“My camera is my best friend when I travel. It opens doors for me, and helps me to see things that I would not have noticed. I keep memories forever on film, like the sunrise on Mt. Fuji, or a Greenlandic sledge dog staring at me in Uummannaq, northwest Greenland. Yes, a camera really is a man’s best friend.” – Páll Stefánsson

As I passed the time today on my drive up to Chicago, I found this striking picture of the Italian coast on National Geographic’s website. After immediately making it the background on my computer, I found a new appreciation for photography, and the importance that it plays in travel. As the quote above says, “I keep memories forever on film.”

This really hits the nail on the head when it comes to pictures. Not only are they portals into memories, they are tickets to adventure, excitement, and amazement.

Anyway, this picture made up my mind for me on my next city profile, but rather than profile a city, I am going to detail an area.

The Amalfi Coast of Italy could provide the best road trip on the planet. In 1997 the area became a World Heritage site because it is “an outstanding example of a Mediterranean landscape, with exceptional cultural and natural scenic values.”

According to National Geographic, “The Amalfi Coast lies along the southern flanks of the Sorrento Peninsula, a cliff-edged promontory that wanders out from the mainland at the southern end of the Bay of Naples. Its most famous towns—Amalfi, Positano, and Ravello—have captivated and inspired artists for centuries, from 14th-century writer Giovanni Boccaccio to 19th-century composer Richard Wagner and 20th-century playwright Tennessee Williams.”

The Amalfi Coast has a history almost unmatched. In his epic, The Odyssey, Homer described the area as the land of the Sirens. The area is also known for its involvement in the 1943 allied invasion of Italy in WWII and its history in the paper making industry.

If there is one thing that I want to leave you with after this post (that is other than a desire to drive the Amalfi Coast), it is a reminder that there are two ways to go to these places. One would be hopping on a plane and flying there of course. The other, however, is possibly more exciting.

Go to google.com, search “The Amalfi Coast,” and look at the amazing pictures that people have taken of these places. You might ask “Why is looking at pictures better than actually going?” and the answer is a temporary one.

By looking at the photos, you can both travel to these amazing places AND preserve/expand your desire to go.

If you build your excitement now, what’s going to stop you?

Bon Voyage,

Ryan

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