Wow! It’s been awhile since I posted here. Yikes! I’ve been concentrating on my podcast, Tourist in your Town. Be sure to check it out! A recent episode of the podcast was from Bristol, TN/VA. I thought I’d hop over here and share some of the photos that I took while there. It rained while I was there. But I got some great photos of the historic train station, the Paramount Theatre marquee, and lots of other cool places around town. Enjoy!
The Bristol Sign
Bristol is a town that is split between two states, Tennessee and Virginia. The split is right down the middle of the street that runs through downtown. The Bristol Sign sits across the road with one side in Tennessee and the other in Bristol. This sign was placed in this location in 1915 and originally said “Push!…That’s Bristol“. In 1921, the town held a contest to select a new slogan. “A good place to live” was the winner.
The Bristol TN / VA sign.
Bristol Train Station
The historic Bristol Train Station was built in 1902. Passenger service to the station ended in 1971. The station is currently an events venue.
Bristol Train Station at sunset.Bristol Train Station on a rainy night,
The Paramount Bristol
The Paramount Theatre in Bristol was built in 1931. The first showing was “It Pays to Advertise” with Carole Lombard and Norman Foster. The theatre is now a concert venue.
The Paramount Bristol marquee at sunsetThe Paramount Bristol after dark.The divide between states
Thanks for stopping by and checking out my images! Prints are available of all images, just click on the image. You can also visit my gallery for more of my travel art.
I think most people take time the end of year looking back and considering what the years end signifies for them. What did they do? What did they want to do but did not? Last year, I did a year end blog. As I read through it now, I realized I didn’t even put my goals for 2019 on it! But that’s okay. I don’t remember them now. But I will tell you what I did do and what I hope to do in 2020.
Travel
Early 2019 brought quite a bit of travel for me. I had several pieces in a juried show in NYC, so my husband and I took the train up for the opening reception. We stayed several days in a very cold and rainy New York. The train trip up was amazing and definitely something I would love to do again.
We also spent a couple of days in Pensacola Beach for a memorial service for a family member. We visited downtown Pensacola and spent some time walking on the beach.
I visited friends in Boston and Providence, learning a great deal about my country’s history, good and bad.
Something New
Around mid-summer, I came up with a new idea, a travel podcast. So, not being one to research or plan, I started one! It’s called Tourist in your Town. It started out to be just about what to see and do when you visit a place. But it quickly evolved into a combination of travel and history. Check it out!
Tourist in your Town travel podcast
I did talk about starting a commercial photography studio in that late 2018 blog. I sort of did that. I have the gear and the space. I even did some freelance work over the year. But I discovered that I had two options. One was to leave my full-time paying job and hope that I could get enough work to pay my bills. Or two, stop taking freelance work, keep that full-time gig, and pursue my true passions, travel and art photography in my spare time. I chose the second option. Probably because I’m not the kind of person to take big chances. I would, of course, take the right kind of freelance work if it landed in my lap. But I’m not pursuing it and I am saying no to things that just aren’t worth it. I value my time too much for that.
Me with my Tourist hat on
My aha! moment
I did spend most of 2019 angry and sad about losing that dream that I didn’t know I had (lost job in 2018). But towards the end of the year, someone posted a meme on FB that said something like what would yourself from 10 years ago think of yourself now. And my brain popped. Myself from 10 years ago had no clue of any of the things I’m doing now. That person’s goals looked very different from my current goals and wins. Now, I all I can think is how excited I am for the next 10 years!
Goals for 2020
So, what are my goals for 2020?
Grow the podcast
Be more present
Make better art
Feel free to share your own goals in the comments or just post a link to your own blog!
I recently visited some friends in Massachusetts. While I spent most of my time in Boston, I did spend half a day in Salem. One thing I learned is that maybe a Saturday in October isn’t the best time for me to visit this historic Massachusetts town. I will definitely go back, though. If you’d like to know more, you can listen to the podcast episode on Touristinyourtownpodcast.com
There was rain. There were lots of people, although they were all at the other end of this street in this pic.
Salem Street scene
Historic Buildings
The John Ward House was built in 1684 and is considered First Period architecture. The historic Salem home is on the National Register of Historic Places.
The historic John Ward House
The historic Old Town Hall in downtown Salem. The structure was built in 1816-1817.
Old Town Hall
The Pickman House was built in 1664. The home is owned by the Peabody Essex Museum and is not open to the public.
The Pickman House
This clock is attached to the Legends restaurant. I could not find any info about it, so if you know anything, please share!
Fellow travel blogger, Tatiana, runs a Thursday Travel Photo Challenge. This week the challenge is Buildings with Character. If you’ve been following me, then you know I love architecture.
Big cities always have great architecture, but so do some small and medium sized towns.
Providence
Providence, RI has some very unique architecture and is just a beautiful town. This medium size college town is a must see!
The Turk’s Head Building
Asheville
This beautiful Art Deco building is the Asheville City Hall. The small southern town of Asheville, NC has a lot of great character, even in the buildings.
Asheville City Hall
Bardstown
This unique building is the Old Courthouse in Bardstown, KY. The buildings itself resembles a church, but it was built as a courthouse. It is now the home to the local tourism board.
Old Courthouse in Bardstown, KY.
Prints are available of these unique buildings with character, just click on the photo!
In the first blog about Boston, I talked about rain. The first part of my full day there, I walked around Back Bay East, following the Women’s Heritage Trail. As I made my way from Back Bay East to Faneuil Hall Market Place where I was meeting a friend, I found some great photo ops in historic downtown Boston.
Boston Common
I made my way through the massive central park in downtown Boston. It is considered the oldest city park in the US, as it dates from 1634. The park is 50 acres. I found the carousel to be sad and lonely on this rainy day in October.
Boston Common Carousel
Chinatown
As I made my way out of the park, I found myself in Chinatown. Boston’s Chinatown is the largest outside of New York City.
Chinatown entrance in BostonThe Empire Garden was once a movie theatre.
Old State House
I finally made my way to Faneuil Hall but was not able to take pics as it was getting remodeled. From the Marketplace we decided to do some indoor activities as the rain and wind was getting intense. We decided to visit the Old State House. The Old State House was home to the Massachusetts General Court until 1798. It is one of the oldest public buildings in the US.
The Old State House
Thanks for reading about my Boston walk about. Interested in learning more? Visit the podcast to hear about it.
As always prints are available for each of these photos.
When I visited Boston, I knew that I wanted to find out more about historic women in Boston. My podcast, Tourist in your Town, specializes in historic women and minorities. There are several different areas featured on the Boston Women’s Heritage Trail. So, I decided to walk the Back Back East tour and try to find some of the historic places associated with these women.
I discovered that most of the homes associated with the women did not have markers, so a handy printed map would have been helpful for me. I tried to use my phone, but that just didn’t work well for me. But I did find some beautiful doors and entrance ways in this historically residential area.
There’s just something about a simple bicycle, waiting for someone to take an adventure.It’s that sad, lonely pumpkin against those heavy blue doors.The French Cultural Center.Fisher College
Be sure to listen to the episode featuring these women and historic locations in the Back Bay East area of Boston.
My fellow travel blogger, Tatiana, has started a new Thursday Travel – Photo Challenge. The first challenge was barns. It just so happens that I work right down the street from a very cool red barn. I’ve been wanting to take photos of it for a while. But never have. The property is soon to be sold for development, but I’ve been putting off stopping. But when I woke up this morning and it was snowing, I knew this was the day. I grabbed my camera on the way out the door. It was still fairly dark when I got there, but the snow was coming down and had already covered everything nicely, creating a nice winter scene.
Red Barn in Snow
Prints of this beautiful winter scene are available in my Pixels shop. Just click on the photo!
In early October, I visited some friends in the Boston area. Since I’ve started a travel podcast, I find myself having to travel at least every two – three weeks. I mostly travel by car because I can only do weekends right now. But I decided to fly up to Boston for a quick trip. I took a four day weekend at work and booked the flight.
Rainy Boston street scene
Early October is a great time to see the leaves up there. However, it’s also a great time for changing weather. It rained. A lot. I tried to prepare for it by taking a raincoat, umbrella, and a home-made camera cover. The camera cover worked okay, but I think it’s best to shell out the money for a real one. A good thing about the rain is the clouds were amazing.
Trinity Church in Copley SquareOld South Church in BostonFire Engine 37 / Ladder Company 26 in Fenway
September is my birthday month and in honor of me, I decided to share my favorite images. I previously share my favorite simple images and my favorite window photos. This week, I thought I would share my favorite train photography.
Steam Engines
Like many photographers, I love steam trains. There is just something about the smoke rolling from the stacks. My favorite is just before take off when the smoke releases from below.
Steam train just before take offTrain crossing the trestle with steam blowingReleasing steam
On the Train
When we visited New York City, we took the train up. These are some photos that I took on that trip.
The sleeping car on the Crescent Route with Amtrak.The dining car on the Crescent
Train Stations and Depots
The train stations and depots have their own charms. Some are beautiful, historic buildings currently still in use for passenger trains. But many have been repurposed as visitor’s centers or craft shops.
Main Street Station in Richmond, VAAshland Train Depot is also the visitor’s centerGreenback Depot in downtown Greenback, TNThe visitor’s center in Loudon, TN.
Yes, I am slightly obsessed with trains and train depots. That feeling of nostalgia when you step inside. Of course, I have not doubt that original passenger trains were uncomfortable rides. But it’s nice to imagine having the time and money to take the train across the country. Some day.
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