Castillo de San Cristobal, Old San Juan, Puerto Rico
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Monday, August 1, 2011
Stop #4: Yosemite National Park
I have a few clips to accompany my previous post about Las Vegas but I'm working on putting them into one long video. Since the video creation/uploading phase is taking longer than I'd like, I'll skip right to the second-to-the-last stop on the road trip: Yosemite National Park.
I've always been a huge Ansel Adams fan and if there is one person who can inspire you to visit Yosemite, it's most definitely him. His photos, as you may know, were black and white shots and many were shot right in Yosemite National Park. His talent for capturing the vasts landscapes of the park is unmatched. (I tried in vain.)
Upon entering the park, my first stop was Mono Lake. I was lucky enough to see the lake in the evening, just as the sun was setting behind the Sierra Nevadas. It's was beautiful. One of the first things I noticed (besides the natural beauty of course) was that the kayaks on the water looked as if they were sitting on top of the water. (I know, they're suppose to be on top of the water, but these looked like that hadn't sunk even an inch into the water!) The area had signs posted all around with little facts, where I learned that Mono Lake is three times more salty than the ocean! Apparently this saltiness, combined with the other elements that the water contains (chlorides, carbonates and sulfates) create a density that makes the kayak appear like it's barely touching the water. (Maybe I'm going on about this too much, but it really was a strange sight!)
Driving through the park at night was even neat. The trees are so tall and you're winding through the forest climbing up the mountains. And it is DARK. Very dark. What was interesting, is that at night you only see the trees around you, so waking up the next morning and coming out of the cabin to see the huge mountains on either side of you was a strange feeling. It was like: "How did I get here?" A "pro" of arriving at night: I didn't see the bear traps when I came in so that helped me sleep soundly!
After a great French Toast breakfast in the Yosemite Lodge Foot Court, we hiked up to the Vernal Fall Footbridge. Now, here's where I got a lesson in the "difficulty" levels assigned to each trail in the park: they're deceiving! (Or maybe I am just extremely out of shape? Or maybe it was because it was 9 AM and I'm not a morning person?) Anyways, the trail was much more difficult than I had anticipated. We unfortunately did not make the ascent all the way to Vernal Falls, but we were close and the footbridge offered a very nice view.
After the hike, we decided to take it easy and cruise the park roads. (We were really able to see quite a bit of the famous land marks in the park by doing this.) Next, we saw Yosemite Falls, which are the tallest in North America, and then Bridalveil Falls, El Capitan and finally, the most impressive of all, the views from Glacier Point: all of Yosemite Valley and the breathtaking Half Dome. In this case, I really can't describe the views, because a picture is really worth a thousand words! After seeing some of these simply amazing sights, we visited Mariposa Grove and saw the Giant Sequoias, which definitely lived up to their name!
I've always been a huge Ansel Adams fan and if there is one person who can inspire you to visit Yosemite, it's most definitely him. His photos, as you may know, were black and white shots and many were shot right in Yosemite National Park. His talent for capturing the vasts landscapes of the park is unmatched. (I tried in vain.)
Upon entering the park, my first stop was Mono Lake. I was lucky enough to see the lake in the evening, just as the sun was setting behind the Sierra Nevadas. It's was beautiful. One of the first things I noticed (besides the natural beauty of course) was that the kayaks on the water looked as if they were sitting on top of the water. (I know, they're suppose to be on top of the water, but these looked like that hadn't sunk even an inch into the water!) The area had signs posted all around with little facts, where I learned that Mono Lake is three times more salty than the ocean! Apparently this saltiness, combined with the other elements that the water contains (chlorides, carbonates and sulfates) create a density that makes the kayak appear like it's barely touching the water. (Maybe I'm going on about this too much, but it really was a strange sight!)
Driving through the park at night was even neat. The trees are so tall and you're winding through the forest climbing up the mountains. And it is DARK. Very dark. What was interesting, is that at night you only see the trees around you, so waking up the next morning and coming out of the cabin to see the huge mountains on either side of you was a strange feeling. It was like: "How did I get here?" A "pro" of arriving at night: I didn't see the bear traps when I came in so that helped me sleep soundly!
After a great French Toast breakfast in the Yosemite Lodge Foot Court, we hiked up to the Vernal Fall Footbridge. Now, here's where I got a lesson in the "difficulty" levels assigned to each trail in the park: they're deceiving! (Or maybe I am just extremely out of shape? Or maybe it was because it was 9 AM and I'm not a morning person?) Anyways, the trail was much more difficult than I had anticipated. We unfortunately did not make the ascent all the way to Vernal Falls, but we were close and the footbridge offered a very nice view.
After the hike, we decided to take it easy and cruise the park roads. (We were really able to see quite a bit of the famous land marks in the park by doing this.) Next, we saw Yosemite Falls, which are the tallest in North America, and then Bridalveil Falls, El Capitan and finally, the most impressive of all, the views from Glacier Point: all of Yosemite Valley and the breathtaking Half Dome. In this case, I really can't describe the views, because a picture is really worth a thousand words! After seeing some of these simply amazing sights, we visited Mariposa Grove and saw the Giant Sequoias, which definitely lived up to their name!
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| Mono Lake |
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| Bear Warning! |
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| Vernal Falls from the Footbridge (This picture doesn't do it justice. It's 317 feet tall!) |
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| The Bear Trap I mentioned earlier |
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| Yosemite Falls- tallest in North America |
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| El Capitan |
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| Bridalveil Falls |
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| Yosemite Valley and Half Dome in the background |
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| Half Dome |
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| Me and a Sequoia- timber! |
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| The Grizzly Giant in Mariposa Grove |
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Stop #3: Las Vegas, Nevada
Before arriving in Las Vegas, you must stop to take in the Hoover Dam. To say it's impressive is an understatement. We were able to drive right over the Dam, but this may not be possible for much longer. They're constructing a bridge ("Mike O'Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge") to the south of the Dam to redirect traffic away from the vital power source. (For security purposes.) There is quite a bit to see at there. The views go without saying. Lake Mead is a dark shade of Emerald, that contrasts with the surrounding bleached Limestone. One interesting part of the visit was the discovery was that we could quickly "gain an hour": the Hoover Dam is located within the Pacific and Arizona time zones. (The state of Arizona does, in fact, have its very own time zone!) Another stunning feature is the memorial designed to commemorate the workers who lost their lives constructing the Dam. The memorial reads: "They died to make the desert bloom."
While one might think that Las Vegas would be a step away from natural beauty, I would say they are wrong. Las Vegas has more to offer than just man-made sights (er- yeah...). Right within the city limits there is the Red Rock National Conservation Area. You can drive through the park on its scenic roadway or opt to hike through some of its natural wonders. (I would recommend hiking in the cooler months. I visited in August and it was incredibly hot, reaching up to 107 degrees.) After you're done exploring outdoors, you can head to the strip and enjoy just about any cuisine you want. For dinner, I ate at the Isla Mexican Kitchen inside Treasure Island. The food was great, but expensive. After that, I saw the Sirens of TI show outside the hotel. (This was free! You can find cheap entertainment as it turns out!) There was also the volcanic eruption outside the Mirage, and the water show outside of the Bellagio. Another amazing sight (for $16 per person, $12 if you are a senior citizen or a Nevada resident and $10 for children) was at the top of the Stratosphere, where looks like a space needle. It has spectacular views of the desert and the strip. If you're feeling daring, you can even do the "Sky Jump" (bungee jump from the viewing area) or ride the roller coaster on the roof! Needless to say, I was not feeling quite the adventurous after walking the 5 miles (not counting walking around in all of the hotels) from the Luxor to the Stratosphere that day!
While one might think that Las Vegas would be a step away from natural beauty, I would say they are wrong. Las Vegas has more to offer than just man-made sights (er- yeah...). Right within the city limits there is the Red Rock National Conservation Area. You can drive through the park on its scenic roadway or opt to hike through some of its natural wonders. (I would recommend hiking in the cooler months. I visited in August and it was incredibly hot, reaching up to 107 degrees.) After you're done exploring outdoors, you can head to the strip and enjoy just about any cuisine you want. For dinner, I ate at the Isla Mexican Kitchen inside Treasure Island. The food was great, but expensive. After that, I saw the Sirens of TI show outside the hotel. (This was free! You can find cheap entertainment as it turns out!) There was also the volcanic eruption outside the Mirage, and the water show outside of the Bellagio. Another amazing sight (for $16 per person, $12 if you are a senior citizen or a Nevada resident and $10 for children) was at the top of the Stratosphere, where looks like a space needle. It has spectacular views of the desert and the strip. If you're feeling daring, you can even do the "Sky Jump" (bungee jump from the viewing area) or ride the roller coaster on the roof! Needless to say, I was not feeling quite the adventurous after walking the 5 miles (not counting walking around in all of the hotels) from the Luxor to the Stratosphere that day!
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| Gondolas in the Venetian |
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| Tourist Shot |
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| Red Rock National Conservation Area |
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| Red Rock National Conservation Area |
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| Caesar's Palace |
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| Lake Mead |
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| Standing on top of the Hoover Dam |
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| Hoover Dam from the Arizona Side |
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| Lake Mead |
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Saturday, February 19, 2011
"Half Dome" follow up!
"Half Dome" finished at #5 in last week's "It's a Snap!" travel photo contest on MSNBC.com. Thanks for your votes!
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Vote for "Half Dome"!
A photo has been chosen from the Traveling Sol archives for this week's "It's a Snap!" photo contest on MSNBC.com. Don't forget to cast your vote!
VOTE HERE!
VOTE HERE!
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Stop #2: The Grand Canyon
The second stop of the road trip was the the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. Lodging at the canyon was limited (reservations need to be made far in advance) so we stayed about an hour south of the canyon in Williams, Arizona. Historic U.S. Route 66 runs through this small town, which seems to have been frozen in time. Little bits of history pepper the small town, especially one particular antique shop called "Lonesome Dove Antiques." There were a few lodging options in town but restaurants were limited. We ate in town at Cruiser's Cafe 66 Bar & Grill, which had typical diner food that went along with the "50's feel" of the place. In the future, I'd like to stay at one of the lodging facilities within the park. A list of lodging facilities can be found here. Williams is about an hour south of the canyon. The drive is scenic and enjoyable but traffic was very heavy in the evening, which is why I would like to stay closer to the canyon if I'm able to visit again.
As for the canyon, the pictures speak for themselves. The canyon appears like a movie screen with a massive landscape painted on it. The canyon dwarfs everything and is deadly still. The only movement you can see are the shadows from clouds passing above or an occasional bird gliding through the air. See for yourself...
As for the canyon, the pictures speak for themselves. The canyon appears like a movie screen with a massive landscape painted on it. The canyon dwarfs everything and is deadly still. The only movement you can see are the shadows from clouds passing above or an occasional bird gliding through the air. See for yourself...
South Rim Sunset
Bright Angel Trail
South Rim Sunset
Canyon from Bright Angel
Sunset over South Rim
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Road Sign Update!
Between the road trip last summer and my trip across the Midwest and part of the Great Plains, I need to update my state sign collection! So here it is:
ARIZONA
THE GRAND CANYON STATE WELCOMES YOU
Welcome to Indiana
Crossroads of America
Lincoln's Boyhood Home
Welcome to NEW MEXICO
The Land of Enchantment
(This one happens to be one of my favorites-- I love the Chili Peppers!)
Welcome to Nevada
Welcome to California
(This sign was off of a rural highway and looks like it had seen better days!)
Missouri
Oklahoma
Welcome to Texas
Drive Friendly the Texas Way
Pennsylvania Welcomes You
Welcome to Ohio
So much to discover!
Welcome to Illinois
Land of Lincoln
(I wish this picture was more sign and less car. However, in our efforts to capture the sign and reach the shoulder of the road, we ran over a bungee cord hook and shortly after this had a flat tire. So this picture will have to do!)
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Santa Fe Videos
The above videos show some of the "Wind Art" that can be found in Santa Fe.
This third video shows The Pink Adobe, which is a restaurant in Santa Fe. If you look closely you can see the paper lanterns on the ledges. The San Miguel Mission is also pictured, which is said to be the oldest operating church in the United States. (It was undergoing a structural renovation at the time.) The "Oldest House" is also pictured. (It's the oldest house in the Southwest Region, not the entire United States.)
Monday, January 31, 2011
Stop #1: Santa Fe
Stop #1 on the road trip was Santa Fe, New Mexico. (We won't count the stop in El Paso- it was just to sleep. Some quick words of advice: make sure you stop at EVERY gas station possible when traveling in west Texas! You never know when you'll see another one.) Anyways, Santa Fe was a really great time. It's a great blending of Native American, Spanish, Mexican and American cultures.
The architecture is what stands out about this city. Adobe and "Pueblo Revival" (sometimes called "Santa Fe Style") structures dominate the city, which constantly reminds you that you are in a place unlike any other. These buildings blend in with the terrain in New Mexico- a rocky, desert-like climate, although Santa Fe is slightly more temperate than cities further south. Adobe is a time-tested building material, with structures still dating back as far as 500 B.C. in Iran. It is most popular in desert climates because it offers coolness on the inside and durability on the outside. When New Mexico was annexed by the United States in 1846, traditional style buildings homes began springing up. In an effort to preserve "pueblo" character, an "adobe only" law was passed in 1912, requiring all new constructions to be this Santa Fe Revival-style.
The weather in Santa Fe was much more pleasant than I expected. It was warm during the day but dropped down and became more cool as the sun went down. I would suggest dressing in layers if you're considering a visit. There's differences in temperatures truly are "night and day"!
The souvenirs from Santa Fe are probably my favorite of all my trips. Two Kokopelli wall hangings, a wedding vase (I'm not endorsing this particular site, just giving readers an idea of what a Native American wedding vase is), some native pottery and a few "adobe" Christmas ornaments. (The Christmas ornaments made great, unique gifts later!) Some of the gifts were purchased in the city square, which had craft vendors. We purchased the Kokopelli dancers from a vendor called "The West Kept Secret." (Check out their website- they have the neatest home decor ever!) The Christmas ornaments were purchased from "The Shop" which had some of the coolest Christmas trees I've ever seen. They had decorations, ornaments-- even chili pepper Christmas lights!
Loretto Chapel
Me and a fountain made of huge pieces of pottery
San Miguel Mission
("Oldest Church")
The Blue Corn Cafe-- which had the BEST enchiladas and was very affordable!
Santa Fe's Old Town Square lit up at dusk
First Presbyterian Church
Tomorrow I will be posting a few videos of some "wind spinners" that could be found around the city. They really can't be captured with a photograph, so check it out!
The architecture is what stands out about this city. Adobe and "Pueblo Revival" (sometimes called "Santa Fe Style") structures dominate the city, which constantly reminds you that you are in a place unlike any other. These buildings blend in with the terrain in New Mexico- a rocky, desert-like climate, although Santa Fe is slightly more temperate than cities further south. Adobe is a time-tested building material, with structures still dating back as far as 500 B.C. in Iran. It is most popular in desert climates because it offers coolness on the inside and durability on the outside. When New Mexico was annexed by the United States in 1846, traditional style buildings homes began springing up. In an effort to preserve "pueblo" character, an "adobe only" law was passed in 1912, requiring all new constructions to be this Santa Fe Revival-style.
The weather in Santa Fe was much more pleasant than I expected. It was warm during the day but dropped down and became more cool as the sun went down. I would suggest dressing in layers if you're considering a visit. There's differences in temperatures truly are "night and day"!
The souvenirs from Santa Fe are probably my favorite of all my trips. Two Kokopelli wall hangings, a wedding vase (I'm not endorsing this particular site, just giving readers an idea of what a Native American wedding vase is), some native pottery and a few "adobe" Christmas ornaments. (The Christmas ornaments made great, unique gifts later!) Some of the gifts were purchased in the city square, which had craft vendors. We purchased the Kokopelli dancers from a vendor called "The West Kept Secret." (Check out their website- they have the neatest home decor ever!) The Christmas ornaments were purchased from "The Shop" which had some of the coolest Christmas trees I've ever seen. They had decorations, ornaments-- even chili pepper Christmas lights!
Adobe Architecture
"Oldest House"
St. Francis Cathedral Basillica (St. Francis of Assisi)
("Oldest Church")
Tomorrow I will be posting a few videos of some "wind spinners" that could be found around the city. They really can't be captured with a photograph, so check it out!
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