America | Virtually Gina

My Umpteenth New York Visit

February 7, 2017 by Gina Marie

Before we delve into the New York pics, let’s start with this: “Always maintain only a joyful mind.” This is one of the 59 Lojong slogans taught to students on a path of meditation in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. These slogans are traditionally used to help meditation students tame the mind. Even in the face of distractions and suffering, the idea here is to maintain a sense of joy that you are on a path of awakening. That being said, […]

Categories: America, Meditation, New Jersey, New York, New York City, Nikon, NYC, Photo Essay, Photo Journal, Photography, Recovery, Spooky, Travel, Winter • Tags: Lojong Slogans, New York, New York City, Recovery, Travel, Urban

Hello, Brooklyn . . . Hello, B.I.G.

January 15, 2017 by Gina Marie

On a wintry afternoon, Ilona and I took New Jersey transit on a slow (under the snowy conditions) train trek into New York. It was so cold that I wore my pajamas underneath my clothes, plus several hoodies and my black puffer jacket with the goofy faux fur hood. The city was magical under a blanket of fallen snow. “Biggie Smalls is from here,” I observed as we trudged through the snowy sidewalks of Brooklyn. “I saw him in concert the year before […]

Categories: America, Biggie Smalls, New York, New York City, Notorious B.I.G., NYC, Photo Journal, Travel, Urban, Winter • Tags: Biggie Smalls, Brooklyn, iPhoneography, Manhattan, New York, New York City, Notorious B.I.G., Travel, Urban

Beachy Morning on the Shore

June 19, 2016 by Gina Marie

Life is just beachy. As of this week, I’ve lived on the Jersey Shore for precisely one year . . . and when I say “on the shore,” I mean we are literally steps away from the beach. The curious thing is, I’ve only brought my good camera out there two or three times! I generally just bring my camera phone because it’s easier. To be fair, I have caught some great photos that way, as well. However, there’s nothing quite like a […]

Categories: America, Beaches, Bicycles, Birds, Jersey Shore, Life, Light, New Jersey, Nikon, Ocean, Photo Essay, Photo Journal, Photography • Tags: Beaches, Jersey Shore, New Jersey, ocean, Photography, summer

A Stroll Through Downtown Portland, Maine

April 10, 2016 by Gina Marie

After several months of having lived in the extremely suburban Jersey Shore region, a visit to this hip urban New England city felt like a breath of fresh air for my soul. I loved the silhouette created by this couple against the backdrop of an urban scene in the bright afternoon sun. Passing a children’s boutique, I was poignantly reminded that my nephew Robbie would be turning six in a few weeks and I had no idea what to get him. I took delight in the surreal effects […]

Categories: America, Architecture, Flare, Food, Mannequins, Photo Essay, Photography, Portland, Shadow, Travel, Urban • Tags: America, Architecture, Photo Journal, Photography, Portland, Travel, Urban

Minneapolis Photo Journal

November 29, 2015 by Gina Marie

Three weeks ago, I returned to my hometown of Minneapolis for a family celebration. It was my first time back home since my visit in 2013. This was a short stay, and I had precious little time to take photos just for the sake of taking photos. However, I did manage to capture a few artsy shots which I’d like to share here.

Categories: America, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Photo Journal, Photography, Urban • Tags: Autumn, Minneapolis

Boston Gallery, Version 2.0

November 10, 2015 by Gina Marie

In the early spring of 2014, I posted the original Boston Gallery. A year-and-a-half passed, and although I often intended to make another trip to Beantown, I could never seem to find the time. A few weeks ago, I finally carved time out of no time and trekked north, where I found the city as as picturesque as ever. I only wish I could have stayed longer.

Categories: America, Autumn, Autumn Colors, Boston, Massachusetts, Photography, Urban • Tags: America, Autumn, Autumn Colors, Boston, Massachusetts, Photography, Urban

Farewell to a Wooded Wonderland

May 30, 2015 by Gina Marie

Four years ago, Philadelphia beckoned. With its historic streets, ample museums, and plethora of restaurants, there was never any reason to be bored. What surprised me the most, though, was the vast geographic area the city took up (135 square miles, to be precise). Living in the northwest corner of the city, my husband Jeff and I often cruised a stretch of road called Lincoln Drive, which passed underneath a deeply forested area that reminded us of Jurassic Park. I […]

Categories: America, Boxers, Dogs, Journal, Life, Memoir • Tags: Dogs, Hiking, iPhoneography, nature, Philadelphia, Photography

My Kind Of Town . . . To Visit

March 15, 2015 by Gina Marie

That Toddling Town It was half a lifetime ago when I made my first visit to Chicago. I was 18 years old, a college freshman on a road trip to DC with a group of friends. We crashed for a night on the outskirts of America’s third largest city, and I marveled at the unfamiliar, slightly gritty, architecture and the way the buildings all seemed to crowd together. On our way out, we drove past a billboard on 1-90 which […]

Categories: America, Chicago, Memoir, Photography, Travel, Urban • Tags: America, Chicago, Memoir, Photography, Travel, Urban

Thirsty Thorsday

March 5, 2015 by Gina Marie

We interrupt the regularly scheduled broadcast of Chicago travel posts to give you an update on Winter Storm Thor currently transpiring in parts of the Midwest and Northeast United States. The following pictures were captured in the Chestnut Hill neighborhood of Philadelphia. Now, time for some hot tea. Thanks for joining me on this Thirsty Thorsday!

Categories: America, Architecture, Life, Philadelphia, Photo Essay, Photo Journal, Photography, Trees, Urban, Winter • Tags: Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia, Photo Essay, Photo Journal, Photography, Winter, Winter Storm Thor