November 4, 2009

Cenote, Mexico

The underground river systems of the Yucatan flow beneath the entire peninsula. During the ice ages when the ocean levels were much lower than they are today, what was once a giant coral reef became exposed to the atmosphere and eventually became the Yucatan Peninsula. Massive cave systems were formed by gradual dissolving of the highly porous coral limestone. These caves are called "solution caves" because they were formed by the slightly acidic rainfall dissolving the alkaline limestone. Inside the caves the geological formations such as stalactites and stalagmites are a spectacular sight to see. Many of the caverns eventually collapsed and the sea levels rose partially or completely flooding the cave systems. The water table of the entire peninsula is filled with consists of seawater at sea level and freshwater 'floating' on top at varying depth depending on the distance from the sea.

** If you look closely on the top right side of the stalatite, you'll see 2 little local boys. They like to jump for a small propina...

November 3, 2009

Il Kil Cenote, Mexico

I rode around the Yucatan Peninsula for a couple of days with a wonderful Brazilian writer on the hunt for Cenotes. I was able to fire off 3 shots before a deluge of rain hit the area. On the second nite heading into Merida, I kept commenting, "this is HURRICANE RAIN!!!" It was only the next day on the way to the Wild9 Congress that I saw a lad on the side of the road selling newspapers with a large headline reading HURACAN. (I don't tend to watch tv when having an adventure, how was I to know that Hurricane Ida was kissing the coast of the Yucatan?!)

November 2, 2009

Chichen Itza, Mexico

One of the New Seven Wonders of the World!!

El Castillo

Dominating the center of Chichén is the Temple of Kukulkan (the Maya name for Quetzalcoatl), often referred to as "El Castillo" (the castle). This step pyramid has a ground plan of square terraces with stairways up each of the four sides to the temple on top. On the Spring and Autumn equinox, at the rising and setting of the sun, the corner of the structure casts a shadow in the shape of a plumed serpent - Kukulcan, or Quetzalcoatl - along the west side of the north staircase. On these two annual occasions, the shadows from the corner tiers slither down the northern side of the pyramid with the sun's movement to the serpent's head at the base.

November 1, 2009

Celestun, Mexico

October 31, 2009

Merida, Mexico

Frida... isn't she lovely?

October 30, 2009

Merida, Mexico

Day of the Dead is celebrated in Merida for 3 days. In the town square (Zocala) many families set up altars for their deceased loved ones. Laid out on this altar is a display of personal possessions and favorite food of the father. In some parts of Mexico the families will spend the day at the graveyard cleaning up around the grave and eating a picnic. A little something for everyone!

© cynthia hobgood

not for sale!

October 29, 2009

San Blas Island, Panama

October 28, 2009

San Blas Islands, Panama

October 27, 2009

San Blas Islands

October 26, 2009

Missoula, Montana

October 25, 2009

Tall Ships in Charleston Harbour

October 24, 2009

Yard Art

October 23, 2009

Glacier National Park

Montana

October 22, 2009

Washington, DC

October 21, 2009

Washington, DC

Aztec Warrior

Guanajuato, Mexico

October 20, 2009

Washington, DC

Adam and Eve

Guanajuato, Mexico

October 19, 2009

Washington, DC

Guanajuato, Mexico

October 18,2009

Washington, DC

Early morning walk in Guanajuato, Mexico.

October 17, 2009

Washington, DC

Baby Wig in Guanajuato

October 16, 2009 DAY 100!!!

Washington, DC

Sunday Morning Walk

Guanajuato, Mexico

October 15, 2009

Washington, DC

San Blas Islands

October 14,2009

Washington, DC

Ecuador

October 13, 2009

Buffalo Junction, Virginia

October 12, 2009

Buffalo Junction, Virginia

October 11, 2009

Buffalo Junction, Virginia

Today's lesson: Look pretty.. even when somebody's trying to take a bite out of you....

October 10, 2009

Buffalo Junction, Virginia

My Dad drove granddad's FARM truck into the garage in 1983. It's been sitting there ever since.

October 9, 2009

Buffalo Junction, Virginia

October 8, 2009

Charleston, SC

Gillian Gillyflower...

Many years ago this little girl used to jump into bed with me when I would visit. She'd growl every time I moved... she'd protect the Rev. Buddy Love's food (re: no one could get close to it)...

She even once offered herself to him.(awkward....) He was more interested in a Great Dane named Harold. I didn't have the heart to tell her....

October 7, 2009

Botany Bay, SC

October 6, 2009

Folly Beach, SC

October 5, 2009

Alexandria, Virginia

October 4, 2009

Washington, DC

Inauguration Day... it was a good day for most of us...

October 3, 2009

Washington, DC

Death to Smootchy (Georgetown)

October 2, 2009

Washington, DC

Comarca de San Blas, Panama

October 1, 2009

Washington, DC

September 30, 2009

Washington, DC

September 29, 2009

Santa Fe, New Mexico

Amanda

September 28, 2009

Ojo Caliente, New Mexico

Poseuinge, "village at the place of the green bubbling hot springs"

Went to my favorite Hot Springs today and had a fantastic mineral springs soak... but FIRST we hiked up to the neighboring BLM protected area called Poseuinge. On the hill where I'm standing was once a large pueblo with terraced gardens overlooking the springs. "Posi" was a vibrant center of activity in the 15th century, evidenced by the substantial amount of clay shards covering the land.

September 27, 2009

Albuquerque, NM

Something wonderful from my archives...

September 26, 2009

Albuquerque, NM

Sweet Angel Kyle

CeCilia, my seester.... Some day when Kyle is a teenager, we will have all kinds of black mail material.... but this isn't it. He's a sweet, little angel in this moment.

September 25, 2009

Albuquerque, NM

Belly Dancing - The Movie

© 2009 Cynthia Hobgood

September 24, 2009

Boulder, Colorado

The Flatirons

Chautauqua Park is the gateway to the Flatirons, which are rock formations, so named by pioneer women after the flat, metal irons used to press their clothes.

I had a great hike, a little dramatic in that I had to balance the big camera and use two hands to pull up on some of the rocks at the top. A storm was coming, a chipmunk was aggressive, my hair was a mess AND I was having dinner with old friends (Amy, Lonnie and Cory) who I hadn't seen in at least 12 years!! May every day be this hugely satisfying.

September 23, 2009

Muley Point, Utah

The good news, we got to have dinner with an old friend from Santa Fe, named Sherry. Cuban food and mojitos... a good way to get over the fact that it RAINED all day again.

Sooo... I pulled this image out from last week. Muley Point, in Utah, overlooks the twisting, entrenched canyons of the San Juan River. Monument Valley and Valley of the Gods can be seen from this viewpoint. (though you can't see them in this image!) We're coming back to camp next time, I hear the stars are spectacularly brilliant up here. Very peaceful...

September 22, 2009

Denver, Colorado

Busy Beavers

Denver is cold and rainy today so I've pulled out the double Beaver Dams that I shot over the weekend close to Salida. I've never seen anything quite like it. There were actually 3 dams but I couldn't get them all in the shot!

September 21, 2009

Denver, Colorado

September 20, 2009

Twin Lakes, Colorado

The historic Interlacken Hotel and Resort was a popular vacation spot for the wealthy in the late 1880's. We walked thru a golden Aspen grove to get to this sweet little group of buildings.

Our dear friends, Lee and Susan, (who live in nearby Salida) had hiked the lake by snoeshow on a full moon night. They always take us to the best places...

September 19, 2009

Twin Lakes, Colorado

September 18, 2009

Salida, Colorado

Browns Canyon (Wilderness Study Area)

September 17, 2009

Valley of the Gods, Utah

September 16, 2009

Cedar Mesa, Utah

Mule Canyon Towers were occupied around 1100 AD by the Anasazi.

September 15, 2009

Fry Canyon, Utah

Many years ago I came to Fry Canyon to scout for a movie called "Dark Blood" (River Phoenix was on the movie but died 3 weeks from completion).. He was a sweetheart but that's another story...

Anyway, I met an old miner here in Fry Canyon and we had one of the best conversations I've ever had with anybody. The memory is like a fine palladium print... There was a wonderful shaft of light crossing his wizened face, cowboy boots propped up on a stool, plaid shirt and blue jeans..

Talking for hours, we were like a couple of ravens flying high, swooping down, catching air currents... so different in life experiences, age and philosophy... yet traveling in the same direction in those moments.

Our commonality was mutual respect and an interest in knowing what the other thought and felt about life. We took the time...

I went back to Fry Canyon today, twenty years later and found his old place closed up... Wonder where he props his boots up these days....

September 14, 2009

Fry Canyon, Utah