Videos – Camera & Carry On

The Best Way to Get into Voss is by Parachute

Michael — Wed, 16 Nov 2016 00:48:34 +0000

About 3 years ago Shannon and I visited Mt. Salève (on the French / Swiss border), this was the first time I ever saw someone run off the edge of a cliff and sail down to the land below with a parachute. I'd been skydiving in my younger days, but this was something different. Back then I didn't have the time to arrange anything, but I've been keeping an eye out ever since. Traveling through Norway constantly brought about surprises and adventures, and low and behold, apparently Voss is a "mecca" for paragliding. There's even a week long event every summer called Ekstremsportveko, and they say the sky is filled with gliders from sun up to sun down. Can you imagine such a sight? I couldn't miss my chance again, and with some gentle convincing, Shannon and I secured a pilot to fly us down from the clouds.

First Shannon...

...Then Michael

run, ruN, rUN, RUN, RUUUUUNNNNNN!!!

Then, just relax...

...that is until the wing overs!

"What's a wing over?" you ask. Well, we should have inquired, too. Our pilot queried if we wanted to do wing overs. Naive, and up for anything, of course we agreed without question. As it turns out - through the magic of physics - you can actually do a flip while parachuting down. Yes, our legs were basically above the parachute for a few moments... Don't ask me where my stomach was. (See Shannon's video at about 2:10, and Michael's at 1:35 for the wing overs)

At just about 5 minutes total flight time, time freezes and the world ceases to turn: just you, the parachute, and the force of air holding life in suspense. All tandem flights out of Voss are organized through the Voss Hang and Paragliding Club. We flew with Øyvind Kindem, and I highly recommend him!

The post The Best Way to Get into Voss is by Parachute appeared first on Camera & Carry On.

Video: Enjoying the Snow in Charlevoix

Michael — Thu, 31 Mar 2016 15:11:50 +0000

I like to think that Charlevoix was first "visited" by an asteroid 15 million years ago. Surprisingly, I couldn't find any concrete facts to back this up, but I think the story goes something like this:

Long before you or I ever set foot on this planet, there was an energetic asteroid named James, floating zillions of miles above the Earth. James was a great traveller, and he had seen many planets, galaxies, and stars, but one day a particular spot on Earth caught his eye. The asteroid thought to itself, "That place looks amazing! I must take a closer look!" James proceeded to fly towards Charlevoix, as quickly as he could. Faster and faster, excitement began to overwhelm him. Before James could stop, he slammed into Canada, creating the Charlevoix Crater.

About 34 miles in diameter, Charlevoix was built on part of this crater (the other part lies under the Saint Lawrence River). This gives the region an amazingly unique topography, perfect for my three, new, favorite winter activities: snowmobiling, skiing, and snowshoeing. For being so close to the New England states, and just about an hour from Québec City, Charlevoix could be a world away.

Snowmobiling

With over 340 miles of trails, Charlevoix is known as one of the best snowmobile destinations in North America. Amateurs and professionals alike flock to the area to cruise through the mountains and along the river. You won't be hard pressed to find a tour that fits your needs. Every January, Charlevoix is home to the Grand Rassemblement des Motoneigistes (Great Gathering of Snowmobile Riders).

Skiing

There are two great mountains in Charlevoix; to the east, Mont Grand-Fonds – also known as the sun mountain, and to the west, Le Massif – the highest vertical drop east of the Canadian Rockies. We took to the west, and enjoyed the better part of a day at Le Massif. The slopes appear to dive into the Saint Lawrence with great perspective. Aside from skiing, there's of course snowboarding, cross country skiing, and an incredible 7½ km long sled run.

Snowshoeing

There's certainly no shortage of fresh powder in Charlevoix, and unless you're in the neighborhood of 8ft tall, you probably can't run around in it for too long. Enter the snowshoe. Shannon and I like to get out and explore our surroundings on foot, so this worked out just great for us! There are literally hundreds of miles of trails in Charlevoix on the mountain sides, around the river, and in the woods. However, two of the places we stayed at had great jaunts right outside our doorstep — Hôtel Le Germain and Our Tiny Cabin.

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Thanks again to Québec Tourism and Tourisme Charlevoix for showing us around, and sponsoring this post. As always, all opinions, text, and images are truthful and our own. See our ethics page for more information.

The post Video: Enjoying the Snow in Charlevoix appeared first on Camera & Carry On.

Video: 8 Must-Do Winter Activities Near Québec City

Michael — Tue, 08 Mar 2016 12:38:52 +0000

Brrrrr, baby its cold outside! What to do? What to do? Well, go outside of course! What does winter really mean to me? It means skiing, hot toddies, and hot tubs. Don't run away from the cold, embrace it! New England has a plethora of winter activities, but to experience something a little more unique, we traveled away from our home in Boston and up to Québec, Canada. Often thought of as the "Europe you can drive to," Québeckers (or Québécoise) don't just get out in the snow and cold, they throw festivals, play, and party in it. Here are eight of my must-do winter activities around Québec City.

1. Ice Canyoning

Just outside of Québec City there's a 135 foot tall water fall that partially freezes during the winter. You might be thinking, "That'd be cool to see," but that's not what ice canyoning is. Ice canyoning means you're actually going to climb down this frozen piece of nature by repelling from a rope and digging into the ice with the cleats on your feet. In this video you can see that just a few feet from us there's still water flowing wildly behind the ice.

2. Nordic Spas

Have you ever heard the expression, "Rinse, wash, repeat?" That's basically the idea behind Nordic Spas, except it's more like, "Hot, cold, relax." In other words, first sit in a hot tub or sauna for a little while, then take a quick dip in a freezing cold bath, and finish by settling into a peaceful and tranquil room. I'm not going to pretend I know all the science behind it, but the Sibéria Station Spa seems to really get it, and I love the environment they create. There are real health benefits to this idea, and I can attest it's quite rejuvenating.

3. Snow Jamboree

For the last several years Québec City has hosted the Snow Jamboree. Part big-air boarding and part big-time partying, this festival is a blast. In between a few overpasses, just outside the Old Town, exists a 130 ft tall, 360 ft long, big air ramp. Here you can see professional snowboarders and skiers at their best. And like I said... crazy after parties, too!

4. Les Voûtes de Napoléon

There are several ways to warm yourself up from a cold, Canadian chill: puffy coat, hand warmers, fire pits, electric heaters, etc. There is only one good way to heat up in Québec City: flowing beer, stiff drinks, singing, and dancing. For this I recommend Les Voûtes de Napoléon. Don't let its discrete exterior fool you; a few steps down into the basement level, this speakeasy-esq bar is one of the most lively scenes you'll find. An acoustic guitar accompanied by energized vocals, an accordion, and spoon man are often joined in song and dance by passionate drunkards, and local heat seekers.

5. Winter Carnaval Parade

Shannon wrote all about the Winter Carnaval festivities here, and even if you're not interested in spending the time at the carnaval itself, the parade is not one to miss. This closing ceremony boasts music, lights, and entertainment unlike any parade I've seen before. You may know that Cirque du Soleil has it's roots in Québec, and here it shows. Acrobats flew, climbed, and juggled there way from float to float.

6. Ice Tobogganing

On the Dufferin Terrace, just behind the Château Frontenac, you'll find a 125+ year old toboggan slide. While cruising down the slide, you could hit speeds of up to 45 mph. There are three lanes, and each toboggan can hold up to four passengers. So grab your friends and make a race of it!

7. Make an Ice Glass

There's a ton to do and see at the Hôtel de Glace, but my must-do activity is making your own "glass," and of course enjoying a tasty beverage out of it. On the Behind the Scene tour, not only will you learn how the hotel is constructed, but you'll also get to make your very own cup from a solid block of ice. Then, fill it with some of the coolest drinks (pun intended) in the great white north.

8. Enjoy the View

If you really do need to get out of the cold (and perhaps you lost your voice at Les Voûtes de Napoléon the night before), consider stepping into the Observatoire de la Capitale. 725 ft above the ground, you'll see 360° views of the city, and can also learn about some of the city's rich history and culture.

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You can find more information about all these activities on the Québec Original website. A big thanks to Quebec Tourism for showing us around and sponsoring this post.

As always, all opinions, text, and images are truthful and our own. See our ethics page for more information.

The post Video: 8 Must-Do Winter Activities Near Québec City appeared first on Camera & Carry On.

“Joyeux Carnaval!” A 400lb Snowman, a Festival, and a Touch of Frostbite

Shannon — Tue, 01 Mar 2016 13:05:59 +0000

Remember what it was like to be a kid?

Getting up early before your parents to snuggle on the couch with a bowl of junky cereal and Saturday morning cartoons. {Sigh} The good ol' days. Life was simple: school, homework, play. A rough day was when you got paired with your arch nemesis to complete a school project, or your little sister swiped your favorite Barbie. Oh, sisters? We never forget. It's also when we pick favorites and plant the seeds of nostalgia. Like the dream of one day meeting your most beloved character in real life -- say, a certain over sized mouse at Disney World, or coming face-to-face with your ultimate Teen Beat crush (JTT anyone?!). For our friends north of the border, they swoon for a certain M. Bonhomme Carnaval. Essentially Canadian Mickey, you can imagine the wonder and delight when a young sprout from Québec gets to meet this winter celebrity and icon is the ambassador of the Carnaval de Québec. He's the face, voice, and spirit of winter's joie de vivre. "What's that?" you say. It means you best put yer winter wear on, slap on a happy face, and enjoy the coldest season!!! Fun fact: Bonhomme is friends with Santa (and more nifty tid bits here)!

He's a convivial chap, fond of giving hugs, whipping high-kicks, and welcoming visitors to the land of syrup and "ehs."

We humble Americans were only vaguely aware of whom this Bonhomme character was, and found ourselves wholly unprepared for the enthusiasm and vigor a 400lb snowman-come-to-life could possess. A tour of his castle revealed a hint of narcissism (aka life size replicas and photos of said snowman galore), but who can blame the guy? He's a charmer with an entertaining way about him, and can't seem to get enough of the leg kick. Bonhomme was kind enough to say bonjour and - you guessed it - lock me in an embrace (pause at 0:10 for awkward hug and pledge of affection) on video.

Warmup breaks are essential to winter survival - mine, at least.

Mission complete! We'd been properly introduced to the man of the hour, exchanged hugs & kicks, and were free to enjoy the winter festival at our leisure. Which obviously meant taking a romantic, frozen sleigh ride with 12 people after defrosting our insides with hot chocolate & amarula indoors. Because... cold. Freeze your snot, kill movement to your fingers, brain-no-work-no-more cold. Defrosting = good. The Carnaval de Québec is the ideal place to let your inner child off leash, or let your actual children run wild and free if you have one of those. It takes up some serious ground - as seen from the aerial lookout of the Observatoire de la Capitale - and you can easily spend a full day there testing your stamina against the freeze and waiting your turn for the next attraction. Suuure, the lines get a little long, but that's part of the fun; ~~strangers with body heat to steal~~ making friends! PLUS, you get to test if all that fancy North Face/Columbia/Canada Goose gear really works.

You can join a giant sized foosball tournament, ride a zip line, race down a luge, eat maple taffy (always a winner), circle the ferris wheel, mush on a dog sled...

Pretending you're eight years old at the Carnaval is TOTALLY AWESOME, until you remember you're actually 30 years old. The urge to explore the small streets of the Petit Champain and imbibe local drinks won over the will to tumble down a hill in a hamster wheel after a few hours; though that has its own, strange appeal. All good things in moderation. *Cheers* Thanks to some leisure time around Québec-Vieux, a light lunch, a stop at a confectionery or two, the world is winter-bright and merry again! Bread crumbs of Carnaval trailed throughout the city; a reminder that even for those not attending the festival itself, the spirit transcends.

When the sun hides and the lights come out, so begins the procession of artfully designed floats, acrobats, music, and happy souls in the grand parade.

Cirque du Soleil was born here, so rest assured you can count on French Canadians to deliver in the costume and entertainment department. There was the occasional marching band or two, which are always fun, but it's the artists of movement that truly shone. Dynamic color, sound, and dance collided in sheer delight. Granted, I enjoyed most of this with my gloved hands in pockets, so forgive that I can't share all the secrets with you in photos. Best to experience in person, anyway. Note: hand warmers are friends to nearly frostbitten fingers. Pack them. Use them.

I was romanced by Bonhomme, frozen, thawed, played like a kid, and happily watched the parade pass with thermal packets in my boots.

At -30°, I can assure you it was the kind of cold you don't look forward to spend an evening in, let alone a full day. But it really was a good time. By the end of the Carnaval I felt exhausted, beaten, and thoroughly entertained. And did I mention we happened to shake hands with the Prime Minister, M. Justin Trudeau? Ha! Would you believe it? The cherry on top of the snow cone.

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What fun we had exploring Québec City for the Winter Carnaval, and we send many thanks to Québec Tourism and the Québec City & Area for sponsoring this post, hosting our stay, and allowing us to get up close with the big, snowy guy. As always, all opinions, text, and images are truthful and our own. See our ethics page for more information.

The post “Joyeux Carnaval!” A 400lb Snowman, a Festival, and a Touch of Frostbite appeared first on Camera & Carry On.

Video: Canada’s Enchanting Ice Hotel

Michael — Mon, 22 Feb 2016 12:57:26 +0000

Recently Shannon wrote about the "REAL LIFE Frozen" (i.e. Québec's Hôtel de Glace), this week I'm trying to bring the experience to life with some of the great video we shot during our visit. From the elaborate sculptures and carvings, to the elegant rooms, arctic spa, and slides that we prove are "fun for kids of all ages," there are a lot of awesome things to see at this Ice Hotel. So what do you think? Would you like to stay a night at this frozen palace? I have to say, the ingenuity, artistry, and wonderment is really something spectacular, but full disclosure here, I don't know about spending the night. I mean it's still pretty cold, and if you have to go potty in the middle of the night, I believe the process goes something like this:

Unzip (your full body sleeping bag, not your pants)
Get your coat on as fast as possible
Get your boots on as fast as possible
Shoot, you probably just got snow in your boots, shake that out
Put boots back on
Run to the bathroom (this is a separate shared room that involves you being outside for a moment)
Unzip (yes, pants this time)
Run back to room
Perform sleeping bag ritual (also known as extreme insulation lock down)

Ya, I don't know. I think it's a "bucket list" kind of thing, or as Shannon refers to it, a "Frozen fantasy." Definitely worth taking a tour though (they offer several types), we've never seen anything like it before, and the drinks are damn good! Let us know if you'd sleep at the Hôtel de Glace by commenting below. And stay tuned! We're really embracing winter this year, and have a lot more great things to come from Québec and beyond!

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Thanks again to the Hôtel de Glace and Quebec Tourism for sponsoring this post. As always, all opinions, text, and images are truthful and our own. See our ethics page for more information.

The post Video: Canada’s Enchanting Ice Hotel appeared first on Camera & Carry On.

Inca Corn and Llamas: The Art of Exploring Machu Picchu

Shannon — Thu, 03 Dec 2015 02:40:33 +0000

After months of research, planning, dreaming, and preparations, we made it. Guide and group-free, completely on our own, we did it! Basking in the sweet glory of accomplishment, we savored unparalleled views atop the ancient summit of Machu Picchu. A sight for sore eyes, a bucket list destination, new world wonder, whatever you call it, it's flippin' glorious. But I suppose that's all a given - you're already prepped for a mind-blower, so I'll stop selling it. Just saying, it's that good.

My jaw dropped. My leg popped. My heart skipped a beat.

Somewhere between posing with an llama and eating corn snacks on a rock face, I was able to grasp the sheer magnificence of Machu Picchu. In order to fully appreciate what I'm talking about, you'll just have to see it for yourself. And when you do so, you'd better enjoy it to the absolute fullest. It goes a little something like this...

The Art of Exploring Machu Picchu, As We Do

In short: Arrive early, take it slow, admire the view, and have fun!

And there you have it. Just another day in the life of two humble travelers that enjoy furry creatures and snacks with a view. Have any special tips to share for exploring Machu Picchu? Do tell, do tell. In the meantime, one last image to tickle your brain...

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<<< P I N M E !

Save this "The Art of Exploring Machu Picchu" image to your Pinterest board for easy reference when you're ready to plan your Peruvian adventure. Happy Travels!

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