America the Beautiful

Happy Fourth of July, my dear readers!

I hope you're having a lovely Independence Day. I thought for this special holiday in our country I show you some of my favorite places in the US that I have visited so far. More than words these pictures show why and how I love this country - for its beauty and wildness.

This is a very photo-heavy post, so I won't say anymore and leave you with these impressions. Enjoy.

Mount Denali, Alaska

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Arches National Park, Utah

Badlands National Park, South Dakota

Boulder, Colorado

Bryce National Park, Utah

Our stunning California coast

Canyonlands National Park, the Needles District, Utah

Eastern Sierra, California

Grand Canyon North Rim, Arizona

Lancaster County, Pennsylvania

Maine

Mendocino, California

Mesa Verde, Colorado

Mono Lake, California

Monument Valley, Arizona

Oregon Coast

The prairie, South Dakota

Saguaro National Park, Arizona

San Francisco, California

Santa Fe, New Mexico

Sedona and the Red Rock Country, Arizona

Highway 12 from Capitol Reef to Bryce Canyon, Utah

Valley of Fire, Nevada

Valley of the Gods, Utah

White Sand National Monument, New Mexico

Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Yosemite National Park, California

Zion National Park, Utah

What are some of your favorite places?

Independence and Liberty

Happy Independence Day!

For this picture I merged two of my photos and used two of Jerry's textures

It's the Fourth of July, the day of fireworks and barbecue - and sales. At least that's what it seems like when you look around.

When I think of Independence Day, what it actually means to me, the answer is not easy. Growing up in Germany in the 60's and 70's we kind of avoided anything patriotic - a sad lesson from our dark history in the first half of the 20th century. We didn't wave any flags, we didn't sing the German anthem at school (and it's such a beautiful one). We cheered for the national soccer team, though!!!

So I always get a "funny" feeling about all the flags here in the US, especially those on pick-up trucks. Flying the flag for me doesn't symbolize Independence Day either.

What comes to my mind is this:

I still get a bit teary-eyed when I see the Statue of Liberty, this gorgeous present France gave to the US. I try to imagine what it meant to the many emigrants when they saw it after a long boat journey, often combined with fears - what was waiting for them on the other side of that big sea? This was the first they saw of their new home. What an incredible symbol.

When I came here in 2001, this wasn't what I first saw in my new home (at that time we still thought it would be home for us for only three years - how things have changed) - instead, it was the San Francisco airport. I came from a free, democratic country, entering a free, democratic country. But they were worlds apart. 

So often we take liberty for granted. Sometimes we even think liberty is that we can do whatever we want. It certainly is not. Liberty involves a lot of responsibility. Duty. Consideration. Respect.

The list could probably go on.  

In 1997 the Geek and I (we were still dating and living in Germany at that time) visited the Statue of Liberty. The Geek was working in Allentown, PA for two months, and I took ten days off before Easter and we met in New York. We had a fabulous time. On one of those days we made the trip to Miss Liberty. It was a sunny day with an awfully cold wind. The first boat to the island was cancelled, and we stood at the pier in that freezing wind, huddling against each other and waiting for the boat, with hundreds of other people. Since this was the first boat, we didn't have to wait in line for getting into Lady Liberty and up to the crown. Quite an experience. I enjoyed the view of the Manhattan skyline, so different at that time from what you see now. Taking pictures from different angles of the grand old lady was exciting as well.

This is my favorite one:

What does Independence Day mean to you?

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Monday's Fireworks

On Fourth of July we had friends over for a very casual dinner (open-faced ratatouille sandwiches followed by ice cream with fresh raspberries) and went to watch the fireworks afterwards.

I was just shooting away - hoping that at least a few pictures would turn out acceptable.

None of them is sharp - but still they reflect the festive mood, the celebration and just the spirit.

Enjoy them!

And finally, my favorite:

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