Life is a patchwork of experiences
Each year since I started this blog, I have ended the year with a reflections post. Even though 2020 was quite uneventful, I thought I would keep up the tradition.
This photo was recognized by the North American Travel Journalists Association with a Bronze award in the Photography – Landscape, Seascape category in the 2021 annual media travel awards competition .
I have used these “Reflections” posts as a play on words to reminisce about my travels over the past year and to share the reflections photos to which I am drawn.
This was an epic year of travel for me – the best ever. I was very fortunate to be able to go somewhere special each month.
I visited National Parks in the US as well as a few new places in my home country. I had a completely unique experience as a volunteer citizen scientist in Kenya. And my feet touched the soil of South America for the first time. To top it all off, I was totally spoiled on a one of a kind barge cruise on the Burgundy Canal in France. I don’t think any year in travel can get much better.
Continue reading “Reflections from 2019 – An Epic Year of Travel”
I loved experiencing the First Saturday Frederick Fire and Ice festival.
Sure, I could have spent my Groundhog’s Day birthday in Punxsutawny, PA with Phil the Groundhog – but why repeat that scene again? (If you are not groaning at this bad pun, then watch one of my favorite movie classics “Groundhog’s Day”). Instead, experiencing the annual First Saturday Frederick event at the Fire In Ice festival seemed like a much “cooler” activity to check out.
Good street art stops you in your tracks and forces you to take a closer look. Whether it is big or small, it draws you in. The art walk in Frederick, MD has just those kinds of murals. In this photo, can you tell what is real and what is an imitation? The two large windows are both faux, and everything else is real. You can pick up a map of Frederick’s Art Walk at the Frederick Visitor’s Center.
Please note that I was hosted by Visit Frederick. All content is my own.
Thanks for visiting.
Rose
Covered bridges were actually designed for function – to protect the wooden bridge structure from the elements and thereby extending the bridge’s lifespan up to 100 years. As iron began to replace wood, the many covered bridges across the US began to disappear. Today, the remaining bridges are a romantic reminder of a time in US history that was slower and more pastoral. If you are visiting Frederick, MD, stop by the visitor’s center to pick up a map of the local covered bridge trail that takes you to three beautiful examples of this unique architecture.
Please note that I was hosted by Visit Frederick. All content is my own.
Thanks for visiting.
Rose
When you really think about it, and aqueduct could be considered an oxymoron – it’s a bridge built over water to carry water. In this case, the Monocacy aqueduct was the largest of the eleven aqueducts built as part of the C&O canal system in the mid 1800’s. The Monacacy Aqueduct has survived the Civil War and hurricanes and is now part of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historic Park. You can easily visit this site and others along the C&O canal system from a base in Frederick,MD.
Please note that I was hosted by Visit Frederick. All content is my own.
Thanks for visiting.
Rose
