Christopher Ludgate

Soft Travelling at Beachfront balcony view at UNICO 2087 at Riviera Maya, MX. C. Ludgate

Shhh, I’m Travelling

It was six in the morning when there was a quiet knock on the door. The blackout curtains were drawn and the clock was still turned down on the bed table. The night prior, I hung a menu from my doorknob requesting that tea and scones with fresh-cut fruit be delivered at this hour. But I was not intending to actually wake up. Not fully anyway. I toddled to the door and invited my server in with a gentle motion and smile, allowing the muted hallway light to illuminate his path to and fro the bench bes

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Farm Sanctuary in Watkins Glen, NY is a beautiful haven for countless factory farming rescues. C. Ludgate

Sanctuary in the Finger Lakes

Waking up in the peaceful, sunlit atmosphere of Lake Seneca among a host of manicured rows boasting lush vines, I felt compelled to let the stillness be for a while. The deep blue lake beyond my private balcony at the Inn at Glenora mirrored the crystal clear sky. The air wasn’t quite crisp yet, but signs of autumn were in the midst and the Finger Lakes region of western New York wore it seamlessly well.

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Normandy's Chateau Dieppe on the English Channel. C. Ludgate

In the Footsteps of the Impressionists

As the boat approached the shores of Normandy, toward the French port of Dieppe, I felt awash in the light and atmosphere of the harbor.  The saturation of the setting sun lit my way upon the trail of great masters of Impressionism like Monet and Pissarro. I began the journey in London days before, exploring the art movement’s beloved works and some of the subjects that inspired them.

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View of Lake Villarrica at Hotel Antumalal in Pucon, Chile. C. Ludgate

Chilean Dreamscapes

Drenched in late-day sunlight, in a valley between the Andean peaks of Chile’s Araucanía
region, the shimmering waters of a glacial lake stretched before me. I gazed out from the shaded
tea room overlook, nestled in the sprawling natural terrain of Lake Villarrica at Hotel Antumalal
in remote Pucón.

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Cliffs of Moher, Ireland, Wild Atlantic Way C. Ludgate

Untamed in the Wild Atlantic Way

Gliding up to the peak of Sky Road along its rolling hills, coastal overlook nooks, and grazing herds was a revelation in itself. The dramatic vastness of the ocean opened up before me and I barely came to a full stop before hopping off my bike to get to the edge. I was completely enthralled. Imagine living in one of those houses along the inlet down there, I thought. The peace and quiet, the commanding beauty. My God, it was stunning.

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Milwaukee Art Museum is an interactive architectural marvel that houses a diverse collection of world-renowned artwork. Copyright Christopher Ludgate

Milwaukee: Beyond the Brats and Brews

There is no denying that the brats & brews of Milwaukee, Wisconsin are pillars of local comfort culture. For generations, these have been lifeblood. Let there be no doubt that the gooey cheese curds, those lively old pubs, and whisky drive-thrus ooze with revered Midwest Americana flavor. We have industrious German, Polish, and Irish descendants – and a boisterous college crowd – to thank for it. But things also evolve.

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‘The Otherness of South Wales’ is featured in Wander Magazine’s Hidden Gems issue. The story and photos tell my stories of my journey exploring beautiful and very remote South Wales. Click the photo above or this link to open the magazine and turn to page 120. Enjoy!

The Otherness of South Wales

Everywhere the eye could see was a photo, a picture worthy of its inspiring awe, and still it felt impossible to ever capture it. In the peripherals, on those compact roads beneath arched boughs, I could sense the coast with its enchanting landscapes, atmospheric and remote. Indeed, it’s the makings of fairy tales. High and low beyond, moors and mountains of cascading patchwork plains…

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Adventure on the red dirt roads in the rural mountains on Morocco. C Ludgate copyright

Morocco Botanica

“I woke along the fields outside of Casablanca with its grazing herds and silvery olive trees. The rising sun lit the swooping valleys and carved crops in shades of nude and burnt tangerine as I made my way south. From this long stretch of highway, farmers and shepherds shielded by their brimmed palm leaf hats were visible, immersed in this agriculturally rich, but barely industrialized Northern African region.

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