Day 360: Istanbul and the Famed Hagia Sophia
Istanbul! What can I say? It’s always held a special draw for me. I can’t exactly explain why, but I’ve always perceived it as mysterious, beautiful, and exotic. We decided to take the kids and visit Istanbul for just under a week before going to Jordan and Israel. I’m so glad we made this decision. Of all the destinations we visited, Istanbul is definitely one of our favorites. The people are friendly and the city is so unique. Below is our new best friend. I don’t remember his name, but he was… Read More
Day 353: Zambia and Hunting Rhinos
Hunting Rhinos to shoot, with our cameras of course. In addition to Victoria Falls, this was one of the other highlights we experienced in Zambia. We set out in our safari jeep, excited and hopeful but a little apprehensive, as we knew we would hunting the Rhinos on foot. Of course, we could only do this with several heavily armed guards, but if a Rhino chose to charge us, I’m not so sure how safe we’d be, regardless of the guards’ presence. Plus the thought of being the cause for a guard to… Read More
Day 351: Safari on the Zambezi River
The Zambezi River is Africa’s fourth largest river, running through six different countries on its way to the Indian Ocean. Much of the Zambezi is undeveloped and retains its raw beauty. Its biggest claim to fame are the gorgeous Victoria Falls, which we blogged about a few days ago. While in Zambia, we had the opportunity to enjoy several safari cruises. The scenery was stunning, but the wildlife even more amazing. Our highlight was spotting a huge herd of elephants satisfying their thirst riverside. We were all surprised to see this, as… Read More
Day 349: Victoria Falls, Zambia – a Photoblog
Years ago, while I was in high school, I met a missionary named Mark in Pearl River, New York. He was at the African Inland Missions summer training, preparing to fly to Kenya to begin his service. I volunteered for this 3 week training every summer, helping the missionaries’ kids in the nursery and cooking meals in the kitchen. It was always a highlight of my summers. Mark and I became instant friends, and began to correspond via airmail letters. (Do you remember those neat, foldable blue envelopes? Do they even exist today?)… Read More
Safari Highlights: The Zebras
I think I took Zebras for granted the first time I went on safari. There were so many of them, I didn’t notice how unique and beautiful each one was. I was more excited about spotting, you guessed it…the Big Cats. This time around, I took the time to study and appreciate them, and learned a few fun facts. I’ve shared a few of my favorite zebra shots and facts below. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did. First off, Zebras are part of the horse family. Maybe you… Read More
Safari Highlights: Leopards and Cheetahs
Ok, now on to the gorgeous Leopards! Below, we are doing a night safari. It was our very first one at Kapama and I didn’t have high hopes that we would spot any Big Cats. It’s especially difficult to spot a leopard hiding in a tree in the middle of the day, as they blend in so well. Try spotting one at night! But it happened and we felt incredibly fortunate that this one was spotted. We were awed by its beauty and sleekness. The photos below were taken within an hour of… Read More
Safari Highlights: Lions, Cubs, and Sunglasses
Photographing the Big Cats is one of the top reasons many people journey half way across the world. Spotting one in the wild can be one of the most exhilarating experiences of your life. It was for me, that is. I am drawn to the Big Cats and find myself wanting to get as close to them as is humanly possible. But there is also a sane part of my brain that recognizes their strength as well as the danger and foolishness of not respecting that these are wild animals. Just look at this guy! We have spoken… Read More
Day 314: Of Churros and Chocolate
We love trying new foods and I was especially excited for the kids try to typical Spanish Churros with chocolate, as it was one of my favorite treats when backpacking through Europe many years ago. These Churros did not disappoint! You have to know to ask for the chocolate, which, although technically a thick hot chocolate drink, is used to dip the Churros in. It is a delicious combination! And what better to top it all off than a hot cup of coffee? Above is one of my childhood friends growing up…. Read More
Day 312: Safari Highlights: Our Cheetah Encounter
This post is dedicated to the beautiful Cheetah we stumbled upon in Sabi Sabi, South Africa. We are thankful to our amazing tracker, Dollen, and our friendly, knowledgeable, fun guide Kosie, who were almost more excited than we were when we found him! Our Cheetah allowed us to watch him for a while and then, without warning, crouched low, became very alert, and shot off in pursuit of something. It all happened so quickly and though we tried to find him again, he had just disappeared. Here is how we began our mornings,… Read More
Day 308: Julius and Irene When No One Else Would
“He has AIDS. His mother doesn’t want him. Nobody does. Will you take him?” These are all too familiar words heard in the slums of Cape Town, South Africa by Irene and Julius. Who are Irene and Julius? I’m glad you asked, because I’d love to share their story! Nineteen years ago, an HIV positive mother, armed with a black plastic bag only, headed to the local train station with the intention of killing herself. Community members contacted the police who picked up the woman, throwing the plastic bag into the back of… Read More
Deena Gainor
Six Hearts One Journey 
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