A Special "Windows of the World" Celebration!

Here are highlights of the beautiful New Year's Celebrations which took place around the world. Enjoy!

Windows of the World:Highlights of Our "Enchanted" Escapades Cruise

Back in August, I had the pleasure to sail on a 12-night "Enchanted Escapades" cruise onboard Nautica from Rome to Athens with visits to Portofino/Santa Margherita, Monte Carlo/Nice/Eze, Livorno/Florence, Amalfi/Positano/Scala/Ravello, Sorre...nto/Pompeii, Naxos/Taormina, Valletta, Santorini, Rhodes and Delos.

Below are "highlights" from our vacation:

Windows of the World - Miami & Sunny SoFLa

For the first 2009 "Windows of the World" posting I share with you a very special place in my heart, my hometown, Miami and the SoFLa (South Florida) surroundings.

Here are beautiful hometown pictures from my personal photo collection, except for a couple that I borrowed from the net.

Windows of the World: Pikes Peak in Colorado Springs

Pikes Peak is a mountain in the front range of the Rocky Mountains, 10 miles west of Colorado Springs, Colorado. It was named after Zebulon Pike, an explorer who led an expedition to the southern Colorado area in 1806.

At 14,110 feet, it is one of Colorado's 54 "fourteeners" (a mountain that exceeds 14,000 feet above sea level). Drivers race up the mountain in a famous annual race called the "Pikes Peak International Hill Climb". An upper portion of Pikes Peak has been designated a National Historic Landmark.

Visitors to Pikes Peak can reach the "top of the world" summit by either taking a trip up on the Cog train or driving the narrow roads. Of course, you can always hike it!

On a clear day, you can see Pikes Peak from Denver, which is 60 miles Northeast from it, and from locations near the Kansas border.

Windows of the World - St. George's, Grenada

Today's Window: St. George's Bay in Grenada

St. George's is the capital of Grenada in the British West Indies. The city is surrounded by a hillside of an old volcano crater and is on a horseshoe-shaped harbour. St. George's was built by the French in 1650. In 2004, St. George's and the rest of Grenada were severely battered by Hurricane Ivan.

I took this picture in December 2005, and it was still evident that major repairs were still needed on several houses and commerical establishments.

Share your comments below about today's "Windows of the World" picture.