Snapshot Series: Primates Around the Globe

Photographing wildlife is one of our absolute favorite activities no matter where we are. This post showcases some of the many primates that we snapped pictures of during our travels in Central and South America, Africa, Asia, and the Indian sub-continent. Observing their expressions, mannerisms and behavior up close is astonishing and reveals just how closely related we all really are. We thoroughly enjoyed watching these animals up close and laughing at their human-like behavior – and quite often mis-behavior. 

Angkor Wat, Cambodia: Long-Tailed Macaque

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Snapshot Series: Food Around the Globe

Yes, we need it to survive, but food is also something we live for, searching out specific cuisines and culinary experiences. When traveling food is also a tool for getting to know a country. It is a method to connect with local people. Food is even a source for gaining insights into cultures and their histories. While we may not remember every detail of every meal there are many that stand out; we can easily recollect where we were, who we dined with, the scents whirling around us and even who prepared it and served it to us. Food has a power over us. We travel for the food.

Bosnia and Herzegovina: Cevapi

Grilled minced beef served with cabbage salad and somun (a spongy flat pocked bread) Read the rest of this entry »

Snapshot Series: Road Hazards of India

Cruising down Indian roads, in any vehicle, can be some of the most interesting and adventurous times traveling through the country. Certainly the sites and scenery can be breathtaking, but more often than not the conditions of the roads and the many, many unexpected things that may occupy the lanes are what will be most surprising. During our personal experience of motorcycling on Indian highways we witnessed the gamut of road hazards from the commonplace to the truly bizarre. While some of these are difficult to snap photographs of (for example: cars speeding in the wrong direction, trucks pulling out in front of our bike, and massive unmarked speed bumps hidden in shadows) we have done our best to capture and share a few of these so as to give an idea of what driving on Indian roads is like. It is possible to have an amazing time and still leave the country (relatively) unscathed. Just keep your eyes peeled for the insanity that exists on India’s living highways!

Lounging Livestock

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Snapshot Series: Châteaus of the Loire River Valley

BRAIN-SUR-LONGUENÉE, FRANCE – We took a few days out of our indulgent holiday schedule to explore the area in and around the Loire River Valley. Toting our trusty map on which we had hand-marked the locations of many of the castles, fortresses, and palaces (all labeled as châteaus in French) of the area, we set off to find and photograph each of these architectural marvels.

A special thanks goes out to our adventurous 8-year old co-pilot, Charlotte, for joining us on our second day of exploration. Merci boucoup, Charlotte!

Le Château de Fougères: Construction began on this fortress in the 11th century by the House of Amboise. Located directly on top of a swamp, it is one of Europe’s largest medieval fortresses, with 13 watch towers and 3 gated entries.

Le Château du Plessis-Macé: Originally built in the Middle Ages, this castle Read the rest of this entry »

Snapshot Series: The Beskid Mountains, Czech Republic

BESKID MOUNTAINS, CZECH REPUBLIC – During our visit to Ostrava we spent three days at the nearby Beskid Mountains with Radim and his family. We passed our days sledding, hiking through the snow, drinking delicious Czech beer and visiting Pustevny, a nearby ski resort. Our evenings were spent at Radim’s parents cabin, high on a snowy hill outside of Morávka, playing games near the fireplace and watching the snow blow around in the wind.

Scroll down for photos of our more than perfect long weekend in this Czech winter wonderland.

A statue high atop the mountains depicting Radegast, the western Read the rest of this entry »

Snapshot Series: Ostrava, Czech Republic

OSTRAVA, CZECH REPUBLIC – We’ve just visited Theresa’s Czech Brother, Radim, and his family in Ostrava, an industrial town in eastern Czech Republic located very near Poland to the east and Slovakia to the south.

Like Thorsten before him, Radim was a foreign exchange student that lived with Theresa’s family in Illinois, attending the local high school and acting as a member of her family for a year. He’s now married with two children and has become a salesperson for an international steel company. See more photos of he and his family in our upcoming post from the Beskids Mountains.

The photos of Ostrava tell the story of some of the industry that the Czech Republic was built upon. Though Ostrava doesn’t have much of the old world beauty of other European cities, like Prague or Munich, its unique, gritty history has its own charm.

Scroll on for photos of Ostrava’s industrial sites and historic city center.  

Ostrava’s central Square and Christmas markets. That afternoon we saw Read the rest of this entry »