With cameras on cell phones, cameras in lipstick containers and cameras on the back of Toyota Priuses, it’s practically un-American in this day and age to travel without the means to photograph. In the spirit of capturing images from the road, we thought we’d each share some of our favorite travel photos and the stories behind them.
This isn’t a one-time thing, mind you. Check back once a month for another installment of what we’re calling “Flashbulb Memories.” We admit that we didn’t coin that phrase ourselves: A Flashbulb Memory is a moment so emotionally powerful, that you remember it vividly. For example, many people have flashbulb memories of where they were when they learned of the attack on the World Trade Center, or when President John F. Kennedy was shot. Here are some of ours.
If only it were better than crunches.
What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, right? Except when you’re drunk, meandering around the mall at the top of the
Stratosphere and you (quite literally) stumble into a bunch of folks filming an Infomercial. Yes, that’s my belly in this picture. And yes, I’m wearing an
AbTronic, one of those (ill-fated) abdominal electro-stimulators that promised to help you shed pounds without doing squat. My buddy had enough sense to shoot pictures during filming as evidence of the event. Months later, I saw myself on TV as “Matt from New York,” extolling the virtues a gizmo I didn’t even own. –
Matt
No Orcas, but still an adventure
Dodgy late-May weather, a shut-tight car rental office, and a pebbled parking lot that turned my smooth-rolling suitcase into a wobbily clunker had me questioning my visit to
Cordova, Alaska. My mood improved greatly after arriving at
Orca Adventure Lodge, a fish cannery-turned-hotel that sits on Prince William Sound’s Orca Inlet. A few hours after dinner, I was treated to this view. Instantly, like turned to love. And that was before I even got to see the
sea otters playing out in the water –
Jenna
Storm clouds over Woodward
Those storm clouds over Woodward, Oklahoma helped create the thick red mud in which a truck full of birdwatchers got stuck. Our group stopped to help out, and while the big strong men among us (and one scrappy woman) went to help push the truck, I turned and saw the light on this red, white and blue scene, which struck me as beautiful. Still does. The truck was soon freed and we were on our way–
Sophia
Tags: AbTronic, Alaska, Cordova, Jenna Schnuer, Las Vegas, Matt Villano, Oklahoma, Orca Adventure Lodge, Prince William Sound, Sophia Dembling, Stratosphere, Toyota Prius, Woodward
I love how you tagged this with ‘Abtronic,’ you know, just in case there were a lot of other Abtronic stories that needed a category.
That’s a great story Matt.
Thanks, Chris. And hey, you never know! We may run a story about Snuggies and ShamWows sometime soon, too.
Shamwows! Can’t wait.
Loved all three flashbulb memories!
so glad I stopped here on Scobberlotch’s recommendation!
yes, yes, I’ll be back and glad to see another spin on travel writing. Bravo!
Matt — There’s still $5 on the table if you present photographic evidence of you in your Snuggie at an airport–but not just running through–standing on line at an airport Starbucks waiting to make a purchase. Bonus bucks if you wear a DIY Snuggie made out of ShamWows.
Thanks K!
And thanks Oh! We look forward to getting to know you out here…
How many bonus bucks?
Oh, I’m glad you’re here, oh! Karen was so nice to mention it on Scobberlotch — she does such a great job on her blog.
Sophia — I swear I think your photo changes a bit every time I look at it. Seems a bit moodier tonight….
It’s a Roschach photo.