Friday, April 28, 2023

Summer's Almost Here. Let the Globetrotting Begin.

I recently came across a travel article that caught my attention - it was about two adventurous women who embarked on a journey to see the world in just 80 days. They traveled to a different country, city, or place every day until they had visited every continent and explored dozens of countries. At first, the idea seemed exciting, but the more I thought about it, the sadder I became.

While I understand the allure of a whirlwind trip, particularly given the 1873 novel by Jules Verne, I can't help but feel that such an approach to travel is a missed opportunity. The world is vast and diverse, and every place has its own unique beauty and charm. Rushing through destinations at breakneck speed means missing out on the subtle nuances and hidden gems that make each place special.

William Robert and I firmly believe that travel should be savored like a fine wine. You wouldn't chug a glass of Château Margaux, would you? No, you would sip it slowly, savoring the complex flavors and trying to discern the tasting notes. The same goes for travel. Every trip, even if it's just a few days, should be approached with the same care and attention as a fine wine.

Traveling over a lifetime, taking the time to explore each destination fully, is an incredibly rewarding experience. It allows you to truly immerse yourself in the local culture, try new foods, and meet interesting people. It's not just about the sights and sounds, but also about the people you meet and the memories you create.

These memories are something tangible, real, and irreplaceable. They become a part of who you are, and they stay with you long after the trip is over. In fact, they often serve as a starting point for new adventures and experiences.

While the idea of seeing the world in 80 days may sound thrilling, we believe that true travel is something to be savored and enjoyed over a lifetime. It's about taking the time to truly appreciate each destination and creating memories that will stay with you always.

After many years of travel, William Robert and I have honed our approach to exploring new destinations. We have discovered that a rushed, whirlwind tour of multiple cities in a short time frame is no way to truly experience the beauty and culture of a new place. Instead, we opt for a more leisurely pace, allowing us to savor each destination and build meaningful experiences.

Take Europe, for example. A day in Paris, a day in Amsterdam, a day in Copenhagen, a day in Oslo, and a day in Tallinn may seem like a great way to see the continent, but in reality, it's a disservice to each city's unique character and charm. We prefer to spend a minimum of three days in each new city, taking the time to explore the local neighborhoods, try the local cuisine, and soak up the local culture.

If we think a particular city is particularly fascinating, we'll stay for five days or more. In some cases, when we know we'll fall in love with a city, we plan to spend 10-14 days in one place. This approach allows us to delve deep into the city's history and culture, to understand its people and customs, and to create lasting memories.

By taking our time and building experiences over a lifetime, we've discovered that travel can be a transformative experience. Each trip adds a new layer to our understanding of the world and deepens our appreciation for its diversity and beauty. We relish the opportunity to step outside our comfort zone, try new things, and learn from the people we meet.

So, if you're considering a trip, we encourage you to take a deep breath, slow down, and savor each moment. One trip at a time, over a lifetime of travel, you'll build a treasure trove of memories and experiences that will stay with you forever.

Robert and I hope your adventures are as wonderful as ours and hope to hear about your visits too. Please subscribe, share and like.

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Hui Cha Stanek and William Robert Stanek

William R. Stanek. The Black and White Collection #1: Fine Art Photography Rare Masters by William R. Stanek, HC Stanek, Hardcover | Barnes & Noble (barnesandnoble.com)... Our new photography book!

Our new photography book!

About Hui Cha Stanek & William Robert Stanek

Erstwhile Photographer and Long-time Publisher Hui Cha Stanek has always been the woman behind the scenes. She has managed the day-to-day operations of Stanek Media for the past three decades. Her work has been featured in a number of gallery shows and recently in a career retrospective with her husband. She prefers candid street photography and photography of people (though not traditional portrait work). Some of her most famous works, including Tip Toe I See You and Salt Water Taffy, shown in Hui Cha William's career retrospective in Vienna can be found at https://www.pictorem.com/gallery/360.Studios?cat=10605&iframe=1.

Hui Cha's most recent project is writing the text for William R. Stanek: The Black & White Collection #1 Rare Masters. @ Amazon - BN - Walmart - HPB

Seattle-based Photographer and Artist, William Robert Stanek, is a combat veteran who supports other veterans, is also a vocal champion of books and libraries. Not only an artist, he wrote nonfiction for over three decades as William Stanek and fiction as Robert Stanek. Find his fine art photography and prints from his original oil paintings in his online studios:

360 Studios - https://www.pictorem.com/gallery/360.Studios

1North Studios - https://www.pictorem.com/gallery/1north

Studio 24 - https://www.pictorem.com/gallery/24

Robert Stanek Studios - https://www.pictorem.com/gallery/robert.stanek

William has been called the Michelangelo of sunsets due to his hundreds of breathtaking sunsets, and this is especially represented in his original oil paintings, but the sun itself isn't always the centerpiece of the work. The true centerpiece of a work can as easily be waves breaking on a tropical shore as the Eiffel Tower in Paris or Chapel Bridge in Lucerne Switzerland. Although William packed up his paints and brushes some years ago, his work remains available and are displayed all over the world.



William's passion for sunsets is only truly rivaled by his passion for sunrises, many of which he captures in his original oil paintings as well. Here's a print of one of his original oil paintings, titled Join the Chase.

Into the Golden Twilight is another one his original oil paintings, available as a print, this one from his Singer Island - West Palm Beach Collection.


Find William Robert's books at

Walmart https://walmart.com/c/brand/robert-stanek

BN https://barnesandnoble.com/s/%22Robert%20Stanek%22?Ntk=P_key_Contributor_List&Ns=P_Sales_Rank&Ntx=mode+matchall

Play https://play.google.com/store/search?q=robert%20stanek&c=books

iTunes https://books.apple.com/us/author/robert-stanek/id55535880

Amazon https://amazon.com/gp/product/B0841YDHSH

Spotify https://open.spotify.com/search/"robert%20stanek"/audiobooks

eStories https://www.estories.com/author/654/Robert-Stanek

Chirp https://www.chirpbooks.com/authors/robert-stanek-audiobooks




Thanks for reading please like, share and subscribe. Until next time!

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