Travels with Michael – Page 2

30Aug

By Michael CoulombeNo Comments

Travels with Michael

Yacht in Los Angeles Harbor

During these unprecedented times, it is definitely hard to stay focused and sane. The weather is getting warmer - much warmer! - and it's hard to stay indoors. Our natural reaction then would be to flock to such places as the beach...or a park...or a pool...BUT then we risk of contracting the Corona virus OR run the risk of infecting others. Also, many folks, like myself, are not working that much and our stimulus has run out. So it is no wonder that folks are restless, scared, or just numb now to everything. I know that I am. Recently I have felt more isolated and alone. I do visit people but not as often as I used to - and definitely very socially distanced. I miss working, especially when my bills are due! And I miss traveling! Like...a lot! So when my friend texted me the ot...

13Jun

By Michael CoulombeNo Comments

Travels with Michael

Road Trip to Wisconsin

Day 1 - May 30, 2020 California We are on the tail end of a global pandemic, there are riots all over the United States because of the deaths of three unarmed black people in the last few weeks, and we are entering into hurricane season on the East Coast.....but my father, older nephew, and I are about to embark on a road trip for a week to visit my sister and my two younger nephews. Yes...it is a long drive for only a few days. But since my father and I had to cancel our trip to London last month and after being on quarantine for two months, we are eager to get out and do something! Today I drove to my parent's house in Riverside, California. Went and got the rental car and have been here with my family. It was nice to finally see my mother. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic [and ...

21May

By Michael CoulombeNo Comments

Travels with Michael

Los Angeles Arboretum

So as the shelter-at -home order in Los Angeles slowly begins to lift, there are still places that are still not open; and some places are open but at half capacity. We have been on lock down for approximately nine weeks. It has been a LONG two months. [Some states have only been on a lock down for a few weeks and I know a few states never went on lock down - which is crazy to me, to think about.] After May 15th (our initial reopen date here in LA) parks and beaches have reopened - again at half capacity. I have been keeping creatively busy here at home. I have been using writing as a way to stay sane.....BUT the weather is finally nice in Los Angeles, since we had so much rain and gloomy weather when the quarantine first started, and now Angelinos are starting to venture o...

10May

By Michael CoulombeNo Comments

Travels with Michael

Lighthouses of Los Angeles

Today I decided to escape quarantine and take a nice day trip to view a couple of the lighthouses we have here in the city of Los Angeles. I love light houses and I have been wanting to photograph one for a while now. So I was excited that there were two really close to one another. Sadly the first lighthouse - The Los Angeles Harbor Lighthouse was a bit too far from where I was at [since it sits at the end of a long jetty] and I do not have the right telephoto lens yet in which to photograph it. So I sat enjoying the beautiful waves crash against the rocks. It was nice to have time to self reflect. After the first lighthouse I took a drive around San Pedro - just turning down streets, seeing what I could find. It was so quiet. Since it is an industrial area, and it was ...

Bioluminescent waves of Southern California

8May

By Michael Coulombe1 Comment

Travels with Michael

Bioluminescent waves of Southern California

This isn't a post about traveling out of town. This is a post, however, about an awesome event that happens in Southern California when a bioluminescent algae. According to the CBS 2 website: The bioluminescence is known as “red tide,” or an algal bloom, which is a large concentration of microorganisms in the water. On sunny days, the water gives off a murky reddish hue, and at night, when the organisms are agitated by movements, they emit a neon blue glow. I went the first night with my friend Gary, who had went previously a few nights earlier. I tried to take photos [as I have been studying photography] but was unsuccessful. So I went the following night with my roommate Lachelle and just took time to stand there and enjoy the evening! It is definitely something...

29Apr

By Michael Coulombe1 Comment

Travels with Michael

Canceled trip to Europe

Today, April 29, 2020, my father and I would be flying back from our 15 day trip to Europe. We were going to celebrate his birthday [which is on April 20] but the trip was cancelled due to the travel restrictions because of Covid-19. We booked our tickets through Delta back in August of 2019. This was my father's first time traveling abroad and I was excited about to share this opportunity with him. Plus I was excited about seeing more of Europe - as I had only been to London, England and Gotland, Sweden. We were going to do a nice tour through about five countries, traveling via train and staying in Air BNB's. It was going to be a exciting trip. And imagine the amazing pictures I would have been able to take! But thankfully Delta allowed us to push our flights and we have ...

29Apr

By Michael Coulombe1 Comment

Travels with Michael

The California Poppies

We are in the middle of a global pandemic. The corona virus has crippled so many countries - and it is very terrifying. I live in California and we have been on a shelter-in-place order for about six weeks. [I feel, which is longer than the majority of the Unites States.] One of the bigger things to happen in April, or rather in Spring time, here in the high desert of Los Angeles, is the super bloom of the orange poppy, the flower of the state of California. I want to preface this by saying, any time I leave the house I wear a mask and I have sanitizing wipes, which I carry at all times. I also practice social distancing, because I truly believe it is very important and the best way in, which to help flatten the curve. With that said, we are all definitely goi...

29Apr

By Michael CoulombeNo Comments

Travels with Michael

Mazatlan, Mexico

So on my actual birthday I took a road trip to Solvang, California but the big birthday trip I took was with my roommate Todd - whose birthday is also in February - to Mazatlan, Mexico. So we traveled at the end of February as most of the area was booked for Carnival. The good thing was that it was fairly quiet and low key while we were there, so definitely a great time for a quiet birthday week. We stayed at the El Cid Moro resort, right on the Pacific Ocean. An all-inclusive resort. Talk about an amazing view! And watching the sunset our first night there was so unbelievable! Beginning our first night there, my friend Todd and I caught the dinner show they have and then made our way up to the bar for some karaoke. By the way, this became our nightly routine, and...

29Apr

By Michael Coulombe1 Comment

Travels with Michael

Solvang, California

So the first trip I took in 2020, was a road trip I took with my friend Jacob Michael for my birthday. [My birthday is February 18th] And we drove up ON the day of my actual birthday. I love celebrating my birthday in a new place every year. So if I am not on set on the day of my birthday - I like to travel! The city of Solvang, CA is about an hour and a half north of Los Angeles. Solvang is a little dutch city inland from Santa Barbara. There is also a nice mission there - Mission San Inez. The day we went the weather was BEAUTIFUL. Not too hot, not too cold. [Sometimes it rains on my birthday.] I was also not aware of how much wine tasting you can do in Solvang. So to know me, is to know that I LOVE wine tasting - and when I got there and realized there ...

28Apr

By Michael CoulombeNo Comments

Travels with Michael

As a filmmaker and photographer, I am fortunate enough to be able to travel for work. I do also travel a lot for personal reasons as well. I am obsessed with traveling and try to take as many as trips as possible. Not only do I love to travel abroad, but I do enjoy traveling throughout the United States as possible. This includes road trips as well. There is nothing quite like getting in your car and exploring new areas! Especially when I can bring my camera along! So, here is my travel blog TRAVELS WITH MICHAEL. Please comment and tell me your thoughts. And if you have ever visited the countries or areas I have been to, please share your stories and/or pictures as well. I also post on TripAdvisor. Social Media