Mon 8 Jun 2009
I have a great dilemma for my Fourth of July this year. The family will still be exploring the Pacific Northwest at my in-laws’ new house in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. So I’m not going to a BBQ, the beach, watch fireworks or even photograph a wedding… No, no, no! It’s time for an adventure! I’m taking a trip somewhere in the world. I need your comments and suggestions on where to go. Please let me know so I can book my trip as soon as possible, my backpack is ready to go. Just for fun below is a scan of my original passport issued when I was 18 and the attached photo is on my current passport. Ten years really makes a difference… Notice the black mock-turtleneck, that seriously wasn’t in my wardrobe! The photo was take after a baseball game so it’s the long sleeve shirt we wore under our uniforms. My home town of Manchester is pretty small so I had to get my passport photo taken in the neighboring county after a road game.
Anyway, “where in the world” I go needs to be decided soon, so I need your help! The first person who suggests the location I ultimately chose to go will receive a 20×30 mounted landscape or travel photo from that location. Finished like the pieces in my gallery for those that have been to my place. Please be specific on the location; city/region and country.
I look forward to hearing the suggestions!
June 8th, 2009 at 6:39 am
4 years ago I lived in Sydney, Australia for 5 months. It was down and out the best 5 months of my life! The beaches the inner harbor, the opera house, the Blue Mountains, and the Sydney Bridge (which you can climb and I highly recommend) are all indescribably wonderful. I know it is quite a trip, but it is TOTALLY worth it. You can even take a detour to Fiji or New Zealand on your way there or back home. Shoot me an e-mail if you want more ideas on things to do. Have an amazing time where ever you decide to go.
June 8th, 2009 at 8:02 am
Jackson Hole Wyoming and go check out the Tetons!
(and Yellowstone if you have time!) 
June 8th, 2009 at 8:48 am
I totally think you should continue your trip in the PNW… go to seattle and check out all the sites there – pike’s place, space needle, food tours, waterfront, and baseball games! And as part of your trip take the ferry to Victoria, Canada! Lots of things to do in Victoria like butchart gardens, tea at the Fairmont Empress, whale watching, craigdarroch castle and lots of fun outdoor activities. good luck and have fun!!!
June 8th, 2009 at 9:07 am
How about Maui, Hawaii? …Lahaina and Napil’i are great spots. Shooting weddings is one thing but to actually have a nice, relaxing vacation especially during Fourth of July is even better. It’s not like the Disneyland fireworks here in CA or regular ol’ fourth of July ones? Imagine fireworks over the beautiful ocean there.
June 8th, 2009 at 9:40 am
Why don’t you go with your family? I bet the inlaws will make your bed and wash the dishes…xoxo
Cat,
Haha! I bet they will… I am going up there too either before or after my trip! Looking forward to golfing.
Vcs
June 8th, 2009 at 10:37 am
I think you should check out Dubai…because I want to go there and would love to see your photos first!
June 8th, 2009 at 10:38 am
Ireland! That time of year when everything is Green, there are some areas of Ireland that have tropical plants due to the jet stream. I’d love to see your photographs of the lush green landscape and some beautiful castles and the bluffs! Look forward to seeing your pictures wherever you decide to go!
June 8th, 2009 at 11:22 am
You need to go to Istanbul Turkey, It is fabulously amazing! I just went to Turkey and had an amazing time, I have done a lot of travelling but Turkey has to be my Fav so far!
June 8th, 2009 at 11:29 am
http://www.visitnorway.com/us/?WT.srch=1&WT.mc_id=Google&gclid=CInR3b2m-5oCFQkzawodkXv6cw
June 8th, 2009 at 11:35 am
Chile. Because it’s THE most random place in the world. I mean, people don’t just happen to pass through Chile. It’s also at the The End of The World.
June 8th, 2009 at 12:57 pm
You should go to maui! Stay anywhere you want on the island, but make sure you travel the entire island. There’s so much to do for the photographer in you! There’s the 3am wake-up, freezing cold, but totally worth it picturesque sunrise at Haleakala.
Also, you must drive the road to hana!! It has awesome turnouts for mini hiking adventures and gorgeous views of maui. There are a lot of waterfalls off the side of the road that you can walk right up to! After you pass hana and continue on back to civilization, you get this absolutely awe-inspiring view of the volcano.
There’s plenty of things your kids will love like snorkel trips to molokini, the maui ocean center, and even malls to do a little shopping.
And if you have extra time take a mini trip to the less-travelled islands: lanai or molokai!!
June 8th, 2009 at 1:48 pm
Costa Rica and venture out on the zipline for me too!
June 8th, 2009 at 1:55 pm
hey vic! you didn’t say only one suggestion was allowed, so here are my top 3 travel destinations right now. would love to live vicariously through your journey to any of these places!
-turks & caicos: tropical heaven on earth!
-new zealand: adventure in an incredibly varied landscape.
-greece: sure you saw jess’ trip there a few years back. whitewashed walls and crystal clear blue water = perfection.
happy travels!!
June 8th, 2009 at 2:33 pm
Romania: http://www.romaniatourism.com/bucharest.html
Bucharest has some amazing palaces – and the villages are absolutely charming. You can also go see the castle of Vlad Tepes (Dracula).
June 8th, 2009 at 2:52 pm
How about the Maldives!!!
June 8th, 2009 at 3:39 pm
Iceland, of course!
June 8th, 2009 at 3:40 pm
Personally, I think Vancouver, BC is AWESOME!
http://vancouver.ca/visitors.htm
Literally everything is there…beach, mountains, culture, wildlife, good food, and great people…you can’t go wrong. Hike a galcier, go nose to nose with a moose, explore the city…it’s not exotic…if you want exotic…go to Fiji…
June 8th, 2009 at 4:10 pm
If you have a backpack ready to go head to Machu Picchu in Peru. Pretty fantastic adventure!
June 8th, 2009 at 5:32 pm
Got your backpack and passport ready, I suggest purchasing a plane ticket to Venice,Italy and a europass and backpack your way down, tons of great sites, culture, history, and food.
June 8th, 2009 at 6:09 pm
hey vic. i know you have been everywhere, but i dont think i have ever heard you talk about canada so i think you should go to canada. (take a picture of a moose i want to hang it on my wall).
June 8th, 2009 at 6:14 pm
Bali if you have at least 5 days (Bonus: comparing to say Hawaii, spend the same amount of $$$ you can live like a king for a week at a villa with servants and all). Would absolutely love to see Bali again from your view!!!
June 8th, 2009 at 6:47 pm
My favorite place so far has been Thessaloniki, Greece. It’s such an amazing city with so much history… Great people and a ton to see. It’s not too touristy like many of the islands. If you get a chance take a road trip across the country to Athens. The roads through the hills and mountains are so fun to drive. There are lots of cool little mountain villages along the way.
Or if you’d rather head to SE Asia, how about Thailand or Cambodia? In Thailand I really like Krabi- a little more lowkey than Pucket. Rent a motorbike and drive up and down the the coast!
June 8th, 2009 at 6:47 pm
Positano. Amalfi coast, italy.
June 8th, 2009 at 8:02 pm
If you dive…need to go to Palau….if not Prague, not what you would expect….we saw the most beautiful women I have ever seen in the world…i know you are married but you can look just like my husband Fabrizio did…but if you choose Italy..ie Florence…Fabrizio is from Florence and we have soooo many places/fun people/restaurents…
June 8th, 2009 at 8:21 pm
There are the staples like Europe and the Mediterranean, but I would suggest South Korea. I got to visit when I can and each time the country changes.. Seoul is a microcosm of what the whole country has to offer. Some great places are InSaDong (a neighborhood of the Jongno-gu district in Seoul) and Myeongdong (one of Seoul’s main shopping districts). It’s worth the trip to see all the subcultures of Koreans.
June 8th, 2009 at 9:41 pm
Nusa Lembongan, Bali, Indonesia
It’s a tiny yet largely untouched by tourism island just off the coast of Bali. To get there you need to cross a strait that has some of the deepest water in the world, conflicting currents, whirlpools – and you can do it in a rickety longtail boat. Great surfing, scuba diving, snorkelling or just chilling out.
June 8th, 2009 at 10:37 pm
ALASKA of course!!! Maybe Norway. But either way, you would have midnight sun, which is definitely something to experience.
June 9th, 2009 at 8:45 am
Antigua Guatemala? Tikal? I had quite an adventure there last year!
June 9th, 2009 at 12:09 pm
Anthony’s Key Resort- Roatan Island, Honduras. Don’t be scared, the place is rediculously awesome- especially if you like fresh fish, snorkling, and scuba diving. Get certified while you’re there if you aren’t already! I’m not marketing them- just went there for a January class in college.
http://www.anthonyskey.com/en/index.html
June 9th, 2009 at 3:11 pm
My vote: Tulum, Riviera Maya aMAYAzing!
They don’t call it El Paraiso for nuthin. One of my favorite trips to date. Best beaches, great micheladas, history…can’t go wrong.
http://www.elparaisotulum.com/gallery.htm
June 9th, 2009 at 6:51 pm
One of my favorites is Positano, a little village off the coast of Naples, Italy. It’s this beautiful little town built into these cliffs over looking the entire Amalfi Coast. It’s gorgeous!
If you’re staying in the US, you should check out Newport, Rhode Island. it’s right on the water, really quaint, pretty with lots of photo ops, and tons of history. I think they really go all out for the 4th too.
June 10th, 2009 at 8:40 am
You should go to Bali! It is cheap there and the beaches are some of the most beautiful in the world!
June 11th, 2009 at 9:44 am
I have to say I nearly spit my coffee across my computer screen when I saw your old passport photo!! That was just too funny & totally made my day. But I would go to Eqypt and check out all the pyramids!
June 11th, 2009 at 12:55 pm
How about white water rafting and hiking in Oregon? Oregon is definitely God’s Country. Can’t go to the beach without your ‘sweetie’
June 11th, 2009 at 6:46 pm
Madison, Wisconsin.
But if you’re not feeling the pull of brats and beer, then how about moules et frites–and beer–in Brussels?
http://www.auvieuxbruxelles.com/menu.html
June 12th, 2009 at 7:07 am
Hey Victor!
Old passport photos are the best, aren’t they? Ha! Ha! Well, if you can’t make it out to Japan (of course my first vote) – I would also suggest Cambodia or (my favorite) Papua New Guinea! T.J. and I were there a year ago for a few months and loved it! But I must warn you – it is a REAL adventure! I would stick to the East Sepik area (maybe a few night at the Karawari lodge and then cruise down the Karawari and Crosmari rivers in the Sepik Spirit). If you are interested please feel free to contact us at any time. And if you want a sneak peek – I think TJ has some pictures of Papua New Guinea when we were out there in 2007 on his website! Happy deciding!
Aloha,
Erin
June 12th, 2009 at 7:27 am
Hi, Victor!
Have you ever been in Brazil? I suggest you to visit my country. Beautiful beachs at Rio de Janeiro, a lot of natural beauty at the Pantanal, cold places and German traditions at the Serra Gaúcha, the Igyaçu waterfalls and the most beatuful sky of the world in Brasília, the capital and the city where I live.
Do you still have some doubt on where to go?
Sorry for my poor English!
Best regards!
June 12th, 2009 at 7:28 am
P.S.: Every place I’ve mentioned at the last comment is linked with a beautiful photo.
June 12th, 2009 at 7:50 am
BARCELONA my friend! An amazing city with history, architecture and great food. As far as I can tell by your blog, you are a sucker for good food.
I don’t think you would be able to keep your camera down for long, there are just too many amazing things to look at.
Happy travels!
June 12th, 2009 at 8:36 am
you should visit cartagena, colombia! its beautiful old city is full of color and life and the new bocagrande peninsula has high rises and a nice beach (ask a local which beach to go to though.. on the tourist side you’ll get mobbed by vendors).
June 13th, 2009 at 1:46 pm
Age looks good on you Vic! You look great! I hear Prague is amazing but if you ask me I think you should visit the Ruettgers in Oregon b/c we sure do miss you =)
June 15th, 2009 at 8:52 am
Oh just go back to Kentucky..jk. Naples, FL is always an option but its kinda hot here this time of year. Before I read all of your comments my first thought was Prague. Never been but a friend did and absolutely loved it. Of course there is always a safari in Africa or maybe Tahiti..
Can’t wait to see your choice. Have fun wherever it may be.
June 15th, 2009 at 10:22 pm
Dubrovnik Croatia!!!!! Split!!! It’s part of my heritage and I love it there!!! THey are famous for beer, wine, olive oil…food…beautiful sights , history and it’s not that expensive!! Plus…not many people even know where it is! Go to the Buza 1 and Buza 2 for a great view on a cliff to watch a sunset and have a beer ( Ozusko of course! Like my last name Ozurovich!)
Or Cinque Terre where I got engaged! Take the lover’s walk ( or 8 hour hike)
Budapest! Prague! or my other love – Spain! Granada! Anywhere in Andulucia!
hmmmm…I’ll think of more!! You know me and Aaron love to travel!
June 16th, 2009 at 8:17 pm
Maggie & I say Jerusalem and couple it with Jordan (Petra) if possible. Jerusalem is an amazing city, and with all the turmoil in the Middle East who knows if and when it could be unsafe to travel there. Jordan is awesome too! No place on earth like Petra, and there is actually a night life and cool city in the capital – Amman!
Good luck making a decision!
June 17th, 2009 at 10:02 am
How about backpacking Vietnam? Ha Long Bay, Hanoi, and Hue are all gorgeous locations!
June 18th, 2009 at 4:38 am
Buenos Aires. Beautiful, colorful, photogenic
June 18th, 2009 at 9:21 pm
Hey Victor! I was looking at all of the suggestions and was getting ready to put mine down and number 45 beat me to it. It is simply a spectacular place to visit. I heard that it wasn’t too expensive to get there right now either. I loved it…the scenery was historic and breathtaking. Let us know soon! Hope all is well with you. I know you and Kortney will have a great time shooting together this weekend!
June 20th, 2009 at 2:02 am
Hey Vic!
Is it too late to make a suggestion? Chris and I highly recommend South Island New Zealand!! If you want to go backpacking where there’s breathtaking, insanely dramatic scenery, out of this world food (amazingly fresh seafood, like Fleur’s place! http://www.fleursplace.com/index.htm) an endless list of unique and/or endangered species in their natural habitat, glaciers and fjordlands, omg Vic… if you’ve never been, you should! Not sure how many days you’ll have, but check out this link for possible drives around south island!
http://www.newzealand.com/travel/getting-to-around-nz/driving-routes/select-a-driving-route.cfm?island=2&triplength=1&sub=Find+Routes
I hand-picked a few of our pics to try to intrigue you (but seriously, these pics do NOT do it justice!)
http://bwahgyineh.smugmug.com/gallery/8621511_TACgk/1/568785300_yV6mx#568786623_X7gdU
If you want more details, let me know! Good luck picking a place -there are just too many beautiful places in the world, and not enough time!
Hope you and the Fam are well! Hope to see you soon!
C&C
June 23rd, 2009 at 1:30 pm
How about Manchester, KY??ha ha Come on, you know you wanna come home now—-don’t you?? Don’t you have a new NEPHEW to see?? He is beautiful and we need more pics?? And how ’bout that free pic??