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Jeffrey Campbell

9 Years Ago

Artistic Travel Destinations

Long story short, I get free air travel.

Maybe it's just for a long deserved vacation or, maybe you have a special place you want to paint or photograph, if you had the opportunity to travel anywhere in the world for free where would you like to go and capture in one form or another?

Here are my Sunday choices: (I am staying home this weekend, because I have a trip to the Grand Tetons lined up in the near future.)

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David Morefield

9 Years Ago

I'd got to Pearl Harbor. Of course, I have never been and then only invitation that I got to go there was from COMSUBPAC; he could have made it happen, but then I would have spent 8 years in the Sub-surface fleet and that did not appeal to me. There is something unnatural about a ship that is designed to sink. I gotta have my daylight.

Anywho, that would be my vote.

 

Jeffrey Campbell

9 Years Ago

Ha!, David, you missed out :-) They do eat well, though.

 

Greg Jackson

9 Years Ago

"...There is something unnatural about a ship that is designed to sink..."

Concur on that, David.


Jeffrey, you flying Space A ?



 

Jeffrey Campbell

9 Years Ago

Yes, Greg. I did a trip earlier this year to Germany.

 

Jeffrey Kolker

9 Years Ago

Japan sounds cool. :)

 

Jeffrey Campbell

9 Years Ago

I've had my eyes on Japan, Jeff, for a while. I always enjoyed my time in the Orient for some reason.

 

Jeffrey Kolker

9 Years Ago

Never been, want to go, especially Japan. Some day....

 

Jeffrey Campbell

9 Years Ago

You would probably love Hong Kong, too. Ever eat snake teppanyaki style? Now there's a delicacy!

 

Jeffrey Kolker

9 Years Ago

Um...no. And not sure I would eat snake any style...

 

David Morefield

9 Years Ago

Jeffrey, Japan is cool, but expensive. I realize that you are flying Space-A, but once you are there, things get expensive. If you have been there before, then it shouldn't be a big deal.

I hope you enjoy your trip.

 

Jeffrey Campbell

9 Years Ago

Japan is very expensive, I agree. Seems all the Orient is the same way, cost-wise.

 

Deborah Smolinske

9 Years Ago

At the moment, I really want to go to Istanbul. I have a passion for Byzantine mosaics and I'm dying to see the Hagia Sophia up close and personal.

 

Lynn Bauer

9 Years Ago

I want to see the Grand Tetons...so, I'm jealous of your upcoming trip!

 

That's my dream, too, Deborah.

Then to Southern Spain........talk about mosaics !!

I found the Japanese extremely friendly hosts.

Hong Kong.......no thanks...once is enough.

The Lake District, UK is my first choice........beam me up !!

 

Jeffrey Campbell

9 Years Ago

Istanbul would be remarkable, Deborah. I think the closest I came to there was the U.A.E. I'll have to do some research on those places you've mentioned.

Lynn, this will be my first trip to the Tetons, and I'll be camping for seven days. I'm really looking forward to it, too.

I absolutely love Hong Kong, Viv, but never have visited Spain. Do they like westerners? I've heard mixed reviews.

 

Jeffrey, re Spain.......very friendly,sophisticated cities,hotels, gracious service..........but, they don't even like each other much, ask any Catalan, !!

 

Murray Bloom

9 Years Ago

Contrary to many Asian venues, China is far from expensive, especially the food. Good and CHEAP!

I can't help you as far as locations go. I generally don't go out of my way for subjects, on the theory that if I do, they've been covered already. Wherever I find myself, there's always something interesting to shoot. The only exception is when I shot the western part of Route 66 and Monument Valley with a British photographer friend. His choice.

 

Matthias Hauser

9 Years Ago

The land of fire and ice... I have been in Iceland some weeks ago and can't wait to go there again. Incredible nature.

 

Richard Stephen

9 Years Ago

I would love to get back to Alaska. When I lived there, I was a lot younger and not into photography. I'd also love to tour Europe, Australia and New Zealand. Those would do for starters!

 

Roy Erickson

9 Years Ago

Jeffrey - you've not said how long you can be wherever you decide to land. And then it all depends on what you think you'd like to do when you get there. Japan - Not Oki - would be a great destination - but travel the countryside - not Tokyo - and maybe not even Kyoto - although once upon a time I spent a week there and had a hugely good time. After Japan - perhaps Alaska - if you can get out and away from the obvious. I see there are no European destinations - and you have HI listed twice - is there some message there? Of course, I live in FL and see no reason to travel there - LOL.

It seems strange the the 'orient' is so expensive now - in another life the exchange rate was about 800 to 1 - I traveled from Yokosuka to Tokyo, Enoshima, Kyoto - spent a week - for less than $200 US and had some change left when I got back. Real Kobe Steak meal was $1.

Not sure I want to eat anything in Hong Kong - snake or otherwise. I have eaten snake - rattlesnake is excellent -

 

Edward Fielding

9 Years Ago

Iceland is on my list.

 

To-tam Gerwe

9 Years Ago

What about Viet Nam? It is a very beautiful country.

To-Tam

 

Robert Preston

9 Years Ago

Nepal for the trekking among amazing mountains and the bustle of Kathmandu.
Iceland for the waterfalls and puffins and geology.
India for the history and variety.
Kyrgyzstan for the lakes and wide open spaces.
The list is endless...

 

Robert Frank Gabriel

9 Years Ago

My wife and I are going to Roxbury, Vermont next month. Population 660 with one general store.

 

Delilah Downs

9 Years Ago

Alaska would definitely be my choice with Washington state coming in second.

Robert Frank Gabriel - "My wife and I are going to Roxbury, Vermont next month. Population 660 with one general store."

Sounds really nice, Robert--even though the population is 6 times bigger than in my town, lol! But Vermont would be high on my list of places to visit.

 

Mary Bedy

9 Years Ago

Any national park. I've been to many of them and they are all different and all fascinating.

Keep in mind at Pearl Harbor, you can't carry a camera bag. It was raining when I went and I only had a point and shoot at the time and I had to keep it in my pocket most of the time to keep it dry. It would have been a problem with an SLR.

 

Jeffrey Campbell

9 Years Ago

Roy,

The list I provided is what our choices are on any given day - the destinations around the world change daily. Being retired, I can stay as long as I want to, keeping in mind I have to wait for a flight home. Alaska definitely sounds nice.

Richard, New Zealand - yes! That's on my bucket list.

Vermont and surrounding area - how can you top that?! Any particular reason you're headed there, Robert?

To-Tam, I heard Vietnam has one the world's largest underground caves!

Hawaii is generally offered at a minimum of once each day, sometimes twice.

 

Valerie Reeves

9 Years Ago

I just came back from Italy, and I would go again tomorrow if given the chance. It was my third stay in Florence, but I just cannot get enough of that city. Next on my list would be Barcelona...I have been once, but the weather wasn't great and the skies were cloudy the whole time. I have always wanted to go back and reshoot every photo I took there. I want shots of Gaudi's work with blue skies behind it. (Plus, the food is incredible).

 

Mary Bedy

9 Years Ago

I've always wanted to see "La Sagrada Familia", Valerie, and yeah, taking photos of Gaudi's buildings would be cool. Been to Spain twice but never got to Barcelona.

Jeffrey, I would think you would gravitate more to the landscape destinations? Although you have some beautiful architectural work as well.

 

Jeffrey Campbell

9 Years Ago

When I'm on a trip, Mary, my camera is always with me; whether or not I decide to use it is another question. :-) I do prefer landscapes, though, for the simple fact they are so much easier to license over architectural, and the scenery is much more appealing to me. However; sometimes getting up at zero-dark-thirty waiting for sunrise is, well, tiring.

 

Mary Bedy

9 Years Ago

Yeah, I hear that, Jeffrey. Not a morning person here.....

Unfortunately, I live on the eastern side of my state so if I want pretty colors over the river, I would have to force myself to get up early.

 

Jim Sauchyn

9 Years Ago

I think I'd stay at home here and hike the Rockies from Jasper to Waterton... Banff, Lake Louise, and much more are in between.

 

Deborah Smolinske

9 Years Ago

I enjoyed Spain on my two visits there (two days in Madrid on one trip, a week in Barcelona for another trip). I didn't enjoy Barcelona as a whole, though I'm glad I went. Sagrada Familia and other Gaudi locations were definitely worth it (do NOT miss Casa Batllo if you go). But otherwise, Barcelona was a little too modernized and citified for my tastes. In Madrid, if you've got about $600 to spare for a single meal for two, have dinner at Horcher, an experience not to be missed if you've got the cash. And there's also Botin, the oldest restaurant in the world according to the Guinness Book. You haven't tasted gazpacho soup until you've had it at Botin (and they're open for lunch).

At the time I visited Barcelona, I spent 11 days on the Iberian peninsula. The first six days were Lisbon, and I wish the other five days were Lisbon and Portugal too. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute I spent in Lisbon (and Sintra). Couldn't get enough. That place is a photographer's dream! While the Spanish people were quite nice, the Portuguese are incredible. Extremely friendly, welcoming, helpful, funny, charming, witty, accommodating. Can't say enough nice things about all the lovely people I met while there.

If you're going to spend five days or more in one location, check out VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner). Living like a local amidst the other locals really enhances the experience. And it's usually considerably cheaper!

P.S. If you're headed for Italy, try to get to Ravenna. There are more Byzantine mosaics there than anywhere else in the world. It's a very charming small city, full of very nice people. Chock-a-block with churches, baptistries, all sort of fascinating architecture. Right on the Adriatic Sea. Ravenna is the "other" Rome, and, for me at least, a far more welcoming and delightful place than big, stinky, dirty, crowded, unfriendly, nasty Rome (can you tell I didn't enjoy my time in Rome?)

 

Gary Fossaceca

9 Years Ago

Without a doubt, Yokota, Japan! Japan is paradise!!!!!!

 

Mary Bedy

9 Years Ago

@ Deborah - ate at Botin - really, really good meal.

 

Valerie Reeves

9 Years Ago

Deborah--although I loved Barcelona, I DO agree with you about Lisbon and Sintra. Would go back to both those places in a second! I also agree with you on renting a place if you will be somewhere more than 5 days. We rented an apartment in Florence a few weeks ago. It was all I could do to come back to the U.S. lol

 

Fraida Gutovich

9 Years Ago

Galapagos and Antarctica for wildlife!

 

Deborah Smolinske

9 Years Ago

Those are both on my bucket list, Fraida!

 

Patricia Strand

9 Years Ago

Valerie, I was glad to see your post about Florence! I am planning to rent an apartment for next spring. Would you recommend the place you rented? I picked Florence because I want to be able to walk everywhere, and according to Rick Steves, you can!

If I were you, Jeffrey, I'd go back to Hawaii. I adore the slow pace and warmth, and unbelievable cloudscapes and sunsets! I can trample around there without fear of running into snakes. Viet Nam has always been a dream destination, too (although I'm sure they have reptiles).

 

Jeffrey Campbell

9 Years Ago

Galapagos! That sounds like a great adventure!

We did stop once at the airport in Spain, but only to pick exchange passengers. No opportunities to travel about as it was a layover. Banff looks like a nice place to explore, too. Great recommendation!

 

Deborah Smolinske

9 Years Ago

Another great destination is Gibraltar. Spent five days there and loved every second. There are so many places I want to visit (and haven't yet) that I try not to go back to the same place twice, but I'd go back to Gibraltar in a heartbeat.

 

Jeffrey Campbell

9 Years Ago

I've sailed past Gilbraltar at one point. We told our shipmate on watch duty to keep an eye out for the flying monkeys off the rock :-) We were cruel, I know.

 

Deborah Smolinske

9 Years Ago

You weren't exaggerating by that much, Jeff. Gibraltar apes are real, they do live all over the rock, and they do make some pretty good leaps from rock to tree to balcony to top of car to the shoulders of people walking by, et cetera. They're amazing (and can be quite dangerous)!

 

Jeffrey Campbell

9 Years Ago

That's too funny, Deborah. And with an aircraft carrier out at sea, that would be an amazing leap of faith, so to speak. She (our shipmate) actually believed us. We gave her a swab [mop] to fend them off if they flew too close.

The fun times we had on the ship!

 

Deborah Smolinske

9 Years Ago

You ever set somebody to act as lookout for the posts that mark the equator? ;-)

 

Joshua House

9 Years Ago

I'd imagine there's quite a bit of interesting wildlife around Andersen on Guam.

 

Valerie Reeves

9 Years Ago

Yes, Patricia, one of my favorite things about Florence is that it is completely a walking city. You would be crazy to have a car there. There is no parking and most streets are very narrow. Most locals use bicycles or Vespas. And if you don't feel like walking, you can easily find a taxi stand and catch a cab. The apt we rented was a two-floor one for a family. Not sure you would need that much space, would you? My husband did all the research and came up with dozens. It's easy now with the internet and online reviews. If we were doing it again, I would give Airbnb a try.

 

Jeffrey Campbell

9 Years Ago

Equator watch, Deborah? That would be cruel!

I've never been to Guam, Joshua, but it does look very promising. Very small island from what I've been told.

 

Joshua House

9 Years Ago

Guam has still got to be better then that emergency landing on Midway the other week.

 

Rose Santuci-Sofranko

9 Years Ago

Maine! and a mountain range. I've never scene an ocean or real snow-capped mountains and it is a lifelong dream to see them both!

 

Jeffrey Campbell

9 Years Ago

Sorry, Patricia, you last posted seconds before me and I skipped over.

I've been to Oahu many times with the navy, but never actually spent the night. We were always returning from our overseas deployments, stopping in Pearl, and I would immediately jump on an airplane and fly home. So, yes, I do need to go and actually spend some time scouting out the island. Getting a room on the military base is under $60 per night, and the rental cars are fairly inexpensive.

Joshua, I did not hear about Midway last week, will have to Google and see what happened.

Maine! Rose, great idea. The whole New England area over that way has my taste buds salivating, too, so to speak. I'll have to look at the map, but I think Maine is on the upper tip of the States somewhere

 

Walter Holland

9 Years Ago

Boy it must be nice to have free air travel to some of these wonderful places all around the world.

As for me, I don't really have the means; but if you do why not go for it. Meanwhile I can find plenty of subject matter within my own state.

With that said, after reading (a few times I must admit) James Clavell's Shogun, I have always wanted to visit Japan.

Of course I would love to sail on a Chinese Junk, and I am confident there would be some still around.

What ever you decide, Jeff, I hope you have a great trip(s) and bring back on great photographs.


 

Kim Shuckhart Gunns

9 Years Ago

Jeffrey, My son and his family live in Yokosuka, Japan and when we went to visit he took us to a place called Hakona it had so many places of interest there and would be beautiful for a photographer we also went to Kyoto although a main tourist area there is a place that has monkeys all over.You are just told not to stare eye to eye and don't bring any food as you climb the steep hill sides within their area. My son and hubby went on ahead as we didn't see any and as soon as they were out of site I was surrounded! i froze till they came back. Japan would be my pick again and again.

 

Jeffrey Campbell

9 Years Ago

It's been five years since I was in Yokosuka, Kim, -- beautiful town, too. And a short walk to the train station is all that's required to go exploring. I would love to go back in the near future.

 

Christian Lagereek

9 Years Ago

Japan! without doubt!

 

Roy Erickson

9 Years Ago

I understand about "being retired", did 27 with your outfit and Uncle Sam's Misguided Children. I've not used space A - and I'm not sure they fly out of NAS Jax or not. How long you can stay is relative only if you don't have to ever come back home. My bank account just doesn't extend that far into the future (although it could if I gave up a few things like a house and wife - maybe). Given one of two choices - I'd go to Europe - you could land in Germany - and get a Eurail pass and travel forever through smaller landscapes - staying out of the large cities (over done) - then - as i said - it would be Japan - and travel everywhere through the country - again - avoiding the larger (tourist) cities.

 

Nadalyn Larsen

9 Years Ago

We saw the Tetons after leaving Yellowstone in the spring of 2013 - Impressive! We've enjoyed trips to French speaking Canada and Big Bend National Park since then. The end of August we take in New Orleans, one of my favorite fun and photography destinations and the end of Sept we head for southern and western Ireland. In the planning for next year are trips to the Florida everglades and Keys and France (particularly the northeastern area where my husband spent much of his childhood). On the list beyond that are Alaska, Italy, and Japan for starters. I have mobility issues so I've got to get as much in as I can while I can still enjoy traveling. I think we've got a good start.

 

Edward Fielding

9 Years Ago

My most artistic travel destination is down the stairs to my basement but we're headed to Banff in a few weeks.

 

Katie Jeans

9 Years Ago

Fiji! I love tropical places so I always wanted to go there but in my eyes it is very expensive to fly there & I will probably never get the chance to go. That is my choice

 

To-tam Gerwe

9 Years Ago

Hi Jeffrey, the Cave is not ready for tourist because it is located in the jungle but there are many other place you can see. It is a beautiful country next to several other
you can see them all if you would take a cruise ship. In ten years Viet Nam will be as expensive as other Asian countries. Most of my families still living over there.

To-Tam

 

Jeffrey Campbell

9 Years Ago

Roy,

Yes, Jacksonville flies Space A. Here are today's flights:

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Nadalyn,

Big Bend sounds like a great place!

Katie,

Fiji! What a beautiful destination! Never say never - put it on your bucket list and set yourself a goal to go. :-)

To-Tam,

I watched a recent video on that particular cave. Scientists were allowed access with a film crew to document, they had to repel down ropes about 300 feet to the ground floor.

 

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