PHOTOS AND VIDEOS FROM OUR TRAVELS AROUND THE WORLD

Albums 1 - 87 out of 87

	Cinque Terre: the most beautiful place on Earth...so far. The Cinque Terre is a rugged portion of coast on the Italian Riviera. It is in the Liguria region of Italy, to the west of the city of La Spezia. "The Five Lands" is composed of five villages: Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore. The coastline, the five villages, and the surrounding hillsides are all part of the Cinque Terre National Park and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Over centuries, people have carefully built terraces on the rugged, steep landscape right up to the cliffs that overlook the sea. Part of its charm is the lack of visible corporate development. Paths, trains and boats connect the villages, and cars cannot reach them from the outside. 160 photos
	The Villa in Tuscany To celebrate Marge's 80th birthday; Mike's & Lisa's 60th birthdays, Adam's & Carrie's 30th birthdays, and Deanna's 20th birthday, the Kraft family decided to rent a villa in Vernio, Italy. And a grand time was had by all...as if you couldn't tell. 134 photos
	Florence for a day Florence is regarded as one of the most beautiful cities in the world, and the impact of its artistic, historic and cultural heritage in the world remains to this day. The city has a major impact in music, architecture, education, cuisine, fashion, philosophy, science and religion. The historic centre of Florence contains numerous historical squares, Renaissance palaces, academies, parks, gardens, churches, monasteries, museums, art galleries and ateliers. The city boasts a wide range of collections of art, especially those held in the Pitti Palace and the Uffizi, (which receives about 1.6 million tourists a year -- and we were 10 of them this year). It has been the birthplace or chosen home of many notable historical figures, such as Dante, Boccaccio, Leonardo da Vinci, Botticelli, Niccolò Machiavelli, Brunelleschi, Michelangelo, Donatello, Galileo Galilei, Catherine de' Medici, Giotto di Bondone, Luigi Cherubini, Antonio Meucci, Guccio Gucci, Franco Zeffirelli, Salvatore Ferragamo, Roberto Cavalli, Leonardo Bruni, Coluccio Salutati and Emilio Pucci. 167 photos
	Cheese and Vinegar: 2 of my favorite things 112 photos
	Where All Roads Lead 145 photos
	The World's Smallest Country 0.2 square miles - The world's smallest state, the Vatican has a population of 770, none of whom are permanent residents. The tiny country which surrounds St. Peter's Basilica is the spiritual center for the world's Roman Catholics (over 1 billion strong). Also known as the Holy See, Vatican City is surrounded by Rome, Italy. 142 photos
	2003 Valentine's Day Dance 12 photos
	2007 Kentucky Trip I went to Kentucky to see my sibs and their families for 3 weeks in June 2007. 36 photos
	The World's Best Cheese A parmiggiano-reggiano cheese factory tour in Parma, Italy. 113 photos
	Wedding Crashers - Italian Style Mara and Fabrizio's wedding 199 photos
	Milano was founded by the Insubres, a Celtic people. Milan was later captured by the Romans in 222 BC, and later was the capital city of the Western Roman Empire from 286 until 402 AD. Milan became one of the most prosperous Italian cities during the High Middle Ages. Milan is recognised as a world fashion and design capital (not that you can tell from looking at me). 97 photos
	The World's 2nd Smallest Country Monaco is a sovereign city state on the Côte d'Azur (French Riviera). It is bordered on three sides by its neighbour, France, and its centre is about 16 km (9.9 mi) from Italy. Its area is 1.98 km2 (0.76 sq mi) with a population of 35,986 as of 2011. Monaco boasts the world's highest GDP nominal per capita at $151,630 and is the most densely populated country in the world. Monaco also has the world's highest life expectancy at almost 90 years, and the lowest unemployment rate. After a recent expansion of Port Hercule Monaco's total area is 2.05 km2 (0.79 sq mi), with new plans to extend the district of Fontvieille, with land reclaimed from the Mediterranean Sea. 50 photos
	Tracing Jonathan's Roots 162 photos
	Our Italian Life 156 photos
	Kraków dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life and is one of Poland's most important economic centres. It was the capital of Poland from 1038 to 1596; the capital of the Grand Duchy of Kraków from 1846 to 1918; and the capital of Kraków Voivodeship from the 14th century to 1999. The city has grown from a Stone Age settlement to Poland's second most important city. It began as a hamlet on Wawel Hill and was already being reported as a busy trading centre of Slavonic Europe in 965. With the establishment of new universities and cultural venues at the emergence of the Second Polish Republic and throughout the 20th century, Kraków reaffirmed its role as a major national academic and artistic center. 103 photos
	Nie wieder Auschwitz Birkenau German Nazi Concentration and Extermination Camp was the largest of the German concentration camps. From early 1942 until late 1944, transport trains delivered Jews to the camp's gas chambers from all over Nazi-occupied Europe. Up to three million people died there (2.5 million gassed, and 500,000 from disease and starvation),[4] a figure since revised to 1.1 million, around 90 percent of them Jews. Those not killed in the gas chambers died of starvation, forced labor, infectious disease, individual executions, and medical experiments. On January 27, 1945, Auschwitz was liberated by Soviet troops, a day commemorated around the world as International Holocaust Remembrance Day. 54 photos
	Slovakian (and more) Folklore Festival 177 photos
	Castle and Mushroom Hunting 181 photos
	Essential Experiences, in part We went hiking with Lucia and Ivo our last morning in Zuberec. We only got to climb to the first lake (the first hour of a 6 hour hike). We had to head back down the mountain to catch our train. 43 photos
	The town with the impossible name 139 photos
	Where Buda meets Pest is the capital of Hungary. Budapest became a single city occupying both banks of the river Danube with a unification on 17 November 1873 of west-bank Buda and Óbuda with east-bank Pest. 114 photos
	View from the 86th floor 59 photos
	The Blue City - The City of Lakes Udaipur was the historic capital of the former kingdom of Mewar in Rajputana Agency. Apart from its glorious history, culture and scenic locations, it is also known for its Rajput-era palaces. The Lake Palace, for instance, covers an entire island in the Pichola Lake. Many of the palaces have been converted into luxury hotels. It is often called the "Venice of the East" and is also nicknamed the "Lake City". 198 photos
	The Pink City Jaipur is known as the pink city because when it was built, they painted everything pink to cover up the inferior building materials used. 106 photos
	Beneath A Marble Sky The Taj Mahal is a mausoleum located in Agra, India. It is one of the most recognizable structures in the world. It was built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal. It is widely considered as one of the most beautiful buildings in the world and stands as a symbol of eternal love. 94 photos
	Indian Wedding Crashers We got to go to a Hindu marriage ceremony in Bilaspur, India. We were part of the groom's procession, and paraded and danced down the street in what was quite possibly the loudest experience of my life. 137 photos
	Bilaspur, India 100 photos
	Hyderabad - land of awesomeness and full bellies We went to Hyderabad to visit Bhanu and his cousin Keerthi. They sure know how to show these tourists a good time...and keep us full to bursting with great food 198 photos
	Goa - the land the internet forgot Renowned for its beaches, places of worship and world heritage architecture. 129 photos
	Mumbai marvels Formerly known as Bombay, Mumbai is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fifth most populous city in the world, with a population of approximately 12.5 million. Along with the neighbouring urban areas, including the cities of Navi Mumbai and Thane, it is one of the most populous urban regions in the world.[2] Mumbai lies on the west coast of India and has a deep natural harbour. The name Mumbai is an eponym, derived from Mumba or Maha-Amba—the name of the Koli goddess Mumbadevi—and Aai, "mother" in the language of Marathi. 119 photos
	Brunei is a tropical paradise Brunei, officially the State of Brunei Darussalam or the Nation of Brunei: the Abode of Peace, is a sovereign state located on the north coast of the island of Borneo, in Southeast Asia. Brunei's population is around 400,000. 179 photos
	Here's us at ((yet) another) temple 145 photos
	Angkor Wat, Cambodia Angkor Wat is a temple complex built for the king Suryavarman II in the early 12th century as his state temple and capital city. As the best-preserved temple at the site, it is the only one to have remained a significant religious centre since its foundation – first Hindu, dedicated to the god Vishnu, then Buddhist. It is the world's largest religious building. 61 photos
	Sihanoukville, Cambodia 54 photos
	Cambodia's Capital City Phnom Penh is the capital and largest city of Cambodia. Located on the banks of the Mekong River, Phnom Penh has been the national capital since the French colonized Cambodia, and has grown to become the nation's center of economic and industrial activities, as well as the center of security, politics, economics, cultural heritage, and diplomacy of Cambodia. Once known as the “Pearl of Asia”, it was considered one of the loveliest French-built cities. 126 photos
	People of the Mekong River 174 photos
	3 Days on the Mekong 149 photos
	Cao Dai, Cu Chi 100 photos
	My Son and Vietnamese Cooking Jonathan planed a surprise day that involved a trip to My Son and a cruise down the river while we were taught how to cook Vietnamese food. My Son is a cluster of abandoned and partially ruined Hindu temples constructed between the 4th and the 14th century AD by the kings of Champa. From the 4th to the 14th century AD, the valley at M? S?n was a site of religious ceremony for kings of the ruling dynasties of Champa, as well as a burial place for Cham royalty and national heroes. At one time, the site encompassed over 70 temples as well as numerous stele bearing historically important inscriptions in Sanskrit and Cham. M? S?n is perhaps the longest inhabited archaeological site in Indochina, but a large majority of its architecture was destroyed by US carpet bombing during a single week of the Vietnam War. 171 photos
	clothes, cycles, cao lau 167 photos
	First Impressions of Vietnam 138 photos
	Hue - a fortified city 96 photos
	Bangkok, Thailand 1 - 4 March 2011 Bangkok is the capital, largest urban area and primary city of Thailand. Known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon meaning "city of angels". One night in Bangkok and the world's your oyster. 179 photos
	Chiang Rai, Thailand 123 photos
	Wat Rong Koom (The White Temple) Wat Rong Khun is different from any other temple in Thailand, as its ubosot (consecrated assembly hall) is designed in white color with some use of white glass. The white color stands for Lord Buddha’s purity; the white glass stands for Lord Buddha’s wisdom that "shines brightly all over the Earth and the Universe." The bridge leading to the temple represents the crossing over from the cycle of rebirth to the Abode of Buddha. The small semicircle before the bridge stands for the human world. The big circle with fangs is the mouth of Rahu, meaning impurities in the mind, a representation of hell or suffering. All the paintings inside the ubosot (assembly hall) have golden tones. The four walls, ceiling and floor contain paintings showing an escape from the defilements of temptation to reach a supramundane state. On the roof, there are four kinds of animals representing earth, water, wind and fire. The elephant stands for the earth; the naga stands for water; the swan's wings represent wind; and the lion’s mane represents fire. Visitors will find it rather bizarre to find modern images throughout this temple. Images of the Predator from the Hollywood film, Spiderman, Batman, Keanu Reeves character in the Matrix, rocket ships, etc. The sea of hands rising up towards the bridge to the temple, some holding skulls are very striking. 76 photos
	Deanna's birthday 2010 Surprising Deanna for her birthday in Ft. Collins 48 photos
	Tigers in Thailand A quick visit to play with the tigers at tiger kingdom in Chiang Mai. This is where I discovered that I am, in fact, allergic to tigers. 180 photos
	Chiang Mai, Thailand Chiang Mai is the largest and most culturally significant city in northern Thailand, and is the capital of Chiang Mai Province. It is located 700 km (435 mi) north of Bangkok, among the highest mountains in the country. The city is on the Ping river, a major tributary of the Chao Phraya river. 193 photos
	Elephant riding and waterfalls. 88 photos
	Cooking School Thailand 129 photos
	Macau Macau is, along with Hong Kong, one of the two special administrative regions of the People's Republic of China. It lies on the western side of the Pearl River Delta, bordering Guangdong province to the north and facing the South China Sea to the east and south. The territory's economy is heavily dependent on gambling and tourism but also includes manufacturing. Macau was a Portuguese colony and both the first and last European colony in China. Portuguese traders first settled in Macau in the 16th century and subsequently administered the region until the handover on 20 December 1999. 161 photos
	Hong Kong Hong Kong is one of two special administrative regions (SARs) of the People's Republic of China, the other being Macau. Situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbor. With a land mass of 1,104 km2 (426 sq mi) and a population of seven million people, Hong Kong is one of the most densely populated areas in the world. Hong Kong's population is 95% ethnic Chinese and 5% from other groups. 199 photos
	Scuba diving near Amed, Bali, Indonesia 200 photos
	Bali, Indonesia 147 photos
	The Sacred Monkey Forest 169 photos
	Life in Auckland, part 2 113 photos
	Singapore 151 photos
	Life in Auckland, New Zealand 200 photos
	Northland, New Zealand Rich in a unique history that ties both Maori and non - Maori people together and the first region of New Zealand, Northland, is full of historical sites, stories, and artifacts. 173 photos
	Campervan Return, take 2 123 photos
	Seals These seals were widely hunted from shortly after the European discovery of New Zealand until the late 19th century. The population of the New Zealand seal fell to levels under 10% of the original numbers. In New Zealand the Fur Seal is now protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (1978). Although the seals look docile, they can move surprisingly quickly and it is advisable never to approach a female with young or get between a seal and the water, cutting off its escape route to the sea. Their teeth are very sharp and many New Zealanders have been bitten. 107 photos
	Christchurch, New Zealand Christchurch (M?ori: ?tautahi) is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast. 145 photos
	Cromwell, Lake Dunstan, Mt. Cook, and Lake Tekapo Aoraki/Mount Cook is the highest mountain in New Zealand, reaching a height of 3,754 metres (12,316 ft). It lies in the Southern Alps, the mountain range which runs the length of the South Island. Cromwell is a town in Central Otago in the Otago region of New Zealand. It is situated between State Highway 6 (linking to Wanaka, 50 km north, and Queenstown, 60 km west) and State Highway 8 leading to the Lindis Pass, 75 km northeast, and Alexandra, 33 km south. The road to Alexandra winds through the Cromwell Gorge. Cromwell lies 128 kilometres from the sea, the farthest from the sea anywhere in New Zealand. Lake Dunstan is a man-made lake and reservoir in the South Island of New Zealand. The lake was formed on the Clutha River as a result of the construction of the Clyde Dam, filling in four controlled stages beginning in April 1992 and completed the next year. Parts of the town of Cromwell were relocated to a new area above the new lake. 117 photos
	Rotorua, New Zealand Rotorua is known for its geothermal activity, and features geysers and hot mud pools. This thermal activity is sourced to the Rotorua caldera, on which the city lies. Rotorua has a nickname Sulphur City. 83 photos
	South Island Road Trip, Day 1 Arthur's Pass (el. 920 m.) is a mountain pass in the Southern Alps of the South Island of New Zealand. It marks part of the boundary between the West Coast and Canterbury regions, 140 km from Christchurch and 95 km from Greymouth. The pass lies in a saddle between the valleys of the Otira River, a tributary of the Taramakau, in the west and the Bealey River in the east. Arthur's Pass lies on the border of the Selwyn and Westland districts. 29 photos
	Milford Sound Milford Sound (Piopiotahi in M?ori) is a fjord in the south west of New Zealand's South Island, within Fiordland National Park and the Te Wahipounamu World Heritage site. It has been judged the world's top travel destination in an international survey, and is acclaimed as New Zealand's most famous tourist destination. Rudyard Kipling had previously called it the eighth Wonder of the World. 200 photos
	Lake Wanaka The town of Wanaka is situated at the Southern end of Lake Wanaka. It is surrounded by mountains. To the southwest of the town is Queenstown(120 km (75 miles)), to the north Haast Pass cuts through the Southern Alps near Makarora. To the northeast are the towns of Omarama and Twizel. Very close to Lake Wanaka there also is Lake Hawea, in a parallel glacial valley, which also has a recently developed settlement of about 1,500 people. To the south of the town lies more of the Southern Alps but close to the town is the Glendu Bay motorpark, leading into the Matukituki River valley. This gives access to the Mount Aspiring National Park 55 photos
	New Zealand Glaciers The Franz Josef (Ka Roimata o Hinehukatere in M?ori)[1][2] is a 12 km long[3] glacier located in Westland National Park on the West Coast of New Zealand's South Island. Together with the Fox Glacier 20 km to the south, it is unique in descending from the Southern Alps to less than 300 metres above sea level, amidst the greenery and lushness of a temperate rainforest. 63 photos
	Pancake Rocks, Blowholes, and Seals Oh My. 110 photos
	The Beaches of Auckland 71 photos
	Christchurch to Auckland road trip We drove a campervan (RV) from Christchurch to Auckland, New Zealand. 121 photos
	Maruia Hot Springs Maruia Hot Springs are located deep into the heart of the Southern Alps to the parklands of the Lewis Pass, where snow-capped mountains surround and steam billows from natural hot spring pools, and discover a natural thermal wonderland that begs to be explored. For here on the banks of the Maruia River, in a sheltered valley in the Lewis Pass, is Maruia Springs , a unique tourist mountain hideaway with a more than a little touch of Japan. 40 photos
	Akaroa, New Zealand Jonathan and I decided to go to Akaroa for a day. Akaroa is a village on Banks Peninsula in the Canterbury region of the South Island of New Zealand, situated within a harbour of the same name—the name Akaroa is K?i Tahu M?ori for 'Long Harbour'. Set on a beautiful, sheltered harbour and overlooked by craggy volcanic hills, Akaroa is a popular resort village 59 photos
	my 29th birthday 29 photos
	Rangitoto Island Rangitoto Island is a volcanic island in the Hauraki Gulf near Auckland, New Zealand. The 5.5 km wide island is an iconic and widely visible landmark of Auckland with its distinctive symmetrical shield volcano cone rising 850 ft high over the Hauraki Gulf. Rangitoto is the most recent and the largest (2311 hectares) of the approximately 50 volcanoes of the Auckland Volcanic Field. It is separated from the mainland of Auckland's North Shore by the Rangitoto Channel. Rangitoto is M?ori for 'Bloody Sky', with the name coming from the full phrase Ng? Rangi-i-totongia-a Tama-te-kapua ('The days of the bleeding of Tama-te-kapua'). Tama-te-kapua was the captain of the Arawa waka (canoe) and was badly wounded on the island, at a (lost) battle with the Tainui iwi (tribe) at Islington Bay. 24 photos
	Auckland, New Zealand The largest city in New Zealand, and where we spent our first week. Jonathan's 6th continent! 44 photos
	Tahiti Tahiti is the largest island of French Polynesia, located in the archipelago of Society Islands in the southern Pacific Ocean. We got to spend 3 days here for free, and decided to extend it by another 3 days. A week in Tahiti ain't too shabby...but 2 weeks would be better. 105 photos
	Lima, Peru We had what was supposed to be a quick stop in Lima, Peru...but it turned into a much longer stop than anticipated because I got violently ill. But, that aside, Lima is a really romantic city. Crazy as it sounds, it's true. 65 photos
	Cajamarca Cajamarca, Peru is where the Incan king, Atahualpa was captured, ransomed, and eventually killed. 225 photos
	Ventanillas de Otuzco The people from Cajamarca culture prepared niches carved on the rocks called “ Ventanillas” (Windows). These were graves. First the the dead were laid on the ground. Then, after some time, the skulls and bones were dug up and put in the niches with some of their more-valuable belongings. 28 photos
	Cumbe Mayo Cumbe Mayo is located about 12 miles southwest of Cajamarca, Peru, at an elevation of approximately 11,000 feet. Cumbe Mayo is best known for the ruins of a Pre-Incan aqueduct stretching approximately five miles in length. The aqueduct collected water from the Atlantic watershed and redirected it on its way to the Pacific Ocean. It is thought to have been constructed around 1500 B.C. and was once thought to be the oldest existing man-made structure in South America. The name Cumbe Mayo may be derived from a Quechua phrase, kumpi mayu, meaning “well-made water channel,” or humpi mayo, meaning “thin river.” There are a number of petroglyphs on the aqueduct and surrounding caverns. This remote mountainous region is also the location of a "stone forest" composed of natural volcanic rocks which have been shaped by erosion. These formations of volcanic rock are also known as Los Frailones, or the Stone Monks. 107 photos
	Ingapirca Incan Ruins Ingapirca (Quechua: Inkapirqa, "Inca wall") is a town in Cañar Province, Ecuador and the name of an Incan ruin site just outside the town itself. The ruins are the largest Incan ruins in Ecuador. The most significant building is the temple of the sun, an elliptical shaped building constructed around a large rock. The building is constructed in the Incan way without mortar. The stones were simply chiseled and fashioned to fit together perfectly. The temple of the sun was positioned so that on the solstices, at exactly the right time of day, sunlight would fall through the center of the doorway of the small chamber at the top of the temple. Most of this chamber has fallen down. 81 photos
	Cuenca Cuenca is a colonial city in southern Ecuador. It's home to many churches, and is a beautiful and safe town. 116 photos
	Churches in Cuenca, Ecuador Cuenca is the 3rd largest city in Ecuador. It is a lovely colonial city, and we spent a few days exploring it. There are beautiful churches and cathedrals everywhere! 134 photos
	Las Lajas Basilica, Colombia Las Lajas Sanctuary (in Spanish Santuario de Las Lajas) is a basilica church located in the southern Colombian Department of Nariño, municipality of Ipiales and built inside the canyon of the Guaitara River. The legend of the cathedral's creation is that in 1754 an Amerindian named Maria Mueces and her deaf-mute daughter Rosa were caught in a very strong storm. They found refuge between the gigantic Lajas, and to Maria Mueces's surprise, Rosa exclaimed "the mestiza is calling me..." and pointed to the lightning-illuminated painting over the laja. The oldest account was recorded in the accounts of Fray Juan de Santa Gertrudis's voyage through the southern region of the New Kingdom of Granada between 1756 and 1762. 92 photos
	Good Friday Procession, part 2 The procession of Jesus the Almighty, a carved wooden statue which dates back to 1620 and which belongs to the San Francisco church, takes place on Good Friday in Quito. It’s the largest procession of its kind in the capital and the country. Slowly, the groups of conical–hooded cucuruchos, the bands and the veronicas (veiled women) made their way out of the church, before the five mile procession began. For those carrying wooden crosses, the event is a true Calvary, and the act is one of penance. Some whip themselves with stinging nettles or knotted ropes, others wrap their bodies in barbed wire, nearly all go barefoot. Many children also take part, hooded, or carrying crosses, and one can’t help but ask oneself what sins they have to expiate. 113 photos
	Good Friday Procession, part 1 The procession of Jesus the Almighty, a carved wooden statue which dates back to 1620 and which belongs to the San Francisco church, takes place on Good Friday in Quito. It’s the largest procession of its kind in the capital and the country. Slowly, the groups of conical–hooded cucuruchos, the bands and the veronicas (veiled women) made their way out of the church, before the five mile procession began. For those carrying wooden crosses, the event is a true Calvary, and the act is one of penance. Some whip themselves with stinging nettles or knotted ropes, others wrap their bodies in barbed wire, nearly all go barefoot. Many children also take part, hooded, or carrying crosses, and one can’t help but ask oneself what sins they have to expiate. 192 photos