Destination - Philadelphia

"It is a handsome city, but distractingly regular.  After walking about it for an hour or two, I felt that I would have given the world for a crooked street.  The collar of my coat appeared to stiffen and the brim of my hat to expand, beneath its Quakerly influence."

Charles Dickens

 

Philadelphia

Betsy Ross' house

It has been over 20 years since I visited Philadelphia.  So I had to do a bit of research in order to give you information about what there is to see and do in the city.  As it was, I only spent one day in the city.  I was working for a credit union at the time, and was doing employee training.  The credit union had just hired a new employee for its one person branch in Hagerstown, Maryland, and sent me there to train her.  I was there for 2 weeks.  On the first Saturday that I was there I decided to drive up to Philadelphia and see the sights.  It was a bit of a drive, but since I had never been there I enjoyed my day of sightseeing.  I did not get back to my hotel in Maryland till around midnight, partly because I got very lost, trying to exit the city.

The main things I did that day were to visit the best known sights of the city.  I remember I paid to take a walking tour called "Walking in Franklin's Footsteps," which took me to Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, Betsy Ross' house and to the Christ Church cemetery where Benjamin Franklin, and several other signers of the constitution, are buried.  We all threw a penny on Franklin's grave - it has become a tradition to do this, because of his saying "a penny earned, is a penny saved."

Franklin's Grave

The Walk in Franklin's Footstep Tour is still available to do, and I thought it was an interesting way to see the most famous of the sights of the city, which tells about how our country started.  This guided walking tour retraces the footsteps of Benjamin Franklin and his fellow patriots during the founding of our nation.  Highlights include Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell and Carprenters' Hall (where the Continental Congress met to discuss its grievances with England.)  Along the way, you will see Christ Church, the Betsy Ross House - where the flag was made, and the Christ Church Burial Ground which is the final resting place of Franklin and many historic leaders.  Each tour is approximatley 75 minutes long, and they are available November through April, weather permitting, and daily May through October.

There are many other city tours available, including bus tours where you can hop on and off all day.  Those are nice because they tell you what you are seeing, and they save on walking.  There are also carriage tours, and tours on the trolley - which is an open air Victorian-style trolley, which has 20 stops throughout the city and is also hop on and off.  And there are some nighttime tours available.

If you are doing the city on your own and not taking a tour then the following are the main sights to see while visiting the city:

Independence Hall
Considered by many to be the birthplace of the United States itself, this red-brick Georgian-style building is where the Second Congressional Congress met off and on from 1775 to 1783. More importantly, it was
here that the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were debated, drafted and signed by our forefathers. While touring Independence Hall, you'll have the chance to see the Assembly Room where George Washington was appointed commander in chief of the Continental Army.  You can also see surviving copies of the declaration, the Constitution and the Articles of Confederation, all displayed in the West Wing's Great Essentials Exhibit.  From March through December, you must obtain a ticket for a tour to visit Independence Hall (tickets are free, but there is a $1.50 ticket-handling fee).  You don't need a ticket to visit in January and February, but you must join a guided tour.  Independence Hall is open daily with tours beginning at 9 a.m. Generally, the final tour is given around 5 p.m. although they often continue later in the summer.

Liberty Bell Center
Now residing in a huge glass gazebo, this 2,080 pound piece of history was mounted in the belfry of Independence Hall.  It was used to mark important historic events, most notably at the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence.  Its chimes were last heard in 1846 for George Washington's birthday.  It was around that time that the bell's famous crack was formed, rendering it unusable.  The bell is on display, with Independence Hall in the background.  The center is open year-round from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. although hours may vary depending on the season.  Admission is free.  A video presentation and exhibits trace the bell’s history from its debut at the Pennsylvania State House to its use as a symbol of freedom by abolitionists, and the women’s suffrage and civil rights movements.

National Constitution Center
Located on Philadelphia’s Independence Mall, this nonprofit, nonpartisan institution invites visitors to immerse themselves in the Constitution, its history and its ongoing significance. Visitors will be dazzled by "The Story of We the People", an exhibit with more than 100 multimedia elements, and by Signers’ Hall, where they can walk among 43 life-size bronze statues of the Founding Fathers who were present the day the Constitution was signed.

Christ Church Burial Ground

This cemetery is one of America’s most interesting Colonial and Revolution-era graveyards, with 1,400 markers on two beautiful acres right in the heart of historic Philadelphia. The Burial Ground is the final resting place of some of our most prominent leaders including Benjamin Franklin and four other signers of the Declaration of Independence. The Burial Ground is open March-Nov. (weather permitting). Hours are: Monday-Saturday 10-4, Sunday 12-4.  Don't forget to throw a penny on Franklin's grave, its a Philadelphia tradition.

The Franklin Institute
Named in honor of Benjamin Franklin, the institute is one of the country's best science museums.  It houses exhibits ranging from the world's largest artificial heart (a walk-through mega pump that would be of accurate size for a 220 foot tall person) to a massive Baldwin 6000 steam locomotive.  It also has a planetarium which highlights our skies and the universe beyond.

Museum of Art
The Philadelphia Museum of Art is the third largest art museum in the country, and a must-see on the list of things to do in the city.  It sits majestically on a rise at the end of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, and reminds one of the Parthenon. The vast collections of art include holdings in Renaissance, American, Impressionist and Modern art.  Upstairs, breathe in other cultures and times through over 80 period rooms, from the medieval cloister to the Indian temple.

Reading Terminal Market

When it comes to satisfying your appetite in Philly, you can only eat so many cheese steaks. So when lunchtime rolls around, head to the Reading Terminal Market in the Market East District. This market is located beneath the Reading Railroad's 1891 train shed and harbors almost 100 different vendors. Here, you can sample food from around the world -- including Greek, Thai, Mexican and Indian specialties -- while perusing homemade crafts and jewelry. While there is a central dining area, many of the food stalls also have their own seating.  The Reading Terminal Market is open Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Love Park (John F. Kennedy Plaza)

After lunch, go relax and do some people-watching in Love Park.  Located across from City Hall, this urban plaza is a welcoming oasis for Center City workers on lunch breaks, families drawn by the soothing sounds of the large fountain, and even a few skateboarders willing to flout city law. The park takes its nickname from the iconic Robert Indiana Pop art sculpture found there.

Please Touch Museum
If you are visiting the city with children, then this is a must see museum.  Many say this children's museum is one of the best in the country.  If offers dozens of hands-on displays, related to everything from fine arts to construction zones.  You and the kids can travel to Wonderland with Alice, practice your reading skills in the Story Castle and hone your science skills in the lab.  There are daily arts and crafts projects, and a café on the premises (with healthy snacks that your kids will love).  It is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Admission is $15 per person.

Chinatown
Philadelphia’s Chinatown is one of many Chinatowns in the United States, with culture and history, and it is certainly worth stopping by and seeing this area. You can visit some of the most historical and important buildings to the Chinese community, look at brilliant and breathtaking art and sculptures done by Chinese artisans, or take a stroll through the streets while window shopping and people-watching. There are wonderful shops to explore, as well as some great restaurants to get some Chinese food.

There are of course many other things to see in the city.  There are many more museums.  You can visit the oldest zoo in the country, or take in a play at the Walnut Street Theatre which is the oldest continuously operating theatre in the English-speaking world and the oldest in the United States.  You could hang out in Franklin Square where legend has it Franklin conducted his famous "kite and key" experiment in 1752 and has a statue commemorating the event.  Or you could take a walk through the Morris Arboretum on the grounds of the University of Pennsylvania.

Philly Cheesesteak

Of course, there are many great places to eat while in Philly, but they are probably most famous for their Philly Cheesesteak sandwiches, so while there, you just have to try one.  Two of the most famous places to go are - Pat's King of Steaks (which claims to be the home of the original cheesesteak), and just across the street is Geno's which gives Pat's heavy competition.  Both are open 24 hours a day 7 days a week.

Whatever you decide to do while visiting this city, relax and enjoy the atmosphere, and remember that this is the birthplace of our country.

Destination - Venice, Italy

"I will never forget experiencing Venice for the first time. It feels like you are transported to another time - the art, music, food and pure romance in the air is like no other place."

Elizabeth Berkley

 

 "Venice is like eating an entire box of chocolate liqueurs in one go."

Truman Capote

 

Venice

Today is my husband and my 46th wedding anniversary.  Seems like just yesterday, sometimes.  The reason I mention our anniversary, is because we visited Italy to celebrate our 25th anniversary and plan to go back to Italy in 2017 to celebrate our 50th.  One of my favorite places when we visited on that trip, was Venice.  There was just something about the atmosphere of the city that I loved.  Maybe it is all that water, since I am definitely a water person.  Or maybe it was all the colorful crumbling palazzos that line the Grand Canal, which I found to be charming and added such character to the place.  Or maybe it was St. Mark's Square or Harry's Bar, which I loved.  Whatever the reason, I plan to make it a definite stop on our return trip.



Some of the crumbling walls of Venice
I loved the textures and the atmosphere.

Venice is a city in northern Italy, the capital of the region Veneto and is world famous for its canals.  It is made up of 118 islands formed by approximately 150 canals in a shallow lagoon.  The islands are connect by around 400 bridges.  Transportation within the city is by foot or by water.  It is considered by many to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world.  The classical Venetian boat is the gondola, although now it is mostly used by tourists.  Most Venetians now travel by motorized waterbuses known as vaporetti.

If you go to Venice you will arrive on the mainland and will probably take a water bus over to the old city.  You will cross the Grand Canal, which is the main waterway of the city, to do this.  There are many things to see and do while visiting this city.  Below is my list of things.

Gondola on the Grand Canal

The Grand Canal is an ancient waterway, lined with buildings that were mostly built from the 13th to the 18th centuries.  It forms one of the major water-traffic corridors in the city.  The two mile trip from the railway station on the mainland to St. Marks Square provides a suberb introduction to the city.  Public transport is provided by water buses (vaporetto) and private water taxis, and many tourists explore the canal by gondola.  Whatever form of public transportation you decide on, make sure you tour the Grand Canal.

The glorious past of Venice returns once a year to the Grand Canal during the Regata Storica (historical regatta) on the first Sunday of September. The first of these regattas - boat races - were held in the 14th century. The races are proceeded by a spectacular boat parade, led by the Serenissima, a sumptuously decorated boat.

St. Mark's Square and the famous pigeons

Piazza San Marco (Saint Mark's Square), is the principal public square of Venice, where it is generally known just as "the Piazza".  A remark usually attributed to  Napoleon calls the Piazza San Marco "the drawing room of Europe."  It is one of the few remaining great urban spaces in Europe where human voices prevail over the sounds or motorized traffic. The Piazza is dominated at its eastern end by the Basilica of Saint Mark.  Towering over the square is the Campanile, which is the bell tower for the church.  It is famous for it massive amounts of pigeons.  At night there are cafes where you can eat or just have a drink and listen to the music.  The piazza is a great place to stroll around and do some people-watching.

Basilica St. Mark

The Cathedral Basilica of Saint Mark is the cathedral church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Venice.  It is the most famous of the city's churches and one of the best known examples of Byzantine architecture.   It lies at the eastern end of  Saint Mark's Square, adjacent and connected to the Doge's Palace. The church is beautiful and well worth a visit, but make sure you dress appropriately, no shorts or bare shoulders even for children - you will be turned away if you ignore the rules. 

The Doge's Palace is a palace built in Venetian Gothic style, and one of the main landmarks of the city of Venice.  The palace was the residence of the Doges of Venice. A Doge is the elected-for-life Duke, the supreme authority of the Republic of Venice.  This was the most powerful half-acre in Europe for 400 years.  It was built to show off the power and wealth of Venice, and to remind all visitors that Venice was number one. It opened as a museum in 1923.  You can now tour the palace and see how the Doge's lived.  The tour includes the Bridge of Sighs and the prison.

The Campanile is St. Mark's Square

The Campanile is the bell tower of Saint Mark's Basilica.  It stands separate from the church in St. Mark's Square.  It is the highest structure in the city, offering a pigeon's-eye view that includes the lagoon, its neighboring islands, and the red rooftops and church domes and bell towers of Venice -- and, oddly, not a single canal. On a clear day, you may even see the outline of the distant snowcapped Dolomite Mountains. You can ride the elevator 318 feet to the top for the best view in Venice. For an ear-shattering experience, be on top when the bells ring.

Rialto Bridge at night

The Rialto Bridge is one of the four bridges spanning the Grand Canal in Venice. It is the oldest bridge across the canal, and was the dividing line for the districts of San Marco and San Polo. 
The Rialto Bridge is an elegant, arched stone bridge lined with arcades on each side. The central archway at its pinnacle, accessed via the wide stairs that rise from either side of the bridge, serves as a lookout perch. Under the arcades are numerous shops, many of which cater to the tourists who flock here to see this famous bridge and its views of the gondola-filled waterway of the Grand Canal.

Bridge of Sighs

The Bridge of Sighs is a bridge located in which is actually part of the Doge Palace. The enclosed bridge is made of white limestone and has windows with stone bars.   It passes over the Rio di Palazzo and connects the New Prison to the interrogation rooms in the Doge's Palace. It was built in 1602, and was the last view of Venice that convicts saw before their imprisonment.  The bridge name, given by the poet Lord Byron in the 19th century, comes from the suggestion that prisoners would sigh at their final view of beautiful Venice through the window before being taken down to their cells. In reality, the days of inquisitions and summary executions were over by the time the bridge was built and the cells under the palace roof were occupied mostly by small-time criminals. In addition, little could be seen from inside the Bridge due to the stone grills covering the windows.
A local legend says that lovers will be granted eternal love if they kiss on a gondola at sunset under the bridge as the bells of  St. Mark's Campanile toll.

Murano

Murano is a series of islands linked by bridges in the Venetian Lagoon. It lies about north of Venice and has a population of just over 5,000. It is famous for its glassmaking. This Venetian island has been world-renowned for centuries for its blown glass creations, from jewelry to tableware to sculptures. Visits here often include a tour of one of its fascinating glass factories, demonstrations of how it’s done—and of course, a visit to at least one of the affiliated showrooms and shops.  You can get to the island on your own by taking a water taxi, or you can sign up for a tour which will take you to the glass factory for a demonstration.  Be prepared to also be taken to a showroom, for purchases.  We came home with some beautiful Venetian glass, which was expensive, but will become a family heirloom.


Lido de Venezia - The Lido is an island located in Venice, home to about 20,000 residents. The Venice Film Festival takes place at the Lido every September.  The Lido di Venezia is one of the Venetians’ favorite destinations during summer time. Its beaches are extremely charming and elegant, the seabed forms a gentle slope that allows even the smallest children to bathe safely.  There are many establishments that will rent you a hut for the day, or a chaise lounge to enjoy your day of relaxing by the water.



Picture I took while wandering across bridges and down alleyways

So those are the main sights to see while in Venice.  But don't get to hung up on the sights.  Yes, you should see those things, but the main thing about Venice is the atmosphere of the place.  Take time to wander aimlessly about the alleys and across bridges, into the side-streets.  See where the people live.  Get lost.  We did our second day there, and it was the best part of our visit.  We wandered through little courtyards, watched people hanging their clothes on the lines, and had some gelato. We got a feel for what it would be like to live there. 

Gondola

And take a gondola ride.  Yes, its touristy, but its worth it.  Go under the Bridge of Sighs and if you are with someone you love, than kiss under the bridge - why not!  Take a tour of the Grand Canal, either by gondola, or by water taxi. 

Enjoy the local cuisine, have a glass of wine.  Enjoy the atmosphere of dining in Saint Mark's Square and listening to the orchestras play.  Watch the people, other tourists like yourself and the locals.  And you just have to try the gelato while anywhere in Italy.  I have been told that the best gelato in Venice is at the Boutique del Gelato, a tiny outlet on busy salizzada San Lio.  Be prepared to be patient though, I'm also told there is usually a line.          

Shop for a few souvenirs to take home, or gifts for those loved ones.  Venice is famous tor its Venetian glass, for wonderful Carnivale masks, and for its lace and its jewelery.  When we were there I bought our daughter a wonderful Carnivale mask which was made of plaster and had lace on it.  It is beautiful, and she has it mounted on a wall in her home.

My last suggestion may not be valid anymore.  I would have said to go and have a Bellini (a drink made of white peach juice and Prosecco) at Harry's Bar.  I would have also suggested dinner there.  However, I understand that Harry's Bar in Venice is having financial troubles and it undergoing some management changes.  The ratings on it have dropped, and it may even close, which would be a shame.  It is an institution in Venice and has such an interesting story.  I loved the bar when we were there before, and if it is still around when we return, I will certainly visit it.  I do remember that we had a horrible time finding it.  It is just off St. Mark's Square, but it does not have signs above its door.  The only signage is a side window.  We probably walked past it several times before a local pointed it out to us.  I have posted the story of Harry's Bar below.

History of Harry's Bar
^{Giuseppe Cipriani may never have had his own bar if he had not met a 'sad' young American, Harry Pickering.  And even if he had somehow got the money, it certainly would have been called something else.  While working as a barman at Hotel Europa in Venice, Cipriani struck up a friendship with Pickering, a student who was staying in Europe with his aunt.  After she left him alone in a foreign country with no money, Cipriani offered to lend his new friend, who he called 'such a fine young man', 10,000 lira so that he could return home.  He was not at all sure he would ever see the money again.  Two years later, after he had given up hope, Pickering walked in and said thanks for the money and gave him back his original 10,000 lira plus 40,000 lira so he could open his own bar. Cipriani recalled his friend saying: 'I think they'll call it Harry's Bar. Not a bad name.'  He rented a nearby warehouse and transformed it into one of the most chic bars in town.  He had many famous patrons, including Charlie Chaplin,  Ernest Hemingway, Truman Capote, Orson Wells, Barbara Hutton and many more.}  

Photography Class

"Each time you take a picture you are defining reality in your particular individual way"

David Brooks

 

"The decision-making processes we make when taking a photograph starts first with being able to see possibilities." 

R. Bearden

Picture I took for my class
The assignment was light and shadow

I am taking a photography class.  The class teaches composition in photography.  I love to take pictures wherever I go, and I think I have taken a lot of really good photos over the years, but I know I also take some not so good ones.  I can use improvement.  And this class teaches me to think about how I am looking at a scene when I take the picture.  I'm learning to look around more before taking the shot, to make sure there are no signs or traffic cones, electrical lines, or garbage cans, that are going to show up in the shot.  Those things can spoil the shot.  Also, I'm thinking more about where my subject is positioned in the shot.  There is the 1/3 rule, which means that the horizon of the picture should not be in the middle of the picture, it should be either in the top 1/3 or the bottom 1/3, and your subject should be to the side of the picture, also not in the middle.  There are of course exceptions to the rule, but generally speaking that makes a more interesting picture.

The teacher has also talked about deciding on choice of format, either horizontal or vertical.  Horizontal pictures are more relaxing.  The vertical pictures are more dynamic and show action.  She also wants us to be aware of something in the picture that would draw our eye away from our main subject.  Sometimes that is just something off to the side which attracts your attention.  It can be something simple like a row of flowers, a stream or a tree trunk.

A picture I took in Africa
My teacher said it was a good example of the 1/3 rule
because the main subject was in the bottom third
and I kept the horizon straight

Also important is keeping your horizon straight.  Otherwise you feel you are sliding out of the shot.  I have a problem with that sometimes, but I have discovered I can fix that by editing the pictures in a program I have, which allows you to push a button and straighten it.  Even when it just straightens it a little it makes such a difference.  But for the class she does not want us to do any editing of the picture, she wants us to get it right to begin with.

And she wants us to think about where we are when we take a picture.  You can change the whole perspective of a shot by changing where you are in relation to the subject.  You can get down low and look upward toward your shot, or sometimes it is better to climb up higher to get the shot looking down.  She says we should always be aware that we are making a choice by our position and the position of the camera.  She wants us to look at shadows and reflections and make choices about those when taking the shot.  It is a lot to think about, but I am finding that it works.

I took this class in the spring, just before going on our trip to Africa, but I was only able to take half the class because of the trip.  So I signed up again and started the class over.  The good thing is that we have a different teacher this time.  She is much better and there is a lot more discussion.  So I already feel I have learned more from her.  I think it will help me take better photos when we take our next trip.

para-glider

Each week she assigns us a subject, and we are suppose to take pictures of that and bring in 3 pictures. She shows the pictures on a large screen in class and critiques them.  In fact the whole class can critique the pictures, we learn from doing that.  And we discuss the rules and how they apply to that photo.  It can be enlightening.  This next week our assignment was transportation.  Any kind.  I decided I didn't want pictures of just cars, trains or airplanes, but unusual forms of transportation.  So we went looking.  Our first stop was the glider-port in La Jolla, which is about an hour north of us.  They do glider planes and para-gliding from there.  There were no gliders up that day, but I was able to get a picture of a para-glider.  

I had to have 3 samples of transportation, so I was also able to find horses with riders at the beach, and a really different type of bicycle, where he was not pedaling, but walking his feet on a special type of pedal to make the bike move.  So I think I found some interesting transportation, and was able to get good composition shots as well, which is the main goal. 

I'm enjoying the class and I think it will help me in the future.  Photography is kind of a hobby with me, I love taking pictures.  If you also enjoy taking pictures, there are many classes available.  I am taking this one through an adult education program provided by the city, and it is very inexpensive.  And of course now with digital, there is no cost for film, and you can take lots of pictures until you get just the right one.

Travel Photos and What To Do With Them

"A great photograph is one that fully expresses what one feels, in the deepest sense, about what is being photographed."

-Ansel Adams

My African Book on my Coffee Table
I have a display of some African Souvenirs in the table

We recently took a trip to Africa.  While there I was talking to a fellow traveler about the photos that we were taking.  She told me that when she got home that she would go online and have her favorite photos from the trip put into a book, which when printed, would look like a coffee table photo book.  I thought that sounded like an excellent idea.

For the past few years I have just stored my pictures on my computer.  I always made a backup DVD of the pictures to have just in case, but I don't print them up and put them into scrapbooks like I used to do when I used actual film.  Remember those days, when you had maybe 6 rolls of film with you, so you only took pictures of really important things, and you only took one picture of it, because film and developing was expensive?  And then when you got home and spent a fortune developing your pictures you would always be disappointed because some of the shots just weren't any good.  We are really spoiled today with digital cameras.  Not only can we see immediately how they are going to turn out, we can take a dozen shots of one subject, just to make sure we get it from the best angle.

My African Picture Book

I do tend to overdo it sometimes.  On the African trip I shot over 2000 pictures.  Mostly of the animals when we were on safari.  So when I came home and went through all the pictures, it took me awhile to sort out and pick my favorites.  But I did manage to narrow it down to a few hundred pictures.  I decided to take the suggestion of putting them in a book.  I went online to the company she had recommend - My Publisher.  I found that it was really easy to navigate their website and set up the book.  I took the pictures that I had selected and pulled them into the program, and from there I went page to page, decided how many pictures I wanted on each page and pulling them in.  Once I had all the pictures in, I went back and wrote some narratives to go with the pictures.  It was really quite easy, and fun to do.  At the end you simply purchase the book and pay for it with your credit card.  Less than 10 days later I had my book.  And I love it.

So now that I had completed one book, I decided to go back and do some past trips.  I took a trip to China in 2010, and decided that those pictures should also go into a book.  That book also turned out great, and I am now thinking about doing a couple more. 

My China Book

The books are not cheap, but actually they are probably less expensive than the film we used to always develop at the end of our trips, and these are already put into a book and published, so I do feel it was a good deal.  And now I realize that they also have sales, if you watch for them, where you can get the books for less, if you wait until the sale is in progress.  My China book actually cost quite a bit less than the African book, because I saw a sale that had 60% off the price of the book.

I am also intrigued with the idea of putting together a calendar with my pictures on it.  The same company prints calendars.  It might be fun next year to be looking at my own travel pictures each month on my own calendar.  Or maybe a calendar of my dog pictures?

There are many companies besides My Publisher who do the same type of books and calendars.  I have not tried any of the other companies, but did a search online and came up with quite a few.  They seem to all be similar, and I'm sure they would all be quite good.  So If you are thinking about putting your photos into a book, but don't want to actually do a scrapbook, then consider doing it online.  You will have a professional looking finished project that you can enjoy for years, and display on your coffee table.

Here are the companies I found when researching this, including the company I used:   http://www.mypublisher.com  
http://www.shutterfly.com        http://www.cvsphoto.com
http://www.mixbook.com          http://www1.snapfish.com
http://picaboo.com                     http://www.blurb.com  


The nice thing about putting together the book is that you can choose your theme - I chose travel as my theme and all the pages had a travel look to them.  Some pages had stamps that looked like passport stamps, some had a background of a map, and some had the backs of postcards where you could write about what was on the page.  You could choose to have lots of pictures on one page or do two or three pictures to the page, or just do a full page picture.  You chose the format for each page as you go.  Here are a few pictures of the inside of my book: