When I was in the Navy, stationed in the Philippine Islands, I found the same concept very true... off the "Navy tourist" street called Malanguay (sp?) you could find restaurants/bars that catered mainly to Philippinos. If you behaved and didn't act like the proverbial "ugly American", you got some of the best food. The people of the Philippines can perfectly replicate any ethnic food or music. If we ever get to take the first trip on our "bucket list", up to Alaska, we'll likely start the voyage out in Seattle, and I'm hoping to visit Victoria and as much of Vancouver Island as I can, as long as it's possible to cross into Canada without having to be strip searched. When I was a kid we were best friends with Canada but, the way visitors are treated when trying to cross the border now, strictly as tourists, it just tells me that the terrorists won--they've changed us forever--so perhaps the only way I can visit is through your excellent photos, Ted. I love the colors and contrast control you have here... does this walkway take a left turn down there at the end?

-Nik

First off, for the past 27 years at this time in the calendar, I drive up Vancouver Island on my way to my annual silent meditation retreat (no talking. For a month). In all that time, I have never even come close to being stripped searched, although once in a great while I get chosen to be the random car through that gets searched. But that is on the way back in. The Canadians are great about letting us in, the Yanks not so much. Especially with the current regime, I am imagining. My sense is a tour group on a cruise ship will not have even the slightest issues going back and forth. The money, you see. This alley ends at the brick wall.

What a lovely quaint image this one is, I really like the courtyard feel to it. Your editing is also very good my friend. tigs=^..^=

When you cross the border at the International Peace Garden, between Manitoba and North Dakota, you are treated the way I mentioned above. We had gone up only to visit the Garden and take photos of it for the state, traveling about 50 feet into Canada. It took about 20 minutes of talking, showing official state employee credentials, the previous edition of the book I was shooting the photos for, lots of steely-eyed glares from the officials, and a pat-down, before they let us return to the U.S. Then again, in January we flew from Bismarck, ND, to Gulfport, MS, and were very physically searched in Bismarck, by nasty people, but no such thing from the friendly staff in Gulfport. It's quite possible that it's just North Dakota officials that suck when it comes to traveling? Whatever the case, it has permanently turned me off flying in this country. I still dig your photos, Ted, and have a bunch of them in my Mac's wallpapers folder. So thanks.

-Nik

What a quaint and colorful little alley...lovely find and capture.

I have not traveled down to the US in many years so cannot speak to border security these days, but as a Canadian and familiar with our politics here, I suspect you are right, Ted...we Canadians do tend to be more lenient than our American friends for the most part...which may or may not be a good thing:)

What colorful alley. Good good shot

I love this photo - the colours, the quaintness and the fact that the alley goes nowhere - it is complete in itself.

Living where I do - it seems strange that one can cross a border to enter another country. For us to country hop requires air (or possibly sea) travel. Border security worldwide is much stricter than in the past. To me that is a good thing - inconvenient, yes, but necessary. Friendly border security officers are few and far between. I think some of them suck lemons as a hobby :)

Very beautiful walk here. My wife and love this kind of thing. We don't usually buy anything but the scenery is what we are after mostly. Thanks for posting it.

Wonderful scene, very happy and captured perfectly.

Gorgeous shot! I love the blue in the back very intense.