Jacob On Adventure.

I'm trading in a quarter-life crisis for a plane ticket.

[jacobonadventure]

The IPLL Championships are upon us! I appreciate everyone who has sent me well-wishes on this trip and I hope that I have supplied enough resources for you to follow along. I’ve also been blogging from www.jacobinayear.tumblr.com, if you’d like to read up there.

[jacobonadventure]

Back in Athens, Almost Home

Hey guys,

So, I'm back in Athens and reunited with Jared. We've been hanging out for a bit before taking a 14 hour bus straight through to Istanbul.

My last day in Santorini was fantastic, warm and sunny and spent with new friends from all over the world. 

Pretty soon I'll be heading home, which is both exciting and terrifying at the same time. 

Side note: my vintage camera collection has grown by one today, I think I'm just going to continue the trend of buying a new camera on every trip I go on. 

Home soon,

J

[jacobonadventure]

Santorini, Day 2

The clouds parted and the sun came out for a brief moment yesterday, allowing me to explore my side of the island near Fira. The seascapes were absolutely breathtaking and I'm pretty sure my budget for cappuccinos is pretty much depleted.

Hopefully, this weather holds up and there's a beach-visit in my future!

Cheers,

J 

[jacobonadventure]

Come Again Another Day: A Santorini Story

The ramp in the rear of the ship that had just carried me through the Aegean Sea playing slalom with the Cyclades and hours of chop was lowering to reveal a completely vertical cliff face and the downpour between it and myself. 

It was like a scene from Jurassic Park. 

While Santorini is known for its spectacular views of blue, white, and cliffs splashed against an endless ocean, that is not the paradise island I've found myself on.

The rain, I've learned, is to last through until Monday. That's quite alright, I'll make the best of it here at the youth hostel. Jared has gone back to Athens while I ventured here for a few days. Soon, we'll be back in Istanbul heading home. Today is quite surreal for a number of reasons.

Maybe I'll brave the thunderstorm and snag some photos through the rain.

J

[jacobonadventure]

Ahoy! 

Today was our first full day in Mykonos and, even though it isn't the party season, this island is absolutely stunning to witness. The white-wash and blue surround every side street and ally adorned with food and high-end fashion. 

This place is frequented by celebrities and you can easily see why. After some time spent by the Aegean Sea we headed back for dinner. Honestly, it was one of the most beautiful sunsets I have ever seen in my life. I'm so lucky to be here and be able to photography this world.

Depending on weather tomorrow it may be Santorini or another night here on Mykonos. Either way, I'm in heaven.

J

[jacobonadventure]

From the Mainland to Mykonos

Yassou and greetings from Mykonos! 

Yesterday, we saw everything in Athens there is to see, from the Library of Zeus to the Acropolis. It was great to finally set foot in places I've only read about in history textbooks. After a day of adventuring we hopped on a 4-hour ferry to Mykonos, a small island that is part of the Greek Cyclades. 

It is the off-season here, meaning the nightclubs, bars, and usual touristy hotspots are mostly closed down, but the island itself is beautiful and relaxing. Check back for more photos later! 

The rain is supposed to swoop in for a couple of days, which is a bummer, but we're going to make the most of it. After this, it's off to Santorini, back to Athens, a quick flight to Istanbul, and back home! 

It's all going by so quickly,

J

[eyelovelisa]

He who jumps into the void owes no explanation to those who stand and watch.

(via 1924us)

[jacobonadventure]

Yassou from Greece!

Hello and welcome to the third and final leg of Jacob On Adventure! 

We landed in Greece early this morning after spending a sleepless night in the Tel Aviv airport waiting for our flight. I'm pretty exhausted but so excited to be in such a beautiful place. 

I had a chance to stroll through the streets near our hostel around sunset this evening and the sights and smells were so intense. Our hostel is in the shadow of the Acropolis and in the middle of a bustling square filled with cobblestone, clothed tables, amazing smells of spices and wine, and the sounds street music and shouting Greeks.

In an earlier post, before I even started this journey, I mentioned how much I loved shooting in NYC because of how everything fits into a perfect square. In Athens, it's almost the complete opposite, which I've learned is challenging but equally as fun to shoot. Instead of straight and narrow alleyways, the streets here curve and bow into one another, laced with intricate graffiti and ivy making the power lines sag. 

Tomorrow, we're touring the ruins in our area and then grabbing our first ferry to Mykonos to begin island-hopping! 

Stay tuned and shoot me an email at any time! [email protected]

J

[jacobonadventure]

Hello friends!

I know it's been awhile since I've blogged, but it's been a lot of moving around coupled with reenergizing for the third and final leg of our trip.

Rufus and I spent a few days in Haifa, which is a gorgeous part of Israel featuring the spectacular Baha'i Gardens. The water was the clearest I've ever been in and oh so warm.

Now, we're back in Tel Aviv featuring a good friend we made from Zimbabwe. Early Tuesday morning we'll be flying out to Greece, I'm so excited I can't even handle myself.

G'night.

J

[jacobonadventure]

Wake up, it's time for adventure!

Hey there,

So, it's almost 11 p.m. here in Israel and I have been awake since 3 o'clock in the morning. Why, you ask? Rufus and I had an amazing hike up Masada to the rising sun of the mountains in Jordan. Reaching the top and walking along the plateau was absolutely breathtaking; no photo would do it justice.

Afterwards, we walked through a nearby national park filled with fun creatures and awesome waterfalls. 

Finally, we made it to the Dead Sea for mud-baths and floating in the salty water. More pictures and video of that to come, so stay tuned!

'Night,

J

[jacobonadventure]

Making Moves, See Ya Jerusalem!

Hey there,

Today was great: breakfast and a hike up the Mount of Olives. So much rich history in so many religions. We had to make a large change in plans, however. Originally, after Jerusalem was going to be a trip south to Eilat and then a venture into Jordan to see Petra or Egypt to see Giza. Travel restrictions and price have deterred us, but have no fear! 

At 3 a.m. I am waking up and taking a sunrise hike through Masada, then taking a bus to float in the Dead Sea. Afterwards, Rufus and I are meeting Emma in northern Israel to crash for a few days before our flight to Greece! 

Exciting stuff, so keep checking back!

Oh, I almost forgot, the picture above is really cool because on the far left is Palestine, on the right is Israel, and in the background you can see Bethlehem. Whew.

J

[jacobonadventure]

Jerusalem: The Four Quarters

Hello faithful friends and followers! 

So, we have spent our first day in Jerusalem after trekking here from Tel Aviv. Our hostel is in a beautiful part of the Old City overlooking the Mount of Olives, The Tower of David, and various other essential landmarks that make up this ancient and spiritual city. Combining four quarters, Armenian, Christian, Muslim, and Jewish, Jerusalem is one of the most eclectic places I've ever seen, and in such a small package!

As soon as we settled into our hostel and grabbed lunch, we took a tour of some of the ancient grounds sprinkled throughout the city. Rufus and I were even lucky enough to gain entrance to The Western (or Wailing) Wall. I snuck a few photos, but what was really important was how the atmosphere felt around that area. Hearing the thousands of prayers all at once was incredible moving, and just laying a hand on the wall riddled with tiny slips of paper filled over themselves with prayers in Hebrew.

Tomorrow, we're exploring more outside the city walls, so stay tuned! 

[jacobonadventure]

Vacation Within a Vacation: The Tel Aviv Story

Hey guys!

Tel Aviv has been an absolute dream come true. Soft sand beaches, amazing food and drink, beautiful people, and warm water. 

We've spent the last few days here just enjoying the sun and relaxing on the beach. Today, we went through the Old City neighborhood of Tel Aviv along the beach promenade. Walking along the Mediterranean and feeling the salt off the water has been awe-inspiring.

Tomorrow, we're leaving for Jerusalem in the morning and have a great hostel lined up right in the middle of everything, so stay tuned!

J

[jacobonadventure]

Here's a recent video of my galavanting throughout Cappadocia via GoPro. Enjoy!

[jacobonadventure]

Shalom and Welcome to Tel Aviv! 

Rufus and I successfully landed in Israel this afternoon after a slight speed bump at the airport. This. place. is. beautiful.

After dumping our stuff off at the hostel we immediately headed for the beach with Rufus' friend Emma who lives and teaches English here. The sand was so soft, the breeze was pleasant, and the water was warm and crystal clear. 

We got sushi and ice cream and are about to pack it in the for the night. Tomorrow, it's going to be beach-day-all-day. 

G'night!

[jacobonadventure]

Rise and Shine, Up and Away! 

Rufus and I awoke at 4:30 a.m. (seems to be a trend here), got dressed in the dark, and ventured out into the cold for our balloon tour around Cappadocia. 

First and foremost, no photograph I, or anyone else, takes could possibly do the scenery and feeling of being that high in the air any justice. I was in absolute awe of everything the light touched: every balloon, hundreds of them, cresting over the ridges and cliffs. 

The light changed so much during sunrise that there was different color in every shot that I took. They are shown in chronological order here. It was simply breathtaking.

Afterwards, the pilot and his crew popped some champagne and we headed back to our quaint hostel nestled into the mountainside. What a morning.

Also, it's my father's birthday - so happy birthday Dad! 

J

[jacobonadventure]

Oh, The Places You'll Go! 

Early this morning, Rufus and I landed in Cappadocia, which is a landscape unlike any I've ever seen before. It's a cross between Tatooine and a Dr. Seuss book.

As soon as we arrived, we hopped on a tour around the area that lasted several hours. The main appeal of this area is its history and ancient ruins. We visited monasteries built into large rock formations dating back to the 6th century, overlooked vast valleys, and even headed underground to see the oldest and largest city built hundreds of feet below the surface of the valley. 

It's amazing to me that we've only been here for 11 days but it feels like so much longer. I think studying in Ghana has made it so much easier to assimilate into a culture so unlike my own - I'm incredibly lucky. 

Tomorrow, we have a 5am (yeah, in the morning) pick-up for our balloon ride around the region during sunrise! 

Stay tuned for more photos/videos!

J