Photo Diaries

Postcards from Porto

Postcards from Porto, Portugal: A Photo Diary

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Postcards from Porto

Welcome to my lil photo diary of postcards from Porto, Portugal!

Although I’ve been to Lisbon a few times and consider it one of my favorite cities in Europe, up until recently that was the only place I had ever been to in Portugal. But, I recently visited Porto and loved it. I loved it SO MUCH. I couldn’t believe it was only my first time there, or that it had never even been on my radar before. Like… what!? Well let me tell you, I definitely underestimated Porto! It’s the second-largest city in Portugal, home of Port wine (which is absolutely DELISH, but more on that later), and it’s honestly one of the most photogenic places I’ve ever been. The “old town” is so amazing that it’s actually a UNESCO World Heritage Site!

Even though I didn’t love Porto in a “I could see myself living here sort of way” like I did with Lisbon, there was definitely something really special about the city and surrounding region. I found it captivating and ended up taking so many photos of Porto because I was just in awe of how beautiful the city was. I thought I’d share a few photos I took, because a lot of them look like they could be postcards!

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A Dublin Autumn – in photos

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Although I absolutely love all things summer, there’s something to be said for autumn, too. Even though it’s the beginning of the weather getting colder and the daylight hours getting shorter, I really don’t mind. Sure, there can be some VERY dreary days, but when it’s sunny, it’s just amazing. Is there anything nicer than going on a walk on a sunny, crisp autumn morning with a big coat on and a hot coffee in your hands? I’ll tell you the answer – no, there is not. And trust me, autumn in Dublin can be pretty magical.

Now that it’s December (wtf?) and Autumn has come and gone and replaced by winter, I thought it was the perfect time to look back at the GORGEOUS autumn we had this year here in Dublin, Ireland!

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Iceland In Photos

Iceland, In Photos

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Iceland In Photos

So, I’m basically obsessed with Iceland. So I just had to share a little photo diary of Iceland, because it’s seriously stunning.

I came back from my trip over a month ago with 2,000+ photos of Iceland – including the cool city of Reykjavik, mountains, glaciers, caves, fissures, and about 43,039 different waterfalls.

The diverse landscape was the most stunning and naturally beautiful one I’ve ever seen. I mean….REALLY cool stuff happens there – hot water shoots up from the earth, tectonic plates shift and create a huge (and beautiful) fissure, glacial ice melts into a lagoon you can swim in, just to name a few. All this within the backdrop of moody Autumn skies, and my picture-taking-loving heart was in heaven.

I can’t wait to share in detail about my adventures there, as well as share a few tips of places you MUST be sure to check out on your visit there AND ways to travel Iceland on a budget.

But until then, feast your eyes on my favorite pictures from the trip. Iceland is GORGEOUS, you guys. So here it is: Iceland, in photos.

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My 15 Favorite Travel Photos of 2015

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My 15 Favorite Photos of 2015

One of my favorite things to do when traveling is taking pictures. People who travel with me know that not only am I going to have my huge Nikon DSLR around my neck, but will probably have my GoPro and iPhone in my bag as well.

This has been the biggest travel year of my whole life. Sure, I may not have been to as many different countries as some other years, but instead of just traveling around, spending a few days in each country, I’ve actually fulfilled my dream of moving to Europe. Well, Ireland (which is technically Europe but the Irish don’t consider it as such). I’ve been able to travel to some amazing places in Ireland, and used it as an easy base to travel other parts of Europe.

So, I decide to steal this idea from Lauren on Location, because it’s a great way to look back on this amazing year through one of my favorite keepsakes – pictures. I’m using her great idea to look back on 2015 with 15 of my favorite travel photos from the year.

Now, these won’t all be stunning landscape shots or epic GoPro pictures. But, they’re the ones that mean the most to me, and the ones that highlight the best parts of 2015 for me. So without further adieu, here are my 15 favorite travel photos of 2015.

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Fall in St. Stephen's Green

Fall in St. Stephen’s Green // Dublin

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Fall in St. Stephen's Green

Louisiana is one of those places that only has 2 seasons – really hot summer, and then a little less hot “winter.” Some years the winter can be classified as “cold.” But most years, you can get away with wearing a thin, long-sleeve, silk blouse on Christmas Day.

And obviously, such is not the case in Dublin. And that can be seen by simply taking a stroll in St. Stephen’s Green park in fall.

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Paris: A Photo Diary

Paris // A Photo Diary

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Paris: A Photo Diary

It is with a heavy heart that I write this post.

Of course, everyone knows of the tragic events that occurred Friday night in Paris, France.

Paris is the City of Love and the City of Light, and with good reason. But a few days ago, someone tried to darken that light and fight love with hate.

Because of these recent events, I thought it was only appropriate to start this week off by appreciating the beauty, uniqueness, and glamour of one of the world’s most amazing cities with a photo diary of Paris.

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Copenhagen, in photos

Copenhagen, Denmark in Photos

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Copenhagen, in photos

For those of you didn’t know, I recently took a long weekend trip to Copenhagen, Denmark, a place that’s been on my “list” for a while now! I had heard nothing but great things from friends and fellow bloggers, and it definitely did not disappoint! Copenhagen was just as pretty in person as it is in photos!

To me, Copenhagen is a city of cleanliness, of markets, of bikes, of tolerance, of beautiful people with beautiful blonde man-buns, of history, of impressive architecture reminiscent of Paris, Amsterdam, and even New Orleans.

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London, shot on film

Central London, Shot on Film

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London, shot on film

Upon arriving in London, my spirits are lifted and I immediately become happy. I’ve been 3 times, and the beauty of the city still floors me every time. I really just love everything about it.

I realize that I may have a romanticised view of London. But I don’t care. I just love the hustle and bustle, and how there’s always something to do there. It’s a place I could definitely see myself living.

And whether you like London or not, you can’t deny that it is an iconic city, with numerous world-famous landmarks, and scenes and images that are just quintessentially “London.”

The first time I went to London, I shot some images with my old Pentax film camera with 35mm color film. I love photos taken on film because they have a certain graininess and rawness to them. And, it’s such a surprise when you get them developed and see them for the first time. Sometimes you find they came out horribly, and sometimes you end up with amazing photos.

Since I recently got that film roll developed, I thought I’d share some of the good ones. These photos capture what is, to me, the quintessential look London. Some of the most iconic London scenes and landmarks including Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, and the iconic red telephone boxes.

Here are a few great photos I got of London, shot on film.

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Tymon Park - Dublin, Ireland

Scenes from Dublin’s Tymon Park

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Tymon Park - Dublin, Ireland

One of Dublin’s main attractions is the huge Phoenix Park, one of the largest walled parks in Europe. It’s basically the Central Park of Dublin, and it really is so beautiful and wonderful.

BUT, I’m here to tell you about another great park in Dublin that stole my heart – Tymon Park. Now that I’m a #local, I have had a bit of time to explore this lesser known park. I truly believe it’s one of the best parks in Dublin.

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Amsterdam Canal Cruise

Scenes of Amsterdam from the Canals

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Amsterdam Canal boat ride

A boat ride through the Amsterdam canals is a GREAT way to see the city. Amsterdam is filled with 100+ miles of canals and about 1,500 bridges, so if you’re visiting Amsterdam (especially if it’s your first time) you should definitely make it a point to see the city from the water’s vantage point!

Get ready for some beautiful views on the calm Amstel river, all while learning the history of this fascinating city.

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