When you need a little air…

Everyday I read a bunch of different travel blogs. I love to see the pictures and read about the adventures of people who seem to always be exploring. Here’s a woman who is hiking the Hayduke trail (which I had never even heard of but which looks amazing). This person (is it just one?) has been to Israel and Uganda already just this month! Not too long ago, I saw pictures from Antarctica – who goes there?! This blogger seems to always be climbing a mountain or going on some other adventurous outing. There are quite a few people (like this one and this one) teaching English in various countries – taking every opportunity to travel around and learn more about this vast, awe-inspiring world. And all of them, like me, also love to write and share about what they are learning and seeing. It is inspiring and amazing.

That being said, I sometimes (oftentimes?) become quite jealous of all the adventures that  people are going on. I see the pictures and wish I was there. I read about the freedom and wonder if I could give up some comfort to find a little more air. But then, sometimes you have to find and recognize the adventures to be had in your own backyard. You don’t have to give up your day job and travel across the pond to explore and to learn and to find renewal.

I bought a new camera yesterday, which inspired me to get outside and take some photos of this little big city I call home – Tucson, Arizona. And I was reminded that exploration can happen anywhere. Even on streets that you walk every day with your bulldog. The camera I bought is a Nikon COOLPIX L830 which I purchased from Best Buy. I’m not a photographer by trade, but I do love taking pictures and I took a few classes in college when I thought maybe I’d be a photojournalist but then hated all of the pretentious students in my classes. Anyhow, I bought this camera because it has really great reviews, 34x optical zoom, 16mp, and is easy to use. And I hit a really good deal on it! Since the L840 just came out, the L830 was on sale for $199. And then, I was lucky enough to be at a store where the display camera was the last one they had – so they sold me the display camera for $145! Fuck yeah. I am super stoked to be able to share better photos on here.

Buying the new camera inspired me to get outside and take some photos of this little big city I call home – Tucson, Arizona. And I was reminded that exploration can happen anywhere. Even on streets that you walk every day with your bulldog.

Tucson is considerably Catholic. Missionaries from Europe started their mission of converting the Native Americans and the Mexicans hundreds of years ago – beginning in 1690 when Father Kino, a Jesuit missionary, came from Italy. Some of the Native tribes ended up with an incredibly interesting hybrid of their tribal religion and Catholicism. A story for another time. But suffice to say, there are several beautiful cathedrals in and around
Tucson – very much worth visiting.