Category: Travel

When Irish Eyes are Smilin’

Life, Photography, Travel

This is the third entry in my series on my recent trip to Scotland and Ireland. As mentioned, this was a bus tour for senior travelers. We drove a lot, saw a lot and experienced a lot over 16 days. This entry is focused on Ireland, that beautiful green gem that has seen so much turmoil and strife in its time.

We took the ferry from Scotland to Ireland, waving a sad goodbye to Scotland but looking forward to the new adventure. With the change in venue and in our main tour guide, this segment of the trip was decidedly different than what we experienced in Scotland. Scotland was all about the moody charm of landscapes and citiscapes, with a lot of clan history thrown in. Ireland, for me, was about its people and culture, and focused more on lived experiences than on land, brick and mortar. There is lots of ancient history here to, of course, but this segment of our trip seemed confined to the more recent past.

That said, I have to say it was very cool to see the towers of a 13th century castle through my hotel room window in Kilkenny.

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I’ll Be in Scotland ‘Afore Ye

Life, Photography, Travel

Moody, wild, variable, cold, then hot, then cold. You might think I’m talking about someone I know. But no. I’m talking about the wonder that is Scotland. I’ve been a lifelong fan, stemming from PBS specials, historical drama and yes, Outlander – books and TV series. I also follow a number of UK photographers that showcase the landscapes of Scotland and I knew I had to get there some day.

That day came in June, as part of the guided tour I spoke about in my last post. Although there were elements of the tour that didn’t fully appeal to me, none of that applies to the country, the people, the culture and the history of Scotland. I loved every minute of my time there.

This post is about what I saw, along with photographs. I hope you enjoy the tour as much as I did. A couple disclaimers: I don’t typically photograph people, so you won’t see many here. You also need permission to post their image if you feature individuals, although some of my relatives just might appear here regardless. And I did alter some photographs to remove the massive crowds and other distractions at some of these venues. And I don’t really talk about or showcase the shows that we attended. Just so you know…

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Wheels on the Bus Go Round and Round…

Photography, Travel

I’ve just returned from a whirlwind tour of Scotland and Ireland, arranged through a tour company, and executed as a bus tour. It lasted 16 days, including a day each to fly over and back. There were a number of firsts here for me and I thought as I work on the photos from the trip, I would share some impressions of travelling this way.

Bus tours are very popular for seniors, providing a way to see large swaths of the world without the need to hike, climb, paddle, run, bike or any of the physical effort needed in more traditional multi-country tours. They are second for seniors only to cruises, both of which are now in my travel playbook at this stage of my life.

Find out what I loved, what I didn’t love and what you might want to consider if looking at this travel option.

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My First Cruise – Epilogue

Life, My Community, Photography, Travel

I mentioned in my last blog post that I was writing it from the middle of the Caribbean Sea, on my first ever cruise. That adventure is now complete, and I’ve returned to the cold of Toronto, Canada.

I come away from this experience with some truly delightful memories, and have also discovered some things about this option for travel that I really do not like. Some would say, just enjoy the journey. In fact, I really did. But I’m also one who watches the world around me, and there were some things that just did not sit well.

Normally, when someone says that they have things they didn’t like, these can end up being minor complaints, like my bed pillows were too hard or the air conditioning was too cold or the drinks too watered down. I’m hoping that you’ll find my list a bit more substantial, and that it reflects some unexpected surprises (at least they were surprises to me) about how these experiences are offered.

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On the Road Again – Well, Water This Time

Photography, Travel

As I write this, I am sitting in a stateroom aboard a 3,600 passenger cruise ship in the Caribbean Sea, visiting several islands in the Eastern Caribbean. This isn’t a photography trip, but I’m making it one, carrying my full sized camera with me everywhere, even on this city sized floating marvel.

Over the past two weeks, we have had absolutely abysmal weather in the Canadian east, with snow and temperatures that would make any northern location traumatized. I didn’t plan it this way, but it seems I picked the perfect time for a holiday to the warm south. But it is the trip that almost didn’t happen. More on that later, but this blog post is about the challenges of travelling as a senior with photography equipment and the unique things about cruising with that in mind.

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Getting Lost in Muskoka (Spiritually and Literally)

Landscapes, Photography, Travel

I’ve returned from a few days “up north” immersed in this year’s fall colours. Whenever you take a vacation, you hope to have stories to tell, and in my case, photographs to go with them. I definitely do for this trip.

This was a visit to several stops, including Gravenhurst and Huntsville and various tourist attractions associated with or close by each. I decided to string a number of stopping points together and make a 3 day mini-vacation out of it. You could just as easily take a single day and drive a couple of hours, get the immersive experience, and return home. Many do.

There is something about Fall and fall colour here in Ontario, Canada that has always drawn me emotionally. It signals the end of summer, but also points to change, and warns us warm-blooded (and cold-blooded) souls to prepare for the cold. The last few years, I’ve looked forward to the change of seasons. It brings a sense of calm and progression – an order in a chaotic world. Did I make the most of it this year? Read on…

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Warblers, Warblers Everywhere

Nature, Photography, Travel

I’ve just returned from a few days away. Where? To the heart of songbird migration in my province of Ontario, Canada – Point Pelee National Park, situated at the most southern land tip of our great country. Four days away, immersed in nature, woodlands, lakeshore walks and the cacophony of songbirds returning to start families. It was absolutely amazing. See the images at the end of this post.

Timing is everything for these trips and yet you often have to plan months in advance to ensure you can find accommodation at your chosen time. The annual Point Pelee Bird Festival is an incredible event, where bird lovers from all over the world gather to look up through binoculars or camera lenses or both to welcome the returning hoards of songbirds and to experience those amazing songs.

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LA Calling!

Architecture, Fine Art, Photography, Travel

I find it astonishing that I can wake up in one city one day and wake up in another city 4,100km (2,600 miles) away the next day. I am one generation removed from the generation that invented gas-powered passenger flight. Yet I am able to go to the airport, hop a plane, and be in a new universe in just hours.

I did that recently, travelling by plane from Toronto to Los Angeles. I was there to attend a photography workshop, hosted by Angie McMonigal, a wonderful architectural photographer who specializes in abstract captures of architecture. Many of the photographers I’m drawn to now come from technical or science backgrounds and Angie does too. Her focus on details is exceptional, opening up a whole new way of seeing. But it’s her artistry that is stunning.

Angie is way ahead of me and has already published a look at our session, which you can access above, along with her images from the event.

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When Life Gets in the Way of Art

Architecture, Life, Photography, Travel

First, Happy Flag Day! To all my Canadian readers, we show the flag with pride today – first unveiled 60 years ago. Proud of the flag – and so very proud to be a Canadian!

As you read this, I’m in the final planning stages of a trip – to Los Angeles. Will be joining an avid group of hobbyist architectural photographers to try creating abstracts with this unusual source subject. A new twist for me on a typically formal subject, usually captured with full facades, straight lines and predictable angles. These images will be tilted, twisted and perhaps even distorted. It should be fascinating. I’ll report on the outcome separately, but I wanted to take note of a few unexpected considerations in my planning. Not life imitating art or vice-versa, but rather life getting in the way of art.

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My Next Trip

Life, Photography, Travel

Over the past few months, I’ve had a number of experiences that have shaped how I will be approaching travel in the future.

Seniors are definitely great travelers. It’s what the retirement brochures say you will be doing with your time once you retire – visiting family far away, visiting places you have never seen before, having adventures with like-minded souls and meeting new friends. All hyped up to help you comfortably transition from filling your days with work to filling your days with ???

But I’ve never been a big traveler. There are a number of reasons for that, but mostly because I’m a solo traveler – no regular companion. A number of reasons for that too, but I digress. I was determined to add more travel to my retirement plans and have only modestly achieved that goal. Some trips have been with family, some have been with friends, some have been with groups having a common interest and some have been on my own. I’ve enjoyed some more than others but have learned something from each one.

In the past few months, I’ve looked into 5 separate trips, each one offering something different. Two are now booked, another will likely be booked by the new year, one is complete and the other, well, didn’t happen. Here’s what I’ve learned about me and my travel interests at this stage of my life.

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