Black Hills are only one-hour drive from Badlands National Park. The name comes from the native Lakota Paha Sapa meaning hills that are black, because they look dark from distance. And this is not because the hills are dark, but because of the green vegetation standing out in the middle of the plains. Coming from the eastern grasslands, we could see Black Hills rising from afar, where the pine forests and the granite peaks create a distinctive landscape from what we’ve seen until now. One of the oldest mountains in North America, these hills are actually the highest mountains east of the Rockies with its highest peak little over 2,200 m.
Nature
US, South Dakota: Badlands National Park
There is a time when one will go backpacking, there is a way where one will go biking, but here is the time when one needs a car, as long North American roads require.
Heading South through North Dakota happened in a blink of the eye. The friendliest (Dakota is the native Sioux word for “friend/ally”) highways with almost no traffic gave us the chance to reach our first way point very soon: Badlands National Park. Not that the lands we’ve seen in the first 2 days of our trip were any better (chuckle!), but I can’t really say that the prairies, or rather the Great Plains, were very appealing. The Great Plains cover most of North and South Dakota, and the endless plains, hills, shrubs and grass that you can see all over can make you think if these areas are really inhabited. But yes, ranching is the predominant agricultural activity, as we could see hundreds of herds of cattle with alternating fields with rolls of hay; so we figured out people are still living in these places (I guess only the brave ones), even though we very rarely saw anyone.
CA: Happy Thanksgiving from Southern Ontario!
When talking about favourite colour, or favourite season, fall in Canada might be the top of discussion. Everyone is happy when the hot and humid days of summer are gone, and no one notices when the days get shorter, and nights longer. Fresh air brings in a fresh feeling, and a nice sunlight leads us to new trails. While crisp mornings bring in the most colourful foliage, the warm sunshine during these days let us explore and enjoy the country roads.
Don’t miss them..
I was having this collage of sunsets on my desktop for awhile, and holding them close to me every day. For me, these are not only places, these are dear memories as well. But the inspiration came one day through Alison (and one of her beautiful sunset photos), and suddenly I thought to share my little collection with you. Dear reader, I hope you will also enjoy!
IT, Mount Vesuvius: Best time to visit
“To go or not to go” was the question for many undecided people. But not for us. How can we not visit the only active volcano on the Europe mainland?
Driving from Cinque Terre to Pompeii was without any major event. If one is not used to drive in Italy yet, now is the time. Once we passed Rome area towards South, we had a nice surprise to find a very low toll on the highway, but instead we found many roads under construction.
Mount Vesuvius is an active volcano with many eruptions over time, but it is best known for its eruption in 79 AD, when the Roman cities Pompeii and Ercolano (Herculaneum by its ancient name) were totally destroyed.
IT, Cinque Terre: Italian Riviera – A glance over Cinque Terre: Monterosso al Mare – Vernazza – Corniglia – Manarola – Riomaggiore
Forgotten in an overcrowded train might be the paradox of the day. But I didn’t care, I was just happy that I got a window seat before the last station. I still had a lot until the day’s destination, but the train had come to an unexpected stop. I thought that it could be hard to pass through the next tunnel, or maybe other trains were due since ours was late from the beginning. Whatever the reason would be, I was still happy that our wagon stopped outside of the tunnel, about 50 m above the sea. I could see the seashore below the cliff and I was wondering how much work and effort has been done for this railroad: half the route is through the mountain and the other half is strong bridges at the edge of the cliff.
CA, Quebec: Tadoussac – The Whale Route – Sainte Anne Du Beaupre Basilica and Canyon – Chute Montmorency – Quebec City – Citadelle
If one will search for a certain destination, we can call it planning, but if one will find a casual pamphlet about a destination, we might call it destiny.
This is the circumstance I have turned my fate to these places when I found this piece of paper with nice pictures and a seductive title: “Route des baleines”. Doesn’t this sound alluring, mysterious, and perhaps romantic? The only way for me was to search and find what this was about.
And so I found that from Tadoussac to Blanc-Sablon, Cote-Nord is a land of nature, where one can observe and study the wildlife, where, along the route of over 1000km of St Lawrence River, one can watch the whales even from the shore, where one can do lots of outdoor activities, enjoy the food, the nature, and the people. Continue reading
US, Florida: Florida City – Everglades – Alligator Farm – Miami – Fort Lauderdale – Overseas Hwy
Talking to the sea was never one of my interests. But one day I have simply sit in front or her and closed my eyes. Then I understood that I can listen. To the sea and her long story about all her troubles and anxieties she is having every day, about her day to day struggle, about her torment and her sorrow. And to the wind that was backing her up, whispering and mumbling all sorts of gossip.
And then I realized that also there are sunny days, cloudless skies and azure seas. Swimming with the dolphins, idling on the beach, floating with a tide, glowing sunsets, and silent moonlights.
CA, Nova Scotia: Louisbourg – Digby – Annapolis Basin
The following day, once in the tiny and cozy town of Louisbourg, we spent the early evening at the little hidden beach that reminded us of our merry times in our 20’s. When you can grab a blanket and a guitar, and your bunch of friends. When the laugh and the glee were the only care one can have.
After that we spent some time shopping in the little family stores full of crafts, and antique pieces of local art.
We saved the major destination: the fortress, where “The past is present”, as the city states itself, for the next day.
Continue reading
1000 Places and Memories 