Travel Snaps Tuesday – Santorini Part II

If you missed my first post on Santorini you may view it here.

Here is a little information about this magical island I gathered from these two sites dedicated to Santorini, here and here.

Santorini is the southern most island of the Cycladic group in the Aegean Sea.  The entire center of the circular island sank into the sea during the tremendous volcanic explosion 3.500 years ago. The eruption caused tidal waves which virtually wiped out the advanced Minoan civilization of Crete 70 miles to the south. Some scholars believe that the island is part of the legendary lost continent of Atlantis which supposedly slipped underwater during the disaster.  What remains today of Santorini is a large crescent-shaped island enclosing a vast bay, the largest caldera on earth (7X14 miles).

The volcanic rock that covers the island is an eerie reminder of just how active this volcano has been.  The colours of the rock it created and the layers you can see almost everywhere are so incredibly beautiful.  Not to mention the insane drops into the sea with homes built right to the edge.  Darren and I had a fun time exploring the island.  We were staying in Imerovigli, but were easily able to walk to some of the neighbouring towns.  I particularly loved Fira.  They had all the cute donkeys, need I say more 😉

Most of these photos were taken on a fairly overcast day and I think they provided a bit of a moody feel.  We ended up having a wild storm that night and we lost power for the whole night and up until noon the next day.  I thought our adorable villa was going to blow right into the sea!

Now on to the photos!

All of the above photos were taken from our hike to this amazing lookout.

I know my last travel post was all about kitties, but here is another cute one I overlooked.

JenelleSeptember 10, 2010 - 11:10 am

oh and I really like the donkeys 🙂 I can’t wait to own a miniature donkey!

JenelleSeptember 10, 2010 - 11:07 am

thanks for going on a hike up to the viewpoint and sharing the beautiful view! stunning. really enjoying your travel snaps!!

shanniAugust 26, 2010 - 11:23 pm

why again wasn’t I invited?!?!?

MeganAugust 24, 2010 - 12:44 pm

It’s amazing how much the overcast sky changes the colour of the water!! And i’m loving those cute little donkeys! Great photos, Kim!

Kim SpearsAugust 18, 2010 - 5:20 pm

Thanks for the comments guys! Christina these shots totally take me right back there too 🙂 Sean – thanks for the reminder of that lovely memory lol. Darren still hasn’t gotten over the trauma!

Christina MoodieAugust 18, 2010 - 2:22 pm

It is insane how the they built right on the side of the cliff!! I love your travel photography it makes me feel like I am there. Thanks!

seanAugust 18, 2010 - 4:05 am

haha, for some reason, these remind me about that story of you on a plane throwing up all over yourself and then laughing hysterically about it. HA!

ANYWAY, kim, love the vantage point you two achieved. what a rewarding hike, and how cool you got to experience a great storm that night!

p.s. i understand if you modify this comment 😉 haha!

s h e r r yAugust 17, 2010 - 8:52 pm

Oh man. I really wanna goooo! It looks so awesome there!

AylaAugust 17, 2010 - 7:34 pm

I love these photos! They remind of the hike up to the wedding place in the movie “Mamma Mia” =)

Amber & Justin {Married}

I really really can’t wait to share more images from this incredible wedding of my friends Amber and Justin.  But for now just a quick teaser for them to peek at while they relax at the cabin soaking up the sun!

The wedding party was a flipping riot.  Love these guys!  I knew almost everyone in the wedding party which made my job super duper easy and extra fun. These are some of the funniest and sweetest people on the planet.  Here are their lovely faces.

** Huge huge thank you to the lovely people of Orange Blossom Farm for letting us use your amazing property! **

Bridesmaids

Groomsman

Wedding Party Jump Shot

You guys are ridiculously good looking!

Back Lit BW

Romantic Kiss

Hugs

JenelleSeptember 10, 2010 - 11:09 am

Kim, your wedding work is incredible, so well done!! You definitely have amazing locations in your area for shooting, so lucky.

Kim SpearsAugust 18, 2010 - 5:21 pm

Thank you ladies !! These guys are hot stuff and I can’t wait to show you the rest 🙂

Vanessa VelezAugust 17, 2010 - 2:54 pm

Beautiful Kim! Love them!

Leagh LawrenceAugust 16, 2010 - 6:07 pm

Beautiful photos of a beautiful couple – mind you I am biased (Bride’s mom). Kim, thank you for an awesome job – looking forward to seeing all

LanaAugust 16, 2010 - 6:02 pm

Oh my goodness. These are great! They should be in a magazine, they are a very good looking couple!

LindsayAugust 16, 2010 - 5:52 pm

Great photos Kim and congrats to Amber and Justin. You both look fabulous! Love all these teasers!

Favourite Things Friday

Darren and I love watching movies. LOVE LOVE LOVE watching movies.  One of our favourite things to do is rent a movie and cuddle on the couch.  I nibble on yummy snacks and Darren often falls asleep, but I love those cozy times on our couch.  We aren’t big T.V. watchers, movies are definitely our thing.

I wanted to dedicate this Favourite Things Friday post about the movie, Inception.   It is incredible and you have to go see it !! Darren and I have a bit of a special connection to this movie as one of my best friends Dawn husband-to-be Billy was the Canadian Art Director for the movie and if you have seen it you know he did an absolutely unbelievable job!  Way to go Billy !!  Seriously I can’t say enough good things about how thought provoking, creative, entertaining and visually spectacular this movie was.  I LOVED the concept and was so impressed with how it all came together.

Here is a link to the trailer.  Check it out !!

Inception Movie Trailer

s h e r r yAugust 14, 2010 - 1:13 am

IT. WAS. SO. GOOD. I saw it twice. Uggggh. Ya.

Travel Snaps Tuesday – Meow !!

Ghandi once said that “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated. ”  This quote is always in my mind when I am travelling in other countries.  It is amazing how differently animals are treated, valued and respected from one country to another.  Here are a few of my favourite kitties from Greece and Turkey.

This mama was a warrior for her kittens.  A minute after I took this shot we watched her attack a dog that got too close.

lizetAugust 16, 2010 - 3:10 am

GORGeous photo’s!!! Love how you captured these kitties!

seanAugust 14, 2010 - 12:49 am

the last image is my favourite kitten photo ever. SO CUTE.

Christina MoodieAugust 12, 2010 - 10:37 am

I love the last photo! Interesting take on travel photography!

JadineAugust 11, 2010 - 12:12 am

Loving your randomness 🙂 Those are awesome kitty photos!

s h e r r yAugust 10, 2010 - 10:26 pm

Omigosh. Kittens… My heart is melting…

Alicia & Skye {Married}

Darren and I spent the most wonderful day on Quadra Island for Alicia and Skye’s wedding.  They were married on a beach not far from where Skye proposed.  They stood in the Pacific Ocean hand in hand in front of their closest friends and family to become husband and wife.  It was truly a beautiful ceremony.

This is just a quick teaser with a full post to come.  I have to give Skye a huge thank you for being such a trooper through the photos, broken collar bone and all.

Hope you like them!

Forest Kiss

Forest Love

Beach Embrace

Corn Field Cuties

[…] Alicia and Skye are the reason for this Friday post.  They are solely responsible for my new favourite chocolates, Fran’s Grey and Smoked Salt Caramels.  Is your mouth watering yet ?! […]

[…] post is complete without a picture, so here is another shot from Alicia and Skye’s amazing wedding and the beautiful love they […]

AliciaAugust 14, 2010 - 9:13 pm

KIM!!! These are absolutely beautiful. You captured how wonderful I felt that day, and I can’t wait to see the rest!!! EEEeeee!!! You are amazing girl! xoxo

Kyle HitchcoxAugust 14, 2010 - 12:40 am

Amazing day and these are amazing shots considering the weather challenges. You are an awesome photographer!

Kim SpearsAugust 11, 2010 - 3:06 pm

Hanalee you are absolutely right !! And yes, I do LOVE my job 🙂

HannaleeAugust 11, 2010 - 11:23 am

Beautiful Kim. Aren’t us photographers just the luckiest to capture the most amazing dresses, gorgeous shoes and every little other detail that makes weddings so special. Don’t you just love your job? 😉

Kim SpearsAugust 10, 2010 - 1:48 pm

Thanks everyone !! Sherry isn’t her dress A.M.A.Z.I.N.G. ?!!! I was in love / obsessed with it 😉

seanAugust 10, 2010 - 4:15 am

SO BEAUTIFUL! i love the driftwood shot as well!

Karen McNeilAugust 10, 2010 - 1:13 am

These are so pretty! The driftwood one is a fav!

juliannaAugust 10, 2010 - 12:25 am

Love the tones in the beach shot Kim.

s h e r r yAugust 9, 2010 - 11:35 pm

🙂 Kim, these are super pretty! I love her dress!