Photo of the Week

Photo of the Week: Frozen

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IMG_2082Thingvellir, Iceland

On our trip to Iceland, we had a car and drove around the Golden Circle.  One of the stops was at Thingvellir National Park in the south west.  This UNESCO World Heritage Site is home to the world’s longest running Parliament, first congregated in 930 AD.   At that time people gathered here from all over Iceland every year during the Commonwealth period. Now, Thingvellir is still considered to be the main meeting place for Icelanders, where they come together and and celebrate the most significant occasion in the history of the nation.

Aside from it’s historical significance, Thingvellir is also the land of many dramatic landscapes. Walking through the park, you can clearly see the rocky cliff of the largest exposed continental rift between the North American and Eurasian plates.   This picture is of the frozen Oxara river in the heart of Thingvellar.  The tundra landscape was as desolate as it was breathtaking. In late November, winter here is well under way, and we had to cover up in many layers just to stay warm.

Every Monday of each week, I’ll share a photo with you from my adventures around the world and at home.  Most of my photos have little or no post processing.  If you would like to see more, please click the ‘Follow’ button.

Photos of the Week: Grotto

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IMG_0919Tangier, Morocco

Tangier is a city located on the North African coast near the Strait of Gibraltar, where the Mediterranean meets the Atlantic.  About a 15 minute drive from this northern city of Morocco is the popular Caves of Hercules.  The grotto has two openings, one on land and one out to the sea. Entering from the land opening, you descend into a cavernous area with multiple rooms and alcoves. The caves were expanded considerably over the years by Berber tribes. The opening facing out to the ocean looks like the head of a man.  When that same opening is viewed from the sea, it looks like a map of Africa. It is part of the local legend that Hercules stayed here and slept in this cave.

This sleepy seaside town is a great pit stop to grab lunch and admire the grotto. Inside, locals have set up stalls and are selling souvenirs. Outside by the waterfront, there are multiple shops and restaurants.  Make sure you don’t plan your trip around Ramadan, when the attraction is shut down for a few weeks.

Every Monday of each week, I’ll share a photo with you from my adventures around the world and at home.  Most of my photos have little or no post processing.  If you would like to see more, please click the ‘Follow’ button.

Photo of the Week: Grooming

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IMG_0836Gibraltar

A few years ago on our trip to Morocco, we made a little side trip to Gibraltar, an oversea British territory. This rocky peninsula is located at the South of Spain where the Mediterranean meets the Atlantic.  One of the main attractions was the Rock of Gibraltar, a giant rocky citadel. This fortress was once considered one of the Pillars of Hercules in ancient times.  

This picture captured an intimate moment between these monkeys as they groomed each other.  Climbing up the rock, one of the things you’ll notice is the abundance of wild monkeys lounging around the side of the road.  These Barbary macaques were descended from a North African breed and brought to Gibraltar over a thousand years ago. They continued to thrive in their new environment and have become a major tourist attraction.  They are extremely sociable and will fearlessly approach people for food.  It’s important to keep a safe distance (and a tight grip on your stuff) from the macaques because they are wild and can become quite aggressive if they perceive that you’re withholding food.  

Every Monday of each week, I’ll share a photo with you from my adventures around the world and at home.  Most of my photos have little or no post processing.  If you would like to see more, please click the ‘Follow’ button.

Photo of the Week: Symmetry

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IMG_0533Casablanca, Morocco

I didn’t know what to expect when I visited Casablanca.  Based on the movies I’ve seen and books I’ve read, I expected a vibrant city full of marketplaces and interesting things, but what I saw was a dilapidated city, way past it’s prime.  Streets and sidewalks were broken down and every corner was filled with piles of rubble and garbage.  However, just when I was about to write off the whole city, we went and visited Hassan II Mosque, one of the most beautiful places in Casablanca.

It is one of the largest mosques in Morocco as well as Africa and 7th largest in the world.  The white marble structure rises above the Atlantic Ocean in this forgotten city. Contrasting with the rest of the city, everything here was clean and shiny, the facade glowed under the morning light. Inside, people spoke in hushed tones in deference to the religious significance of the mosque. There was a sense of serenity and quietness that settled over the area.  

This picture captured the elaborate doorway facing out to the Atlantic ocean inside the prayer hall.  The sunlight filtered through the titanium wrought door and reflected on the marble floor creating an interesting symmetry. Even though this photo was taken in color, the light and shadow resulted in a black and white effect.

Every Monday of each week, I’ll share a photo with you from my adventures around the world and at home.  Most of my photos have little or no post processing.  If you would like to see more, please click the ‘Follow’ button.

Photo of the Week: Lit Up

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IMG_7126Toronto, Canada

Nuit Blanche is a contemporary all-night art festival that happens in many major cities across the world.  My visit to Canada for a friend’s wedding happened to coincide with this event, so I was excited to bundle up and wander the cold streets of Toronto checking out the public art installations. I was surprised and overwhelmed by the amount of people that poured into the downtown core area all with the same idea.  The streets were alive with light, sound, and people creating a festive atmosphere.

This photo was taken in front of an H&M store on Queen Street whose facade was lit up as part of an art exhibit. The mesmerizing glow drew in people. I decided to try the technique of taking a picture within a picture, using my cellphone.  Check back next week for a more posts from Toronto.

Every Monday of each week, I’ll share a photo with you from my adventures around the world and at home.  Most of my photos have little or no post processing.  If you would like to see more, please click the ‘Follow’ button.

Photo of the Week: Atlantis

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IMG_9575Dubai, UAE

We went to the UAE earlier this year on a quick trip to Dubai, known for its extravagancies and 7 star hotels. The whole city rose out of the desert about 20 years ago, and continues to thrive while leading the world with their innovative architecture.

This is a photo of the Atlantis Resort at the Palm Dubai taken from the Burj Al Arab. The islands were made in the shape of a palm tree. The setting sun highlights the Atlantis rising out of the ocean reminding me of an ancient lost city.

Every Monday of each week, I’ll share a photo with you from my adventures around the world and at home.  Most of my photos have little or no post processing.  If you would like to see more, please click the ‘Follow’ button.

Photo of the Week: Poseidon

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IMG_9816Sounion, Greece

I grew up reading Greek mythology and dreamt about visiting Greece one day.  So when we finally started traveling, Greece was at the top of the list. This is the temple of Poseidon at Sounion, located on the southernmost tip of the Attica peninsula overlooking the Aegean Sea.  This temple was built around 440 B.C and dedicated to the god of the sea.  People from far and wide come and pay homage to Poseidon here and pray for safe passage on their travels.

According to Greek legends, this is where Aegeus fell to his death.  The story goes: Aegeus’s son, Theseus, sailed off to Crete to fight the Minotaur.  Before he left, he promised his dad that if he returned safely, he would hoist up a white sail so his dad would know long before the ship reached land that his son was safe.  He entered the labyrinth and with the help of Ariadne, he was able to defeat the monster.  On the way home, in a moment of jubilation, he forgot his promise to his father and left the black sail up.  From afar, Aegeus thought that his son was dead, and overwhelmed with grief, he jumped into the sea.  The Aegean Sea was later named after him.

Every Monday of each week, I’ll share a photo with you from my adventures around the world and at home.  Most of my photos have little or no post processing.  If you would like to see more, please click the ‘Follow’ button.

Photo of the Week: Afternoon Glow

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IMG_2200Hong Kong, China

Hong Kong is on our minds the past few days as we try to decide if we want to take advantage of a recent airfare sale.  Hong Kong is the bustling epicenter of Asia with a similar feel to New York, except more intense.  Here, people move faster, the streets are more crowded, and there is a Chanel on every corner.

I was going through my old photos and saw this one taken from the top of Victoria Peak, one of the most popular tourist attractions on the island. We took the tram up the top in the late afternoon where we saw this beautiful view of Victoria Harbour as the sun started to set, creating a soft glow over the city. On the right, you see the the International Finance Centre, the tall building featured in the Dark Knight movie. The tall building on the left is the International Commerce Centre, the tallest building in Hong Kong.

Every Monday of each week, I’ll share a photo with you from my adventures around the world and at home.  Most of my photos have little or no post processing.  If you would like to see more, please click the ‘Follow’ button.

Photo of the Week: The Bayou

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IMG_5386New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

Last weekend my parents visited me and we made a little trip down to New Orleans. One of the highlights of our trip was visiting the Honey Island swamp; winding through the waterways deep into the bayou where the majestic cypress trees covered in Spanish moss grow over the green velvety water. The sun rays shining through the moss covered branches created a beautiful lazy landscape, reminiscent of the scene from The Notebook.

This is one of the most truly unique places that I’ve ever seen. Stay tune for more posts from our trip down South.

Every Monday of each week, I’ll share a photo with you from my adventures around the world and at home.  Most of my photos have little or no post processing.  If you would like to see more, please click the ‘Follow’ button.

Photo of the Week: Cascading Waterfall

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IMG_8478Watkins Glen, New York

A few years ago I saw a picture of this place on Pinterest. The cascading waterfalls and the curious rock formations immediately grabbed my attention. This ethereal landscape looks like it came straight out of a fairy tale. I thought for sure it was in New Zealand or some other far flung place; imagine my surprise when I discovered instead that it is located in Watkins Glen State Park, near the Finger Lakes region in upstate New York.

It’s nice to discover beauty right in our back yard, and we wanted to go and see it for ourselves so we rented a car and drove 4 hours upstate.  Hiking along the main gorge trail, you’ll be able immerse yourself in Mother Nature’s embrace and appreciate her grandeur.

If you are in the area, this place is definitely worth a trip.

Every Monday of each week, I’ll share a photo with you from my adventures around the world and at home.  Most of my photos have little or no post processing.  If you would like to see more, please click the ‘Follow’ button.