Sam Markman Photography: Featured Galleries and Collections

Favorite Images

szmarkman@yahoo.com (Sam Markman Photography) — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 00:38:57 GMT

This Collection of images are those that I particularly like.

The images are from other Galleries located on this WEB site. With each image, the name of the source Gallery is displayed. Thus, if you wish, you can locate and visit the entire Gallery.

Prints are available via my link with MPIX or contact me for a copy of a particular file you like.

Sam Markman Photography is my Home Page and the gateway to all photos on this WEB site.

Steamboat Springs, CO 2/21 - 28/2010

szmarkman@yahoo.com (Sam Markman Photography) — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 03:25:30 GMT

These are photos of the Ward family, Elizabeth, Chris, Emma and Evan; Vera Schmitt; and the Markman's, Diane & Sam, from our week together in Steamboat Springs, Co.

Alexandria VA Snow Storm 2/06/2010 & some from 2/10/2010

szmarkman@yahoo.com (Sam Markman Photography) — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 18:04:52 GMT

Beginning Friday, February 5, 2010 and continuing into Saturday the 6th, the mid-atlantic region of the United States was hit with a major, record setting, snow storm.

The first of these images were taken in Old Town Alexandria during the storm on February 6, 2010. Additionally included are a few photos of the storm of February 10, 2010 taken from my door of Watergate of Alexandria.

Alexandria VA Snow Storm 12/19/2009

szmarkman@yahoo.com (Sam Markman Photography) — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 03:31:08 GMT

On December 19, 2009 Alexandria Virginia and the Mid-Atlantic region experienced one of its most intense snow storms ever recorded for the month of December.

These are images taken on a walk from North Old Town to King Street and returning along the Potomac River.

South Rim Grand Canyon 11/08/2008

szmarkman@yahoo.com (Sam Markman Photography) — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 02:05:32 GMT

These are photos from our stay in Sedona, Arizona from November 8 -15, 2008. On this excursion, we visited the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.

Diane and I were accompanied by Vera Schmitt, Diane's step mother. We had a blast.

Panama Canal Transit 1/03/2009

szmarkman@yahoo.com (Sam Markman Photography) — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 15:35:41 GMT

On January 3rd, the Island Princess made a dawn entry into the Gatun Locks for its trip from the Caribbean Sea to the Pacific Ocean.

There are three sets of locks in the canal. A two-step flight at Miraflores, and a single flight at Pedro Miguel, lift ships from the Pacific up to Lake Gatun; then a triple flight at Gatun lowers them to the Atlantic side. (The Island Princess entered from the Atlantic side on this cruise.)

All three sets of locks are paired; that is, there are two parallel flights of locks at each of the three lock sites. This, in principle, allows ships to pass in opposite directions simultaneously; however, large ships cannot cross safely at speed in the Gaillard Cut, so in practice ships pass in one direction for a time, then in the other, using both "lanes" of the locks in one direction at a time.

The lock chambers are 33.53 meters (110 ft) wide by 320.0 meters (1050 ft) long, with a usable length of 304.8 metres (1000 ft). These dimensions determine the maximum size of ships which can use the canal; this size is known as Panamax. The total lift (the amount by which a ship is raised or lowered) in the three steps of the Gatun locks is 25.9 m (85 ft); the lift of the two-step Miraflores locks is 16.5 m (54 ft). The single-step Pedro Miguel lock has a lift of 9.5 m (31 ft). The lift at Miraflores actually varies due to the extreme tides on the Pacific side, between 13.1 m (43 ft) at extreme high tide and 19.7 m (64.5 ft) at extreme low tide; the tides on the Atlantic side, however, are very small.

The lock chambers are massive concrete structures. The side walls are from 13.7 to 15.2 metres (45 to 55 feet) thick at the bases; towards the top, where less strength is required, they taper down in steps to 2.4 m (8 ft). The centre wall between the chambers is 18.3 m (60 ft) thick, and houses three long galleries which run the full length of the centre wall. The lowest of these is a drainage tunnel; above this is a gallery for electrical cabling; and towards the top is a passageway which allows operators to gain access to the lock machinery.

Masaya Volcano & Catarina, Nicaragua 1/06/2020

szmarkman@yahoo.com (Sam Markman Photography) — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 04:12:44 GMT

The Masaya volcano is the only volcano in the western hemisphere where you are able to drive to the rim. Visitors can peek over the edge at the Masaya Volcano, and look into the impressive crater, which is continuously emitting smoke and sulfur gases.

The sulfur gas is very irritating and one can only stay a short while. You will notice that all vehicles in the parking lot face the exit. This is a requirement and is designed to facilitate a fast escape, if necessary.

Costa Rica - San Ramón & Tabacon Resort 1/05/2010

szmarkman@yahoo.com (Sam Markman Photography) — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 02:33:36 GMT

The Island Princess arrived at Puntarenas, Costa Rica on the morning of January 5, 2010. We disembarked and boarded our bus to view the Arenal Volcano, to visit the Tabacon Resort and the hot springs there and to see sites in San Ramon.

Unfortunately, the Arenal Volcano was shrouded in mist and completely invisible. However, our visit to Tabacon's hot springs was wonderful. We enjoyed a brief stop in San Ramon as well and seeing the Catholic Church.

Huatulco, Mexico 1/08/2010

szmarkman@yahoo.com (Sam Markman Photography) — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 01:53:54 GMT

Ocho Rios, Jamaica 1/01/2010

szmarkman@yahoo.com (Sam Markman Photography) — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 00:15:07 GMT

Ocho Rios, Jamaica was our first stop in the new year.

Lake Atitlan, Guatamala 1/7/2010

szmarkman@yahoo.com (Sam Markman Photography) — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 04:16:21 GMT

The Island Princess arrived at San Juan Del Sur, Guatamala on January 7, 2010. We headed off to Lake Atitlan for our excursion.

Island Princess Entertainment & Activities 12/30/09 - 01/09/10

szmarkman@yahoo.com (Sam Markman Photography) — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 00:56:10 GMT

These photos were taken at cruise entertainment activities during our trip.

Additional photos will be posted as they are processed.

Island Princess Sailaway Party & Day #1 12/30/2009

szmarkman@yahoo.com (Sam Markman Photography) — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 16:51:27 GMT

These are photos from our first day on board the Island Princess. The photos include the safety drill, sailaway party and miscellaneous. Entertainment photos are in a separate gallery.

Island Princess - Our Travel Group from Day#2 onward

szmarkman@yahoo.com (Sam Markman Photography) — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 02:50:14 GMT

These are photos of our travel group taken on the Island Princess during the cruise. The members of our group for this trip were Jayne and John Simpson; Lee and Brad Hait; and Diane Markman and me.

Colonies Party - 12/12/2009

szmarkman@yahoo.com (Sam Markman Photography) — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 21:44:18 GMT

These images may be downloaded to your PC by selecting a photo, placing your cursor over the photo and selecting "Download Original" from the pop-up menu that appears in the upper left of the photo.

Alternatively, if desired, high-quality prints of any image may be purchased in a 4x6 or multiple of 4x6 inch size. Click on the image of interest and, with your cursor on the image, a pop-up menu appears in the upper left corner. Click 'Add to Cart" and make your selection from the options offered.

Of course, you may arrange for your own printing with the original digital image which is yours to download.

If you desire a different crop size or additional edits, please email or call me.

szmarkman@yahoo.com or 703-615-3682

Thank You.

- Scottish Day Parade - Alexandria, VA 12/05/2009

szmarkman@yahoo.com (Sam Markman Photography) — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 05:03:27 GMT

These are photos from Old Town Alexandria's Scottish Walk on December 5, 2009. Some of these images lend the appearance that we would get 2' of snow, but there was no accumulation here near the Potomac River.

The St. Andrew's Society of Washington, D.C. partners with The Campagna Center and the City of Alexandria to host the 39th Annual Scottish Christmas Walk Parade in historic Old Town. As the centerpiece of the Scottish Christmas Walk Weekend, the parade celebrates the City's Scottish heritage.

www.scottishchristmaswalk.com

It was a fun day.

- Terra Cotta Warrior Exhibit - Nat'l Geographic Museum 11/18/2009

szmarkman@yahoo.com (Sam Markman Photography) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:33:51 GMT

On November 18,2009, I was privileged to be among 55 pre-opening attendees invited to see the Terra Cotta Warrior Exhibit at the National Geographic Museum. The Exhibit officially opened to the public ticket holders on November 19. The National Geographic Museum is the final stop on a two-year U.S. tour of Terra Cotta Warriors.

The exhibition showcases 15 life-size terra cotta figures, including nine warriors, and 100 sets of objects, including weapons, stone armor, coins, jade ornaments, roof tiles and decorative bricks, and a bronze crane and swan. Among the display, there are 20 "Level 1" artifacts -- China's highest possible ranking in terms of rarity and importance.

The Terracotta Army was discovered in 1974 in the eastern suburbs of Xi'an, Shaanxi Province by local farmers drilling a water well 1.5 miles east of Lishan (a mountain).

The Terracotta Army is a form of funerary art buried with the First Emperor of Qin (Qin Shi Huang, Shi Huang means the first emperor) in 210-209 BC (he declared himself the first emperor of China in 221 BC to the end of his life in 210 BC).

Their purpose of producing the warriors was to help rule another empire with Shi Huang Di in the afterlife. Consequently, they are also sometimes referred to as "Qin's Armies." In addition to the warriors, an entire man-made necropolis for the emperor has been excavated.

According to the historian Sima Qian (145-90 BC) construction of this mausoleum began in 246 BC and involved 700,000 workers. Qin Shi Huang was thirteen when construction began (he specifically stated that no two soldiers were to be made alike, which is most likely why he had construction started at that young age).

Each is different. Upon completion, the terracotta figures were placed in the pits in precise military formation according to rank and duty. The tomb of Shi Huang Di is under an earthen pyramid 76 meters tall and nearly 350 square meters. The tomb remains unopened, in the hope that it will remain intact. Only a portion of the site is presently excavated.

Spanish Governor's Palace - San Antonio, TX 10/28/2009

szmarkman@yahoo.com (Sam Markman Photography) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 22:18:44 GMT

The Spanish Governor's Palace is a National Historic Landmark in the city of San Antonio, Texas. Built in the first half of the eighteenth century, it was originally intended to protect the nearby San Antonio de Valero Mission (the Alamo) and the growing colony.

It is considered the sole remaining example of an aristocratic early Spanish house in Texas. The National Geographic Society has called the landmark "the most beautiful building in San Antonio."

The building was constructed in the early eighteenth century, possibly as early as 1722. The keystone above the front entrance is marked with the coat-of-arms of Spanish King Ferdinand VI along with the date 1749.

The building was actually the residence and working offices of the local presidio captain, and not the palace for the region's Spanish governor. The building later became the capitol building of the Tejas region of Spanish Texas in 1722.

Cathedral of San Fernando, San Antonio, TX 10/28/2009

szmarkman@yahoo.com (Sam Markman Photography) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 01:34:53 GMT

San Fernando Cathedral was founded in 1731 and is the oldest, continuously functioning religious community in the State of Texas. The Cathedral building has the added distinction of being the oldest standing church building in Texas, and for all of its more than 275 years, has been serving the people of the Archdiocese and San Antonio.

For almost 90 years, San Fernando served as the church for all of the religious denominations of San Antonio as the Catholic Church was the only recognized religion of the Spanish and Mexican governments prior to Texas' independence.

San Fernando has become more than the geographic center; it has become an ecumenical, cultural, civic, and service center of San Antonio. San Fernando serves as a refuge for many of the poor in this area who come for help and trust their needs will be met.

The Alamo - San Antonio, TX 10/27/2009

szmarkman@yahoo.com (Sam Markman Photography) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 02:46:22 GMT

Mission San José - San Antonio, TX 10/25/2009

szmarkman@yahoo.com (Sam Markman Photography) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 03:55:31 GMT

Known as the "Queen of the Missions", Mission San José is the largest of the missions and was almost fully restored to its original design in the 1930s by the WPA (Works Projects Administration).

Spanish missions were not churches, but communities, with the church the focus. Mission San José shows the visitor how all the missions might have looked over 250 years ago.

San Antonio, TX 10/23-30/2009

szmarkman@yahoo.com (Sam Markman Photography) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:59:03 GMT

These are images taken during the week Diane and I spent visiting family and friends in San Antonio.

Jacob Farhat - Soccer 10/24/2009

szmarkman@yahoo.com (Sam Markman Photography) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 05:59:47 GMT

San Antonio - the Kids 10/23-30/2009

szmarkman@yahoo.com (Sam Markman Photography) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 00:54:53 GMT

These are photos of Noah, Jacob and Evie taking at various activities during our week in San Antonio.

The Royal Haciendas, Playa del Carmen, Mexico 10/03-10/2009

szmarkman@yahoo.com (Sam Markman Photography) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:37:31 GMT

Diane and I were the guests of our friend John Hartman at his time share in Playa del Carmen at the Royal Haciendas. The Royal Haciendas is truly a beautiful place in a beautiful part of Mexico.

Playa - Downtown at Night - 10/08/2009

szmarkman@yahoo.com (Sam Markman Photography) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 02:26:42 GMT

John, Diane and I drove from the Royal Haciendas Resort to downtown Playa where we ate dinner and photographed some of the street scape.

Playa del Carmen (Xaman Ha' or Pláaya in Modern Maya) is a city on the coast of the Caribbean Sea, in the northeast of the Mexican state of Quintana Roo.

The first recorded visitors to the beaches of what is now Playa del Carmen came during the Early Classic Period (a.d. 300-600) of the Mayan civilization. Then called Xaman-Ha, or "waters of the north," Playa del Carmen was a rest stop of sorts for travelers making their way from the great cities of the Mayan world to the island of Cozumel.

Today Playa del Carmen, or just "Playa" as it is colloquially referred to, is the center of the Riviera Maya concept, which runs from south of Cancún to Tulum and the Sian Ka'an biosphere reserve.

Coba Archeological Ruins, Mexico 10/06/2009

szmarkman@yahoo.com (Sam Markman Photography) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 21:35:08 GMT

On Tuesday, Ocober 6, we rented a car and traveled south to the Mayan ruins of Coba with our friend John Hartman.

Coba (Cobá in the Spanish language) is a large ruined city of the Pre-Columbian Maya civilization. Coba is estimated to have had some 50,000 inhabitants (and possibly significantly more) at its peak of civilization, and the built up area extends over some 80 km².

The site was occupied by a sizable agricultural population by the 1st century. The bulk of Coba's major construction seems to have been made in the middle and late Classic period, about 500 to 900, with most of the dated hieroglypic inscriptions from the 7th century.

However Coba remained an important site in the Post-Classic era and new temples were built and old ones kept in repair until at least the 14th century, possibly as late as the arrival of the Spanish.

Tulum Archeological Ruins, Mexico 10/09/2009

szmarkman@yahoo.com (Sam Markman Photography) — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 15:48:43 GMT

Tulum) is the site of a Pre-Columbian Maya walled city serving as a major port for Cobá.[1] The ruins are located on 12-meter (39 ft) cliffs, along the east coast of the Yucatán Peninsula on the Caribbean Sea in the state of Quintana Roo, Mexico.

The Maya site may have been formerly also known by the name Zama, meaning city of Dawn. Tulúm is also the Yucatec Mayan word for fence or wall[1] (or trench), and the walls surrounding the site allowed the Tulum fort to serve as a defense against invasion. From the numerous depictions in murals and other works around the site, Tulum appears to have been an important site for the worship of the Diving or Descending god.

Tulum was protected on one side by steep sea cliffs and on the landward side by a wall that averaged about three to 5 meters (16 ft) in height. The wall also was about 8 m (26 ft) thick and 400 m (1,300 ft) long on the side parallel to the sea. The part of the wall that ran the width of the site was slightly shorter and only about 170 meters (560 ft) on both sides. This massive wall would have taken an enormous amount of energy and time, which shows how important defense was to the Maya when they constructed the site here.

On the southwest and northwest corners there are small structures that have been identified as watch towers, showing again how well defended the city would have been. There are five narrow gateways in the wall with two each on the north and south sides and one on the west. Near the northern side of the wall a small cenote would have provided the city with fresh water. It is this impressive wall that makes Tulum one the most well-known fortified sites of the Maya.

Barboursville Vineyards September 16, 2009

szmarkman@yahoo.com (Sam Markman Photography) — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 01:27:04 GMT

My brother's family: Stephen, Nan, Kristen, Heather and Meghan treated Diane and me to an overnight stay at the Barboursville Vineyards 1804 Inn, dinner at the Palladio Restaurant and a wine tasting.

Our stay was spectacular and these photos display some of what we enjoyed. The Washington Post has a nice write up at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/25/AR2009112504194.html

Berlin, Germany 7/3/2009

szmarkman@yahoo.com (Sam Markman Photography) — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 18:56:25 GMT

On Friday, July 3, 2009, the Emerald Princess entered the Port of Warnamunde. We took the train to Berlin for the day.

Gdansk, Poland 7/02/2009

szmarkman@yahoo.com (Sam Markman Photography) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 21:39:59 GMT

The city lies on the southern edge of Gdańsk Bay (of the Baltic Sea), in a conurbation with the spa town of Sopot, the city of Gdynia and suburban communities, which together form a metropolitan area called the Tricity (Trójmiasto), with a population of over 800,000.[1]

Gdańsk itself has a population of 458,053 (2006), making it the largest city in the Pomerania region of Northern Poland.

Tallinn, Estonia 7/01/2009

szmarkman@yahoo.com (Sam Markman Photography) — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 01:23:19 GMT

This Baltic republic, like Latvia and Lithuania, has survived a turbulent history. At various times, the small nation was conquered and ruled by Teutonic Knights, Polish princes and Russian Tsars. For 51 years prior to independence in 1991, Estonia was controlled by Russia.

Tallinn is the political, commercial and cultural center of Estonia.

Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia 6/30/2009

szmarkman@yahoo.com (Sam Markman Photography) — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 04:50:35 GMT

Our second day in St. Petersburg was a visit to the incredible Hermitage Museum - so large that spending just seconds reviewing each collectible would take years for the visitor to see everything, even if working at it 7 days a week, 24 hours a day!

Peterhof, St. Petersburg, Russia 6/29/2009

szmarkman@yahoo.com (Sam Markman Photography) — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 19:27:24 GMT

After a 2 hour delay disembarking from the Emerald Princess - the Russian immigration authorities took an exceptional amount of time to clear us - the gangplank was lowered and our two-day adventure in St. Petersburg and the surrounding area began.

On this excursion, we visited the Peterhof.

Catherine's Palace, Russia, 6/29/2009

szmarkman@yahoo.com (Sam Markman Photography) — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 03:49:50 GMT

A visit to Catherine's Palace, dinner at Catherine's Palace and a visit to the Carriage Works were on the agenda for our second excursion of the day.

Stockholm, Sweden 6/27/2009 - Archipelago, Vasa, Royal Armory

szmarkman@yahoo.com (Sam Markman Photography) — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 20:34:00 GMT

Photos transiting the Archipelago of Stockholm, the Vasa Warship Museum and the Royal Armory.

Helsinki, Finland 6/28/2009

szmarkman@yahoo.com (Sam Markman Photography) — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 01:07:47 GMT

Emerald Princess Miscellaneous & Evening Entertainment - 2009

szmarkman@yahoo.com (Sam Markman Photography) — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 15:46:24 GMT

Summer 2009

szmarkman@yahoo.com (Sam Markman Photography) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 22:46:35 GMT

These are images taken by me and others of our 2009 summer at Rehoboth Beach, DE. This is our first year at 36 Kent Street which is a very nice house we rented for the summer.

If you are a Facebook member, you'll find more information and photos at our 36 Kent Beach House site - just click on the link.

Kristen & Brad -- Charleston Wedding 5/01/09

szmarkman@yahoo.com (Sam Markman Photography) — Thu, 14 May 2009 05:11:20 GMT

Kristen and Brad were married at the William Aiken House in Charleston, SC. These are the images surrounding this happy occasion. Click on any image to enter Kristen & Brad's gallery of photos.

At no cost, individual images may be downloaded in their original form or saved in one of the options provided. (Place cursor over any image and select from the top-left menu.)

Additionally, for ease and convenience, prints and other purchases are allowed at very reasonable cost from this WEB site by adding your selection "to the cart" and following the instructions provided.

Kilauea Point Lighthouse - 4/07/2009

szmarkman@yahoo.com (Sam Markman Photography) — Sat, 16 May 2009 23:12:52 GMT

Kauai, Hawaii

Kilauea Point is the northernmost outpost of the main Hawaiian Island chain and was acquired by the U.S. government in 1909. A U.S. Coast Guard station was established in 1913, and a 52-foot-tall, reinforced-concrete lighthouse was constructed atop the cliff.

The world's largest clamshell Fresnel lens was lit by an oil-vapor lamp and produced a beam that could be seen 90 miles away. Lighthouse engineers devised a massive weight, cable, and pulley system, called a "clock," to turn the 4-ton lens, creating a signature double-flash every 10 seconds.

The lighthouse was decommissioned in 1976, when an automated electronic beacon was installed. Today, the area is a National Refuge.

Emerald Princess: Miscellaneous Travel & Shipboard

szmarkman@yahoo.com (Sam Markman Photography) — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 03:46:26 GMT

These are photos taken on board the Emerald Princess and other photos that are not part of the Evening Entertainment Collection or one of our excursions or itinerary visits.

Emerald Princess Evening Entertainment - 2008 -

szmarkman@yahoo.com (Sam Markman Photography) — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 21:37:57 GMT

This collection features the entertainers and entertainment which we enjoyed on the Emerald Princess.

Colonies Party - 12/13/2008

szmarkman@yahoo.com (Sam Markman Photography) — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 23:20:26 GMT

Croquet Society XMas Party 12/07/2008

szmarkman@yahoo.com (Sam Markman Photography) — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 21:40:27 GMT

These photos were taken at the Croquet Society Christmas Gala held at Gale Scott's beautiful home.

Posted images can be purchased in 4x6, 5x7 or 8x10 size. Click on the image of interest and with your cursor on the image, a pop-up menu appears in the upper left corner. Click 'Add to Cart" and make your selection.

If you desire a different size, additional edits or a different crop, please email or call me. If you wish to download a digital copy of an image, please call me.

szmarkman@yahoo.com or 703-615-3682

Thank You.

Venice, Italy 6/23-25/2008

szmarkman@yahoo.com (Sam Markman Photography) — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 00:24:13 GMT

At the conclusion of our Mediterranean cruise on Princess, Becky Fehrs, Larry Winfield and Diane and I stayed an additional three nights in Venice, Italy. We rented an apartment from Hotel Galleria in a wonderful area near the Accademia Bridge.

Grand Princess Bridge Visit 09/22/2009

szmarkman@yahoo.com (Sam Markman Photography) — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 19:35:28 GMT

Captain Tony Herriott invited us to visit the Bridge of the Grand Princess which we did on our final day at sea - September 22, 2008.

Earlier, I photographed a couple's 25th anniversary wedding renewal vow on board where I met Captain Herriott who officated for the occasion. The Captain invited us then to visit the bridge, a treat as this area of the ship is now seldom seen.

Corfu, Greece 09/21/2008

szmarkman@yahoo.com (Sam Markman Photography) — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 01:28:36 GMT

From Wikipedia:

Corfu (Greek: Κέρκυρα, Kérkyra, IPA: [ˈkʲe̞ɾkʲiɾa]; Ancient Greek: Κέρκυρα or Κόρκυρα; Latin: Corcyra; Italian: Corfù) is a Greek island in the Ionian Sea.

It is the second largest of the Ionian Islands,[2] and lies off the coast of Sarandë, Albania, from which it is separated by straits varying in breadth from 3 to 23 km (2 to 15 mi), including one near ancient Butrint and a longer one west of Thesprotia.

The island is part of the Corfu Prefecture, and includes twelve of the sixteen municipalities or communes in the prefecture and over Communities of Ereikoussa, Mathraki, Othonoi, and Municipality of Paxoi, which are all separate islands.

The principal town (pop. 28,185) of the island is also named Corfu, or Kérkyra in Greek, as is its municipality (pop. 39,487). Corfu is home to the Ionian University.

Katakolon, Greece 09/20/2008

szmarkman@yahoo.com (Sam Markman Photography) — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 21:15:48 GMT

Katakolon is a seaside town in western Ilia in the municipality of Pyrgos. The town center is within a gulf overlooking the Ionian Sea.

Katakolon is the gateway to Olympia where the ancient Greeks flocked every four years for more than a millennium (776 BC - 393 AD) to celebrate the sacred games dedicated to Zeus.

Acropolis, Poseidon, Athens, Greece 09/19/2009

szmarkman@yahoo.com (Sam Markman Photography) — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 04:47:52 GMT

The Acropolis hill (acro - edge, polis - city), so called the "Sacred Rock" of Athens, is the most important site of the city and constitutes one of the most recognizable monuments of the world. It is the most significant reference point of ancient Greek culture, as well as the symbol of the city of Athens itself as it represent the apogee of artistic development in the 5th century BC. During Perikles' Golden Age, ancient Greek civilization was represented in an ideal way on the hill and some of the architectural masterpieces of the period were erected on its ground.

The Propylaea are the monumental entrances to the sacred area dedicated to Athena, the patron goddess of the city. Built by the architect Mnesicles with Pentelic marble, their design was avant-garde. To the south-west of the Propylaea, on a rampart protecting the main entrance to the Acropolis, is the Ionian temple of Apteros Nike, which is now being restored.

The first habitation remains on the Acropolis date from the Neolithic period. Over the centuries, the rocky hill was continuously used either as a cult place or as a residential area or both. The inscriptions on the numerous and precious offerings to the sanctuary of Athena (marble korai, bronze and clay statuettes and vases) indicate that the cult of the city's patron goddess was established as early as the Archaic period (650-480 B.C.).

Mykonos, Greece 09/18/2008

szmarkman@yahoo.com (Sam Markman Photography) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 00:48:10 GMT

From Wikipedia:

Mykonos (Greek: Μύκονος) is a Greek island and a mass tourist destination, renowned for its cosmopolitan character and its intense nightlife. The island is part of the Cyclades, lying between Tinos, Siros, Paros and Naxos. It spans an area of 105.183 km2 (41 sq mi) and rises at an elevation of 341 m (1,119 ft) at its highest point.

The island is composed primarily of granite. It has little natural fresh water and relies on the desalination of sea water in order to meet its needs. There are 9,320 inhabitants (2001) most of whom live in the largest town, Mykonos, also known as Chora (i.e. the Town in Greek, a common denomination in Greece when the name of the island itself is the same as the name of the principal town), which lies on the west coast.

It is believed that the island was named after a local hero, who is considered an offspring of the god Apollo and was worshipped locally in antiquity.

In Greek mythology Mykonos was the location of the battle between Zeus and the Titan, and the island was named in honor of Apollo's grandson Mykons.

During these ancient times, Mykonos, due to its proximity to the then highly populated island of Delos (situated about 2km away), became very important as a supply island and possibly as a getaway location for Delian citizens.

Ephesus, Turkey 09/17/2008

szmarkman@yahoo.com (Sam Markman Photography) — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 05:51:45 GMT

The following is taken from Wikipedia.

Ephesus (Ancient Greek Ἔφεσος; Turkish Efes) was an ancient Greek city on the west coast of Anatolia, in the region known as Ionia during the period known as Classical Greece. It was one of the twelve cities of the Ionian League.

The city was famed for the Temple of Artemis (completed around 550 BC), one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, which was destroyed by a mob led by St. John Chrysostom in 401 AD.[1] The emperor Constantine I rebuilt much of the city and erected new public baths. The town was again partially destroyed by an earthquake in 614. The importance of the city as a commercial centre declined as the harbor slowly filled with silt from the river Cayster (Küçük Menderes).
Ephesus was one of the seven churches of Asia cited in the Book of Revelation.[2] The Gospel of John might have been written here.[3] It is also the site of a large gladiator graveyard.

Today's archaeological site lies 3 kilometers south of the Selçuk district of İzmir Province, Turkey. The ruins of Ephesus are a favorite international and local tourist attraction, partly owing to their easy accessibility from Adnan Menderes Airport and via the port of Kuşadası.

Santorini, Greece 09/16/2008

szmarkman@yahoo.com (Sam Markman Photography) — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 02:33:52 GMT

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Santorini (Greek Σαντορίνη, pronounced [ˌsa(n)do̞ˈrini]) is a small, circular archipelago of volcanic islands located in the southern Aegean Sea, about 200 km southeast from Greece's mainland. It is also known as Thera (or Thira, Greek Θήρα [ˈθira]), forming the southernmost member of the Cyclades group of islands, with an area of approximately 73 km² (28 mi²) and a 2001 census population of 13,670. It is composed of the Municipality of Thíra (pop. 12,440) and the Community of Oía (Οία, pop. 1,230, which includes 268 inhabitants resident on the offshore island of Therasia, lying to the west). These have a total land area of 90.623 km², which also includes the uninhabited islands of Nea Kameni, Palaia Kameni, Aspronisi, and Christiani (all part of the Municipality of Thira).

Santorini is essentially what remains of an enormous volcanic explosion, destroying the earliest settlements on what was formerly a single island, and leading to the creation of the current geological caldera. Its spectacular physical beauty, along with a dynamic nightlife, have made the island one of Europe's tourist hotspots.

A giant central lagoon, more or less rectangular, and measuring about 12 km by 7 km (8 mi by 4 mi), is surrounded by 300 m (984 ft) high steep cliffs on three sides. The island slopes downward from the cliffs to the surrounding Aegean Sea. On the fourth side, the lagoon is separated from the sea by another much smaller island called Therasia; the lagoon merges with the sea in two places, in the northwest and southwest. The water in the centre of the lagoon is nearly 400 m (1300 ft) deep, thus making it a safe harbour for all kinds of shipping. The island's harbours all lie in the lagoon and there are no ports on the outer perimeter of the island; the capital, Fira, clings to the top of the cliff looking down on the lagoon. The volcanic rocks present from the prior eruptions feature olivine and have a notably small presence of hornblende.[2]

It is the most active volcanic centre in the South Aegean Volcanic Arc, though what remains today is chiefly a water-filled caldera. The name Santorini was given to it by the Latin empire in the thirteenth century, and is a reference to Saint Irene. Before then it was known as Kallistē ("the most beautiful one"), Strongylē ("the circular one"), or Thera.

The island is the site of one of the largest volcanic eruptions the planet has ever seen: the Minoan eruption (sometimes called the Thera eruption), which occurred some 3,600 years ago at the height of the Minoan civilization. The eruption left a large caldera surrounded by volcanic ash deposits hundreds of feet deep and may have led indirectly to the collapse of the Minoan civilization on the island of Crete, 110 km (70 miles) to the south, through the creation of a gigantic tsunami. Another popular theory holds that the Thera eruption is the source of the legend of Atlantis.

Naples, Sorrento, Positano & Amalfi Coast 9/14/2008

szmarkman@yahoo.com (Sam Markman Photography) — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 20:44:49 GMT

San Gimignano, Volterra, etc., Italy 9/13/2008

szmarkman@yahoo.com (Sam Markman Photography) — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 20:54:14 GMT

These are images from our Livorno stop.

Monte Carlo (Monaco) 9/12/2008

szmarkman@yahoo.com (Sam Markman Photography) — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 00:08:23 GMT

These are photos of our visit on September 12, 2008 to the Principality of Monaco and Monte Carlo, one of Monaco's three districts. Monaco is only 3/4 of a square mile in size and contains a population of about 33,000.

Grand Princess Evening Entertainment - 2008 -

szmarkman@yahoo.com (Sam Markman Photography) — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 02:33:34 GMT

This is a collection of images of some of the evening entertainment aboard the Grand Princess.

Grand Princess Miscellaneous: Travel & Shipboard

szmarkman@yahoo.com (Sam Markman Photography) — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 00:22:37 GMT

These are photos taken on board the Grand Princess and other photos that are not part of the Evening Entertainment Collection or one of our excursions or itinerary visits.

Carnival Cruise Evenings & Entertainment

szmarkman@yahoo.com (Sam Markman Photography) — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 03:21:00 GMT

These photos capture the various activities of many of the evenings aboard the Carnival Freedom during our week as well as Jayne & Diane's shopping trip in Cozumel, Mexico.

Sam Markman Photography is my Home Page and starting point to view other photos on this WEB site.

Las Vegas & Valley of Fire April 2008

szmarkman@yahoo.com (Sam Markman Photography) — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 16:16:00 GMT

From April 6 and returning April 10, Diane, our friend Greg Williams and me were in Las Vegas. The trip was inexpensive as we were 'sponsored' by Wyndham Vacation Resorts.

While in Las Vegas we enjoyed shows by Blue Man Group, Mac King, Rita Rudner and a great trip to Nevada's Valley of Fire State Park and Lake Mead with our guide Mountain Buck.

Sam Markman Photography is my Home Page and starting point to view other photos on this WEB site.