New Hope & Ivyland Railroad

The New Hope & Ivyland Railroad is another piece of living history. It is a tourist train that carries passengers from New Hope, Pennsylvania to Lhaska, several miles away. I’m not positive, but I think the line was originally part of the old Reading Railroad.

This isn’t my greatest photo of No. 4, which was built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works many years ago. I actually have some very nice black and white photos of this engine and her tender in both black and white and color. I took them back when I used Hasselbalds and large format cameras. The prints hang on the walls of my house. Take a look at the engineer; he certainly looks the part. I have to get a hat like that.

The last few weeks the train has been running steadily, giving people great views of the fall foliage and pumpkin patches set up for children. New Hope itself is a fun town with plenty of good restaurants, odd shops, and dinner theaters. It gets crowded on the weekends.

Published in: on October 30, 2008 at 12:56 am  Leave a Comment  
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Creating Atmosphere, Part V

There’s more to atmosphere than moody old churches and damp ruins. At this time of the year, there is the fall foliage which signals the change of seasons, the coming of winter, and the harvest parties that have more elegant names to dress them up.

The photo to the left was taken looking down from a stretch of Route 6 in northern Pennsylvania. This vista has it’s own atmosphere, one that would do well in any story, fiction or not. Some views along this road seem hardly changed since the days of Daniel Boone. Now that’s an early American atmospheric setting if ever there was one.

It’s good to get out and see nature whenever you can. Living in a metropolitan area deprives people of the expansiveness of the areas beyond the metroplex. At the same time, I spend many months on a small Caribbean isle that has neither the lush green of the tropics nor the seasonal rotation of northern climes. Thus, a scene like the one at left is a real treat.

Get out and see something. It will enrich your life, calm your nerves, and do wonders for your karma.

Published in: on October 12, 2008 at 8:06 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Bistro Juliana, Philadelphia

Bistro Juliana, located on the edge of a neighborhood known as Fishtown, serves a fantastic lunch. The restaurant is owned by people who have another establishment near the center of Philadelphia.

As you can see from the street signs, this place is locate at the corner of Cumberland and Salmon Streets. There is parking across the street. What about the food? Well, the menu is Italian. For lunch I had the homemade ravioli with veal sausage. Excellent. And, the price was a mere $8.50. Some fast food meals cost nearly that much and are nothing compared to a nice sit down lunch here.

When in Philadelphia and in need for a pleasant and affordable, high-quality lunch, give this place a try. You won’t be disappointed. Spanish is also spoken, which helps a bloke like me work on his multi-lingual skills.

Published in: on October 11, 2008 at 1:04 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Aruba Cemeteries

There are many cemeteries in Aruba that feature excellent statuary, fascinating crypts, and haunting images. During my extended stays on the island, I typically take a few strolls through a cemetery or two like the one shown below.

If nothing else, a trip to the cemetery reminds us that no one lives forever. Best to get those things done you’d like to while you’re still alive. Sounds like a cliche, but it’s true.

Published in: on October 10, 2008 at 2:10 pm  Comments (1)  
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