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BIG tiny World Travel

Proving this big world is smaller than you think

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We are Aaron and Brianna, and we’re glad you found us! We are permanent nomads, determined to reclaim our humanity through travel and never return to a boring 9-5. Click to read what we’re all about!

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Top Posts & Pages

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Top 6 Worldwide Photo Ops to Anticipate
Hidden Gems of Central Oregon: 3-Day Itinerary
Sunrise and Sunset at Bryce Canyon
World Highlights: Top 5 Sounds of Japan
Considering... Norway
Southern Oregon Coast - West Coast Road Trip
32 Practical Ways to Make Money While Traveling

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Where have you found #awesomeruins with a view? ... #DunluceCastle was our second stop on our mini day #roadtrip along the #NorthernIreland coast. By this point, the sun was out, and the views were superb ... We could see the #ruins from a ways down the road, and we couldn't wait to stop to take some pictures. But while the scene was beautiful from afar, the castle was even more interesting from the inside. ... We explored the many rooms, once more wondering how it might have looked during its prime.. and how much we would love to wake up to this #gorgeouscoastline outside our window every day! ... As we were leaving, we bumped into some American accents and exchanged group photo-taking. We quickly found that they also hail from our hometown of Portland - #smallworld! ... Only two stops in yet half the day gone, it was time to take a break and seek out some lunch. We sadly feared our ambitious checklist for the day would go woefully unfinished :(

Where have you seen nature reclaiming man-made structures? ... Visiting #NorthernIreland in October means a lot of unpredictable weather. ☔ As a result, we understandably saw a lot of rain (it’s so green for a reason!). Fortunately, we were comfortably snuggled in at a cat sit, complete with a fireplace. 🔥 🐱 It was a great opportunity to catch up on work, but it meant we treasured the dry days all the more. ... One such non-soggy day, we rented a car and drove north. After an exciting journey to the rental outlet - including being unable to find the bus stop, getting off the bus too early and needing to walk an unanticipated extra kilometer along a very pedestrian-unfriendly road and across a very busy highway, and finally arriving only to find the shop closed for another hour (despite our prior pickup arrangement) - we were free to explore! 🚙 ... Our first stop was at the #DownhillDemesne. Even with our late start, the morning clouds hadn’t yet burned off, and we feared a grey day for our pictures. But at least it was dry! ☁ ... Now, those who meet me quickly learn #Iloveruins, so this was a perfect attraction for me. And better yet: we happened to come on a #freeadmission day! Yay, #offseason! We were also early enough to have the place entirely to ourselves, and we delighted in exploring this old mansion with grass floors. ... The earl’s mansion was destroyed in a fire and later restored and used as temporary barracks for soldiers during WWII. A nearby temple was also constructed and used as a library and memorial for the succeeding earl’s sister. The #MussendenTemple used to have enough space around it to fit a horse and carriage; now the sea has eroded so much of the land that the temple threatens to fall into the ocean. 🌊 ... In the end, the sun finally did come out, and the rest of the day promised to be beautiful! ☀

What is your favorite #pedestrianbridge? ... One of the things we were most looking forward to seeing in Derry was the iconic #PeaceBridge. Recognizable from a distance with its angled spires, it is quite beautiful. I was also intrigued by its curving path across the #RiverFoyle. ... It was built to bridge the waterside and cityside sections of #Derry, these each representing more unionist and nationalist populations, respectively. This is an interesting physical representation of peace, especially in a city known for its conflict. ... We took our time walking across this bridge. Though the wind was quite cold on the water, we welcomed the glass panels near each spire that granted us a brief reprieve. And once we reached the far side, we saw the view was just as beautiful looking back at the clock tower of the Guildhall!

Have you ever walked along city walls? ... #Derry is the only completely intact #walledcity left in #Ireland. It also happens to be on the oldest continuously inhabited cities. ... These #citywalls have never been breached, having withstood several sieges. As such, Derry is sometimes called the Maiden City. Additionally, it has an impressive collection of cannons lining the fortifications. ... The walls have really become a part of the city rather than containing it. People walk along it as a convenient commuting route, and a performance venue can only be accessed from atop it. Roads go through it and even over it, and from some angles, you wouldn't even realize it was there. ... We walked almost the entire mile-long circumference to take in the views of the city from all sides. Really, this is one of the best ways to see a city!

Where have you been that has the most interesting history? ... We drove from our home base in Portadown to the border between #NorthernIreland and the Republic of Ireland, to the city of #Londonderry. Being a border town, it has witnessed a lot of tension between the two divisions of #Ireland. ... In particular, it is the site of #BloodySunday (a massacre you might have heard about in a U2 song), where police opened fire on a group of protesters, killing 14 innocent people on January 30, 1972. The attack was unprovoked, and it sparked rage in the town's citizens (and those of the entire country, really) as families mourned. ... Those in power attempted to justify the act by planting false evidence and shifting the blame. They claimed the unarmed protesters were actually throwing bombs or hiding guns. In the end, it took 12 years for all victims to be finally exonerated and the act deemed unjustified and unjustifiable. ... The #MuseumofFreeDerry showcases the history of this day, including a full timeline of events leading up to it. We also saw original propaganda posters and banners used during the protests. We also observed the many murals throughout the city depicting tragic scenes of the conflict. ... It was really interesting to read and hear all about it in the museum, only to return to our car and hear the verbal battle waging over Brexit and how to handle the issue of the currently nearly-nonexistent border. I hope the current issues don't also end in bloodshed.

What border towns have left an impression on you? ... #Derry is a town on the border between #NorthernIreland and its big brother to the south. It is known for being the epicenter of Irish conflict, but our visit was anything but hostile. In fact, we were humbled by the #generosity of the people. ... We stopped for some food in the mall, and we couldn't find a water fountain with which to refill our bottles. We asked someone cleaning the tables, and she immediately dropped what she was doing, went to fetch us each a glass, and then insisted we sit to enjoy it. ... Shortly afterwards, we stood too long at a map outside and were approached by a self-proclaimed "English Irishman" who offered to help. We asked him where we could find the Peace Bridge. He not only personally walked us the few blocks to where we could see it, but he also shared some of his stories from being in the military and gave us some insider tips on what else to see in the city. ... We love these chance encounters with real people around the world, and they make our experiences truly memorable!

Brianna’s a Photographer! See more at LotsaSmiles Photography

A seagull flies over Vancouver, B.C. at dusk.

A seagull flies over Vancouver, B.C. at dusk.

travel-79

A chilly lake sits high in the Norwegian landscape

A chilly lake sits high in the Norwegian landscape

www.lotsasmilesphoto.com

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