I want the black one! (after I take an insulin shot)

Off the cuff is what street photography is all about. You got a great one here.

I'm correcting my assumption about the Maiden Tower. It is indeed "Maiden" as in young girl, and possibly dates to the Zoroastrians as a fire temple. Interesting entries about it online. Persia was/is the center of Zoroastrianism and modern Z's are called Parsis and most of them live in India, in Mumbia.

Alluring images! I knew where Baku is but had never seen photos of it. I believe the word "Maiden" in the sense used here is not "young girl" but is from Persian/Arabic meaning central square, or gathering place, like a town center. If I am correct it would be pronounced "mydahn". Now how did you get to Baku?

Beautiful images and now I want to be there!

I think the difference between being allowed out of the vehicle depends on the park. Some reserves are privately owned and that's where you get the walking experience with a guide and another man with a rifle. In the national parks and reserves is where getting out of the vehicle is not allowed. I believe this is true in both Kenya and Tanzania.

Don't get so caught up in taking photographs that you miss the actual experience. You will probably never equal the pics taking by Nati'l Geo photographers or our own PhotoLady from Colorado. The camera is a shield between you and the people, the animals, the scenery. I've been to Kenya and Tanzania on two different trips and enjoyed the villages and towns, the coast, and most of all the Swahili architecture of Lamu and Zanzibar. Don't let the safari driver do any maneuvers to stir up animals, and don't let your travel companions make you move on when you are happy to sit awhile and just watch the animals in their habitats.

I never knew what the Netherlands windmills were for! thanks for beautiful place-specific shots and descriptions.

I'm sorry about your pup, and I just looked up (google, of course) and yes, the sago palm is poisonous. I live in a neighborhood with many dogs (leashed) and cats (free roaming) and I have not heard of any dog's illness or death. I guess we are lucky or there aren't any sagos in the area.

I think it's just the eggs that are poisonous. The eggs stay up in the center of the fronds so a dog would have to be climbing up into the bush. We have lots of sagos in Savannah and I have never heard of a dog dying b/c of contact.

We love Sagos here in Savannah. they are very slow growing and expensive. If you have a female it will produce "eggs" in the middle. A male has a single spike. I don't know if the eggs will grow without being near a male plant. Keep babying yours; it's worth the fuss.

If you get back to Savannah, let me know. I grew up here and have seen the Historic District change from "just us folks" to museums and multi-million dollar homes for new comers. I can show you island enclaves that no tour guide knows about., and give you the true stories about houses on the trolley tours. I love it here, but I don't live downtown; no place to park!

The owner of the house in image number 3 "The Mercer House" died recently. The house had been on the tour circuit as it was the house owned by and lived in by Jim Williams, of "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" fame. His sister, Dorothy Kingery, opened a gift shop in the carriage house at the rear, and the first floor was a popular tourist stop. I don't know what she specified for the house in her will. It will be interesting to see what happens. The house was built by an ancestor of Johnny Mercer, the song writer, hence the name.

Great set! Love the girls in their very short uniform skirts and warm jackets.

My best trip ever in a lifetime of travel was a month in Kenya. Did not get great photos like yours, but a few for memories. I recently sold my Olympus digital body and lenses and bought an iPhone 14. I hope I can learn to use its camera. I have no interest in processing on a computer. I love seeing your photos, whether from Africa or wherever. Thanks for posting