For the Nikon, I actually priinted out the manual and took it with me
on the Sierra trip hoping to find time in the evenings to read it -
never happened - Harry Potter was more interesting (G)

It is magical and eerie - seeing things standing that are that old.
And the mystery surrounding their abandonment just adds to it.

What is even more fascinating is that if you look, you see the larger
timbers - there are no trees of that size anywhere nearby - if I
recall, 30 or more miles away - how did they move them BACK then? No
horses or oxen - just men! Apparently, they cut them in one season
and let them dry to allow them to lose weight (like WW). Then moved
them the next year - still they weigh a lot.


Machu Picchu - we have talked about it. Some friends have been there
and loved it. Maybe some day....

On Mon, 17 Nov 2003 19:47:56 -0800, "Brenda Hammond"
wrote:


"Fred" wrote in message
.. .
Nikon Coolpix 950 - now about 3 years old (older?) What I really like
is that it uses regular size AA batteries and I have sets rechargeable
ones. I should probably UP the resolution so that the images are even
better for printing - altho, posting on the web requires that they be
reduced substantially in quality to fit them on a web site. Also the
more resolution, the longer they take to store to the compact flash
card.

I bet the Nikon was one of the better cameras three years ago. I know DH
would like to have one of the new Nikon CoolPix cameras, but we have two
right now that we're happy with, so will hold off a few more years, then
maybe get a Nikon.


I like it but I know there are better ones. It has a lot of settings
which I don't experiment with. I was much better equipped to override
the meter in my 35mm single lens reflex and could get lighting easier.
But it does make picture taking fun - instant results.

I don't experiment with all the settings on my camera either. Don't seem to
be able to find the time to spend figuring it all out. I just want to take
some half decent pictures. They do turn out quite well, for me just knowing
the basics about the camera and I'm satisfied with that at the moment.



The ruins were fascinating - there is something ageless and yet
ancient and powerful about them. There is a magic that is hard to
explain. Chaco Canyon is the one out in the open, not the cliff
dwellings that most people think about. I also loved the way there
were the occasional spurts of decoration in the "brick" patterns
(actually rock, not brick). Mesa Verde is the cliff dwellings and
some of them are incredible. I was looking at them before, and due to
the size and perspective, some of them look more like models and not
real buildings (G) Canyon de Chelly (pronounced SHAY) has the ruins
and working farms and orchards - that's the one we hiked through with
the water crossings and the native guide was required.

The pictures of the ruins were fascinating. What a feeling it must be to
stand there realizing that you're probably standing on the same spot that
someone else was thousands of years ago. Cool... The walls looked really
fantastic, amazing how someone cold build walls like that, so straight and
the corners so perfect, just with rock! DH's father is a bricklayer and
does walls, fireplaces, chimneys, etc. Although he has tools to do it with.
I'm sure there were no tools like that available back then, so it's even
more amazing!

Have you ever been to the ruins of Machu Picchu? I'd love to go there. It
sure looks beautiful up in the mountains like that. There are so many cool
things out there to see. Hope I get to experience some of them in person
some day rather than just by seeing pictures. I really do enjoy your
pictures Fred. Thanks again.



On Sat, 15 Nov 2003 20:57:14 -0800, "Brenda Hammond"
wrote:

More great pictures! Wow, I would like to see those old ruins in person,
they must have been something! What kind of digital camera do you have
Fred? I've got a Fuji FinePix 2650 and a Fuji FinePix 3800. Quite happy
with both.

My sister purchased an HP PhotoSmart 850 from us in July, nice little
camera
until someone spilt a mocha on it. I sent it away for repair, but it
can't
be fixed, so now she's buying an HP Photosmart 945 to replace that one.
Hope this one lasts longer, she's not very careful with her stuff.