Hope, British Columbia sits on the Fraser River. This photo is taken from the river park in front of the town.

Peggy and I have ventured into British Columbia several times. And we have always been impressed. This time is no exception. The natural beauty, abundant wildlife, proud communities and friendly people guarantee our return– again and again.

We are also amused by the efforts of small communities to capture their moments of fame and share of tourist dollars. The world’s largest cross-country skis, the world’s largest beehive, and the world’s largest golf ball are all examples. These fun gestures make us smile. Out come our cameras for the obligatory photos.

The world’s tallest cross-country skis.

Chainsaw wood carving exists on another level. This once primitive art form has taken on a surprising level of sophistication. Two towns we passed through on our journey north to Alaska featured chainsaw creations: Hope is an hour or so from the border of Washington State; Chetwynd is near Dawson Creek, the beginning of the Alaska Highway.

The helpful folks at the Chetwynd Information Center explained how they had obtained their extensive collection of carvings. Each year the town hosts a chainsaw wood carving contest. Participants come from all over the world. The process starts with importing logs from Vancouver Island. The logs dry for several months and are then tagged with numbers. Individual participants draw numbers to see which log he or she gets. Contestants then have 35 hours over five days to complete their masterpieces.

Today I am featuring Hope, which is located on the mighty Fraser River. Chetwynd will be featured two or three blogs up the road.

Hope is quite proud of its chainsaw woodcarvings. A map from the Visitor’s Center took us on a walk to find the town’s sculptures.

These herons are an example of how sophisticated chainsaw wood carving has become.

Animals are a common subject for chainsaw woodcarvers.

A pair of wolves.

Fantasy figures, such as this wizard, also serve as common themes for chainsaw carvings. Note the mouse living in his beard.

The wizard also wore an eyeball ring.

Many of the chainsaw wood carvings in Hope, BC display a sense of humor such as this tourist with a guidebook in his hip pocket. Another carving can be seen on the next block.

Speaking of humor, I found this face on a statue of Bigfoot rather funny.

In my last blog I featured totem poles. Given the First Nation influence in British Columbia, it was not surprising to find Raven as one of the wood carvings.

This eagle and girl also represented a First Nation theme.

I found this face rather powerful.

My friend Bob decided to look tough in this Rambo photo board outside of the Hope Visitor Center. Stallone’s “First Blood” was filmed in the town.

Peggy and Linda share a laugh on the edge of the Fraser River at Hope BC. Possibly they were amused at Bob’s effort to look like Stallone.

Next Blog: When a campground is taken over by dogs.

Looking up at the magnificent dome on Florence’s Duomo Cathedral.

There are three reasons for visiting Florence’s Cathedral, commonly known as the Duomo. First is the Church itself, second is the magnificent bell tower, which stands next to the church, and third is the octagonal-shaped Baptistery, which stands in front.

The dome of Duomo was one of the great works of the Renaissance. (The church had been waiting since the Middle Ages for its top.) Filippo Brunelleschi, who built the dome, first studied the ancient Pantheon in Rome. Like so much of the Renaissance, the dome represented a return to, or a rebirth of, the great Greek and Roman cultures that had thrived 1000 years earlier before the Dark Ages had arrived along with the Barbarian hordes.

This photo by Peggy captured the Baptistery on the left, the Duomo with its Dome in the center and the bell tower on the right. (Photo by Peggy Mekemson)

A front view of Florence’s Duomo Church

Looking up at the Duomo dome from inside the church.

The 270-foot tall Campanile or Giotto’s Tower, which is located next to the Duomo, was actually completed 100 years before Brunelleschi put his finishing touches on the church. Many consider the bell tower to be among the most beautiful in Europe.

Giotto’s Bell Tower in Florence, Italy

The top of Giotto’s Bell Tower. (Photo by Peggy Mekemson)

A front view of Giotto’s Bell Tower with the Duomo to the left.

The Baptistery features Ghiberti’s bronze doors. Michelangelo believed these gates were so beautiful they could have served as “the Gates of Paradise.”

Ghiberti’s Bronze Doors on the Baptistery in Florence. (Photo by Peggy Mekemson)

A closer look at the Baptistery Doors.

This view of the Baptistery door gives a sense of why Michelangelo spoke so highly of Ghiberti’s work.

The Basilica of Santa Croce, a 14^th Century Franciscan church, also had some great doors but is better known for the people buried inside including Michelangelo, Machiavelli, Rossini and Galileo. As we stood in front of the church admiring its doors, a man sent bubbles floating into the sky.

A huge soap-bubble went floating up by the beautiful wooden doors of Santa Croce.

The Basilica of Santa Croce in Florence.

NEXT BLOG: While you are reading this blog, Peggy and I are on the scenic Oregon Coast looking for whales. I will feature the trip on my next blog.