atlasobscura:

Scotland’s Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum is free to enter, and has 22 themed galleries holding more than 8,000 exhibits. 📸: Photo regrammed from intrepid explorer and photographer @kirstenalana.

when you find out @atlasobscura knows about your work and your day is made

Inis Mór (Inishmore) is the largest of the Aran Islands, off the West coast of the Republic of Ireland not too far from Galway. Early on in my recent hosted visit, I found myself at this building and one just like it next door (that was painted in shades of Grecian blue and more bright white) at the start of a walk to a prehistoric fort perched 100 meters over waves shooting so high up the cliffs they looked like the arms of giants coming to grab unsuspecting tourists. Before and after that, I saw much of the island from the window of a van on an organized tour and while I would choose to go by foot or bicycle if I ever returned, I still truly enjoyed every minute of being on Inis Mór. I knew Aran mostly as home of the Aran Sweater which I’ve seen people wearing all my life. And I think that’s incredible given that before the 1970s you had to get to and from the island in essentially a row boat. That’s when electricity, pipes for water, tourism and ferries finally did come to Inis Mór. Before that, locals once dragged seaweed from the ocean to combine with sand hoping to eventually create soil fit for farming. And they created mini copies of most houses on the island that our guide told us are for the leprechauns; a story that could be completely true or made up just for Americans. I don’t know but I do know I loved my first visit to Aran and one day is love to return to see more of the Islands. More photos in my @stellerstories. 🙏🏼💚 #loveireland #wildatlanticway #bestofireland #inismor #inishmore #aranislands #emeraldisle #discoverireland #instaireland #irelande http://bit.ly/30Tjawb

What did you think of #thefinalepisode of #gameofthrones? 🐺🐉 After my time in Ireland these last few weeks, I felt more invested than ever going into last night. And so grateful for all the experiences I had visiting locations where the show was filmed. From meeting extras and crew from the show to seeing the props and costumes at the official Exhibition in Belfast next to the Studios and the backlot, standing in the exact spot Bran did in the very first episode when he was learning to shoot a bow and arrow at Winterfell aka Castle Ward and perhaps most special to me because I loved huskies before the show brought so much attention to wolf dogs… meeting Will and his @got_direwolves that played Summer and Grey Wind in the first season. Since they were trained by the show’s trainer, they’re more comfortable and friendly with people than any other dogs I’ve ever met.
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So while other countries such as Spain and Croatia also have connections to the show, I don’t think you can beat the experience of visiting Ireland if you love @gameofthrones as much as I did because it’s so much a part of Ireland and Northern Ireland on so many levels from where it’s filmed to who was in front of the camera and more. There’s even an official app to ensure you don’t miss anything when you visit!
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I’ll tag every applicable account in this photo so you know where to go if you want to have the same experiences I did. I want to thank @stellerstories @discoverni & @tourismireland for hosting me for one of the most memorable experiences of my life during the Final Season. It’s not lost on me how much I have to be grateful for. I am very grateful.
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#stellerxtourismireland #stellerstories #bestofireland #wheregotstarted #gotdirewolves #gotfans #gameofthronesireland #gotterritory #loveireland #discoverni #northernireland http://bit.ly/2El7aKn

Last year @icarryyourhrt & I drove cross country to move to California. We had bought a National Parks Pass and intended to visit Bryce Canyon but a storm came out of nowhere and visibility was reduced to such a dangerous level, it wasn’t really even safe to drive. Not knowing the area well, and with no cell signal, we simply turned around and headed back the way we came, driving slowly and obeying all the safety precautions we could. Then, like we’d driven through a massive doorway or past an invisible wall - the storm disappeared. In its place was a fog that made the burnt orange earth of Utah glow and seem almost alien. So we stopped to appreciate it and found ourselves climbing higher and higher driven by curiosity and wonder. Utah will do that to you. I’ve been to all 50 states and there’s truly something about nature in the state that’s different. It’s not actually unique. It’s just incredibly unusual. During the climb, I reached a point where I didn’t feel safe continuing. But like a mountain goat, with no fear, Danté kept exploring and I saw a picture perfect moment as he traversed the path you see in this photo. So I took this, and then I sat, for a moment - to take it all in. I love big cities for their energy and the way they’re a museum for the artistic and technological endeavors of mankind. But it’s nature that never fails to stop me in my tracks and leave me speechless just like this scene did in Utah. I need both to survive but I’ve never been more scared in my life than I am on this #EarthDay. I believe we’ve come to value the creature comforts of our cities over the serenity of our natural world. We’ve sacrificed the health of our planet for the sake of what we believe are our needs. But if we kill the planet, we kill ourselves too. And while I’m far from perfect, I’ve started to try to think every day, “How can I be a better steward of the natural world?” I’m changing whatever I can in answer. Because I don’t want this and other times in the past to be the last times I’m left speechless by nature. It’s never too late to make a change for the 🌎🌍🌏 http://bit.ly/2GzppwT

Who else woke up extra excited because today is GAME OF THRONES DAY??!!!! 🐉🔥🐺❄️
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This was shot in Wales a few years ago during a press trip where the part of Khaleesi was played by @lesleyannemurphy. Thanks Les! ♥️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 #forthethrone #gameofthrones #visitwales #got #gotfans #findyourepic #gwladgwlad http://bit.ly/2IvNkPf