I thought I would share some of the images taken of our vacation this past week. This was our 4th annual trip to Hermann, Missouri, which is a quaint wine town situated in a valley along the Missouri River. We have fallen in love with the Hermann Hill Vineyard and Inn. For us the trip is solely about relaxing and reconnecting. Good food, good wine, good books and good movies along with a quiet appreciation of our surroundings is what we look for during these all-too-brief getaways. While gone I collected images of things to replace those lost in the most recent computer crash (lesson: back up pictures on CDs!) and also collected some images of what I would call ‘textures’ for possible use in future photography/art projects. I hope you enjoy.
(Le Bourgeois Bistro, restaurant that overlooks the Missouri River in Rocheport, MO)
(Frog in Le Bourgeois, awaiting kiss)
(Former railroad cavern on Katy Trail)
(Live art decorating cavern wall. Mary worked up the nerve to touch him which didn’t seem to make him too happy. Unfortunately that picture did not turn out.)
(Katy Trail bridge texture)
(Katy Trail bridge texture)
(Katy Trail bridge texture)
(Katy Trail bridge texture)
(Natural art installation, superior to man’s handiwork)
(Railroad cavern texture)
(Railroad cavern texture)
(Railroad cavern texture)
(Railroad cavern texture)
(Emerging from the other end of the cavern. Love the keyhole look to this picture)
(Steampunk lover’s dream, closeup)
(Steampunk lover’s dream, closeup 2)
(Steampunk lover’s dream, the whole enchilada)
(Hermann architecture)
(Hermann architecture, with flag)
(Hermann architecture, festival style)
(Hermann architecture, side view)
(Hermann Hill trail, featured as a part of the Once Upon a Time II banner)
(Gorgeous, gothic-painted house along Hermann Hill trail. This is a fantastic house and every year I want to take a picture and the occupants are outside…this year, voila!)
(Still life on trail)
(I love the door on this outbuilding occupying the gothic house property)
(One of our favorite things about a stay at Hermann Hill–9:30 p.m. dessert!)
(It Boggles the mind! Hermann Hill Inn is stocked with games and we make sure to play several rounds of Boggle every year. We are such nerds)
(They also stock a library of DVDs. It was nice to finally see this delightful romantic movie.)
(Enlarged view from our private patio)
(One occupant of the Forest of Gongs)
(A vine right outside of our room)
(Old door, with lock)
(Shutter times two)
(House of Usher crack)
(Slight fixer-upper)
(Postcard from Stone Hill Winery…we had a splendid tasting experience there, thank you Ray!)
(Antique shop finds)
(Part to be incorporated into a work-in-progress art project)
(local crafts market find)
(Yes indeed! Cannot wait!!!)
Only someone as odd as I would return from an anniversary trip being the proud owner of photographs of rust and dilapidation! 🙂
I finished two books, listened to the entirety of Peter Mayle’s A Good Year on audio CD (fantastic reading, I highly recommend the book. Very different from the film which has caused me to enjoy them both very much for what they are.) Ate very, very well and came home with delicious wine.
It went too fast, but it is good to be back home with you folks again!
You took great pictures, honey. It was a wonderful trip. I am sad my snake picture didn’t turn out.
I really love the texture pictures you took on the Katy Trail. The moss (?) picture looks especially fantastic.
Wow, these are incredible images! Looks like I have another scenic locale to add to my list.
Oh my goodness, I can certainly see why you all keep going back! What a lovely place! And I’m in love with your series of texture photos, Carl…they are absolutely fabulous!
So glad you all had such a wonderful time! Can’t think of two people who deserve it more!
I love the images! I’m glad you had a great time and I’m very happy you’re back safely.
What awesome pictures! The house is my new desktop. Thanks for sharing.
I really like the train tunnel. Where I live trains are a bit of a rarity (stupid government), so as a result I am always a bit taken with them. So, of course, we do not have any cool tunnels like that. Sounds like a great trip! Glad you had a good time.
Really inspiring photos that make me want to shop around for a new camera for our trip to the Midwest in ten days….. Hmmm… headed off to look at camera reviews …..
Cool pic’s. Glad to have you both back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So glad to have you back, though of course I’m glad that y’all had such a great time. Those pictures are incredible…you’re great with a camera! That’s definitely going on my list of places to visit before I die. Love your antique shop and market finds too. I’ve always loved skeleton keys and those ornaments are just too cool! Don’t you love finding little treasures like those?
Lovely pictures. My favourite is the 5th, with the light at the end of the tunnel. Reminds me of the movie Spirited Away. I’m glad you have a good time!
So many great photos!
Sounds like a perfect little vacation!
I love the train tunnel , but I will always say a path in the woods will always be my favorite!! Beautiful shots of everything. I need a good camera! (and someone to teach me how to use it lol)
Welcome home!
What a lovely trip! It’s a beautiful area judging by that one photo from your private patio. Very interesting and enjoyable photos! You’ve definitely got an eye for detail and design.
Oh my, that house is beautiful! I think next year you should ask if you can see the inside (I would, but I’ve got no shame I tell ya)! Glad you had such a refreshing getaway!
These are gorgeous photos. I especially love the photos of the old architectural elements. And I wanted to thank you again for the beautiful book I won. It arrived on Friday, and it’s absolutely gorgeous. The illustrations are even better in person.
Those are wonderful photos. It looks like you had a great trip. I love the snake!
Thanks everyone, I really appreciate the anniversary wishes as well as the compliments about the photos, etc.
We had a wonderful time and next year’s trip cannot come soon enough.
I’m glad my packages are arriving at their locations safe and sound. I kept the postman pretty busy last week.
I don’t feel like I have yet gotten back in the groove today despite work being a non-stop monster all day. I’m here though and that is half the battle!
wonderful photos carl v.! that frog waiting to be kissed is actually kinda cute…lol I like the cavern too. very nice.
Fabulous photos! And… I always take pictures of dilapidated buildings, too. I love the textures of old brickwork. And I love the keys you found.
Every workday I cycle along a lovely wooded path and then through an old train tunnel! It’s rather a lot longer than yours, though, and is lit with rather unromantic fluorescent lights. (But it would be very spooky without them.) Cycling home along that same path is my favourite part of the day…
Great pics Carl. Looks like a lovely place. Glad you had a good time. I’m still saving my money for a digital SLR!
I’m glad you had a good time on your trip. I’m loving your pictures, especially the ones of nature and the beautiful gothic-painted house.
Vasilly: Thanks. I love what Stephanie suggested about asking to see inside it. I could never do it, but it is fun to dream about. Reminds me of a house I saw a few years ago in a Martha Stewart Halloween themed magazine where these people had a house painted like that on the outside and had it decorated with similar colors and gothic themes inside. It was great!
Stuart: I desperately want one too…a higher quality (read: expensive) camera.
Kicking K: I can see why that would be your favorite part of the work day, and not just because it meant you were leaving work! 😉
Bookworm: He was a rather handsome frog.
Great photos! I especially like the images of the tunnel!
It looks like you had a great trip – wonderful pictures and I know you’ve some good stories to go with them!
Frogs and snakes and spiderwebs and ice cream and keys and churches and and and and…
*dreamy sigh*
Love these, Carl. So glad you had a blast and thank you for sharing them!
ps: eg.com is back up but I haven’t posted anything new. 🙂
Oh wow. you take breath-taking photos! Any chance we can take a few copies for ourselves? I have a particular liking for trees and trails and tunnels. But then the keys are adorable too….I feel like you took us along on your trip! 🙂 thank you for sharing, they really are lovely.
PS – sorry, that came out wrong, about having copies….they are just so gorgeous. I can look at them for hours! You have a real sense of texture and movement, Carl, that makes these more than just photographs. Any chance you’ve shown professionally or entered anything? Only because you are so good,that you should 🙂
Carl! Wonderful photography. I enjoyed viewing the pics. It brought back a lot of memories of me and Tom’s anniversary to Rocheport. It was one of our best.
I can’t believe Mary touched that snake!! I’m so glad you all had a wonderful anniversary. I enjoyed getting to see Tori a little.
Lovely photos, Carl. My photographer daughter is into the texture thing, and enjoyed these. My preference is for the archway – tunnels. I love the arch and the concept of passing through to somewhere else….fantasy!
And OMG!! I didn’t know anyone else played Boggle. I thought my family were the only nerds around. Whewww.
ooh! those cavern and forest pictures are beautiful!! you’ve really captured the atmosphere so well!
Happy Anniversary! I know I am late. Great pictures, would you be interested in donating one (8×10)format(silent auction) for the Jan-Ai Scholarship Fundraiser in Sept.? I would love to have one given the connection we have. The pictures were very deja vuey. (is there such a word)
Cyn
Thank you Cynthia!!! I would be more than happy to donate anything you want.
Great! Send me anything you think might work. Give me to time to get it framed. Event: 9/27/08.
Cynthia
Still working on the website, ahhhhhhhhh!!!!
Fab pics! I absolutely love the house – I want!
Boggle is awesome. I used to play it all the time with my mum. 🙂
Thank you Quix. It is a really awesome house in a very interesting and somewhat secluded area. I like it.
Yes, Boggle is really fun. We played it alot as kids and it is really fun to be able to have this along with many other things to look forward to every year.
I always love reading about your anniversary trips to Hermann and seeing your pictures. Glad you had a wonderful time.
Thank you booklogged. It may seem like we are in a rut be we sure do love going there every year.