Two Backpackers » Photo of the Day

Photo of the Day: Marching Band in Juayua, El Salvador

Aracely — Mon, 07 Feb 2024 22:30:01 +0000

School Marching Band Competition in Juayua, El Salvador

Bands are used to celebrate throughout all of Latin America. Nearly every type of celebration whether it be religious, patriotic or otherwise incorporates marching bands with colorful costumes and loud synchronized music. The bands include people of all ages and gender. Typically, even during celebrations, the bands compete for trophies and respect.

Photo of the Day: Church at Parinacota Chile

Jason — Mon, 31 Jan 2024 09:30:16 +0000

The Church at Parinacota in Northern Chile, Tarapacá Region

This photo was taken during our 3-day 4×4 road trip through Northern Chile’s Altiplano.

“The church was built in the 17th century in the form of a central nave with two side chapels. The walls are made of stone and clay and are supported by exterior arches of stones without mortar. The floor is made of bricks with a central band of stones. Originally there was no choir. A choir without railing was built later on whereas one of the most interesting frescoes of the area, the “Last Judgment” was destroyed. The atrium is surrounded by a clay wall on which are situated several figures made of red stone: A bishop, lilies, phalli and others. The square tower was rebuilt in 1789 and painted with white lime.

Noteworthy are the frescoes in the interior which were painted in water colors by Indians in the Andean baroque of the 17th century. The “Last Judgment” suggests that only women were condemned. The archangel St. Michael weighs a nude woman on a scale and there are trails to get to the purgatory, over clouds to heaven as well as stairs to the mouth of a dragon which leads to hell, where there are several torture instruments. The condemned women walk or are dragged by the hair or are ridden by demons. One of them leads the helpers of evil with a broad smile, not knowing what is expecting her.” – Wikipedia

Photo of the Day: Crazy Bus Picture in Ecuador

Aracely — Fri, 28 Jan 2024 17:15:51 +0000

Riding on top of a bus in Ecuador, near the coast

Photo of the Day: Filming a Beach Sunset

Aracely — Sat, 22 Jan 2024 20:45:51 +0000

Filming a Sunset on Guatemala's Black Sand Monterrico Beach

Photo of the Day: Bus Ferry Across Tiquina Straits

Jason — Thu, 20 Jan 2024 04:45:51 +0000

Bus Ferry Across Tiquina Straits in Bolivia

We were leaving Peru and crossing the border into Bolivia to arrive at the beach town of Copacabana. During our border crossing drive, we arrived at the Straits of Tiquina. The bus dropped us all off at the waters edge and we quickly discovered what was about to happen based on other floating buses and cars in the distance. The buses drove onto these fragile bare-bone barges, thankfully without us, and they were towed across the lake using very small outboard motors. It was a constant operation that seemed to work rather efficiently, as long as buses weren’t sinking.

Photo of the Day: Snowman in NYC 2024 Winter Blizzard

Jason — Fri, 31 Dec 2024 19:00:16 +0000

A Snowman in NYC During the 2024 Winter Blizzard

Photo courtesy of Michael Kowalski. This picture of a snowman in New York City was taken during the winter blizzard of 2024.

Photo of the Day: Long Shadows on Salar de Uyuni Bolivia

Aracely — Mon, 27 Dec 2024 16:30:16 +0000

Long Shadows Captured during a Sunrise over the Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia

Photo of the Day: Nags Head Beach North Carolina

Jason — Wed, 22 Dec 2024 16:30:16 +0000

Nags Head Beach, Outer Banks, North Carolina

Visiting Nags Head, North Carolina any time of year has it’s advantages. Even during the winter, the sky can be perfectly clear for a walk along the water in a brisk cool wind. This photo was taken during our visit to our Grandparents in Nags Head during the cool season.

Photo of the Day: Peppers Drying In The Salta Sun

Aracely — Fri, 17 Dec 2024 15:30:58 +0000

Peppers Drying In The Sun Near Cachi, Argentina

Photo of the Day: Cerro Calvario, Copacabana

Jason — Wed, 15 Dec 2024 17:00:16 +0000

Cerro Calvario (Calvary Hill) Copacabana, Bolivia Overlooking Lake Titicaca

Copacabana is the main Bolivian town on the shore of Lake Titicaca, from where boats leave for Isla del Sol, the sacred Inca island. The town has a large 16th-century shrine, the Basilica of Our Lady of Copacabana. Our Lady of Copacabana is the patron saint of Bolivia.

The town is a destination for tourism in Bolivia. The town is also known for its famous Basilica, home of the Virgin of Copacabana, its trout, and its quaint atmosphere. Built between Mount Calvario and Mount Niño Calvario, the town has approximately 6,000 inhabitants. Copacabana’s religious celebrations, cultural patrimony, and traditional festivals are well known throughout Bolivia. – Wikipedia

This is a photo of Cerro Calvario (Calvary Hill) which is lined with monuments representing the 14 Stations of the Cross. Pilgrims visit the Stations for prayer and penance and many tourists climb the hill for its fine views. The Stations of the Cross were built on this hill in the 1950s, when the government decided Copacabana should have more to offer its thousands of pilgrims than just the Basilica of the Virgin. – Sacred Destinations

It took a friend and I (Chuck) 30 minutes to walk all of the steep steps to the top. The exhausting climb was worth the beautiful sunset view out into Lake Titicaca. Some of our best Bolivia sunset photos were taken from this perch.

Photo of the Day: Christmas in NYC Times Square

Jason — Sat, 11 Dec 2024 17:30:16 +0000

Just when you didn’t think Times Square could get any brighter, New York City lights up during the holiday season. Rising up from the subway entrance in Times Square, Target Stores advertise in shinning red and white. We took that color scheme and spread it throughout this picture of Times Square NYC. Enjoy the Holidays everyone!

Times Square NYC Advertising During the Holidays

Photo of the Day: Salar de Surire Chile

Aracely — Sun, 05 Dec 2024 12:30:16 +0000

Salar de Surire Natural Monument is a Chilean Natural Monument located in the Andes, in the Arica and Parinacota Region. It consists mainly of a salt flat and a number of small salt lakes, sheltering several Andean species of wildlife and plants. Arintica volcano towers over the salt flat.

The protected area, along with Lauca National Park and Las Vicuñas National Reserve, were designated a World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1981, which is called Lauca. – Wikipedia

Read about our 3-day adventure road trip.

Flamingos flying Over the Salar de Surire (Salt Flat) Natural Monument in Chile

Photo of the Day: Reserva National Las Vicuñas Chile

Aracely — Sat, 04 Dec 2024 12:30:16 +0000

Northern Chile’s Altiplano is filled with varying landscapes including snow capped volcanoes, desert mountains, small adobe villages, salt flats, flamingos, vicuñas and pre-Inca ruins. Arica will serve as your base camp for settling into the new country and planning your exploratory 4×4 road trip.

Read about our 3-day adventure road trip.

Reserva National Las Vicuñas, is south of Parque Nacional Lauca in the southeastern most point of the Arica and Parinacota Region. Here you will find Monumento Natural Salar de Surire, a salt flat which lies furthest from Arica.

Reserva National Las Vicuñas in Northern Chile

Photo of the Day: Philadelphia City Hall

Jason — Mon, 29 Nov 2024 12:30:16 +0000

Philadelphia City Hall is the seat of government for the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. At 167 m (548 ft), including the statue, it is the world’s second-tallest masonry building, only 1.6 feet (0.49 m) shorter than Mole Antonelliana in Turin. The weight of the building is borne by granite and brick walls up to 22 feet (6.7 m) thick, rather than steel; the principal exterior materials are limestone, granite, and marble.

It was the tallest habitable building (although surpassed by monuments) in the world from 1901 to 1908 and the tallest in Pennsylvania until 1932 when surpassed by the Gulf Tower. It remained the tallest building in Philadelphia until the construction of One Liberty Place (1984–1987) broke the informal “gentlemen’s agreement” that limited the height of tall buildings in the city; it currently is the 15th-tallest building in Pennsylvania.

With close to 700 rooms, City Hall is the largest municipal building in the United States and one of the largest in the World. The building houses three branches of government, the Executive (Mayor’s Office), the Legislative (City Council), and the Judicial Branch’s Civil Courts (Court of Common Pleas).

The building is topped by an 11.3-m (37 ft), 27-ton bronze statue of city founder William Penn, one of 250 sculptures created by Alexander Milne Calder that adorn the building inside and out. The statue is the tallest atop any building in the world.- Wikipedia

Philadelphia City Hall

Photo of the Day: NYC Skylines at Night

Jason — Sat, 27 Nov 2024 16:15:16 +0000

From atop the Empire State Building you can capture the best views of New York City’s midtown cityscape. On a clear night you can see the lights from New Jersey’s waterfront, all the bridges connecting Manhattan and Times Square lighting up Midtown’s skyscrapers.

NYC Cityscape at Night

Photo of the Day: Funny Beer Bait & Bullets Picture

Jason — Thu, 25 Nov 2024 12:30:16 +0000

After a trip to Springfield, Illinois, my Mother brought home this funny photograph for our enjoyment. Yup, she pulled off on the side of the road to capture this essential convenience store. I can’t help but imagine all the evil things one can do after visiting this store. Happy Thanksgiving! I hope this funny picture made you smile.

One Stop Shopping at Beer, Bait & Bullets

Photo of the Day: Cruise Ships & NYC Skylines

Jason — Mon, 22 Nov 2024 12:30:16 +0000

The best views of the New York City skyline can be seen from Pier A Park in Hoboken, New Jersey. Lower Manhattan is now under heavy development, restoring sky scrapers at ground zero.

I love this picture of the Norwegian Cruise Line with the NYC skyline backdrop. The ships leave from a NYC port on the Hudson River side of the Manhattan.

Norwegian Cruise Line at NYC

Photo of the Day: Grays Peak Colorado Mountains

Jason — Sat, 20 Nov 2024 18:45:16 +0000

Grays Peak – 14,270 feet
Often referred to as a 14er, Grays Peak is just outside Denver, Colorado and provides a great day hike for short term travelers.

Located on the Continental Divide in the Front range. Interstate 70 is only 4 miles to the north. Grays Peak is the highest peak on the Continental Divide – in the United States and is in Arapaho forest.

This hike is manageable with only boots and water during the warmer months. Many will hike up and ski down as seen in the some of the pictures. Having friends in Colorado is very important! Thanks Adam and Amy.

Grays Peak, Colorado Rocky Mountains

Photo of the Day: New Jersey Turnpike Pollution

Jason — Fri, 19 Nov 2024 17:00:16 +0000

During our travels back and forth from Hoboken to Philadelphia we drive on the New Jersey Turnpike. This one day the sky and sunset were perfect for some great photos. Unfortunately, I realized when I started taking pictures, it was mostly of the factories spewing pollution in the air near the Newark International Airport.

Air Pollution on the New Jersey Turnpike

Photo of the Day: Autumn Foliage in New Jersey

Jason — Thu, 18 Nov 2024 12:30:16 +0000

Cooper River Park in Cherry Hill, New Jersey is a great place to experience the tree leaves changing colors in autumn. The autumn foliage is one of those great things to capture in a photograph. Fall pictures are so popular that people even travel to New England for a short photography vacation. We didn’t travel far for our fall pictures. Cooper River park is only a few miles away from my parents house in New Jersey.

Cooper River Park in Cherry Hill, New Jersey in Autumn