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| Danny Tuason | profile | all galleries >> Places | tree view | thumbnails | slideshow |
This gallery contains my most favorite images from our 2011 European vacation.
From October 30 to November 20, 2011 my brother Joe and I spent our vacation in western Europe. The trip was divided into 4 parts...the first part was when we spent a few extra hours in San Francisco (images 001 to 002)...the second part was when we drove 3,300 kilometers around Europe...Frankfurt, Berlin, Amsterdam, Bruges, Brussels, Paris, Munich, Rothenburg (images 003 to 059)...the third part was when we spent a free day in Madrid (images 060 to 066)...the fourth part was when we joined a Cosmos Spain-Portugal tour group (images 067 to 185). Joe asked me to pack light...so I brought the 7D and 3 lenses...the EF-S 10-22mm F3.5-4.5 lens, the EF 35mm F1.4 L lens, and the EF 70-200mm F4 IS L lens. I also brought a point and shoot...my old faithful G10. For the night shots I brought a light travel tripod...the Gitzo GT1550T tripod with the RRS BH-40LR ballhead. I left the 1Ds Mark III and the other lenses at home.
In our Cosmos tour group, the tour director was Angel Diaz de Miguel. He was an awesome tour director...very friendly and very professional. He described the places we visited, the history surrounding them...and then he went the extra mile...he gave us tips on what to watch out for, what restaurants to eat in, plus more. Cosmos is very lucky to have a tour director such as Angel.
More...my brother Joe and I met a lot of excellent people in the tour group. It made our tour even more special. Thanks guys!
NOTE: This gallery has 185 images in chronological sequence.
On November 1, 2008 my brother Joe and I flew to China. We were part of the Brendan tour that went to Beijing, Xi'an, Chongqing, Yangtze River, Yichang, Shanghai, Guilin, and Hong Kong. Out of a suggestion from my best friend Larry's brother Monty we took 2 extra days in Beijing to have more time to explore it. I found out later that wasn't enough. Also, we took an extra day in Hong Kong.
My brother and I both love China. We will definitely go back there.
More...in our Brendan tour our main guide was Ken (Tong Haiyang). He is a very very nice guy. We will never forget him. We wish him well...long life, happiness, and prosperity.
In our 2 extra days in Beijing our private guide was Steve Li, the son of Robinson Li. We like Steve a lot. He introduced us to the Beijing Gold Lily restaurant for excellent Peking duck. However my favorite dishes there were the spicy pig's feet and the Chinese french fries. I don't really know what it's called. Steve told me it's Chinese french fries so I just went along with it.
Also, out of a high school type of agreement, my brother, Steve, and I all ate scorpions. Yuck!!! But because of this I will always remember China.
Robinson Li (father of Steve Li) owns the Beijing Three Dragon Tour Company. Their website is www.beijingtaxi.com
I say more power to Steve and his dad. Next time I go to China I will use their services again.
BTW...I assure you that I am not affiliated with their business plus I haven't received nor will ever receive a discount from them. My views are honest and I seek nothing in return.
There was a 3 day weekend because of the July 4 holiday (2008) in the US. My brother and I used that as an excuse to drive to Grand Canyon. All the shots were done about 6 AM on July 5. It was a gloomy morning with occasional rain. The shots were all hurried. My brother kept saying "Hey Danny! Hurry up! The rain is coming!". That's why I forgot to put on my favorite wide angle lens, the Contax Zeiss 21mm Distagon.
Anyway I hope you enjoy this gallery! I am definitely going back there and take better pictures. Next time I will shoot better angles too. I should stay 3 or 4 days to get the proper time to shoot (15 minute window in the sunrise/sunset) to get the best colors.
There are a lot of places I want to shoot...before I die (in 2012? hehehe!). Actually I want to visit these places again to shoot better pictures. I wish I have a flying saucer. I could take evening shots in Paris, then the next day take morning shots in Osaka...and then shoot the penguins during lunch time. Maybe I could take astro shots too...of the planets and the galaxies...without using a high powered telescope. Also...maybe I can get closeup shots of the footprints in the moon landing locations...if they actually exist.