From British Columbia to the Dordogne.

I really should pay more attention to the emails I get from people, not just those that come here, but also to the ones that show up in other email boxes. By a ratio of probably five to one, the questions and comments are about travel, specifically vacation travel, as opposed to the need for more and better and faster passenger trains. And so, from time to time, I’ll get off my soapbox and share a few of the more interesting photos I’ve taken on some of my trips.
 

 This photo of Mount Robson was taken from VIA Rail’s premier train, The Canadian, heading west en route to Vancouver. At just under 13,000 feet, it’s the highest point in the Canadian Rockies. I took this photo near dusk from the dome on the classic bullet-shaped Park Car that brings up the rear on all VIA long distance trains.
 

 I’ve enjoyed the trans-Canada ride between Toronto and Vancouver six or seven times—with another planned for next April—and there is much to enjoy about the trip, not the least of which are the really excellent meals in the VIA dining car.
 

Three years ago, I spent several days in the medieval town of Domme in the Dordogne region of France. This monument in Domme’s town square reminded me that World War II was very much up close and personal for the people in this little town. Three very different kinds of victims of that conflict are recognized on this monument: those killed in combat, those deported to concentration camps, and those executed, presumably members of the Resistance. You can’t get more up close or more personal than that.
 

  That’s the Dordogne River down there and this is the view from the terrace outside of my hotel, L’Esplanade. It was at lunch on that terrace where I was served the most perfect omelet I have ever seen or tasted … all by itself worth a return visit.