Camera & Carry On

A Voyage of Discovery: To Pincho or Not to Pincho?

Paula Cipolla — Sat, 09 Dec 2017 16:07:48 +0000

A guest post from Paula Cipolla. Paula is a freelance photographer-writer who lives in Seattle. Her passion for travel is augmented with her altruistic bent, a desire to compassion through charitable work overseas. In a span of over two decades, she’s volunteered on over 25 humanitarian teams in about a dozen countries, maintaining an annual commitment to Guatemala. There’s always a “first” at something. Below she shares with us her newbie food experience in Spain, enjoy!

The art nouveau inspired doorway beckons me in. Not unlike cavernous circus wall openings I'm seduced inside a "taverna", tavern-bar, by a cacophony of laughter and chit-chat. My eyes alight upon artistically composed delicacies atop plates melodically arranged in a tiny marching parade, reclining upon the long counter. Mesmerized, my body aligns like a magnet towards the queue of plates and platters. Of course, I’m undecided like a kid in a candy shop! I debate. Which to try? And, how to get started? The waiter approaches. Hesitantly, I blurt out in Spanish, so…. “how do I do this”? Mental logistics take over. How much are they? Where's a plate? Do I help myself? Order here? Sit or stand? He smiles, pausing in his hurriedness, then shrugs as if to say 'whatever you like.' I'm in Bilbao at the Victor Montes Bar tossed into the pincho cultural experience, dog-paddling in unknown waters. Pinchos, locally, "pintxos" is a Basque version of the ubiquitous Spanish tapas on steroids. Consulting my husband, Steve, with wild abandon, we point to several selections aboard soft bread rounds. The waiter gathers up all our decisions into small, individual dishes, handing them to us. Starting with a delicately breaded fish capped with a red pimiento, we then select some crustacean stabbed along with a cluster of green olives whose tiny red tongues wag gaily. A hash-brown looking potato “cup” grabs my attention. Encased inside is what looks like caramelized mushrooms in a brown sauce, topped with slender noodles, finalized by a jolt of local jamón, “ham” it's all I can do to contain myself from licking the plate clean. I wash this down with a local Rioja wine while Steve sips his beer. A couple more selections, we nod at each other, satisfied. Done? Done. The total cost? 12 euros! Four days later, I take on a bigger test in San Sebastian (also known by its Basque name “Donostia”). Under the guidance of Tenedor Tours, my husband and I arrive first at Taverna Txepetxa where we try a pincho starter of tender white asparagus, a delicacy of the region, drizzled with a ribbon of mayonnaise followed by a pincho of hake, another local specialty. We sample leisurely, eyeing some languidly draped sardines marinating in an olive oil bath atop long wooden picks pricked with tiny, skinny green peppers called "guindilla” and green olives. At Casa Urola, our next destination, we dig into an olive oil based platter of fleshy, mature tomatoes capped with chunks of tender bonito fish, softened onion curls and chopped guindilla. I had planned to nibble just one final morsel of a brioche dessert, sopped in milk, cream, and egg called “torrijas” which was sidelined with a dollop of coffee ice cream. Did I say, 'nibble'? Not! I devoured the entire plate!! Generously assembled, pincho bites are typically more half-sandwich sized than bite-sized tapas with an array of topped options. They can also be a small-plate sized sampling without bread. I learned that while pinchos can be a pit stop before dinner, they can also be a delightful evening of pincho-hopping the night away at multiple places with friends, much as the locals do. This mostly savory Basque experience will delight the senses. To pincho or not to pincho? No! The question is Which pinchos to pincho?

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Putting Our New High Sierra Gear to the Test!

Shannon — Wed, 23 Nov 2016 23:52:34 +0000

Travel and luggage go together like bread and butter, like Mickey and Minnie, like peanut butter and Nutella (yep, nectar of the gods, Nutella). Beyond being a vehicle for getting your toothpaste and underwear from here to there — when on the go, your luggage is an essential piece of equipment. For the past 10 years we've stuffed everything from arctic gear and computers, to snorkels and bikinis into our High Sierra bags.

(Apparently this is what Michael thinks of when he hears "bikini," so he made me put it in)

We've probably put 100 years' worth of wear on our bags in just 10 years' time. So before we hopped over to Norway for a sure-to-be epic adventure, we reached out to High Sierra to get our hands on their latest and greatest collections so we could put them to the test! When it comes to packing, there are really just two types of people: (1) those who consider the trip they're going on and make smart decisions based on weather, time, and mobility and (2) those who have to carry everything in their closet with them in a ridiculously overstuffed and heavy monstrosity that no doubt has leopard print on it, and at least a few... Sorry, sorry... I digress. As you may have guessed, I humbly categorize myself with the first crowd. After traveling from the South Pacific to the Arctic Circle, I can confidently say that less is more. And while there may not always be a one-size-fits-all for every occasion, we'll focus on that first type of traveler.

SPORTY & STOUT

Ultimate Access 2.0 Carry-On Wheeled Backpack w/ Removable Daypack This light and sporty bag is a classic example of why High Sierra is the ultimate brand for adventure luggage. While space is limited, not an inch is wasted in this carry on. Good for smart packers/travelers that need to be able to get around quickly without a ton of bulk. This can be wheeled or worn as a backpack, and has a removable daypack - perfect for hiking or other outdoor activities. Finished off with lots of pockets and zippers for your goodies, this bag is extremely versatile and great for on-the-move travelers. I will say, it does seems to be made for the more active traveler who's mostly concerned with size and mobility. If you're looking for something with big wheels, and a protective shell to roll around your expensive electronics in, you might want to check out the AT7 below.

HIDDEN HYDRATION

Classic 2 Series Longshot 70 Hydration Pack This is kind of my new favorite thing. We chose a hydration pack because we were doing a ton of hiking in Norway, and it just seemed like one of "those things" that we had to have, but now I'm convinced I'll use this all the time. Hiking aside, I picture myself carting this baby with me in the city, through the woods, and to grandma's house! It's incredibly lightweight and compact, holds up to 2L of water (if you need that), and has several compartments for organization. My favorite part about this bag though, is the holster on the front. I really didn't know what to use it for at first. It's advertised as the perfect spot for a bike helmet, but I ended up putting my camera bag in there. A hidden feature, it provided easy access to the camera while holding it completely secure (a big plus considering I thought about purchasing one of those expensive camera bags, but the hydration pack checks that box, and then some).

CLASSY CONVERTIBLE

AT7 Carry-On Wheeled Backpack Still very much a versatile piece of luggage, it's the sharper, sleeker cousin of the bag above. Fitting nicely in an overhead carry on compartment, it's equally fitting for a business trip in London or on a ferry to Martha's Vineyard. The detachable backpack is just the right size for a 15" laptop, and the main luggage compartment is roomier as well, so even on trips where packing light is a must, your things won't feel cramped. I think Michael and I will even share this bag on some of our shorter jaunts. It's got larger zippers, wheels, and a sturdy exterior than most. I see tons of usability and longevity in this one, for everything from work trips to weekend getaways.

BIG MAMA

AT7 26" Wheeled Duffle

(Meet Sumo, our unofficial mascot and quite possibly cutest dog ever. Plus, he's good for size reference.)

...At least big for us. Believe it or not, we don't always use carry ons. Don't start screaming, "Fraud!" quite yet, but yes, it's true. When we don't have to get on an airplane, and are much less concerned about cargo space, we'll sometimes use a "standard" size luggage. Perfect for road trips, or train rides, or even a flight if you don't mind those pesky fees, this duffle is super easy to get around. The main compartment and top netting makes it so we can ~~cram~~ neatly organize a ton of things in here. The bag is surprisingly light weight, and has all those sturdy zippers and such that all the bags in the AT7 line have. I don't think we're going to change the name of this site quite yet, but this really will be a great addition to our collection.

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Many thanks to the fine folks at High Sierra for providing us with gear for our Nordic adventures and sponsoring this post. Please note, we have used High Sierra luggage for many years prior to this, all on our own. As always, all opinions, text, and images are truthful and our own. See our ethics page for more information.

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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!

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Norway Beauty Shots: Stunning Landscapes

Shannon — Mon, 31 Oct 2016 01:21:53 +0000

There's no doubt about it - Norway is one of the most strikingly beautiful destinations in the world. So it should come as no surprise that I'm showing her off glamour shots style. Those sheer face cliffs, the mystique, the emerald greens and glacial blues, a hint of danger... the makings of a ~~Maxim~~ NatGeo Hot 100 chart topper. *sizzle* Touring the Scandinavian stunner on wheels meant we got to capture winning images at our leisure (hooray for roadside lookouts!) not to mention the knockout views we came upon time and again during our epic hikes. The variety and sheer grandeur of scenery in fjord Norway - from lush valleys to icy peaks - had us doing double takes. At times it felt like Switzerland or Ireland, and even extraterrestrial Iceland. Her shifty landscape personas kept us on the edge of our seats thinking, "What's next around the craggy bend?" The cheeky siren she is, Norway didn't disappoint but left us wishing for more. They should call this place the land of a thousand waterfalls because, you guessed it, they are everywhere. And next to roadways, I might add. Oh, nbd, just the oldest Stave Church in all of Norway. Boats. Nice. Just a little head-on-shoulder action to take it all in. Glacier! The highest viewpoint of a fjord from a road (or something like that). Just being adventurous in storybook-gorgeous Norway. Oh, and... glacier (again)! It took everything in me not to commandeer in this kayak and paddle down Geirangerfjord. Just in case you didn't get enough of Kjeragbolten in that other post. One of the coolest viewpoints in the history of man made lookout structures. Oslo does gardens (and symmetry) very well. See that tiny speck hanging from a parachute? That's Michael! More to come on that soon...You can literally drink like a thirsty puppy from that river. Freshy-fresh and oh-so good. Meet Alesund, the Art Nouveau town of Norway that was entirely rebuilt in 3 years after a fire in the early 1900s. Pretty, huh? And arguably even more lovely from up here. Another waterfall - just in case you didn't believe me. I'll keep you in suspense and spare you the other 10.They say this is the most beautiful fjord in Norway. What do you think? Not your average roadside view.I could stare at this all day. The end! Now go and take a few of your own. I promise, it's worth it.

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Many thanks to the fine folks at High Sierra for providing us with super-awesome gear for our Nordic adventures and sponsoring this post. High Sierra has long been the "carry on" in "Camera & Carry On" As always, all opinions, text, and images are truthful and our own. See our ethics page for more information.

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Epic Hikes in Fjord Norway

Shannon — Fri, 14 Oct 2016 03:25:41 +0000

Norway is nature's answer to a fatigued spirit. City noise, the morning commute, waiting in line, errands, overtime hours, loads of laundry... the daily grind is taxing on our minds and bodies. "Let's take a vacation!" is an innate reaction for some of us (and for those of you that take pause, remember you earn them for a reason), but often it's choosing a destination that's the hardest part. For us, the decision was simple: away to Norway!

Battery running low? Take a hike in Norway.

We needed to be outdoors, disconnected, surrounded by glorious landscapes, clean air, and unhindered by schedules and nonstop lists of to-dos. A surefire way to rejuvenate — hiking the unbridled majesty that is Norway. With no shortage of trails, feature-film-worthy lookouts, and varying degrees of difficulty to choose from, the fjords opened their bounty and begged us to explore. Challenging our office-chair ridden bums to step up their game, we championed three epic hikes in Norway. Check 'em out.

Kjeragbolten

Dude. I had no idea what I was getting myself into. Not only was I totally unaware of the level of difficulty (a "hard" hike per visitnorway.com) or the steep and numerous ridges we'd be climbing, but more so the shape I'd be whipping my ass into with all that lower body work. Half way up the first ascent I looked back and nearly wished I didn't. The first of many brushes with my fear of heights that day. But like a big girl I sucked it up, blistered my hands, and muddied my boots in the name of making memories.

"J.Lo booty, here I come!"

Feeling pretty good after a grueling 3 hour hike to reach the pinnacle, the photogenic rock solidly wedged - nay, hovering - above a fjord, it was time to take THE photo. You know, the one you show off to your adrenaline junky friends to show 'em you've got cojones, too. Michael went out there and I lined up for the shot. Success! I took 2387592 photos of him, then it was my turn! Except he actually went out a second time for a selfie (yeah, omfg is right). After that anxiety-inducing stunt, I went over to give it a try. I made it onto the little ledge, then just before the leap I had a little bit of a freak out. It's a long way down, and there's no easy way to get onto that boulder. I wanted off. I wanted to sit down. I wanted to see solid land beneath my feet, not toes on the edge of abyss. A miracle prevailed and I managed to talk myself into turning around and getting off the ledge. I didn't have it in me, but I'm okay with that.

Walk onto the boulder is not an option; you have to jump on it.

We chased the buzz with lunch before heading back. Another 2.5 hours later we reached the start/finish and celebrated conquering the hike with a delicious bottle of water freshly collected from a stream that would put Evian to shame. Cheers!

Pulpit Rock (Preikestolen)

Say it with me: Pree-kuhhh-shhhtoe-lenn. Arguably the most famous landmark in Norway, the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air inspired plateau ('cause flat top) is a MUST SEE. You'll definitely work up a sweat on the 4 hour escapade, but the view at the "rock" is totally worth it. The toughest part may just have been the ascent from the parking lot, but a fair share of feel-the-burn moments awaited us further into the hike as well. And those steep descents... Does anyone else get achy knees after all that impact? The 30-something in us is starting to kick in.

Some of us (cough cough Michael cough) get our kicks hanging our lower limbs over the edge, and some of us aren't nuts. But that's besides the point. The thing to take away here is that Pulpit Rock is a mighty fine spot to fill up your SD card. Because... fjords!

It's a helluva view at 2000 feet above Lysefjord!

The best way to do that is to tackle this hike early. Tour buses start unloading passengers at the bottom around 10 am, so get a move on it and soak in the view without feeling rushed by crowds.

Jostedalsbreen

Not your traditional "hike," I'm adding glacier trek (and a 12k kayak) to the list because I can. Clocking in at 7 hours - party in freezing rain and through a thick cloud - it sure felt like a hike and deserves a hefty mention at the very least. Walking on a glacier is an activity best suited to abominable snowmen, white walkers, and polar bears. While we are none of the above, we killed it; like we were born with crampons on our feet. As if kayaking on glacial-blue water to and fro wasn't nifty enough, the cloud we paddled through fizzled away at some point, along with the rain, giving us a killer view of the Jostedalsbreen glacier. Pure ~~science~~ magic!

TOTAL. GLACIER. DOMINATION.

We also learned 3 things: 1) Glacial ice really is that blue, 2) crevices in the glacier can run 30+ meters deep (falling into one is frowned upon), and 3) the Jostadalsbreen glacier is the biggest mama-jama in continental Europe.

How did Norway get so awesome? Mighty glaciers, for the win!

The hikes were incredible, and to put it in inspirational-poster-speak, We sought adventure and discovered something more; a strength and power within. I'm no namby-pamby, but I didn't know I had it in me. There's a real sense of pride in accomplishing physical goals, and knowing the only thing standing between you and the top of a mountain is determination. Welp, there I go again! That makes two ridiculous quotes in one post.

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This Little Piggy Went for a Swim in the Caribbean

Courtney — Sun, 31 Jul 2016 18:43:52 +0000

When a friend asks you if you'd like to go on a day trip to the Bahamas in her family's plane, you say yes. You then proceed to have an incredible adventure!! When I saw the six-seater plane her uncle would be flying us in my heart dropped. I knew it was small, but I've ridden in cars bigger than this! I buckled my seatbelt, laughing. If something went wrong I just couldn't see this piece of fabric making much of a difference. Where's the aisle? Where's the woman who's supposed to tell me where the emergency exit is? I guess, in a plane this small they aren't hard to find. I realized I'd committed at this point, so with a quick prayer and an "I love you" text to my family, we were off. In such a small plane, we could easily see the town below us--the people, the cars, the houses, the streets and waterways. Then there was nothing but a vast ocean. I couldn't wait to be exploring it in the Bahamas. A paradise of swimming pigs, "pet" nurse sharks, and snorkeling adventures awaited us only an hour and a half plane ride away. When we arrived at the airport a pickup truck was waiting to take us to the place where we would rent a Boston whaler (a small, fast boat). We used it to travel all over Exuma's different cays. Our first stop was Staniel Cay (aka best place ever!!!). As we approached, giant pigs started to swim — yes, swim — toward us from the beach. Apparently they know to expect food, water, and lots of love when boats arrive. We spent about an hour playing with them, feeding them, and taking pictures. We even got to see three little baby piglets! Isn't that a nursery rhyme or something? From there we moved on to Compass Cay where I did the craziest thing I'd do all day —swim with sharks. I willingly got into shark infested water and swam around, diving below them to try to get a good GoPro shot, as people threw chum into the water. Everyone says nurse sharks won't bite unless you mess with them. It was a little scary, but totally worth it!!! Definitely a once in a lifetime experience. After the sharks, we boated around to a few more cays, checking out beautiful and secluded beaches. We had entire beaches to ourselves to explore and relax on. Nothing I have ever seen can compare to the powdery white sand and shocking blue of the water in Exuma. Next up was a surprise destination! When we got there it didn't look like much — just another big mound of rock. As we dove into the water, though, I could see small openings just big enough for someone to swim through. After diving down deep, we found ourselves in a magical cave. I was informed that "magical cave" isn't actually the technical term, though, so if you go you should probably refer to it as "Thunderball Grotto", which is also located in Staniel Cay. Light poured in from the holes at the top, and there were several underwater entrances. Hundreds of fish swam around us and the top of the cave was breathtaking with the light and rocks and plants that grew there. We then found out something even more breathtaking. You can climb on top of the grotto and jump in! (Warning: the rocks you have to climb are very sharp. I highly recommend water shoes, we didn't have any and got a little banged up.) Once at the top, I realized I had learned my lesson from jumping off the cliffs in Amalfi. Don't linger too long, just do it! 1-2-3... JUMP! What a rush! After that we boated around, stopping here and there to see different small beaches and lots of animals. With the crystal blue water, you can see an incredible array of sea life below the surface. While boating we saw some more nurse sharks, sea turtles, tons of fish, sting rays, coral, and of course the piggies. Exuma, Bahamas is an incredible destination that offers everything from adventure to nature and relaxation. Just over an hour plane ride from the continental U.S., you can easily stay for a day or much longer, but don't say I didn't warn you: when you get there you won't want to leave! If you have the time, stay for at least a long weekend. Heck, if you have the time, plan to stay forever! This day reminded me how grateful I am for beautiful places and good friends!

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