Category Archives: photography

August 19, 2008 · 2:40 am

españa!

touring andalucía.


the costa del sol.

hola from españa! 

for the last week we have traveled throughout andalucía, the southern region of spain known for it’s rich spanish + muslim heritage, fiery fiestas, flamenco + bullfighting traditions, delectable tapas, and it’s long stretches of sandy coastline along both the atlantic and mediterranean. from the grand architecture of sevilla to the sunny beaches of fuengirola, all the way down to the rock of gibralter with it’s misty view of africa and large colony of barbary monkeys, to the med coast and the gorgeous resort town of salobreña, then north to granada, and finally, madrid: the lively and impressive capital. tomorrow we head home, but today we explore this vibrant city…ciao!

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August 17, 2008 · 6:00 am

lagos, portugal.

escape to the algarve.

the algarve: the fabulous souther region of portugal renowned for its sandy beaches and constant sunshine…we traveled by train south from lisbon to the town of lagos, situated on the windward coast. lagos is small but thronged with visitors on holiday in august – the city center (protected by the old city walls and off-limits to traffic) is a maze of cobbled streets jam packed with restaurants, bars and shops, and people. at night, it has a boardwalk-like atmosphere with street performers, artists, musicians and stands filling every open space. across the marina a sandy beach stretches to the east with a handful of beach-club type restaurants that serve up fresh seafood and cold drinks. lagos, for all its attractions, has one major drawback: fierce winds that slap sand at sunbathers and whip through the streets at night. above all, it was warm and sunny and a very happy place…highlights included delicious baby squid, super sweet sangria, swimming in europe’s (chilly!) atlantic ocean, the bustling fish market, and the lively city center with its energetic nightlife.


eels at fish market.

 
lunch at playa meia praia.


las flores!


iglesia en la tarde.


fiesta!

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August 17, 2008 · 5:17 am

sintra + cascais, portugual.

magical castles + the westernmost tip of europe.


the coast of portugal seen from the palace of pena. ahhhh.

a 30-minute train ride north of lisbon transports you from the city to another world…the majestic town of sintra, with its looming palaces and castles, nestled high above the coast in thickly wooded forests. it is often referred to as a real-life disney world, with quaint shops lining the cobbled streets and colorful minarets jutting into the bright blue sky. we ascend the winding roads which rise quickly high above the town, visiting first the palace of pena: a summer palace for portuguese royalty set amidst lush gardens with sweeping views of the town below and all the way out to the coast. we tour the rooms, well-preserved and decorated to the tastes of the king and queen. from there we descend upon the castle of the moors – an imposing stone castle with rugged steep steps which lead to the very top. from this vantage point one can see all the way to cabo de roca – the westernmost tip of europe. heading south along the coast we pass cabo de roca and its famed lighthouse landmark, and continue on to the fishing village turned resort town of cascais – a beautiful slice of coast considered to be the portuguese riviera. cascais oozes relaxation and granduer with its cool winds and bright sunshine, the colorful streets buzzing with ethnic restaurants and well-dressed, sun-kissed visitors. chic boutiques line the streets and a large fish market dominates a few blocks near the coast. from the pier the town is striking – a mix of fishing village + beach resort + stately architecture. no wonder the royal court were the first to claim cascais as their resort town in the 1800s…

 
the palace of pena:

 

the castle of the moors:

the fishing village of cascais:

 

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August 12, 2008 · 8:11 pm

lisboa, portugal.

sweet graffiti, intricate mosaics and amazing nightlife.


my thoughts exactly.

ah, lisboa! this vibrant capital city charmed me the moment i arrived: with its colorful mosaic/tile-adorned buildings and limestone patterned streets, maniacal street graffiti, and impressive architecture i was in awe of it’s unique beauty. from the crowded city center of rossio to the tranquil top of castelo st jorge, lisbon provides its visitors with incredible views of the city. at night we ventured into the wild warren of streets that make up the barrio alto: steep, cobbled streets and stone steps connecting bars and restaurants, filled with music and full of revelers. the sun is strong, but the winds blow strong and cool off the water, making every day perfect for exploring…


the renowned tram 28.

 
rossio.

 
views from the castelo.

 

 


barrio alto.

 


rolling motion square.

  

  
a few of the many mosaics covering the buildings.

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August 6, 2008 · 8:04 am

oia: santorini, greece.

watching the sunset over the cliffs at oia.

oia is a delightful little village on the northern tip of santorini, perched high above the caldera far below. white-washed houses are tucked tightly into the cliffside just below the town itself, which is a warren of narrow, cobbled passageways – a jumble of homes, stores and restaurants, bursting with people who crowd the streets each evening to witness the spectacular sunset.

the most striking thing about greece, the secret to its unsurpassed beauty, lies not only in the pristine surroundings and picturesque architecture, but in the light itself. the light, so perfect and strong and clear, illuminates the land in a completely magical way. in the morning as the sun rises it sets the blue shutters and doors aglow with its cool, steely light. as it rises high in the day, the cloudless sky becomes a vivid shade of royal blue and the intense rays reflect off the white-washed buildings with a beautiful, almost blinding glare, everything in sight increasingly vivid and crisp. and later, when the afternoon sun begins to slip towards the horizon, the golden light spills across the land – reflecting off the water and dancing across the walls. just before the fiery ball is seemingly consumed by the ocean, its warmth turns even the whitest facades light pink and a deep orange glow is engulfs the island, the early evening light casting shadows across every wall…

no sooner does the sun sink away, then the moon rises – bright white, and pouring its luminance clear and strong onto the waters below: it shines a perfect white glow upon the streets, the sky fading from an sudden blue to deepest black.

 

 

 

 

 

 

* * *
greece part I: athens
greece part II: kamari beach, santorini
greece part III: my mom’s 50th bday

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August 6, 2008 · 7:53 am

fifty and fabulous in santorini.

my mother celebrates her 50th birthday on the greek islands.

july 17th was my mom’s 50th birthday and the real reason behind our impromptu, amazing trip to the greek islands. i wanted to do something very special for her 50th, and could think of no better way to celebrate than by whisking her off to explore the famed and fabulous islands of greece! this was her first trip to europe and it was absolutely amazing to share it with her.

having watched me travel all over the world, and knowing i was up for anything, she told me that greece was her ultimate destination. i hadn’t given much thought to the mediterranean island, but once i started looking into it i was captivated. we spent 10 days traveling through the cyclades, soaking up greek culture, cuisine and sun – it was perfect!

on her actual birthday we were on the island of santorini, and spent the day on the black sand beach of kamari before riding up to oia to see the acclaimed sunset above the caldera. for dinner we came back to kamari, where the waiters outside one of the restaurants, upon learning that it was my mom’s birthday, began to serenade her with “happy birthday.” the taverna, eanos, was one of the wonderful seaside restaurants with the friendly waiters and great food we had come to love in kamari. the waiter selected all our food, and brought out course after course of delicious seafood, pasta, salad, and wine. for dessert, the owners and waiters presented my mom with a cake and roses, singing loudly and enthusiastically, ending with a resounding OPA! i’ve never seen my mother look more beautiful or more happy – a testament to her fifty fabulous years.

mom i love you! thank you for trusting me to throw together this amazing trip and for being the best mother anyone could ask for! until the next one…

YASAS!

 


above: mom + i on the moonscape beach of sarakiniko, milos; at dinner one evening in santorini; lounging in the calm water along the shore of pollonia, milos; sunset on kamari beach, santorini. 

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