After following Lava Canyon‘s geologic history along a rocky trail, I went looking for other stony encounters I’ve unearthed on my travels. Here’s what I came up with – ancient stone temples in Guatemala.
The impressive and unexpectedly beautiful hand-hewn New Croton Dam, which supplies New York with much of its water.
A little touch of Irish romance off the coast of the Pacific Northwest; a gravestone on Whidbey Island.
Great stony windows in Utah’s glorious Arches National Park.
Are you ready to rock this week’s travel theme? If you would like to join in (everyone’s welcome!) here’s what to do:
- Create your own post and title it Travel theme: Stone
- Include a link to this page in your post so others can find it too
- Get your post in by next Thursday, as the new travel theme comes out on Friday
- Don’t forget to subscribe to keep up to date on the latest weekly travel themes. Sign up via the email subscription link in the sidebar or RSS – I’m in the process of changing over to a new website host but will give you all a heads up when the changeover happens.
xxx Ailsa
“The violets in the mountains have broken the rocks.” – Tennessee Williams
“Only those who truly love and who are truly strong can sustain their lives as a dream. You dwell in your own enchantment. Life throws stones at you, but your love and your dream change those stones into the flowers of discovery. Even if you lose, or are defeated by things, your triumph will always be exemplary. And if no one knows it, then there are places that do. People like you enrich the dreams of the worlds, and it is dreams that create history. People like you are unknowing transformers of things, protected by your own fairytale, by love.” – Ben Okri
Where's my backpack? 
awesome photo! Would love to visit this place 🙂
Arches is spectacular, I hope you get to see it for yourself sometime soon! xxx Ailsa
A wild goose chase on my hunt for lost cities . . .
Ooh, lovely shot, Ben, I haven’t been to Phrae but now I know about it I’m putting it on my list. 🙂
I tried to leave a comment telling you that I liked the colors in your photo, but your site apparently thinks I’m a spambot (which sounds like something from a Monty Phython sketch!)
janet
You are correct, that was active for some reason. Thanks for pointing it out.
And also thanks for looking. I appreciate the compliment.
Lovely shots Ailsa!
Thanks Livvy! Hope you’re getting ready for a good weekend! 🙂 Ailsa
Built from local stone! http://annarashbrook.wordpress.com/2013/10/25/travel-theme-stone
Ooh, I love the name Finstergrun, it means murky green, doesn’t it? 🙂
How have fun with stones… not like that… no words.
Lovely shots, Max, that one of Laura in Monument Valley is brilliant. 🙂 Yes, I heard about those idiots destroying one of the hoodoos recently, I don’t understand people like that. 😦
Thank you Ailsa !
Waiting for another of your exciting trail 😉
Did you actually go to Tikal or is that a screengrab from Star Wars? ;o)
Used so many of the good ones before, so made do with some offshoots. . . http://loganbruin.wordpress.com/2013/10/25/travel-theme-stone/
Haha, now I have to go and watch Star Wars again! Love your ‘offshoots’, Logan – especially the UCLA Bruin head. 🙂
Most people can’t figure out the bear head. Maybe it’s because you’ve seen Brave so many times!
Any excuse to see Star Wars again. . . ;o)
http://letscaptureeverymoment.wordpress.com/2013/10/25/travel-theme-stone/
lovely choice for a theme, Ailsa. 🙂 this is my take on it: Temple of Hercules in Jordan.
Oh wow, what an impressive sight that temple is, even in ruins it’s positively Herculean! Lovely photo Sindhu.
Thank you so much. 🙂
All of them are simply gorgeous, Ailsa – not fair to pick out just one to be my favourite 🙂
Here’re mine: http://esengasvoice.wordpress.com/2013/10/25/travel-theme-stone/
Beautiful post, Ese, those stone flowers are stunning and I adore that quote by Michelangelo. xxx
Love your pic of our beautiful Utah! You were lucky to get to visit Arches on a rainy day. That is when the park is most spectacular.
I couldn’t agree more, Kate – I’ve seen many photos of Arches with bright blue skies, but somehow that park comes alive in the swirling mists, it was all kinds of magical. xxx
Such great landscapes you show here Ailsa.
Wonderful theme too, I’m crazy about all kind of stones but more than that, for three months now I’m filling the pages of my fotoblog with very special stones which I visited in Bretagne last summer.
I’m overwhelmed with inspiration, so to speak.
Here’s my entry on stones
http://lanterfanteren.blogspot.be/2013/10/whispering-stones.html
For people who are also fascinated by megalits there is still much more to see on
http://dauwpics.blogspot.be/
Have a great weekend everyone!
Beautiful!! I want to touch them. I like the writing very much.
You can find these stones spread all over Brittany (France) / Breizh and lot’s of more places in Northern Europe. Most of them are older than the piramids in Egypt.
If you ever plan to pay them a visit here ‘s a map with locations of megalithique stones in Brittany http://www.megalitica.be/megali/breton.htm
Thanks Elisa, for dropping by on my blog.
Oh Dauw, those stones are amazing, I bet they’ve seen some history! 🙂
If they only could talk, no?
Haha, true, but hey, they whisper, if only we slow down enough to listen, right?
They sure do, by some poets mouth I guess … 😉
An interesting selection Ailsa: my stones are of the grey variety
http://smallbluegreenfotos.wordpress.com/2013/10/25/travel-theme-stone/
Jude xx
Oooh, lovely shots, Jude, I love Cornwall, it always makes me think of pirates and smuggling. Arr!
Now you’ve got me between a rock and a stony place… 😉
Haha, I’m sure you’ll be able to wriggle free, AJ! 😉
Here’s ours: http://windagainstcurrent.com/2013/10/25/travel-theme-stones/
Oh those cormorants are marvellous. I never made it to the north shore of Long Island, it looks gorgeous. I love those huge stones trailing out to sea. Really wonderful photos, Vlad.
Great photo’s, Ailsa!
Here’s my entry: http://drieskewrites.wordpress.com/2013/10/25/travel-theme-stone/
Wow, gorgeous, Marion, I never made it to Lake Powell when I was in the area, your photo makes me want to go back right now! 🙂
Give me a call, I will join you! 🙂
Very beautiful photographs Ailsa, last one is stunning.
Thanks Indira, Arches is the most spectacular place to visit, and it was even more picturesque in the mists of monsoon season! xxx
As always, beautiful photos 🙂
Here’s my entry
Oooh Elle, what lovely coastline, those yellow-streaked rocks are fantastic. 🙂
They were magnificent and somewhat photo worthy I thought! 🙂
Also, that robin in your header photo is adorable!
Thank you…he is a bit of a cutie! 😉
I remember seeing arches like those when my parents dragged us all around parks…in extreme heat. Really think I need a road trip now! ( and in cooler weather!)
Haha, we are birds of a feather, phil, I am much happier travelling in cooler weather, the heat just saps my energy, especially humid heat. Gulp.
I love the photo of the ancient temples. Here’s my contribution to the challenge. http://artifactsandfictions.wordpress.com/2013/10/25/stones-learning-to-levitate/
The temples were pretty awe-inspiring, Suzanne, it was amazing to wander through thick jungle and then suddenly happen across a massive temple in the middle of nowhere. Love your photo, it’s like a watery Zen garden. Where was it taken? xxx Ailsa
Love this theme. Your photos are wonderful
Thanks Jubliee, I had a million photos I could have used, it was hard to narrow it down to just a few for one post. 🙂
Great theme. Here is my entry : http://publictransituser.wordpress.com/2013/10/25/travel-theme-stone/
Great shots, I particularly like the second shot of the statue, where was that taken?
Thank you much, it was taken in Puerto Vallarta.
It’s lovely! 🙂
Thank you again, that was a great place for taking photos.
Love the headstone! And I also like to roam through graveyards even when it’s not Halloween! http://ohtheplaceswesee.com/2013/10/18/travel-theme-brown/
Me too, Rusha, there’s something so intriguing about them. xxx
I love seeing all of these fascinating entries on the topic of stones. Here’s my little collection: http://janiceheck.wordpress.com/2013/10/25/ailsas-photo-challenge-stones-in-garden-and-desert/ Thanks, Ailsa, for organizing this photo challenge.
There have been some incredible entries on this week’s theme, Janice, so glad you are enjoying the photo challenge. I love your post, boy there are some gorgeous places in California, I haven’t visited any of the places in your photos but I’m feeling the urge to drop everything and make a trip to Tahquitz Canyon right now! 🙂 Ailsa
Great shots and interesting theme! Here’s my entry: http://shootngo.wordpress.com/2013/10/26/travel-theme-stone/
Ooh, that looks so cool, I’m definitely going to visit when I make it to Lisbon next. xxx Ailsa
It’s definitely worth it, Ailsa!
Great shots as usual !Happy weekend !!!
You too, Praveena! xxx Ailsa
Who knew that so many people would take so many photos of rocks? Fantastic! Here are mine:
http://elizabethkrallphotos.wordpress.com/2013/10/26/rock-on/
Oh my, Elizabeth, what places you’ve seen, a stunning array of stone in your post. Your ‘Rock on’ title made me giggle too! 🙂
Thanks! I thought ‘rock on’ was fitting. 😉
I hope you don’t mind, but I combined your Stone theme with the this week’s Daily Post theme of Horizon, to give Stone Horizons:
Wow, Jaspa, is there a place on this planet you haven’t visited? They’re all stunning, but your shots of the Pyramids and Taku Glacier have given me the most dreadful case of Wanderlust. Amazing! xxx Ailsa
Thanks Ailsa. Sadly, there are many, many places I haven’t visited. I always say I’ll need about seven and a half lifetimes to see and do all the things I want to. Having said that, I will tick off state #50 at the end of this month… not bad for someone who’s 3½ inches tall not even American!
Reading that back, perhaps it should be ‘happily there are many, many places I haven’t been’. After all, it means there’s still always somewhere new to dream about going!
That’s so true, Jaspa. As I like to say, anyone who tries to tell you it’s a small world hasn’t tried to see it all! 🙂
The last photo is intensely beautiful.
Isadora
http://isadoraartandphotography.com/2013/10/26/tavel-theme-stone/
I had a few blogger mention that my link wasn’t taking them to my blog. I’ve checked it here and find that I had spelled one of the words incorrectly. I hope you don’t mind, I’ve added the correction below. Thanks …..
Isadora
http://isadoraartandphotography.com/2013/10/26/travel-theme-stone/
Hya Isadora, lovely shots, I love the sun playing off the water, I can almost see the waves swirling around those rocks. xxx Ailsa
This theme really inspired me. Maybe because all we talk about at work these days are our 5 Big Rocks. So I wrote a blog post about 5 Big Rocks I’ve Visited and how they stack up.
This was such a fun post, I loved it. I am stunned at Plymouth Rock, I would have been every bit as disappointed as you. 🙂
Great theme – as always! Your shots are also great, and if I must choose a favourite, it’s the last one, from the national park. Here’s mine – and I love stone (s).Have a great weekend!
http://lagottocattleya.wordpress.com/2013/10/26/travel-theme-stone/
Oh Leya, we are kindred spirits, I’m such a fan of national parks. Boy oh boy, your photos from New Zealand are spectacular, I long to visit myself some day. xxx Ailsa
These just are incredible!
Thanks – I think the Arches one is my favourite, there’s something so dramatic about the red stone against a misty background. Have a great weekend! xxx Ailsa
Thank you Ailsa !
Nice shots! Here’s mine … http://mysardinianlife.com/2013/10/26/travel-theme-a-love-stone-from-sardinia/
I love it! I can’t believe you found a perfectly heart-shaped stone. It’s a good omen, I tell you! 🙂
I really think it is! 🙂
Marvelous theme this week. I didn’t think of headstones!! Great photos!!
Here is my entry.
http://ceenphotography.com/2013/10/26/travel-theme-stone/
Gorgeous photos (as usual) Cee – that shot of the moss covered rock surrounded by water is utterly mesmerizing, I could stare at it for hours. xxx Ailsa
Carved stones: http://wp.me/p16tta-tB
These are awesome, Stefano. Also, I keep meaning to ask you about the photo you use in your header. I’m so intrigued by it, where did you take it? It’s gorgeous. xxx Ailsa
I’m glad you like them, Ailsa.
The header shot is from Danakil, in northeastern Ethiopia; it’s the infinite line of camel caravans carrying salt blocks. Believe me, it’s an amazing view!
What an incredible sight that must have been, Stefano, every time I look at that photo it fills me with awe. 🙂
From the Great Smoky Mountains… http://megtraveling.com/2013/10/26/travel-theme-stone/
Oooh, lovely. Myself and a friend were planning to travel through the Smokies this summer on our road trip, but we re-routed at the last minute and missed them. Next time for sure! xxx Ailsa
Hi Ailsa! Here’s my first Travel Theme post in a long time! http://stephenkellycreative.wordpress.com/2013/10/26/ailsas-travel-theme-stone/
Well welcome back, stranger! You’ve been busy, those shots from Japan are so cool, I do love that country, it’s an assault on all the senses and a photographer’s dream! xxx Ailsa
Hi Ailsa … it’s good to be back. I’ve got to double everything you said about Japan … kick in all that awesome food as well and it’s quite an experience. I can’t wait to go back next year!
Great theme Ailsa – I love stone – here’s my selection – http://lynneayersbeyondthebrush.wordpress.com/2013/10/26/beauty-of-stone/
And what a selection you have, Lynne, they’re all so beautiful I can’t pick a favourite.
The Guatemalan temples are cool. Here are mine for the week. http://ididitforjohnny.wordpress.com/2013/10/26/travel-theme-stone/
Absolutely beautiful shots, that close up with the lichen is breathtaking. xxx Ailsa
Thank you!
Thanks Ailsa, I’ve brought you the gifts of the Magi.http://lucidgypsy.wordpress.com/2013/10/26/travel-theme-stone/
Ooh, how cool, Gilly, right in the heart of Bristol. Who would have thought it? 🙂
Here you go Ailsa!
http://msudlj.com/2013/10/26/travel-theme-stone/
DJ
Lovely photos, Danny, I am fascinated with all things Egyptian so am partial to those shots, but the New Mexico ones are wonderful too!
Great selection – how do you always manage to narrow it down? I can’t – here is mine: http://k2incanada.wordpress.com/2013/10/26/travel-theme-stone/
Wow, that’s a stunning selection, K2, Mickey Gorge looks very mysterious, and that Inukchuck is fantastic. 🙂
This was a lot of fun to play with, throwing stones around, so to speak: http://beautyalongtheroad.wordpress.com/2013/10/26/throwing-stones/
Oh so many beautiful photos I don’t know where to start, and I love the variety, from that incredible landscape shot of the painted desert (wow) to that closeup of the rock detail in Scotland.
Lovely photos Alisa, more especially the stony window – it’s magical. I couldn’t help but be inspired, thank you for the great theme.
http://cocoaupnorth.wordpress.com/2013/10/27/travel-theme-stone/
Hurrah, glad you got out from under that stone and joined in the travel theme, gorgeous photos! xxx Ailsa
In time for Halloween, that tombstone. Here is mine: http://nagpanaoan.com/2013/10/27/travel-theme-challenge-stone/
Ooh, lovely, bebs1, just looking at that photo of Avalanche Creek gave me chills, it looks awfully cold! 🙂
Great selections! I love stones. Here is mine: http://shareandconnect.wordpress.com/2013/10/27/travel-theme-stone/
Oh cool, I’ve heard about Enchanted Rock but never seen photos until now, good one, Amy!
Hi Ailsa! This is my entry: http://cosytravels.wordpress.com/2013/10/27/travel-theme-stone/
Hi Ingrid, this is a lovely shot, the light is so gentle and the stones are really beautiful. It feels very peaceful indeed. xxx Ailsa
Eternal Witness: http://projectmagellan.net/2013/10/27/eternal-witness/
Woah, this is a stunning shot, Miguel, the light is gorgeous, the mist is divine and I just love that cheeky angle, it really works so well with this photo. Love it!
Fabulous post, Sas, it’s hard to beat the majesty of Yosemite, isn’t it? 🙂
As I keep saying I must get to those Arches but in the mean time here’s some Californian rockage
Ooh, what rockage you found, Mrs C, that second shot’s a cracker. Oh, and yes, get thee to Arches soon, I guarantee you Utah will blow your mind, I have never seen anywhere quite like it. xxx Ailsa
well done Ailsa – love your stones and amazed at the level of response to this one!
I know, Tina, there have been an extraordinary number of stunning responses this week, how much fun! 🙂
Hi there! I really liked you pictres! Here’s my respond. http://travelicius.wordpress.com/2013/10/27/travel-theme-stone/
Oh P, I love both your photos, they are stunningly simple and beautiful. Those prayer stones are quite magical. xxx Ailsa