Barry A Parks
@barryaparks.bsky.social
Painter, Retired Architect and later Design & Construction Project Manager for a large college system.
I love to travel, and often attempt to recapture favorite moments in my paintings. Also some of my travel photos.
I love to travel, and often attempt to recapture favorite moments in my paintings. Also some of my travel photos.
San José y San Miguel de Aguayo, (founded 1720 and designed to convert and integrate Native Americans into Spanish society) is the largest colonial mission in San Antonio, TX. A bilingual Mariachi Mass is held here every Sunday. #travel #tourism #sanantonio #texas #spanishmission #sanjosemission
January 24, 2026 at 3:04 AM
San José y San Miguel de Aguayo, (founded 1720 and designed to convert and integrate Native Americans into Spanish society) is the largest colonial mission in San Antonio, TX. A bilingual Mariachi Mass is held here every Sunday. #travel #tourism #sanantonio #texas #spanishmission #sanjosemission
This gnarled Utah Juniper Tree manages to thrive in Arizona's Monument Valley (a Navajo National Park). In a typical year, this area gets 8-9" of precipitation a year, but the tree's extensive root system compete for the resource. #travel #tourism #monumentvalley #photography #tree #arizona #juniper
January 23, 2026 at 3:31 AM
This gnarled Utah Juniper Tree manages to thrive in Arizona's Monument Valley (a Navajo National Park). In a typical year, this area gets 8-9" of precipitation a year, but the tree's extensive root system compete for the resource. #travel #tourism #monumentvalley #photography #tree #arizona #juniper
Within Rome's Borghese Gardens the 1688 Casino della Meridiana (Solar Clock) is a historic pavilion which made up the Villa Borghese complex. It originally housed and served as a gateway to a secret garden displaying collections of exotic flowers. #travel #tourism #rome #italy #borghesegarden
January 22, 2026 at 4:08 AM
Within Rome's Borghese Gardens the 1688 Casino della Meridiana (Solar Clock) is a historic pavilion which made up the Villa Borghese complex. It originally housed and served as a gateway to a secret garden displaying collections of exotic flowers. #travel #tourism #rome #italy #borghesegarden
Florence's Ponte Vecchio was the only bridge to survive WWII. The next bridge west (Ponte Santa Trinita) was originally built in the 16th C with 4 statues, and restored in 1958 utilizing dredged means & materials. #travel #history #florence #firenza #italy #bridge #pontesantatrinita #restoration
January 21, 2026 at 4:38 AM
Florence's Ponte Vecchio was the only bridge to survive WWII. The next bridge west (Ponte Santa Trinita) was originally built in the 16th C with 4 statues, and restored in 1958 utilizing dredged means & materials. #travel #history #florence #firenza #italy #bridge #pontesantatrinita #restoration
San Antonio's Mi Tierra Cafe y Panaderia opened in 1941 in Market Square offering food, mariachi bands, kitsch decorative piñatas, streamers, strings of holiday lights, a long glass case filled with pan dulce, and until recently 24/7 service. #travel #photography #sanantonio #tx #restaurant #texmex
January 20, 2026 at 3:27 AM
San Antonio's Mi Tierra Cafe y Panaderia opened in 1941 in Market Square offering food, mariachi bands, kitsch decorative piñatas, streamers, strings of holiday lights, a long glass case filled with pan dulce, and until recently 24/7 service. #travel #photography #sanantonio #tx #restaurant #texmex
Directly opposite the front facade of Siena's Duomo is the expansive Santa Maria della Scala - the former hospital lined with 1400's frescoes. Operated by town instead of Church, priests get little respect in the images of care. #travel #tourism #siena #italy #hospital #santamariadellascala #fresco
January 19, 2026 at 5:37 AM
An floor mosaic in Siena's Duomo shows the unusual story of King David's son Absalom who led a revolt against his dad, was chased by the king's army, and fled on muleback. The mule took him under a low limb where his hair got tangled. Result: Death. #travel #tourism #siena #italy #duomo #biblestory
January 18, 2026 at 5:36 AM
A horse and dove compose a street scene along a Sienese street. #phtography #travel #tourism #siena #italy #graffiti #tuscany #streetart
January 17, 2026 at 5:07 AM
A horse and dove compose a street scene along a Sienese street. #phtography #travel #tourism #siena #italy #graffiti #tuscany #streetart
Wooden stall marquetry crafted by monk Fra' Giovanni da Verona (1503) wraps Siena Duomo's choir. These were moved here from their original abbey site in 1813 - magnificent Renaissance craftsmanship in the Gothic masterpiece. #travel #siena #duomo #photography #italy #renaissance #craft #marquetry
January 16, 2026 at 3:01 AM
Wooden stall marquetry crafted by monk Fra' Giovanni da Verona (1503) wraps Siena Duomo's choir. These were moved here from their original abbey site in 1813 - magnificent Renaissance craftsmanship in the Gothic masterpiece. #travel #siena #duomo #photography #italy #renaissance #craft #marquetry
Cardinal Francesco Piccolomini (Later Pope Pius III) sponsored this library within Siena's Duomo to honor his uncle Pope Pius II. Artist Pinturicchio (and perhaps Raphael) created 10 frescoes with scenes from Pius' II's life (1502-8). #travel #tourism #photography #siena #italy #piccolomini #italy
January 15, 2026 at 4:33 AM
Cardinal Francesco Piccolomini (Later Pope Pius III) sponsored this library within Siena's Duomo to honor his uncle Pope Pius II. Artist Pinturicchio (and perhaps Raphael) created 10 frescoes with scenes from Pius' II's life (1502-8). #travel #tourism #photography #siena #italy #piccolomini #italy
The north aisle of the Siena Cathedral is the Piccolomini Altarpiece (1481-5), commissioned by Cardinal Francesco Piccolomini (later Pope Pius III). Four of the sculptures were carved by Michelangelo (1501-5). #travel #toursim #siena #cathedral #piccolomini #photography #italy #michelangelo #altar
January 14, 2026 at 3:33 AM
The north aisle of the Siena Cathedral is the Piccolomini Altarpiece (1481-5), commissioned by Cardinal Francesco Piccolomini (later Pope Pius III). Four of the sculptures were carved by Michelangelo (1501-5). #travel #toursim #siena #cathedral #piccolomini #photography #italy #michelangelo #altar
Siena's Duomo interior is ringed with 172 plaster busts of the first popes beginning with St. Peter. These were produced between 1497 and 1503. Some faces are duplicated. The rondels below illustrate 36 Roman and Byzantine emperors. #travel #tourism #siena #duomo #sculpture #history #photography #it
January 13, 2026 at 5:37 AM
Siena's Duomo interior is ringed with 172 plaster busts of the first popes beginning with St. Peter. These were produced between 1497 and 1503. Some faces are duplicated. The rondels below illustrate 36 Roman and Byzantine emperors. #travel #tourism #siena #duomo #sculpture #history #photography #it
Hopi House was the first of eight structures designed by architect Mary Colter for the Grand Canyon National Park. It was erected (1904) by Fred Harvey Company contractors to create a marketplace for tourists to acquire crafts by Native Americans. #travel #tourism #grandcanyon #arizona #architecture
January 12, 2026 at 5:47 AM
Hopi House was the first of eight structures designed by architect Mary Colter for the Grand Canyon National Park. It was erected (1904) by Fred Harvey Company contractors to create a marketplace for tourists to acquire crafts by Native Americans. #travel #tourism #grandcanyon #arizona #architecture
The floor of Siena Cathedral is arrayed with 56 incised stone mosaics crafted by about 40 artists between the 14th and 16th centuries. This medallion (She-Wolf of Siena) with badges for confederate cities dates from 1373. #travel #tourism #siena #italy #sienacathedral #mosaics #tuscany #photography
January 11, 2026 at 4:26 AM
The floor of Siena Cathedral is arrayed with 56 incised stone mosaics crafted by about 40 artists between the 14th and 16th centuries. This medallion (She-Wolf of Siena) with badges for confederate cities dates from 1373. #travel #tourism #siena #italy #sienacathedral #mosaics #tuscany #photography
A blazing sun caps the top of the front face of Florence's Santa Maria Novella. The 15th-C architect Alberti was handed the job of masking a Gothic #church, whose front elevation was already underway, with a #Renaissance nod to a classical temple. #travel #architecture #florence #italy #history #art
January 10, 2026 at 5:55 AM
A blazing sun caps the top of the front face of Florence's Santa Maria Novella. The 15th-C architect Alberti was handed the job of masking a Gothic #church, whose front elevation was already underway, with a #Renaissance nod to a classical temple. #travel #architecture #florence #italy #history #art
The Grand Canyon's South Rim Trial is paved and essentially flat as it extends along the upper rim for about 13 miles. It offers continuous and spectacular views to the North Rim 10 miles away. The park draws approximately 5M visitors a year. #travel #tourism #photography #grandcanyon #nps #arizona
January 8, 2026 at 10:10 PM
The Grand Canyon's South Rim Trial is paved and essentially flat as it extends along the upper rim for about 13 miles. It offers continuous and spectacular views to the North Rim 10 miles away. The park draws approximately 5M visitors a year. #travel #tourism #photography #grandcanyon #nps #arizona
The monumental painting, "Washington Crossing the Delaware" is one of three canvases painted in 1851 by Emanuel Leutze. This one dominates a gallery in NYC's Metropolitan Museum of Art. The rendering suffers from numerous inaccuracies, but has become iconic. #travel #tourism #art #nyc #met #history
January 8, 2026 at 4:16 AM
The Basilica di Sant'Apollinare Nuovo in Ravenna, IT is lined with 6th-C mosaics. Here the named wise men lead a line of 22 female martyrs. They are finely attired in Persian clothing (those breeches and caps) reminding that they came from the East. #travel #tourism #ravenna #italy #wisemen #history
January 6, 2026 at 6:45 PM
The Basilica di Sant'Apollinare Nuovo in Ravenna, IT is lined with 6th-C mosaics. Here the named wise men lead a line of 22 female martyrs. They are finely attired in Persian clothing (those breeches and caps) reminding that they came from the East. #travel #tourism #ravenna #italy #wisemen #history
An earlier post showed one wall of the Medici Chapel (1459-61) in Florence. The rear wall continues the expansive parade of Magi - casting the Medici family and close friends - traveling to the Madonna and Child behind the altar on the opposite wall. #travel #tourism #florence #medici #chapel #magi
January 6, 2026 at 3:16 AM
A fresco in Florence's Basilica di Santa Croce (Taddeo Gaddi) illustrates a soon-abandoned theological concept - an idea that the biblical nativity involved TWO Jesus: a human and a spirit of light. In this case, Light baby is the guiding star. #travel #florence #italy #theology #christmas #wisemen
January 5, 2026 at 1:15 AM
Lucien Bonaparte Maxwell once owned more US territory than any other person. The Maxwell Land Grant once totaled 1,714,765 acres, including 1,000,000 purchased for $2,745 (1858). Billy the Kid was killed at his home after it had passed to his son. #travel #tourism #cemetery #history #fortsumner #nm
January 3, 2026 at 6:43 PM
Billy the Kid's Grave near Ft. Sumner, New Mexico is marked with a well-traveled tombstone. It was stolen in 1951 and recovered in 1976, only to disappear again for four days in Feb 1981. When recovered, it was reset with iron shackles in a steel cage. #billythekid #fortsumner #nm #travel #grave
January 1, 2026 at 3:24 AM
Billy the Kid's Grave near Ft. Sumner, New Mexico is marked with a well-traveled tombstone. It was stolen in 1951 and recovered in 1976, only to disappear again for four days in Feb 1981. When recovered, it was reset with iron shackles in a steel cage. #billythekid #fortsumner #nm #travel #grave
This female American Kestrel (North America's smallest falcon, about the size of a Blue Jay) was spotted perched on the highest branches of a tree in Albuquerque's Los Ranchos Agri-Nature Center (See previous posts). #travel #tourism #bird #kestrel #albuquerque #nm #raptor #losranchosarinaturecenter
December 30, 2025 at 3:49 AM
This female American Kestrel (North America's smallest falcon, about the size of a Blue Jay) was spotted perched on the highest branches of a tree in Albuquerque's Los Ranchos Agri-Nature Center (See previous posts). #travel #tourism #bird #kestrel #albuquerque #nm #raptor #losranchosarinaturecenter
A major fall and winter attraction in Albuquerque are the migrating Greater Sandhill Cranes - up to 18,000 in the group - as they move to the Middle Rio Grande Valley between late Sept/Oct, before departing by mid-March. #travel #tourism #albuqueque #nm #nature #photography #sandhillcrane #birding
December 29, 2025 at 5:05 AM
A major fall and winter attraction in Albuquerque are the migrating Greater Sandhill Cranes - up to 18,000 in the group - as they move to the Middle Rio Grande Valley between late Sept/Oct, before departing by mid-March. #travel #tourism #albuqueque #nm #nature #photography #sandhillcrane #birding