Photo Blogging Challenge – Photographer’s Choice

The theme for the July photo blogging challenge was “Photographer’s Choice”.

I decided, I’d just take pictures all through the month and see what I came up with.

In early July, I traveled to Orlando, Florida with my in-laws. They went to Walt Disney World Parks for 5 days, but my husband & I only got a 2 day park pass. We had fun exploring Disney Springs, and taking the free shuttle boats & buses to the Disney Resorts.

Here’s a Lego dragon in the lagoon at Disney Springs

This totem in one of the Disney Wilderness Hotels made me smile

With a “tourist” theme in my head, I decided the rest of my photos this month would be from travel within my state of MA.

The Revere Beach International Sand Sculpture Festival was last week, and I stopped by on Friday, when the artists were still finishing up.

I like this one because when I showed my Great Uncle the photo, he thought a kid had jumped on the sculpture. It took a second look for him to realize the child was sand too.

I like the work in progress view of this owl. I still am in awe at how the artists can make holes in their sculptures, like the eyes of this owl, and still have the sand keep the shape they want.

Finally, this Friday, I joined Unsplash for a Photowalk in Charlestown, MA.

I took this shot of Boston Harbor and skyline, from the ferry we took over to Charlestown

Hope you enjoyed my photos!

I worried that I’d have trouble this month without having to stick to a rigid theme, but I think I did OK.

This monthly photo blogging challenge is facilitated by PJ of the Northeast Bloggers Network.

Thanks for inspiring me to take more photos!

Charlestown Photo Walk

In late July, I took a fun photo walk through Charlestown, MA with Unsplash.

Here are some of my favorites from the photos I took that night:

View of the Boston skyline from the boat ride to Charlestown

USS Constitution

Pretty architecture

Just walking down historic streets makes me smile

Bunker Hill monument in the background

Sunset over the water

Capture a Pokemon, Get a Free Gym Membership at Boston Sports Clubs

Despite server issues this weekend as more countries were able to join Pokemon Go, I’m still a big fan. Since I last wrote, I’ve gotten to Level 17 and have gone on a few Pokemon hunts with my husband & in-laws.

Boston Sports Club is having a fun promotion around Pokemon Go.

From July 18^th through the end of the month (July 31), Boston Sports Clubs is encouraging Pokemon enthusiasts to take their obsession to the next level while getting a good workout, and sharing their finds on Instagram to win.

Simply screenshot of any Pokemon you find at any BSC location, and Instagram that screenshot photo with @bsc_gym and #BSCPokemon tags for a chance to win.

BSC members score a free month membership – nonmembers are welcome to play to win a free week membership by mentioning “Pokemon Promo” at the front desk.

Participants must be at least 18 years of age and will need to show photo ID. Regular restrictions apply. To find a club near you, please visit, www.mysportsclubs.com

I’ve seen nonoprofits set up Pokemon Go promos, but this is the first gym I’ve seen embrace Pokemon Go.

Readers, let me know if you’re playing Pokemon Go and plan to enter this contest.

Good luck!

 

Pokemon Go in MA

Pokemon Go has taken MA by storm.

I view it as encouragement to take long walks, so I’m in.

My husband & in-laws all play too, so on the day I downloaded the app, my sister-in-law Jen and brother-in-law Doug walked around Milton with me to show me how the game works.

Since then, I’ve hunted for Pokemon in Peabody, Quincy, and Boston.

Pokemon Go is a free cell phone game that uses GPS to make you have to walk to specific location to virtually catch Pokemon. You have to be moving slowly or stopped to catch Pokemon (and I suspect it’s a safety feature. Don’t drive and play Pokemon Go! You’ll end up hurting someone!)

If you have the Augmented Reality (AR) view on, the Pokemon will look like they are in the location you are, using your cell phone camera.

Here’s an example from Boston Magazine of how the AR looks:

There’s a Hypno on the lawn in front of Trinity Church

I’m a level 13 player.

On Sunday, I walked 5.02 miles playing the game and yesterday I walked 5.31 miles playing. I tracked my walking with my Fitbit flex, since the Pokemon Go servers are glitching a bit with the extremely high demand.

I’m having a great time, and every other player I’ve met has been friendly and laughing about the whole Pokemon Go phenomenon.

My husband took this photo of everyone playing Pokemon Go around the Frog Pond in Boston on Monday night

According to my husband, the Frog Pond after work is a huge “Poke party” with everyone playing, someone blaring the Pokemon TV theme from a boombox on repeat, and people cheering when Pokemon Gym ownership changes over. “Go team Mystic!”

Are you playing Pokemon Go? What do you think?