Travel Horizons: dawn

Showing posts with label dawn. Show all posts

10.01.2019

a postcard from Uluru (Ayers Rock)

A postcard from Uluru ... the Aboriginal name for this massive rock formation in the center of Australia. The English settlers called it Ayers Rock, probably the name you know.

The top photo was taken well before dawn. The half hour before the sun actually peaks above the horizon is the most special time to visit. We stood alone in the darkness, watched the sun's glow from below the horizon, and observed the gradual, almost imperceptible brightening of that glow as dawn approached. Once the sun gets above the horizon, the magic is lost as everything is cast in bright light.

Sunset is another popular time to visit Uluru. In the middle of the day, the heat can be oppressive and the harsh, bright light of the sun washes out the colors. As sunset approaches, the low angle of the sun casts golden and then reddish light upon Uluru, creating the ethereal glow you see below.

Well worth a visit, Longitude 131º is an exclusive resort with luxury tents, each with a view of Uluru. Included in your room rate are all meals, fine wines and cocktails, and excursions to explore the area — mostly at sunrise and sunset. What to do in the middle of the day? Relax by the pool ... or pamper yourself in the Spa. Book through a Virtuoso travel advisor to receive an exclusive resort credit towards your treatment!

copyright (c) 2019 by Ourisman Travel LLC. All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell, a Virtuoso® Member. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.

8.13.2019

Paris — anytime, anywhere

I woke up early my first morning in Paris and went out for a walk just as dawn was breaking. It was a Sunday morning in August, and there was no traffic. Practically nobody else was awake. I felt that I had Paris to myself as I walked through the Jardin des Tuileries. Crossing the Seine on a small pedestrian bridge, the Passerelle Léopold-Sédar-Senghor, I ambled through some residential streets behind the Musée d'Orsay, eventually making my way back to the Seine.

Snapping pictures as I walked along, I saw the newly dawned sun illuminating the mansard roofs of classic Haussmannian buildings. I crossed the Pont Royal and marveled at the sunlight reflecting brightly off the glass roof of the Grand Palais to the west. Looking to the far bank of the Seine, I saw these four young people — two couples — sitting together by the river. Turning left on the Voie Georges Pompidou, I walked above the spot where they were sitting and was lucky to capture this image through the trees.

The picture tells a story, though the viewer has to imagine what that story might be. Two young couples spending an evening together in Paris, sharing kisses as the sun comes up on a brand new day, this is Paris — anytime, anywhere — the most beautiful city in the world, a place for old and new lovers alike.

4.30.2019

the Spanish Steps at dawn

I arrived at the bottom of the Spanish Steps this morning around 5:30 a.m. A half dozen photographers were already there, cameras on tripods set to capture the iconic view — the Trinità dei Monti church centered with the baroque Fontana della Barcaccia in the foreground. Although I grabbed a few images from that vantage, I am more drawn to this view from the side...

On yesterday afternoon's walking tour, we saw the same scene. How much difference a few hours can make. The steps were packed with tourists ... and the nearby Trevi Fountain was a mob scene. One reason to wake up at 5 a.m., to see the famous sights of Rome without the crowds.

4.21.2018

Notre Dame at dawn

There's a large square in front of Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris, but it was virtually empty at 7 a.m. Look really closely, and you'll see a small group of bicyclers in front of the entrance to the church. They look so small because this is an immense square and they're quite a distance away.

Best travel tip: early morning is the best time to explore most any city, as you'll avoid the crowds. It would have been impossible to capture this image later in the day. Hundreds of people normally occupy this square, obscuring the shot from ground level.

copyright (c) 2018 by Ourisman Travel LLC. All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell, a Virtuoso® member. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit our website.

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