travel + photography

Lately, I've been working on organizing travel photos. It's been a pleasure to cull through the many, many photos that my husband and I have taken on our trips together. Here are a few snapshots from a handful of my favorite spots. What happy memories!

In order these are from Boulder, Ildiri, Granada, Vieques, and Chiusi. 

inspired

Ralph Waldo Emerson's famous words, "Live in the sunshine, swim in the sea, drink in the wild air" are some of my favorite words ever written. I came across a colorful print of this quote from the Etsy shop, The Wheat Field, and ordered it to one day frame. The happy hues brighten up even the greyist of winter days. 

print by The Wheat Field

I put together 3 of my photos that I think sum up Emerson's inspiring quote. Hope you enjoy!

living in the sun

swimming in the sea 

drinking in the wild air 

Check out The Wheat Field's Etsy shop: 

http://www.etsy.com/shop/thewheatfield?ref=seller_info. 

I think so many of their colorful and happy prints would be a great addition to a nursery or child's room.

can't grow tired of...

There is just something about spotting a rainbow that makes me feel like a kid all over. I never get tired of seeing them and then admiring them for as long as possible until they seem to vanish into thin air.  

We've had one gloomy day after another here lately. So I pulled out this photo I took while on vacation a few months back (one has to save photos like this for a nice distraction when the weather is so crummy!). 

charmingly magical - who can't smile
when they see a rainbow?

color therapy - yellow

What do you associate the color yellow with? For me, it's the happiest of colors. When I see forsythias' yellow blooms I know that spring has arrived and warm, yellowish light always makes me feel cozy. Here are a few (mostly) yellow photos of mine. Hopefully the cheeriness of this hue will brighten your day.  

isn't the yellow forsythia
against the blue sky just stunning?
Kalabaka, Greece

warm, yellowish light
Paris

I love how each of these petals are
both strong and gentle looking

a perfect yellow bloom,
flower type unknown to me
Esperanza, Vieques

a close up of a type of palm -
almost looks like modern art,
doesn't it?

yellow lighting shines with so much
warmth and coziness - it softens
the metal of the lamp

light and reflections

The intense afternoon sun flickered on the ocean's calmly rippling surface. Nothing less than mesmerizing to witness in person. Nature's hypnosis at its best. 

like diamonds strewn out on satin

flowerful Friday

On vacation recently, I photographed this plant while on an early morning walk. I'm not exactly sure what type of flower this is - it smelled like jasmine, but the blooms are different from the jasmine flower variety I am more familiar with. Amazing isn't it how such a heady and sensual scent can emanate from such a small, delicate bloom?

a star shaped bloom

an incredible lightness of being

The flowers grew on a vine that bent and soared in a meandering and appealing way. I adore how there isn't one straight line in this photo. It's all curvy and soft. Between the plant's delicate vines and the airiness of the clouds in the sky, this is a photo - to me - that encapsulates a feeling of lightness.

light and reflections

I took this photo at my friends' wedding last Saturday. To me, there is something both festive and calm about this scene. It was a beautiful evening!

party lights, a palm tree and the Caribbean -
what could make for a nicer evening?

Esperanza, Vieques (part 2)

I thought I'd continue my theme from yesterday's post and show you all some more photos I took while staying in Esperanza, Vieques. Every morning (and most of the day too) roosters could be heard singing their songs. Cats, dogs, and horses could be seen on almost every street making for delightfully scenic surprises. Here are just a few photos I took of the local fauna that brightened my experience in Esperanza. There's just something about each of these encounters that made me happy - I really do love animals! 

chickens - you guessed it - crossing the road

 I bet they are best buds

this little guy followed me for quite awhile -
isn't he cute?

a horse grazing in the
backyard of our villa

some of the many roosters of Vieques!

the friendliest cat I've ever met -
this fellow lived at our
villa and mastered the art of siesta!

Esperanza, Vieques (part 1)

On my recent trip to Vieques, I photographed so much! I reveled in the vibrancy of all there was to see. One morning I woke up extra early to walk around Esperanza, the little town where we stayed, so that I could snap away without holding up the group and make the most of the early morning sun. Here are just a few photos that I think give a good feel for the town.

a close-up of a huge mural

the early morning shore line

I love the lines of this gate 

interesting, isn't it?

so very welcoming

perhaps a siesta is in store?

a circle of love

We recently returned from Vieques (more pictures to come), and the island was spectacularly beautiful.  Our friends, David and Jill, were married on one of the many striking beaches of this tiny island.  Their ceremony was intimate and the crowd was encircled with lovely white starfishes, making a circle of love.  We wish David and Jill all of the very best!

one of the crisp white starfish