Travel Memories transformed into Photo Paintings

Posted on June 2, 2016 by Travel Spirit

One of the many things I love about travel photography is that when I look at a photo from a trip it brings back that exact moment to me in perfect clarity, the excitement of seeing something new and beautiful…aromas wafting through the air…the breeze caressing my skin…foreign sounds creating curiosity! Here are some of my travel memories edited with software that take me back to that moment…

Halong Bay, Vietnam – 2009

The view from a boat I spent the night on, very much like the one I captured here…

Vieng Vang, Laos – 2009

Petra, Jordan – 2009

Reaching “The Treasury” in Petra, Jordan while hiking…

A young girl begging while hiking for two days in the incredible UNESCO World Heritage Site of Petra…

Peru – 2009

Spending three weeks exploring Peru, this little girl and her baby Llama…

Reaching Machu Picchu, Peru, after 3 1/2 days of hiking at high elevation…

Cairo, Egypt – 2009

An old man at the Pyramids in Egypt pointing “the way”…

A chaotic, but every day life scene from Cairo…

Africa – 2012

A beautiful village woman in Zambia, Africa while on a 35-day Overland Truck Adventure through six countries…

Men from the Masai Mara tribe in Africa…

Path to the Baobab tree in Africa…

Fethiye, Turkey – 2015

Istanbul, Turkey – 2015

Antigua, Guatemala – 2016

Love the bright colors!

Near San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua – 2016

Horseback riding…

Roatan Island, Honduras – 2007

Our world is amazing and I’m leaving tomorrow to explore eight more countries in Eastern Europe…I’m so excited!

Last Day on Grand Cayman

Posted on February 2, 2016 by Travel Spirit

Our week on Grand Cayman Island couldn’t have been better! In addition to the typical beach activities of relaxing by the pool and walking along the beach, we attempted Stand Up Paddle boarding, went sailing on a catamaran to Stingray City (definitely a highlight), visited the lush Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park, listened to live music at Camana Bay, dined out at numerous restaurants including Sunshine Grill, Da Fish Shack, Agave Grill, attended a wild game themed dinner with our friends at their friends’ house, and had a tour of the island by our friends! For our last day on Grand Cayman, our friends took us to The National Gallery of Grand Cayman to see the outdoor sculptures and back to Camana Bay to the observation deck (which was closed on our previous visit).

This gazing ball at The National Gallery of Grand Cayman reflects the beautiful sky and me…

We also took a swim at the pool and I ran for my camera when this bright green Iguana made an appearance!

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Learning Stand Up Paddle board

Posted on February 1, 2016 by Travel Spirit

Learning to Stand Up Paddle Board can be challenging, especially if you’re using an inflatable board and you’re in the ocean with rocking waves! Our friend Deanna is an avid Stand Up Paddle Boarder and gave us a few pointers before we hopped on. Her boyfriend Wayne (also our friend/like family) took photos and movies of our session and I couldn’t help but post the funniest one of my husband about ready to fall forward…

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Because he’s taller (6’4″) and heavier than I am, he had more difficulty standing up.

We were a bit worried about falling onto the sharp coral in shallow areas. Here’s hubby falling…

My feet are in position as far apart as possible as instructed by Deanna…

For my first attempt, I was very pleased to have gotten up a few times and paddled!

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Staying young is an attitude! Keep trying new things and life is always an adventure! I read something recently that resonated, “To have joy in your life, view everything as if it’s the first time you’re seeing it or the last time”.

Camana Bay on Grand Cayman

Posted on January 31, 2016 by Travel Spirit

Camana Bay on Grand Cayman offers shopping, dining, and lively entertainment. My friend who lives on the island had plans to attend a film premiere which was part of the Poinciana Festival, so we took the opportunity to wander around the area. I was pleasantly surprised to see this cute palm tree filled mini island.

Colorful smooth discs situated in front of the cinema are fun for children to climb on. We noticed masses of long curly dreadlocks of green hanging from a tree.

Our friends remarked how uncrowded the area was, probably due to the overcast skies and earlier storm.

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Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park at Grand Cayman

Posted on January 30, 2016 by Travel Spirit

Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park in Grand Cayman is a photographer’s paradise! Strolling along its meandering paths you’ll discover beautiful Cayman Blue-throated Anoles…

a tranquil pond filled with flowering water lilies…

a baby blue wooden bridge…

brightly colored potted flowers beneath vibrant wooden trellises…

Winding paths bordered with exotic plants…

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Stingray City!

Posted on January 29, 2016 by Travel Spirit

The best time to visit Stingray City at Grand Cayman Island is in the early morning, before the cruise ship crowds arrive and before the Stingrays have been hand fed from everyone later in the day! We chose Red Sail Sports to boat out to the area that’s called Stingray City. Although the catamaran could hold 70, there were only 12 people on board so we were free to spread out and relax. Leaving at 7:30am, the sun was low in the sky…

Upon arrival at 8:30am, my husband and I were the first off the boat. There were only two other small boats there before us. We were instructed to get low in the water and reach our arms out wide to embrace these amazing sea creatures…

I was so excited to have this experience and enjoyed feeling their smooth undersides. The underlying sense of danger made me feel alive!

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Escaping the Cold at Grand Cayman

Posted on January 27, 2016 by Travel Spirit

Grand Cayman Island is a warm and lovely place to escape the cold! My husband and I have friends that live there (“friends in all the right places”) and are visiting them for the week. They took us for a tour of the island on Monday. Although it’s quite small, 20 miles long x 4 miles wide, it takes a while to travel from spot to spot. My husband was a bit unnerved with driving on the “wrong” side of the road. Our friends both work, so we’ve spent time at the dazzling blue beach in front of their condo and the sparkling clear pool during their absence.

We took a six-mile hike along seven mile beach and saw a variety of birds…

The resident rooster at their condo…

The beach seems to stretch forever…

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Little of this and that in Turkey

Posted on October 18, 2015 by Travel Spirit

These camels were on display in the village near where my group and I were staying in Kayakoy, Turkey. I’ve ridden a camel in Egypt and have to say I found it to be the least comfortable animal for transport.

But with a face like this…

I was in the midst of speaking with a man about how to get to the tombs of Fethiye when I turned around and saw this lovely painting on the steps.

For the equivalent of $7.00 I had my hair shampooed and blow dried in Istanbul. I didn’t bring my flat iron with me on the trip due to weight and it was nice to get rid of the frizzies for a few days!

In the town of Fethiye…

This kitty was near Kayakoy…

No matter where you are, there is beauty!

Crossing the Galata Bridge and sights along the way

Posted on October 16, 2015 by Travel Spirit

The Galata Bridge in Istanbul is symbolic of the link between the traditional old city of Istanbul and neighborhoods to the east that are largely non-Muslim. The bridge spans the Golden Horn (the primary inlet of the Bosphorus) and has been rebuilt five times. These are some of the sites I saw on either side of the bridge and on the bridge itself.

I believe we were headed towards Takism Square here…

I’m also a collector of street graffiti “art”!

Nice view of the Bosphorus…

The fishing must be excellent!

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Colorful and Bustling Istanbul

Posted on October 15, 2015 by Travel Spirit

Sights like this, a cat plumped down in the middle of a table of belts, enriched my visit to Istanbul and created such a fun and surprising atmosphere!

When you pick apart a scene like this to understand why it seems foreign to someone from America, the things that stand out to me are: the cart (it’s unlike those from America), the way the man is dressed on the right, with a long apron, the man in the background carrying a box on his head, the cobblestones, and the foreign signs on the building across the street.

Love this guy’s spirit!!

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Going Solo in Istanbul

Posted on October 14, 2015 by Travel Spirit

Each day after taking my group to the included sites on our itinerary, we would split up into groups. Being a photographer, I usually prefer sight-seeing on my own. That way, I’m not worried about holding people up or having to wait while someone goes shopping (ugh). Most afternoons I would head off on my own and on this particular day, I was trying to find better angles of the Blue Mosque and also somewhere to have a nice lunch. There was a man by himself, seated outside of a hotel/restaurant in a somewhat solitary part of town. I asked him if the food was good at the restaurant and he highly recommended it. Oh my, he didn’t tell me what a magnificent view there would be!

I ordered Sea Bass (I think), which was very good and had a nice glass of white wine while taking in my beautiful surroundings!

What’s funny is I thought this was the Blue Mosque that I had such a wonderful view of, but actually it was Hagia Sophia!

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Hagia Sophia Museum and Basilica Cistern

Posted on October 13, 2015 by Travel Spirit

Dating back to the 6th Century, the Hagia Sophia Museum (Holy Wisdom) is one of the most impressive and important buildings in the world! Hagia Sophia was converted from a church to a museum in 1935. It was the largest church ever built until St Peter’s Basilica was constructed in Rome 1000 years later. It is the most visited site in Turkey with over 3.5 million visitors in 2014!

I visited the day after seeing the Blue Mosque and was surprised at how awe-inspiring the Hagia Sophia is in comparison!

It literally leaves you speechless!

That’s gold in the ceiling!

It is so stunning and I loved taking photographs inside…the way people’s shadows made shapes on the floor. Maybe you know what I mean, that some places you’re much more excited to be taking photographs in than others.

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Topkapi Palace

Posted on October 12, 2015 by Travel Spirit

The Topkapi Palace was the main residence of Ottoman Sultans between the 15^th and 19^th centuries. Visiting the palace gives a fascinating glimpse into what their lives were like during this time frame.

We arrived to the Palace early in the morning, so I was lucky to get a few photos without people in them…

The Palace is huge, so there are lots of angles to take photos from…

Topkapı is a series of pavilions, kitchens, barracks, audience chambers, kiosks and sleeping quarters built around a central enclosure.

The view from the Palace was gorgeous!

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Made it to Istanbul! First on the list: Exploring the Blue Mosque

Posted on October 11, 2015 by Travel Spirit

Arriving to the hustle and bustle of a large City like Istanbul from the a sleepy town near the Turquoise coast of Turkey definitely wakes you up! I had a private shuttle arranged to pick us up at the Airport for a 90-minute transfer from the Sabiha Gökçen Airport to our hotel centrally located in Old City Istanbul. After checking in, the first and only thing on the itinerary for that day was to go to the Blue Mosque. There are small windows of opportunity when you can go inside (in between the calls to prayers, but you have to wait until 90 minutes past each call to prayer and there are five of them). We followed a tram line (literally at times running within inches of your body) about fifteen minutes and this was our first view!

Backing up to our arrival in Istanbul. Our hotel, “Eurostars Hotel Old City” was perfect. It was within walking distance of all of the major sites and tucked up a side street so it was nice to sit outside at one of the outdoor cafe tables, have a drink and people watch. I’ve stayed at a Eurostars somewhere else in Europe and had a good experience there also.

Here’s the view looking out from the lobby. Whenever I would pet that cat he would be nice at first and then try to bite me. Bad Kitty!

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Charming Town of Fethiye, Turkey

Posted on October 8, 2015 by Travel Spirit

During my four-day stay in the small town of Kayakoy, Turkey, my group and I explored the darling and picturesque town of Fethiye, located nearby along Turkey’s Mediterranean’s coast. The whimsical umbrellas hanging between the shops were delightful!