One good trip leads to another. I met two National Geographic photographers on a Baltic cruise. After a few hours of working with them, I really wanted to learn more. When I saw that they were leading a photo workshop in Rome, I signed on.
Spanish Steps (Katherine De Bruyn)A photo workshop has been my long-held dream; a photo workshop in Rome was over the top - for me. My husband will tell anyone who asks that he has taken 12 pictures in his entire life - the limit of a roll of film in a Brownie camera. So, on this trip, I am solo.
Traveling from Seattle is almost 20 hours - a good excuse to book a hotel car. I drag out of customs ready to be catered to, but: no driver holding up my name - not even a credible misspelling of my tangled Dutch name. Time to get Euros and call the hotel. Four uncooperative cash machines later, I have to accept defeat: I am not going to use a payphone to the hotel. iPhone to the rescue: used my data connection to add international calling and I am on my way. And, I have successfully managed to elude the money-changers. I would actually rather give the money to my wireless carrier.
Tired as I was, the trip into town was a wake-up call. Nothing prepared me for Rome - not Tuscany, not Paris or any other European icon, not even the guidebooks. Two thousand plus years of history and architecture are everywhere in the city, and what is newer does not look new. It all fits. It all glows in the rising and setting sun -- like no other place I have ever seen. I have come to the right place.
We were nine workshop students and three instructors lodged in a gracious five-star hotel close to the Spanish Steps. Our instructors - two experienced National Geographic professionals and a delightful innkeeper/photographer/former dancer from Tuscany - were equally gifted in choosing sites and helping us to see and photograph them. Exactly what I was hoping for.
We assembled as a group for the first time in the late afternoon, meeting to register, then going out for a companionable dinner at a local trattoria. The usual sorting out of vegetarians, and beer, wine and water drinkers. Twelve people with very personal views of what belongs on their plate - but no one goes hungry - or thirsty.
We students, all from the States, were fairly evenly matched in terms of experience and equipment. Most of us dozed through the arrival day, brought our cameras to the registration area for a check-in before dinner, and were more interested in eating dinner than shooting. Arrival days' pictures: zero. Fortunately, it didn't stay like that.
The persons I spoke with knew the material. I wont know until I actually take the trip if it was all correct but at this point they were helpful in finding a trip that met my criteria
SS
5 days ago
Creating a checklist was very beneficial and meeting objectives on certain dates helped as well (to keep my trip organized). The Adventure Travel personnel helped keep me on track which is why my trip was so successful. Communication from both travel agencies (AT/MT) was vital.
Iziah Carthens
6 days ago
This is an amazing company to work with. I generally do not use tour companies as I am more of an independent traveller so I was slightly reticent. They were fantastic from the start - 10/10 - from lining up a phone call to discuss requirements, then their ongoing communication in the lead up to the tour and during it (thank you, Franny and Phen). They also explored cost-effective options (eg group transfers). The tour was in Patagonia so Adventure Life organised a pickup from the El Calafate airport to the El Chalten accommodation, two day hikes with a private guide and then to the El Calafate accommodation. A tour coordinator came to the hotel to explain, using the maps, what was involved in each day tour and what should be expected, and patiently answered all questions. The tour guide Marcos was excellent - very professional, knowledgable, communicative and at all times felt very safe with his navigational skills (important in the Patagonian wilderness). On the second day I forgot to take hiking poles so Marcos kindly gave me his. I honestly wouldn't have changed a thing and would happily recommend and book through them again.
Petrina Sta
1 week ago
Adventure Life has been great throughout my planning process for our up and coming Galapagos cruise. Kevin Moore, in particular, was very helpful in assisting me in making choices and providing me with options. He was also very patient, as I worked through figuring out what I really wanted in this vacation.
Lucy Greenway
1 week ago
Adventure Life was a pleasure to work with. They helped us find different options for our charter and answered a lot of questions with patience and clarity.
