WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge: Beyond

Posted on January 19, 2013 by Travel Spirit

The Weekly WordPress Photo Challenge is Beyond. I believe these photos represent “Beyond” beyond a doubt! Hiking the Appalachian Trail in Shenandoah National Park, Virginia

Hiking Zion and Bryce National Parks

Posted on January 18, 2013 by Travel Spirit

Hiking in Zion and Bryce National Parks in Utah is a must-do for any nature enthusiast! In 2007 I flew out to Las Vegas, rented a car and was able to spend three nights in Zion, two nights in Bryce, … Continue reading →

Hiking Yosemite National Park

Posted on January 17, 2013 by Travel Spirit

Yosemite National Park is as grand as everyone says! I was fortunate to hike about 14 (long and rugged) miles of it one day back in 2006 while traveling solo for a week through California! That’s me…looking small beside the … Continue reading →

Over the Rhine and Washington Park

Posted on January 16, 2013 by Travel Spirit

Over-the-Rhine, is a neighborhood in Cincinnati, Ohio. I was there a few days ago taking photos and after researching the web, discovered that it is believed to be the largest, most intact urban historic district in the United States.It also contains the largest collection of Italianate architecture in the United States. According to Wikipedia, “its architectural significance has been compared to the French Quarter in New Orleans, the historic districts of Savannah, Georgia and Charleston, South Carolina, and Greenwich Village in New York City.” I didn’t take a ton of photos of the architecture because I was mainly on the hunt for Street Art…which I posted about yesterday.

Up until about six years ago, Over-the-Rhine used to be one of the most dangerous and poorest places in the United States. But, with a heavy police presence and redevelopment, it is now one of the most promising in the nation!

Over-the-Rhine was included in the 2008 book, Frommer’s 500 Places to See Before They Disappear.

I like being able to see the windows at the back of this empty space through the front windows…

Red on Red!

This is Music Hall from two different perspectives…

Taken from within Washington Park…which is across from Music Hall.

I was glad it was an overcast day. The colors seemed to pop more!

The following photo is not considered Over the Rhine (just Downtown), but I like that the buildings have vines growing on them…

It’s nice to learn about places…especially when they’re in your own backyard!

Tower Ghost Sign in Over-the-Rhine (visualingual.wordpress.com)
Survey: Views on downtown, OTR improve (wcpo.com)
New brewrey to open in Over-the-Rhine (wcpo.com)
Taste of Belgium (sparklesense.wordpress.com)
Survey: Downtown & Over The Rhine Much Safer Than Before (thebuzzcincy.com)
Cincinnati streetcar project delayed again (wlwt.com)

A Word a Week Photo Challenge: Round

Posted on January 15, 2013 by Travel Spirit

These weekly photo challenges are fun! I’m enjoying looking back through old photos and remembering. I have four “round” photos for your viewing pleasure. I thought I’d throw in some interesting “round” quotes also!

Photo taken in Cincinnati, Ohio

“Don’t grieve. Anything you lose comes round in another form.” ~Rumi

This photo taken in Columbus, Ohio

“And finally I twist my heart round again, so that the bad is on the outside and the good is on the inside, and keep on trying to find a way of becoming what I would so like to be, and could be, if there weren’t any other people living in the world.” ~Anne Frank

This photo taken in the Edison/Ford Museum in Ft. Myers, Florida

“A round man cannot be expected to fit in a square hole right away. He must have time to modify his shape.” ~Mark Twain

This photo taken in the Edison/Ford Museum in Ft. Myers, Florida

“Love may not make the world go round, but I must admit that it makes the ride worthwhile.” ~Sean Connery

See you tomorrow! Make it a great day!!

A Word A Week Photo Challenge – Round (suellewellyn2011.wordpress.com)
Weekly Photo Challenge: Illumination (travelspirit333.com)
A Word A Week Photo Challenge – Round (klassikurlz.wordpress.com)
A Word A Week Photo Challenge: Round (speakingabouttravel2.wordpress.com)
Word a week : Round (scrapydo.wordpress.com)
Dipping into the archives for ‘A Word a Week Photo Challenge- Round’ (suellewellyn2011.wordpress.com)
a word a week photo challenge: round (starlight427.wordpress.com)
Rumi (akserendipity.wordpress.com)
Love ~~ Rumi Quote (bipolarmuse.com)
A Word A Week Photo Challenge – Round (ridingthebcrollercoaster.com)

Weekly Photo Challenge: Illumination

Posted on January 13, 2013 by Travel Spirit

This week’s WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge is Illumination. Looking through my photos, I realized that things can be illuminated from different directions and sources. It was tough…but I had to narrow my selections down to seven.

This photo was taken in the “Siq” at Petra, Jordan.

Light source from beyond

This photo is from a yearly event in Cincinnati called “Balluminaria“. Unfortunately, I had not taken a tripod with me and the wind had picked up…so my photos weren’t as good as I had wished for.

Light Source from below

You may remember this photo from my road trip through Florida.

Light source from below

This was taken in Peru…back in 2009. I remember thinking…”Wow–just the small village is being lit up”!

Light source from above

This was in New Mexico in 2011.

Light source from above

This was taken in San Francisco in 2011.

Light source from above

During the holidays, The Cincinnati Zoo has a fantastic light display throughout the zoo and this is the entrance.

Light source – All Around

I believe 2013 will bring much clarity or illumination to all of us!

Weekly Photo Challenge: Illumination (charlieray45.wordpress.com)
Weekly Photo Challenge: Illumination (rarasaur.wordpress.com)
weekly photo challenge : illumination (timetobeinspired.wordpress.com)
Weekly Photo Challenge: Illumination (livonne.com.au)
Weekly Photo Challenge: Illumination (annablakeblog.com)
Illumination – Weekly Photo Challenge (staceycovell.com)
Weekly Photo Challenge: Illumination (hereandthere5.wordpress.com)
Weekly Photo Challenge: Illumination (picturesinlivingcolor.wordpress.com)
Weekly Photo Challenge: Illumination (daysofphotographs.com)

Cincinnati Street Art

Posted on January 12, 2013 by Travel Spirit

Cincinnati Street Art is amazing! Having viewed Street Art in quite a few Cities recently, I realize that our City is very artistic. I now have a drop down category on my blog entitled “Tourist in my City” because I … Continue reading →

Smoke on the Water

Posted on January 12, 2013 by Travel Spirit

Leaving my house thirty minutes earlier than necessary to meet friends for lunch yesterday, I had enough time to take photos of the Ohio River and the Downtown area of Cincinnati from the Kentucky side.

I didn’t expect the beautiful fog. I live 35-40 minutes from Downtown and as I crossed a bridge into Kentucky, I had to pull over on the Highway to take a photograph.

After arriving in Newport, Kentucky, I walked on to the Purple People Bridge, which is a pedestrian only bridge.

Bridges always fascinate me. I love all of the lines and angles.

This little girl is so colorful with her oh-so-long lollipop!

The fog dissipated pretty quickly…

I have some lovely shots of Cincinnati Street Art for tomorrow! Hope you have a wonderful day!

Suspended across time (sethsnap.com)
Back in the day, the Ohio River froze over (blogs.courier-journal.com)

Children of Africa

Posted on January 12, 2013 by Travel Spirit

The children of Africa are so spirited and expressive! During my six weeks touring through six countries in Africa in May/June, I was fortunate to briefly interact with some of them. These little girls from Solitaire, Namibia have so much … Continue reading →

Children of Egypt and Jordan

Posted on January 11, 2013 by Travel Spirit

My 18 day journey through Egypt and Jordan back in February 2009 was the first time I was exposed to a culture, that at the time, seemed completely alien to my own. Although I had been to destinations such as Mexico, Costa Rica, Europe and much of the Caribbean, these two Countries seemed more brazen and wild! I took a photo of the “Siq” in Petra that is really magical. If you’d like to take a peek…look here!

I managed to go on three “big” trips during 2009. There were family crises happening that I had no control over…so I decided to enjoy myself! For some of my readers, you’ve seen a few of these photos from the past.

These little girls were just adorable!!

While hiking through Petra, Jordan, we encountered this beautiful little girl. I don’t remember if she was selling something or just begging, but I was entranced!

This little boy is the epitome of “boy”! Look at his little goat! It seemed odd to me to find these children up in the Mountains. I was worried they would fall and hurt themselves.

We slept on a Felucca sailboat on the Nile River one night and this young man was one of the crew.

These lovely children were in Amman, Jordan.

These little ones were from Egypt.

So much has happened since then, I feel like a different person now!

Daily Daydream: Petra, Jordan (daydreamsandshoestrings.wordpress.com)
A Weekend in Jordan (globalgator.wordpress.com)
A business deal called marriage (dailynewsegypt.com)
Petra, Jordan (vivalavisa1.wordpress.com)
Egypt to increase gas supply to Jordan: Minister (en.trend.az)
A RISK TO SECURITY? Push to Cancel US Gifts Of F-16s, Tanks to Egypt (foxnews.com)

Children of Peru

Posted on January 10, 2013 by Travel Spirit

I love to photograph children! They project so much wonder, delight and enthusiasm for life! During a three-week trip to Peru back in 2009, I was able to capture a few photographs. I love this little girl with her baby … Continue reading →

Tarpon Springs, Florida

Posted on January 9, 2013 by Travel Spirit

As I’m revamping my site…I came across this post I neglected to post while on my 6-week road trip adventure…so…a break in the regular telecasting…

Tarpon Springs is another quaint and historic town in Florida! Through the years I’ve visited most of the “fun in the sun” areas in Florida…Miami..Key West..Ft. Lauderdale..Orlando..St. Augustine..Ft. Myers..Coco Beach…Panhandle, so I was surprised to discover a few of the quaint towns in the Tampa Bay area. Staying with a local and receiving guidance from her made the difference! Thanks Zully!

Today, I ventured off on my own and explored the Tarpon Springs area. With a population of over 23,000, it has the highest percentage of Greek Americans of any city in the U.S. The main street (E. Tarpon Ave.) has some street art (which you know I love) and antique stores.

Browsing in the windows, one store caught my attention–Tarapani’s. It has been run by the same family for 101 years–I spoke with the son and Grandmother–who were the only people in the store. They had some very interesting items and paintings…

This beautiful park was located at the end of the main road…

If you turn right onto Alt. Rt. 19, it will bring you to Dodecanese Blvd.–turn left and you’ll find a street filled with Greek shops & restaurants and the Sponge Docks…

Lots of fishing boats were docked. Some with sponges…

This flower’s beauty stood out to me…

I walked to the end of the street where I found these fishermen. Notice the fish in mid-air. I asked permission to take a photo and they said sure and stood there. I said, “You can keep working” and the guy on the left said, “Oh, thanks!”.

Walking back to my car I took a final photo…

Driving through a residential area of Tarpon Springs, I spotted this lovely home…

I hope you enjoyed your tour of Tarpon Springs and will come back again soon!

Tarpon Springs outing (twofoodiesinlove.wordpress.com)
Coast Guard, good Samaritan rescue 4 fishermen near Tarpon Springs, Fla (uscgnews.com)
florida primitive (susandanielseden.wordpress.com)
It’s Been A Tough Run (nativemichigander.com)

Children of Thailand and Laos

Posted on January 8, 2013 by Travel Spirit

I’d like to do a series of posts displaying photographs I’ve taken of children in other countries. I’ll start with Children in Thailand and Laos. I visited in December of 2009 for a couple of weeks. Some of the children … Continue reading →

A Word a Week Photo Challenge: Clouds

Posted on January 7, 2013 by Travel Spirit

Sue over at A Word in Your Ear has a weekly photo challenge and this week it’s–Clouds! Here are my entries…

Arizona

Ohio

Cape Town, S. Africa

Malawi, Africa

Ohio River

Rosemary Beach, Florida

Sunset Beach, Florida

That was fun to participate! Hope you enjoyed! Have a great day!!

Taking it One Day at a Time or…The Power of Now

Posted on January 3, 2013 by Travel Spirit

I took this photo driving from Colorado through New Mexico. Georgia O’Keefe territory!

Most everyone’s heard of Eckhart Tolle‘s best seller…The Power of Now. Back in the day, people used to say, “Take it one day at a time”. I’ve made a conscious decision to implement this way of living recently and it seems to be working! At times in the past, I’ve had a difficult time making certain decisions…i.e. which of my passions to follow or whether to stay or go. I’m learning to feel with my heart/gut more than listening to the conflicting thoughts that bounce around in my head.

Learning to accept myself…the dark and the light!

Just in the past few days I’ve had numerous situations of Synchronicity and events that seem to go beyond coincidence! Now that I have narrowed down my true passions–which are–health/wellness, organization/decluttering, and travel/photography/writing, I’ve decided to stop attempting to pick just one to follow and instead…delve into all of them! So–that means I’m going to be a traveling hypnotist specializing in hoarding, who blogs about her experiences! Well…something like that. I’m still “Taking it One Day at a Time“!

The other key component is ACTION. So, today I got information about becoming a Certified Hypnotist; and I made a flyer to place on bulletin boards to help people organize their homes! I also entered a photography contest.

I’m learning to let go of fear and replace it with love! Fear of not having enough money for retirement. Fear of speaking in front of a large crowd. Actually, I don’t have many fears…so I’m lucky!

These are my wishes for each of you…that you may be free from fear; that you know and love yourselves; and that you are able to follow your passions and have Gratitude!