There comes a moment on a journey when something sweet, something irresistible and charming as wine raised to thirsty lips, wells up in the traveler’s being.~Patrick MacGill
One of the joys of traveling is being surprised by the unexpected. These moments often create very sweet memories that linger long after we return home.
One wonderful memory was the double birthday we celebrated last year in Mexico. Several weeks before our trip, I had ordered a cake for my husband and son, whose birthdays are a week apart. I hadn’t expected the coconut cake to be so beautiful and delicious!
Celebrating Two Birthdays in Mexico
Let us celebrate the occasion with wine and sweet words.~Plautus
Celebrating Two Birthdays in Mexico. Shot with a Canon 70D.
Another unexpectedly sweet moment came a few years ago when I was about to have surgery in Boston. Preoccupied with worries about the operation, my husband and I were tense and irritable. As an antidote, we took a long walk through Boston Commons. Hearing music on the other side of the park, we drew closer and watched children ride a beautifully restored carousel. How could I not smile at the little girl riding a giant rooster?
Riding the Great Rooster in Boston
To me there is no picture so beautiful as smiling, bright-eyed, happy children; no music so sweet as their clear and ringing laughter. P. T. Barnum
The Great Chicken Race. Boston.
Other sweet moments come in flashes, unbidden but very welcome.
Last month, as we walked through a park in Scottsdale Arizona, we saw a small crowd pointing at the tree branches overhead. I was in luck. I was carrying my Fuji with the telephone lens. It was a thrill to see this creature up close. Its power and beauty are legendary, so it needs no introduction. I applied the Topaz filter effect, which I believe enhanced the shot. Let me know if you agree!
Nature’s Power and Beauty
It is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all. ~Laura Ingalls Wilder
Bald Eagle in Scottsdale, AZ
What sweet memories have you collected during your travels? Do you agree that these unexpected moments make some of the sweetest memories?
Have a great week, everyone, and plenty of sweet moments.
Categories: Photography
P.A. Moed 
A Bald Eagle is a great find Patti. I like it when nature surprises me. That’s the unexpected moment which I seek to find in my travels. And you’ve captured it very nicely with your images of both the child and the eagle.
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So glad you enjoyed this post, Maria! The eagle spotting was great! Of course, you always wonder if these iconic creatures really look the way we’ve always imagined.
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A very, very naughty sweet moment on Valentine’s Day. But then, that’s allowed, Patti, isn’t it? 🙂 🙂 Almond, fig, carob, marzipany sticky sweet confections from a delightful shop in a tiny Portuguese village.
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Absolutely, Jo. Any sweet is allowed on Valentine’s Day!! So is this the shop you wrote about in your post?? Or, is it another one? My go-to sweet is always chocolate. 🙂
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It has been mentioned in a previous post, Patti, but not the recent one. 🙂
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Nice interpretation!
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So glad you enjoyed it, Sally! Hope all’s well with you.
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Lovely interpretation – and I agree about unexpected surprises. They make the sweetest memories.
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Hi, Ann-Christine. Hope you have many more sweet surprises!
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You too!
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Wonderful choices for the week Patti, and your quotes are perfect! Isn’t it interesting that the things we choose to photograph are the ones we most remember? That and the disasters that we laugh about later 😊
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Absolutely, Tina. Very true.
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So true. So true. Thanks for the kind words!!
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What a wonderful take on, Patti! Thank you for sharing these sweet moments. 🙂
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Thanks so much, Amy! So glad you enjoyed this one.
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Fantastic shot of the eagle! It must have been quite a thrill to be so close. I’ve only seen one from so far away, I really couldn’t even consider having “seen” it. I was on a birding walk and the group leader called out the eagle. It was a speck above the tree line and flying away from us. Maybe someday soon I’ll see one. That would be a sweet moment indeed!
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I know how much you enjoy bird watching, Jackie. It’s a great hobby. I’ve enjoyed seeing different birds when we travel. Hope you sight some interesting birds soon.
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I completely agree I love moments like these. That cake looks really good too.
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Oh it was good! Delicious!! Thanks for sharing your thoughts!!
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Hi Patti!!! So great to hear your update!
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I’m delighted to see you here, Michele! I’m so glad to hear from you. 🙂
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Nice moments 🙂
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Thanks so much, Joshi. It’s great to hear from you!
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Thinking about you and rich. Wishing you safe travels, wonderful encounters and beautiful snapshots! I look forward to following your journey.
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It’s wonderful to hear from you, Rebecca! I don’t know why I didn’t see your reply before! I’m looking forward to seeing you all in September. Can’t wait!
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Wow😊
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Thank you so much, Paige! Wonderful to meet you here!
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