One Night in Salzburg – Pretzels, Pod Beds, and a View from the Battlements

Salzburg castel

Every morning while I was in Vienna, I started my day the same way: at the same little bakery. I’d fumble my way through ordering in bad German, point a lot, smile awkwardly. And on my last morning, the owner smiled back and said, “You're getting better with your nicht gut German.” It was the nicest roast I’ve ever received. That morning I caught a train to Salzburg — or tried to, at least.

Train Troubles and a Missing GoPro

I forgot to book a seat, so I ended up sitting on the floor by the door, watching other passengers walk past my hiker-goblin corner. Thankfully, it was only a 90-minute ride, so it wasn’t terrible.

That’s when I noticed something: my GoPro was gone.

No idea exactly when it disappeared, but I’m guessing it got snagged at Vienna’s main station. Super annoying. That said, I’ve decided to treat it as an excuse to upgrade — the new DJI 360 cam drops July 31st, and I’m already planning to pick it up somewhere along the way.

Pod Hotel & a Cheddar Bacon Win

The best pretzel I have ever had

When I got to Salzburg, I checked into my hotel — not realizing it was a pod hotel. But honestly? It was perfect. Just a clean, quiet little space with a closing door and zero hostel chaos. After a week of packed bunks and shared bathrooms, it was exactly what I needed.

But before crashing, I had one thing I absolutely had to do: visit the Salzburg Fortress.

On the walk up, I grabbed another pretzel — this one stuffed with cheddar and bacon. Might’ve been a gas station special, but it was amazing. Austria’s pretzel game has not missed once.

Salzburg Fortress: City from the Sky

View from the Castle

The castle itself? Worth every uphill step.

I spent a few hours exploring the walls, towers, and museums, but my favorite part was standing on the battlements, looking out over the city. The rooftops, the churches, the winding streets below — and beyond it all, the hills.

Salzburg has that fairytale feel to it. Compact but grand. Clean and quiet, but full of subtle beauty. Even in just a few hours, it left an impression.

And I highly, highly recommend it.

Not only is it beautiful, but the city gives you a free public transit pass with your hotel stay — which is incredibly useful and makes everything feel more accessible. If the hotel prices weren’t so steep, I absolutely would’ve stayed another day.

One Quiet Night

That night, I took some final photos, found a quiet spot to sit for a while, and called it. My pod was waiting. So was an early for the train to Munich.

Vienna by Rail – A Window Seat, a Hidden Hostel, and the Best Church You’ve Never Heard Of

Vienna is a hard city to captue

Leaving Prague wasn’t easy, but the train ride to Vienna made for a solid transition. I had a window seat, the landscape was perfect, and I recorded a time-lapse of the entire four-hour ride that somehow managed to be more calming than a meditation app.
Train Time-Lapse: Prague to Vienna

It felt like a quiet moment between chapters — four hours of countryside, rooftops, and rivers, slipping by like a soft reset.

Arrival Confusion and a Hidden Hostel

The calm ended the second I arrived in Wien Hauptbahnhof.

The main station in Vienna is… a lot. I had no idea where I was or which exit to take, so I just hopped on a random bus to anywhere else to regroup. Eventually, I figured out how to reach my hostel, which was tucked away not far from the city center, right off a tram line — but so well hidden I walked past it twice.

The place? Stadtaffe Chic. Despite the name sounding like a Berlin DJ set, it was actually one of the best hostels I’ve stayed in — clean, social, and surprisingly quiet when it needed to be.

Belvedere Museum: A Bit Meh, but Napoleon Made Up for It

After settling in, I headed out to the Belvedere Museum, which is supposed to be one of Vienna’s top art spots. I’ll be honest — it didn’t really hit for me. The museum itself felt kind of sterile, with a lot of white walls and a vibe that made it hard to feel connected to what I was looking at.

But there was one exception that made the whole visit worth it: Napoleon on his horse. Seeing David’s painting in person — larger than life and full of power — was one of those “okay, this is cool” moments that no photo can replace.

Quick tip: they don’t let you carry backpacks inside, so I had to rent a locker before going in, which was a mild hassle but not a dealbreaker.

I didn’t linger too long inside, so I wandered out to the Belvedere grounds, which were way more my speed. The gardens are perfect, with long paths, fountains, and shady spots to just sit and take it all in. I grabbed a bench to relax for a bit — and, of course, that’s when a random rainstorm hit.

What cracked me up was how nobody freaked out. People just casually claimed benches, huddled under trees, or leaned against covered walls, treating it like an excuse to take a break. The storm only lasted about 20 minutes, but it felt like the whole garden had agreed: “Yeah, let’s sit down for a minute.”

Museums, Film Nights, and Accidental Friend Groups

Later that evening, I wandered into Vienna’s free open-air film festival happening outside the Rathaus (City Hall).

I thought I’d watch for an hour. I ended up staying the entire evening. It was the perfect summer vibe — movies under the stars, food stalls with everything from schnitzel to Thai noodles, and a live band warming up the crowd before the screenings. It felt like the city was just handing out good vibes for free.

By pure accident, I met a group of fellow travelers there — all solo like me — and by the end of the night, we were already making plans to meet up the next morning. Vienna had done the thing I love most about travel: casually throwing people into my orbit that I never would’ve met otherwise.

Flea Markets and the Worst Walking Tour (But Cool Roman Ruins)

The next morning, our newly formed group met up and hit one of Vienna’s big flea markets. It was a mix of absolute gems and chaotic junk. If I had more than one backpack, I would’ve bought something dumb and regrettably cool. The watch selection alone was insane — vintage, unique, and probably stolen. I didn’t buy anything, but I definitely stared too long.

From there, we went on a free walking tour, which… was rough. It felt more like a drawn-out commercial for local businesses than an actual tour of the city. Three hours long, three miles covered. But there were some cool bits — like how Vienna went through a phase of rejecting religious symbolism, so instead of saints and angels, many of the old buildings are decorated with Greek gods representing modern technology.

And we did get to see some ancient Roman ruins in the city center, which were legitimately awesome. So, not a total loss.

War, Books, and a Hidden Church Masterpiece

The following day, we regrouped again and hit the Museum of Military History — one of the most detailed and intense military museums I’ve ever been to. Massive rooms filled with centuries of armor, weapons, and real historical artifacts. If you’re into warfare history, this place is a must.

Next stop: Austrian National Library. This place deserves its own post. It’s a book-lover’s dream — marble floors, ceiling frescoes, spiral staircases, and rows of antique books stacked under golden light. I wanted to spend an entire day there, just getting lost in it. Unfortunately, we only had an hour.

Our final stop was a recommendation from someone in the group: Jesuit Church. They called it a “hidden gem” and they weren’t wrong. Tucked away between more famous landmarks, this church quietly flexes as one of the most breathtaking I’ve ever seen — and I check out pretty much every church I come across now.

The inside? Absolute masterpiece. Gilded columns, surreal symmetry, and painted ceilings that pull your eyes upward and don’t let go. It wasn’t in any guidebook I’d read, but it easily beat out the more famous cathedrals.

📸 Jesuit Church – proof that the best places don’t always make the front page.

Vienna’s Vibe: Polished, But It’ll Win You Over

Vienna had a different rhythm than Prague. Bigger, cleaner, a bit more polished. Less rough magic, more refined moments. But the city grew on me fast — through film festivals, back-alley churches, and random conversations at food stalls.

It’s the kind of place that feels buttoned-up at first, but if you stick around long enough, it starts loosening its tie and showing you its fun side.

Up next: Salzburg. One night only.

Prague – The Journey Starts with Cobblestones, Castles, and a Pretzel I'll Never Forget

Prague was supposed to be a three-day stop. It turned into six.

Over looking Charles Bridge and Prague Castle

It was my first time in the city — and honestly, the perfect place to start this trip. Between the medieval architecture, the walkable neighborhoods, and a surprisingly efficient public transit system, it was almost too easy to fall into a rhythm. I walked over 10 miles a day, ate like I had something to prove, and got more out of the week than I expected.

Day One: Jet Lag and Fried Chicken

After a chaotic travel day involving a delayed flight, a missed seat upgrade, and a mad dash through Amsterdam, I landed in Prague running on fumes. I didn’t do much — just wandered a bit, tried to stay awake, and found what appeared to be a bootleg Popeyes called Luisana Chicken.

No notes. It was incredible. Better than the real thing.

Day Two: Castles, Crossbows, and a Sausage That Tried to Kill Me

I kicked things off with a walking tour of Prague Castle through 100 Spires City Tours. After the tour, I stayed for hours to explore on my own.

The highlight? St. Vitus Cathedral. I stepped inside and just froze. The silence, the light, the raw stone — it took my breath away. I actually said “holy shit” out loud, and a few people turned around. No regrets.

St. Vitus Cathedral – nothing prepared me for this.

Later, I wandered down to Golden Lane, where I shot a crossbow at a paper knight target. Because apparently, that's something you can just do in Prague.

On the way back to the hostel, I grabbed a spicy cheese sausage from a street vendor. It looked innocent. It was not. Molten cheese, hidden heat — the kind of snack that burns your mouth, your soul, and still makes you go back for a second bite.

This sausage nearly ended me. I would absolutely eat it again.

Day Three: Heavy History, New Friends, and a Michelin Pretzel

After switching to a new hostel — The Checked Inn (less cozy, but way more social) — I connected with a few travelers who quickly became my Prague crew.

We joined another 100 Spires tour, this time focused on World War II and the fall of communism. It was sobering and intense, covering resistance movements, Nazi occupation, and life under Soviet rule. You don’t walk away from it unchanged.

After the tour, we stumbled into what we thought was a pub — and slowly realized we were in a Michelin-starred restaurant. Casual, cheap, completely unassuming. I ordered a pretzel, mostly out of curiosity, and it ended up being one of the best things I’ve ever eaten. Warm, golden, just the right amount of salt. A surprise hit.

Michelin-star pretzel. I wasn't emotionally prepared.

We spent the rest of the day wandering the city together, sharing stories and comparing notes from our different tours like a bunch of history-obsessed backpackers.

Into the Czech Countryside: A Game Becomes Real

With a few extra days to spare, I took a bus out into the countryside to visit real-world locations featured in Kingdom Come: Deliverance. Somewhere along the ride — watching thick forests roll by and seeing shrines along the roadside — it hit me: this landscape felt familiar. Not because I’d been here before, but because I’d explored a digital version of it. The game led me here, but the real thing hit harder.

Talmberk Castle (aka Talmburg) was little more than some forgotten ruins in someone’s backyard. Cool in theory, underwhelming in person. But still — standing there, it felt weirdly significant.

Then there was Sázava Monastery — or rather, Sasau. It was peaceful, beautiful, and felt like it had held onto time itself. Walking through its courtyards and quiet halls grounded me in a way I didn’t expect. The game recreated it well, but being there in person was something else entirely.

Sasau Monastery – the digital version didn't prepare me for the real thing.

Prague surprised me. I thought it would be a good starting point. It turned out to be something more — a city that gave me space to reset, explore, and reconnect with parts of myself I hadn’t seen in a while.

Next stop: Vienna.

More soon.

From Ashes to Airports – The Start of Something New

June was the worst month of my life.

It started with my camera gear getting stolen. Then my house burned down.

In a matter of hours, almost everything I owned was gone. My cameras. My books. My clothes. All the little pieces that made up daily life — turned to ash.

But even in the middle of all that loss, something incredible happened: people showed up.

Friends. Family. Strangers. They rallied around me, and they made sure that one thing I’d been holding onto — the solo Europe trip I’d been planning for months — could still happen.

On the morning I left, my old roommate Andrea texted to say she was stopping by. She showed up with a breakfast burrito from my favorite spot and the kind of emotional support you don’t forget.

Andrea sending me off

Then the travel chaos began. My flight was delayed. I got bumped from first class to economy. My seat wouldn’t recline. And I landed in Amsterdam with only 45 minutes to make a connection that should’ve had a two-hour cushion.

Flight path

Thankfully, customs was waiting for me. They literally pulled me out of the crowd and fast-tracked me so I could sprint to the gate. I was the last person to board the flight to Prague.

While racing through Amsterdam, I still managed to catch this perfect little airport detail:

The First thing i saw in Amsterdam and it made me smile

After landing in Prague, I had grand visions of exploring immediately — but jet lag had other plans. Day one was just me fighting to stay awake until 9 p.m. Still, I caught my first real glimpse of the city.

First look at the castle while taking the train to my hostel

This trip didn’t start the way I planned — but maybe that’s the point. I’m not carrying the life I had before; I’m building something new.

Thanks for following along. More to come.

Failing at Formula E: Capturing the Speed

As a photographer who thrives on the thrill of high-speed action, I've faced my fair share of challenges. Recently, I had the opportunity to shoot the Formula E race at Portland International Raceway, and let me tell you, it was a completely different beast compared to capturing planes. Here's a glimpse into my experience, complete with a few photos from the event.

The Challenge of Being Close to the Action

One major difference between shooting planes and Formula E cars is how close you get to the action. When you're photographing planes, there's usually a considerable distance between you and the aircraft, making it easier to track their movement. But with Formula E cars, you're right up close, and they're zipping past at insane speeds. This makes it way harder to get that perfect shot.

Here's a shot of a Formula E car crossing the finish line. To get this shot, I had to really nail the timing and focus, which was a lot tougher than I expected. I was just a few meters away from the car, and it felt like it was gone in a blink.

Where It All Started

I first tried shooting from a hole in the fence. It gave a cool, framed perspective but man, it was challenging. The cars were moving so fast, and the fence was a big obstacle. It took a lot of trial and error to get anything decent from that spot.

This image shows the small hole in the fence where I started. I thought it would be a neat angle, but it was really tough to get the timing right. I ended up with over 300 pictures of just empty track because I kept missing the cars!

The Finish Line Struggle

After a while, I moved to the finish line to try my luck there. It was definitely a better spot to catch the cars in full view as they zoomed by. But even then, it was a real challenge to get them in focus and in frame at the right moment.

Here's another shot from the finish line. Even here, it was still a struggle. The cars were so fast that I missed the shot more times than I care to admit. The noise of the crowd added to the intensity, making it even harder to concentrate. But when I finally got it right, it felt amazing.

Conclusion

Photographing Formula E cars was a whole new level of challenging. Being so close to the high-speed action, trying to capture the perfect moment, and dealing with the unique perspectives of the track made it an intense but rewarding experience. These images might look cool, but trust me, behind each one, there are probably hundreds of failed attempts. It just shows how fast and thrilling these races are, and how tough it can be to freeze that speed in a photo.

Whether it's planes slicing through the sky or electric cars zipping past on the track, the adrenaline rush of capturing high-speed action is unmatched. Both experiences have taught me valuable lessons in patience, timing, and the joy of nailing that perfect shot. Can't wait to see what new challenges and adventures come next!

Soaring High: My Adventure at the Hillsboro Air Show

Attending the Hillsboro Air Show was a wild ride, packed with unexpected mishaps, new friendships, and stunning photos. From forgetting my memory card to capturing the electrifying F-16 in action, here's how I turned a series of surprises into an unforgettable photography adventure. And here’s a tip: you don’t always need a ticket to get those perfect shots.

Day One: The Great Memory Card Fiasco

The first day kicked off with sky-high excitement as I prepped my camera bag and set off, eager to capture the spectacle. But as soon as I arrived and pulled out my camera, I realized with a jolt – no memory card. That’s right, I had a camera with no way to store photos. Rookie mistake!

Determined not to miss out completely, I embarked on a frantic quest for a memory card. I dashed to three different stores around town, each stop more desperate than the last. Finally, success! With a memory card in hand, I raced back to the show, hoping to salvage the day.

Despite the delay, I managed to capture a few shots before the event wrapped up. The overcast skies provided a dramatic backdrop for the aerobatic displays, and the day's hustle made those few photos feel like hard-won trophies. Just as the show was winding down, the skies opened up with a heavy rain, adding a dramatic flair to the end of my adventure.

Day Two: Meeting Dean and the F-16 Spectacle

Armed with extra memory cards, I returned on day two with clear skies and high hopes. While setting up my gear, I met Dean, a seasoned pro who generously shared his expertise on the best angles and moments to capture.

Thanks to Dean’s guidance, I felt like I had a co-pilot. The highlight of the day was photographing the F-16 Fighting Falcon. This sleek jet, with its roaring engine and incredible speed, was the star of the show. Capturing it in flight was exhilarating. The F-16 sliced through the sky with precision, leaving trails of white vapor against the gray clouds. The dramatic skies provided a perfect contrast to the powerful jet, making for some striking photos.

Dean's tips on positioning and timing paid off, resulting in some of the best shots I’ve ever taken. The F-16's dynamic maneuvers were breathtaking, and capturing its agility against the moody sky was a thrilling experience.

Outside the Box (or Airport): Getting Great Shots Without a Ticket

One of the best parts about my experience was realizing that you don't necessarily need to buy a ticket to see and photograph the air show. Many of my shots, including those of the magnificent F-16, were taken from outside the airport grounds. The planes often perform maneuvers that are visible from surrounding areas, giving you the opportunity to capture incredible images without even entering the venue. So, if you're on a budget or just looking for a different perspective, don't hesitate to set up outside the official boundaries.

Reflections and Takeaways

The Hillsboro Air Show turned out to be an unforgettable experience, filled with unexpected lessons and delightful surprises. Forgetting my memory card on the first day was a comedic misstep, but it made the successful shots of the second day all the more rewarding. Meeting Dean was a lucky break, and his mentorship was invaluable.

For anyone planning to photograph an air show, here are a few light-hearted tips from my adventure:

1. Double-Check Your Gear: Seriously, double-check. And then check again. Spare memory cards are your best friends.

2. Make Friends: Connect with fellow photographers. You never know when a Dean will come along with tips that change everything.

3. Weather the Weather: Be ready for rain or shine. Sometimes the most dramatic photos come from unexpected weather.

4. Know Your Subjects: A little knowledge about the planes can go a long way in anticipating great shots.

5. Enjoy the Ride: Embrace the mishaps and enjoy the experience. Every moment is part of the adventure.

6. Think Outside the Airport: Great shots can be taken from outside the official grounds. Look for vantage points around the perimeter for unique perspectives.

The Hillsboro Air Show was more than just an event; it was a journey of learning, laughing, and capturing the breathtaking beauty of aviation. From the F-16's thrilling maneuvers to the unexpected rain showers, every moment added to the story. I can't wait for next year’s show, ready for new challenges and new stories to tell through my lens.