Guatemala
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A tribute to the beauty of Mother Earth

“Sooner or later, we will have to recognise that the Earth has rights, too, to live without pollution. What mankind must know is that human beings cannot live without Mother Earth, but the planet can live without humans”. –  Evo Morales

Oh Mother Earth how I love thee. I am disheartened by the constant heartache you have to face.  The earthquakes, the floods, the wildfires and the taking away of your beauty. It saddens me greatly. You are such a beautiful place! I sincerely hope that future generations learn to love and protect you and don’t throw the beauty we have away. There is so much working against you.

As I breathe in the thick smoky, polluted air today that has blown in to Minnesota all the way from the fierce wildfires burning in Alberta, Canada, I am sad and filled with despair. When will we take better care of our most important thing we have? Our planet? 

Of course some of these forces are simply due to Mother Nature but many other devastating things are due to humans. How will you handle over 8 billion people living and taking your resources? I wish there was an easy answer.

Eagle Mountain, Minnesota

Our beautiful pristine Northern Minnesota.

“When we recognise the virtues, the talent, the beauty of Mother Earth, something is born in us, some kind of connection, love is born”. – Thich Nhat Hanh

Guatemala

The green lush countryside of Guatemala

“You carry Mother Earth within you. She is not outside of you. Mother Earth is not just your environment. In that insight of inter-being, it is possible to have real communication with the Earth, which is the highest form of prayer”. –  Thich Nhat Hanh

Conservation/Environment Global Issues SOCIAL GOOD TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHY Weekly Photo Challenges
Minnesota Spring Flower
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The Rebirth of Spring

“May the sun bring you energy by day, may the moon softly restore you at night. May the rain wash away your worries, may the breeze blow new strength onto your being. May you walk gently through the world and know its beauty all the days of your life.” – Apache blessing

Spring has finally arrived full force in Minnesota and has washed away the barren brown and dirt, and sprung new life. All around, trees are bursting in electrifying green and the fragrant blossoming trees delight not only the eyes but their scent beckons the soul.

I always feel utterly alive and reborn once spring arrives here after a long, cold and often dreary winter. The energy of life and rebirth captivate my soul, as Mother Nature stuns us with her beauty.

Minnesota Spring Flower

TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHY Weekly Photo Challenges
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Landscapes around the world

I’ve always been in love with landscapes. Being outside breathing in the pure air of the mountains or the tropical heat of the jungle, landscapes are my absolute favorite thing to photograph.  I am passionate about traveling the world on foot and have been an avid hiker and traveler all my life. There are so many more places I want to see that I have to be patient. It is hard being a wanderlust!

Base Camp 2, Machete Route, Mount Kilimanjaro Tanzania

One such place I’ve never explore on foot yet is northern California home to John Muir, one of the most revered environmentalist, naturalist, and writers of his days. His work as an environmental philosopher set the tone for the first ever preservation of wilderness in the United States. Later he went on to found the Sierra Club, an environmental conservation organization, and the 211-mile (340 km) John Muir Trail in his beloved Sierra Nevada was named in his honor (a trail I would love to hike!).

His writing has resonated with my soul especially because I share his love and passion for nature. His quotes especially strike a chord with my heart and I often can hear myself whispering them silently while I hike and take in the incredible offering that we’ve been blessed with.

Base Camp 2, Machete Route, Mount Kilimanjaro Tanzania

I dedicate this post of my favorite landscapes around the world, to the poetry and mindfulness of John Muir and his legacy of saving some of the most pristine places on earth. Here are his words side by side my photography.

“The mountains are calling and I must go”.

The mountain air of the French Alps

Vanoise National Park, France

Vanoise National Park, France

Vanoise National Park, France

“Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul”. 

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Sonoran Desert Musuem, Tucson Arizona
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The Arizona desert in bloom

Yesterday I took my daughter to the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum located in the outskirts of Tucson and I was in awe of the colorful cactus in bloom. It is more verdant than ever in Arizona given the winter’s heavy rainfall and snow in the mountains that has run down the hills into the valley bringing it to life. Spring has come early in the desert and the vibrant, illustrious blooms prove that life in the desert can be anything but dull.

Take a walk with me.

Sonoran Desert Musuem, Tucson Arizona

There is something magical about the mighty saguaros lacing the mountains and landscape of Tucson akin to trees in a forest of Northern Minnesota. These majestic cactus are everywhere and they are amazing. Some live to be in hundreds of years old and it can take up to a hundred years to grow an arm. In the spring time, the saguaros bloom on top with beautiful flowers which are known as the state wildflower of Arizona. In all my years of visiting Arizona, I have never seen a blooming saguaro before.

Sonoran Desert Musuem, Tucson Arizona

There are several kinds of cactus in the desert. The round barrel cactus, the prickly pear cactus, saguaros and the many species of cholla cactus that look like round pieces of sausage and some even jump at you if you get too near.

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Granada, Nicaragua
— 53 Comments

Why I love Instagram

Instagram has become one of the hottest social media platforms on the market with over 400 million monthly users from around the world. I was a late adapter to Instagram because it took me awhile to figure out exactly how I wanted to use it. When I first started using Instagram, I posted everyday pictures from my iPhone similar to what I share with my friends on Facebook. Quite frankly, I found it rather uninteresting so I didn’t use it much until this past October when I decided to give it a try again. I had attended a travel blogging conference and all the talk was about Instagram and how it is becoming the platform for travel, photography and lifestyle bloggers. I was interested in learning more.

I realized that I could use Instagram in a different, more fascinating way. As an extension of my view of the world, through my third eye. Instead of showing pictures of the kids or what I ate for dinner, I decided to take Instagram more seriously and use it as an expression of my creative energy. To work my photos and make them beautiful. To show my passion for seeing and exploring the world.

I went back and deleted almost all my old Instagram photos and started anew. I decided I would only post my best work, photos that inspire me and hopefully inspire others. I also would only follow those other Instagrammers that I adored and loved their work. These people could help me learn to be a better photographer.

So, why do I love Instagram? Because it inspires me to see beauty in different creative ways. It allows me to be an armchair traveler or photographer and look through others photographers work who inspire me. It also pushes me to work harder at my own photos and to take chances. I don’t just click away anymore without thinking and publish a post. Instead, I take my time and really think about a photograph and the feelings I want to evoke when looking at it.

Here are a few of my latest creations.

Condoriri Valley, Bolivia

Condoriri Valley, Bolivia

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Iglesia la Merced Granada Nicaragua
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The five most beautiful churches in Granada

Granada is one of those showcase cities whose eternal beauty lies deep within her Spanish colonial roots. Founded in 1524 by Francisco Hernández de Córdoba, much of the city remains the same as it was hundreds of years ago when the Spanish landed in Granada and conquered the people and their land. Despite being ransacked, destroyed and burnt to the ground, Granada has remained shockingly intact with its glorious cobblestone streets, opulent Catholic churches and vibrantly colored architecture, making it one of the most beautiful cities in Central America.

Catholicism arrived in Nicaragua in the late 16th century during the Spanish conquest of Latin America.  To build their empire, the Spanish constructed grand, elaborate cathedrals throughout the region and Granada received her fair share of beautiful churches. Today roughly 90% of Nicaraguans practice some form of Christian denomination with the majority being Roman Catholics.

The sound of church bells is a constant reminder that you are in a Catholic country where religion still plays an integral role in people’s lives.

There are five main churches that grace Granada’s picturesque streets: The Iglesia la Merced, the Cathedral on Parque Colón, The Iglesia de Xalteva, the Igelesia Guadalupe and the Antiguo Convento San Francisco. All are worth checking out as they are equally beautiful in their own right.

Iglesia la Merced

Built in 1534 (sacked and burned and rebuilt again in 1670),  the views from the bell tower are the most spectacular in the entire city. High on top, you are rewarded with a 360 degree view of Granada’s terra-cotta rooftops, the stunning lake and the volcano.

Iglesia la Merced Granada Nicaragua

Climbing the narrow stairs, you reach the centerpiece of the church: The bell tower. The panoramic views from high above the busy streets of Granada, are sensational and perhaps my favorite view in all Granada.

Iglesia la MercedGranada, Nicaragua

I could have stayed her all afternoon watching the world go by on the streets below but alas I had four more churches to see and it was getting hot.

Iglesia la Merced Granada NicaraguaIglesia la Merced Granada Nicaragua

Looking back at the church
Looking down to the ground
Looking down at the streets
Terracotta rooftops

Here is a beautiful view of the Cathedral on the central plaza, the heart and soul of Granada. You can also see the lake, Lago Cocibolca and Las Isletas where I would go for a sunset cruise later on that day.

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Granada, Nicaragua
— 50 Comments

The Color of Granada

Granada is a magical place. As the oldest city in North America, founded in 1524 by Francisco Hernández de Córdoba (a Spanish conquistador), Granada’s charm has been attracting people from all over the world for decades. Her captivating colonial architecture, whimsical colorful streets, and gorgeous culture is enough to make you want to plant yourself at one of many outdoor cafes on the main plaza and watch the world go by for days.

Unfortunately I only had 24 hours in this lovely colonial treasure but I made sure to cram in as much as possible. I spent the morning on foot touring the four main colonial churches and rambunctious streets, ate wonderful meals at Granada’s delightful outdoor restaurants, took an evening sunset tour of Las Islets, and the next morning climbed neighboring volcano Mombacho. It was an awful lot of rushing around in a short amount of time but I’m glad I did it because Granada is amazingly delightful. It is also a photographer’s dream!

Come take a walk with me and see for yourself.

Granada, Nicaragua

The perch at Hotel Plaza Colon is a fantastic place to have a cup of Nicaraguan coffee and watch the world go by.

The first thing I did when I arrived in Granada was check into my lovely hotel, The Hotel Plaza Colon. It was the perfect place to base myself for my visit to Granada, centrally located right on the main plaza with a gorgeous front patio and private balconies offering a spectacular view of the plaza and main cathedral. The staff was warm, friendly and helpful and I specifically enjoyed the delicious cafe shop and wine bar with outdoor seating.

Once I figured out my game plan for the day, I set off on foot in the hot, tropical weather common almost year-round in Nicaragua. I had a guidebook but honestly never read it as I prefer to discover a new place similar to opening up the first page of a new book. I like to slowly unravel it with no preconceived notions and read about it after I’ve seen it.

I left the hotel with only a map and some basic instructions by the concierge on where to go and what to see. Given the relatively small, compact size of Granada, it was very easy to find my way around and see everything over the course of 3-4 hours. There were also plenty of tourists so I never felt uneasy being alone.

My first mission was to visit the main churches of Granada which warrants an entirely separate post (that is coming soon). From the top of the bell tower at the Iglesia La Merced, I got a stunning 360-view of the city. It was the perfect vista to begin my tour of Granada.

Granada, Nicaragua

The best view in Granada can be found from the bell tower at the Iglesia La Merced

Granada, Nicaragua

View of the main plaza

Granada, Nicaragua

Granada, Nicaragua

Nicaragua TRAVEL TRAVEL BY REGION
— 41 Comments

A Photoblog: In Search of Color

“Your attitude is like a box of crayons that color your world. Constantly color your picture gray, and your picture will always be bleak. Try adding some bright colors to the picture by including humor, and your picture begins to lighten up”. – Allen Klein

As a colorless winter persists here in Minnesota, I dream daily of bright colors.  I crave vibrant colors to make my heart sing and give me energy. When it is gray and barren, I feel less inspired then when the sun is shining bright and the sky is brilliant blue. Thus, I try to add color into my daily life especially during the wintertime.

I wear my paisley-colored boots and dress in bright red, pink or green sweaters. I add a colorful pashmina or scarf for a splash of color and am reminded of the place far away where I bought it. I buy a bouquet of spring flowers and place it in the kitchen. Or I look at my photos of summer flowers, markets or vacations to give me that extra boost of color. It is amazing how simply adding color to my life seems to lift my spirits immensely.

See for yourself….

Sunset on Mount Kilimanjaro

Spring Flowers

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Needles Highway, Black Hills, South Dakota
— 31 Comments

The Stunning Vistas of Needles Highway

“Go outside and try to recapture the happiness within yourself; think of all the beauty in yourself and in everything around you and be happy”. – Anne Frank

No visit to the Black Hills of South Dakota is complete without a drive through the impressive Needles Highway. Designed in 1919 by Peter Norbeck (an American politician from South Dakota who is most famous for commissioning Mount Rushmore) the 14-mile highway meanders through a vast web of spires and pointed, needle-shaped rock formations that look like they are launching off to space. There are several turnouts along the road where you can get out and do some fabulous hikes. However, even just pulling over to take in the view of the massive rock formations is enough to make it worth your while.

It took two years and 150,000 pounds of dynamite to make the Needles Highway. Engineers at the time thought it would be impossible to carve out a road through such wild land yet Norbeck proved them wrong. Finally some of the most gorgeous untouched land of the Black Hills was available for the world to see and enjoy. But not without a cost.

The most dramatic, awe-inspiring way to travel the Needles Highway is from south to north. You can begin in Custer State Park and end your journey at the beautiful Sylvan Lake for a snack and a short one-mile hike around the lake. Or if you are feeling more adventurous, you can pick up the trail for Harney Peak, the highest point in South Dakota and experience a fantastic four-hour roundtrip hike.

Needles Highway, Black Hills, South Dakota

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Badlands National Park South Dakota
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The Badlands at dusk

“In all things of nature, there is something of the marvelous”. – Aristotle

There are few things in life as spectacular as a sunset. Sunset tends to be my favorite time of day, as the light casts shadows and rays of brilliant, ever-changing colors across the horizon. It is hard to decide whether I prefer watching the sunset over water or land. Each has it own set of attributes and wonder.

The last day of our summer vacation to South Dakota was rewarded with a magical sunset over the Badlands. The utter, surreal beauty of this vast land of jagged buttes, canyons, pinnacles and spires seemed to come to life as the sun set. Although it only lasted a short while, it was by far the highlight of our week-long trip.

Badlands National Park South Dakota

We left our hotel shortly after dinner and drove into the deserted Badlands National Park. Most of the day tourists had come and gone and we had the entire place to ourselves. It had cooled down to a delightful temperature, much more conducive to hiking than during the hot, shadeless afternoon scorch of July heat. Our only obstacle was time. We only would have an hour to hike until it was completely dark.

The views were astounding and the rock formations became even more colorful as the sun dipped further below the horizon. The deep maroon-hued rings of sediment became even more dramatic with sunset. During the daytime, you can hardly see them but at night the rocks looked like candy cane stripes.

National Parks South Dakota TRAVEL United States
Sunset on Mount Kilimanjaro
— 39 Comments

What Victory Means to Me

“You won’t win until you learn how to lose” – Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Following and fulfilling your dreams is not easy. Oftentimes the obstacles and hurdles that lie ahead seem so insurmountable that they hold you back from even trying. Whether it is the fear of failure or anxiety of the unknown we all have our reasons.

I’ve realized over the years that if I do not take risks or step out of my comfort zone than I am miserable. I don’t grow as a person nor do I feel fulfilled or happy. The more I challenge myself both mentally, intellectually and physically, the more peaceful I feel in my own skin.

CULTURE TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHY Weekly Photo Challenges