Happy Anniversary Juliet – Four Years on the Path

April 30, 2013 by
The Blissful Adventurer - Anniversary

An Infinite Path (Photo by Loren J Root)

I like tradition. I like it when it evolves from something so simple and becomes its own existence. Writing to you Juliet on significant dates has become my cherished tradition. In this act of sharing with the world my unceasing love for you I find keys to understanding my own existence. I discover new elements of you and me that were not there only an occasion before now. What is this four years together? What is the significance of the constructs we hold closely as if they are inalienable? Why do I sound like the narrator from a Terence Malick film when I wax philosophical? I am not sure I can answer any of these questions, so I will share some insight into us and let the world decide who we are. [Read more...]

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iPhone Puglia Vacation – Join Me!

April 29, 2013 by
The Blissful Adventurer - iPhone and Puglia

The Iconic Trulli Cones of Puglia

The iPhone Puglia is an 8 day – 7 Night Journey with me, The Blissful Adventurer, and iPhone Photography Icon  Sam Krisch to the must-see region of Puglia, Italy. From October 22-29 of 2013 an intimate group of passionate travelers will experience the most authentic journey into the heart of Southern Italy. Equipped with iPhones, passion, and lots of local wine, we will document one of the last remaining realms of traditional Italian living. Southern Visions Travel, the most authentic operator in the region will be managing every detail for us on this trip, and trust me, they are the absolute best in the business [Read more...]

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Italy Rules – Expanded

April 17, 2013 by
The Blissful Adventurer - Michael Housewright

Spaghetti with Clams – Le Marche

What a wonderful and sometimes intense set of responses from my previous post – The Italy Rules. I want to take a little time today to expand and expound on some of my thoughts and provide further insight into traveling in Italy.

1. Italy Guides – Here is my short list of who I would travel with and why in Italy.

  • The Rome Digest - This new and wonderful consortium of talented Rome guides includes my dear friend Katie Parla, who is my champion of all things Roman (pork, gelato, beer, wine, art, history, and life) If you are going to spend time in Rome, and you should, let the Rome digest draw a map for you
  • Venice – Row Venice Nan McIlroy is one of the most knowledgeable people in Italy regarding living life, eating well, and getting out on the water. Don’t pay 200 euro for a snooze on a gondola. Pay less and get out there and learn to do it yourself. Easily one of the greatest experiences I have ever had in Italy
  • Tuscany – Judy Francini will cook with you and teach you what it means to truly experience life in Tuscany. Reach out to her. She has been cooking successfully for her Italian husband for years. She will teach you how to impress anyone.
  • Puglia – this is a bit biased but I can vouch for the unbeatable quality of Southern Visions Travel. Antonello Losito leads this superior company leading the most authentic excursions into Italy’s tastiest region. From 1 day to 1 month, these guys are amazing
  • Le Marche – Mariano Pallottini - the best guides are sometimes not guides. For this truly under-the-radar region no one can show visitors the ropes like Mariano. Please tell him I sent you.
  • Travel for Teens - If you would like to send your son or daughter on one of the most amazing experiences to be had. I strongly suggest using Travel for Teens. Managed and operated by a group of passionate, intelligent, and experienced men and women, TFT is the leader in volunteer and cultural travel in Italy for students. Ask for Ned or Nick and your young adult will be blown away
  • For other Italian regions I have friends of friends and would be happy to do some research for you [Read more...]

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The Italy Rules

April 15, 2013 by
Sicily - The Blissful Adventurer

Cathedral – Mazzara del Valo

The Italy Rules are my set of guidelines for the first-time and infrequent Italy traveler. I have traveled to, lived, and worked in Italy frequently over the past 20 years. In this time I evolved from a curious tourist to hardened, salty veteran of the trials, travails, and pitfalls of one of the world’s most visited countries. One usually dreams of Italy for years before finally setting their foot into the proverbial boot. The dream usually crashes in much less time. This post is really for the traveler who has not been deep into the Amazon or climbed to base camps in Nepal. This post is for those of you who enjoy modern conveniences, large bathrooms, and the amenities of a comfortable Western life. For the most part, I am you. I love my big bed, my central heat and air, and my very fast wi-fi connection. However, Italy is reason enough for me forego these luxuries for a few weeks or months out of every year. [Read more...]

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Palo Alto Trees

February 21, 2013 by
The Blissful Adventurer - Palo Alto Trees

The stark beauty of a bare oak

Palo Alto Trees is a selection of images from my recent hike up to The Dish in Palo Alto, California. Although I have lived here for nearly six months this was my first walk up to the iconic dish overlooking Stanford University. In this first image I love the curvature of the background suggesting this is a particularly special tree rising alone on the top of the world. [Read more...]

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San Francisco Lands End

January 23, 2013 by
The Blissful Adventurer - San Francisco

Maritime Dream

San Francisco Lands End is my short photo essay on one of the city by the bay’s greatest natural assets. The image above is my favorite shot of 2013 thus far and it reminds me of the stark beauty surrounding this city on all sides. Land’s End is part of the Golden Gate National Park Conservancy and after years of work is now one of the most pristine parks I have seen in the US. I say that because I actually preferred the place when it was bit more ramshackle and difficult to maneuver. Now, there are buses, tourists, and a gift shop? [Read more...]

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San Francisco Friday Photos – Camera+

January 18, 2013 by

 

The Blissful Adventurer - San Francisco

Sutro Tower – Sf

San Francisco Friday Photos Camera+ are images I took using the Camera+ app on my iPhone. I captured today’s images on walks in Buena Vista Park and the Dogpatch neighborhood. The image above is the famous Sutro Tower atop Twin Peaks at Sunset. I was inspired by the David Lynch series Twin Peaks to process this image. (Camera+ – Snapseed – Photo Toaster) [Read more...]

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Death Valley Theatrical Images

January 15, 2013 by

 

The Blissful Adventurer - Death Valley

Landscape Near The Entrance

Death Valley Theatrical Images is my photo paean to the wonderful work of Sam Krisch. Sam recently posted some images of Death Valley that reminded me of just how stark and wondrous the place is and that I should go back to my photos and see where the muse may lead me in editing them. Death Valley was our point of entry to California in September and it greeted us with 109 degree temps on what the park rangers considered a cooler day. The detail of these images is best at full-screen so feel free to click each to see them. [Read more...]

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San Francisco Sunday Walk – Hipstamatic Tour

January 8, 2013 by
The Blissful Adventurer - San Francisco

After lunch light

San Francisco Sunday Walk Hipstamatic Tour - The city walk is perhaps my favorite convention to spark creativity and bring me closer to the world around me. It is very easy for me to sit and become detached from the world as I toil away editing photos and writing at home alone 4 days a week. When I have the opportunity and the weather to simply wander city streets without a plan or a purpose this is when I am at my best mentally. On this cool day the sun was high and the wispy clouds bathed us in dappled light. [Read more...]

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2012 Year in Review Haiku

December 31, 2012 by
One of my favorite icons on earth.
One of my favorite icons on earth. (copyright The Blissful Adventurer)

Here is The Blissful Adventurer 2012 Year in Review Haiku. Haiku was one of my most successful creative expressions here in the blog world in 2012 I want to share some of the best of the best with you all today for my final blog of 2012; easily the most successful year I have a had as a storyteller. [Read more...]

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