Tag: snapshots

Illustrious Instants, Lincoln Highway, PA, United States travel

Illustrious Instants: Taking the Back Road

by gracefully1global •

You know those instants when the beauty of a moment transcends your eyeballs and you are actually viscerally affected by the amazingess?


On this marvelous summer day, driving the Lincoln Highway in Pennsylvania about an hour and a half outside of Pittsburgh, I experienced one of those moments.  And I was so overtaken by the perfection of the world at this moment in time, that I pulled off the road and took a picture.


I only wanted to record the feeling that I was experiencing, somehow, and I was only shooting with my iPhone 3, so I wasn’t expecting anything special from the photos.  I was just optimistically striving to create a visual reminder to help me pull out this memory sometime in the future.


But, I guess the amazingness of the moment not only transcended my eyeballs, but it also transcended my iPhone.  By some miracle, this little butterfly entered my frame at the exact moment the shutter snapped.


I am so grateful that this instant was made immortal by this photo that lingers on in my life.  I love it dearly.  It now proudly represents my many trips up and down the Lincoln Highway, which to this day remains one of my favorite travel memories.


And a lesson learned – who needs the Turnpike?  Slow down and take the back way.  There’s probably a butterfly or two waiting for you…

Maui, HI, Photo Tours, United States travel

Maui, Hawaii

by gracefully1global •

There is really nothing I feel I can say to do justice to a place like Maui.  Being here is like visiting another world that you have always hoped existed.

Somehow, the moment I stepped off the airplane in Maui, an overwhelming feeling of relaxation overcame me.  I don’t know if it is the climate or the beauty or the energy of the area, but this feeling is unmistakable.  That being said, there are many different experiences that can be had on this island, despite it’s small size.  When I visited, I frequented less touristy areas thanks to some friends I was visiting that worked on the island, and this made a huge difference in my experience.  They took me to beaches that had no more than ten people in sight.  This was a huge shock, as being from southern California, I am used to beaches stuffed with people.  We were everywhere on the island, from the endless beaches as far as you can see, to the mountains in the center of the island.  Literally everywhere you turn you find incredible beauty.

That being said, this vacation has it’s limitations.  As a city girl, as much as I love Maui, a two week vacation is a perfect amount of time for me to be in this fairly isolated environment.  Things are pretty expensive here, as most goods have to be shipped to the island.  And this is not a vacation for a foodie.

But, whoever said anyplace is perfect?  Truly, everyone sometime in their lifetime must experience a day on a Maui beach, more beautiful than words can express, and nearly deserted.  My hike with friends here in the bamboo forest remains one of the most memorable travel experiences of my lifetime.
So, in summary, go to Maui.  As soon as possible.

A gallery of my favorite Maui photographs:

IMG_4380IMG_4440IMG_4531IMG_4569IMG_4439IMG_4541
IMG_4588IMG_4548IMG_4487IMG_4504IMG_4461IMG_4530
IMG_4435IMG_4540IMG_4529IMG_4544IMG_4559IMG_4586
IMG_4592IMG_4599
Best of Maui, a set on Flickr.

Elsewhere, Photo Tours

Dublin, Ireland

by gracefully1global •

Not only does Dublin hold a certain intangible magical quality which makes it pretty irresistible, it happens to be the first city outside of the United States that I visited alone. The city overwhelmed my expectations for not only traveling alone but traveling in general. For this, Dublin will always hold a soft spot in my heart.

Dublin is known as a city of ambiance, where you can be content merely wandering the streets or sitting in a pub and taking it all in. But Dublin has a lot more than that going for it – namely, the people there. As a solo traveler, everywhere I went people graciously helped me with whatever I needed, and I never truly felt alone. From a stranger paying for my internet connection at a hotel when I was out of cash and badly needed to send an email, to the groups of young friends I made every evening in the pubs that then took me under their wing to show me their city, to the restaurant and hotel staff everywhere who always wanted to make sure I was ok and to hear about my life in San Diego. I felt like I had old friend around every corner in this wonderful city.

While I didn’t take many photos and the ones I took were only with my iPhone, I hope they give you a bit of a glimpse into Dublin’s allure. Pieces of my trip included the fabulous collections at the Chester Beatty Library, a glimpse of history in the bullet holes on the side of the General Post Office, a night at the famous Abbey Theatre, learning how to pour the perfect pint and then taking in the 360 degree view of Dublin at the bar at the top of the Guinness Storehouse, and last but certainly not least – enjoying a simple pint in a cozy pub.

And P.S. – the food was amazing.

I can’t wait to go back.

Gallery preview of my favorite Dublin photographs:

IMG_6897IMG_6906IMG_7181IMG_6895IMG_6938IMG_6922
IMG_7141IMG_6967IMG_7008IMG_7029IMG_7047IMG_7050
IMG_7040IMG_7106IMG_7128IMG_6978IMG_6942IMG_7070
IMG_6955IMG_6993IMG_6976IMG_6928IMG_7166IMG_7038
Best of Dublin, a set on Flickr.

Cinque Terra, Italy Travel, Photo Tours

Cinque Terre, Italy

by gracefully1global •

Cinque Terre coast
Cinque Terre rose to fame among American tourists with the help of a well-known friend, Rick Steves, and it seems to continue to grow ever-more popular, as its beauty and simplicity are hard to match
Cinque Terre rests on the western coast of Italy, and its name is derived from the five small coastal cities that compose the area – Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza, and Monterosso.  One of the signature tourist draws to the region is the hike from the southernmost Riomaggiore to the northernmost Monterosso, as each city is no more than three kilometers from the last. That being said, the more northern you are, the more difficult the walks become, with many steps and hills involved.
I have made the walk twice, and not only is the view one of the most stunning I have experienced since Big Sur, California, there is also quite a reward in Monterosso, as this city has the largest beach for relaxing a bit after your hike, and the focaccia here is not to be missed.  Speaking of food, this area of Italy is known for creating pesto, so definitely leave some room for some homemade pesto dishes while you visit.
As if the beauty of this place (and the pesto!) isn’t enough of a reason to go, there’s more. Each time I go to Cinque Terre I have made friends from the city that I still keep in touch with. The people here are wonderful – they truly appreciate the tourists and make it their own personal mission that you are happy and enjoying your visit to their city.  Seriously, what more could we ask for?
While each city has its own character – my personal favorites are Corniglia and Vernazza, as each of these cities have absolutely charming architecture and tiny yet fantastic little swimming areas.
To help you get a better idea of the true beauty of the area, I have picked out a few of my favorite photos.
Slideshow:

Gallery preview of my favorite Cinque Terre photographs:

IMG_3007IMG_3244IMG_3027IMG_8321IMG_3044IMG_3061
IMG_3073IMG_3080IMG_8575IMG_3201IMG_3203IMG_3330
IMG_3238IMG_3259IMG_3312IMG_8533IMG_3025IMG_3339
IMG_3345IMG_3354IMG_3352IMG_3324IMG_3367IMG_8357
Best of Cinque Terre, a set on Flickr.

[googlemaps https://maps.google.com/maps?oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&q=vernazza,+italy.+map&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Vernazza+Province+of+La+Spezia,+Liguria,+Italy&ll=44.136259,9.685018&spn=2.185133,4.185791&t=m&z=8&output=embed&w=370&h=200]

Bologna, Life in Bologna, Photo Tours

Bologna, Italy

by gracefully1global •


Despite the 15 months that I have already spent in Bologna, I have not yet acclimated to the striking allure of this historic Italian city. The photos in this gallery are snapshots that I have taken over the months at moments when the beauty of the city has truly struck me. Which is often. As you are about to see, Bologna is truly a land of extremes with its signature portici adorning nearly every street in the historic center, and many of the walls behind the portici laden with graffiti. A stroll through its wealthy neighborhoods can feel almost like a walk through a fairy tale, while a stroll down via Zamboni in the heart of the student community is a reminder of the sometimes radical political roots grown in Bologna.
Bologna may be my home away from home, but I dare say that these moments when I drop everything just to take a picture will never stop. I hope you enjoy them even a bit as much as I have…
 
Gallery preview of my favorite Bologna photographs:

Best of Bologna, a set on Flickr.

[googlemaps https://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Bologna,+Italy&aq=0&oq=Bologn&sll=53.344104,-6.267494&sspn=0.227103,0.523224&g=Dublin,+Ireland&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Bologna+Province+of+Bologna,+Emilia-Romagna,+Italy&ll=44.49419,11.346518&spn=2.170844,4.185791&t=m&z=8&output=embed&w=370&h=200]