lamentforicarus' VirtualTourist Home Page

Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania- Coming soon!

Formed from the collapsed crater of an ancient volcano, Ngorongoro is arguably one of the most beautiful and picturesque landscapes on the African continent. Here, herds of wildebeests and zebras graze under the silent watch of towering mountains and patient predators. Elephants stir in the tranquil shrublands, hippos snort and sputter beneath seemingly placid lakes, flocks of flamingos add a magnificent stroke of pink to the horizon, and the rare black rhino occasionally makes an unforgettable appearance to the lucky visitor. During my sojourn to the African continent, I was told that Ngorongoro ranked among the locations not to be missed on a safari tour of East Africa. After staring open-jawed at yawning lions, laughing hyenas, and burping hippos, I fell speechless upon being asked to describe the experience. Ngorongoro is genuine African mystique: a place that cannot be captured in pictures or done justice through words. The treasures of this Tanzanian paradise can be rightly experienced only in person.

Los Angeles, California, USA

Work in progress.

Grand Canyon/Havasupai Falls, Arizona, USA

Work in progress.

Esperanza, Dominican Republic

In July of 2005, I returned from the Dominican Republic, where I volunteered with the Esperanza Orphanage Project. As well as serving the needs of the Buen Samaritano Orphanage, we had the wonderful privilege of learning about and experiencing Dominican culture with the children of this remarkable island nation.

Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland

On one of my most memorable days in this nature-lovers' paradise, I completed the spectacular 2 hour hike from Grutschalp to Murren on a winding forest path with the majestic peaks of the Eiger, Monch, and Jungfrau towering above. From there it was an equally scenic 1 hour walk down to the tiny farming village of Gimmelwald, and then a steep, but beautiful, descent down to Stechelburg, crossing many of the valley's 72 glacial waterfalls. Its no wonder Lauterbrunnen means "valley of loud waters."

Cinque Terre, Italy

The Cinque Terre consists of five pastel pretty villages strewn across a spectacular stretch of the Italian Riviera. In my short two day stay in the largest of the Cinque Terre towns, Vernazza, I walked the small paths that snake between terraced hills and a sparkling blue sea, taking in "la dolce vita." I found each village to be different from the next, from the calm cafes and chatty old men of Corniglia, to the bustle of Manarola's main (and only) road. I was hooked on the Cinque Terre by a friend who dazzled me with pictures and stories of his journey while spending a semester of study in Italy, but its extroardinary charm and magnificent setting (did I mention the delicious Italian cuisine?) was only realized when I took the journey for myself.

Paris, France
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Florence, Italy
Milan, Italy
London, England
Edinburgh, Scotland
Flagstaff, Arizona
Sedona, Arizona
Sosua, Dominican Republic
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
Moshi, Tanzania
Zanzibar, Tanzania
Lomé, Togo
Cotonou, Benin
Accra, Ghana
Kumasi, Ghana
Tamale, Ghana
Tafi Atome, Ghana
Amedzofe, Ghana
Mole Natl. Park, Ghana
Grand Bassam, Côte d'Ivoire