I spent many hours as a child gazing at a globe, spinning it slowly and tracing the outlines of far away lands with my fingers. It was the beginning of my love affair with travel.
I have been lucky enough to travel to many of the places that captured my imagination as a child. My photographs form the backbone of my memories and there is little more pleasing than a quiet moment with a photograph album. I have spent a considerable amount of time sifting though photographs recently. It’s a bittersweet exercise. My illness and ongoing treatment have made travel impossible in the past six months, and anxiety about the practicalities of air journeys have prevented me from making future plans.
Technically, I know there is no reason that I should not travel. I am unable to pass through metal detectors, and the hand-held electronic searching gadget used by security officers could damage an internal device. I certainly cannot safely undergo the new scanning procedure introduced after Christmas. And I need to carry far more than the maximum volume of liquids allowed in hand baggage. None of these issues are irresolvable, but I dread to think how long it will take me to clear security and I resent the need to declare my medical history to people not involved in my care. It feels intrusive and makes me uncomfortable, and at the moment this discomfort outweighs my desire to travel. I hope this feeling is temporary.
These pictures are from a trip to Roatan ten years ago. Roatan is one of the Bay Islands of Honduras and has beautiful Caribbean beaches and the largest barrier reef in the Caribbean sea. Ten years ago, tourists were few and far between (I was there to visit my sister). In recent years tourism there has grown dramatically and I am told that the island has changed almost beyond recognition. Looking back at these pictures really makes me realise how lucky I was to see the island back then.
I did not carry an SLR on this trip. My mother was anxious about the journey and forbade me from carrying anything valuable. Instead I carried a cheap 35mm point and shoot camera – and almost half a suitcase full of film! The images on the screen are scans I made of the prints. I am trying to work out how to scan negatives and hopefully the images will then be of better quality!
Weekend reflections
Monochrome weekend
Shadow Shot Sunday
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What beautiful photos reminding me it’s not the camera so much as the photographer that really makes the difference. Each conveys a different mood … methinks the one in the middle might be a favorite today, but on another visit that could change. I hope you’ll be well enough to travel again as much as you desire. I find the challenges daunting these days and find myself feeling the pull of home.
Hugs and blessings,
Happily Retired Gal at Small Reflections´s last blog ..13 Random Thoughts in my Mind this Morning
Sorta like my love affair with the Florida of the 50′s…it will never be the same, glad I have the memories…I hope your illness is brief, warm wishes are heading your way!
Sweet Repose´s last blog ..Shadow Shot Sunday…Bent…
I have enjoyed stopping by and seeing your beautiful photos from your trip to Roatan. So lovely!
Thank you much for stopping by my place and leaving your comment!
Kindly, ldh
These are beautiful images. I’m so sorry to hear that your illness has prevented you from air travel. I hope you can find a way to take trips again without being uncomfortable in doing so. Take care and have a lovely week!
Tracy´s last blog ..Shadow Shot Sunday #90
an awesome pic.. so tranquil b beautiful
What a beautiful place, and you have captured the atmosphere perfectly. I want to go!
Hot Fudge´s last blog ..Shadow Time
Twitter: BLOGitse
Too many places change because of heavy tourism. You’re lucky to visit Bay Islands early enough.
I hope one day you’ll be able to travel again. Don’t give up hope.
Have a great SS Sunday!
BLOGitse´s last blog ..ribbons part 1.
Each of the photos is so beautiful but my favorite is the first. It has an almost dreamlike quality, well done.
SquirrelQueen´s last blog ..Sprite Lights – Monochrome Weekend
Beautiful ….. Think the same as SquirrelQueen, “it has an almost dreamlike quality”
Irene´s last blog ..The Monochrome Weekly # 13 – Desert sand
The stuff meditation is made of. Fantastic.
cieldequimper´s last blog ..Volets ouverts
Stopping by from SITS….those are some stunning photos! I have not yet been blessed with many opportunities to travel, but the moment I do, my camera is definitely coming with me! =]
These shots are top quality! I love the old pier in the first – it’s a beautifully tranquil scene.
kitty´s last blog ..Today’s Flowers: The Promise of Spring
Your photos are wonderful!! I hope you get your travel problems resolved – I would be very upset if my travelling were to be curtailed. Rather than scanning prints, I get better results if I simply take photos of them!
Anne´s last blog ..Shadow Shot Sunday
Beautiful photos, the quality is great. Nice job on the scan. I’m so sorry you are unable to travel right now. Travel is a passion for me as well, a necessity really. I truly hope you are able to get yourself on a plane sometime soon. Thoughts and prayers and lots of love to you!
wanderlust´s last blog ..Shadow Shot Sunday
Twitter: http://thepagansphinx.blogspot.com/
Beautiful. The monochrome is so smooth.
Great blog!
pagan sphinx´s last blog ..What’s Goin On
What a beautiful blog..Pictures are wonderful and the recipes look very interesting.
Thank you for visiting me..Happy SSS..Rosebud.
ctmott´s last blog ..Shadow Shot Sunday.
It’s the photographer’s eye and not the camera. These (and all of your images) show your vision. You will get the best quality scans from a dedicated film scanner though it can be tedious. You may not be able to travel (silly overkill with security) but you have your memories. None can take them from you!
John McDevitt´s last blog ..Gray Tones: Flower Bud & Wet Leaves
Twitter: craftygreenpoet
What lovely photos, such serene scenes
Crafty Green poet´s last blog ..Simple Things
What a beautiful blog. I love all of the pictures.
Excellent photos! Very, very beautiful!
Birgitta´s last blog ..Shadow Shot Sunday #90
These are lovely, painterly images.
I agree, going through old photos can take us back to the time and place, places that bare little resemblance in today’s world. As for the trials of travel, I wonder, dose it really make us safer? Do we need to live in a world that holds no peril?
I’m glad you stopped by my site or I might have missed this post.
Martha Z´s last blog ..Shadows at The Getty
Beautiful even though scanned! Time marches on and places change…sometimes for the better or NOT! How nice that you were able to see this island in a more remote fashion. Beautiful memories are forever. I do hope you muster up the courage and strength to travel again, despite the inconveniences. Even without illness, travel is so much more complicated these days and I often hear people say they prefer to avoid the airports. This is unfortunate…I wish you the best in the days and months to come. Warm wishes.
The photos are lovely, because you took them. I love the first one – rather lonely and forgotten looking, but then you were there!
I’m thinking that a work-around for the airlines might be to call ahead to get private screening? I don’t know how to remedy the need for bottles of liquid, but surely some privacy can be afforded to you.
Christine´s last blog ..February in the Garden – Winterbells (Correa ‘Alba’)
It looks so beautiful there. I can see your difficulty with travel and the intrusiveness of all the procedures-bad enough when it is straightforward, let alone in your situation! I hope that when your desire to travel returns you are able to do so. Though of course there is always the UK! Thanks for not revealing the pub name-I don’t think anyone could actually guess because how would they know Brockley-unless they knew it?! I didn’t think of that at the time though!
Sarah´s last blog ..Weekend Events
That is an amazing shot, its gorgeous.
What a beautiful place! I especially love the colors and textures in the last image.
Diane AZ´s last blog ..Reading Shadows
Very nice photos – like each of them. Too bad travel has to be so difficult for you – maybe a chance to do some macro photography? Hope your difficulties are quickly over and you are back to your regular routine.
michael´s last blog ..Booted Girls in Step
What an absolutely gorgeous photo! So soft and serene. Thank you for visiting my blog today. It was nice to see you there. Your blog looks very interesting and I can see I’ll have to take some time to peruse your archived posts! ~ks
ksdoolittle´s last blog ..Northern Moon Snail (Lunatia heros)
Your photographs are quite extraordinarily beautiful and tranquil.
jabblog uk´s last blog ..Simple things . . .
Oh those are so beautiful. And so much to think about here in your post: The problems with the airline procedures, I hope they WILL get that figured out soon for you and everyone else; it shouldn’t be such an impossible hassle. But also the changes that come to our favorite places. We have seen that happen a few times and heard of others that have changed. And then I never even knew about the possibility of scanning negatives — although I think the scans you have here are quite perfect! You packed a lot into a few well chosen words here. Thank you.
sallie (FullTime-Life)´s last blog ..CHIEF CRAZY HORSE — RERUN
Beautiful photos. That first one is quite eerie.
Melanie (Kimono Reincarnate)´s last blog ..Shadow Shot Sunday
Thanks for stopping by and commenting on my blog.
I really like these photos, I can’t choose a favorite. And I agree with the comment about the photographer being more important than the camera.
I sympathize with your reluctance to travel, although my reasons are not as compelling as yours.
God bless you today!
Dimple´s last blog ..Benches, Shadows, and Reflections
BEAUTIFUL shots.
Evelyn´s last blog ..Fence climbers
These are beautiful photos; beautiful scenery.
I send prayers and good thoughts that you get better soon and are able to travel to your heart’s delight again.
Best,
Paz
Thanks so much for commenting on my cat photo.
This is my first visit to your blog, and I’m awed by the artistry of your photographs! It does sound like air travel is impractical. But maybe there are places you can visit that are accessible by bus, train or boat that will bring you fulfillment. Good luck!
Square Peg Guy´s last blog ..Shadow Shot Sunday Two Cats in the Sun
Just loved this post… coming from SITS. Random, but are you going to Bloggy Boot Camp in Baltimore?
That is a very stirring picture!
Blond Duck´s last blog ..The Return of Miss Pickles 18
Nothing to give up dear, as long we can breath and move, isn’t it?
I am enjoying to come and visit you as I feel am travelling with you to all corners of the world.
Keep up!
hugs to you lots,
chie
chie´s last blog ..Great Hubby in Action on my SSS#5 with Valentine’s Give Away
Fabulous shot!
John´s last blog ..Monochrom Weekly | Hurum
Twitter: RobinTA
Such beautiful images, especially that first one. I feel like I could lose myself in it.
Perhaps something to consider, air travel may not be feasible right now, but the whole wide world is still at your doorstep if you but look. There is still exotic beauty and new vistas to explore around each new corner, even if that corner is the one by your neighborhood store. Even at home there is always something new to see, something new to wonder at.
xox
Robin from Israel´s last blog ..Apricot Orchard
Twitter: magic_eye
gorgeous images! you have a lovely blog out here. glad yuo stumbled upon my blog leading me to discover yours!
magiceye´s last blog ..MyWorld
Very nice!! Your lucky to have been there before the tourists, I got a feeling from the photos that I really like. Hope you get it to work with the negative scanner, the quality is great.
Such wonderful tranquil photographs! I love the softness of the top one. Very calming.
I do hope you will overcome your reluctance to travel again- Arriving at your destination will outweigh all the hassle getting there I hope…
The medicine woman is behind the door!
Who, or what she is, I can’t say…
Blond Duck´s last blog ..If I could go anywhere today…
First photo is by far my favorite, quite breath-taking, great job. Thank you for your comment and sorry for my delay, the boys are keeping me busy! Happy (belated) SSS!
Christine´s last blog ..Toy Story Tuesday – Join in!
Twitter: Missmalu
Wow, these photos are amazing. Stopping by from SITS. I long to travel to different places, many of which I’ve dreamed of for a very long time. Some day….
Mel´s last blog ..Time Out Tuesdays: Link Up Your Giveaways
These photographs are beautiful. I hope you’ll soon feel more comfortable with the idea of travelling again, and replenish your photography archives. in the meantime, sounds like you have lots to scan in – and I find you can still be quite creative with cropping and manipulation in the digital darkroom once old photos have been scanned.
Janice´s last blog ..And the winners are…
I hear and share your frustration and I can’t travel with ease anymore and I feel like I become and open and much fondled (and not in a good way) book… I hope you can still find a way to live your passion….Your photos are so evocative…Michelle
Lovely photos … Hope you will get better soon!
Dorte´s last blog ..Corner view Vienna: Repurposed
I’m so sorry to read about your illness. I hope that one day you will find the desire to see the world again and that security will ease and make it easier for you to travel. Nevertheless, your photos of Roatan are gorgeous and well photographed. Take care!
Jenn´s last blog ..Some Teaser Scenes