Exploring and Sharing the World!
Well, a photo of the week post is typically a one-photo deal but how could I choose between these two beauties??? Yes, I am swayed towards anything chocolate but this one tore me apart. So, without further ado, two scenes from Dalloyau in Paris.
I just want to bury my face in these!
For a chocoholic to say these look AWESOME is a big thing…
When I was a kid (some would argue I am still one), I was fascinated with knowing capital cities and flags. Not really sure why, perhaps it was an early predictor of future sanity. I was pondering the other day that there are countries that I have visited whose capital cities I have not than I thought. So I started thinking which capital cities have I visited and could there be some common thread to some of them. That led me to think of a new series to briefly chat about the capital cities I have visited.
The White House, literally and/or figuratively, the world’s center of power
In this group, I’d thought I’d include some capitals that represent power centers. While I could add a few others, those fit better within future categories I will be sharing. For this post of power centers, I have chosen to include: Beijing, Washington, D.C., and London.
These are certainly global power centers for financial and political reasons. But they could not be any more different from each other. The following statements, of course, are up for discussion and challenge but they sort of indicate how I “feel” these power centers:
Where I would live? I would say D.C. hands down. In fact, in any list, this would be on my top three places to live. I feel the energy and it transcends the political activity-related energy. I love walking the treed streets of the city, admiring architecture new and old, and discovering places to hang out (London does offer some of this.)
Where I would learn the most? I would say Beijing with its long history and fascinating culture.
Where I felt people warmth? London would have an edge on D.C. but, in reality, none, I’d venture say, excel at people warmth. Not sure if that is related to the power center nature of the city, the culture of the country/city, or some other factor (like it just takes time to feel it).
Any big gripe on any of these? The pollution in Beijing is about the worst I’ve experienced. I got sick from it, putting a big damper on my time there. And no “nearby Rio de Janeiro” (as Sao Paulo has) for me to go “heal.” 🙂
Where would I love to return? Sure, I’d enjoy going back to London but D.C. would be it. Beijing… Been there, done that. I’d rather learn about China through other places.
London is a power center, especially in global finance
Of course, different strokes for different folks – what’s delicious to me may be bland to another so take it all with a grain of salt and share your impressions of any of these cities if you have visited them! Regardless, these are fascinating cities to explore.
My family does enjoy the beach more so one of the options when we travel together and are not hitting a cruise (a great way for us to travel together) is to go to a nice resort. A few years back, we chose to go to Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic, where we stayed at a Riu resort. We lived for many years next door in Puerto Rico and were quite familiar with the Dom. Rep. since there were many Dominicans in P.R. and you heard about it often enough in TV. But I had never gone.
Now, I am not known to be the type to lay at a beach for hours on end, days on end. I like my time in the beach to be an hour or two, most of that in the shade of some tree (or umbrella) enjoying the breezes and sounds of the sea – a most relaxing activity. Couple that with a beverage and it is perfect. Then I get bored. Sure, a dip in the water or two helps. And then I move on.
Punta Cana is on the eastern coast of the Dom. Rep. – almost exactly on the easternmost tip of the Hispaniola, pointing towards Puerto Rico. There are many resorts in the area at all price levels. The beaches are Caribbean prime. Why go further from North America with places like this at its doorstep! The resort had a great beach and great pools – areas we enjoyed on a daily basis even if sometimes I just hung out under the shade napping or reading a book. Of course, food is part of the enjoyment of a good vacation and we ate pretty well.
The room was very spacious and very nicely done – that’s all REAL wood, not pressed wood…
My nephew enjoying the resort room while playing his beloved video games!
But, the itch to explore is never down-and-out with me so we did plan for a day of seeing the countryside and visiting a couple of places we had heard about before. One, the basilica of Altagracia in Higüey, was on our way out to La Romana so it was an easy stop to admire this massive church. At La Romana, we visited Altos de Chavón, a charming recreation of any-town Middle Age Europe, complete with an amphitheater that has been used by the likes of Frank Sinatra, Duran Duran, and Julio Iglesias.
Beautiful medieval European architecture with tropical foliage!
The skinniest cat I have seen. It was tough being a medieval cat!
Charming details around the town
The amphitheater – would love to see a show here
We all enjoyed walking around, exploring the town, looking at the shops and, why not, even a burro ride!
My niece enjoying a ride around the town
On the way out we crossed the Chavon River which offered incredible views!
Leaving this corner of paradise was hard to do but this view was a nice departing gift!
View of Punta Cana resorts from the plane
Have you been to the Dominican Republic? What are your favorite spots there?
I have traveled to a good bunch of countries and hope to add more over time. Most of the time, that means I have visited their capital cities even if briefly. Rare is the case where I have not visited a capital city of a country I have been to. Honduras, Mexico and the Dominican Republic come to mind. Tanzania does too, now that I think about it, since Dodoma -not Dar es Salaam- is its capital. I thought it would be cool to do a series of the capitals I have visited… Let’s start with the timeless!
One cannot argue that there are cities that are timeless. Many are not capital cities. But as the theme is capital cities, I will pick three that are timeless fully aware that I am stating the obvious given the choices: Rome, Athens, and Cairo.
Just thinking about the “youngest” one of these goes back a couple of thousands of years. Mind boggling. )Of course, there are much younger capital cities that I could call timeless too.) Going to any of these can be daunting with all the possibilities to explore the ancient, the old, and the recent (say, last 200 hundred years??).
Athens may be the easiest to navigate in terms of this but it still requires time to learn all about it. It also merits exploring the “recent” not just the old or ancient. In any of these cities, one can get stuck just on the archeology or history “touring” and miss the vibrant cities they are now, their history notwithstanding.
The modern outskirts of Athens towards Piraeus
A juxtaposition of modern Athens and old Athens
Rome has such depth that one could just focus on the Roman Empire period, or just the food, or just the Catholic, or just the modern life – and spend weeks on any of the topics. A first visit to Rome can really consume one in the key sights to be seen – and that is OK, no reason to stress about it. But either carve out time for, or plan to return for, diving in to the other experiences. And don’t worry, Rome is eternal so it will all still be around for your next visit!
The old: Pantheon
The food: Carbonara – my favorite dish to have in Rome!
The Catholic: St. Peter’s Square at night
The visitor: Is this a Roman look-alike soaking in the incredible Pantheon?
About Cairo, what I can safely state is that it is one complex city! For someone not used to large cities in countries where one doesn’t speak the language or one is not familiar with the culture, it can be overwhelming. I felt that way on my first day there during my first visit. And then you start walking around, sensing the vibe, having contact with the friendly locals, and the city opens up differently than expected. Yes, there are key sights to be seen – the “musts,” but in Cairo, as in other places, the best part is the “experiencing,” not just the touring (I am not an anti-touring snob, just a proponent of experiencing!). I believe it totally change what Cairo is in our minds to become more immersed (to the extent one can in a one week visit…).
The “musts”: The Giza pyramids
The “experiences”: At the Grand Bazaar
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These cities are timeless for their longevity and history yet they could also be grouped into other categories in this series. I preferred placing them in the timeless group as they serve witness to the development of civilization, to the evolution of how we humans operate, and to the great achievements of the past while yet being alive in this modern world – not just being city-museums. So go and explore these timeless capitals!
Tourists enjoying a timeless capital: Rome!
I’d love to hear your thoughts on these cities if you have visited – or how you envision them if you have not!
While not a big shopper here, sometimes I do stop to take a look at the arts and crafts made in the places I visit – usually hoping that something unusual catches my eye: either for a purchase or a picture. During my trip to Jordan I stopped at a store that had plenty to grab my attention. Here is one of my favorite finds (nope, I did not purchase it; no space!).
Colorful bowl made in Jordan
I wrote about Stockholm being a great city to visit in summer time (as probably any part of Sweden!). As I said then, it is likely a charming city well-worth visiting any time of the year. But summertime not only offers warmth and longer daylight hours. It offers better opportunities to observe life happen as I hope the photos in this post show.
Enjoy and let me know which is your favorite scene!
More pix of Stockholm here and of other parts of Sweden here!!
I enjoyed my time in Paris when I lived there for 6 months and I enjoy it every time I go back whether for a day layover or a few days. These photos, taken during one of my brief layovers there, are of two entrances to the Paris metro at the Pigalle station. I find them evocative. And, of course, they make me want to return!
The town of Limoges, in France’s center (west-ish), is well known for the fine porcelain that bears the same name. An old town (it was founded around 50 B.C. by -guess who- the Romans), it sits in the region of Limousin, sort of east and north from the Bordeaux region. In fact, we stopped in Limoges on our way to Bordeaux from Paris!
We went out for a walk and a quick lunch as we had limited time – which was a bummer because it would have been worth exploring more. But in crossing the river we ran into the the Way to Santiago – one of the many routes followed since medieval times by people making the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, in northwestern Spain, where St. James is buried. Pretty neat and lucky discovery as one of my travel companions had done the Camino a few years before (check out his very informative website – and great video – here)! This bridge is Saint Martial‘s bridge which dates from the 13th century but built on the ruins of a Roman bridge.
Since the Middle Ages people have been following the way to St. James! (Santiago)
The building top left over the city walls is an arts museum. The city’s cathedral is to its right
These bricks have been the way for pilgrims for centuries!
Though we did not explore as we would have liked to, the architecture of the town was clearly charming (e.g., the city hall), owing to centuries of habitation.
Next time, Limoges, I will pay you your due!
As I think of 2013, I recall the many neat experiences at home and away. Looking through my photos is a great way to bring back the memories. I’d thought I’d share with you some of my most memorable moments from 2013 via photos – some of which have been shared before in other posts and some have not – in no particular order. Hope you like them!
Not necessarily a great photo from a technique standpoint but pretty “momentous”. I landed at Kilimanjaro International Airport around midnight. When I woke up the next day at my hotel, someone told me that if I went outside to the local road, I could see Kilimanjaro, which I was about to climb. Neat to see it but even neater to run into two little locals on their way to school! A moment I will always treasure.
I have shared a lot of pictures I love through my prior posts about hiking Kilimanjaro (start with the Day 1 summary if you want to see them all!). So to keep this post manageable, to go along with my first sighting of the mountain in #1, I’d thought I’d then include me by the new sign at Uhuru Peak (the highest point in Mt. Kilimanjaro). This photo is special as I brought my family along for this once-in-a-lifetime adventure!
I shared this photo in an earlier post about my visit to Jerash, Jordan but it remains one of my favorite pictures for the year so it deserves inclusion here. Seeing Jerash – a complete unknown to me until that point – was a great discovery in 2013.
Everyone has seen the same picture of the Treasury in Petra and that is because there is not much space to back away from it. But there are plenty of other angles to photograph this incredible “carving”. This is one of my favorites. I had been to Petra before but seeing how well this photo turned out back at home made me happy!
While touring Jordan, after a long day at Petra, the group went out for dinner. Yes, we were all a little tired. One of our fellow travelers pointed out how our guide and I were not only dressed alike but were in the same pose – and snap! the picture was taken. We were laughing when we realized this was all true and the photo captured that moment so well!
Exploring Jordan was incredible: lots of history, incredible nature, etc. But the people is what really made the difference: warm and friendly and the smile on this kid’s face captures well how we were made to feel welcome by everyone.
#7 Food, food, foodI summarized my year in food and drinks in an earlier post but this plate deserves inclusion here. It is from a lunch I had in Mardaba, Jordan but I’ve enjoyed great food this year from Manila to Miami, from Jordan to Minneapolis, from Washington, D.C. to Mt. Kilimanjaro! Oh, and don’t forget Tampa and Atlanta!
#8 DragonCon’s parade in Atlanta
DragonCon is an interesting event held in Atlanta every year. I went with friends to see the parade and enjoyed seeing all the characters that walked along. This is one of my favorite pictures from that parade (others here).
In addition to hiking Mt. Kilimanjaro, my Tanzania experience included doing a safari the right way (4 days, not just a one drive in-and-out as I had done a few years before due to limited time while on a business trip). These images capture well my favorite moments from that experience!
Driving around the neighborhood next to mine in Atlanta, I ran into this scene! What an incredible sight. The house was being lifted so it can sit higher on the ground due to being in a flood plain.
My hometown provided another of the most memorable photos I took on 2013: stormy skies over Buckhead.
During my trip to Jordan, a few pictures of me were taken by fellow travelers. I like these two (which clearly were taken on the same day…) in particular because they show how happy I was at the time. The second one has me with my faithful companion: no, not the donkey but my camera!
To close this post, I will re-share one of my favorite photos ever from 2013 taken by me as the sun set over the Dead Sea from our hotel in Jordan (the Movenpick resort – awesome). I was lucky these two birds were waiting for me on that palm tree to capture the moment!
I hope 2014 brings you many memorable moments, whether you capture them on a photo or not!
Ah, yes, there is another tiny state within what we think of as Italy: San Marino. No more than 24 sq. mi. (64 sq km) and about 30,000 inhabitants, this tiny state which claims to have been founded in the year 301 AD has been known for duty free shopping more than anything else. While I am not claiming to have explored every corner of this state, there was not much to it for me to recommend a visit – unless you are checking states of the world 🙂
The basilica of the city of San Marino, capital of the state of San Marino (!), is a simple classical (or neoclassical) style structure dating from the 1830s. A church has been located at this site since the founding of the state in the 4th century and the remains of St. Marinus (after which the state is named) are buried under the basilica.
To the right of the photo, you see part of the Church of St. Peters which pre-dates the Basilica
Well, it may not be the photo of the year in terms of photographic excellence. But it sums up well another year and my wish for 2014 that travel continue to be something we can continue to enjoy safely.
Whether travel is part of your 2014 or not, I wish you and those you love a wonderful 2014 and I look forward to continue sharing a little bit of my experiences here!
OK, ending with a preposition is not proper but to make it sound Dr. Seuss-ish I hardly could have made it “Oh, the places at which I stayed.”
In any case, I shared my year in food and beverages in an earlier post. But 2013 was also a good year in terms of exploring places to stay. Here are the highlights of my year in accommodations!
While in Moshi working with the Kili Centre orphanage, we stayed at two different hotels: one before climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro and one after. Each is special for different reasons.
The Honey Badger Lodge had a great feel in the grounds and other public areas (bar and pool area) as well as spacious rooms / cabanas. The owners and staff were incredible. It was amazing to be greeted by the friendly wait staff by name every day!
Notice the monkey out for a walk in the beautiful gardens of the Honey Badger Lodge
After coming down from the mountain, we went to the Springlands Hotel. This place was special because it is where we got to celebrate our success in climbing the mountain (100% of our group of 16 summitted!).
The ground of the Springlands Hotel
One of the biggest pulls on me to consider doing Kili again are some of the great views afforded by some of the camps in which we stayed. Shira Camp on day 2 and Karanga Camp on day 4 were just stunning for me. Tell me what you think!
Shira Camp with the summit and a nice set of clouds behind it
Looking at the top of Kili from Karanga Camp
I stayed at a few different hotels over my two years of constant travel up there for work. The Mayflower definitely was my number one choice though some of that is because it was the closest one to work.
The newly renovated lobby and new restaurant bar: Edgar. A place I enjoyed hanging out at
Elegant main corridor by the ballrooms
Rooms were spacious and with the right amount of furnishings – not overdone
The Sofitel D.C. was not usually in range of my approved budget but even if I did not get to stay there, I loved trying the specialty cocktails of Le Bar. I got to check out the W Hotel, right near The White House. Though the room’s window did not close properly and it took a while to resolve the situation, the hotel was gracious in making it up to me. It was a nice touch. I love the modernity of the rooms (as with any Ws) and the great view from the room I finally got settled into!
View towards the Dept of Treasury (right) looking towards the south lawn of The White House
Great lines and furnishings in the room. And the translucent shower wall.
Other mainstays of my time there were the Renaissance on 9th St NW, near Chinatown, and the Renaissance in New Hampshire. Of the former, I really liked the lobby, a space where I would happily sit for happy hour or a Friday night out with friends. It also had the nicest executive lounge in the U.S. properties of hotels affiliated with Marriott. Of the latter, I loved its location: closer to Georgetown, right by residential areas, walking distance from the Kennedy Center, and easy access to running trails without having to deal with too many street crossings and heavy traffic. Also, very close to Dupont Circle which was nice in terms of having a broad range of dining options – and watching the unique character of the area!
In Jordan we stayed all over the country and in many different types of accommodations. I wrote specifically about all these different type of accommodations experienced here so I will not duplicate here what I have already shared (but do check that post out!). However, I will share here more about the Six Senses Spa where we stayed two nights because I don’t feel I shared how unique a place this is, in the middle of nowhere (it feels), nestled in a narrow canyon that hosts the hot springs the place is known for.
The lower hot springs are behind the building on the picture (taken from the hotel)
Looking at the hotel from the entrance to the area
While management’s attention to the guest needed a little bit of polishing, the staff itself made every effort possible to deliver a great experience. The rooms’ use of wood panels instead of curtains on the balconies’ doors was very unique and provided a warmth to the room that I really liked. But take a look at the spa area from behind the falls!
The public hot springs
From behind the waterfall in the public hot springs
In my short trip to Manila, I stayed at two hotels, The Bayleaf Hotel and The Manila Marriott. I wrote previously about how the former provided the best location to explore the Intramuros district of Manila whereas the latter was a paradise of relaxation. While The Bayleaf had less glamour than the Manila Marriott, its convenience to learn about Manila’s history was great. Both shone because of the incredible attention to service and the customer by their staffs.
While visiting Minneapolis, I stayed at The Hotel Minneapolis, from Marriott’s Autograph Collection. It was my first time trying a property from the Autograph Collection so I was curious how it would be. I really liked its spacious lobby and its location, close to the river, the theater district, and the business district. I walked everywhere downtown from the hotel. The rooms, though not huge, were well-enough sized. The building dates from the earlier 20th century when it was built as a bank. I was really impressed by how cleverly the time and function of the building were tapped and applied to create great public spaces in the hotel. If I were there on a business trip, I would definitely enjoy lounging in the lobby spaces after working hours. The friendliness of the staff topped off what was a great stay.
The lobby is a comfortable space to lounge around after work or during a weekend stay
Some original details of the bank, like this vault, are preserved
Bar design takes advantage of the original architectural details
High ceilings and marble columns add a lot of character to the lobby spaces
Hope everyone has a great holidays and I wish you the best in 2014!
I was hosted at the Jordan, Minneapolis and Manila hotels. All opinions are my own based on my experiences and observations.
Barranco Wall – A Great Challenge | Kilimanjaro Day 4
Preparing to Hike Kilimanjaro: More than Training & Gear
Descending from Kilimanjaro’s Summit | Kilimanjaro Day 6 and 7
Jordan’s Wadi Rum: Not Just for Lawrence of Arabia
On the Machame Route | Kilimanjaro Day 1
Tanzania’s Lake Manyara: A Cool and Easy Safari
Gear for Climbing Kilimanjaro | Clothing
A Fourth of July Celebration – Atlanta’s Peachtree Road Race
A Few Good Things to Do in Willemstad, Curacao
Photo Essay of the Center of Moldova’s Capital: Chisinau
