Image by Nation Geographic (February 2014)
Classic, historical architecture has the ability to command attention. These buildings create the iconic skylines etched throughout our travels.
In honor of their creators, I would like to re-introduce a few of these historical resources in a mini series. The first stop is Brunelleschi’s Dome in Florence Italy. Learn more about innovation, rivalry and ultimately perseverance in NatGeo’s article, Il Duomo (February 2014).
Image retrieved from Pinterest Diego Esparza Esparza
Life is a JOURNEY.
Choose well those with whom you travel!
by Loraine Heath
This week’s recommended virtual travel tool is AirPano!
Meet the Team!
AirPano project is comprised of a team of eight, Russian men, who travel to the most significant landmarks around the world. At each sight they capture high resolution, aerial images and videos which are then uploaded online.
AirPano 360 Degrees
This online tool provides incredible views and access to some of the worlds most breath-taking sites both natural and man-made around the world. Click below to begin your trip!
Special Features at Your Fingertips
Note: These are large images/files. Be prepared that they make take time to load.
I promise, they are worth the wait!
Sometimes the hunt for unique found items is an important part of the experience. So, while on your next trip consider these alternative items/collections!
Natural found items could include:
Made items assembled with a common theme could include:
Tip: Think of connecting these collectibles to your bucket list, i.e. travel to the top 10 surfing beaches in the world and bring home sand from the beach. Or collect leaves during a fall foliage tour in New England. Hike/rock climb in national parks across the country or in your home state-search for unique rocks that signify to geomorphology of the area.
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In March 2010, the first beta (prototype) site for Pinterest was launched with limited access to a small group of professional colleagues, along with close friends and family, of it’s co-founders. The purpose of the site was to allow users to bookmark or “pin” images, videos, etc. in which they found of “interest” to virtual bulletin boards, categorized by themes. By February 2013, Pinterest boasted more than 48 million users and was valued at $2.5 billion dollars (Reuters).
As a novice photographer, I am completely enthralled by this site. The images “pinned” on the travel board are nothing short of breathtaking. They epitomize ” idealistic” settings beneath secret waterfalls, resorts nestled on top of mountains, castles that seem to have grown from the earth, exotically staged gardens in hidden corners all over of the world. Although I am sure that some are computer enhanced, they are of an amazing quality that would be difficult to emulate. Although perfection is in the eye of the beholder, these images are almost an adult traveler’s version of a fairy-tale that is often a stark contrast to what most people see when they gaze out their kitchen windows. First, I would like to thank Pinterest travel contributors who have given anyone with internet, access to an incredible trip to utopia.
Utopia = an ideal place or state a (dictionary.com.)
One reason why people travel is to seek inspiration. The scenes that lay before us in our travels do not always generate a feeling of safety nor are they always idealistic. But they can be! The word utopia was first mentioned in 1516 by author Sir Thomas More, “Utopia” as a fictional place. I believe that some people travel in search of a modern-day (non-fiction) utopia of sorts! I am not sure what it would be like to actually live in or next to these places? But for this week, whether it is raining, snowing or the sun is shining in your corner of the world, take a moment and travel virtually with Pinterest. Be awe-inspired!
Public (adjective):
1. of, pertaining to, or affecting a population or a community as a whole
2. open to all persons (dictionary.com)
Tourist (adjective):
1. a person on an excursion or sightseeing (dictionary.com)
So the idea behind this post is to make a correlation between developing a strong sense of place within a community and its residual impacts on the tourist’s experience. Because most tourists spend an exorbitant amount of time wandering in, through, and along what is identified as the public realm.
Project for Public Spaces (PPS) is a nonprofit planning, design and educational organization dedicated to helping people create and sustain public spaces that build stronger communities.
PPS has complied a list of 60 of the World’s Greatest Places we (the public) remember most vividly, the places where serendipitous things happen, the places we tell stories about…discover=>
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