Travel Thursdays: Sydney, Australia

"This trip to Sydney, Australia surrounded a gorgeous international wedding my husband and I were photographing. After the wedding, we spent our days exploring the city and some of Sydney's beautiful beaches. Our hotel, Best Western Plus Hotel Stellar, was within walking distance of much of Sydney, and very close to public transportation. We decided to spend our days exploring Sydney's famous beaches which included seeing the famous Opera House and Harbor Bridge. Sydney is home to some of the most beautiful beaches I have ever seen! The shades of blue were perfect! We spent one day exploring Sydney's northern beaches, and then we took a fairy to Manly Beach. The fairy left from Circular Quay and went right past the Harbor Bridge and Opera House; talk about an amazing view!! While at Manly, we ate amazing Thai food at Chat Thai. Not only is their food amazing, but the menus were photo-books. To some that may not be that cool, but as a photographer it was one of the coolest (and unique) things I saw on the trip! After lunch, we  walked along the board walk, and then caught some rays on the beach. This trip was such a great way to take a break from everyday life and get inspired! I hope these images can inspire readers as much as the trip inspired me. "

Photographer: Everlasting Love Photography 

Travel Thursdays: Los Glaciares National Park, Argentina

Argentina, derived from Latin argentum "silver", is a very unique country. Dressed in silver coats of ice and snow, it hides its passionate heart full of hospitality and kindness of local people.

This land of rocks, magnificent mountains, pleasant subtropical climate and a true paradise for explorers, Argentina remains true to its traditions and cultural diversities. If your heart seeks excitement, powerful scenery and nature as a masterpiece of creation, then by all means, please visit Argentina and you won't regret it!

From the photographer: "October 2013 was the month a work colleague and myself chose to go on an adventure to the south of our country, Argentina. The Perito Moreno glacier is one of the most famous places to visit within my country and it's also becoming quite popular as a tourist attraction. The glacier is part of the Los Glaciares National Park located in Santa Cruz, Argentina. Once you enter the park you have a long drive ahead until your eyes meet one of the most amazing sights I've seen in my life so far. The car takes a turn and then, all of the sudden, you're face to face with this ice barrier. It is so unexpected that it hits you full force and I have to admit that I teared up when I first laid eyes on it. The scenario is so stunning that you feel forever humbled by the amazingness Mother Nature is! There is a boat ride to the North wall of the barrier that I highly recommend because once you get there, you are so close to the wall and you can experience the moment some ice chunks drop to the water. The roar the ice makes while breaking from the huge icy mass is loud and in that moment everybody can just stay quiet and witness something unique. The silence is followed by a loud groups of "awwwws". The winter months (March through September) can be a bit brutal for those not used to bitter cold weather and snow. The wind blows icy and gelid and the closer you get to the glacier, the colder it gets. And the snow storms can reduce visibility a lot so I say October through March are good months to visit." 

Photographer: Nat Bottacin Photography

Travel Thursdays: Santorini

Lovers of the sky and the sea meeting to embrace to create a splendid scenery among the most charming white houses roofed over with blue color to compliment the beauty of Heaven, Santorini will take your breath away!

Located at the Cyclades islands of Greece, Santorini is a true gem. Santorini is well known for hospitality and generosity which you will find everywhere. At local restaurants, narrow streets filled with happy people and the music of Greece that will make you feel at home.

Diversity, kindness and faithfulness to traditions will beautifully depict Santorini which we recommend visiting! It will be so worth it!

About the trip: We traveled to the Cyclades islands of Greece for one week at the end of summer, celebrating our 5 year anniversary. We chose these locations looking for a trip that could offer us some days of adventure and some days of simply luxurious relaxation. 

We spent the first days on Milos. A place for adventure, good food, swimming, magnificent sceneries, a wide variety of beaches. Some of our favourite places were the Sarakiniko beach, a white rock coast with a small bay; and the Papafragas beach where the sea reaches a tiny sandy beach between tall rocky walls. 

The second part of our trip was a luxurious relaxing stay on Santorini. A place with breathtaking views and perfect sunsets. We stayed in Imerovigly, and it was a great choice as, unlike the more popular Oia, it is connected to the next two towns, Fira and Thira. We enjoyed walking the roads overlooking the bay. Try Vanila restaurant for fresh fish food (http://vanilia.gr/).

In Santorini we stayed at Vinsanto Villas in the Cave Suite, we just loved how this room looked like.

Photography: Maria Hendengren

Travel Thursdays: Venice, Italy

About our trip: "After my husband proposed to me in Paris, on the banks of the Siene, we knew that for our honeymoon we had to go somewhere equally beautiful.  Without hesitations, we both knew it would be Italy.  Immediately following our stops in Rome and Florence, we ended our honeymoon in Venice. As we stood on the Rialto Bridge, looking out across the Grand Canal, we knew we were somewhere truly unique.  Every where we looked there was a building, a door, a texture that could only have existed in this place.

Each day we wandered the alleyways and walked along the canals exploring the city.  But the food?  The food was amazing and may very well be what we remember most ten years from now.  

Our hotel, Ai Due Fanali, was a block off the Grand Canal and we couldn't have been happier with our choice.  In the late afternoons, we often went back to our hotel room to rest.  Every afternoon the sounds of Frank Sinatra drifted up through our open windows from a local accordion player.  It felt like the soundtrack to Venice and I'll forever remember it that way." -Lyndi J. Photography

Photographer: Lyndi J. Photography