I would prefer the transient green of the north to the perpetual greening of California or the deep south. Trees are more photogenic when skeletal than when in lush bloom.

When it does get green, and it will, is spectacular particularly up on the summit at 3600 feet or so.

Spent a few days up in the Green Mountains last weekend. These were taken before the snow hit a few days later at which point I was back in Boston. Just enough snow fell overnight Friday that, along with the snow falling the entire route back to Boston caused me to remain a day longer. The drive back the following day was a glorious one in full sun and temps in the forties. Given the relative lack of snow in Boston this year it was nice to have a few days to walk on a crunchy and crackly surface.

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Can understand the brain turned to much comment. Wow. Those are spectacular. Thanks for posting.

You did a nice job on my close-up Mr. de Mille. Very good shot.

Nicely shot. The second one is almost an essay on Vietnam. Thanks for posting.

Thank you for your kind remarks. I remain grateful to the Jesuits who hosted me for ten days and gave me free access to the church and the crypt. The crypt blew me out of the water. That it remained undisturbed for centuries was and is incredible.

The crypt below the altar in the Church of St. Casimir in Vilnius, lay undisturbed and undiscovered for centuries until after the church was returned to the Jesuits in 1988 and reconsecrated in 1991. Despite the multiple incarnations, the crypt from the 17th century lay undiscovered for centuries until it was found by accident after the church was returned to the Jesuits who undertook intensive restoration. I had it to myself for two mid-week afternoons, an amazing experience.

The walls are covered by drawings that are primitive as well as various Latin prayers. The lines on which the letters of the prayers were written are quite visible. A number of bodies discovered under the church were transferred to the crypt. A relic of St. Andrew Bobola, Sj, a Polish Jesuit and martyr is on display in the crypt.

the first day there one of the men took me to the crypt, showed me where the lights were, handed me a key, and said the equivalent of See ya' I remain grateful for the many hours I was able to stay there and stay out of the single-digit F cold.

The church. The steps down to the crypt are behind the main altar.

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The lighting and color casts were a problem making everything look jaundiced Everything was shot with an Olympus E-5.

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Taken while sitting on the top step leading down. Opened and closed the gate as desired.

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Another of the images that is rather blurry and somewhat deteriorated. Restoration efforts are underway.

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I did not wander beyond cosed doors too much. The E-5 was a great camera but left a lot to be desired despite faster lenses.

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The reliquary of St. Andrew Bobola. I think it is part of his femur but am not certain.

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Thanks. Were you there? I was blown out of the water when I saw the church. Only wish I'd been able to spend time in the city but the cold was brutal. Also spent some time in Guronys giving retreats.

Thanks. The history of the building is remarkable. Burned, restored, burned, restored, turned Orthodox with architectural modifications, became Lutheran, and finally the museum of atheism. It was only rededicated in 1991, which is when the crypt was discovered.

thanks for commenting. I will be posting more later. The crypt was astonishing given that it lay undiscoered for a few hundred years.

Thanks. It is a gorgous church. Wish I could capture the acoustics when the organ is playing.

Thanks for commenting.

Thanks. I will be posting more. Am reworking a lot of shots and revisiting some projects. The crypt was a separate project. Will post in a week or so.

Thanks. It was a memorable week in Vilnius.