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Alice laughed. “There’s no use trying,” she said: “one can’t believe impossible things.”
“I daresay you haven’t had much practice,” said the Queen. “When I was your age, I always did it for half-an-hour a day. Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.”
-Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking Glass

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The one thing I always liked about flying in planes was the feeling of being above it all. All my problems and worries have no place in a plane – all I needed was to look down and see how far away I was from them. Whatever issue that was ailing me became minute. In fact, it became so tiny that when I looked out the window I couldn’t even see them. Flying above the world makes you realize just how small we are and how minuscule our problems really are.

But hot air balloon rides aren’t planes. They’re far more special and magical. They don’t just remove you from your worries, they transport you to another place.

I always romanticized about taking a hot air balloon ride. Over time I had reserved a special, hidden region of my brain solely for this ride, accompanied with the fantasy and endless possibilities that go along with images of vintage hot air balloons and their fantastically wild & imaginative pilots. Pilots who dared to believe in boundless creativity and endless possibilities. I imagined how incredible it must be to be captivated by life while bobbing and sailing effortless among the clouds.

Was I really here at last? Floating along the skies in of all places, Cappadocia? Could I truly be that fortunate?

Whimsy. Wonderland. Wanderlust. Imagination.

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I’ve been trying to come up with the words that can come close to how I felt when we took our hot air balloon ride with Royal Balloon and those words keep popping up over and over again. The truth is that buoyantly drifting through the world in the basket of a hot air balloon was wildly beyond my greatest imagination. It’s hard for me to put it into words.

It immediately brought me to a state of awe. As an adult, it’s not everyday we get to experience such grand feelings of curiosity and wonderment. I’m pretty sure that most people who love to travel (whether it’s for a day or a year), do so because they like to be captivated & enchanted by new places. There is nothing quite like arriving in a new town. Even though you’ll do some of the same things that you’ll do on any other normal day (eat, sleep, figure out public transport) there is something special about that moment. The moment you arrive – step off the train, the bus, the plane or out of the cab – and look at the world around you for the first time.

In that moment anything is possible. Anything.

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The hot air balloon ride was like that – an overwhelmingly childlike feeling where everything old was new again. A feeling that anything is possible.

The 90 minute balloon ride was perfect in every conceivable way.  Desperately I tried to etch every moment of it in my brain and place in a folder reserved for curious wonder and wild imaginings. In the folder where upon entrance I hear the swing & sleaze of Paris cabaret songs circa 1930. A folder where the impossible doesn’t exist. A folder filed under three simple words – “Anything Is Possible”.

Discard the daily routine for a few minutes, let your mind wander and enjoy a flight of fancy with impossible possibilities.

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I hope you enjoyed this photo essay from our hot air balloon ride in Cappadocia. 

If you get the chance to go on a hot air ballon ride – GO! You won’t be disappointed.

We have another photo essay coming out next week from the same flight with a write up from Randy that includes all the technical details about the flight and about our time with Royal Balloon. We had such a fantastic time with them that we can’t recommend them enough. If you are in Cappadocia and planning on taking to the skies make them your go-to hot air balloon specialists. They take care of everything so that you can just enjoy the ride – think gorgeous breakfast buffet, bubbly champagne & some of the most amazing moments you’ll experience in your life. In other words, Royal Balloon will treat you like royalty.

The world would be quite boring without imagination. If you’ve got a favorite photo or feel inspired to imagine ridiculous things please let me know in the comments. I love ridiculous!

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This is a guest post from Jessica Minier Mabe. She is not only one of our readers but also the owner of Distant Mountain Trips which orchestrates intimate & unique tours across Europe. As a former English teacher one of her favorite tours is ‘Literary Britain’. Reading her post below it is clear she has a passion not only for quality, well thought out travel but also for diving behind the scenes of literary classics. Please be sure to read her bio below and check out her website, Distant Mountain Trips, for more information about her personal & passionately led tours. 

I have read Pride and Prejudice at least a dozen times, and taught it to high school students. Back when I was still in high school myself, I bought a 1914 “travel” edition, complete with charming illustrations and a thin gold ribbon bookmark, which I carried with me around the world, like a one-book Kindle. Whenever I was bored, lonely, or lovelorn in a place far from home, out came my traveling “P&P” to comfort me with the familiar story of Lizzie and Mr. Darcy. Later I carried copies of Jane Eyre, or A Room with a View, Vanity Fair or Kim… whichever work of classic fiction I found most relevant, most familiar, and yet most fresh when I returned to it. These books were my traveling talismans, able to magically transport me to their worlds and therefore, somehow, back home.

When I created my first “literary” tour of Britain, I sought out the familiar haunts of my favorite authors. It was wonderful to discover how much I could learn about Jane Austen, for example, just from standing in the rooms where she once stood. The knowledgeable tour guides at each home taught me fascinating new trivia. The guides walk through these houses every day: this is their specialty, and often their passion. At Jane’s house we learned that machine-made laces quickly turned the status symbol of lace gowns into a mark of the nouveau riche. An admiring comment about a woman’s lacey dress in Pride and Prejudice morphs a few years later into the snide comments of a status-obsessed character in Emma, who cannot understand why Emma’s wedding has so few “lace veils,” unaware that this fashion has already passed her by. In all the times I read these familiar stories, I never realized that someone’s understanding of lace (or the lack of it) could tell me all about their position in society. It was amazing to catch this little extra jab, as if Jane were elbowing me in the ribs across 200 years and whispering: “Get it? That snob doesn’t even know that lace veils are sooo last year!”

Visiting Charlotte Bronte’s house for the first time, I better understood her novel’s melancholy, yet sweeping tone. The Bronte parsonage is situated above a small cemetery at the top of a steep hill in Haworth. The country is wilder than Austen’s gentle farmland, and feels far more remote. As I walked among the mossy headstones in the graveyard, I was struck by the idea that Charlotte must have stood there on quiet afternoons as well, reading the same names, wondering as I did about the stories of those buried there. Did they inspire one of her fantastical miniature books? In the dining room of the parsonage, I walked around the table slowly. Charlotte and her family often walked there after dinner, round and round in pairs with their arms linked, talking and laughing. After the deaths of her sisters in close succession, her friend Mrs. Gaskell remembered sitting in the room below, listening as Charlotte’s lonely footsteps circled the table for hours. It meant something to walk around that table – to feel, if only for a moment, the isolation of her pitiful journey.

The sense of a book being both familiar and surprising has always been at the heart of my love for great literature. The best books provide continuous rediscoveries as we, their loving readers, grow to understand new facets of the characters and situations that come to reflect our own lives. When I was young, I wanted to be the characters in the stories. I wanted to be romanced by the arrogant Mr. Darcy, and adored by him once he’d reformed. I wanted to feel the same bitter longing that Jane has for Mr. Rochester, and then to embrace him with the same knowing fondness. I ached to love the way they did, but was convinced that too great a distance separated us. How could a modern girl be swept away on passions as grand as those conceived in Jane’s and Charlotte’s imaginations? Now that I am older, I can see so many places where our lives converged. I can place next to their adventures the lessons learned from my own experiences, and that brings a new richness to stories I thought I already knew.

I love running trips to Literary Britain, taking small groups of fans on tours of their favorite authors’ haunts, and to the places where great literature still lives and breathes. Each time I step into the houses of Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, Charlotte Bront?, or William Wordsworth, I find myself even more connected to the works I love, and to the very real people who wrote them. It is truly the best form of time travel. This summer, I’ll be bundling up my travel P&P, and heading out again to rediscover that same world in a whole new light.

Jessica Minier Mabe is a former English teacher and owner of Distant Mountain Trips. This year’s trips to “Literary Britain” run in both June and October. Visit Distant Mountain Trips and sign up to find your own connection to your favorite authors’ lives.

*All photos in this post provided by Jessica Minier Mabe.

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There is nothing better than having paper & pen with you in a new place. When we travel, I always try to write my own personal reflections down about each country we visit in my trusty travel notebooks, which is lovingly supplied by my sister Bridgette at Earmark Social Paper Goods.

Amsterdam was our first stop in Europe and I definitely didn’t fall in love with city the way most people do. However, after a few days and too many ‘coffees’ later, I had changed my tune slightly. While it’s not on my list of places to return to quickly, I hope that one day I’ll get to go back and find what I must have missed this time around. Plus, I have to admit that the bikes scattered around the city are pretty darn cute.

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Without further ado here are my two in-the-moment personal journal entries about Amsterdam.

Journal Entry #1:

Open letter to the city of Amsterdam – Sept. 29, 2011

For the city of Amsterdam I have many questions:

1. Where are you going?

London has nothing on you. Never in my life have I seen so many people going so many places on so many types of vehicles at the speed of light. I have been almost hit by a car, a moped, a multitude of bikes and even people on foot. Crossing the road takes skill. But really it’s not just the speed at which you move, it’s the purpose you carry with you as you go. With a look of stern dedication to a place unknown to me you barrel down the streets at the highest of speeds, god have mercy on anyone in your path because they are going down. Down like Chinatown. I have to know Amsterdam where are you going? Are all your houses burning? Maybe it’s time to get a bigger bong – just a thought.

2. What does pot mean to you?

In America it means slow pace, snacks of all types, and lazy antics. My mind is boggled thinking that pot is legal here. Is this what happens when you take away the taboo? All the lazy potheads become people with purpose that have the highest metabolisms on earth? If we legalize pot in the U.S. does that mean I will lose like 20 lbs overnight, have fashion that rivals the French and have what looks like endless ambition? Will I also have the sudden ability to ride my bike so fast I might actually take off? BTW, how is it OK that you allow the music of Nsync in your coffee shops? “Baby Bye, Bye, Bye” – this is bizarre pot smoking music. Just sayin’.

3. Energy Bills that high?

Electricity is a friend to all. I know this isn’t your problem but I need not only WiFi to do my job I also need access to electricity. So why give up the WiFi without the juice? It is impossible to find both of these luxurious delights anywhere in your maze. I want to spend my time enjoying your museums & coffee shops, not hunting down an elusive outlet.

4. The Floating Flower Market – Really?

In my eyes a floating flower market doesn’t count as floating if the shops are on concrete ‘barges’ (and I use that term loosely) and are permanently affixed to the street. That makes it just a regular flower market that sells overpriced flowers and happens to be positioned on a canal. I’m sorry but it’s lame. Also, why are your flower sellers so cranky? I’ve made my way all the way out to your insulting tourist trap of a market – don’t you think you can at least let me take a photo? Do you have a copyright on the tulip?

5. Where’s your heart?

You’ve been called the “Venice of the North”. Yes, there are canals that add some allure to your city but I’m sorry Amsterdam you are no Venice. All of your canals combined don’t have the charm, beauty or intrigue that Venice has in one small dimly lit alley. However, the real difference sadly lies in the cold shoulders of your citizens. Yes, Italians can be hot headed but they are also full of love and not afraid to show it. The borderline rudeness of your residents means shows me you will never carry the innate warmth of the Venetians. I do appreciate the fact that you have houseboats on your canals and I think that is pretty freaking awesome but it can’t compensate for the chill that emanates from your city streets. It makes me sad and Amsterdam, I have to ask – where’s your heart? Why don’t you let the love in, or out? Why have you’ve built the great wall around you?

6. Why do women have to hold their pee but men don’t?

Open Air Urination Station

I’ll admit it was something of a treat to walk down the street and see men peeing with absolutely no regard to anything going on around them. After the initial shock, it took me a moment to realize that you have actually sanctioned these unique items on your city streets. I don’t know what you call them but I’ve coined the name “Open Air Urination Stations” which I think fits pretty well. Hands down, it is totally gross but I can get over that. What I can’t get over is the fact you have no Open Air Urination Stations for women. You display your nearly naked women in store front windows so why can’t a sister get her pee on in the street mid-day as well? Why is one entire gender forced to hold their pee as they walk amongst the your streets? Not cool Amsterdam.

7. When are you going to show yourself to me?

I want to find you Amsterdam. I love your Dutch painters and I know somewhere inside your walls there is city I just might fall for. Could you be like the heavy metal rock star that writes devoted, cliche love songs in their dark & secluded bedroom – so tough on the exterior yet so fragile & full of love on the inside? I know you must have something lovely hidden, I just haven’t discovered it yet. The question is – will I ever?

;

Journal Entry #2 written two days later:

Amsterdam/The Streets of Speed – Oct. 1, 2011

Earlier today I hated you. I thought your people were rude and too fast paced. I found the floating flower market a farce – a tourist trap that doesn’t float. I almost got hit by 500 bikes and I hated the light – flat & boring – yawn. But then somehow between your not-that-tasty pancakes and sumptuous & questionable red light district you started to grow on me like a fine mold. Now I find myself looking for a petri dish so I can keep your spores. I think it’s possible that someday I might just like you.

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Somewhere In Time is a weekly travel photo from around the world. Enjoy!

I LOVE YOU.

Location: Plymouth, MA  Camera: Ipod

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*Please remember all photos on this website, unless otherwise noted, are copyrighted and property of Beers and Beans Travel Website, Nariko’ s Nest Weddings & Bethany Salvon. Please do not use them without my permission. If you do want to use one of them please contact me first because I do love to share and I would be flattered. Thanks!

Somewhere In Time is a weekly travel photo from around the world. Enjoy!

As part of our partnership with Hostelbookers last year we were able to stay at one of the coolest hostels I have ever been in – Wombats in Vienna, Austria – which is where I took this photo.

I was walking around taking photos for our review when I spotted this lovely girl in the hat. Her cheekbones were beautiful and she was just so carelessly cool – just like the person I dream of being when I travel. Instead I am always the person who ends up wearing the same grungy outfit for a week straight and has no cool hats.

The minute I saw her, this is how I imagined the scene. It didn’t look like this at all in the hostel lobby – there were people checking in, checking email & chitchatting the night away but when I saw her in this hat with that gorgeous bone structure I saw Noir and nothing else. If only someone had been smoking a cigarette!

Immediately after I noticed the man across from her, enamored by her I’m sure, the girls standing behind her like anonymous shadows. (In a past life I’m quite sure they were probably her minions.) Then lastly, there was the guy checking his email on the left. The scene was so 1940′s Noir yet modern at the same time – I couldn’t resist it. She inspired this entire photo and captivated me instantly.

The lighting wasn’t as dramatic as this in the hostel so I created the look I saw in my head during the editing process. I love this photo because it will always remind me of this moment. The moment I stood in the middle of a Viennese hostel and in an instant watched 80 years of time disappear into the easy going style of a beautiful girl.

I have also decided that I really need to add a hat to my traveling wardrobe…

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Stephanie the Travel Chica asked if I could start including technical data in the Somewhere In Time write ups. I’m not sure if I am going to do that for every SIT photo but here are the technical specs for this shot: Aperture  f/2.8, Shutter Speed 1/50, ISO 800.

I always thought adding technical data would detract from the photos in this series but let me know what you think about it.

Also, if you’re interested you can read our review of Wombats Hostel. We loved it!

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*Please remember all photos on this website, unless otherwise noted, are copyrighted and property of Beers and Beans Travel Website, Nariko’ s Nest Weddings & Bethany Salvon. Please do not use them without my permission. If you do want to use one of them please contact me first because I do love to share and I would be flattered. Thanks!

Editor’s note: This is our post for the RTW Travelers’ (Digital) Dinner Party hosted by Bethany and Ted of the Two Oregonians. When we got the invitation a few weeks back, Beth and I thought this was a really creative idea, especially because we are big fans of dinner parties ourselves, and we were excited to take part in this digital dinner party. For more information about the dinner party and guest list, you can check out this link: RTW Dinner Party.

Meet and Mingle: We are a freewheelin’, 30-something couple with a 7lb hound named Chachy. Beth is a professional photographer and I am a professional journalist. For more information about us and our travels, be sure to check out our Beers and Beans Starter Kit.

Dinner Specialty (Randy): A few weeks back Beth and her sister, Bridgette of Earmark Invitations, made one of the tastiest breads I’ve ever eaten from a recipe on Pinterest. It’s a take on Outback Steakhouses’ Bloomin’ Onion and its called the Bloomin’ Onion Bread. The beauty of this budget friendly dish is that it’s just as easy to cook in a hostel as it is at home. Better yet, it pairs well with wine or beer.

Table Talk (Beth): During our recent trip in Europe for the Hazy Shade of Autumn Tour, we had quiet the misadventure on an overnight train from Vienna to Switzerland.

After giving our Eurail passes to the attendant, I immediately had a bad feeling about it. In fact, that night I had a dream our passes were lost and we weren’t able to get them back or replaced. Sure enough, in the morning when the attendant returned to hand back the tickets ours had magically disappeared. At that point we had barely used them, and I know they were stolen by the attendant because NO ONE ever checks the names on the tickets with the names on your passport, so technically anyone could use them.

The senior attendants tried their best to get us off the train and on our way by saying they would contact us at our next location, but we refused to leave because we knew we would be screwed if we left. Finally, we did leave with the manager and two attendants and went straight to the Eurail office. After a few hours, the Austrian conductor had to buy us new tickets because it was their mistake and we refused to leave without them.

It’s not really a location specific problem (and we really loved Switzerland and Austria regardless) and we would still ride on trains in Europe even though this happened. However, we definitely tried to avoid overnight train rides after that so we wouldn’t have to hand over the tickets again.

Recipe for Bloomin’ Onion Bread

This is extremely easy to make and is a real crowd pleaser – would be perfect for your stay in a hostel or an apartment while you’re traveling.

Cut the bread lengthwise and widthwise without cutting through the bottom crust. This can be a little tricky going the second way but the bread is very forgiving.

Place on a foil-lined baking sheet. Insert cheese slices between cuts. Combine butter, onion, and poppy seeds. Drizzle over bread. Wrap in foil; place on a baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.
Unwrap the bread and bake 10 more minutes, or until cheese is melted.

Baking Notes: Next time I think I would dial back the butter amount – it’s too much in my opinion. I would use 2 different types of cheeses – maybe add a pepper jack for a little more spice. View the original recipe.

Cheers!

Beth and Randy

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*Please remember all photos on this website, unless otherwise noted, are copyrighted and property of Beers and Beans Travel Website, Nariko’ s Nest Weddings & Bethany Salvon. Please do not use them without my permission. If you do want to use one of them please contact me first because I do love to share and I would be flattered. Thanks!

What is going on here? Travel bloggers turned next medical TV drama?

Nope that’s just Ryan van Duzer filming Carol Cain while Ryan Whaley looks on as she suits up for her zip lining excursion at Aktun Chen. Fun Times!

While we were in Riviera Maya we were lucky enough to stay at the top notch Barcelo resort, eat some of the most mouthwatering Mexican dishes and take in several activities like the ruins at Coba, the ruins at Tulum, a relaxing float down the waters at Si’an Kaan Biosphere but the visit to Aktun Chen quickly made it to the top of my favorite activities.

Aktun Chen is natural park with a wildlife zoo, a cave that is over 5,000,000 years old, an underground cenote for snorkeling and it also has 10 ziplines that can take you over the trees, flora and fauna of this beautiful park.

One of things that really stood out to me is that everyone who worked at the park was really friendly and passionate about their job. We were taught quite a bit about the local wildlife and the cave tour was very informative. Zip lining was intense! Here’s a round up of the things we did at Aktun Chen and what you can expect when you visit.

Caving!

Walking through the cave was my favorite activity at Aktun Chen.

The cave is over 5 million years old and full of stalactites, stalagmites and a cenote (natural underground water well). The cave is almost a half mile long and the lesiurely paced tour is very informative so it takes at least an hour to walk through and learn about it. It was a shame I didn’t have my tripod with me because the lighting inside was pretty dramatic and made for some great shots.

If you head to Aktun Chen definitely make time to see the cave. It’s a really cool activity perfect for all ages and fitness levels. Here are some photos to give you an idea.

The Wildlife Zoo:

Some of the wildlife at the 6 acre park includes a wild pig (very cute and friendly little guy who dug a pear out of my bag and ate it), white tail deer, wild collared peccary, parrots, toucans, oco pheasants, agoutis, sereques, coati mundi, different types of monkeys as well as plenty of the regional snakes!

One of the greatest aspects of the park is their commitment to preserving the natural area and one of their main areas of focus, besides education, is repopulating the local species. In fact, due to the preservation efforts of the water, land & animals you can only wear bio-degradable sunscreen at the park so keep that in mind when you visit.

With the exception of one monkey on a rope, the rest of the monkeys are allowed to roam free within their large enclosures. We were told that it is common practice in the Mayan culture to have one monkey on a rope and that many local families use them as their own security alarms. Personally I don’t agree with keeping any monkey on a rope but I did notice that everyone at the park loved all the animals and cared greatly for them. Sometimes when you travel you are forced to see things that you don’t agree with but is culturally accepted as normal routine. The fact that all the animals were well cared for caused me to think this really was common practice in this region.

Unfortunately we were running really late (we had to skip snorkeling in the cenote because we were so behind) so we didn’t have time to see all the wildlife but here are some photos of the ones we did see.

Zip Lining in the Jungle!

I want to be adventurous so badly. Yet I keep coming face to face with situations that scare the life out of me. Zip lining was the case in point here. I have no idea why I was so afraid. It seems that in the past few years I have become afraid of so many things. I’m blaming on my frontal lobe but really I think I just need to get out more and push myself beyond my comfort zone. Maybe I should do one daring thing a month?? Hmmm…

Roni getting suited up for the zip line extravaganza. He looks happy huh?!

The reality is that Zip lining is really not as scary as I worked it up to be. There are 10 zip line runs at this park and it’s fun, really it is. I was really nervous in the beginning but became more relaxed with each run. Actually on the last two run I really enjoyed zipping through the trees – at least until Roni Weiss decided to close his eyes and not stop in time. We ran the last two runs together and he was in charge of slowing us down before we did a face plant into the tree at the end of the line. The first run was great – the second run was also great but he decided to go all yogi on me and close his eyes which means we barely had time to stop before hitting the tree and if it wasn’t for the great guys at Aktun Chen who literally caught us I think we would’ve ended up with splinters and black eyes. But all in all it was fun ziplining with Roni – who taught me that I prefer to zipline when I’m not the one in charge of stopping – thanks Roni!

If you’re worried about ziplining at all (like I was) Aktun Chen could be a great place for you to make the leap – literally. They are into safety here in a big way. So much that when you wear your helmet you put on a surgical cap underneath it (hence the medical TV drama photo at the beginning) and you wear a pair of rubber gloves under the large gripping gloves so that all your sweat stays where it should – on you, not buried into the fabric. It seemed odd at first but it’s actually a great idea to keep things sanitary and it was that type of attention to detail that makes you realize how meticulous they are about everything they do.

A zip line guide giving us a demonstration.

The zipline guides were very informative, funny and understanding. They’ll help to coax you onto that zip line and they’ll wow you with all the fun tricks they do. They make it look so easy!

So if you’re looking for a real adrenaline rush on your trip to the Riviera Maya definitely check out the zip line park at Aktun Chen!

I wish I had more photos but I wussed out. We were given the choice of bringing our cameras on the zip lines with us (a perk of being a blogger!) but I decided to put mine in the locker instead. I was already nervous enough and when I jumped out on the line I knew I made the right choice. Next time I’ll remember to bring a point and shoot!

If you want to contact Aktun Chen their website has all their contact info and information. You can do one activity or all of them (including snorkeling in a cenote). There is also a small restaurant on the site with some great food.

However I warn against eating the habenero pepper whole. You can watch a short video of Roni eating a habenero at the restaurant. Yours truly is heard in the background saying things such as “Don’t look at me & There was drool, there was drool”. Traveling with Roni as part of our blogger group was really a good time. He is a fun guy and the trip would not have been the same without him.

While writing this post I did a lot of reflecting on just how great this trip was. We had such a blast in the Riviera Maya and my traveling companions were all really awesome and a lot of fun. If you’re looking for new travel bloggers to read be sure to check out: NY City Mama (Carol Cain), Nomadic Matt, Ryan van Duzer and Roni Weiss. If you need a great PR rep be sure to contact Ryan Whaley who did a great job putting this trip & our group together.

*This trip to Aktun Chen & the Riviera Maya was sponsored by the Riviera Maya tourism board but all of the views and opinions in this article are entirely our own.

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*Please remember all photos on this website, unless otherwise noted, are copyrighted and property of Beers and Beans Travel Website, Nariko’ s Nest Weddings & Bethany Salvon. Please do not use them without my permission. If you do want to use one of them please contact me first because I do love to share and I would be flattered. Thanks!

If you loved some of the yearly round up posts that were going around the blogosphere then you’re sure to love this new 7 Super Shots Photo round table put together by our friends at HostelBookers.

We were asked to put together a photo post by choosing photos that we loved and that fit within the categories chosen by HostelBookers.

They started the game off on Friday by putting together the first Super Shot photo meme and we’re participating by choosing our 7 super shots and then nominating 5 other great travel photographers that we would love to see participate.

We’ve chosen:

Ken Kaminesky, Drifting Focus/Traveling Tomboy, Ordinary Traveler, OverYonderlust & GoSeeWrite.

To follow along on twitter, check out the hashtag #7SuperShots.

To see the round up HostelBookers put together and the rules and guidelines check out: 7 Super Shots

Without further ado here are the categories and some of our favorite photos. Hope you like ‘em!

1. A Photo That Takes Our Breath Away

Flames of Florence – Florence, Italy

This has always been one of my favorite in-the-moment travel photos. Walking toward the station, we passed this street and photographically, the couple couldn’t have been more ideally placed. They were bathed in the glowing store front light perfectly. It was also drizzling rain, just enough to create steam on the cobblestones and  the perfect atmosphere for sprouting love. His enchantment and nervous tension was unmistakable even from down the street. You could tell they were probably at the very beginning of what would no doubt blossom into a steamy love affair, the kind you only get a couple times in life, maybe only once. The streets of Florence are so old and full of life, I wonder how many people have stood in this spot with this very same twinkle in their eye. Nothing in the world can compare to the blushing skin and golden glow of a love affair about to burst into wild flames.

Learn more about the Flames of Florence.

2. A Photo That Makes Us Laugh or Smile

The Bacchus Band – Pontassieve, Italy

This is one from the personal archives and I can’t help but smile every time I see it. The photo is from dinner on the last night we stayed at the Cerreto Libri farm in Tuscany. We volunteered as WWOOF’ers and spent two of the best weeks in our traveling lives working the grape harvest on the farm. The days were long and laborious and we spent the nights cooking, talking, laughing and drinking endless amounts of wine that the WWOOF’ers two years before us made. We were exhausted and dirty 95% of the time and honestly it’s hard to remember a time that I was so happy. Every night was an absolute blast and on this last night, those of us that remained decided to dine by candlelight. And drink.

Learn about more of our WWOOFing adventures in Italy & Serbia.

3. A Photo That Makes Us Dream

The Crossing – Village of Vernazza, Cinque Terre, Italy

Cinque Terre is the place where Italian travel dreams are realized. Step into any of the five towns that cling to the sea and you’ll feel as if you waltzed right into the pages of a guidebook, only 100x better. After a long hike throughout Cinque Terre we climbed a hill and turned a corner. Right around that corner was this amazing view of Vernazza. The stone cottage complete with wooden shutters and flower box overlooking the view of the village was too perfect to ignore. As Randy headed down the trail I paused and took this photo before continuing on the hike. We had been traveling for weeks but this was THE moment for me. I was standing right here looking at this very scene when it all sank in. I realized that I had actually changed my life to become a full time traveler and I couldn’t believe it. This photo is the moment when the dream had become a reality. Even though it’s my life, it’s still bizarre to think about it all.

Learn more about our time in traveling in Cinque Terre.

4. A Photo That Makes Us Think

Modern Magdalenes – Red Light District, Amsterdam

This is a new photo that is part of an upcoming photo essay on the Red Light District in Amsterdam. I feel slightly crass in saying this but the best part of Amsterdam was this illicit section of town. It was beautiful in all the sad, cunning and melancholic ways that happen when you have women selling themselves for money in window fronts. Taking photos in the Red Light District is NOT allowed and I heard horror stories about what happened to photographers who were caught. It was dark, I was stealth and I ended up with photos that, to me, reflected the anonymous longing of girls living on the edge. The girls were all beautiful and seemed somewhere on the cusp of something – maybe hope? One foot still lies in the possibility of a normal life while the other is dragged by cheap sex, debts owed & g-strings. I look at this girl and can’t help but think about her life when she isn’t bathed in the red light. Is she happy? Is she sad? Is her glass half empty or half full? Does she knit? What is life like being on the other side of that glass? I wish I knew her.

We’re just starting to publish Amsterdam articles now but if you’re interested you can read a bit more about about our time traveling in Amsterdam.

5. A Photo That Makes Our Mouth Water

Rialto Market Harvest – Venice, Italy

It’s hard to believe but eating in Venice can be tough. There are so many BAD restaurants and unless you’re armed with some insider knowledge there is a good chance you’ll find one or ten of them. However there is a flip side to the coin – cooking your own food. If your hostel has a kitchen or if you stay in an apartment you can completely get away from the barrage of crappy food and create your own dishes. Venice has some amazingly fresh and fantastic foods at the markets. Everything tastes like it was picked off the vine that day – it really makes you wonder how the restaurants seem to muck it up so badly. This photo makes me hungry because I love everything in it and I remember how bursting with flavor everything was. Don’t even get me started on the figgies! Plus, all this fresh food was under $10 USD! Throw in a box of macaroni and a bottle of wine and you’re set for days. Well who am I kidding? You’ll definitely need to buy more wine…

Learn more about our time traveling in Venice.

6. A Photo That Tells A Story

The Mirage – Marrakech, Morocco

It was our first night in the Marrakech medina when I spotted this unlikely duo. The medina was chaotic – people walking, vendors selling & bikes whizzing by. But these two just seemed content in their little world. Honestly I can only hope that’s the truth here – he seemed like a happy monkey but who really knows? I can only hope that this man treats him well and loves him like a friend – it seemed like he did. They gazed at each other for a while talking with their eyes in a way that old friends do when they know each other well. There was something unique between them and I couldn’t take my eyes off them. It was as if they had their own bubble in this sea of Marrakech craziness. Little did I know when I took this photo that I would walk by them about 16 hours later and this cute monkey would end up magically on my shoulder. Sadly, I didn’t have any change so I couldn’t give him any hugs but up close his owner seemed nice and the monkey looked happy.

Learn more about our time traveling in Marrakech.

7. A Photo That I’m Most Proud Of  aka My Nat Geo Photo

Backpacker Blues – Venice, Italy

This category was a tough one. Although this photo is one of my favorites, I wouldn’t say this is the one I am the most proud of. But I do think it has a classic travel feel to it. National Geographic is full of not only breathtaking landscapes but also stylish urban scenes and that’s why I chose it – hopefully it fits! We spent the day walking around Venice and getting lost in its wonderful maze of streets. The end of the day found us facing this large church as the cat-in-the-cradle moon hung low in the sky. Randy went onto the bridge for a better view and behind him a street light glowed, just hiding behind his body and his backpack. I snapped a few quick photos because I couldn’t believe my good luck in having such a perfect silhouette with this stunning Venetian sky as the backdrop.

If you want to see more photos from Venice be sure to check out our photos of Venice After Dark.

Well there they are! I hope you enjoyed them. Keep your eyes peeled for photos from other great travel bloggers as the game grows.

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*Please remember all photos on this website, unless otherwise noted, are copyrighted and property of Beers and Beans Travel Website, Nariko’ s Nest Weddings & Bethany Salvon. Please do not use them without my permission. If you do want to use one of them please contact me first because I do love to share and I would be flattered. Thanks!

Story by Randy | Photos and Captions by Bethany

I’ll never forget the moment I first laid eyes on the TOM BIHN Tri-Star.

The front exterior boasts four pockets – one made for a water bottle or an extra pair of shoes.

Freeing the bag from its cardboard shipping cage, I held the midnight blue luggage into the air as if it were a newborn cub and I was its proud father.

“My god, this is a piece of work,” I thought to myself, just then realizing Beth had the same gleam in her eye too.

The bag was sleek, cool and had more pockets than a 1980s Michael Jackson jacket. Immediately, I had visions of being that minimalist traveler you see strolling through the airport with only a carry on. Confident, light and happy, they step on and off the plane with ease, slipping their luggage easily into and out of overhead bins.

I wanted to be light and airy too. Even more so, I wanted to be light and airy in Europe. And that’s when it hit me. “By George,” I exclaimed silently, “could I take this bag on our upcoming Hazy Shade of Autumn Tour?”

Unzipping the bag, I got my answer: ‘Yes!’

The TOM BIHN Tri-Star (19″ x 13″ x 8″) is deceptively cavernous. Its design is more representative of a messenger bag than a traditional rectangle suitcase or even its slightly larger brethren, the Aeronaut, which is the company’s innovative take on a duffel bag.

While the Tri-Star as well as the Aeronaut, which I’ll discuss later in this review, could certainly work without packing cubes, I think to get the most out of the bags it’s best to use the specific cubes TOM BIHN has designed for each piece, especially the packing cube backpacks, which make great, extremely light and packable day bags and fruit market bags.

The backpack cube in action. We brought both of them with us on the trip and used them just about every day. They are genius, multi-tasking items for light travel.

For example, with the help of a large packing cube and the aforementioned packing cube backpack, I packed five t-shirts, four pairs of socks, four pair of underwear, two long-sleeve thermal shirts, two pairs of jeans, two dress shirts, a fleece, beanie and a pair of long underwear into the Tri-Star for our three month/three continent trip. Additionally, I packed a pair of Vans classics and flip-flops in the front pocket, which has a vertical zipper to split the pocket into two.

The view of everything packed into the back before it is zipped up.

With my clothing packed in the front and back pockets, I turned my attention to the middle pocket, which would serve as my mobile office. In fact, one of the main reasons I chose the Tri-Star over the Aeronaut was so I could test out its functionality for the working traveler. When TOM BIHN sent us the bags to review, they were kind enough to include the Horizontal Freudian Slip—an insert for organizing files and accessories— and a hard sided laptop case known as the Horizontal Brain Cell, which fit perfectly into the Tri-Star’s center pocket. By utilizing the aforementioned additions as well as a 3D Clear Organization Cube for wires with the Tri-Star, it was like converting that section into a messenger bag.

The Freudian Slip & Brain Cell. Both have plenty of pockets and on the other side of the Slip there are two large pockets big enough for magazines, spread sheets, newspapers, etc. This slip held all of our office supplies and paperwork when we traveled. It was a great go-to spot for keeping everything organized and streamlined.

By setting up the mid-section with our work materials—files, pens, notepads, business cards and computer—I could grab the Freudian Slip and my computer easily from my bag before hoisting into the overhead bin on flights and trains. However, if I were to use the Tri-Star for a multiple month trip again, I would swap the Brain Cell with a slimmer neoprene laptop sleeve to free up space in the mid-section.

OK, Randy, so it packs up like a dream, but how did it handle the road?

The Tri-Star travels perfectly by air and is flexible enough to travel off the beaten path but still look nice in places like Morocco (above).

Like a champ! The Tri-Star passed the durability test with flying colors. During the course of our three month trip, the bag rode in nearly a dozen overhead bins on trains and airplanes—it fit perfectly every time and I never once got a second-look from a flight attendant, even when it was stuffed to its maximum. The Tri-Star racked up more than 60 hours in the dusty, rustic underbelly of public long-haul buses and was checked in several times because of carry on restrictions for budget flights that only allowed one carry on bag, which had to be a gear bag for each of us. Looking at the bag now, it’s hard to imagine that it endured anything other than a weekend trip; the exterior is free of abrasions and scuff marks and the zippers work as good as the day it was delivered.

Another feature I loved about traveling with the Tri-Star was having the option to easily hide-away the backpack straps (you can see photos of these on the Aeronaut below – the straps are the same on both bags) during times when it was easier to carry the bag with its shoulder strap or by one of the three soft handles—top, left and right. (I used the upgraded Absolute Strap, which is a stretch neoprene that does a fantastic job of distributing the weight; however, any shoulder strap will work with the Tri-Star or Aeronaut.)

Having several different options to carry the bag made transportation days that much more easy and stress free. Keep in mind, though, that the backpack straps and waist strap are more akin to what you would find on a daypack than an internal frame multi-day pack, meaning they don’t distribute the weight as well. I assume this approach helps the weight and flexibility of the bag as well as the functionality of the hide-away strap system. And while Beth preferred carrying her internal frame pack because of the extra support, I found the Tri-Star’s straps to be more than adequate for our urban treks through subway and train stations and city streets.

Apparently also the perfect size for Chachy to travel in!

The Aeronaut

While the Aeronaut’s design is simple—one main center compartment (think: duffel bag) complemented by smaller left and right side compartments—its versatility is huge. Coming in at 22″ x 14″ x 9″, the TOM BIHN Aeronaut blends the elements of soft luggage, a duffel bag and a backpack (it also features hide-away backpack straps) into a carry-on bag that, according to Tom Bihn, meets most non-commuter domestic airlines’ carry-on size standards and many international carry-on standards, including Heathrow. In fact, looking back, if I were to do a multi-month trip again, I would choose the Aeronaut over the Tri-Star because of its extra space and more flexible design. I loved traveling with the Tri-Star; however, its one drawback is also one of its main assets. Because the Tri-Star is made up of three compartments, it doesn’t have the volume of the Aeronaut, which makes packing souvenirs (excluding books and vinyl LP’s) into an already full bag difficult.

The Aeronaut with side cubes and backpacking cube.

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The above photos show how the backpack & waist straps tuck away seamlessly into the back of the bag. Both of the bags have this fantastic feature. Below are photos using the shoulder strap and the backpack straps.

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Final Thoughts

Whether you are embarking on a weekend trip to the coast or a multi-month, overseas journey, TOM BIHN’s Tri-Star and Aeronaut are more than capable of handling all of your luggage needs. Intuitively designed with impeccable craftsmanship the Tri-Star and Aeronaut are instant classics. Manufactured in the United States, Seattle to be exact, TOM BIHN’s stylishly hip collection of travel bags make packing fun again.

He really looks cute in these bags – doesn’t he? I do believe Chachy is tired of being left behind when we travel. Whenever we pull out a bag he jumps right in it ready to tag along. I think it’s time to take Chachy on the road with us.…

*Our stay was complimentary; however, our thoughts and opinions are entirely our own.

*Get the first glimpse of our new travel photos & posts! Subscribe by email and get new travel articles delivered straight to your inbox:

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*Please remember all photos on this website, unless otherwise noted, are copyrighted and property of Beers and Beans Travel Website, Nariko’ s Nest Weddings & Bethany Salvon. Please do not use them without my permission. If you do want to use one of them please contact me first because I do love to share and I would be flattered. Thanks!

A few weeks back I published an article and photo essay of the ruins in Tulum, Mexico. Overlooking the blue Caribbean Sea and surrounded by palm trees, they were perhaps the most beautifully situated ruins I have ever seen. However if you’ve been enamored by Indiana Jones flicks and you’re in the mood for something a bit more adventurous the ruins at Coba might be more up your alley.

The History Of Coba

The Coba ruins are only about an hour from Tulum but they feel a world away.

Settled between 100 BC and 100 AD, Coba became the largest Mayan civilization in the state of Quintana Roo, Mexico. Coba is located in the heart of the jungle and surrounded by two lagoons complete with plenty of alligators. The dense jungle location made Coba extremely hard to find, let alone reach and/or attack it. The population flourished and it grew in social and political standing. It is estimated that at the height of civilization over 50,000 Mayans called Coba home. The burgeoning population and the hidden-in-the-jungle location helped Coba grow to super power Mayan status.

(The thick jungle foliage keeps many of the ruins hidden even today.)

The people of Coba knew many of the surrounding Mayan dialects and this further helped their growth as they were able to trade (and coordinate trades) with other Mayan communities. Coba became not only one of the largest traders in the Yucatan but also even further South into what is now known as Central America. They also controlled farmland and several ports.

Coba flourished as a powerhouse for centuries but started losing ground as nearby Chichén Itzá gained in popularity & political status around 1000 AD. In time, trading routes along the coast gained in popularity and although Coba was still culturally important it was abandoned at some point in the early 1500′s.

Due to the difficult location, Coba remained hidden from most of the world until the 1920′s when it was briefly visited by an explorer, Thomas Gann who was brought by some local Mayans. A few archeological visits were made after his visit but the tucked away location meant the ruins would remain just a little known mystery until the 1970′s when a road was finally built. The road allowed more archeologists to discover and sort through the ruins. It wasn’t until the 1980′s that tourists starting visiting the site.

One of the most exciting aspects of Coba is that it is still vastly undiscovered.

Only a very small portion of the region has been excavated and most areas are still hidden in the dense, deep jungle waiting to be brought to light by the next real life Indiana Jones. Could that be you?

What can  you do at Coba?

Hike, Climb & Bike!

The other thing that makes Coba stand out as a tourist destination is the fact that you can not only walk among the ruins but you can also climb one of the large temple pyramids. Climbing to the top will get you a view of the surrounding jungle that stretches on for miles. Because Coba is so vast it can be quite a hike to see all the ruins so they offer another unique feature here which is the ability to rent a bike. As part of the Riviera Maya press trip we were all able to ride bikes throughout the ruins. I definitely recommend renting one because it will speed up your visit and allow you to feel the Mayan wind blowing in your hair and really that’s pretty cool.

Check out the ancient ball court and a live Mayan ballgame.

(The ball court – the ball would need to be put through the small hole on the top to score.)

The other thing I really loved at Coba was the Mesoamerican ballgame court. When I saw it I really felt like I was in an Indiana Jones movie. I’m sure you’ve probably seen photos of a similar court at some point on a TV documentary or in a history book. I had always learned it was a high stakes game where the loser (or possibly the winner) became the next sacrifice. Everyone wanted to know if this was indeed the real deal but the guide told us there is absolutely no proof of any ballgame sacrifices at Coba. But then again – no one really knows! Given that the ballgame was such an important aspect of Mayan life it would be hard to believe there weren’t any sacrifices associated with it. Playing this game was a HUGE deal to the Mayans and the ball players were highly regarded and were bathed before games. The game mirrored the heavens and symbolized the struggle between day and night. Wagers were placed and even political problems were solved (and created) by the game. The game was a large part of Mayan life.

In any case, it was pretty exciting to see one of these ball courts in real life. I imagined the players, the audience, the fear of losing, the fear of winning. The high stakes and a hard 9 pound ball that is meant to be kept in play at all times – but only with your hips – makes this a game that must’ve been quite stressful to play.

(Part of the Mayan tale before the game started.)

It is still played today (sans sacrifice) and we were lucky enough to see a live game later that night. The game was played on a court deep in the jungle and the players were dressed up as the Mayans would’ve been. The players acted out a folk tale between two brothers and the jungle god. In the end the ballgame was used to settle the argument between all of the parties. Then they played the game and even lit the court on fire at one point. I actually thought this whole production was pretty cool and I really enjoyed watching it. The game looked really tough to play and it was hard for the players to get the ball through the hole.

Visit Ancient Roots – a local pottery school.

Another great experience we had in Coba was visiting the Ancient Roots pottery school. Originally from Argentina, ceramist Agustin Villalba founded the school as a way to teach local children how to make the pottery of their ancestors. Mayan pottery is an ancient art form and until Agustin founded the school the techniques were in danger of being lost to modernization and poverty in the region. With his help the school is free for all the children that live in Coba so they can continue the ceramic traditions. We were lucky enough to spend time at this school hanging out with the children and making pottery.

The tour described in this post was the Coba Sunset Tour. This trip to Coba & the Riviera Maya was sponsored by the Riviera Maya tourism board but all of the views and opinions in this article are entirely our own.

When looking for travel insurance that fits the journey you are about to embark on it is important to remember not to compromise on policy for the price. Endsleigh can offer a variety of policies, and there is sure to be one that suits you.

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*Please remember all photos on this website, unless otherwise noted, are copyrighted and property of Beers and Beans Travel Website, Nariko’ s Nest Weddings & Bethany Salvon. Please do not use them without my permission. If you do want to use one of them please contact me first because I do love to share and I would be flattered. Thanks!