John is leading us this week – and as he’s constantly on the move, he wants us to talk about how we travel.
Traveling has been an essential part of my life since I was 16 and my boyfriend and I took his car through Europe for two summers. Looking back, I guess traveling by plane is the the most frequent way for us as we often travel far from Sweden with no other roads to take across the oceans.
I generally love to fly, but hate the whole procedure before and after. And the journey is not over there either, because…then we have to take a car, a tram, a train, a bus or a bike to keep moving between different places. The views are always much nicer using one of the latter means of transport!
Hiking with a backpack used to be our favourite way to be on the move. But, as we age, the backpack has to get lighter and our days in rough terrain with a tent are over. But, we still enjoy hiking. For us, it is the ”real thing”. We still walk from early morning to dinner time every day on our destinations. With some nice stops for a coffee or beer with a sandwich or a piece of cake.
For many years, the car was almost our ”home”, but this has also more or less faded away. Pollution and environmental awareness says we shouldn’t. And today we seldom do.
Train is a very relaxing way to move from one spot to another, and you see a lot of the landscape and people´s daily life through the windows.
The train to Tibet from Beijing treated us with stunning views every day.
I don’t much enjoy cruising, but canoeing has always been a favourite. The quietness in nature close up, with birds, insects and fishes, trees and fresh air.
So, what way do I prefer most? Well, something like this: A minibus with few people, a skilled driver and a knowledgeable guide. You can stop when you want a photo and you have someone to answer all your questions. (And preferably an electric car!)
Share photos of your favorite ways to be “On the Move!” You can also share pictures of the places you’ve discovered or the snapshots of the journey itself. Be sure to link your response to John’s post or leave your link in the comment section. Also, use the “lens-artists” tag to help people find you in the Reader. To find out more about responding to Lens-Artists Challenges, check here.
Thanks to Egidio for taking us back to Lens-Artists Challenge #31. His “Looking Back” theme allowed us to share some great landscape photos for us all to enjoy! Next week, it’s Patti’s turn to host the challenge, which will go live on Saturday, November 22, at noon Eastern time. Be sure to follow her Pilotfish Blog so you don’t miss her challenge post.
Leya 
Lots of travel options here but I do like your choice of favourite – it’s something we very much enjoy too 😀
Thank you, Sarah!
Such a fun response Ann-Christine. Like you our most extensive travels have become more limited these days but we still enjoy things like biking, hiking and visiting nearby attractions which happily are many! And there is much to be said for reliving our favorite adventures through blogging as well as reading and enjoying the books I’ve created. Photography has been a wonderful gift for preserving our memories.
I agree with every word. And photography is a gift in every way. Today I took my camera out to preserve the beauty of white snow. Tomorrow it might be gone.
Dear Ann-Christine
As we live surrounded by nature, I like holidaying in big cities. And there, I like to explore by walking and taking breaks in museums, coffeehouses, libraries, and pubs. I like to be a flaneur.
As older I get, the less I am interested in a nature holiday.
Thanks for your pictures
Klausbernd 🙂
You truly are a flaneur – in every sense.
Dear Ann-Christine
My role model is Walter Benjamin.
Happy weekend
Klausbernd 🙂
Then I’ll have to dive into is work!
I’m with you on enjoying canoes and small boats on the river—such a different experience from ocean cruising. There’s something magical about the gentle rhythm of a river, even on a less-than-perfect day. Our last journey along the Wailua River, with the guide’s stories punctuating the ride, was just that—quietly enchanting.
Love the image of hiking on the rock, I love to travel in the car, and walk in the destination. Lovely images as always, Like the one with all of your family? in front of the minibus
Thank you, Ritva. The photo is of my husband and two children. The somewhat dark driver and to the right our guide. Tibet.
I gathered that, it was so nice of you to share it
You see so much more with the slower ways of traveling, especially when walking
Agree. You two are still walkers, and so are we!
walkers but slower these days
All lovely photos, but especially the hiking image, and the kayaking one. Definitely the better modes of transport!
Thank you, Margaret! They really are!
Beautiful light on that plane’s wing
Thank you – very accurate with a dragon!
Both my husbands and I preferred to do our ‘own thing’ whenever, wherever we travelled, but am smiling at your bus trip > truly our best trip ever was on a 6-day fjord-line land tour of some 9 people on a mini-bus traversing the narrow, curly roads of southern and central Norway in summer when the sun ‘went down’ for about an hour after midnight! Nine people, a female Oslo uni student leading it to perfection > all bar two of us were to become lifelong friends and, at the termination of my first marriage, I nearly ended up with a charming Dutch guy from the journey in Namibia of all places! Memories . . . !
You must have so many truly special memories, Eha! What about writing a book? Maybe I tried to push you before on that one? Surely it would be a wonderful story!
You are not the only one to have suggested . . . Vaguely thought of it a few decades back but I was not ‘anyone special’ and it seemed ‘showing off’ somehow – you well know the Northern European sense of quiet, polite courtesy . . . ?? ! I have written chapters in two Estonian books where the childhood stories of dozens of migrant kids from Eesti made a tale of what we had been thru’ . . . ________________________________
Now Eha, sweet Eha, I know you are a storyteller and you Really should write! If it feels too much, then record it for someone else to write down your story! The world needs it! And I know your thinking ”nothing special” …It’s typical for us here. BUT PLEASE writi it down!
The hiking shot is the standout, but I love the lady on the train, spellbound by the scenery, too. Letting the train take the strain seems to be a good option xx
Ha, good, Jo! And the lady is my mezmerised daughter!
Beautiful xx
Nice personal photos and reflections on travel.
Thank you, Brad.
My pleasure.
What great shots! I loved your narrative, too.
Thank you, Egidio! I guess this was a post close to my heart…
Ann-Christine, I really enjoyed your images especially the kayaking. Hiking and paddling are great ways to see things you would miss by any other type of transportation. When taking a tour having a knowledgeable guide makes for a great experience.
Thank you, Beth – hiking has been my favourite over the years. A bit hard to understand we cannot do it forever.
Lovely modes of transport especially the quiet peaceful ones that embrace the planets needs.
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I guess there are modes of transportation that work for each of us, Anne-Christine. Lovely shots of the variety you share. In the US west, car travel is one of the few options. I enjoy air travel too, but not the before and after as you mentioned! Hiking and paddling are high on my list!
Thank you, Terri! I know Americans go a lot by car. Not many trains?
Trains seem complicated here. My hubby and I own two 4 wheel-drive Toyota SUVs and a truck. That should tell you something about us folks in the rural areas 😁
Wow!
I agree, hiking and kayaking are the real thing. Even if it is a planned event, every step offers something else to enjoy. I love your hiking photo. On the move…
Thank you, Donna! It’s hard to understand that hiking days are getting more difficult to do…
Yes. And thank goodness you took advantage of the time and energy when you could. I bet you could still out walk most Americans. You have gathered an admirable life well lived.
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Paddling and backpackng photos are my favorite. Great ways to be on the move.
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