Hills of Bordeaux

 Pentax K5, Sigma 10-20mm, 1/180, f5.6, ISO160

On a recent trip to France we were very fortunate to spend some time in Bordeaux visiting a few Grand Cru estates and tasting their fabulous wines.  We stayed a night in an old Chateau surrounded by rolling hills & forests - perfect for wild boar & mushroom hunting.

San Sebastien

Pentax K5, Tamron 18-250mm, 1/1250, f4, ISO160

This was taken in San Sebastien in Spain, down one of the main streets through the newer part of town.  What a beautiful city, the streets were so clean and tidy, the architecture is amazing and the people are friendly & passionate.

Pentax K5, Tamron 18-250mm, 1/10, f8, ISO160

This is a view (sans tourists) of the signage & architecture down one of the smaller cobble-stoned streets in the older, central part of the original  ancient city.  This area is full of smaller shops, cafe's & bars - a fantastic place to explore & savour the Spanish way of life.

St. Jean-de-Luz

Pentax K5, Tamron 18-250mm, 1/160, f5.6, ISO160

Due to the tremendous Atlantic storms, St. Jean-de-Luz harbour in the south of France has immense ancient walls to protect the town & bay from harm.  On the far right in the distance you can see Spain, and on the left the distant Pyrenees mountains.

Solifuge

Pentax K5, Tamron 90mm Macro, 1/160, f8, ISO160, flash

The summer temperatures are slowly climbing as we move into the New Year, and so the camel spiders or solifuges are coming out to prowl in the heat.

Pentax K5, Tamron 90mm Macro, 1/160, f8, ISO160, flash

This hairy fellow looks frightening, and he is frightening and very fast as they run across the ground hoping to bump into something to eat, but rest assured they have no venom.

Pentax K5, Tamron 90mm Macro, 1/160, f8, ISO160, flash

Then again, with jaws as powerful as these you don't need any venom to overpower your prey.  These are fascinating creatures, not spiders, not scorpions but a species somewhere in between - there are over 1000 different types of solifuges.

Merry Christmas !