Scotland & Santa Clara

Scotland

Visits to Scotland were 2010, 2012, 2013, and 2015. All visits included time spent on the peninsula of Applecross in Ross-shire. Visits ranged from 10 days to six months. I stayed in the villages of Arrina / Arinachrinachd, Coillieghillie & Culdie; and spent considerable time just visiting the villages of Ard Ban, Camustearrach, Camusteel & Toscaig. All villages except Arrina are located on the southeast coast of Applecross, separated from the Isle of Raasay and the Isle of Skye by the body of water known as the Inner Hebrides.

Sunset Over Cuillin Mountains on Isle of Skye in Winter

The temperatures are moderate [add the range] throughout the year, as the land lies at the northernmost tip of the Gulf Stream. Wind, gales & storms, however, are common; snow does occur in winter months, but rarely stays on the ground more than a few days except in the mountains.

MORE IMAGES OF APPLECROSS

: Sheeps Who Seem To Know Me

Henderson House and Abandoned Houses at Low Tide…Village of Coillieghillie in the Highlands of Scotland on the Inner Hebrides Sea

Sunset Over Isle of Raasay – From Coral Beach in Winter

Santa Clara

The city of Santa Clara, population now well over 100,000 citizens from countries all over the world, is at the center of Silicon Valley. Busy, hectic, schizophrenic about whether it wants to be a leader in high technology & sports [home of the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League, the San Jose Sharks hockey team & the Earthquakes soccer team]…or a former city of orchards & an easy-going lifestyle that, until recently, remained easy-going compared it largest neighboring city – San Jose [population over 1 million].

Let’s see if I can find some photos representative of this fast-growing city on the cusp of confusion & chaos…

Rear Entrance of the City of Santa Clara Central Library