‘Mi Amiga, Mimi’

It gives me great pleasure to pay tribute my new friend Mimi on International Women’s Day. This incredibly hard working woman, Mother, Grandmother, and soon-to-be friend could speak no english. I could  speak little to no spanish, yet that never seemed a concern. Mimi welcomed our group to her Casa where she and three generations of her family cared for us during our stay in Havana. She and I seemed to understood each other, easy enough. It wasn’t long before we were laughing and hugging each day. When the news of my brothers passing was received, we found ourselves embracing in tears as she gently comforted me in my loss.

The Urban Dictionary describes the word ‘Mimi’ to mean ‘a wonderful friend. Sweet, funny, sarcastic, but GREAT and beautiful.’ How perfect.

More Cuba images here: http://www.patcorlinphotography.com/Gall…/Travel/Travel-Cuba

Pat Corlin Photography   All Rights Reserved    www.PatCorlinPhotography.com

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Superstitious Sunset

Superstitious Sunset

 

“Superstitious Sunset”

Beautiful and breathtaking scenery, am I right?  This sunset was captured while driving on The Apache Trail. It was once used by the Apache Indians to travel through the mountains and then became a main trail for the stage coach. On our maps today, you will see it listed as “STATE ROUTE 88” and it winds it’s way for 40 miles through the Tonto Forest and the Superstition Mountains of the Greater Phoenix, Arizona area.

The guide books tell you it is a “must drive” journey, as you will see incredible, varied dessert and mountain terrain and drive right by the  impressive Theodore Roosevelt Lake and Hydroelectric Power Dam.  But do not be deceived! No matte what the guide books and tourists tell you it being “bumpy but doable” route,  you had best rent yourself a vehicle with sturdy tires accustomed to off road-ing!   A good … and I mean GOOD … LONG portion of this road is not paved, pitted with deep holes, very bumpy and often only wide enough for one car to pass. The pin turns can be very treacherous and high on mountainside cliffs that are without guard rails that are built to stop a car from careening to certain death if the driver isn’t paying full attention, at all times. Oh and did I mention to plan on taking nearly 4 hours to cross? It is longer than you think when you can only drive 15 miles an hour. To add to the danger there are NO street lights and it is really, and I mean REALLY dark up there! So be advised to make it a morning trip or at least be certain you are at the end of the journey by dusk. And watch out for animals! The Coyotes are plentiful and dash before your headlights and you never see them coming.

This all sounds like a lot of doom and gloom but I offer this advise only to help you to be prepared so that you can actually enjoy the stunning beauty of this drive.  Take my advice and rent the jeep and it absolutely is a “must drive” adventure, you won’t be sorry!

The Colors Of Montreal

“The Colors of Montreal”

The Colors Of Montreal

As I was making my way back to my hotel after visiting the Old City, I rounded the corner and stepped on to Rue St Antoine St W and BAM! I was hit by a joyous wall of brilliant color that is110 meters long and numerous stories high! The iconic glass facade of the Palais de Congress de Montreal is a kaleidoscope of color with 332 colored glass panels and 58 transparent glass panels. Canadian architect, Hal Ingberg created the colored panels by sandwiching colored Vanceva polyvinyl butyral (PVB) interlayer between two panels of glass! Sadly, I was running late and could only capture one quick image as I literally ran by and I made a note to schedule many hours inside this building on my next trip back to this wonderful city.

2013 Performing Images Photography by Pat Corlin

All Rights Reserved

www.PatCorlinPhotography.com