Pale Shelter, mattress in a Bratislava squat is today’s virtualvacay
Roadtrip Roadhouse Review: Pappy & Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace
Sunset in Pioneertown, California (mobile photography)
One of the best things about roadtrips is stumbling upon interesting places you didn’t plan on seeing. I’m a big fan of pit stops at local roadhouses. During my Southern California desert road trip last week I was thrilled to discover Pappy & Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace which is located in the Yucca Valley on the way to Joshua Tree.
Pioneertown Sign
The atmosphere at Pappy and Harriet’s atmosphere in Pioneertown, CA
Murals in the ladies room at Pappy and Harriet’s
Want to learn more about Pappy & Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace!? Continue reading this post on my multi-media travel diary “My life’s a trip”
Chasing Waterfalls in Argentina and Zimbabwe
On Top of Iguazu Falls
I was really excited when I learned this weeks #FriFotos theme was waterfalls.
Currently I am deep in the California desert road tripping to Joshua Tree, so I’m not around any waterfalls today I can show you. But before I started this blog I saw two of the most spectacular waterfalls in the world, and I’m excited for the opportunity to share my pictures of waterfalls through #FriFotos.
The first was Iguazu Falls,which borders Argentina and Brazil. I visited from the Argentine side and stayed at the Sheraton Iguazú Resort & Spa which was sub-par, understaffed and overpriced… but has a spectacular location within the Parque Nacional Iguazú, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Note: Iguazu Falls has a few different spellings: Iguassu Falls, Iguaçu Falls, and Iguaza Falls are all the same waterfall.
After I saw Iguazu Falls, I became determined to see mighty Victoria Falls which is located on the mighty Zambezi between Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe and Livingstone, Zambia.
Rainbow at Victoria falls – biggest waterfall in the world
Want to see more pictures of Iguazu and Victoria Waterfalls!? Continue reading this post on my multi-media travel diary.
Guest Post: How To Rent a Family Friendly Apartment in Paris & London
Editor’s note: I often get asked travel questions that I don’t have an answer for, and they are often about traveling abroad with children. On multiple occasions, I’ve been asked “How do I rent a flat in Paris or London?” even though I haven’t done this myself, my friend, Mike August, has.My husband and I even tagged along on the August family vacation to London and Edinburgh, and we had Mike book a flat for us, too. I asked Mike to write this guest post for the blog and I’m honored feature it here. – Jen Pollack Bianco
Veteran world travelers, my husband and I spent the first three years of our daughter’s life traveling exclusively across the United States to visit the grandparents — and nowhere else. With her fourth birthday nearing, we decided to venture back abroad, preschooler and 15-year old cousin in tow and our sights set on Paris. Paris with kids requires a different approach.
Overseas travels always had us in hostels, hotels and resorts. But, experiencing a foreign city with the unpredictable schedule (and finicky palate) of a child, we thought an apartment (or flat, as they are often called in Europe) the best way to accommodate the four of us. We felt an apartment would provide more space than the typical hotel room, with separate bedrooms for kids and grown-ups. It would have the benefit of a kitchen (and refrigerator) for storing and preparing provisions (self-catering is the norm with apartment rentals), plus a common room for entertaining friends who would be traveling with us (but lodged elsewhere).
Standard “money” shot of Paris – photo courtesy of Mike August
Continue reading this interesting post written by Mike August on my multi-media travel diary “My life’s a trip”
Mojave Sands Motel: A Funky Place to Bunk in Joshua Tree
If the Bates Motel had a funky, friendly hipster cousin in the desert, it would be the Mojave Sands Motel in Joshua Tree, California. There are only a few options for accomodations in this part of the Yucca Valley: you can pitch a tent and camp in the park, stay at a generic desert motel nearby, or do what the cool kids are doing: going east of the Ace Palm Springs and staying at the still-below-the-radar Mojave Sands.
Glass bottle details in Suite 5 at the Mojave Sands
Funky old camera in room 5 at the Mojave Sands
Don’t get me started on Jazzercise- the first track was Arthur’s Theme. I have no idea how you’re supposed to get in shape swaying your arms to Christopher Cross.
Scout, one of the Mojave Sands dogs
Want to see more great vintage pictures from Mojave Sands Motel!? Continue reading the post on my multi-media travel diary “My life’s a trip”
Southern California Desert Road Trip
Wind farm
Since it’s Memorial Day weekend here in the United States, I’m taking a few days to do a southern California desert road trip to Palm Desert and Joshua Tree.
The winds were incredibly strong yesterday and I almost lost my hat when I stopped to check out the turbines at the AES Wind Generation in nearby Palm Springs.
My first stop: Hotel Lautner in Desert Hot Springs. Owner/Designer Tracy Beckmann is incredibly friendly and has renovated a mid-century modern classic into her own little Shangra-La in the desert. There are a variety of hotels in Desert Hot Springs, but Hotel Lautner is the most stylish of the bunch. It’s really more of a private pied-a-terre than a full service hotel, but the award-winning renovation of the 1947 property designed by famed architect John Lautner is seriously impressive and makes it a nice place to bunk in the area.
Here are a few images from my first day in the desert.
Hotel Lautner room – sitting area at night
Hotel Lautner – groovy outdoors bbq area
Want to see more pictures from Hotel Lautner!? Continue reading this post on “My life’s a trip”
Photo Shoot with San Francisco’s Supermodel Seagull at The Ferry Building
I was in San Francisco over the weekend and was meeting some friends for dinner at a restaurant in The Ferry Building.
I got there a bit early and wanted to take some pictures of the amazing view. When San Francisco is clear, it’s one of the most gorgeous cities in the world and the view from the Ferry Building, includes the water, boats, and the Bay Bridge.
The sun was about to set so I had perfect magic hour light. I shot a few pictures of the ferries before I noticed a large seagull perfected on the railing. I got closer to the seagull, assuming he’d fly away but he didn’t. In fact the seagull started staring at me, so I picked up my iPhone and started shooting using the ProCamera app . Photos of seagulls aren’t usually my thing, but it’s always good to get outside your comfort zone. So I started shooting away.
Above: several of my mobile photography images combined using the Frametastic App
Want to learn more about supermodel seagull!? Continue reading this post on my multi-media travel diary “My life’s a trip”
