425 Search Results for "sun"

• Boat tour of flamingos Celestu

  • From: kabell4
  • Description:

    During our one week relaxing vacation to the Yucatan in Mexico we took a boat tour from Celestun to see the flamingos.  I did not realize flamingos lived wild in Mexico - I only thought they lived wild in Africa.  I didn't think I was going to be able to go on safari in Africa anytime soon, so I was very excited to add a stop in Celestun while on our Mexico trip.  It was a beautiful day.  I was pleasantly surprised all my pictures turned out as well as they did - I was pretty much shooting blind because the sun had washed out my LCD screen, and I could really see much through the viewfinder.  Plus the boat was moving at a fairly quick pace, so I didn't have much confidence regarding my focusing of the camera.  The photo was taken July 3, 2007.

  • 4 days ago
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• C-47 Goony Bird and Mt. Fuji 1

  • From: GL Salava
  • Description:

    The sun was about set on a winters day as we were returning from a flight to Korea.  Mt Fuji is in the background.  The C-47 was affectionally know as a "Goony Bird"  It was one of the most reliable workhorses in the Air Force. It was first flown in the mid 1930s and a couple were operational into the 1990s.  I think it was colder inside the aircraft then outside, not fond of the C-47 heater.  Best viewed at the large size.

  • 6 days ago
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• Our Budget Travel Trip to Irel

  • From: CliffK
  • Description:

     

    

    This trip actually began last June, when I was notified by email that I had won the Budget Travel Photo Contest with a photo I had taken in Costa Rica. My wife didn't even know I had submitted an entry, and she was in a meeting all afternoon, so I could not call her. We were meeting friends for dinner and had all of five minutes in the car together for me to inform her, "Um, honey, I have some news for you..." She screamed and quickly responded, "Well, I guess we know how we're going to use our furlough days this year!"

    After doing our research, we settled on a region (southwest Ireland) and a time frame (October, after the high season but before it gets too cold). I worked with Una at Sceptre Tours to iron out the details, and before we knew it we were on our way.

    We flew directly into Shannon, arriving at 7:00 a.m. on a Friday morning with a full day ahead of us. A friend had told us how beautiful it was to fly into Shannon where you could see all the green as you were landing. Well, at 7:00 a.m. on an October morning, the sun had yet to rise and it was still pitch black. Not to mind, we got our rental car and hit the ground running (that is, with a little adjustment for getting used to driving on the left side of the road). First stop: Galway. Although it was raining, we weren't going to let a little rain deter us from having fun. After stopping at the TI, we walked through Eyre Square (aka John F. Kennedy Park) and explored the old town center. We stepped inside the Collegiate Church of St. Nicholas, where I was impressed with the testament to the Widow Jane Eyre's generosity, commemorated on a plaque. We then walked, struggling to keep our umbrellas open against the wind and the rain, to the much more modern Galway Cathedral. This is a cathedral you want to visit during the day so you can better see and appreciate a more modern approach to stained glass artwork. Keep an eye out for the Irish Holy Family, where Mary is knitting and Jesus is offering tea to Joseph. Also look for the mosaic (hidden the day we were there behind a curtain, but that did not stop us) of John F. Kennedy.  Needing some lunch, we found our way to Busker Brownes, where my wife had Aubergine and Sweet Potato Gratin and I had delicious Irish Seafood Chowder, accompanied by tasty brown soda bread. We did not want to sit too long and let our jet lag overcome us, so we got back to our car and pushed on, driving northwest toward Letterfrack and the Kylemore Abbey. One of the best ways to combat jet lag is to spend time outdoors, and so our first activity at Kylemore was to tour the walled garden. Still nice in October, this must be even more beautiful in the middle of summer. The Abbey itself is lovely, though only a few rooms are open to tour. Also on the grounds is a small Neo-Gothic church, which is also worth a visit. Finishing at the Abbey, we still had a relatively short drive to Clifden and our first night accommodations at the Abbeyglen Castle Hotel. We checked in, dropped our bags in our room, and then walked about a mile into town to find a light supper. Back at the hotel, we headed downstairs to a common room where we thought we could sit by a fire and write in our journals. Ha! The combination of the warmth of the fire and the full day of touring, on top of our jet lag, and we were both dozing after writing only a sentence or two. However, it was also very effective: we got to bed early, got a full night's sleep, and when we woke up in the morning, we were both effectively over our jet lag.

    Saturday morning we woke up to the first of our full Irish breakfasts: a lavish buffet spread of cereals, yogurt, fresh fruit, rolls, eggs, bacon, sausage, and the traditional Irish accompaniments of grilled tomatoes and black and white pudding. Although we had another full day ahead of us, we decided we did not have to be held hostage to our agenda and allowed ourselves to backtrack a bit, driving back towards Letterfrack and the Connemara National Park. The sun was shining and it was a beautiful day to hike, so we took the trail to the top of Diamond Hill. This wasn't the Ireland I was expecting: instead of the lush greens one hears about, this area was still beautiful but much more in shades of brown. Partly this was due to the season, but also the geography, as the terrain is very wet and boggy. We made it to the top of the hill, and were rewarded with wonderful views both of the harbor and of Kylemore Abbey from above. Once back in the car, already past noon, we headed out towards our next destination: back past Galway and on to the Burren. The Burren is a region of massive outcroppings of rock that have been scoured by glaciers, rich in archaeological sites, the most famous of which is the Poulnabrone Dolmen. One look at this landscape and it is no wonder why there are so many stone fences and stone buildings in this country. It was getting late, and we had one more goal for this day: to get to the Cliffs of Moher. I had hoped we'd have a beautiful sunset looking out over the Atlantic from the cliffs, but although the sunset itself was obscured by fog, it was still light when we arrived and we enjoyed the day dwindling away to twilight while there. After another full day, we recognized the wisdom of our chioce to go in October: pleasant weather for hiking and no crowds to contend with. Saturday was the night of our castle stay, so we drove (now in the dark) back to Dromoland. We were pleasantly surprised to discover that they had upgraded us from a standard to a deluxe room. This is not your drafty medieval castle: the room was quite spacious and luxurious. Sunday morning I went for a run on the castle grounds, through a wooded area where I came upon (and frightened) many pheasant.

    Friday and Saturday were both extremely full days, but this was our first time in Ireland and we wanted to see everything. Recognizing the need to slow down a bit, we had planned to spend two nights at our next stop: Kinsale. Driving south past Cork on Sunday we got our first taste of the beautiful green countryside that Ireland is so famous for. As the sun breaks through the clouds, the lush green fields just pop out at you. Kinsale very much has a small-town feel, located on a beautiful, well-protected harbor, rich in history. It is one of Ireland's "Tidy Towns," a competition first launched by Bord Failte in an effort to improve the appearance of towns and villages throughout the country for the main tourist season. In addition to just wandering the streets and exploring the shops and restaurants, we took the "Historic Stroll in Old Kinsale." Our guide, Barry, was a wealth of information about the history of Kinsale, from the occupation by the Spanish Armada to thenearby sinking of the Lusitania, including stories as well of the real Robinson Crusoe. Fun side trips included Charles Fort across the harbor and the Cobh Heritage Center, about a 45-minute drive. Our mainstay through most of Ireland was basic pub food, which we enjoyed, but in Kinsale ("the Gourmet Capital of Ireland"), we had to try a nicer restaurant. We couldn't have been happier than with a visit to Jim Edwards, where we had a delicious meal of grilled salmon.

     

     

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  • 1 week ago
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• Crystallinity

  • From: horbinsr
  • Description:
    I shot this mineral laden runoff stream at the Lower Geyser Basin in Yellowstone National Park.
    

    
    The bright patterns were created by the sun casting light reflections on the stream bottom. The blue is the reflection of the sky on the waters surface.
    
    To capture all that was happening with the light and water, I had to lay on my stomach and hold my camera just inches above the stream, using several special filters to control the reflections in it's surface.
    
    Note all the small plants (algae) that grow in this acidic water.

  • 1 week ago
  • Views: 21

• Rainbow Waters

  • From: horbinsr
  • Description:

    Steamy air, bubbling mud pots and gushing geysers are all dramatic attractions of Yellowstone National Park, however, if you look real close at what those geysers and mud leave behind you'll find some very interesting natural textures.
    
    Grand Prismatic Spring is one of Yellowstone's largest hot spring, at 370 feet diameter and 121 feet deep. It overflows onto an area of bright-colored cyanobacteria and crystallized minerals.
    
    This collection of bacteria and minerals is what I was after. It forms 'stacked plates' which the water flows over. Part of the color comes from the bacteria and minerals and some comes from the reflection of the sky on the water, and some is a result of the refraction of light.
    
    With some special filters to control unwanted reflections, a cooperating sun and the right angle of view, a beautiful rainbow of colors can be seen across those plate.

  • 1 week ago
  • Views: 61

• Illuminated

  • From: acpatel714
  • Description:

    Norwegian cliff

  • 1 week ago
  • Views: 19
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• Hemakuta at Dusk

  • From: sneo
  • Description:

    Hemakuta  is a set of hills in the road approaching Hampi, a medieval town in South India famous for architecture. Hemakuta is the perfect place for sunset watchers and almost inaccessible during the day due to tropical sun on the rocky hill. It also has a few Mantapas (shelters) and this is one of the beautiful Mantapas which caught me on my first visit.

  • 1 week ago
  • Views: 15
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• This Little Piggy went to Maui

  • From: beezhan
  • Description:

    That golden Maui sand adorning my wife's lovely tootsies.

  • 1 week ago
  • Views: 28

• Red Light anyone??

  • From: acpatel714
  • Description:

    Amsterdam's famous (or infamous) Red Light District comes alive when the sun goes down.

  • 1 week ago
  • Views: 22
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• Moonscapes

  • From: horbinsr
  • Description:

    Moab Utah is the guardian to some of the coolest sandstone structures around. Arches NP has not only the 'hole-in-the-middle' arch that we think of, but some really other-worldly shapes. A late afternoon drive thru the park just happened to coincide with the moon rising behind these shapely towers. Being thrilled with having both the sun and moon up at the same time, I grabbed for the camera.

  • 2 weeks ago
  • Views: 77

• Panama, more than just a canal

  • From: barefootpanama
  • Description:

    Panama, more than just a canal             

         My most recent trip in Panama was one of the memorable trips I have ever taken.  We started with a well planned city tour on Sunday, first stop, the Miraflores Locks on the Panama Canal. We watched ships pass through the locks from the roof deck, had a chance to view a movie on the construction of both the old and new canal projects and spent some time in the new museum. After passing by the old military zone, now the ‘City of Knowledge’, we went to the Amador and an island owned by the Smithsonian.  There you can learn all about Panama; how the land was formed, animals past and present, the American military presence, the flora, and all while enjoying the ocean views and maybe even spot a sloth in the trees. After a delicious and fresh seafood meal for lunch with the best view of the city skyline, we went to Casco Viejo.  Beautiful cathedrals, colonial buildings, and cobblestone streets make this a perfect place to stroll away the rest of the day. Be sure to try flavored shaved ice in Plaza de Francia  and seafood lovers won’t want to miss the famous fish market.

         After a short flight Monday morning, we were in a different world, the Comarca de Kuna Yala! There are 365 islands (covered in coconut trees and many uninhabited) that make up the Archipielago de San Blas. The Kuna Indians govern the region with little interference from the national government and even used coconuts as currency until the late 1990’s.  We spent two days soaking up the culture while mingling with the Kuna, shopping for their famous molas and watching the traditional dance. We also soaked up the sun on the white sand beaches and while snorkeling in the turquoise Caribbean ocean.

         Back to the city to hop on our transport for the rest of the trip, we crossed the Bridge of the Americas on our way to El Valle.  After about 2 hours, we were amazed at the change of scenery and climate. Located at about 3000ft, in the crater of one of the largest, extinct volcano’s, El Valle’s cool climate is great for hiking, spotting wildlife, and shopping for handicrafts.  There is also a ‘mud bath’, square-trunked tree, and local zoo where you can see some colorful frogs and other exotic animals.

         The Pacific beaches of Panama are another one of the many reasons to visit this wonderful country. Surfing some of the best waves in Central America, scuba diving in the national park compared to the Galapogos, or relaxing by a camp fire on the beach while listening to the sea and counting stars… our guide knew all the best spots!

         I think the parts of Panama that surprised me the most were the mountains. We drove higher and higher into the bread basket of the country with farms clinging to these hills up to an elevation above 8000ft. The lodge we used had wonderful spa treatments, the freshest food, great view of Panama’s tallest mountain (Volcan Baru) and included a hike in the cloud forest. One day we hiked the famous Quetzal trail to Boquete and even were lucky enough to spot one of these elusive, emerald green quetzal birds.  Boquete is a little lower and is well known for its flowers and coffee plantations but also has zip lines, white water rafting and rock climbing for the more adventurous.

        Before crossing the continental divide, we stopped at some nice little hot springs and cooled off in the Chiriqui River.  The views were amazing as we approached Bocas Del Toro.  This is a perfect place to wind up the tour. We visited another national park, sailed with dolphins, snorkeled by the mangroves and enjoyed the Caribbean nightlife.  Unfortunately, we also had to catch our flight back to Panama City and no one wanted to leave. 

         Our guide left the island the night before so he was there when we landed.  We had plenty of time to test our siesta skills and freshen up before our last night’s dinner. The guide knew the perfect place with exceptional views of the skyline at night. Seeing that our flight wasn’t until late the next day, we decided to test out the cities legendary nightlife… we were not disappointed!

        It is easy to see why Panama is becoming such a popular place to travel.  Safe and inexpensive, friendly people and beautiful places, adventure and wildlife, culture and history all make this a place that everyone will enjoy. Thanks to Kevin, our guide with Panama Breezes (www.barefootpanama.com) we had a most memorable vacation and will talk about it for years to come.

     

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  • 2 weeks ago
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• Forum, Rome

  • From: allaffordtravel
  • Description:

    This is the forum in Rome with the sun going down. Most incredible.

    For the best in travel deals visit www.allaffordtravel.rovia.com. Sign up to become a preferred member.

  • 2 weeks ago
  • Views: 26

• pzl101

  • Points:908
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  • Since: 2 weeks ago

• The Beauty of Santorini

  • From: travisp247
  • Description:

    As we were watching the sun set from the cliffs of Santorini, we turned around to see the true beauty of this small, circular archipelago of volcanic islands located in the southern Aegean Sea - with pure white houses lining the cliffs and gorgeous sail boats resting in the water below.  Yet, with all its beauty, it did come at a price.  While there, the country experienced the warmest weather since the 40's (i believe), reaching nearly well over 110 degrees F.  Not even the darkness of night would cool the weather down!

  • 2 weeks ago
  • Views: 63
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• My trip to Thailand. October 2

  • From: Traveller32
  • Description:

    Well, it was hard to start when it was a rainy season and I wasn still trying to manage my vacations :) 11 hours flight from London to Bangkok on the 30-th of September and I changed rainy English weather for humid and somehow sunny one - +35.., but it was still pouring.

    Maybe I will shock Budget travellers  but my hotel was full 5* in the centre of Bangkok (sushi for breakfast included :) Lebua at State Tower, suite for $78 per day!!! Amazing :)))

     

    The best thing in Lebua was an open air Sky bar on the top of the building with such a panoramic view of the night bangkok that just rocked me.

    An Irish Pub Molly Mellone's serves good food and at least you can drink a cider there!

     

    Three days later I got a plane of Bangkok Airlines to Phuket and transfered to new hotel - Serenity Otrigger. The same luck this time - suite with sea view for $56, breakfast included.

     

    Phuket is a big part of Thailand. It doesn't matter that other people think it's small. It takes 1.5 hours to get to different beaches: Patong, Kata, Tha Lang. The main attractions for tourists - disco bars, night clubs, the best sea-food restaurants are in Patong Beach. Kata Beach is more quiet, but some small bars with plenty of Thai girls are always open till late hours for Asian culuture explorers.

    Chalong Bay is an area with a big shopping centre in the centre of Phuket town, where you can buy clothes and shoes from European and Western brands.

     

    Don't expect the sunny weather till the end of October. It mostly rains but there are also nice and sunny days time by time.

     

    One of the sunny days was a trip to Phi Phi Island, Maya bay (the place where the famous moview with Leonardo Di Caprio was filmed). My nose was peeling later from too much of sun :) but the trip was great in general.

     

    I would advise to visit James Bond Island and make a photo in front of that famous rock ;)

     

    Enjoy my photos and ask me any questions.

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  • 2 weeks ago
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• Sunset over the Loire River

  • From: Gingerlocks
  • Description:

    I participated on a bike tour of the Loire Valley in late September 2007 and our last stop was Amboise.  Returning home from dinner I caught the the most amazing view of the sun setting over the Loire.  It was breathtaking!

  • 2 weeks ago
  • Views: 48

• Reflections of Old and New

  • From: atlpilot36
  • Description:

    The sun came out finally after raining all day right as I was walking past this reflective building in Paris.

  • 2 weeks ago
  • Views: 41
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• Forest

  • From: atlpilot36
  • Description:

    I took a walk through a forest in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany and the sun came out just long enough to light up the treetops.

  • 2 weeks ago
  • Views: 29
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• Antelope Canyon, AZ

  • From: atlpilot36
  • Description:

    For about 30 minutes every day the sun is in the perfect position to shine through this slot canyon.

  • 2 weeks ago
  • Views: 36

• A Weekend in St. Augustine: A

  • From: AmyCW
  • Description:

    Before “diving in” (pun intended) to describing my new favorite beach town, I’d like to share the update that several items listed in the “20 Ideas for Saving Money” post qualified as winning ideas for the local contest sponsored by frugal-columnist Ms. Cheap at the Tennessean, Nashville's daily newspaper.  I had the pleasure of meeting Ms. Cheap last Monday at a brown bag lunch session where she announced the contest winners, who each happily received a signed copy of her new book, 99 Things to Save Money in Your Household Budget. 

    Ms. Cheap would certainly have approved of the frugal, excellent long weekend Adam and I took in Florida the weekend before – in which we drove from Nashville, stayed with friends, and avoided the expensive theme parks for two days of sun, swimming, grilling, and exploring (and of course, in my case, preparing homemade nectarine salsa and Carolina cole slaw to add some flair to the cookout).  One of the highlights of the weekend was the day we spent in St. Augustine, meeting friends at Anastasia State Park.  

    

    This was my second time to St. Augustine, but my first time to this particular beach – a private beach with $8.00 per car fee, but well worth the cost for the natural, clean, and minimal-tourist experience.  The water was warm, the white sand was soft, and the waves were perfect for bodysurfing, football, frisbee-throwing, and catching rays.  The facilities were particularly convenient, with outdoor sand showers, picnic tables, and a convenience store where I was able to find a pair of sunglasses, and Adam a pair of swim shorts, both quite nice, at the last minute and at a decent price.

    After a day at the beach, we were starving, and headed to the historic downtown St. Augustine to A1A Aleworks Brewery & Restaurant for some local brew and a meal on the second-level patio overlooking Matanzas Bay.  The restaurant, describes itself as a working brewery serving "New World Cuisine featuring Caribbean, Cuban and Floridian influences,” was everything I had anticipated.  We ordered a sampler flight of 2-oz. beers that we happily sipped, watching the sun set, with a basket of warm bread on the house.  Although we were not in lobster country, I was too intrigued by the lobster tacos (off the appetizer menu) which turned out to be amazing.

    Although I’m usually one to plan my vacations meticulously to put together a combination of the absolute best street ambience, restaurants, scenic areas, and quaint architecture, I came upon St. Augustine completely by accident this past April while traveling in Florida for work.  After following up the winter with a particularly draining work schedule, I was yearning for relaxation and the beach, and St. Augustine was the closest to my location.  One evening after work I drove an hour to the coast, and once I entered the historic downtown, I was hooked.  I entered a world of Spanish architectural style, from the Cathedral of St. Augustine, to Flagler College, to the narrow, cobblestoned streets dotted with boutiques, cafes, and restaurants specializing in international dishes ranging from French pastry, to Polish pierogi, to fish and chips, to Mayan cuisine.  Deep into the town were historic structures, beautiful private residences and B&B’s. 

    

    
    

    While the gulf-coast beach towns where I spent much of my youth had a laid-back, fishing-village, shanty-town feel (which is a great escape in its own right), St. Augustine offered more of a high-end atmosphere perfect for a more luxurious experience after a sun-drenched day, while having many diversions that were surprisingly affordable.  On my brief evening after work, I was entertained simply enjoying the street life while munching a pastry, peeking inside the Cathedral, and browsing the shops.  I made my only purchase at a store specializing in all things hot sauce, Hot Stuff Mon, I bought some specialty sauce made from locally-grown Datil peppers and an orange-and-Datil Minorcan spice mixture, which we are still enjoying here at home. 

    I topped off my evening with dinner at Casa Maya for authentic Mayan cuisine (from bottom left, clockwise): Pork marinated in sour orange juice and axiote basted in mayan spices, black bean soup, candied plantains, tortillas, and Mayan rice. 

    Returning for a second time in September confirmed my newfound love for this jewel of a town in northeastern Florida, where I hope to return again soon to continue exploring the culinary delights, museums, and historic structures between lazy days at the beach.   

     

     

    Where to eat:

    A1A Aleworks Brewery & Restuarant, 1 King Street, St. Augustine, FL 32084, (904) 829-2977

    Casa Maya Organic Mayan Cuisine, 17 Hypolita Street, St. Augustine, FL 32084, (904) 829-3039

    Denoel French Pastry Shop, 212 Charlotte Street, St. Augustine, FL 32084, (904) 829-3974

    What to see and do:

    Anastasia State Park, 200 Anastasia Park Rd, St. Augustine, FL 32080, (904) 461-2033

    Hot Stuff Mon, 34 Treasury Street, St. Augustine, FL 32084, (904) 824-4944

    Castillo de San Marcos National Monument (America’s Oldest Stone Fort), 1 S Castillo Dr, St. Augustine, FL 32084

  • Blog post
  • 3 weeks ago
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