waterfall - ilivetotravel's travel log

Happy 2016!

31 December 2015 by Raul 1 Comment

Just wanted to do a quick post in the last few hours of the year here to share my top Instagram pictures. Some are very recent but it was cool to see some of the ones from earlier in the year – it seems so far away, like longer than a year. Sometimes, that’s how things go, isn’t it?

In any case, here is my top 9 photos from 2015. A good year in many, many ways; and a tough year in others.

May 2016 bring you many good things wherever you are!

travel, photos, Instagram, Nepal, Chile, Patagonia, Argentina, Lukla, Nepal, Ama Dublam, waterfall, Portland, Tampa, sea, sky, Fitz Roy

Argentina, Chile, Portland, Tampa, and Nepal all represented!

Filed Under: Special Photos, Travel Journal Tagged With: argentina, Chile, lighthouse, Nepal, Patagonia, photos, Portland, sky, tampa, travel, waterfall

Goðafoss: The Waterfalls of the Gods and Water Art

15 April 2015 by Raul 4 Comments

Goðafoss, (“Godafoss” for ease of my typing!), or “Waterfall of the Gods“, is one of the must-see waterfalls in Iceland. The Godafoss waterfalls are about 36 ft high (12 m) and are located at the Skjálfandafljót River. It is located somewhere between the northern towns of Akureyri and Husavik. More precisely, it is on the ring road going east from Akureryi, right after the road to Husavik branches off (route 85). The story goes that a key Icelandic chieftain in the year 1,000 AD was trying to decide whether Icelanders would adopt Christianity. After deciding in the affirmative, he returned home and threw his images of the pre-Christianity pagan gods into the waterfall and, hence, the name for the waterfalls.

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The waterfall from the highway

The water was gushing generously, as one would expect a proper waterfall would do. Perhaps this time in June was still a time of heavy melt?

Fast-flowing!

Yours truly

Looking from the waterfall back towards the road along one of the trails

Majestic!

The main part of the waterfall

Not only was the waterfall impressive but the flow over the one closest to me drew my eye as the following pictures attest… I need to figure out how to turn some of these into neat art pieces for my home!

Filed Under: Europe, Iceland, Travel Journal Tagged With: art, Canon EOS Rebel, flow, Godafoss, Iceland, Olympus, photo, travel, water, waterfall

Sights of Pucón, Chile

31 January 2014 by Raul 12 Comments

Many moons ago, I spent a few days in a beautiful corner of Chile: Pucón. Pucón, about 480 mi (775 km) south of Santiago, sits on the eastern shorelines of Lake Villarica in the region called Araucanía, looked over by the Villarica volcano. The town by now has gained reknown for its beautiful setting and the opportunity for great outdoor activities (skiing, hiking, white river rafting, hot springs, etc.). Maybe it is now a little too popular but its setting is definitely gifted and well worth going down the beaten path to it. Warning: The photos are “vintage”, meaning pre-digital and by a dozen years or so! They may not do justice to this part of Chile – but I hope you can imagine…

“A” Marks the Spot

Nine of us drove down in a minivan, leaving Santiago in the early evening and arriving early the next morning after I-don’t-know-how-many-hours of driving down the Panamerican Highway which was one lane in each direction most of the way (back then). Thankfully, I didn’t have driving duties so I could try to sleep some. It was a fun group and a fun ride!

In Pucón

Once in Pucón, we stayed at a hotel on the shores of Lake Villarica, not far from the town itself but not in it. It was an idyllic spot with a peaceful view of the lake, home-cooked meals, and easy access to the places we wanted to go.

Welcome to Pucón

The lake-facing side of the hotel

The Villarica volcano

One of our first outings was to go up the Villarica volcano, to the top of the ski slopes that sit on it. Ski season had just ended so I was bummed as I would have loved to ski down a volcano!

The Villarica volcano on nice day

The top of the Villarica volcano once we drove up as far as we could. Shame ski season was over!

Our group (minus 3) at the volcano

Salto del León

We were lucky that one in our group knew the area as his sister had a house in Pucón. That got us to see some places perhaps less visited by, er, visitors. El Salto del León was one of these places. Beautiful waterfalls in a gorgeous setting.

Salto del León

The Trancura Valley

The Trancura River is born in the Andes near Pucón and runs its course to the Pacific Ocean. Snow melt contributes to its waters and the rapid fall in altitude makes its waters fast. Perfect for white water rafting. I had never white water rafted before and was not sure about it but it was lots of fun though the water was FRIGID and we were ill-prepared for that!

That area, sort of east-southeast of Pucón, was simply beautiful. Lush greens and other vegetation, old bridges, and little development made me feel I was enjoying a unique place.

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Scenes from the Trancura Valley

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We were not certain our minivan could cross this bridge. We all got out & left only the one driving stay in it!

The fearless group (minus the photographer!)

When I returned to Chile in 2010, I wanted to return to Pucón but there was so much of Chile I had not seen yet that those places (the Atacama desert, Patagonia, etc.) took precedence and my time there ended without returning to Pucón. But, oh, I shall return!