Out the Hotel Window - Huntsville, AL, May 2018

Out the Hotel Window
Huntsville, AL
May 21, 2018

It is good to be back in Huntsville to celebrate the Springtime and graduation season. Yesterday as I was arriving, there was a major graduation event occurring at the Convention Center. There were students and adoring families everywhere and it was an exciting sight to see. 

The view out my window is very exciting. There is a lot happening. I enjoyed watching the parking garage in the distance fill and then empty  yesterday during and after the commencement.

It was good to get to blue skies with white puffy clouds!

The trip was uneventful and I look forward it a good week of work away from home-base. As an important note, since this is a work trip, I did NOT bring Radio Flyer with me, so there will be no drone images to share. 

-- Bob Doan, writing from Huntsville, AL

Out the Hotel Window - Niagara Falls, NY

Out the Hotel Window
March 12, 2018

I was expecting a breathtaking view out my hotel window while staying in Niagara Falls, but alas it was not to be. 

Out the Hotel Window #2
March 13, 2018

I did manage a before and after image out the window during my brief, one-night stay at the Hampton Inn on Niagara Avenue. The before was the day of arrival and the after was the day of departure. The difference was a snow storm. Ugh! 

Do we really need to experience snow during the month of March? I think not. 

Snow Falling on the Niagara River
March 12, 201 8

I tried to take an image of the same scene out window, but somehow I forgot how I had oriented the camera. 

Spring is just a week away. Count 'em, seven days. 

I did enjoy the fluffy flakes falling on the Niagara River while we were out watching the water plunge across the falls. It is a scene that I am sure not many people get to see because they are not crazy enough to visit during the the cold, still, winter season. 

I am glad to be south today, although the temperature at the house this morning is 28 degrees. Too cold to be Spring.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Travel Days

Pikes Peak
March 1, 2018
The view I should have had from my hotel window

Weather! I think I write about it too much, but it seems to be everywhere.

There is a Nor'easter raging on the coast and flights are being canceled on a regular basis. My flight, however, apparently is still on schedule. As I write this it is three hours before take-off. The cancellation, if there is one, should come about one hour before flying after I am trapped in the airport and can be precessed as just another piece of SLC (self-loading cargo).

Hotel Window View
Denver, CO
March 1, 2018

Sometimes I think the airlines forget that passengers are people, too. 

But, I do want to arrive and so I have to understand safety of flight procedures are more important than my insignificant schedule.

Upon my return to Denver last evening, I was greeted with a brown view out of my hotel window. Spring is not quite here yet. 

I hope that the green returns soon.

-- Bob Doan, writing form Denver, CO

Out the Hotel Window - Colorado Springs Feb 2018

Colorado Springs
February 28, 2018

Sometimes you get a view of the mountains and sometimes you get a view of the parking lot.

I got the parking lot view for my one night stay in Colorado Springs.

I also got a ground floor room. I will try to avoid that in the future.

The scenery is just not much to look at from the gourd floor through the screen. Ugh.

The trip is going well. The days have been busy and I enjpyed a Brazilian steakhouse last evening, Tucanos. It was enjoyable and affordable. Affordable being the operative word.

Hopefully, today will be just a good as the other days of the trip. I hear there is weather brewing that may delay my departure tomorrow--hopefully, that does not happen. Getting home is the best part of any trip.

-- Bob Doan, writing from Colorado Springs, Colorado

Out the Hotel Window - Denver February 2018 #2

Dawn, Denver
February 27, 2018

The scene changes with the lighting outside of my hotel window. I was luck enough to get a mountain view.

Afternoon, Denver
February 27, 2018

I was able to both start and end the day enjoying a view of the mountains in the distance. 

The temperatures were cold to start the day yesterday, but warmed nicely by the evening. In the dawn image, I can see the lights of the street lamps ands the other lights as the mountains are bring lit by the diffuse pre-sunrise light. 

The afternoon image showed the haze which has been obscuring the mountains, but the bright sunlight and nearly cloud free skies have been welcome.

Another day has arrived. Let's see how much more fun I can have.

-- Bob Doan, writing from Denver, CO

Out the Hotel Window - Denver Feb 2018

Out the Hotel Window - Denver
February 27, 2018

Well, I am on the road again. And of course I am in Denver again. I have not been here in a while and it is interesting to see the changes that have occurred. 

The hotel has received an complete makeover and is very new and modern. 

The roads are as crowded as ever. 

I was amazed how slow the car rental place was in moving people through. 

I did enjoy a nice Italian dinner last evening. I think I enjoyed it more because the portion sizes were  more normal and I was not left with a huge amount of left overs. 

I awakened this morning right on schedule at 4AM--that is actually sleeping in for me as the two hour time difference really hits me hard. I even tried to stay up late (well until 10 PM) to help my body adjust.

And so it begins.

-- Bob Doan, writing from Denver, CO

Out the Hotel Window - Montgomery, AL

Left out the Hotel Window

Not inspiring. 

That was the view out my hotel window at the Embassy Suites in downtown Montgomery, Alabama. Not only that, but the windows were dirty and the view was further degraded.

I love to open the curtains in my hotel room to allow the sunlight to enter the usually dark rooms. While I did open the curtains, the view of warehouses and parking garages just did not do it for me. 

Right out the Hotel Window

Don't misunderstand, I enjoyed the hotel and the room was generally in good repair, it was the view that was lacking.

That written, I've had worse. A lot worse. 

Maybe Montgomery was generally interesting and the hotel was strategically located in the downtown area. I did not have to drive to find good restaurants. There seemed to be a lot of I interesting things do and the smells from the barbecues and other restaurants provided some diverse and welcoming olfactory experiences.

It was just the view.

-- Bob Doan, writing from Montgomery, AL

Out the Hotel Window - Huntsville, part 2

Out my Hotel Window
Huntsville, AL
September 21, 2017

Yes, I am still in Huntsville, Alabama. 

I decided that sine the nighttime shot out my hotel window was so interesting that I would provide the daytime compliment.

It is boring!

Buildings, convention center, not much to look at.

The area is rather pretty, except for out my hotel window it is fairly bland and urban.

That is funny, calling Huntsville urban.

The nighttime image seemed so much more interesting.

At least he sky is blue this morning and that is a plus.

Well, it takes all views to make a world.

-- Bob Doan, writing from Huntsville, AL

Out the Hotel Window - Huntsville

Out my Hotel Window
Evening Shot
Huntsville, AL

Traveling again, for the second week in a row! I am in Huntsville, Alabama. It has been a while since I have been here. I love the NASA rockets and museum. 

Looking at the Saturn V, I remember the exciting space flight days of the 60's and 70's when despite all odds, the United States send men to the moon and safely returned them. I have only recently begun to understand the complexity of the task and they accomplished it without the sophisticated computers we have today. 

I decided for a nighttime shot out my hotel window at all of the lights of the region. 

It is a beautiful sight--the stars and the lights of the night sky. I do wish that it were dawn, however. Daylight is so far elusive.

-- Bob Doan, writing from Huntsville, AL

Out the Hotel Window - Saint Louis

Out my Hotel Window
Through the screen

I am traveling again. The view out of my hotel window is not too stunning--but the view from the hotel parking lot is a bit more interesting. 

From the hotel parking lot
The Arch

I guess I am used to looking over the tops of the buildings. 

Saint Louis is interesting, however, I arrived during rush hour--and traffic was a bad as expected. 

I was surprised how quiet this part of Saint Louis is at night. I went out to look for food and found nearly deserted streets. 

Today promises to be far more interesting.

-- Bob Doan, writing from Saint Louis

Out the Hotel Window - Los Angeles, CA, November 2016

Out the Hotel Window
Los Angeles, CA
November 7, 2016

The last evening of our get away trip, Chris and I spent in Los Angeles at one of the hotels near the airport.

The view out the hotel window was a lot better than the view out the hotel in Lompoc. At least we could see something other than bushes.

Out the Hotel Window
Los Angeles, CA
November 8, 2016

I took two images, one at night as we arrived at the room and the other in the morning so that I could see what was actually out there. 

The liquor store was prominent! Maybe the lighted sign was a clue.

Beyond the warehouse, however the view was far more interesting. It was going to be a beautiful day on Tuesday--but, I was to be trapped on an airplane for the better part of the day.

That is how some days are--especially travel days. I had to return to Maryland and the short vacation had to end.

The views I see out the hotel windows as I travel continue to change and amaze!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Out the Hotel Window - Lompoc, CA, November

Out My Hotel Window
Lompoc, CA
November, 2016

Sometimes, left to my own devices, I don't choose a hotel room for a view. Such is the case of our room in Lompoc on this trip. 

I wanted easy access and no stairs for dragging wine bottles into the room. After all, we are visiting wineries and planning to bring at least a case of wine back to Maryland with us in our trusty wine carrier. For that convenience,  little did I realize, I was be rewarded with a view of bushes outside my room. I almost feel as if I am underground. In addition, the window is extremely dirty and diffuses the light.

Sunset near Ventura, CA
November 4, 2016

I am disappointed, of course, because I would prefer to enjoy stunning vistas and spectacular sunsets, similar to what Chris and I experienced during our drive from Los Angeles to Lompoc on Friday.

Practicality overshadowed beauty on this trip. 

But we are having a great time and visited some great wineries while viewing some stunning scenery yesterday.

Today is another day and although the scene outside my hotel window won't change much, the scenery along my journey promises to be different.

-- Bob Doan, writing from Lompoc, CA

Las Vegas Images

New York, New York Resort at Night

I had my trusty iPhone with me to document my weekend celebration in Las Vegas and I managed to take some interesting images.

Everything in Vegas seems to be larger than life. The resorts apparently duel to be the most spectacular or outlandish. I stayed in the Excalibur, which is a castle, but New York, New York looks like a miniature version the Big Apple all crushed together. 

TPC Las Vegas

I was very impressed with the stunning scenery surrounding TPC Las Vegas where I played a very enjoyable round of golf. Getting out of the city and away form the casinos and the crowds was a highlight of the trip. Getting to smack the little white ball around the course was an added benefit. It was the first time I had played a desert course and I admit to hitting a couple of balls into the canyons guarding some of the holes.


As I was walking through my resort, I happened upon a gift shop that just screamed Las Vegas--and I had to take an image of the sign. It was just a classic! I actually did not even go into the shop, but I enjoyed the lights of the sign. There were, of course, many more signs in Vegas, but it is a city that never seems to sleep, although at 6AM I could tell that it was slumbering.

Out my Hotel Window
October 24, 2016

My final image is from yesterday morning after a rare rainstorm passed through and made the sunrise special. The sunlight reflecting off the airport runways was especially interesting and the illumination of the hotel down the way made for a visually stimulating shot--and yes, it was right outside my hotel window! I was amazed at how the scene outside my window changed with the rising of the sun and the passing of the day. 

In retrospect it was a great trip and I have to confess that I did gamble. I won $5 while betting $2, so I was ahead for the trip, I guess. I am not a gambler, but I had to play at least one slot machine and I actually played two.

I did find that many of the cliches are true. But there is wholesome fun to be enjoyed, even in Sin City.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - October 24, 2016

TPC Las Vegas
October 22, 2016

1. My long weekend trip is nearly over. All I really have remaining is to travel home. A long day of travel through three time zones.

 2. I played golf at TPC Las Vegas on Saturday, it has some of the most stunning views that I have seen from a golf course. 

3. Vegas really never sleeps.

4. The Presidential election is now only 2 weeks away and early voting has started. America, it is time to make a choice.

5. I am excited that one of the two longest championship droughts in the MLB is about to come to an end. Chicago and Cleveland will make history no matter which team wins. And who would ever have thought we'd see Chief Wahoo in the World Series? 

6. Patrick made a time-lapse video of the sunrise out the hotel window. It is very impressive. He did a great job documenting a great sunrise.

7. A dark spot in imagery of Mars is likely the wreckage of the European Schiaparelli lander. 

8. New York City is close to opening a subway line that has been planned for almost a century! Sometimes miracles happen.

9. It was a difficult day in the NFL yesterday with all of the family favorite teams, that played, losing. The losers include the Ravens, Steelers, and Redskins. The Cowboys were spared because they were on a bye week. The Ravens effort was especially frustrating because they had 12 rushing carries for a total of 6 yards. 

-- Bob Doan, writing from Las Vegas, NV

Out the Hotel Window - Las Vegas

Out the Hotel Window - Afternoon
October 21, 2016

I have experienced two cities that never sleep during the month of October, New York City and now Las Vegas. 

I have two images out my hotel window, one in the early afternoon and one as the shades of the sunset were painting the sky. 

Out the Hotel Window - Evening
October 21, 2016

I have a good view of the airport, similar to when I was in Los Angeles. It is hard to believe the life that happens behind me, in the other direction. 

I spent a lot of time wandering around being amazed at the sheer numbers of people who come to Vegas. It is astounding. And there is a lot of fun to be had--for a price. Everything is very pricey and not the way I remember it from 30 years ago. I had a burger and a beer for lunch yesterday and it cost $40. I'm going to have to be a bit more frugal if I am going to survive the trip with my wallet in tact.

-- Bob Doan, writing from Las Vegas, NV

Out the Hotel Window - Lompoc, CA, July 2016

Out the Hotel Window Left
July 15, 2016
Lompoc, CA

As the trip comes to an end and I am in a different hotel, I looked out the window of my room and was greeted with a less than spectacular view.

Sometimes, hotel don't consider the view that guests will have out their windows.

In this case it is garbage and back alleys. 

Out the Hotel Window Right
July 15, 2016
Lompoc, CA

Thank goodness for curtains. 

The hotel itself is very nice to look at and a great place to stay, it is just that the back lot leaves a lot to be desired. 

I understand why the curtains are closed. Although the garbage truck did wake me during my first night here, the room is generally quiet. 

It is really amazing the different views that I have experienced out my hotel window on this trip. 

The weather has been the big story. It is 55 degrees as I wake up on this July morning with an expected high in Lompoc of 68 degrees. I am looking forward to getting back to the 90's of Maryland and being in my pool. The hotel has a beautiful pool area, it is just that the air temperature is so cold I would never consider getting into it. 

The real reason to come here, however, is for the wines! More about that in the future.

-- Bob Doan, writing from Lompoc, CA

Out the Hotel Window - Los Angeles, July 2016

Los Angeles
July 11, 2016

Los Angeles is a big city. That realization obvious as the plane I was flying in was on approach and I could see nothing except houses and industry for miles and miles. 

I have been here before, but the sheer magnitude of the city has escaped me on the other occasions that I have traveled to and through here. 

Los Angeles (in the distance)
July 11, 2016

The scene outside my hotel window is a cosmopolitan one. There is industry and airport as far as the eye can see. Downtown Los Angeles is just visible through the smog in the picture. The mountains behind the city are almost invisible. Yes, there are mountains behind the city.

The hotel is conveniently situated in between two of the main runways serving Los Angeles International Airport, which is better known as LAX.

But with the curtains closed, my room could be anywhere because it is so quiet. 

I enjoy watching the planes land. I have a great seat to enjoy the constant activity at the airport.

There is a whole world happening, outside the hotel windows. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
  

Out the Hotel Window - Denver, June 2016

June 27, 2016 - Denver, CO

The picture out the window is fairly nondescript. The difference from last evening when I arrived until this morning is in the lighting and the angle that I shot the image. 

June 28, 2016
Denver, CO

It is good to be back in the Denver area again. I guess. I am not at my usual hotel and I had hoped the images out the window would have been better, but alas, it was not. 

The weather has been nice--it is supposed to creep into the high 90's today and that will be a true burst of summer. 

I made a trip to Colorado Springs yesterday and looked up to Pike's Peak. It is still magnificent.

Well, as I wrote, the view out my window is not spectacular, but the sun is up and it is another day.

I wonder what adventures are in store for me.

-- Bob Doan, writing from Denver, Colorado

Out the Hotel Window - Anchorage, AK

Anchorage, Alaska
April 19, 2016

The mountains in the distance across the city are quite a sight. It is not one of those awe-inspiring vista views that I have seen in other places, but the view outside my hotel window had some beautiful qualities. The trucking company parking lots in the foreground certainly are detractors from the view.

The view here is stunning, however. Almost everywhere I look there is either the water of Cook Sound or the mountains behind , north and south of the city. On a clear day, Denali can be seen, although I could not see it yesterday I was able to see it during some of my previous trips.

I do enjoy the view out of my hotel window.

-- Bob Doan, writing from Anchorage, Alaska

Out the Hotel Window - Bahamas

Awesome ocean view!

What more can I say? Probably the best view outside my hotel window that I have had.

It is awesome. Palm trees and the ocean.

It is an amazing view form the third floor of the hotel. 

Sometimes great views out of the hotel window are worth waiting for, and this is one of those occasions. 

I am waking up on my first morning in the Bahamas to clouds and warmth! It is awesome. I wonder what the day will bring?

-- Bob Doan, writing from the Bahamas