December 15, 2005
Bright Lights
Stanley Park, Vancouver, BC
Every year, the Vancouver Firefighters put on a Christmas light show at Stanley Park. You can even ride the Christmas train, too!
I call this one, "Path at Night." MOMA, HERE I COME!
December 12, 2005
The "Thing" Takes Shape
Hurray at last! The "Thing" has taken shape. The guitar effects rack has finally performed it's purpose... the creation and organization I have been looking for.
The Unit™, which is officially 10 U's in height (10 x 1.75") has been completed. The Mini Rig™ comes complete with FullTone™, Electroharmonix™, MoogerFooger™, etc. and is joyous in it's voice. I have two shelves created to house the guitar pedals, and may need a third.
There were three stages to the plan for the "Machine™": Stage 1: Plan; Stage 2: Acquire, across Canada and the United States; Stage 3: Build. The Build has now been completed. However, the affixing of said guitar pedals to the Rig™ is now the topic of discovery. How exactly do you secure those little gadgets to the unit, so as not to jostle about during move-ins and move-outs? Pictures to follow... the Project™ is rarely complete, yet strangely satisfying. I am sure to settle on a suitable name for the Monster™ yet, perhaps some suggestions would be in order. Care to offer any comments?
On another note, we have recently updated our MySpace site: PIONEER 10. We have a few friends, but a few more would always be welcomed, of course!
T-Shirts have been made for PIONEER 10, be sure to check the web site for details soon to follow.
Keep rockin'!
December 4, 2005
Whistler Mountain & Eagles
Whistler Mountain
Went up to Whistler this past weekend for the Whistler Film Festival. An exciting event, lots of indepedent and not so small budget movies to choose from. It snowed!
The Brackendale Eagles
This is an eagle sanctuary located south of Squamish. Bald eagles are an endangered species, and this sanctuary allows people to view and take pictures of an amazing place. Learn more at the Brackedale Eagles web site.
November 30, 2005
San Diego in the Sun
Took a week to visit San Diego and surrounding area. Visited tourist attractions like SeaWorld (that's Shamu!), Coronados, La Jolla, Temecula and Veijas. 70 degrees, partly cloudy. And it's November.
On another note, the building process has begun on "The Machine" (name to follow). I'm building a guitar effects rack that will probably end up moving time itself, if I can wire it up correctly. All those pedals on the floor need some organization! Here's a link that talks about some other folks' guitar rigs, by Bob Bradshaw. You can take a look at the Edge's guitar effects rack, Eddie Van Halen's effects rack back in 1986, even see what Andy Summer's rig looked like in 1988! Check it out!
November 21, 2005
Lunar Landing
We have lift-off!
Another week of travel ahead. First, it's San Francisco. Then San Diego. Then Los Angeles. Then home!
November 11, 2005
What's In Your Backyard?
View from hotel balcony, San Jose, California
Seattle, San Jose, Monterey, San Francisco, Seattle, Vancouver, Winnipeg. Rain, sun, wind, rain, snow. Sleep.