Sunday, July 19, 2009

Sometimes Everything Comes Together

Okay, so I'll begin by saying that this one was pure magic from the beginning. From my intial chat with Leona in April in the parking lot after a quick shoot up in Ocala, to riding bikes through a German village on a gorgeous golden German morning, Kim and I had the 'gig' to die for -- Kim and I because she got to go too! I was actually hired to do several things. First on the list, take great photographs of the folks on this trip having a great time wherever they went and whatever they did. Gee, I think I can hang with that! They are all of our client's top selling insurance agents - this was an incentive cruise down the Rhine and Mosel rivers in Germany, originating in Amsterdam. Somebody pinch me. Of all the places we could go, there's nowhere more dear to our hearts than the very place Kim and I "grew up" as young Air Force adults stationed above the Mosel in the early to mid '80's. Unbelievable!! I've included some of my favorite shots and moments from the trip, where, as part of my 'package,' I sang two gigs, one atop the ship as we cruised the Rhine on a gloriously sunny, crisp blue day, and one evening down in the ship's lounge. Got to pull out my Deutsch and let 'er rip with some of the ship's staff and play interpreter to some of the passengers. Kim and I had no luggage the first 4 plus days, making our trip even more 'memorable!' The trip was a total success, as we were invited back next year when they treat the company's best to a Banff, Canada! We met lots of new friends, and had the time of a lifetime. Kim and I really used the trip to truly take a look at life from afar, and we came back clearer about life somehow. Europe can do that to a person. Enjoy the shots and thanks for "listening." BT





We grabbed a nice little lunch in Amsterdam before boarding the Casanova.


A slice of life in the German town of Trier. These 5 kids were fluent in German! Amazing!




That's the president and cofounder of the company we were working for, in one of my favorite places on the planet, a German Beer Garden (yes, I meant to capitalize!)



Tell me, what's more European than a couple of street accordion players?


Came upon a group of artists painting a cathedral, only two of whom noticed I was there.


Here are Kim and me in front of the Roman gate of Trier, a city over 2,000 years old.



Cool shot of a German bridge, somewhere in the night...



View through the antiquated glass of the Cochem Castle. All of the Insurance folks were equipped with cool red umbrellas.


I've always been a sucker for a cool German cafe window, especially one with a cool handwritten chalk sign.


This is yours truly doing my thing. Before our luggage was located, we were traveling with only a guitar, a laptop, and a camera bag. Three things that we decided we could start a new life with if necessary. (-:


I love Amsterdam because the cafes are always full. This is 3:00 pm on a weekday. Hmmm... what do they know that we don't?



And I think that this is where they all parked...



View of Cochem on the Mosel River, this is definitely one of the coolest castles on the river, and there are many!

This is the name of the ship we cruised...