My Annual Visitor_B2156

She looks so happy to be back, knowing that she will be well fed.  That pause is her way to say hello and make her presence known.

 

My annual visitor_B2220

This is the time of the year again and I was anxiously waiting for him to appear.  I was not disappointed.  I heard the chirp of the Hummingbird and i immediately started the nectar prep for him.  Those pictures are the first of a series for this season.  Enjoy,

 

 

Giant Swallowtail Butterfly_B2240

In my backyard today despite the heat and the humidity, while pausing for a brief moment.

Laying eggs on the leaves

 

Snow Mountain of the Andes Pano 3, Chile MG_1124

Here i merged 30 shots for this panorama.  Snow everywhere, but tolerable.

The southern Andes in Chile.  Some of the Andes mountains can be seen down from the city of Santiago.  Those Panos are of much higher altitude.

Snow Mountain of the Andes Pano 2, Chile

Another 15 shots and merging them as a panorama.

Snow Mountain of the Andes Pano 1, Chile

The Andes or Andean Mountains (Spanish: Cordillera de los Andes) are the longest continental mountain range in the world, forming a continuous highland along the western edge of South America. This range is about 7,000 km (4,300 mi) long, about 200 to 700 km (120 to 430 mi) wide (widest between 18° south and 20° south latitude), and of an average height of about 4,000 m (13,000 ft). The Andes extend from north to south through seven South American countries: Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile and Argentina.

This picture is a composite of 12 shots.

Moai Figure, Viña del Mar, Chile

Moai , or mo‘ai, are monolithic human figures carved by the Rapa Nui people on Easter Island in eastern Polynesia between the years 1250 and 1500.

This figure stands in front of a Museum in Viña del Mar. Moai are carved in relatively flat planes, the faces bearing proud but enigmatic expressions.

 

Viña del Mar 2, Chile

Reminds me a lot like Miami Beach.

Viña del Mar, Chile

Viña del Mar meaning “Vineyard of the Sea”), is a city and commune on central Chile’s Pacific coast. Often referred to as “La Ciudad Jardín” (“The Garden City”), Viña del Mar is located within the Valparaíso Region, and it is Chile’s fourth largest city with a population of 324,836 (according to the 2012 census). Viña del Mar is also part of the Greater Valparaíso area, the country’s third largest metropolitan area, after the Metropolitan areas of Santiago and Concepción. The Greater Valparaíso Area is home to 5 municipalities: Valparaíso, Viña del Mar, Concon, Quilpue, and Villa Alemana. Click on the pictures.

Valparaiso, a Seaport

A major seaport by all accounts, the port of Valparaíso continues to be a major distribution center for container traffic, copper, and fruit exports. Valparaíso also receives growing attention from cruise ships that visit during the South American summer.