Approaching Year's End

The same tree against the same wall, a couple of weeks apart.

Yellows

Reds

Fallen Leaves on Green

The green-leafed plants make a nice background for the colorful leaves.

At sunset

Caught by the last rays of the setting sun.

A Vivid Palette

Macleay Park

The colored leaves are almost gone, but with the gesturing branches, hanging moss, and foggy atmosphere they make intriguing, somewhat spooky scenes. Merry Xmas!

Red Berries

Bushes that I pass while walking in my Portland neighborhood.

Fallen Leaves with Stones

Along a sidewalk in the Slabtown District of Portland.

Belated Fall Colors

We were in Egypt and Tunisia during the height of fall colors in Portland, Oregon. When we returned, some leaves had begun to turn brown and to fall, but there was still plenty of vivid color and a certain drama. So for the next week or so, I'll be posting photos mainly from November. Except for this first one, from late September in the Japanese Garden, of one of the maple trees which - with its contorted limbs - can be relied on for colorful fall drama.

Tunisia Guide with Daughter

We were invited to our guide Feker's home on our last evening in Tunisia. He's a terrific guide, highly recommended if you travel to Tunisia (and you should). Contact him through Tours by Locals. Here he is with his daughter.

Contemporary Bizerte

Near the market, Bizerte has the standard marks of a contemporary town, while maintaining that beautiful blue.

Back Streets of Bizerte

Blue and white walls, stone arches, winding cobblestones ...

... and a TV repair shop.

Bizerte Fish Market

Bizerte, being a sea port on the Mediterranean, has an active fishing industry and a particularly lively fish market. You can choose your fish here, then take it to a nearby cafe to cook for a fresh and delicious lunch.

Bizerte, Tunisia

From Wikipedia: "Bizerte ... is the northernmost city in Africa, located 65 km north of the capital Tunis. It is one of the oldest known settlements in Tunisia, having been founded by settlers from the Phoenician port of Sidon around 1100 BC." It has a small but colorful harbor. Here are a couple of details.

More Bardo

The Bardo National Museum in Tunis doesn't just have large and intricate mural "paintings" (as shown yesterday), but also exquisitely detailed ceilings and wall tiles.

Bardo Museum

On October 22, the last day of our Tunisia tour, our guide took us to the Bardo National Museum in Tunis. According to Wikipedia, "It is one of the most important museums in the Mediterranean region and the second museum of the African continent after the Egyptian Museum of Cairo by richness of its collections." The mosaics in its collection are truly amazing. Here's a small sample.

This last mosaic is thought to be a portrait of the Roman philosopher, statesman, and dramatist Seneca.