Photo Blog

When I'm away from a press the camera becomes my main creative tool. Shots and brief descriptions of my travels, enjoy!

Ireland, Northern Ireland, England

     Ireland and Northern Ireland were both very striking locations. The rolling green landscapes stretch into the distance and, at certain points on the island, drop dramatically into the ocean. The Giant's Causeway was unique, but I found the rock formations to be much smaller than they appear in photographs! On a whirlwind trip back to Dublin I would definitely suggest the Guinness factory for beer drinkers (and even non beer drinkers) as the industrial compound retains its' distinctive old exterior while housing a very modern museum, multiple bars, and dining facilities inside. There is also a great view of the city from the top floor.

     Unfortunately my time in England was short, but I enjoyed being there immensely as I had the opportunity to catch up with many fellow travelers from all over the world due to London's hub status within Europe. You can easily spend days in all of the donation based museums viewing artwork and artifacts that stretch the entirety of recorded human history. The Museum of London has excellent period specific recreations of shops that you can walk through and the Tate Modern Art Museum has to have one of the biggest interior spaces for artists to exhibit in anywhere in the world. Be sure to stop by Oxford and take in the magnificent stone architecture of the university (the museums are excellent there too). Perhaps one of my favorite meals from England was Baegel Bake (spelled some odd way or another) in London. An amazing fresh baked bagel with beef, mustard, and pickles for 3 pounds!

     Anyways that's it for photos from my past 16 months of travel, I do hope you've enjoyed viewing them at least a fraction of the amount of happiness it brings me to be able to travel and take them. Hopefully there will be many more to come from places I haven't been to yet! 74 countries so far and still much more to see here...and even better than looking at photos, be inspired and go see some places for yourself!

The Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, and France

     Traveling around I have met many people from The Netherlands, so it was nice to finally see the country for myself. The rumors of everyone riding bicycles are true, as there are entire car lanes dedicated to them in some cities. Amsterdam has an amazing art scene and is quite the city to explore, which means you should definitely spend some time outside of the touristy areas (red light district). The canal tours can have some nice views, but opt for the smaller boats which can fit down the narrower canals and bridges.

     Belgium is a beer drinker's delight as the Delirium bar in Brussels has over 3,000 kinds of beer in one location for you to enjoy. Also the fries (not "French fries!") are delicious and should be paired with local mayonnaise. Add to that chocolate, meringue, macaroons, and other local foods and it is a pretty easy place to put on some extra holiday weight. By all means if you are in Brussels go wait in line at Tonton Garby cheese sandwich shop for a delicious local experience! It's refreshing to meet someone so into their craft, and all sandwiches are tailored to your taste, each made by one man!  Bruges is also a great little stop off and is easily navigated by foot. The Belfry tower is impressive and the town is great to spend a day or two wandering around.

     Luxembourg was an interesting stop off because it is a less traveled country in the region. Most people opt to spend their time in the neighboring countries, but I found that my Iranian born hosts made my time there enjoyable. Much like Bruges, you will find Luxembourg city easily navigated on foot, but the rental bicycles are also a steal at one euro a day (provided you ride for under 30 minutes at a time, easy). The city itself still retains original architecture and walls, while the business district has a modern feel and some art museums which are worth a visit.

     Northern France of course had some amazing wine and cheese. Stopping off in a small town (in my case Lille) lets you see France outside of the hectic sprawl of Paris. In Paris it is easy to fill your daily schedule with outdoor sights and indoor museums. The Louvre itself takes hours just to walk through, without any substantial stops to see what packs the walls and hallways throughout. Definitely give it a couple of days to enjoy! For those feeling more adventurous I would suggest finding a local to guide you through the catacombs. While there are on the rail tours where you will not get wet or potentially break laws, a headlamp journey through the underground will not be forgotten. Just be sure to pick a good guide who knows how to set up a proper picnic underground and don't forget the dry stuff sacks for your belongings!