Only in Vegas

You never know what you will see in Las Vegas. While training for a marathon, I took a 10 mile run up and down the length of the strip. I began the run at 6am to avoid the oppressive mid-day heat. At 6am, there are only two kinds of people on the Las Vegas Strip; runners and those still out partying. There's a good chance you'll come across something photo-worthy (see below).

What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas

Photo of the week is part of "Photo Thursday" at the Budget Travelers Sandbox.  Please visit to check out other amazing photos!

Photo of the Week: Dawn Transformation

Dawn and dusk are magical times. What is ugly by day is beautiful at sunrise and sunset.  

Minneapolis at dawn

This photo of Minneapolis's industrial park was taken just as the sun began to rise over the Mississippi.  Ugly by day with smokestacks, power lines, and grime, the area seems vibrant in the early morning light.  

Photo of the week is part of "Photo Thursday" at the Budget Travelers Sandbox.  Please visit to check out other amazing photos! 

Photo of the Week: Gioto's Campanile

Florence's Cathedral is one of Europe's best.  Completed in 1436, it is more commonly known as "the Duomo" in reference to it's enormous dome designed byFilippo Brunelleschid .  I am not sure what I think about the colorful, but odd, facade that was added in the 1800's, but it certainly makes the Duomo unique.   

Gioto's Campanile

Pictured above is Gioto's Campanile, or bell tower, that rises 85 meters above Florence. Visitors can climb the 414 steps of the bell tower for a great view of Florence.  I chose to climb to the top of the Duomo (seen in the background) for an equally impressive view.

Photo of the week is part of "Photo Thursday" at the Budget Travelers Sandbox.  Please visit to check out other amazing photos! 

Photo of the Week: Never Ending Winter

Minnesota has reputation for having unbearable weather year-round, which is not true.  Minnesota has four distinct and dramatic seasons not experienced by those living in more temperate climates.  Though our winters tend to get all the attention, we have beautiful summers that are best spent by one of our 10,000 lakes.  

That being said, this year has been a tough winter, and it has left me begging for summer.  Last year on this date I wore shorts and sandals because it was 80 degrees Fahrenheit .  This year I bundled up in my warmest winter gear because we had a blizzard with below zero wind chills and several inches of snow.  Did I mention that the Minnesota weather is unpredictable? 

Here are some of my favorite pictures of this past winter, all taken in Minnesota... 

Our dog enjoying the snow after a December storm dumped a foot of snow in St. Paul

At Lutsen...if it is going to be cold, you might as well get out and enjoy it!

A January sunrise over the world's largest lake, Superior, on the coldest day of the winter

Photo of the Week: Queen Charlotte Track

This week's photo was taken on New Zealand's most famous hiking trail; the Queen Charlotte Track.  The Queen Charlotte Track follows along the Marlborough Sound and is located on the northern tip of New Zealand's South Island.   Believe it or not, this photo was taken in July, smack dab in the middle of the New Zealand winter.  Even though the air temperature was just above freezing, the mid-day sun had drenched this little bay enough to make it almost seem tropical.  

Queen Charlotte Track

Photo of the week is part of "Photo Thursday" at the Budget Travelers Sandbox.  Please visit to check out other amazing photos! 

Photo of the Week: Cliffs of Moher

This week's photo was taken in Ireland by my wife on a nice July day.  By nice, we mean it wasn't raining, which is pretty good by Irish Standards.  This photo was shot overlooking the Cliffs of Moher, which are a top attraction on the western coast of Ireland.

Cliffs of Moher, Ireland

Photo of the week is part of "Photo Thursday" at the Budget Travelers Sandbox.  Please visit to check out other amazing photos! 

Photo of the Week: Lake Superior Winter

Minnesota is cold in the winter, especially along what we call the "North Shore" of Lake Superior.  This photo of Lake Superior was taken on a -24 degree Fahrenheit (-31 Celsius) morning near Lutsen, Minnesota.  The air temperature was so cold that water evaporated off the frigid waters of the lake.

Lake Superior in winter

Photo of the week is part of "Photo Thursday" started by Nancie at the Budget Travelers Sandbox.  Please visit her site to check out other amazing photos! 

Photo of the Week: Vernazza, Cinque Terre

Hiking the Cinque Terre, five small villages in the Italian Riviera, should be on everyone's bucket list.   Our decision to hike the Cinque Terre was made after seeing the Travel Channel feature the region's beauty and charm.  As impressive as the Cinque Terre looks in photos and video, nothing compares to seeing it in person.

This photo of Vernazza was taken on the challenging hike between Vernazza and Monterosso.  The steep climb between the villages is well worth the payoff; beautiful views of the Cinque Terra.  

Hike between Vernazza and Monterosso

Photo of the week is part of "Photo Thursday" at Budget Travelers Sandbox. Please the site to check out other amazing photos!  Are you planning a visit to the Cinque Terre?  Check out my post on how to book a great room in the Cinque Terre.  

Photo of the Week: Aboriginal Embassy

I was shocked when I visited Canberra, Australia and spotted a shack that our tour guide described as the Aboriginal Embassy.  The idea of an embassy began in 1972 when four Aboriginal men planted a beach umbrella outside Australia's capital building in Canberra to protest the government's response to Aboriginal land rights.  The protest grew and continues to this day.  

Aboriginal Tent Embassy in Canberra, Australia

This photo is of the current Aboriginal Tent Embassy that is located on the lawn outside of the Old Parliament House in Canberra, Australia.  The embassy is not formally recognized by the Australian (or any other) government.  

Photo of the week is part of "Photo Thursday," started by Nancie at the Budget Travelers Sandbox. Please visit her site to check out other amazing photos!

Fall from 12,000 Feet

Heights scare me.  But I also don't want to miss out on any adventures, which explains how I got talked into skydiving by friends.  Several years ago, I worked up the courage to go tandem skydiving over Lake Taupo, New Zealand.  This week's photo was taken just I began to fall out of the plane at 12,000 feet.  My tandem master was a total pro, and I ended up enjoying most of the experience.  Unfortunately, the adventure didn't cure me of my fear of heights, and even looking at this photo makes my stomach churn.

12,000 Feet Freefall

Photo of the week is part of "Photo Thursday," started by Nancie at the Budget Travelers Sandbox. Please visit her site to check out other amazing photos!

My Favorite Place in the World

This week's photo holds a very special place in my heart.  It is of Brunnenburg Castle in Dorf Tirol, Italy.  The castle is nestled beautifully among the Alp's in the Tirol region of Northeastern Italy.  As a college student, I stayed at Brunnenburg while studying the language and culture of the region.  It was my first experience overseas, and it left an indelible impression on me.  This summer I was able to return again to Dorf Tirol, ten years after the fact.  This time, however, I was able to share the magic of the region with my wife.

Brunnenburg Castle, Dorf Tirol, Italy

Photo of the week is part of "Photo Thursday," started by Nancie at the Budget Travelers Sandbox. Please visit her site to check out other amazing photos!

San Gimignano's Vineyards

It is hard to not like Tuscany.  The rolling hills, walled cities, and plentiful chianti all drew me to the area.  My only mistake was to go in July, when the oppressive nearly drove me mad.  However, even the heat couldn't detract from the charm of Tuscany, and I was eventually won over.  In this photo, you can see San Gimignano surrounded by Tucany's vineyards.  

San Gimignano surrounded by vineyards

Photo of the week is part of "Photo Thursday," started by Nancie at the Budget Travelers Sandbox. Please visit her site to check out other amazing photos!

Quintessential San Francisco

This photo of San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge was taken from Fort Point while biking around the city.   Despite the rain, wind, and fog that we endured that day, renting bikes is a great way to explore San Francisco.

This photo reminds of the two things that come to mind first when I think of San Francisco; the Golden Gate Bridge and fog.

Golden Gate Bridge draped in fog

Photo of the week is part of "Photo Thursday," started by Nancie at the Budget Travelers Sandbox. Please visit her site to check out other amazing photos!

Short Bike Rides in and Around San Francisco, 2nd (2nd Edition) (Google Affiliate Ad)

Golden Gate Park Rose Garden

A couple of weeks ago we visited San Francisco and explored Golden Gate Park by bike.  It didn't turn out as we had planned.  It rained the whole time, and many of the gardens we had hoped to explore had been taken out for winter.  However, the rose garden was still in bloom.  Though it wasn't fun to bike in the rain, the moisture added a great effect to this photo!

Golden Gate Park Roses

Photo of the week is part of "Photo Thursday," started by Nancie at the Budget Travelers Sandbox. Please visit her site to check out other amazing photos!

Photo of the Week: Arno River

This week's photo comes to you from Florence, Italy.  This was my first visit to Florence, and I was surprised at easy it was to walk the city center.  Though our accommodation was across the river in Oltrarno, it only took us ten minutes to walk to the Duomo.  By the end of our stay, we ended up crossing the Arno over a dozen times, and each time I think I snapped a few photos.  This one is one of my favorites!

Catching a ride on the Arno in Florence

Photo of the week is part of "Photo Thursday," started by Nancie at the Budget Travelers Sandbox. Please visit her site to check out other amazing photos!

Photo of the Week: Room with a View

This past July my wife and I shared an apartment with another couple in the Cinque Terre.  When we booked the apartment, we were told that it had an "ocean view."  We weren't told that the apartment was right on the water in Riomaggiore.

This photo was taken from our kitchen window. Needless to say, we spent much of our time chatting, sipping on wine, and enjoying the view from our apartment.

Room with a view, Riomaggiore

If you want to book this room or a similar room from Edi's Rooms, read my post on booking a private room in the Cinque Terre.

Photo of the week is part of "Photo Thursday," started by Nancie at the Budget Travelers Sandbox. Please visit her site to check out other amazing photos!

Photo of the Week: Siena

I was warned about Siena.  Before arriving in Italy, many guidebooks said that Siena's magic had captured the heart of countless Americans.  Sure, I thought, I've been pitched that line about many places.  But then I visited the city and experienced it's magic.  I won't try to describe what makes it a special place.  It has to be experienced.  This photo is of just one small gem in a wonderful city.

Market Window in Siena

This photo was snapped on a side street in Siena.  Because of narrow streets and tall buildings, much of Siena spends the day in the shadows, with rays of light shining through here and there. 


Photo of the week is part of "Photo Thursday," started by Nancie at the Budget Travelers Sandbox. Please visit her site to check out other amazing photos!

Photo of the Week: Alpe Di Siusi

This week's photo was taken in the Alpe Di Siusi, which is Europe's highest alpine meadow.  Located 6,500ft high in the Italian Dolomites, the Alpe Di Siusi maintains a distinctive Austrian flavor.  The region used to be part of Austria and German is still the dominate language.

The clouds and haze from the summer heat obscured many of the mountain peaks on the day my wife and I visited, but that didn't make it a wasted trip.  We had the added bonus of hiking among the wildflowers that are only in bloom for a couple of weeks each year.  In fact, we had an alpine picnic among the wildflowers very near this abandoned cabin.  I called it our "Sound of Music" moment.

Wildflowers in the Alpe Di Siusi

   Photo of the week is part of "Photo Thursday," started by Nancie at the Budget Travelers Sandbox. Please visit her site to check out other amazing photos!

Photo of the Week: Back in the Game

After a break from blogging to focus on teaching and traveling, it's time to start writing again.  There are several adventures to catch up on, so why not start with a picture taken from a jetliner to symbolize that I'm back in the game?

This week's photo was taken over Greenland a few weeks ago as we were flying into Iceland. Despite the brutally hot temperatures in the Midwest, Greenland remained...white.  As a social studies teacher, I'll use this picture to teach my students that Greenland is NOT green.  Rather, most is hidden under a vast ice shelf that stretches thousands of miles.  It was also taken at 3am local time---we were flying into the land of the midnight sun. 

Icelandair over Greenland

Photo of the week is part of "Photo Thursday," started by Nancie at the Budget Travelers Sandbox. Please visit her site to check out other amazing photos!

Photo of the Week: Grand Marais

If you had to guess where this photo was taken, what would be your first choice; Florida, California...perhaps a coastal village of the eastern U.S. or Canada?  This photo was taken on the coast....of Lake Superior in the little town of Grand Marais.

Harbor of Grand Marais, Minnesota

Grand Marais is tucked between the coast of Lake Superior and the rugged hills and bluffs of northern Minnesota.  Tourists from every state and dozens of countries flock to Grand Marais during Minnesota's short summer to take in the beauty of Lake Superior, truly the greatest of the great lakes.  Lake Superior has more water than the other four great lakes combined (with two lake Erie's to spare). 

Lake Superior Coastline

Photo of the week is part of "Photo Thursday," started by Nancie at the Budget Travelers Sandbox. Please visit her site to check out other amazing photos!