Travel theme: Possibility

Posted on January 3, 2014 by ailsapm

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.

empire builder, eastern washington, train tracks, amtrak, travel, travelogue, ailsa prideaux-mooney

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.

audubon, beinecke, rare manuscript, yale, travel, travelogue, ailsa prideaux-mooney

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.

map of europe, european map, map, europe, ailsa prideaux-mooney, travel, travelogue

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

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About ailsapm

Hi there! I’m Ailsa Prideaux-Mooney. I’ve lived in many places, and travelled to many more. I had a lot of fun getting there and being there, wherever there happened to be at the time. I climbed a castle wall in Czesky Krumlov, abseiled down cliffs to go caving in the west of Ireland, slept on the beach in Paros, got chased by a swarm of bees in Vourvourou (ok that wasn’t fun, but it was exciting), learned flower arranging in Tokyo, found myself in the middle of a riot in Seoul, learned to snowboard in Salzburg, got lost in a labyrinth in Budapest and had my ice cream stolen by a gull in Cornwall. And I’m just getting started. If you’ve enjoyed what you’ve read so far, I’d love you to follow my travelogue - wheresmybackpack.com - and remember, anyone who tries to tell you it’s a small world hasn’t tried to see it all.
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154 Responses to Travel theme: Possibility

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  1. kirkistan's avatar kirkistan says:
    January 4, 2014 at 10:11 am

    28 years ago today life was full of possibility. It still is: http://wp.me/qJ7j

  2. Pingback: Travel Theme: Possibility | Tim Wolverson - Photo Blog

  3. Debbie Smyth's avatar Debbie says:
    January 4, 2014 at 10:19 am

    I’m a map fiend too! For the challenge, though, I have the possibilities of stepping through an open door: http://travelwithintent.com/2014/01/04/an-open-door/

  4. Pingback: Positivity, make opportunities | Le Drake Noir

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  6. Pingback: Ailsa’s Travel Theme: Possibility | anotherdayinparadise

  7. anotherday2paradise's avatar anotherday2paradise says:
    January 4, 2014 at 12:25 pm

    I love the way you’ve illustrated your possibilities, Ailsa. Her’s mine:

    Ailsa’s Travel Theme: Possibility

  8. Pingback: Hot Helicopters Over Hawai’i | Jaspa's Journal

  9. Jaspa's avatar Jaspa says:
    January 4, 2014 at 1:24 pm

    Hi Ailsa,

    I just followed the link to your Empire Builder blogs (I’ll save tales of the very cute Sprocket for another day) and, as usual, have something else to add to my ever-growing bucket list. Coincidentally, my contribution this week is about a bucket list item I recently crossed off my list… although only in pencil, as you will see:

    Hot Helicopters Over Hawai’i

  10. Pingback: Weekly Travel Theme: Possibility | Northwest Frame of Mind

  11. Lisa's avatar NW Frame of Mind says:
    January 4, 2014 at 6:53 pm

    I love old maps, great choices today Alisa! My post about vanishing elephants is here: http://nwframeofmind.com/2014/01/04/weekly-travel-theme-possibility/

  12. Pingback: Travel Theme: Possibility | Taking a Deep Breath

  14. Pingback: Travel theme: Possibility | K2inCanada's Blog

  15. K2 in Canada's avatar K2 in Canada says:
    January 4, 2014 at 10:49 pm

    Happy New Year! The train tracks are for sure my favourite. Here is my contribution. http://k2incanada.wordpress.com/2014/01/04/travel-theme-possibility/

  16. Pingback: Travel theme: Possibility « Sasieology

  18. Pingback: A small metal wheel | Have you ever…

  19. Madoqua's avatar Madoqua says:
    January 5, 2014 at 2:29 am

    Consider a simple wheel above a well. What possibilities emerge when people have water to survive and thrive in a citadel over 2500 years old!
    http://madoqua.wordpress.com/2014/01/05/a-small-metal-wheel/

  20. Pingback: Travel Theme: Possibility | cocoaupnorth

  21. cocoaupnorth's avatar cocoaupnorth says:
    January 5, 2014 at 3:40 am

    Thank you Ailsa, for the great theme. All the best for the New Year.
    http://cocoaupnorth.wordpress.com/2014/01/05/travel-theme-possibility/

  22. Pingback: What are the possibilities? | Beyond the Brush

  23. Pingback: Beginnings and Possibilities… | wordsvisual

  24. Sue's avatar suej says:
    January 5, 2014 at 7:14 am

    Here’s mine, Ailsa… Possibilities linked with Beginnings : http://suejudd.com/2014/01/05/beginnings-and-possibilities/

  25. Pingback: Travel Theme-Possibility | WoollyMuses

  26. Pingback: Travel theme: Possibility & Poll | northumbrian : light

  27. djdfr's avatar djdfr says:
    January 5, 2014 at 8:54 am

    I can spend hours studying maps. 🙂

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  36. Jane's avatar Jane says:
    January 6, 2014 at 5:30 am

    Brilliant theme for the New Year :). Love the map :). Wishing you a 2014 filled with many possibilities :). Here’s my take:
    http://jkatwilson.wordpress.com/2014/01/06/travel-theme-possibility/

  37. Pingback: Travel Theme: Possibility | I did it ... for Johnny

  39. Pingback: On the beginning of a new phase and the possibilities it brings | Zimmerbitch: age is just a (biggish) number

  41. Pingback: Another great Ailsa Theme : Possibility | V A S T L Y C U R I O U S

  42. Pingback: Possibilities and New Beginnings | The Retiring Sort

  44. Pingback: Travel theme: POSSIBILITY | Patricia Sands' Blog

  45. Elaine - I used to be indecisive's avatar Elaine - I used to be indecisive says:
    January 7, 2014 at 2:26 pm

    Oh, the possibilities of maps! I, too, spent many a happy hour as a child with an atlas open on the table in front of me. I still enjoy poring over an atlas now. 🙂

  46. Pingback: Best Blog Posts of the Week: Thinking, Dreaming & Doing - Notes of Nomads

  47. The Retiring Sort's avatar The Retiring Sort says:
    January 7, 2014 at 4:26 pm

    Great selections, Ailsa! I’m a little late to the party, but here’s mine… http://theretiringsort.com/2014/01/07/possibilities-and-new-beginnings/

  48. Pingback: Travel Theme: Possibility | Travel Tales of Life

  49. Sue Slaght's avatar sueslaght says:
    January 7, 2014 at 5:11 pm

    Thank you Ailsa. My interpretation is the possibility of a drop off a cliff in Spain! http://traveltalesoflife.com/2014/01/07/travel-theme-possibility/

  50. Pingback: Travel theme: Possibility | thechangingpalette

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