New York City is a place that I have been lucky enough to explore on more than one occasion. A city like this deserves no itinerary, and as an eternal wanderer, New York is the best place to get lost. You’ll find much more than you intended just wandering the streets. The city is so vast, and the regions so different, that you could never possibly see the whole city in one go, so its important to tackle the Burroughs, and even the individual neighborhoods at a slow pace.If you miss one, you might have to save it for another day, or depending on how long your in town for, another trip altogether.

This photo series is from my last trip to New York, in 2008. Several days we’re designated photo days, and I wandered with my SLR to some specific, and some random spots specifically for the photos. This series is 100% from my Cannon Power Shot, a point and shoot digital camera, which fits into my pocket for quick access, and filled in the blanks between days when I chose to leave my big camera at home. I should have enough photos for three individual sets, and to start us off, I will begin with the southern tip of Manhattan and work my way north. So, without any further delay, we begin or photo-journey through the city that never sleeps at Wall Street. I hope you enjoy.

Wall Street:

Battery Park:

World Trade Center

Chinatown/Little Italy:

Manhattan Bridge:

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The Canadians on the bus all stand for a group photo as the sun sets over the Atlantic Ocean, just outside of Dakhla, Morocco (Western Sahara). Photo Credit: Rob Sweatman. 2008.

Travels Across Africa:

Episode Three - Crossing the Sahara.

ContinentalDrifters.ca presents the third episode of the Travel’s Across Africa series, which covers our adventures through Africa, covering our journey across the Sahara Desert. In 2008, we set out to travel the west coast of Africa as far south as possible, with the hopes that we would find a way to make it to Cape Town, South Africa. Unfortunately we didn’t make it out of West Africa, but the 10 week adventure that ensued was still filled with many exciting moments, from Marrakesh to the Sahara Desert, and further into the center of West Africa in Dogon Country, and National Parks in Benin.

Episode Two left off in Essouria, after some time spent in Marrakesh, and was our last moments in a world that resembled what we know of life. As we crossed the last mountain range, separating North Africa from “the Desert”, we came out of the last mountain pass, and our lives changed. The world was flat, and there were no landmarks. Fortunately, we travelled near the coast, so there was something, every once and a while that gave us some entertainment. Our patience was tested by the long drives without a mental break. We got excited by giant sand dunes in the distance, or the occasional tree. Being cramped in a stuffy bus while the temperatures reached into the 50’s was challenge enough, but the mental challenge of nothingness proved to be worse. This video chronicles our crossing of the Sahara Desert.

Stay tuned for Episode Four, which covers our arrival in West Africa. Without any further delay, here is the second installment of the “Travels Across Africa” series.

Travels Across Africa: Episode Three

Travels Across Africa - Episode Three: Crossing the Sahara. from Continental Drifters on Vimeo.

• All of the Continental Drifters short films can be found by visiting our Vimeo page, which can be reached by clicking here: www.vimeo.com/continentalfilms.

• You can also visit our YouTube page, which has our Short Films, as well as hundreds of other short videos, some of which are not found on ContinentalDrifters.ca, by clicking here: www.youtube.com/ContinentalDrifters

Sand dunes just outside of Mauritania’s capital - Nouakchott - along the “Road of Hope”. Sahara Desert, Mauritania. Photo Credit: Rob Sweatman. 2008.

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The desert is a vast expanse of Sand and Rock which covers most of North Africa. From the Red Sea on the East coast of Egpyt to the Atlantic ocean, exists the Sahara Desert. Our adventure began on the West side of the mighty desert, and we followed the Atlantic coast most of the way down. We crossed the High Atlas mountains just south of Agadir and from then on out, it was all desert. The landscape changes very little, but when your immersed in the desert you start to notice the little things. Rolling dunes off in the distance, tiny bushes that somehow push through the rocks. But for the most part, its all the same.

We traveled for the majority of our desert crossing within a few kilometers of the Atlantic ocean, following the newly paved road which cuts all the way south to Senegal. We spent a night camped out on the beach near Tan-Tan and another in Layounne, before we really started feeling remote. As the journey wore on, our vehicle began to feel the intensity of the desert, which forced us to spend two nights in Daklah, and later a full five long days in Nouakchott. From the Mauritanian capital, we cut east and traveled along the infamous “Road of Hope” before finally cutting back south, and eventually arriving in Mali.

The Sahara Desert, Western Sahara/Morocco:

The Sahara Desert, Mauratania:

Sahara Desert, Mauritania:

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Inside the winding streets of the Medina of Marrakesh, we found a less chaotic, more realistic version of the tourist trap surrounding the central square. Photo Credit: Rob Sweatman. 2008.

Travels Across Africa:

Episode Two - Marrakesh and Essouria.

ContinentalDrifters.ca presents the second episode of the Travel’s Across Africa series, which covers our adventures through Africa, covering the cities of Marrakesh and Essouria. In 2008, we set out to travel the west coast of Africa as far south as possible, with the hopes that we would find a way to make it to Cape Town, South Africa. Unfortunately we didn’t make it out of West Africa, but the 10 week adventure that ensued was still filled with many exciting moments, from Marrakesh to the Sahara Desert, and further into the center of West Africa in Dogon Country, and National Parks in Benin.

Episode One left off with us escaping a flash flood in Todra Gorge, after traveling across Northern Morocco, and from there we traveled back towards to coast, eventually making it to Marrakesh. Being as our next important stage of our journey was to cross the Sahara Desert, we made sure to soak up as much of the culture and amenities that we could find in the cultural capital of Morocco. We spent a total of 3 days in Marrakesh, most of which was spent lost in the hustle and bustle of the city, before heading to the coastal town of Essouria. Essouria retains a very peaceful and charismatic feel of an old Moroccan town mixed with the modern beauty of a beach town, and the everyday life of a fishing village. This would also be the last of our forray into the “real” world, as we would cross the last mountain range with separates the north and south of Morroco, and essentially the boundary between the Western World and the Sahara.

Stay tuned for Episode Three, which covers the most trying and demanding portion of our 10 week trip across the African continent, the mighty Sahara Desert. Without any further delay, here is the second installment of the “Travels Across Africa” series.

Travels Across Africa: Episode Two

Travels Across Africa - Episode Two: Marakesh and Essouria. from Continental Drifters on Vimeo.

• All of the Continental Drifters short films can be found by visiting our Vimeo page, which can be reached by clicking here: www.vimeo.com/continentalfilms.

• You can also visit our YouTube page, which has the low quality version of our Short Films, as well as hundreds of other short videos, some of which are not found on ContinentalDrifters.ca, by clicking here: www.youtube.com/ContinentalDrifters

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Turkey occupies a fairly influential location, on the cusp of Europe and firmly planted on the edge of Asia and the Middle East, and at the crossroads of so much history. Rising out of the remains of the Ottoman Empire after the end of WW2, Turkey has become a major player in the world, and its a bridge between the West and the Middle East, both geographically and ideologically. Its official religion is Islam, but unlike its neighbors, it retains a very secular and democratic predominance, which makes it an amazing country to visit. And any visit to Turkey, requires a stopover in its cultural center, and largest city; Istanbul.

Istanbul has a long and storied history, that dates back thousands of years, with recent excavations proving settlement as far back as the copper age, around 3500 BCE. In more “recent” times, it has been the capital of several Empires, from the Roman Empire in 330 ACE, through the Byzantine, the Latin and most recently the Ottoman Empire’s, which collapsed in 1922. It has always been a major trading port, with its geographic location on the shores of the Bosporus, and close proximity to the Mediterranean Sea. When Emperor Constantine decided to move the head of the Roman Empire to modern day Istanbul, he claimed that he was fulfilling a prophecy, and the city has flourished ever since. From Byzantine, to Constantinople and eventually Istanbul, the city has been re-named, re-conquered and re-build a few times over, and the history that has been left in its place is unequaled by few other cities in the world.

Our journey to Istanbul began on a boat, as we cruised across the Black Sea, having just spent 2 weeks in Russia and the Ukraine. There couldn’t possibly be a better way to arrive in the city. Through the Bosporus we slowly worked our way into the heart of the old city, under the two mega bridges that connect the European and Asian sides of the city. Istanbul is the only mega-city that is able to call itself “transcontinental”. We were dropped off in the ports just outside of the historic old city, and began our exploration from there. Surviving our first days thanks to the kindness of strangers, and visiting sights based on the recommendations of locals, we spent 4 nights in the city and it remains one of my fondest travel memories.

Entering the Bosporus via the Black Sea:

Edge of Istanbul / The Bosphorus

Rumeli Hisari Castle:

Old City of Istanbul:

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Three travelers are dwarfed by Todra Gorge, before the rains that would almost trap us here had settled in. Photo Credit: Rob Sweatman. 2008.

Travels Across Africa:

Episode One: Northern Morocco

ContinentalDrifters.ca presents the first episode of the Travel’s Across Africa series, which covers our adventures through Africa, from Tangier in northern Morocco, as far south as Todra Gorge. In 2008, we set out to travel the west coast of Africa as far south as possible, with the hopes that we would find a way to make it to Cape Town, South Africa. Unfortunately, we didn’t make it out of West Africa, but the 10 week adventure that ensued was still filled with many exciting moments, from Marrakesh to the Sahara Desert, and further into the center of West Africa in Dogon Country, and National Parks in Benin.

Our original crew consited of four; Rob, Stewart, Adam and his dad, John. We flew from Vancouver to Madrid, with a few hour stopover in Paris, and spent the night in Madrid before actually arriving in Africa. We of course chose to not get a hotel room, and instead locked our bags at the airport and spent the night drinking until the subway opened, so our first steps on the continent we’re kinda hazy, but we made it. From Tangier we packed 15 of us into a bus, and began our southbound journey to Chefchouen. After a few nights getting to know our new group of travel companions, we moved along south, past the Roman Ruins of Vesuvius and to the edge of the desert, in Erfoud. We spent a few nights camped out along the way, and eventually made it to Todra Gorge, just a bit north-east of the high Atlas moutains. This is where part one ends, as the road we traveled along became flooded.

This video will be followed by 5 other parts, and chronicles our 10 week journey from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic Ocean, and the Gold Coast. We hope you enjoy part one, and stay tuned over the coming weeks for the remainder of the series. So without further delay, here is the first part of the “Travel’s Across Africa” series:

“Travels Across Africa - Episode One:”

Travels Across Africa - Episode 1 - Northern Morocco from Continental Drifters on Vimeo.

• All of the Continental Drifters short films can be found by visiting our Vimeo page, which can be reached by clicking here: www.vimeo.com/continentalfilms.

• You can also visit our YouTube page, which has the low quality version of our Short Films, as well as hundreds of other short videos, some of which are not found on ContinentalDrifters.ca, by clicking here: www.youtube.com/ContinentalDrifters

The white and blue colors reign supreme for the majority of buildings inside the Medina of Chefchouen. Photo Credit: Rob Sweatman. 2008.

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Moscow isn’t the destination that most travelers pick out as their first place to set their sights on, but for some people it is. I was one of those people. This was back in 2001. After graduating high school we worked for a year, and then in March, we decided to just go away. Stewart and I quit our jobs, packed our bags and off we went. Landing in Denmark, we cut across Scandinavia, through Stockholm and Helsinki and eventually arriving in Russia via St. Petersburg. Russia is a pretty intense place to just show up in; this was our first trip on our own and we were 19 years old. It would also set the bar pretty high, as all of our later trips would be to pretty far out places - South America, India and most recently Africa. But this is where it all began.

I have no regrets on traveling to Russia. Our goal in setting out for Moscow was to see the tomb (and preserved body) of Lenin, which we did a few times in our week in the city. Our 2 weeks in Russia were filled with amazing cultural encounters with strangers, amazing historic buildings and lots of inside jokes. There were also some scarier moments; from when we stepped off the train in St. Petersburg to intense orchestra music and getting lost within 5 minutes, or being hauled off a train at 4 in the morning by Ukrainian border guards with AK-47’s. But those are good stories for another time, right now we are just getting to the photos!!!

Beginning in St. Petersburg, we tried to just wander and see as much as we possibly could. Filled with amazing churches, the historic Winter Palace, which now houses the Hermitage Museum, and a few museums, the best of which was the Russian Military museum. It was also spring, and the melting ice on the river - and one day of flurries - allowed us to really feel like we were in Russia! Once we got to Moscow, there was a lot more to do, and we spent our days just wandering the city, every corner of which feels like its got a story to tell. The highlight of course was seeing Lenin, encased in glass in the center of Red Square, and the imposing buildings around the heart of Moscow.

Without any further delay, here is the photo collection from Russia, 2001:

St. Petersburg, Russia

Moscow, Russia:

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Today I have decided to take a look at the Top 10 Attractions in London, England. As one of the most visited cities in the world, and with so much historically relevant sights and world class museums, this is not an easy task. There are lots of other lists out there, but i have decided to try and come up with an original list for ContinentalDrifters.ca. When trying to tackle a city with so many different attractions, both very old and relatively new, of course requires a little bit of thought. In a city like London, where attractions like the London Eye and Big Ben stand out as icon’s, you still have to make room for the very historic buildings that might not get the same spotlight that they deserve.

The city dates back to the time of the Roman Empire, with the settlement of Londinium, and the Medeival Boundary’s of “The City of London” still exist today, although the surrounding expansion of these boundaries to the modern Metropolis today, make up what is known as Greater London. Within these greater boundaries are four UNESCO World Heritage Sites - The Tower of London (#5 on our list bellow), The Botanical Gardens of Kew, the settlement of Greenwich and the site comprising Westminster Abbey (#10 on our list), the Palace of Westminster and St. Margrets Church. With so much history and so many attractions, London is one of the best places in the world to soak up part of our shared history. The best part of London, is that just wandering down some of the streets and lanes makes you feel like you have traveled into the past, the city is a mix of old and new.

St. Paul’s Cathedral in central London. Photo Credit: Rob Sweatman. 2000.

The Top 10 Attractions in London:

1. Trafalgar Square.

• As the geographic center of London, and one of the most visited public spaces in the world - with an estimated 15 million visitors a year - Trafalgar Square is a can’t miss location in London. With Nelson’s Column as it’s centerpiece, the square is surrounded by attractions, which include the National Gallery and the National Portrait Gallery, and countless monuments, fountains and sculptures of historical importance. It’s close to many other nearby sights, and is a good place to start your day of sightseeing in London.

2. The British Museum.

• One of the premier museums in the world, the British Museum is home to some amazing artifacts collected (or stolen, depending on how you look at it) from all corners of the world. The museum was created in 1753 when Sir Hans Sloane left his collection of “objects of intrest” and today is home to over 7 million pieces.  Some of these amazing artifacts that have been preserved include The Rosetta Stone, Elgin’s Marbles (from the Parthenon in Athens), the Mummy of Cleopatra, and a statue from Easter Island to name just a few.

3. Houses of Parliament and Big Ben.

• The houses of Parliament, located like many London Attractions, along the banks of the Thames, is one of the most recognizable attractions in the city, and is centrally located within walking distance of Trafalgar Square. The most recognizable feature of this attraction is the clock tower which stands above all the other buildings, nicknamed Big Ben, after the massive bell inside that rings every 15 minutes. Although closed to foreign tourists for most of the year (August and September are the open months) this compound of buildings is still worth checking out, with the best views found on the other side of the river, over the Westminster bridge.

4. St. Paul’s Cathedral.

• A personal favorite of mine, St. Paul’s Cathedral is one of the long-standing structures of London, and also one of the most beautiful cathedrals in the world. One of the few structures to survive the great fires of London, and the World War Two bombings, its history dates back well before the current structures completion in the 17th century. There are several tombs located inside the structure, but for me the highlight is climbing the 530 steps to the panoramic viewing area, which provides views of the Thames, the London Eye and the general lay-out of London.

5. Tower of London and Tower Bridge.

• The Tower of London is one of the most historical buildings in the City, and was first constructed in 1076 by William the Conqueror, and is today one of the most visited attractions in the city. It is classified a UNESCO World Heritage Site, one of only four spots in London with that classification. It is home to the Crown Jewels and the Royal Armouries, the location of countless moments of historical importance, and the famous “Beefeater’s”. Next door is the slightly less old (built in the 1800’s) but no less iconic, Tower Bridge, and together these two sights should be high up on any vistors itinerary.

The view of the Thames River from on top of St. Pauls Cathedral, with the London Eye and Big Ben visible in the distance. Photo Credit: Rob Sweatman. 2000.

6. The London Eye.

• This is one of London’s newest attractions, built in 1999 to celebrate the turning of the Millennium as part of London’s year 2000 celebration, it has quickly become one of London’s most popular attractions. The 135 meter (443 foot) Ferris wheel which is situated on the banks of the Thames River was the largest in the world until 2006, and provides one of the best views in the city (bring you camera, as the 360 degree view is amazing). The 32 capsules carry an estimated 10,000 people daily, and in 2005 was given permanent status, and today is one of the can’t miss sights in the city.

7. Thames River Cruise.

• The city of London is built along the banks of the Thames, with the river being the focal point of the city, and therefor its historic importance cannot be underestimated. Many of the attractions on this list even - Tower Bridge and the Tower of London or the Parliament Buildings and Big Ben - are prominently situated along the bank’s, which makes taking one of the river cruises which meander through the heart of the city the best way to get a feel for how London really works.

8. Tate Modern.

• As the second most visited attraction in London, behind only the British Museum, should be reason enough to visit. The fact that it is free and contains some of the best Modern Art Exhibits, including regular ‘installations’ in the Turbine Hall. Across the Thames River is Tate Brittan, along with Tate Liverpool, Tate St Ives and Tate Online, make up one of the greatest collections of Modern Art found in Brittan. Tate Modern is built in a converted power station, which makes the building itself reason enough to visit.

9. Buckingham Palace and Surrounding Royal Gardens.

• Buckingham Palace is the Queen’s official residence, and is a major focal point for tourists. Open to the public during the August and September months only, this beautiful building is still worth checking out any time of year, at least for one of the scheduled “Changing of the Guard’s”. Built in the 1700’s for the Duke of Buckingham, the buildings have gone through several upgrades over the years, and was re-designed in 1913 by Sir Aston Web.

10. Westminster Abbey.

• A traditional place of coronation (all the Kings and Queens of England have been crowned here since 1066) and the burial place of the same monarch’s, as well as great poets, monks, noblemen and scientists. The large Gothic Church has stood in the same spot for over a thousand years. Inside you can visit the burial spots of many of the greatest people in British History from the King’s and Queens of the British Crown, to poet’s corner, where great writers and poets such as Geoffry Chaucer, William Shakespeare, Percy Bysshe Shelley and William Wordsworth are buried. The historic importance of such a place, as well as the great Arcitecture should make this an obvious attraction in London.

Tower Bridge, which crosses the Thames River, with the Tower of London in the background. Photo Credit: Rob Sweatman. 2000.

Other London Attractions worth mention:

I knew when undertaking this list of attractions that it would be impossible to create something that was acceptable to everyone, because London has such a wide variety of attractions. So in an attempt to counter any criticism, here is a list of other great attractions worth visiting on your trip to London. If you have any other suggestions, please let me know, and they will be added:

• Public Places: Speakers Corner at Hyde Park, Piccadilly Circus, South Bank Center, Royal Parks and Gardens.

• Historic Buildings and Churches: St Giles Cripplegate, Southwark Cathedral, Shakespears Globe Theatre, Windsor Castle,Hampton Court Palace, Kensington Palace, St Bartholomew the Great, St. Johns Gate.

• Museums: British Library, The National Gallery, the Natural History Museum, Science Museum and the V&A (Victoria and Albert) Museum, National Maritime Museum, The Museum of London, Botanical Gardens of Kew.

• Other Attractions: Madame Tussauds, The London Zoo, the O2 Arena (formerly the Millennium Center),

Top 10 Attractions based on attendance:

Taken directly from the the Visit London Website (www.visitlondon.com) here are the most visited attractions in London, based on the most recent numbers from 2008 - except for the London Eye (2005) and Madame Tussauds (2000):

1. The British Museum

2. Tate Modern

3. National Gallery

4. Natural History Museum

5. London Eye

6. Science Museum

7. V&A

8. Madame Tussauds

9. Tower of London

10. National Maritime Museum

Big Ben with the Parliament buildings in behind. Photo Credit: Rob Sweatman. 2000.

Check out some of the other Top 10 lists that I used for reference:

• To see the About.com’s Top 10 Attractions in London: click here.

• To see the official Visit London website, and the Top 10 most visited attractions by the number of visitors: click here.

• To see the London Pass Top 10 Things to do in London: click here.

• To see the LondonTown.com’s Top 10 attractions: click here.

• To see the BritianExpress.com’s Top 10 Historical Attractions in London: click here.

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England has such a long history dating back thousands of years, from Roman to present times, and the number of historical landmarks just littered across the landscapes, in between towns, is just staggering. Trying to see all of them in one trip is impossible, and England isn’t a very large country.  These photos are from the second half of our 2000 trip to England - which began and ended in London - and cover a few of those “in between” spots. I only included the ones that were of reasonable quality, as it was my first trip and  I had obviously not honed my photographic skills.

London we drove north, through Oxford and up towards Stratford, visiting Warwick Castle and the birthplace of Shakespeare, before heading back south - past Glastonbury and Stonehenge - towards the coast. We spent one night at the Mendip Lodge, just outside of Bath and met the most hilarious truck driver, two exchange students from Australia and a bartender who obviousy took his concierge duties a lot more seriously than his drink serving duties. Lets just say we poured ourself a few freebies, and the parts of the night that I remembered were fairly hillarious. Before heading back to London we made a trip to Brighton, visiting the sights there before the short journey to our home base.

Windsor Castle:

Bath:

Warwick Castle:

Stonehenge:

Avebury Stone Circle (Largest in the world):

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When looking at the great cities of the world, both in historical importance and modern day relevance, London usually finds itself near the top of both. A major transit hub, as well as a destination of itself, thousands of travelers descend on the city on an annual basis, and it never disappoints. I have been lucky enough to come to London a few times, both as a tourist and on stopovers at the end of other trips (i have a second cousin that lives in Brixton, so I have stopped by on a few occasions for a free sleep on his couch). London was also the first place that i traveled to, outside of North America, and therefor has a bit of a soft spot in the back of my mind. These photos are from that first trip, in March of 2000.

With many great historical squares and outdoor parks, countless museums and gallery’s, and of course many recognizable landmarks, London is an easy place to be a visitor; the list of activities are countless. This first trip to London allowed me to be the tourist, and we spent 5 days wandering around the city, checking out everything from Big Ben and the Parliament buildings to the British Museum. But most of the time was spent wandering aimlessly, which is the best way to acquaint yourself to any new surroundings. I had just got a new point and shoot Pentax camera, and I enjoyed my days of wandering London; these photos represent the first of many travel photos that would be taken over the next 10 years.

Big Ben / House of Parliment:

Trafalgar Square:

St. Paul’s Cathedral:

Piccadilly Circus:

Westminster Abby:

Tower of London / Tower Bridge:

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