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beckydoesthings · 3 years

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various fics of hxl that i adore reading! this list is quite lengthy, but feel free to message me if you have any questions!

*will continue to be updated. also, if i mistagged you, i apologize, i do not know how to tumblr*

Love Is a Rebellious Bird

E | 134k | @100percentsassy and gloria_andrews

AU in which the boys still make music. Louis is the concertmaster of the London Symphony Orchestra, Harry is the New! and Exciting! interim conductor/ex-cello prodigy who "has made Mozart cool again" according to Esquire Magazine (Louis hates him immediately, which is definitely why he internet stalked him in his dark bedroom late at night that one time), and Niall is the best. Zayn and Liam are around too.

Don't hum Bolero.

i think this tickled every bone of my musical self and also made me cry (are you seeing a theme here??) one of the first fics i fell in love with and one i keep coming back to.

Collision

E | 226k | @tequiladimples

Mythology/Fairytale!AU in which Louis is a dainty fairy with a temper who wants to be intimidating and Harry hurts people. Naturally, they hate each other.

(Featuring Liam, the big and not-so-bad wolf who’s got a thing for humans, Zayn, a human with supernaturally good looks, and Niall, the cupid who just wants his job to be easier.)

the world building in this one is insanity - so much good mythology mixed in and it made me screech with joy. i think i can firmly say that i did not expect where the plot went, but that made the story so much better.

Flour and Chocolate

M | 145k | @danosphere91

It was nice, for a bakery he supposed.

Then he approached the display cabinet.

And the foreboding slammed into him. Because every product had letters next to it. Letters. GF, DF, V, O, VGN.

What. The. Fuck?

Lifting his eyes to the chalkboard menu spread across the back wall Louis felt physically ill. ‘Gluten-free’, ‘organic’, ‘vegan’, ‘paleo’, ‘dair-…’ Wait, what the fuck was a paleo? He had entered some hipster-trash establishment and it was more than time to get out.

Louis is a single dad and Harry works at the newly opened bakery down the street.

the miscommunication in this fic is SO REAL and makes for a good read. the rest of the flour and chocolate series is also fantastic. i thoroughly enjoyed both the ziam and ed/niall arcs that bring the whole story together.

run away home

E | 106k | @hattalove

Louis stands, in the middle of a clearing with his hands in his pockets, and stares. This boy—God, this gorgeous, gorgeous boy. He seems so clumsy, confused at the best of times, but there’s a wisdom about him as he speaks, a maturity that belies his age.

Louis is hopelessly, wildly attracted to him.

or, louis is a successful jockey down on his luck, struggling to get his life back on track after an injury. harry has a horse, a house fit for a prince, and a broken heart.

it takes them a while to figure out that they need each other.

this makes my inner horse girl extraordinarily happy - even if i don’t know anything about horse racing. louis’ story in this is beautiful and makes the whole piece worth a read.

waiting for the tides to meet

E | 60k | @nauticalleeds

Louis lets out a deep breath, thinking about Harry’s soulmate. Thinking about how Harry’s soulmate is probably as beautiful as Harry, some person that Louis cannot compare to, and how the universe has chosen them to be Harry’s. Fuck the universe. “Fuck you,” he calls out to the universe. He’s aware of how crazy he sounds.

Maybe he is crazy, with how he’s falling for Harry. And fuck that, too.

Soulmate AU. Everyone is born with heterochromia — one eye is their own eye colour, while the other is the colour of their soulmate's. It's only when they meet their soulmate for the first time that their own eyes match properly. After a hazy night at a frat party, Louis wakes up to blue eyes and the shocking realization that he had met his soulmate, without any sober recollection. Seven years pass where Louis comes to terms with the fact that he'll never know who his soulmate is. Then one fated summer, a beautiful green-eyed photographer arrives at Louis' workplace, with promises of endless laughter and a familiar feeling in Louis' heart.

Featuring a lovely cup of OT5, a road trip down the coast, and a scene where Harry eats a whole head of lettuce. Don't ask why.

gorgeous soulmate AU that gives me summer cruising vibes. worth the read for the lettuce scene alone (i kid, i kid)

Do Not Go Gentle

E | 70k | @afirethatcannotdie

“This is all a game to you, isn’t it? Well, it’s not for me. This is a real life or death situation,” Louis says, spitting the words at him. “And I just don’t think you’re cut out for it.”

For a moment, they stare at each other in complete silence. Harry can feel his blood thrumming between his ears, can see Louis glaring at him, feels red-hot anger. And then all he feels, oppressively and desperately, is lust.

Suddenly Louis is surging up to him to press his lips against Harry’s. Harry walks the two of them backwards, pressing Louis back against the door. Louis oomphs in surprise and brings his hands under Harry’s scrub top, scratching at his lower back.

“Lock — oh — lock the… fucking door,” Louis mutters.

When Harry Styles starts his first day as a surgical intern, he expects a lot of things: to treat patients, to observe a surgery, to feel a bit overwhelmed. What he definitely doesn't expect, however, is that the handsome guy he kicked out of his bed this morning is also an intern.

A Grey’s Anatomy AU where tensions are high, Harry and Louis are hooking up in secret, and no one has time for love. Or do they?

okay i’ve watched maybe 3 episodes of Gray’s Anatomy, but i feel like this encompasses the vibe of the show: medical stuff with a hefty dose of angst and sexual tension

Falling For Me Won’t Be A Mistake

M | 58k | @all-these-larrythings

Harry is married to his job and so overworked that he doesn't know how to stop. All it takes is a forced Hawaiian get-a-away, the warm tropical breeze of the island, and the most beautiful, elusive man he's ever seen to make him remember what living is like outside of work. Well, that, and the little souvenir he accidentally takes home with him.

one of my favorite mpreg fics so if that’s not your cup of tea, then don’t read it. i love surgeon harry with a vengeance, but honestly Gems and Niall are iconic in this one.

Watching the World Fall

E | 11k | @crazyupsetter why won’t it let me tag :(

This segment has been going on long enough that Louis knows what’s coming before James starts in on it, trying to sell him on something he knows that Louis wouldn’t normally be buying. But there’s four cameras surrounding him, and an audience watching him expectantly, so if Louis wants to continue convincing people that he’s doing just fine, he’s going to have to go along with it.

“We have a whole host of single men backstage waiting to meet you, Louis,” James tells him. “We want to help you find love tonight, on Late Late Live Tinder. Is this okay? Do you want to play?”

It actually kind of makes sense that his first date after the break-up is going to be just as public as said break-up. Something like coming full circle.

“Alright, James,” Louis agrees, hopping down off his stool.

“Okay, come down to the stage,” James says. Louis can’t even tell whether the excitement in his voice is genuine or not. “Right now, come on down!”

i have a soft spot the size of Antarctica for Late Late AU fics (we stan James Corden) and for exes to lovers so this checks all the boxes.

autumn leaves

E | 27k | @suspendrs

“Brave?” Harry frowns, caught off guard. “No, not particularly.”

“You seem brave,” Louis decides, pushing off the wall and stepping on the butt of his cigarette. “You are strong, and you are not mean. That’s good,” he assures, touching Harry’s arm gently.

“Thank you, but that’s not true,” Harry smiles ruefully. “I’m really not anything special.”

Or, Harry is an American soldier in France during World War II, and Louis is a French waiter that doesn't mean to fall in love with him.

love love french AUs and while this one isn’t sunshine and rainbows, it’s a beautiful yet heart wrenching piece. warning for period typical homophobia

caught up in your love affair

NR | 8k | @disgruntledkittenface

“And the corgis took to you straightaway,” Harry remarks.

“That’s true,” Louis chuckles.

“I’ve spent the last 29 years being barked at,” Harry deadpans, jerking his hand toward Louis, “this one walks in, absolutely nothing.”

Louis outright giggles at that, saying, “They were just lying on my feet during tea.”

“Wagging tails,” Harry says, shaking his head.

“It’s because they don’t understand flirting,” Louis tells him, “you can’t charm them the way you do everyone else.”

Royal AU. Prince Harry announces his engagement to Louis Tomlinson in an interview with longtime friend and BBC host Nick Grimshaw. Inspired by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

just. 8k of royal fluff. that’s literally it and i adore it so much.

Apples Always Fall (As I Do For You)

M | 54k | @rainbowsandgucci

”Due to unforeseen circumstances, help is needed here at the orchard for the impending apple season. Looking for someone able to start within the next week or two at the most, is willing to do whatever miscellaneous tasks are needed, such as picking & packing apples, running the cash register, and other handywork that may need to be done. Must be good with customers, and able to lift up to 50lbs. Help will be needed until at the least the end of October. Please contact the number found on this page, or come out to the orchard and ask for Harry. All the love xx” --- Louis is staying at his Aunt's farm in a small town in Minnesota for four months. To deal with the boredom that sets in a week into his stay, he starts working at the local apple orchard, owned by twenty six year old Harry Styles. Louis quickly finds himself falling in love with the orchard, and he finds a family in Harry's friends Niall, Liam, and Zayn. He also starts to fall in love with Harry. Falling in love with him turns out to be the easy part.

i never thought i would enjoy an apple orchard fic?? but it’s so good?? farmer harry makes me laugh to think about, but the heartbreak in this fic is so. real.

Mine Would Be You

E | 114k | @crinkle-eyed-boo

Louis blinks his eyes open, his eyelids fluttering as the room swims around him. He takes several gulps of beer once he confirms that he’s definitely not hallucinating, that the very first portrait Harry Styles ever painted of him is hanging on that wall.

Louis stares at the wall, his heart jackrabbiting in his chest as he realizes that there’s not just one painting of him, there’s five, the portraits lined up like they’re some sort of storyboard depicting the rise and fall of his deepest love. His greatest heartache. A pain that cut him so deep that he left the fucking country, severing all ties with his life in New York, now suddenly surrounding him as if he’d never left.

Fucking shit motherfucker fuck.

Louis returns to New York City five years after he left it – and the love of his life – behind. He didn't intend to see Harry again, but fate has a funny way of pulling them together, whether they like it or not. After making a begrudging truce, they both start to wonder: Would it be so bad if history repeated itself?

exes to lovers drama but make it extra sad. the fact that we see so many facets to this story just makes it all the more painful, yet beautiful. this fic also reminds me of how much i love one mister niall horan.

One for Luck

E | 96k | @leavingonatrain

The very first time Louis remembers hearing Harry Styles' deep, deep voice, he's just won gold at the World Equestrian Games and he's officially back on Great Britain's Olympic team. He's also three sheets to the wind, drunk on victory and champagne, and there's a gorgeous boy whispering in his ear. Life's grand.

(AU: Louis and Harry are professional riders on the British Olympic team.)

again, i know nothing about horses, but i like to pretend i do for the sake of this fic. it’s beautiful, it’s smutty what else could you ask for?

Nothing But You On My Mind

E | 83k | @absoloutenonsense

Louis Tomlinson is a PR manager hired to improve the image of royal bad-boy Prince Harry Styles. Unfortunately for him, that means being faced with the Prince's constant innuendos, incessant dirty jokes, and relentless flirting. Louis just wants to make it to Princess Gemma's coronation; once she's crowned Queen, his contract is up and he never has to see the Prince again.

i absolutely. definitely. sobbed tears at this fic. it’s just so beautifully painful to read. don’t want to spoil anything, but this is a must.

Adore You

M | 67k | @isthatyoularry

“We invited our new acquaintances from uptown. You’ve simply got to meet their oldest son!” said his mother with a flourish, and suddenly it became abundantly clear as to why his parents had so adamantly demanded he join them in Deansville for the entirety of the summer.

Against his wishes, Harry spends the holidays at his family’s summer estate, and is reluctantly pulled into a courtship he didn’t ask for. Harry doesn’t want to get married, but Louis does. They don’t fit, but then again they really, really do.

Vaguely set in the 1920’s. Headpieces, jazz, fashionable canes, and flapper dresses, and that.

i strongly relate to harry in this one! one of my favorite historical AUs and honestly i love the thought of louis in well fitting suits.

leave it to the breeze

E | 81k | @hattalove

Louis couldn’t be prouder of his bake, but there’s something—there’s something. Something about Harry Styles and the earnest way he measures, pours, mixes, scrapes. Something about the tip of his tongue poking out of his mouth as he knocks the air out of his batter.

or a great british bake off au in which louis cares about winning and winning only, harry is made of sunshine and rainbow sprinkles, and niall sticks his nose into other people's business. also featuring liam as louis's best friend-slash-concerned mother, and zayn as a macaron connoisseur.

i. love. the. great british baking show. baking + h&l is amazing. and another reminder as to why niall is the absolute best.

Paint The Sky With Stars

M | 62k | @icanhazzalou grrr let me tag

On 10 April 1912, Harry Styles boards the finest ship the world has ever seen. Still grieving the death of their mother, he and his sister are being sent to America to live with a callous uncle who cares more about his business connections than family. Harry prepares himself for a long, disappointing voyage alone in his stateroom.

Louis Tomlinson has borrowed and saved, and finally has enough to purchase a Third Class ticket to America. With all of his belongings in a single ruck sack, he boards the Titanic filled with hope for a brighter future. Never one to sit still, he can’t resist exploring the massive ship, and soon goes sneaking into First Class in a stolen steward’s uniform.

By a twist of fate, Louis finds himself in Harry’s stateroom, entranced by the most attractive man he’s ever laid eyes on. He keeps returning day after day, even if he doesn’t understand what it is about Harry that continues pulling him in. That’s all right; Louis has a week to figure it out, and Harry is plenty willing to help.

Except they don’t have a week. They have four days. Because on 15 April, their entire world will be turned upside down.

Or, the historically accurate Titanic AU with a happy ending.

gorgeous historical fic that’s so accurate and painstakingly written. i keep coming back to it!

When It’s Late At Night

M | 25k | @all-these-larrythings

Louis has zero interest in an ex-boybander turned solo artist when his appearance on the show gets announced, but that's exactly who he gets stuck with when Harry Styles shows up at the Late Late show to promote the release of his debut album. For an entire fucking week.

The Late Late prompt that we all need to get through this excruciatingly hard time.

remember when i said i love Late Late AUs? yeah. i love that louis gives absolutely zero shits in this fic until he gives all the shits.

Chasing Empty Spaces

E | 79k | @domestic-harry

The year is 1934 and Harry Styles was to inherent the largest tobacco firm in the south. His parents have picked out the “perfect” girl for him to marry and he has the privilege of receiving the highest education possible. The problem was, Harry hadn’t realized he didn’t actually want any part of that future until he met a mechanic named, Louis Tomlinson.

gorgeous historical AU that goes through Harry’s struggle with his sexuality wonderfully. this one also made me cry.

Resist Everything Except Temptation

E | 100k | @domestic-harry

The lethargic sound of heels clicking against wood resonated across the sea. Footsteps descended the staircase, every assured step creating a menacing aura as it grew closer. Perspiration gathered along Louis’ palms as the rhythmic sound halted in front of him.

“Captain,” Malik greeted.

Louis watched out of his peripheral as Malik’s boots shuffled back a few steps. Sweat matted the hair along the nape of Louis’ neck as he waited for something to happen. He felt as if a sharp blade was twisting his gut as the silence became tangible. There was a metallic slide of a sword being pulled out of its sheath, the sound startling Louis out of his cocoon of sterile shock. His shoulders jumped as the tip of a blade flattened underneath his jaw. Louis’ distorted reflection stared back at him in the polished metal. Engraved rose petals twisted his appearance as they crawled up the length of the sword. The sword lifted and took Louis’ chin with it.

Standing in front of Louis was Captain Styles.

The one where Louis is the commodore's son who is forced to become a part of Harry's crew when he is captured.

love this pirate AU that’s got one badass gemma styles. also, harry as a super cool pirate in gorgeous clothes makes me super happy!

i’ll make this feel like home

E | 49k

Harry to groans himself and then takes a deep breath. “Okay, well. Here’s the thing. I peed on a stick.”

Louis isn’t able to get more than a shocked “What!” out before Harry’s steamrolling on.

“I peed on a stick and it says it’s positive, but you always prattle on about how it’s best to go to the doctor’s before you get excited, you know to confirm it because sometimes hormones are off or you have like a tumor or some shit and get false positives and what if I’m dying and-”

“You’re pregnant?!” Louis shouts out, stomach dropping as the words leave his mouth.

“Um, yeah… maybe.”

[the one where Louis' hopelessly in love with his best mate... who just happens to be pregnant with another man's baby.]

baby momma harry with hot mess!Louis is a recipe for disaster, but this one has plenty of fluff to make up for it.

Hands Clasped Tight

E | 44k | @afirethatcannotdie

“What am I looking at here?” Harry asks.

“This, my friends, is a ‘proof’ Instagram account, run by your students,” Liam announces.

“It’s got all this stuff about how the two of you are together,” Niall adds.

“I heard about that,” says one of the math teachers. “Confiscated a kid’s phone today when they were looking at it. I have to say, the evidence that you’re dating is pretty damning.”

“Really,” Louis says dryly. “Do you think being married for three years might have something to do with it?”

Or the one where Harry and Louis are high school teachers and their students have been playing matchmaker for over a year. Little do they know, Harry and Louis are already married.

love love teacher harry and louis that’s mostly funny fluff with a little angst. just a teeny amount. reminds me of my own experiences with meddling students haha.

*updated 2/16/21*

#fic recs #hl #hlcreators #ao3 #in no particular order #message me for other fics!#yourlarrysource

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riding-alpacas · 4 years

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Tierra del Fuego

My route through Patagonia leads me from south to north - starting in the southernmost city of the world: Ushuaia. As usual in South America there are some debates if this is really the southernmost city, given that there are a few more towns and villages further south in Chile. Population wise it certainly is one of the bigger southernmost places.

I didn't have the highest expectations when I came here. Ushuaia is clearly a very busy, touristy place in summer. Lots of cruise ships stop here and it is also the starting point for Antarctica expeditions. I considered doing one of those as well, but when I researched the cost and what kind of trip it would be, I backed off. They are ridiculously expensive and pretty much all of them are targeting a more senior audience. If Antartica still exists when I'm 60, I might consider it again at that age.

Closer to Straya than to Canada

On my first day there was only a limited amount of people in the hostel. Well, that's what I thought. It turned out that during the day almost nobody was in the hostel ever. In the mornings and evenings though the place was buzzing. In one of the Backpacker groups on Facebook I found Corinna who also just arrived in Ushuaia and was looking for hiking buddies. During the following days we spent the majority of our time together as we got along really well. It's a shame that we have very different plans for our time after Ushuaia, but we figured that we might meet again in Central America.

The first hike we attempted was the one to Laguna Esmeralda. It gave me a first taste of the landscape so far south on our wonderful planet. If I'd have to describe it with one word it would definitely be rugged. There is something quite harsh but beautiful about the environment here - which makes sense, given that we had hardly more than 15 degrees during the day and it's basically winter down here most of the time. The tree line is super low (500m or so), the brownish colour above it is quite unique and the mountain peaks are just spectacular. And best of all, it's all pretty much untouched.

Felt a bit like Lord of the Rings

The hike itself was a lot of fun but not only due to the beautiful surroundings. It was muddy like hell. Parts of it led through peat bogs which I never hiked through before. First we both tried to avoid getting into the mud as much as possible by doing ridiculous detours (we actually almost got lost on the first 500m in) but for me at least the tolerance limit got lower pretty quick. My boots were waterproof and in my hostel they had boot brush cleaners anyway. Walking through peat bogs was pretty weird at first. They have a spongy, springy texture and no matter how dry they look, once you step on it you basically press out a lot of water. The lake itself was pretty nice. Many of the lakes I saw in Canada had the same blue, milky colour but that doesn't make it any less beautiful. Unfortunately I wasn't super lucky with the weather during the whole week but again: It's still just beautiful being out there in the spectacular outdoors of the Land of Fire.

A little bit of mud

Mystic

Next day was rest day. And rest day usually means checking out town and its museums. The first museum I tried was an old prison that Ushuaia is famous for. They've split it up into multiple sections, grouped by topic. I was very disappointed. Firstly, it was totally overpriced and secondly it was just... random. I expected some sort of golden thread when walking through the different prison cells but it felt just like a random collection of stuff. And it wasn't even good stuff. I was hoping to learn a little bit about the history of Ushuaia, the indigenous people who lived here etc. but it was very underwhelming. On the way to the city I had a quick look at a "museum" about the Islas Malvinas which was a huge flop, too so I almost skipped the last museum I had in mind. But thankfully I didn't because that one was finally a good one. Historia Fueguina tells four storylines that are related to Ushuaia’s history:

The indigenous people

One of the first European expeditions

The prison

An unbelievable rescue story about Ernest Shackleton and the Endurance

You wander from section to section, each one consisting of life-sized historic figures while listening to the story on the free audio guides. Most of the exhibits can be entered and you can pose for pictures. It was quite quirky but very educational and a lot of fun. Spoiler: Most indigenous people are now eradicated because the Europeans brought diseases and bullets when they discovered gold in the area. Same shit, different country.

Almost as comfy as my hostel beds

Next thing I did was a little hike up to the local glacier in town: Glaciar Martial. I did this one by myself because I really wanted to start it early and Corinna didn't want to pay for the taxi. It's very popular and I wanted to avoid the crowds. Surprisingly life generally starts late here, mostly around 10am. For this one I left the hostel at 8 and was on my way up at 8:30. And I am very happy about my decision because I had the whole trek for myself. Initially I felt a bit meh about this hike. Most photos in the web are quite underwhelming and the start of the hike is basically just walking along a ski slope. Luckily one of my room mates told me about some side trails and that the hike generally is actually quite nice. I'm glad I listened to him. At the beginning I walked along a beautiful creek with some of the clearest water on earth. After getting to a little viewing area, I continued up to the actual glacier. It became quite steep here, but it also wasn't a particularly long section. At the top I had a wonderful view of Ushuaia and the Beagle Channel. I found a beautiful section where lots of small streams of water merged and just rested here for about 45 mins to soak in the view and some of the sun when it showed itself for a few seconds.

If I remember correctly this was also the very first time that I was making full use of my layering system. I started with my insulated jacket as it was pretty cold in the morning. Halfway through I added my windbreaker as it became quite windy above the tree line. On the way down it gradually became warmer but it also started raining, so I removed both jackets and changed into my rain jacket. Yes, you truly need a good layering system when in Patagonia.

Ushuaia and the Beagle Channel

More Lord of the Rings

The next day was the highlight of my time in Ushuaia. Corinna, the couple that she shared her Airbnb with and I rented a car and we made our way to the Tierra del Fuego National Park. Corinna and I had a crack at the Cerro Guanaco Trail which literally took our breath away. The hike starts at a glacial lake, then turns into a forrest and climbs up pretty steeply. After a while we reached a little viewpoint before going through some muddy terrain again. With the tree line behind us, we were now in pretty exposed and rugged territory and the trail became extremely steep. But we continued, slowly and steadily until we reached the top and a jaw-dropping view to all sides. We could see Ushuaia and the Beagle Channel in the distance, the glacial lake with some impressive mountains below us, ragged cliffs right next to us. It was just spectacular and very close to what I had in mind when thinking about Patagonia.

Ragged

My favourite view so far

Corinna and I

Beagle Channel

After our return we continued to explore the southern part of the National Park, took some dorky pictures at some touristy signs and returned back to Ushuaia. By the way: If I wouldn't know that the water is freezing cold down here I would just love to jump into all the little lakes and inlets here. The water is crystal clear and when the sun comes out and you actually feel a bit warm it is just too inviting...

The end of the road

Second best thing to do with these water conditions

Jump in!

What stroke us the most during our time down here was the very limited amount of wildlife on land. We saw a couple of brumbies (or whatever they call them here), some birds and a few flies, but that was basically it. No guanacos, no armadillos, not even a bloody worm or ant. I actually digged a little hole at one point to see if there is anything hidden in the soil but there wasn't anything. Corinna and I started building a theory that everything we saw was just fake and we were actually in some sort of TV show. I hope you are all very entertained by now!

The last activity I did was a rather disappointing one. Corinna had now left town and I decided to do a little trip to an island full of penguins and a cruise along the beagle channel on my last day. Little Penguins are quite common in Australia and I already saw a lot of them in Melbourne and on Phillip Island. I was hoping that the species they have here in Ushuaia would be a bit more different, but it turned out that the Magellanic Penguins (by far the biggest group of penguins here) are very, very similar. I also saw Gentoo Penguins and a King Penguin though, which was pretty cool. After spending about an hour on the island and some other random stuff on the way there (trees that were shaped by the wind, a museum about marine mammal skeletons (creepy (especially when they showed us the fresh carcasses (let's just add more brackets because I can)))) we started our cruise. And the cruise was just 100% meh. Towards the end we stopped at the famous lighthouse and at a few rocks with sea lion colonies but I guess I'm just too used to these animals so that in hindsights I'm a little angry with myself spending so much money on that activity.

Looks like it's a bit windy out here

The lady was very excited about skinning this skull

Gentoo Penguins

Spot the king!

Look at this ugly fella

That was my adventure at the end of the world. I started making some good friends and it was a great start to get to know Patagonia. Next up is El Chalten, the hiking capital of Argentina. Apparently they have really bad internet there, so it might get a little quiet here. Apart from that I also managed to get sick (Coronavirus?), so I'll probably have to rest a bit in the next few days.

I might meet Jean (who I met in the hostel) again in Bariloche

#argentina #ushuaia #tierra del fuego

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la-leto · 5 years

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Alex Honnold, star of the Oscar-contending doc Free Solo, is perched precariously halfway up an 85-foot wall. The seemingly superhuman climber who scaled a 3,000-foot sheer vertical wall in Yosemite National Park without any safety equipment is wearing a harness and tied into one end of a rope. In the unlikely event that he falls, the man on the other end, Jared Leto, will catch him. The wall arcs up and out at a steep angle — what rock climbers call overhanging — so a climber's body is nearly horizontal to the ground. When it's his turn to ascend the wall, Leto, breathing hard, is undeterred. "Nice, Jared, c'mon dude," Honnold, 33, shouts, doling out lengths of slack in the rope. "Stay with it, I'm with you."

Unlike the many people in Hollywood who have reached out to Honnold since the release of Free Solo, Leto, who fronts the rock band 30 Seconds to Mars and won a best supporting actor Oscar for 2013's Dallas Buyers Club, has been climbing with him since 2015. Leto was working on The Great Wide Open, a series of five short films about national parks and the men and women exploring them, including Honnold. Shortly after they met, the pro climber took Leto up a classic mountain route called Matthes Crest northeast of Yosemite Valley. It was one of Leto's first climbs, and they stayed out into the night. "We were just so psyched," says Honnold. Leto, 47, remembers scrambling along a thin blade of granite toward the summit and nearly falling off. "There was one part where I grabbed on the end of a rope during one really slabby section," he says. Leto continued to climb, and his friendship with Honnold grew. "I'm getting my ass kicked," the actor says, "which is great."

Leto makes a stealth appearance in Free Solo. Early on, filmmaker Jimmy Chin's camera lingers on an unidentified man's back as a disembodied voice (both belonging to Leto) asks Honnold if he would ever consider free-soloing the 3,000-foot granite monolith that is El Capitan, the mecca of the rock-climbing world. Honnold, of course, goes on to do just that, his ascent of El Capitan's Freerider route without ropes or harnesses ranking as a nearly unparalleled feat of physical achievement. On Feb. 24, the National Geographic-sponsored team that captured the epic journey on film, including Chin and his co-director and wife, Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, might be going home with an Oscar statuette.

Free Solo has brought a slew of opportunities to Honnold. "It's like a snowball going downhill," he says. "And the film hasn't even hit streaming yet." In November, Honnold struck a multiyear brand ambassador partnership with car company Rivian, which considers Honnold a "superuser" because he lived in a van for so long. Rivian, which markets itself as the manufacturer of the "world's first Electric Adventure Vehicles," consults with Honnold on design. On Oscar night, Honnold is expected to show up in a Rivian R1T All-Electric pickup truck — and sport a custom-made tuxedo that The North Face is having made just for the occasion. (Honnold still uses the van that appeared in Free Solo for overnight climbing trips with his girlfriend, Sanni McCandless.) He has another ambassadorship deal with Beyond Meat, a company that makes plant-based products that resemble meat. He also has shares in the company, which could yield dividends when it stages its IPO soon. His nonprofit, The Honnold Foundation, which works on solar energy and aid projects for impoverished communities in the U.S. and abroad, has seen an uptick in attention and partnerships as well.

Black Diamond and Maxim sponsor his climbing gear. A company called Stride provides him with health insurance. Italian climbing company La Sportiva offers shoes, and Utah-based Goal Zero works with him to market solar chargers for phones. He gets paid handsomely to speak to investors and corporations, often repurposing a Ted Talk he gave last year about "mastery." He'll soon become part-owner of a national chain of climbing gyms, a speculative bid on an expected uptick of interest in rock climbing. Though he's avoided the big-time exposure that comes with big-time sports brands, Honnold will almost certainly make seven figures this year and next. Says his manager at RXR Sports, Jonathan Retseck, "For rock climbing, that's pretty good."

***

One recent morning, before Leto arrived at the Sender One climbing gym in South L.A., Honnold reflected on this new phase as a half-dozen people snuck by to snap pictures of him. Hollywood, too, has shown intense interest: Honnold was game when Edward Norton's agent got in touch about the two going climbing. (They haven't yet.) He met Brie Larson, who also has climbed and was training for Captain Marvel, at an Antonio Banderas screening. "I loved Zorro as a kid, and [Banderas] was talking about one of the scenes where he was climbing on a beam and forgot to clip in, and he was like, 'It's like free soloing,' " recalls Honnold. "It was pretty classic!"

It may come as no surprise that the man who scaled El Cap without ropes is unfazed by the pressures of Hollywood. At the climbing gym, as Honnold completes a difficult boulder problem — just slightly harder than the famous karate-kick move shown in Free Solo— he says, "I don't think any of it is that surprising if you think about it rationally. The scheduled time, the interviews, the publicists, being handled and stuff — it doesn't feel like a healthy lifestyle, but that's fine."

Of the awards-season rush, "It's obviously not how I would choose to spend my life," he says, "and the idea that freakin' actors do this for their whole careers blows my mind because it's not that fun, you know? It's really cool to meet these people that you've been inspired by, but you don't actually hang out. It's not quality time." Leto, who walks into the gym wearing a Grateful Dead shirt and black pants, adds that he lent him a tux for the Producers Guild Awards. "He could barely move in the thing, and the shoes I think were probably too small as well," notes Leto.

Since their first meeting in Yosemite, Honnold and Leto have climbed in Colorado, Nevada and in other places in California. "For the amount of time he's been doing it, he's actually phenomenal," Chin says, bestowing on the Oscar winner an even greater honor: "He's a climber."

Later, Leto, who has put on 10 pounds since playing Dallas Buyers Club's transgender drug addict, shares that the physical change is part of preparation for his role as the archvillain in Morbius, the Marvel spinoff about the vampiric character. "The world's most fearsome predator," Leto quips. Warming up on a few moderately easy routes that snake up alongside Sender One's imposing overhang, Leto adds that he hopes to pack on 10 more pounds: "It's great because I go from being very sick and very infirm to being strong and monstrous" in the movie. The friends have climbed at indoor gyms whenever the Las Vegas-based pro climber has been in town to promote Free Solo, and Honnold has been careful not to push Leto too far out of respect for his actorly obligations. "Jared's climbing is not the most important thing for him, obviously," he says, adding: "I think it would be cool to do stunts — I want to wind up as Tom Cruise's stunt double, to do climbing in a movie. Don't you think that'd be fun?" One of his early climbing heroes, a well-known Yosemite legend named Ron Kauk, climbed for Sylvester Stallone in Cliffhanger and for Cruise in Mission: Impossible II.

Understandably, most people still want to talk about Honnold's ascent of Freerider, even though his climbing career has moved on in some ways, including a record speed ascent of another route on El Cap and an expedition to Antarctica. "But then I spend all day, every day, talking about the Freerider climb, so in some ways I haven't moved past it at all," he says. "It's the first time in my life I've had that kind of weird disconnect between what I'm working on versus what I'm talking about."

He hadn't climbed outside in more than a month, and yet now, as he moves from bouldering to a few rounds on the hang bar to the overhanging wall, he seems content. "I feel surprisingly strong for the fact that I live in hotels now," he says. Honnold and a friend have been toying with the idea of attempting a route somewhere on the Trango Towers, a massif of 20,000-feet-high granite peaks in northern Pakistan that has attracted top climbers for years. "I just want to get to the top of some of the most striking towers in the world," he says. "Honestly though, we'll see if it even happens because of scheduling."

In other ways, Honnold's life post-Free Solohas mellowed. He's happily ensconced with McCandless at the Vegas home they purchased during filming of the movie. They climb together often. Co-director Vasarhelyi points out that Honnold has successfully managed to scale this emotional challenge. "They found love," she says. "It's a Shakespearean story, the little engine that could." Honnold says the emotional drama of the documentary belies a more serene domesticity that he thoroughly enjoys. "You only see a few minutes onscreen, so it doesn't show that you're living together in harmony," he says. "It only shows the moments of tension around this big challenge." Still, it seems evident that conquering the solo climb has freed up something deeper in Honnold. Whereas in the movie Honnold was demonstrably uncomfortable when hugging his friend Tommy Caldwell's kids, now he struts around the gym proudly holding Chin and Chai Vasarhelyi's daughter, Marina, in his arms. They call him "Uncle Alex."

Later, as he belays Leto, who scrambles up another route, a friend stops by to chat. Honnold asks about the friend's romantic relationship. "It's casual," the friend says. "Is it consistent?" Honnold asks, and the friend nods. Honnold thinks on this for half a second. "Consistently casual is still consistent," Honnold says, smiling. "After three great years with Sanni, I feel qualified to give relationship advice." He says he wants a family and kids of his own one day. "Are you going to let them climb?" the friend asks. Honnold doesn't hesitate. "I'm sure my kids will grow up underneath the moonboard in my home." For someone who has explored the most extreme corners of what's physically and psychologically possible, Honnold seems keen to resume a life of normal pleasures. "As soon as the Oscars are over, he's going to be itching to get in a van with Sanni and go on a climbing trip and life as usual," says Retseck. Leto reaches the top of the wall. Honnold brings him down, they laugh, and move on to the next route.

#jared leto #alex honnold #free solo #bffs #interviews #morbius

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faerydae-faerydae · 5 years

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21 question tag

Answer 21 questions and tag 21 people you want to know better.

Nicknames: Feia, which means “fairy” in Russian. An ex-best friend used to call me that, and everyone else liked it so much they still use it %) Zodiac sign: Aquarius Height: 170 cm Hogwarts house: Slytherin. I registered on Pottermore just to see that it’ll put me in the right house, which, I guess, was pretty slytherin of me %)) The last thing I googled: The official schedule of the state exams. I had a panic attack in the middle of the night that both my student and I had somehow mixed up the dates. Welcome to my brain lol Favourite musicians: of all time: System of a Down, HIM, Kasabian, Muse, Marilyn Manson, AFI, Buckethead, U2; currently: Billie Eilish and Linkin Park

Song stuck in your head: grandson - Blood // Water Following: 121 Followers: 148 Do you get asks: Hardly ever, but I love all of them %) Amount of sleep: I feel good when I sleep for around 10 hours a day. I usually sleep for around 7 (or less, if I can’t make myself go to bed before 3 am %) Lucky number: don’t have one What you’re wearing: black pajama pants and a basic black top Dream job: something in the movie industry I guess. Translating films? Acting? Both? %) Dream trip: a cruise around South America with a stop to see penguins in Antarctica %) Instruments: I can’t play anything to save my life, but I do have an electric guitar. I was more optimistic about my skills when I was 15 %) Languages: English, French and Russian, obviously. I hope I’ll be able to speak proper French some day %) Favourite songs: ok, so that’ll be one song off the top of my head by each of the forementioned artists: Hypnotize by System of a Down; Coma White by Marilyn Manson; Wasted by Kasabian; Buried Alive by Love by HIM, Hysteria by Muse; Silver and Cold by AFI; Sketches of Spain (for Miles) by Buckethead, The Fly by U2; bad guy by Billie Eilish and Castle of Glass by Linkin Park Random fact: I used to have terrible memory for faces, but I accidentally trained myself while I was obsessing over the supermodels of the 90s and looking for new old pictures of Christy Turlington, who was my celebrity crush at the time %) Aesthetic: a rock star who couldn’t be bothered XD and goth aesthetic in general, of course

@lalaurelia - thanks for tagging! This was fun %)))

#my posts #tagged #text #personal

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heavenslastcrush · 5 years

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The Legend of Joan

I recently had an incredible opportunity to travel to Antarctica over the New Year’s holiday on the National Geographic Orion. The trip was an unbelievable experience full of adventure, excitement, inspiration, self-discovery… even a little bit of romance.

Traveling and beginning a New Year in a new country has become quite the ritual of mine. It began in 2015 when I went to Australia with my boyfriend. We celebrated New Year’s 2016 on a yacht on the Sydney Harbor, right between the Harbor Bridge and the Opera House.

By the time the end of 2016 came around that boyfriend had become an ex-boyfriend, but I was determined to have just as amazing of a time despite being newly single. I thought about the last time that I was single and really happy, and it occurred to me that it was when I was living in London. So naturally, I needed to return. That year, I went to France & England with a friend I had lived and studied abroad with while in South Kensington. Said friend was also recently single, and also needed to get away. We counted down to midnight and welcomed the beginning of 2017 on a yacht on the Thames.

For New Year 2018, I needed to one-up myself again and venture to Asia – so I traveled to Thailand and Cambodia and rang in the holiday on the Marriott rooftop in Bangkok, overlooking the city while literally being on top of the world.

Since my traveling tradition also seemed to include being on a different continent, my initial New Year 2019 plan was to travel to Brazil & Argentina. I had an entire itinerary all mapped out – I would first spend a couple of days in Salvador, then venture over to Rio. Next I would travel down to Buenos Aires to actually celebrate New Year’s, and then spend a few more days at Iguazu Falls. I would bookend my trip with about 4 days in Patagonia.

I thought I was so clever, planning out such a great vacation.

Funny how life happens while you are busy making plans.

It turns out that I couldn’t find anyone to go with me on this adventure. I asked my parents, siblings, old friends, new friends… I even put a message on Facebook to see if I could get any random connections to join me. But alas, my efforts were fruitless.

It was critical that I still go somewhere, but I wasn’t quite brave enough to venture to Brazil solo. I typically have no issues traveling alone, but everyone that I have ever talked to about Brazil was in agreement that it is not super safe for anyone to travel to, let alone by one’s lonesome, and especially as a single female.

Where could I go that would be safe? That would still put me on a new continent? That I could travel to alone?

I googled a map of the world. I revisited the list of countries I’ve already explored on my “Been” app. And, as I was sitting there (admittedly at the office, being distracted by this sometime in early-October, which is super late in the game to be planning an international excursion, by the way), I glanced at the very bottom of this Google map image at a thin strip of white with a small area jutting out.

Antarctica?

Hmm…

Well, it was on my bucket list to visit all 7 continents before I died. I guess it would make sense to try to go to Antarctica now while I’m still young and could tolerate small amounts of cold.

I started Googling more about the continent.

Population?: 4K.

Yeah, that seems pretty safe.

Photos?

Oh, well these look pretty cool. Lots of penguins. Penguins are legit.

“Alright”, I thought, “I guess I could do Antarctica”. Next I needed to figure out how to get there.

Initially, I wanted to visit the tip and see things like Deception Island. But, I also wanted to go to the South Pole. Just to say I’ve been there.

Turns out, you can’t really fly into Antarctica. (Well, I suppose you can, if you are a billionaire and really bored). It also turns out, that there isn’t all that much in the middle of the continent, and that the most interesting animals and sights are actually on the edges. Cruises were recommended galore.

As with any other Google search I always begin with “Best [insert whatever it is I want to do/explore/see/etc.]”.

So, I type in “Best Antarctica Cruises” and scroll down until I find a link where some company isn’t trying to sell me something.

I found a Conde Nast Traveller article that gave me all kinds of details on what to look for in an Antarctica Cruise. (Here’s the link if you are interested: https://www.cntraveller.com/article/best-antarctica-cruises). In this article, they recommend either the National Geographic Orion or the Silver Explorer.

“I can be on a National Geographic ship?!” SOLD. HERE’S ALL OF MY MONEY.

I’m totally kidding, I did a little more research first.

I found that National Geographic actually had two ships at the recommended size, with reputable crews, Zodiac boats on board, etc. One was the National Geographic Orion. The other was the National Geographic Explorer.

Both were fully booked.

But, I sent an inquiry to Lindblad Expeditions anyway (Lindblad & Nat Geo are in a partnership together for these expeditions) to see if these were actually fully booked, or what my chances would be to get on this ship in two months. I also wanted to know more about pricing.

The short version of this part is that a single cabin costs a small fortune. But, there was an option to share a cabin if I were willing, at a reduced rate. There weren’t any shared cabins available, but they would put me on a waiting list.

I like money, so I asked them to put me on the waiting list. And also, to please let me know if there was any way to obtain more of a discount.

A couple of weeks later, a shared cabin became available. However, when I got this notification, I was in San Jose at Twitch Con 2018. I was pretty distracted by how awesome that experience was, and I didn’t pay the cabin fee (which they require you to pay the full fare within 24 hours) in time and lost out on that cabin.

When I got back to New Jersey, I was crushed that I missed out on the opportunity. I called the company to see if they could put me back on the waiting list again, spoke to a lovely woman named Catalina, and as luck would have it another shared cabin had just become available.

BUT, this cabin cost 10% more than the previous one.

“So, Ms. Horner, would you like the cabin?”, she asked me.

I tried to see if there was any possible way to get it at a discounted rate, or if she thought another cabin at the lower rate would become available again.

“I really don’t think so, this expedition is departing in less than six weeks. It’s unlikely that passengers will cancel as they are out of the time period where they would receive any sort of refund. So, would you like the cabin?”, Catalina pressed again.

After the deepest breath of my life, I responded “Yes, I would, please.”, scurried over to get my wallet, and made the largest single transaction I’ve ever completed in my life. (Seriously, I could have bought a car for less).

“Is there anything else I can do for you today, Ms. Horner?”, Catalina asked.

“Actually, I know you can’t tell me the exact demographics of passengers on the ship. But, are you able to tell me if there are any solo travelers around my age that will be on board?”

“Actually”, she began, “because this expedition is taking place over the holiday there are many families going. We expect more of a diverse age range than usual.”

I thanked Catalina and got off the phone with her.

I was going to Antarctica.

In the weeks leading up to the trip, I had assumed that my roommate would be geriatric and feeble. I knew it would be a female, but I thought it would be some little old lady, maybe on the edge of death, that wouldn’t be able to use her camera or a computer and that would be up all hours of the evening doing whatever the elderly do in the middle of the night.

Fast forward to December 26, 2018. I’ve made it to Santiago, have already spent a few days exploring the area, and am now at Hotel Santiago which is the National Geographic-commissioned hotel where all of the passengers are staying before leaving the next morning to Ushuaia on the charter flight.

When I arrived, there was a small reception of cocktails and hors d’oeuvres taking place for the passengers. I met a few folks including Mack, a lawyer from Baton Rouge, LA (who would later ultimately be my next-door cabin neighbor); Peter, a Scottish man who was part of the staff on the expedition and one of the divers on-board; and Tia, a beautiful entrepreneur from England.

I thought this would be as good of a time as any to try to meet my roommate, but alas, she was no where to be found.

After the reception, I needed to rearrange my luggage so I went to the hotel room. At this point I hadn’t streamed in a few days and knew I would have a stable internet connection so I decided to stream a bit.

Right in the middle of the stream, that’s when I met Joan.

Joan.

What can I even say about Joan?

Well, she was definitely old. 81 in fact. But, from the second I met her, I could tell this was no ordinary lady. And while she may have been “old” in age, she was anything but old in spirit or energy.

Joan is fearless.

Joan is a badass.

Joan is my spirit animal.

Joan is my role model.

Joan is my adopted grandmother.

Joan is one of my best friends.

Throughout my trip, I spent a lot of time with Joan. Not only were we roommates, but we also shared several meals and several drinks together. Here’s some of what I learned about her:

· She lives in California.

· She got married when she was 21 years old, and had a long 49 year marriage.

· She has two daughters, and one grandson.

· She was formerly an accountant.

· Her husband passed away several years ago.

· She takes college classes! (Over 7 per term in fact, which is more than most college kids!)

· She has traveled to over 70+ countries.

But of all the things I learned about Joan, it all pales in comparison to what I learned from Joan.

Joan was one of the brightest lights on the ship. By the time we were leaving Ushuaia, she knew just about everyone on board, and everyone new her. I feel like she and I had this in common, but it was a great reminder, that no matter how old you get, or how successful you become, you should never be above saying “hello” and seeking out genuine connections with those around you. Relationships make the world go-round.

I mentioned this already before, but it’s worth reiterating: Joan was a fearless badass. Her attitude towards life was incredible. There was one point on the trip where we had the opportunity to jump into the Southern Ocean. (In case you are wondering, the water was a balmy 34*F.) There were people of all ages on this trip, but only about half of the people on the trip actually leapt in. Joan was of them. While I heard countless people talking about how “crazy” jumping in was, or their fear of “freezing up”, “losing their breath”, “going into shock”, etc. I heard Joan overwhelming with enthusiasm about the opportunity. At one point, another lady on the trip, probably in her late 30’s or early 40’s asked Joan if she was concerned about getting hurt by jumping in. Joan’s calm response was “Well, if that happens, then my kids can have an early inheritance, but I’m going in”. Badass.

This woman then proceeded to try to talk Joan out of it a bit, and Joan just shook that notion off and headed to the stern where we were all jumping.

Believe it or not, Joan actually jumped in before I did. I wanted her to go first, because I wanted to be able to watch it happen. (And by this point I was so enamored with her, that if heaven-forbid something did happen, I would have dived in after her). I started a cheer before she dove, and 100 passengers all chanted along in unison with me “JOAN! JOAN! JOAN!”.

Right before she dove in our expedition leader, Doug, pulled her aside and said “If you can’t pull yourself out, don’t jump in.”

I saw her hesitate, just for a second. I could see the wheels turning in her head. Thinking about whether or not she would have the strength to climb up the ladder afterwards. A second was all that look lasted for.

“I can do it. I’m going to do it.”

And then she jumped.

81 year old badass, all the way in the Southern Ocean.

You know that feeling you might get when your favorite sports team wins the Super Bowl? Or the World Cup? That’s how I felt watching Joan pull herself out of the ocean. I was so floored by her. Badass, I’m telling you.

In that singular instance, I learned so much from Joan. I learned that you are never too old to be fearless. That you must always believe in yourself. And, that sometimes, you just have to take a leap, even when other people doubt your abilities. Because taking those risky leaps, lead to great experiences, and even better stories.

As Joan and I spent more time together, she became one of my best girlfriends. We would come back to the room in between lectures, or after dinner, and just gossip about guys on the ship, crazy stories from the day, or how ridiculous people are.

I swear Joan got more action and romance on the ship than just about anyone that ever sailed on the National Geographic Orion.

One evening, I made it back from dinner before Joan did and was in the bathroom when she came in yelling (rather loudly for a little old lady, might I add), “HEATHER, I HAVE SOMETHING TO TELL YOU!”

Now, there was this guy on the ship, and I thought he was pretty attractive or whatever, so I thought she was going to tell me something about him, but was a little bit puzzled as to why she was this excited about whatever it was.

I came out of the bathroom in a hurry. “What?”, I said, “What happened?! What’s going on?!”

“I just got proposed to!”

“Wait… WHAT?!”

Joan just stood there staring at me, eyes wide, with a big smile. This was the look of a perfect blend of shock, amusement, and hysteria.

“By who?”, I questioned.

“ROD!!”

“Who’s Rod?!”, I questioned again.

“That old man!”

Ahh. I knew the one she was referring to. There was an old man on the ship who was business partners with Tia. He was 76, from England and wildly successful in his career.

“Wait, was he serious?”, I asked.

“Well, I don’t know. He sounded serious.”, Joan replied.

“Did he like get down on one knee or anything?”

“No, he just asked me from the far side of the dining room table.”

“Well, what did you say?!”, I asked. I really couldn’t tell if her tone was excitement from being newly engaged or shock at how ridiculous and preposterous such an inquiry was from someone she had only met a few days prior.

You know those times when you ask someone a question, and their reply is a firm indicator that your question was utterly absurd because they reply not only with their voice, but their full entity? This was one of those times.

“I said ‘NO!’, OF COURSE!!”

I couldn’t help but hysterically laugh. Here was my roommate, 81 years old, shining gem of the Orion, fearless badass, of course she would be getting proposed to.

“Well, I don’t know, Joan! Maybe this could be your second chance at love or something. But, that wasn’t a very good proposal.”, I managed to say in between gasping for air between chuckles.

“Listen, I am too old to be training another man. I don’t have time for all that.”

I erupted again.

Oh, Joan. You slay.

In that moment, I learned from Joan that independence is ageless, and no matter how old you get: you don’t need no man. (**triple snap, z-formation**) Sometimes I wish those trolls in Twitch chat egging me on about a boyfriend could spend 5 minutes with Joan. I think she could whip them into shape.

At the very end of the trip, once we started to head back to Ushuaia from Antarctica, Joan had booked a massage in the Wellness Center. We had a pretty chill day full of lectures, parsing through photos, and just enjoying the company of each other and all of our new friends on the ship.

The following day Joan’s back was bothering her a little bit. We wondered if it was because of a rather rocky Drake Passage the prior evening, all the hiking during the trip, or something else entirely.

After lunchtime, Joan found me in the room as I was swapping out my camera memory cards. “I got a massage.”, she told me.

Now, Joan is pretty sharp. I had never had to tell her anything twice, and she always remembered everything I told her. So, I was a bit puzzled as to why she was telling me again about her massage.

“I know”, I replied. “Yesterday morning… or, did you get another one?”

“I got a massage from Ian.”, Joan said with a sly smile.

Ahh, yes, Ian. Ian was the hotel manager on the ship. A tall, handsome, proper gentleman from South Africa.

Joan continued, “Now, if he proposed, that might be something to consider.”

Cracking me up again.

Even then, I learned from Joan, that while independence is ageless, so is romance. You can have either, or you can have both. But, the beauty in it is that you get to choose.

I was with Joan for 12 days. In those 12 days, we grew a deep and very special bond.

Joan taught me many things, but probably the greatest lesson that she taught me, or at least reminded me of, was that there is SO MUCH to live for, no matter your age or status in life, and that you can find friendship and family anywhere you go. So, always be kind to those around you, because you just might meet someone that touches your soul and that will remain a treasured part of you forever.

Joan, I love you, chica.

#travel #antarctica #national geographic #orion #inspiration #new year #new year 2019

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findingkathybrown · 3 years

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Travel Blog for Women Over 50 to Follow Now in USA

Welcome to Travel Blog for Women Over 50 to follow now in 2021 – All blogs featured include destination ideas for USA getaways and some international locations.

Many popular travel blogs feature 20’s or 30’s something- beautiful ladies lounging in bikinis on some distant beach. Don’t get me wrong, I have the utmost respect for these gals, but their travel interests always seemed a little more fast-paced than my middle age body will allow.

Even though my personal travel pace is slow with a good martini, many of these top travel blogs written by people over 50 are quite adventurous. I’m sure one of these amazing blogs will inspire your future travel itineraries.

MCCOOL TRAVEL – CHARLES MCCOOL What makes this traveling blog so great is real-world trip advice and tips. When I’m planning a getaway, the most important points for me to know are the best places to dine, top hotels, hidden gems, and authentic images. McCool Travel Blog manages to provide me with honest, thoughtful perspectives on great locations.

ONE ROAD AT A TIME – POST RETIREMENT TRAVEL Abi and Patti are an inspiring couple showing how when retirement is done right, the road can lead almost anywhere. I love all the wonderfully written stories highlighting getaways in the USA and beyond.

I find myself very much aligned with this couple’s traveling style, with many articles on national parks, outdoor attractions, and historic points of interest. Consequently, I often read about one of their adventures and wish Steve and I could have tagged along.

FAMILY TRAVELS ON A BUDGET – KAREN DAWKINS Truth be told, I know Karen personally and she happens to be a good friend. This top over 50 travel writer and I met several years ago at a media event. I’ve certainly learned a lot about travel writing from this amazing lady.

Family Travels on a Budget is a go-to vacation planner for families that often include cruising, theme parks, small-towns, and island getaways. I love family travels on a budget for gathering ideas for trips with the grandkids.

However, not all highlights are just for the family. Guests will also find some really great couples experiences.

LUGGAGE & LIPSTICK – PATTI MORROW Luggage and Lipstick creator Patti Morrow is the Boomer blogger this Gen Xer aspires to become. In the first place, this chic is fearless and looks fabulous while jumping out of airplanes, scuba diving, and exploring the world.

This 50 plus women’s adventurous spirit, light-hearted humor, and age-defining beauty will keep you daydreaming about the next stunning location.

TRAVELS WITH TAM – TAMMY MINTON Tam is taking you with her on a tour of exotic places. This popular blogger is in love with natural surroundings, luxury destinations, scuba diving, and cares deeply for the environment.

While I may be touring my home country of the United States, Tam is journalling about her time in Antarctica and other distant lands.

GETTING ON TRAVEL ONLINE MAGAZINE Getting on Travel is a collaborative online magazine with an incredible group of writers over the age of 50. Experiences include luxury resorts, beach getaways, cruising, food, wine, and casinos.

#Travel Blog for Women Over 50

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polarholidaysus · 1 year

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Best time to go to Antarctica for Cruising and Other Adventure Activities

As the northernmost continent of the world, Antarctica offers a unique journey into frozen landscapes that you won’t find anywhere in the world. This snowy pristine wilderness is home to a wide variety of polar wildlife. The spectacular scenery is truly a masterpiece. The thrilling scenery will provide you with an awe-inspiring view to enjoy with the naked eye.

Nearly 60% to 90% of the world’s freshwater is trapped in the vast ice sheets of Antarctica. The Antarctic ice sheet is the largest on Earth with an area of around 14 million km² (5.4 million square miles) involving Antarctic mountains, valleys, and plateaus. Antarctica may be the harshest and most inhospitable place on earth, but it's also emerged as one of the best vacation destinations in the world. Avid adventure travelers can now travel to this part of the world even by plane or cruise ship.

What are the breathtaking things to do in Antarctica?

Camp under the stars

Go kayaking

Do a polar jump

Skiing in the snowy mountains

Visit a scientific research station

Crossing the Drake Passage

Photography practice

Climb the highest mountain in Antarctica

Best Time to Visit Antarctica

November to March is regarded as the best time to visit Antarctica which will be a short expedition to this ice continent. This is the best time for visiting Antarctica because the ice starts to melt during this period allowing the ships to pass. The iceberg maximizes in November and remains sculptural and surreal. Twenty hours of sunshine from December to January provide pleasant warmth. Temperatures are above freezing, creating the perfect environment for baby seals, penguin chicks, and whales.

Polar Holidays, a top-notch Antarctica tour operator is engaged in providing travel and booking polar expedition cruises for the last two decades. It is well-versed with all the nitty-gritty of Antarctica cruise trips.

The best time to go to Antarctica for cruising would be from late October to March. Pre-season means cool temperatures and pristine snow-caps. December and January, on the other hand, are the most popular months to visit Antarctica, with warmer weather and longer days. Its experienced tour staff will help you choose the tour that best suits your needs and budget.

It offers door-to-door service, attention to detail, and a once-in-a-lifetime cruise experience. Its small team of passionate polar experts will help you plan your trip from your doorstep to Antarctica or the Arctic region. It specializes in comprehensive support services such as flight, connection, and transfer arrangements so that you don’t have to worry about anything. For More Details visit:- https://polarholidays.com/

#Best Time To Visit Antarctica #Best Time To Go To Antarctica

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polarholidaysusa · 5 months

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Here are the things that everyone should know about Antarctica Tours

The seventh continent Antarctica is the most unexplored, hostile, and amazing place on our planet.

But it might be said that it is not at the top of most people’s lists of places that they’d dreamed of. The reason it is freezing, and remote, with no interesting buildings to look at, and no tropical jungles to explore. You can’t find any luxury hotel on site to rest in and no sandy beaches to relax on. Now you might be confused thinking what is the theme in this article? Well, there are plenty of amazing places and activities that can offer you the best experiences on this frozen continent! Traveling to the Antarctic has been the most adventurous for more than a century and it is the best trip of every traveller’s lifetime.

So Antarctica tours offer are unique experience but there are several important things to know before getting on your voyage. To learn more information about the Antarctica Tours go through this blog before

It isn’t just the seventh continent, it offers the most amazing travel experience with additional opportunities that may include cruise travel, exploring an Antarctic cruise fleet, photography in the Arctic, and the incredible wilderness, etc.

Limited Tourism for Antarctica

Antarctica is one of the most remote and extreme environments, often well below freezing. Most visitors plan to book Antarctica tours usually during the Australian summer when the weather is milder (i.e. from November to March). Some tour operators may have health and fitness requirements due to the extreme conditions.

Sea Kayaking And Camping

You can enjoy sea Kayaking with a small guided group which makes feel like having the moment to yourself. It delivers a different viewpoint on the dramatic natural landscapes, wildlife, scenery, etc. And when you think about Camping in Antarctica it seems strange on the world’s coldest continent. But it provides an opportunity to completely immerse in the polar wilderness and have something cool for your photography session.

It is home to a collection of unbelievable wildlife

You can enjoy your Antarctica Tours by exploring wildlife views including penguins, seals, whales, and several seabirds. Earlier this continent would be an ice-clad hell for some polar explorers, but it's truly an untouched slice of heaven as Earth's last place. You can experience all sorts of incredible wildlife while visiting Antarctica tours.

The last line

Traveling to Antarctica may not be easy for everyone. You should be tolerant of the cold and prepared to spend your holiday, so need to be reasonably fit. Before embarking on your Antarctica cruise, make sure you have packed correctly with everything you need. And finally, if we go for the budget the cost of Antarctica tours is expensive and it may vary according to your requirements and activities.Resource: https://polarholidaysusa.wordpress.com/2023/12/13/here-are-the-things-that-everyone-should-know-about-antarctica-tours/

#Antarctica Tours #travel to antarctica #cruise travel #business #tour #startup

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petescycleco · 4 years

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2017 Honda VFR1200X On Sale $9,299.00 Was $15,999.00

You know where adventures start? From right where you’re standing—or more likely, sitting. Sure, some folks jet over to Everest or Antarctica for the weekend. But the real adventurers know that you can find excitement right in your own backyard—or a backyard one or two states over. Especially if you’re on a motorcycle. And especially if that bike happens to be a Honda VFR1200X. The VFR1200X is built for people who know adventure isn’t someplace you go, it’s what you do getting there. It’s an excellent machine for exploring the world around you, and doing it in comfort, confidence, and style. Sporty, athletic, nimble enough for around-town cruising or tight winding back roads, it’s also big enough to reel in those highway miles, and see the Statue of Liberty, Mount Rushmore, and the Alamo all in the same trip. And the VFR1200X is loaded with features too—the most important being its 1237cc V4 engine and choice of six-speed transmissions. Best of all, we’re offering a ton of accessories, so you can fine-tune it to how you want to ride.

Where will a 2017 Honda VFR1200X take you? Wherever adventure calls. V4 Power: The VFR1200X’s V4 isn’t just another engine—it’s a spectacular example of motorcycling’s best. Case in point: the two rear cylinders are closer together than the front two, making the engine narrower where your legs are. Smart engineering! Two Transmission Choices: Take your pick between a conventional six-speed manual transmission or our third-generation automatic DCT: six speeds, push-button shifting, your choice of shift modes. Shaft Final Drive: Clean, efficient, proven, low-maintenance. Shaft final drive is the perfect choice on a top-of-the-line machine like the VFR1200X. One-Hand Adjustable Windscreen: One size doesn’t fit all—and neither does one windscreen. Adjusting the VFR1200X’s windscreen only takes one hand and a couple of seconds.

Selectable Shift Modes: When you choose the Automatic DCT model, you can scroll between standard “D” mode, three sport modes, and even the option to “manually” shift up or down with the handlebar-mounted buttons.

Innovations

1237cc V4 Engine: Drawing on 30 years of V4 technology and racing success, Honda designers gave the VFR1200X what is one of our most advanced streetbike engines yet: a fuel-injected, liquid-cooled 1237cc, 76-degree V-4 brimming with low-end torque.

Transmission Choices: You can choose between a conventional six-speed manual transmission or our latest, third-generation Honda Automatic DCT transmission. With the DCT, you upshift or downshift with a pair of paddle-style buttons, or you can let the gearbox shift for itself.

Selectable Torque Control: Honda's Selectable Torque Control system (HSTC) is designed to help riders adapt to multiple traction conditions. With the push of a button the VFR1200X's (HSTC) lets you choose from three levels of engine-torque. The system can also be turned off according to rider preference. Available on both manual-transmission and Automatic DCT versions of the VFR1200X.

43mm Inverted Fork: Who knows where you’ll be riding, but the VFR1200X’s suspension is up to the job. The 43mm KYB fork is adjustable for spring preload as well as rebound damping, and is plenty stiff for steering precision.

Pro-Link® Rear Suspension: The KYB shock on the VFR1200X’s rear suspension is adjustable for rebound damping and features a convenient no-tool preload adjuster making it easy to fine-tune the ride for varying loads.

One-Hand Adjustable Windscreen: It couldn’t be easier to adjust the new VFR1200X’s windscreen. One hand and a couple of seconds is all you’ll need. The range adjusts over three inches from high to low.

Shaft Final Drive: Tough, durable, silent, clean, and low-maintenance, the VFR1200X’s shaft final drive is exactly what you want in a bike designed to turn out some serious miles.

Single-Sided Swingarm: The final-drive assembly runs right through the single-sided aluminum swingarm housing, making rear-wheel removal a snap.

Spoked Wheels: With a 17-inch rear and a 19-inch front, the VFR1200X’s wheels are built to handle the rigors of gnarly pavement or dirt/gravel roads.

Dual Front Discs: The twin front brakes use huge 310mm discs for plenty of fade-free stopping power. Combined ABS is a standard feature.

Accessory Socket: Need to charge your phone, run a GPS, or any other electrical accessory? This handy outlet makes it a cinch.

Aluminum Frame: The VFR1200X’s twin-spar aluminum frame members are fine-tuned to offer very precise control over weight and rigidity, and form the foundation of the bike’s stellar handling.

Engine

Engine Type: 1237cc liquid-cooled 4-stroke Unicam 16-valve 76 deg. V4

Bore And Stroke: 81 x 60

Induction: PGM-FI electronic fuel injection

Ignition: Electric

Compression Ratio: 12.0:1

Drive Train

Transmission: 6-speed

Final Drive: Enclosed Shaft

Chassis / Suspension / Brakes

Front Suspension: 43 mm inverted telescopic forks with hydraulic damping, preload and rebound damping adjustment

Rear Suspension: Pro-Link® with gas-charged damper, preload and stepless rebound damping adjustment

Front Brake: Dual 310 mm discs, Combined ABS

Rear Brake: Single 276 mm disc, Combined ABS

Front Tire: 110/80-R19

Rear Tire: 150/70-R17

Dimensions

Rake: 28.0 deg.

Trail: 107 mm

Wheelbase: 62.8 in.

Seat Height: 33.5 in.

Fuel Capacity: 5.68 gal.

Other

Model ID: VFR1200X

Available Colors: Candy Red

Emissions: Meets current California Air Resources Board (CARB) and EPA standards.

Factory Warranty Information

One Year: Transferable, unlimited-mileage limited warranty; extended coverage available with a Honda Protection Plan.

from Blogger https://ift.tt/2YykzIY via Motorcycle Dealer Maryland

#motorcycle dealer #motorcycles for sale #ATV dealer #motorcycle showroom #used motorcycles dealer

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interestingbook2020 · 4 years

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Journeys of a Lifetime: 500 of the World's Greatest Trips

This lavish volume reveals National Geographic's top picks for the world's most fabulous journeys, along with practical tips for your own travels. Compiled from the favorite trips of National Geographic's travel writers, this inspirational book spans the globe to highlight the best of the world's most famous and lesser known sojourns. It presents an incredible diversity of possibilities, from ocean cruises around Antarctica to horse treks in the Andes. Every continent and every possible form of transport is covered. A timely resource for the burgeoning ranks of active travelers who crave adventurous and far-flung trips, Journeys of a Lifetime provides scores of creative ideas: trekking the heights of Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania... mountain biking in Transylvania... driving through the scenic highlands of Scotland... or rolling through the outback on Australia's famous Ghan train... and dozens of other intriguing options all over the world. Journeys of a Lifetime also features 22 fun Top 10 lists in all sorts of categories. What are the world's top 10 elevator rides, bridges to walk across, trolley rides, ancient highways, or underground walking adventures? Readers will love evaluating and debating the selections. Each chapter showcases stunning photography, full-color maps, evocative text, and expert advice—including how to get there, when to visit, and how to make the most of the journey—all packaged in a luxurious oversize volume to treasure for years to come.

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achrafchachi · 4 years

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28 Places Every Man Should Visit In His Lifetime

Your Family’s Ancestral Homeland

For many of us, this can imply visiting multiple regions of the world. Your paternal grandfather may have roots in Ireland, while your maternal grandmother may be Italian.

Regardless, at the very least choose and visit the one where you still have distant relatives living there. Trust me, you’ll always remember that beer that

you had with a long-lost cousin in the land where your ancestors once roamed.

A Historic Sports Stadium

We’ve all attended a ball game. However, unless you lived near an iconic stadium, such as Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles; Wrigley Field in Chicago; or even Old Trafford in Manchester, England; chances are that you have not taken in the sport’s history as you watched the action on the field.

Trust me, even if you are not a fan of the team that calls the historic stadium home, you will feel a special thrill being in the same structure where so many legends played in the past.

A Racetrack

Experiencing a racetrack is like being part of the continuum of manhood. From the “old-timers” to the “young bloods,” it is a true melting pot of generations.

Who knows, maybe a few decades from now it will be your turn to be the old guy in a loud sports coat giving some betting advice to the “youngster” standing next to him.

The Open Sea

The high seas, the ocean, call it as you wish — it has drawn brave explorers and mariners for centuries. While oceans cover two-thirds of our planet and chances are that you will fly over them many times — rarely does anyone sail across them anymore.

There is nothing like being literally in the middle of the ocean onboard a ship. At least once, you must take an ocean-going trip. Yes, a cruise ship will count for this one.

A Desert

Normally a desert is a place that people want to avoid, but you’re a man — so, it should be on your list of places to visit. The Mojave, the Sahara, the Gobi, there are plenty of deserts which you can visit and experience.

By the way, driving out to Vegas on a party bus does not count as “experiencing” a desert.

The Door to Hell

Located in Derweze, Turkmenistan, this 70-yard wide natural gas crater has been on perpetual fire since 1971. Awesome to behold and still unique enough of a destination to really make you stand out when you post pictures of your visit on Facebook, this destination comes with genuine bragging rights.

Besides, you can now literally tell friends that you have been to hell and back.

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Long one of the most popular tourist destinations in Western Europe, Amsterdam is an absolute must on your destination list.

Yeah, yeah, it’s rich in museums and culture, blah-blah-blah, but it’s also home to “coffee shops” that don’t serve coffee and to the DeWallen district. Don’t know what the DeWallen is? If you’re single, google it.

If you’re not single, the Netherlands is also a fantastic spot to visit with a partner. Check out other travel ideas over at our best vacation spots for couples.

Bangkok, Thailand

As long as we place Amsterdam on the list, we would be remiss if we failed to include Bangkok as well. Wilder and with an exotic flare,

Bangkok will be one of those places that you will never forget. Mind you, this is one of those destinations that is best experienced prior to “settling down.”

A Historic Battlefield

There is no place like a famous historic battlefield to get some perspective on life. Gettysburg, Normandy, Waterloo, these are hallowed grounds from which many have drawn inspiration.

Whether you served in the military or not, a visit to a historical battlefield will affect you profoundly.

The Jungle

Whether you prefer the old school term of “jungle,” or if you use the term “rain forest,” it should be a destination for you to visit. Unless you are a trained survivalist, we strongly recommend that you use the services of a rain forest tour operator so that you can survive your visit and get the greatest thrill out of it.

Trust me, a few days in the jungle will make any camping trip that you had in the past seem like a kindergarten outing.

The Pyramids

The Great Pyramid of Giza is the sole surviving structure of what was once the seven wonders of the ancient world.

Everybody that has visited the Great Pyramid, from Napoleon to your average Joe, has expressed how a visit to the Pyramids is a life-altering experience. How could you possibly pass that up?

Antarctica

Yes, you can (and should) visit Antarctica. From penguin colonies to seeing real glaciers and icebergs, to camping and kayaking on the planet’s least populated continent, the experiences that you will have visiting Antarctica will feed your adventurous storytelling for years to come.

You can even cement your bragging rights further by sending postcards to your family and friends postmarked from the southernmost post office in the world.

The Stratosphere

We are not kidding around with this one, we mean it — the stratosphere — the edge of space 19 kilometers above the planet is definitely a place that you should visit at least once in your lifetime.

Before you run out and start building your own rocket, you should know that tour companies exist that book flights onboard Mig-29s that will take civilians to the edge of space.

New York City

One of the seven alpha cities in the world today, New York is one of those iconic destinations that must be experienced.

Whether you take a cultural approach to the city, a sophisticated approach, or even a touristy approach — New York City will never disappoint you. As that guy, Frank What’s-His-Name said in song, “it’s the city that doesn’t sleep.”

A Cigar Lounge

If you are not a smoker, we are not encouraging you to start, but a cigar lounge is one of those places that you should visit at least once.

There is something to be said for the ambiance, the decor and the richness of the aromas in a cigar lounge. It is like visiting the past while in the present.

Las Vegas

Sin City, the town that Bugsy Siegel built. How could you possibly not visit this place?

We shouldn’t have to tell you what this place has to offer, but allow us to give you fair warning — in spite of the old saying, not everything that you do in Vegas, stays in Vegas.

A Ghost Town

Incredibly, these are not that hard to find in many parts of the world with just a little research. There is nothing liking walking through what was once a hustling and bustling town now abandoned.

For you academic types, it is an excellent location to ponder about the true legacy of man. For the rest of you, it’s just a cool place to look at old and abandoned stuff. This is a picture of Craco, a fascinating ghost town in Italy which was abandoned due to natural disaster.

A Cave

We are not talking about your man cave back home, we mean a real cave or cavern. First, make certain that it has been previously explored and is safe for you to enter, but definitely add a cave destination to your list of places to visit.

Carlsbad Caverns, Mammoth Cave, and Barton Creek Cave are but a few of the most well-known caves to visit.

London

The second alpha city to be mentioned on this list, London packs history, culture and a good time all in one destination.

Home to four World Heritage sites, it would be impossible to be a man of the world without visiting London at least once.

An Iconic 5-Star Hotel

In your lifetime you will stay at many hotels. From roadside motels, to comfortable, yet generic corporate hotels, to a few fancy ones. However, you must not omit from your list a historic and iconic 5-star hotel. The Waldorf-Astoria in New York, the Savoy in London, the Peninsula in Hong Kong, the Hotel Du Louvre in France.

All of these hotels are not just top in luxury, but they are also iconic. Historic figures have stayed there. Who wouldn’t want to say that they have slept under the same roof that Winston Churchill once did.

The Great Wall of China

The Great Wall of China should be more than enough motivation for you to visit the nation of China at least once in your life. Obviously in making such a far off trip you will also take in many of the other splendors that China has to offer.

A major player in the world, a visit to China is a must-do.

A Traditional Barber Shop

Before anybody starts protesting about how they get a haircut once or twice a month, allow us to explain. We are referring to an authentic, just as your great grand-daddy would’ve remembered, barbershop. Not a modern version of a traditional barbershop installed in some shopping mall — we mean the real McCoy.

Straight-edge razor shave, hot towel on the face, shoulder massage — the works. A place that has been in continuous operation for at least 50 years. Once you find one, it may surprise you how often you will visit it.

Burning Man

Held yearly in the Black Rock Desert in Nevada, this temporary community/festival definitely merits a visit.

Described by its organizers as a “community of artistic self-expression for the pleasure of its participants,” how can you not experience that at least once in your lifetime?

Zhangjiajie National Park, China

I know, we had already included the Great Wall and in passing mentioned all of the other splendors found in China. Well, this place is beyond splendorous and deserves to be visited just on its own.

When you do, prepare to be awed. With natural pillar-like formations rising from the ground as high as 3,500 feet, this place will make you feel like you are visiting another planet. Also, it’s home to the longest glass bridge in the world.

The Australian Outback

Vast and seemingly endless, the Australian outback provides any adventurer with plenty to see and do.

Whether you traverse it as part of an organized tour, undertake it yourself in a rented vehicle, or do so on board “The Ghan,” one the world’s greatest train journeys, a visit to the outback is a must.

Machu Picchu

Located nearly 8,000 feet above sea level in Peru, Machu Picchu is home to panoramic views and one of the most mysterious archeological sites in the world.

One of the New Seven Wonders of the World, there is nothing like seeing up close the ruins at Machu Picchu. Who knows, you might even bump into one of the “Ancient Aliens” guys while there.

Hollywood

Television and movies are so much a part of our modern culture, that not visiting the epicenter of their creative universe would be akin to the ancient Greeks not consulting the oracle at Delphi.

Also, visiting Hollywood in reality implies visiting Los Angeles — a place where you can be on the beach in the morning and at a ski resort in the mountains later on in the afternoon.

Chichen Itza

Located on the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, Chichen Itza is one of the most visited archeological sites in North America. Once a great city in the Mayan empire, its many buildings, highlighted by the castle pyramid, are a site to behold.

Also, since Cancun serves as a launching point for tours to Chichen Itza, you have all the more incentive to go.

That wraps up my list of the 28 places every man should visit in his lifetime. Where’s New Zealand, you ask?

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bigyack-com · 4 years

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Defining Luxury at The New York Times Travel Show

What’s the most over-the-top luxury experience you’ve heard about this year? It’s a great question—and a great group of panelists at The New York Times Travel Show on Friday had some wonderful tips for travel advisors on how to put together and sell luxury vacations. At the Focus on Luxury breakout session, Albert M. Herrera of Virtuoso, Lia Batkin of In the Know Experiences, Rick Baron of Tauck, Shannon Knapp of The Leading Hotels of the World, Becky Bullen Powell of Protravel International and Navin Sawhney of Ponant all defined the “best” luxury experience as a personal one for each guest, combining a touch of elegance with an element that touches the heart.

Free Luxury Travel Newsletter

Like this story? Subscribe to The Dossier Luxury Travel Advisor’s only newsletter, covering unique destinations and product news for affluent travelers. Delivered every Tuesday & Thursday. Baron, for example, took the term “over-the-top” literally; for him, it was heading up and over the Rockies, exploring the highest mountains with a small and private group and staying at an elegant ski lodge after the season was over. “The impact of those mountains is far greater than anything you expect,” he said. ”It’s not just a sightseeing experience; it’s an emotional experience.” And while mountain climbing and other sports are possible, a trek to the mountains need not be overly physical, he noted: “We put up a bridge table on the mountaintop for one group and they played bridge all day.” Even when she stayed at the elegant and luxurious Royal Mansour, Knapp’s favorite memory from her recent trip to Marrakech trip was the visit to a local coop that sells pottery and rugs. “It was the incredible experience of staying at a hotel in an extraordinary location and seeing the impact of the hotel’s partnership with the local community,” she said. “It was transformative.” For Sawhney, it was sailing in a pristine environment like Antarctica, and then coming back to a beautiful ship for a pool party with convivial conversation, fine champagne and blinis with caviar. And while the Manhattan Sky Suite at the Park Hyatt New York is truly luxurious, Herrera said, it was his private peek into the Weeping Room at the Vatican, where newly elected Popes retire for a moment or two of solitude, that most affected him lately. “It was just amazing—and as we left, here came the Pope!” Batkin’s favorite luxury story is the 40th birthday surprise trip one husband planned for his wife, who loved all things culinary. They spent a week traveling through Europe with her favorite chef, visiting a different Michelin restaurant in a different city every day. Each morning the traveling chef and the local chef took her to the market to source the food, and then they all came back and cooked it together. For Powell, it was getting permission for a client who’s a golf buff to play Augusta with his two sons after the Masters Tournament. The key to delivering a great luxury experience is listening for the tidbits of information that will make for a unique and personal experience, all agreed, and having the right partners to make your client’s dreams come true.

The Advisor’s Role in the New Luxury Environment

Where once luxury was about chandeliers and formal clothing, “the balance of power has shifted; now guests define what luxury is to them,” Powell said. And indeed, the fact that luxury is so much more difficult to define is pushing travelers to seek out a knowledgeable travel advisor who can narrow down the options that will delight them and push them into places they wouldn’t necessarily think of. In the separate breakout session on Family Travel, Sally Black, owner of VacationKids.com, noted that she follows her clients on Facebook to get insights into their interests, and uses those to push them a little out of their comfort zone. One family with a four-year-old, for example, was hesitant to travel anywhere adventurous, and instead opted for a Carnival cruise. But Black saw on Facebook that the child loved sloths; everywhere she went she carried her favorite stuffed sloth. So, Black arranged for them to visit a sloth sanctuary when the Carnival ship stopped in Belize for the day—and now all they want are vacations that involve unique experiences. Amanda Dunning of G Adventures agreed that just asking “Where do you want to go?” is not likely to produce the kinds of insights travel advisors need. Instead, ask what they like to do, what YouTube channels they like, what apps they have on their phones. Then, present options that fit their interests. Black said she likes to get everyone on the call when planning a family trip, including the children, and asking each what they like to do on a Saturday afternoon. While the trend these days is for families to stay together on vacation, she tries to include one experience each day focused on a different family member’s interests. She also noted that an internal study at her agency revealed that 72 percent of clients ended up buying something different from what they first asked for. As a professional advisor, she feels it’s her role to offer up unique and different ideas. “Most people don’t know what they don’t know,” she said, “and you, as their agent, can have a huge effect on them. If they ask for a cruise, I’ll give them two cruise options and a ‘Sally’s Wild Card,’ something they never considered.” Even if they don’t go for it right away, it plants a seed that often blossoms down the road.

Selling Luxury: Jack Ezon, Founder and Managing Partner, Embark Black Tomato: The New Experiences That Travelers Are Seeking Virtuoso Names Top Cruise Trends for 2020 Travel Leaders: Advisors Are Optimistic About Business for 2020 Read the full article

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tsgaspencolorado · 4 years

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20 Vacation Destinations for 2020

We caught up with Kaleigh Kirkpatrick, owner of The Shameless Tourist, to talk all things travel. Based in Aspen, she provides expert travel planning and advice for clients across the globe. With a passport stamped in 47 countries (and counting)!, Kaleigh has witnessed a monk ordination ceremony in Myanmar, picked up souvenirs in Indonesia, discovered the joy of traveling by train, and mastered the art of crossing multiple time zones. She scouted out 20 destination spots for 2020 and gave us the complete scoop.

Egypt (1) was one of the top five hottest destinations for travel in 2019 and I see that to continue for 2020! If you haven’t been to Peru (2) already, it’s a must go with amazing history and landscapes to some of the best gastronomy in the world. For the best experience of Peru, consider allowing me to help coordinate a trip with Belmond Journeys. Belmond owns some of the best hotels, has reliable modes of transportation, and they have long been the biggest player in the luxury travel sphere in Peru making their service amazing and truly seamless.

Now that the Ikon pass is included with Premier Ski passes, we have access to so many ski resorts around the world! Let’s take advantage of it and visit Jackson Hole (3), Deer Valley, or dream big — Zermatt (4)! If you opt for Wyoming, grab a copy of TSG Jackson Hole while you’re there!

Plan ahead for a festive 2020 holiday season and make reservations now for the Macy’s Day Parade or Tree Lighting in Rockefeller Center (5). The Ritz Carlton Central Park offers parade views from many of their rooms, so you don’t even have to change out of your PJs! And for the tree lighting, get in the festive spirit and stay at the Peninsula— their Christmas decor is on point!

If you are looking for a Southeast Asian cultural experience, look no further than Luang Prabang, Laos (6). This small city has all of the culture you are looking for, the luxury of many five-star resorts to choose from, all while still being a little unspoiled by tourism. Bonus: Most of the highlights are less than an hour's drive from the city, making it easy to see and explore.

Get Active in 2020! Want to do a group trip and see lots of amazing things while at least burning off half of those extra “vacation” calories? Take a Backroads (7) trip. They have itineraries all around the world with a focus on active travel for families with younger kids, families with older kids, and families who prefer to travel without kids.

With the start of a new decade, what better time to plan a bucket list trip than now. I’m talking about an African Safari (8). Micato Safaris have been voted Travel & Leisure’s best Safari outfitter 9 times over— let me help you choose the best one for your family!

Want to stay closer to home but want something different? Consider a resort vacation that offers all of the R&R of being at a beach resort without being at the beach. My favorites are Amangiri (9) in Canyon Point, Utah, Twin Farms (10) - an adults-only destination in Barnard, Vermont, Lodge and Spa at Brush Creek (11) in Saratoga, Wyoming - it offers a separate section for families and adults traveling without kids, or Blackberry Farm (12) in Walland, Tennessee – great for families!

Have children still napping? Consider a short weekend, or even last-minute, trip to Disneyland (13). Pro Tip: If you just want to go for the day and stay away from the hustle and bustle, book Pelican Hill Resort (14), in nearby Newport Beach. Young children love Disney Cruise (15). Like the thought of Disneyworld but hate the crowds and lines? Ask me about how to be the first guest in Magic Kingdom, skip all the lines (even the FastPass lines) and get great photos.

For the family looking for a little more culture and less vacation, consider doing a guided group trip (16). Many of these group trips have built-in date nights, tours geared to keep everyone’s interest, and hotels that have lots of family amenities like pools, and more. Tauck Bridges, Adventures by Disney, Abercrombie and Kent Luxury Family Journeys, and Backroads Family Travel are all great group travel opportunities for the active family.

Seeking total luxury? 2020 is for you. Beach bums will enjoy Como Maalifushi (17), an island in the Maldives. Or consider Laucala (18), a private island in Fiji. Bucket listers will enjoy Abercrombie & Kent’s Luxury Cruise to Antarctica (19). Icebergs, penguins, wildlife, and serenity like no other trip out there. Last but not least, I have a trip the most discerning travel lover will enjoy. The Remote Lands Aman Private Jet is a luxury travel experience like no other.

Contact Kaleigh over at The Shameless Tourist about all your travel needs and questions, then update your passport, pack those bags, and get ready to put your out of office reply on.

#meet #outandabout #travels #Aspen #2020destinations

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mavigibisinadam · 5 years

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Types and Top features of the Yacht CHARTER YACHT

When searching for a different spin on the family reunion or the perfect way to entertain co-workers on the business outing, yacht charters are a terrific way to plan a distinctive getaway. As they take action of hiring a yacht is often reserved for personal rendezvous' and family activities, there are many advantages to planning for a corporate and business event through this calming method, such as creating strong ties with clients or conditioning employer-employee relationships.

Yacht chartering involves the booking or chartering of the engine yacht or sailboat to travel about the seaside or other island locations. Over the full years, the act is becoming an extremely popular approach to viewing the world while enjoying a good journey pass on across calming drinking water.

Two Different varieties of Charter

When chartering a yacht, you need to know there are two main types to consider - bare vessel and crew. Having a bare motorboat charter, a person or group rents a vessel and then manuals the trip on his / her own accord. For the less experienced, numerous bare fishing boat companies supply the teaching of basic seaman skills that helps interested parties.

A crewed charter involves a yacht that already includes a team. Depending on your preferences, this kind of charter might provide the help of a duo (like a husband-wife team) that acts as captain or may make use of the help of the several different team members, like a chef, engineer, deckhands, and perhaps a good scuba dive expert.

Yacht Charter Factors

Once you've decided on the goal of your yacht charter, many different facets will affect how you approach planning for a trip. For some, there are restrictions on how much cash will be spent or how big is yacht needed. Smaller excursions work very well with a motorboat calculating 35 to 40 ft, while larger celebrations need vessels around 300 feet. This and pedigree of the vessel is important as well. Usually, a more youthful boat offers a more powerful sense of security.

Also, if you haven't decided yet, the main part of planning for a yacht charter is where you should go. The destination will also play a substantial role in regards to what types of yacht charters will be accessible to support your trip goals. Some individuals will spend up to $25,000 per person for weekly on an extravagance yacht charter, while some keep their budget below $1000.

How exactly to Secure a Yacht Charter

Most people seeking to plan a holiday or outing by chartering a yacht will often have a particular destination already planted in their minds. Some individuals could also foundation their trip on price or option of charters, meaning they may be limited to a few of the locations they can visit. The world is filled up with a lot of international opportunities to explore, like the warmth of Mexico to the biting temps of Antarctica.

Western travel is also very popular, like Belgium, Poland, Finland, and France all offer yacht charter services. Islands, such as Barbados and Fiji pleasant travelers with open up hands, while old standbys, such as Canada provide interesting voyages as well... Additional locations to consider include Madagascar, Argentina, Australia, Slovenia, and the Dominican Republic.

Finding suitable yacht charter companies are very easy. Even though many people rely on travel companies to point them in the right path, you will find loads of options designing the web with ample information on a few of the most popular yacht charters.

Suppose you are thinking about yacht charters offered in the Guadaloupe area. Completing a particular seek out the destination or looking at a data source situated on the yacht charter-related website should reveal that we now have some different companies spread about the archipelago. Presently, most yacht charters can be found in St. Martin with an increase of ten options.

For example, the North Child Swan Yacht Charter promotes corporate and business occasions, cruising and racing charters throughout the UK during the summer months and about the Caribbean when the wintertime months arrive. This specific selection features the help of two professional staff users, a skipper, and a captain. Luxury vessels are also popular because they are known to support wedding receptions or take honeymooning lovers off into the sunset. In St. Martin, Sunreef Yachts provides these types of custom-made beauties.

To see the pleasure of chartering a yacht, preparing in advance of your time also really helps to secure the best offers and be sure you have sufficient time for you to make proper travel plans if enjoying a global adventure. Additionally, it is wise to keep the vision out for changing weather reviews - you want to be sure you don't charter a yacht throughout a time where possible storms, hurricanes, and such will hit.

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