The beginning of a new year fills me with a sense of boundless possibility; of places yet to be explored, people to encounter, experiences waiting to be uncovered. Here are a few photos that signal the promise of discovery or adventure.
A bend in the road, or in this case, a bend in the train tracks of the Empire Builder – and the thrill of discovering what’s hiding around the corner.
All the possibilities inherent in cracking open a book for the first time. Or catching a glimpse of a very old book at the Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library in New Haven, CT.
But perhaps predictably, my favourite way to open up a world of possibilities is with the help of a good map. As a child I spent hours pouring over a giant, well-worn hardback world atlas my mother owned. I can still see it now if I close my eyes; so big it was taller than I was for quite some time; its musty, faded blue cover promising adventure and every page filled with unfamiliar, exotic and evocative place names.
What sparks your sense of limitless possibility? If you would like to join in (everyone’s welcome!) here’s what to do:
- Create your own post and title it Travel theme: Possibility
- 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
Show me the possibilities!
xxx Ailsa
If I were to wish for anything, I should not wish for wealth and power, but for the passionate sense of the potential, for the eye which, ever young and ardent, sees the possible. Pleasure disappoints, possibility never. And what wine is so sparkling, what so fragrant, what so intoxicating, as possibility! – Soren Kierkegaard
I dwell in possibility. – Emily Dickinson
Where's my backpack? 
Wonderful post. Thanks for the possibilities.
You’re welcome, Ann. Hope 2014 is going well for you so far! 🙂
It is! Thanks for helping with that.
🙂
Beautiful shots Ailsa. And the kind of possibilities I would love to explore myself. How serendipitous that I posted about one exciting possibility just a few hours ago 🙂
http://theurgetowander.com/2014/01/03/dare-we-hope/
Serendipitous indeed. Here’s wishing all of us a year of hope, promise and change for the good. Happy New Year, Madhu.
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Great theme this week! http://travel-monkey.me/2014/01/03/ailsas-travel-theme-possibility/
What a great shot. Happy New Year to you. 🙂
And to you too, Ailsa! Love your weekly challenges.
Great post! Nice to see Sardinia on your map. 😉
Would you believe I have never been to Sardinia? I must remedy that soon! Happy New Year, Jennifer. xxx Ailsa
Yes, you must! 😉
Possibility to know better about the city I grew up http://www.someclingynote.net/2014/01/plaza-divisoria-escaped-part-1.html 🙂
Very cool, Shira. It’s funny, we quite often overlook our hometown as a place to explore. Thanks for bringing us on a tour around the Plaza Divisoria.
It’s my pleasure and more visit to come ^^
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Here in cold Austria, we always think of the possibility of somewhere warmer! http://annarashbrook.wordpress.com/2014/01/03/travel-themepossibility/
Wow, look at all that frost, that’s quite impressive, Anna. I can understand you dreaming of warmer places with all that cold, but gosh, your part of the world looks beautiful coated with all that sparkling frost. Happy New Year. xxx
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From Jamaica with love … http://mysardinianlife.com/2014/01/03/travel-theme-possibility/
Oh I love this photo, Jennifer, and the accompanying quotes are great… the enchanting possibilities of the future. xxx Ailsa
I have always enjoyed the spirit of adventure personified by Charles Kuralt, whose motto was “I see the road ahead is turning. I wonder what’s around the bend?” In fact, that is the tagline for my own blog.
I have always maintained that travel is the best education possible, better than 4 years at Harvard or Oxford!
I love your reference to maps. In the electronic age, we get route information but seldom the entire picture. Much is lost by not being able to spread out an old fashioned map and dream of where you next adventure will take you.
When my daughter was young, we spend an entire winter with a map of Nova Scotia and planned a camping trip for the coming summer, which turned out to be one of the best adventures we have ever shared. To this day, my daughter is an adventurer and I credit that trip with opening her eyes to the possibilities you mention.
What a wonderful way to spend a winter, Steve, and what a lovely memory of your daughter’s childhood. I wish her many happy adventures! 🙂
PS just saw your post, Steve, it’s gorgeous. That snowy scene is stunning! xxx Ailsa
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http://shyraven23.wordpress.com/2014/01/03/travel-theme-possibility/
A whole world of possibilities. Great post, Rosemarie, and Happy New Year to you! 🙂 Ailsa
Thank you, Ailsa. I envy your worldwide travels. Thanks for letting us all come along.
Love the book, Ailsa! And love the theme. Happy New Year to you and everyone here 🙂
Here’s my take on ‘possibility’: http://drieskewrites.wordpress.com/2014/01/03/travel-theme-possibility/
Squeak, I love your take on possibility, Marion, it’s fabulous! Happy New Year. 🙂
Hehehe, I’m so happy you like it 😀
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Great interpretations Ailsa. I’m going to have to think on this one…
The whole wide world of possibilities! My favourite is the first one but I love the book, too!
My entry this week: http://esengasvoice.wordpress.com/2014/01/03/travel-theme-possibility/
Gorgeous, Ese, and those guitar-playing penguins rock! 🙂
Your blogging is always inspirational Ailsa and such a joy to visit. I look forward to continuing to follow your journey in 2014 and, with years of photos in various boxes and files, plan to join you on your” Weekly Travels”. Wishing you a Happy New Year.
Hurray, Happy New Year to you too, Andrew. Looking forward to seeing your treasury of photos in the coming year. xxx Ailsa
Great theme this week – I’ll be back…Love the first one!
Inspiring theme, Ailsa! Great train track shot!
Great theme Ailsa, and love your images. Now I need to think about where this will take me… Back soon (ish!)
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Happy New Year, Ailsa. What better way to start the year…thanks!
http://angelinem.wordpress.com/2014/01/03/travel-theme-possibility/
What a great signpost. Now, which way to go? 😉
Such decisions sometimes 🙂
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The road to Hana is full of possibility- going over the edge, getting crashed into…. but, really, it is a road that leads to beauty in many forms.
http://sherresartzone.com/2014/01/03/a-road-of-possibilities/
What a wonderful photo your daughter took, tell her I say hello! Happy New Year to you. xxx Ailsa
Oh and going over the edge or getting crashed into – not the possibilities I would look forward to! Gulp. 🙂
I love maps!! I can also stare at them… use them effectively to get from place to place or just dream about where one leads… endless!!
One of my first possibilities for this year is a meeting with the creator of this blog… 😉 I really look forward to that!! 😛
Hurrah, I look forward to that too! 🙂
Pheeew… I’ve eventually got the post done. Our I-net is messing around but I think you’ll like what you see… 😉
Here’s to the possibilities!
http://brokenlightcollective.wordpress.com/2014/01/03/genesis/
Beautiful! Wish Jeanette the best of luck with her Wisconsin exhibit! Happy New Year to you all. xxx Ailsa
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The possibilities after a roadkill: http://beautyalongtheroad.wordpress.com/2014/01/03/death-as-a-new-beginning-the-art-of-possibility/
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The most dreamed of possibility in Sweden right now…
http://lagottocattleya.wordpress.com/2014/01/04/travel-theme-possibility/
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Beginning full of possibilities: http://windagainstcurrent.com/2014/01/03/weekly-photo-challenge-travel-theme-beginning-full-of-possibilities/
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Ah, the endless possibilities that reside between the covers of an Atlas …. 🙂 Happy New Year Ailsa – may it be a year of enticing possibilities for you my dear. 🙂
I also dwell in possibility. Nice theme. I will play : )
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Happy New Year and a wonderful year of travel possibilities! 🙂
Great possibilities Ailsa and stunning shots! 😀
Wishing you a blessed and wonderful 2014 filled with lots of beautiful possibilities. 🙂
Another great idea Ailsa 😉
An thank you for the header ! I can almost see my house between Turin and Milan 😀
Ciao ciao
Max
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Lovely theme for the New Year Ailsa ! Wishing you plenty of travels in 2014 .
You are so right about maps .. we have boxes of them ! We have a specialist map shop near to us which has a set old plan drawers and large table for pouring over potential purchases . Wonderful 🙂
My possibility is here http://poppytump.wordpress.com/2014/01/04/travel-theme-possibility/
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