Atlantis Review

So last month when Pacen and I went to The Bahamas we stayed at the Atlantis Resort.  It is a gorgeous resort and it is HUGE!  It boasts a water park, casino, numerous restaurants, a very large aquarium, many pools, a couple beaches, a theater, lots of shopping, and numerous other things.  The view from our room was amazing!  We were suppose to be staying in The Beach Tower and ended up in Coral Tower.  We could see almost everything!  The ocean and most of the resort!

Here is a link to the resort map just to show you how huge it is: http://www.atlantis.com/content/pdf/ALLPROPERTYMAPFINAL.pdf

The first day we were there we carried a map with us and I was sure we would have to use it the rest of the week.  We kept getting lost and frustrated.  By the second full day at the resort (The second day of vacation we went on a powerboat adventure. More on that later.) we had it pretty much figured out. 

We spent most of our time at the water park (Aqua Adventure) and on The Current (a lazy river full of rapids and other surprises).   Another of our favorite places was The Dig, which is a huge Aquarium!  There are so many awesome animals in it, including a massive Manta Ray, sharks, hundreds of different kinds of fish, and stingrays.  We also enjoyed a glass tunnel that weaves through the bottom of one of the shark pools near our hotel (Coral Tower).  There was a huge Saw Fish that liked to swim over the top of the tunnel, which gave us a great view of him.  During the evenings we like to wander over to The Harbor and look at all the huge yachts and check out the shops. 

Part of the view from our room

 We only spent part of one day at Atlantis Beach, and it happened to be our last full day there.  The beach was nice and the water was crystal clear.  Pacen thoroughly enjoyed snorkeling around and finding crabs and seashells.  My only complaint about the beach is the fact that the swimming area was rather small and there were way too many locals hounding the tourists about jet ski rides, para-sailing, etc.  It seemed like every 5 minutes someone would ask you if you wanted to purchase a jet ski ride or go out on a para-sail.  It got old in a hurry.  I just wanted to lay back and relax, but it was hard to do. 

Another part of our view!

 My biggest complaint about Atlantis is the dining.  Holy EXPENSIVE!!!  I didn't purchase a meal plan because I thought that Pacen and I would go over the bridge into Nassau and eat a few nights.  We didn't cross the bridge once!  "The best laid plans of mice and men..."  Atlantis sells a few different meal plans and one I looked at was $95.00 per day per adult.  Kids 11 and under eat free.  Well, I got to doing the math.  I think we actually saved by not buying a meal plan.  For breakfast we would normally eat leftovers from the night before.  Lunch was usually a sandwich or Conch Fritters and drinks (at the Pisces restaurant by the beach - cheap and good), which typically ran between $20.00 and $30.00.  Dinner was normally at some restaurant and ran between $40.00 and $60.00.  So I'm going to guesstimate that we spent less than the $570.00 the meal plan would've cost me.  Plus, Pacen doesn't eat like a child...he eats like a grown man so the kid meals would not have filled his belly.  I would imagine that a larger family would save money by purchasing a meal plan, but I think we did right by not purchasing one.  We also didn't have to buy lunch the day of the power boat adventure as it was included in the price of the excursion. 

So my rating for Atlantis would have to be 3 stars out of 5.  It was a beautiful resort with many things to keep us entertained, but it was just too expensive.  Meals were outrageous and I feel that more things could be inclusive with the price of the rooms.  A 1-liter bottle of water in the room cost $5.95 for crying out loud!  The last day there we found 1-liter bottles of water for sale at The Bahamas Logo store near the Harbor for $2.00!!  Dang it!  If you ever decide to go to The Bahamas I would suggest the following:

A.) Stay at the Sandals resort between the Airport and downtown Nassau, which is an all inclusive resort (I believe) and get a day pass to Atlantis so you can check out the resort and enjoy the water park.

B.) Find some resort or something in The Exumas (chain of islands south of Nassau) and enjoy the Caribbean for what it is...crystal clear waters, laid back island life, and relaxation!  My last trip to The Bahamas is what I'm talking about. 

 "Vacation: a period of travel and relaxation when you take twice the clothes and half the money you need." ~ Author Unknown

We're Back!!

Well, Pacen and I are back from our vacation to paradise! I hate coming home from vacation, especially when I have to leave the crystal clear waters and sunshine of The Bahamas! It was a fabulous trip though, and I will be updating you on our adventure when I get time. Hopefully it will be sooner rather than later! I'll give you a few quick highlights: nice tan, great adventure on the 8th, awesome water park fun, dolphins, and I was asked seven different times if Pacen was my little brother (they were shocked that I'm his mom)! :)

Well, I suppose I better get back to work. I so wish I was sitting here...

Atlantis Beach

enjoying one of these...

Mmmmmm, delicious!  (Phone pic...bad quality)

 and some of these...

Conch Fritters!

"Paradise is exactly like where you are right now... only much, much better." ~ Laurie Anderson

Layover Shmayover

So, Pacen and I are in Charlotte, NC on a 12-hour layover on the way to Paradise! This is the first time I have ever had a layover longer than 4 hours and I am not liking it. We didn't land in Charlotte until 9:11 pm. We were gonna crash in the airport but we had to get our baggage 'cause they don't keep it with the airline on over-night layovers. Boo!!! So, we got our baggage and called a hotel. They were suppose to have a free shuttle from the airport, but there was no driver tonight so we had to pay $16 for a very short cab ride. Luckily the hotel knocked $10 off our room price. We were both starving so we crossed the street to The Cracker Barrel only to be turned away as it was already 10:00. That led us to the gas station next door where we grabbed some very greasy fried chicken and potato wedges. I am going to look so sexy in my bikini this week. HA! Now we are in our room, full of grease, and trying to stay cool. I just want to be in The Bahamas already! So does Pacen! At least I know 24-hours from now we will be in our hotel room at Atlantis...on the terrace...staring at the ocean...an possibly enjoying a cold Kalik (me only)! Guess I'll hit the hay.

On another bright note, Pacen is a pretty good traveler. He squirmed a little on the flight, but we played card games and that seemed to keep him entertained. He even had me ask the lady in our row to play with us. She happily played and I think she was tickled that we asked her to play. When we got in the taxi, Pacen looked at me and said, "Mom! This is my first taxi ride!" A couple minutes later he whispered in my ear, "Mom. When we get to the hotel will you tell me how to say the cab driver's name?" Well, I had NO idea how to pronounce it. Haha! Okay, now we're gonna hit the hay!

"There are only two emotions in a plane: boredom and terror." ~Orson Welles

Paradise in T-minus 3 days!

Hello all in blog land! I have been working my ass off this past week! The sun finally decided to make an appearance, allowing me to actually work some more on my two outdoor projects. I've gotten quite a bit done and I'm super excited about it. I'm even more excited that I've done it all on my own! I love the feeling of independence. :)

On another note, Pacen and I are leaving for The Bahamas in 3 days!!! I am super super super excited! As you may know, I went to The Bahamas exactly two years ago and I fell in love! No, not with a man. I fell in love with the Caribbean!  It is amazing!  The turquoise waters, the smell of the sea breeze, the beautiful world beneath the surface of the ocean, the laid back atmosphere, etc.  I absolutely can not wait to breathe the air into my lungs, to feel the sand in my toes, and to run into the beautiful warm water.  Most of all I can't wait to see the look on Pacen's face!

This will be his first trip out of the U.S. and his second trip to see the ocean.  He went with his Dad and step-family to California a few years back and I was really bummed that I missed his first ocean experience, but this will be better. This ocean is so unlike the Pacific.  Yes, I've seen the Pacific (on my Self-Discovery Trip last year) so I am allowed to make the comment that they are very different.  Granted, the Pacific was a raging, angry mess when I was there, but still.  Okay, so anyway, I am so ready to share my love of the Caribbean with the one person who matters most to me.  I hope he falls in love with it just as I did. 

We will be staying at Atlantis.  I actually let Pacen choose our vacation destination and after a bunch of mind-changing he finally settled on Atlantis.  His first choice was Arizona.  Why?  He wanted to chase lizards.  His second choice was Florida.  Why?  Partly because we have family there and partly because there are also lizards.  Finally he chose Atlantis cause he saw a commercial.  What?  Not because of lizards?!  Wow!  I do have a surprise up my sleeve though.  When I was there two years ago we stopped on Allen's Cay, which happens to be home to hundreds, if not thousands, of wild Iguana.  Well, when I booked the trip there were many extra options and a speed boat ride out to Allen's Cay for a day was one.  I booked it!  It was expensive, but I think it will be well worth it! 

A fellow from my last Bahamian vacation. 

 I am planning on taking my laptop since we have an over-night layover in Charlotte and I need something to keep Pacen occupied, so IF I have time I will update you on all our Bahamian adventures!  I have a feeling we'll be so busy with the water park, aquarium, down town Nassau, and various other excursions that I may not have time, but one never knows.  :)

"A travel adventure has no substitute. It is the ultimate experience, your one big opportunity for flair." ~ Rosalind Massow

Long Time Coming

Well, it's about time I post some (and by some I mean A LOT) of pictures from my Self Discovery Trip. Here are some (A LOT) of my favorites...

Day 1: Battle of Little Big Horn & National Cemetery

Day 2: Coeur d'Alene Lake, Idaho

Day 2: International Rose Test Gardens - Portland, OR

Day 2: Japanese Gardens - Portland, OR

Day 3: Portland and Wedding

Day 4: Mount St. Helens & Washington State Capitol

Day 4: Seattle (Pike Place Market & Waterfront)

Day 5: Around Seattle! (I LOVE Seattle!)

Day 5: Seattle Waterfront, Space Needle, and Views

Pike Place Fish & the famous "Low Flying Fish"

Day 6: Oregon Coast - Astoria and along Highway 1o1

Day 6: Oregon Coast -Highway 101, Cape Meares Lighthouse, Devil's Punchbowl, & Devil's Churn

Cold and miserable day, but that won't keep me from enjoying the Ocean!

Day 7: Heceta Head Lighthouse!!!!

Day 7: University of Oregon and on into Idaho.

Creepy!!! :)

Day 8: Back in Beautiful Wyoming!!

"Never put off until tomorrow what you can do the day after tomorrow." ~Mark Twain

Self-Discovery Trip: Day 8

I left Boise pretty early in the morning on the eighth and final day of my adventure. I drove on the Interstate to Idaho Falls, which is clear across the state from Boise, and then cut across the mountains to Jackson Hole, Wyoming. I've been to Jackson once before, but I was very young so I stopped to take picture of the famous antler arches. There were already a lot of tourists in town so I didn't stick around very long. I headed North out of Jackson to and drove through the Teton National Forest to Dubois. It is a very pretty drive and the mountains are breath-taking! There were many signs warning drivers of Elk, Moose, and Buffalo on the road. I was very excited cause I've never seen a Moose in the wild before. Well, as my luck would have it, I didn't see any wildlife until I was almost to Dubois. I got to see an Elk. Woo dipity do. I've seen numerous Elk in my time so that wasn't anything too special to me. I did stop to take a picture. Of course. :)

From Dubois I drove to Riverton and then over to Casper. Another very boring stretch of highway. It was my first time through Riverton though and I must say I was actually impressed. Riverton is much bigger than I'd always imagined it to be and much cleaner.

I made it to Casper, which is only 1 1/2 hours from home. Whew!!! I filled up with gas and started on the last leg of my journey. When I was about 20 minutes from home I spotted a Deer with her baby. I love Fawns and their cute little spots! Of course I pulled over and took pictures. :)

I got home around 7:45, unpacked, took a shower, talked to a friend of mine, and then "hit the hay". I was exhausted and pretty happy to be home. I looked at the GPS system and it said I had driven about 3,500 miles on my adventure! WOW! That is a lot of driving!

"Once you have traveled, the voyage never ends, but is played out over and over again in the quiestest chambers. The mind can never break off from the journey." ~ Pat Conroy

"No one realizes how beautiful it is to travel until he comes home and rests his head on his old, familiar pillow." ~ Lin Yutang

Self-Discovery Trip: Day 7

I woke up on day seven to more rain. Imagine that. (Sense the sarcasm?) To accompany the rain on this day, though, were gale force winds. If I hadn't known any better I would've thought a hurricane was blowing into the West Coast. There was no way I was going to miss seeing my favorite lighthouse though, so I drove back out to Heceta Head. Like I mentioned before, the hike to the lighthouse was a 1/2 mile, which doesn't sound bad at all until you factor in the sideways rain and gale force winds! As I stepped onto the cliff that is home to Heceta Head Lighthouse my beloved umbrella blew inside out and the wind tried to rip it out of my hands. I closed it before it could be lost to the sea and went on about my mission to photograph my favorite lighthouse, which is really hard to do when it's almost impossible to keep the lens clear of water. On a normal sunny day I would've spent quite a bit of time taking pictures of Heceta Head, but I think I ended up only staying 10 minutes. It was too miserable up there and by the time I got back to my car my coat and pants were completely soaked.

I decided to stop at the Sea Lion Caves about a mile South of Heceta Head. It is the largest sea cave in North America and is home to many sea lions. They are very entertaining creatures even though they pretty much just lay there. Every so often one will swim in and try numerous times to jump onto a rock so he/she can be lazy.

After leaving the caves I drove back to Florence and then headed East towards Eugene. Eugene is home to the University of Oregon. One of my dad's heroes is a track legend at UO and is the reason Eugene is called "Track Town USA". Steve Prefontaine. Before I left on my trip my parents and I were talking about Oregon and dad mentioned that before his time is up he would love to run on the same track that Steve ran on. Well, due to that remark I made it a point to stop at OU. I got directions to Hayward Field and took pictures of the track. It is a very nice setup and the OU campus is gorgeous! It created feelings in me that I really didn't think I'd ever feel. All of a sudden I was wishing I had been able to attend a real University (not the online version I attended). Yes, I attended Chadron State College for a couple semesters, but I didn't like it at all. Universities are much bigger and seem to put out a different vibe than small colleges. I guess I should be thankful that I was able to earn my degree at all.

After leaving Eugene I headed toward Bend. The "little bitch" on the dash ended up leading me astray somewhere between Eugene and Bend. She took me up a scenic byway that happened to be closed about ten miles up the road due to snow on the mountain. I was a little irritated that I lost 20-30 minutes of my travel time, but I saw some very pretty scenery so it worked out. I was anxious to see Bend...my sister "lived" there quite a few years back and my family drove out to see her and when they returned they kept telling me how it is the perfect place for me. Well, after I finally made it over the mountain and into Bend I was slightly disappointed. It wasn't quite what I pictured, but I also didn't get to see much cause I didn't stop anywhere or go off the trail I was on. I have looked at Bend's website since I've been home and it is actually quite a pretty town. If I'm ever there again I'll take the time to check things out.

From Bend I took Highway 20 to Burns. That has got to be the most boring road ever! There isn't anything to look at and it seems to go on forever! I finally made it to Burns and took Highway 26 up to Canyon City. It was just about as bad as Highway 20. From Canyon City I drove to Vale and on over to Ontario. The drive from Canyon City to Vale was a little better...there was a nice canyon to drive through, but then it got rather boring again. I'm very disappointed in the Eastern side of Oregon. I got on the Interstate at Ontario and drove to Boise, Idaho, where I stayed in the nicest Motel 6 I've ever seen! By the time I got to Boise it was dark and time for bed. I wanted a cheap place to stay and I saw the Motel 6 so I took a chance (I've never been too impressed with the Motel 6 chain). I was pleasantly surprised when I got to my room. The room and bathroom both had laminate wood flooring and the bathroom was very spacious. If you ever go through Boise and you have to stay the night I definitely recommend the Motel 6 along the Interstate. :)

"To awaken alone in a strange town is one of the pleasantest sensations in the world." ~ Freya Stark

"A traveler without observation is a bird without wings." ~ Moslih Eddin Saadi

Self-Discovery Trip: Day 6

On day six I drove down I-5 and then cut across to Astoria, OR to start my journey down Highway 101 along the coast. I was expecting to see signs in Astoria stating, "The Goonies filmed in this area" or signs pointing the way to some of the locations where The Goonies was filmed. I didn't see anything that pertained to The Goonies! What a disappointment! What an outrage! The Goonies is one of the best movies ever made! It's a classic! When I was young I dreamed of following in the footsteps of "the Goonies" and finding a long lost treasure! Astoria should be proud to have been the location for such a great movie!

Sorry to vent...moving on now. I stopped to take some pictures of fishing boats in Astoria Port and when I got out of the car I heard a "barking" sound. I immediately knew what it was coming from so I followed the sound and discovered many Sea Lions. They were laying all over the docks being super noisy! I watched them for a while and they made me laugh a lot. They were so cute! After I ventured on I stopped at the Columbia River Maritime Museum. It was very neat. It turns out that the Columbia River meets the Pacific Ocean right at Astoria. This location is called the Columbia River Bar and is one of the most dangerous bars to cross. Many ships have gone down in this area and it known as "The Graveyard of the Pacific". The museum displays artifacts from many of the wrecks and people are even allowed to tour a floating lighthouse, which is a ship once owned by the Coastguard.

After leaving Astoria, I started my drive down the 101. I stopped at numerous pullouts to take pictures of what I could see of the coastal scenery (it was very cloudy and rainy). I even stopped at a beach (pretty sure it was near Cannon Beach) and wandered about ankle deep into the Pacific Ocean. It was my first time seeing or touching the Pacific. The wind was blowing pretty hard and it was raining like crazy so I didn't get to hang out for very long.

I continued driving and when I made it to Tillamook I discovered they have a cheese factory. I thought I better stop. I got to see the slicing and packaging process...it's pretty cool to see all the machines and people working. A trip to a cheese factory wouldn't be complete without purchasing some fresh cheese slices and cheese curds, so that's just what I did. :) I also stopped at a small French place, Blue Heron French Cheese and Winery. I purchased some Blue Heron wine (made in Tillamook) and can't wait to try it. As I was driving out of Tillamook I saw a sign pointing the way to the Cape Meares Lighthouse. Of course I had to take the detour to see it. It was quite the detour. Very much out of the way and at times kind of spooky as it seemed I was the only one on this road. I kept wondering what I would do if I broke down or blew another tire. Well I made it to the lighthouse and there were a bunch of tourists there. I got some pictures and went on my way. It took a bit to get back to the 101, but I made it!

Later I saw a sign for the Devil's Punchbowl. I had seen pictures of the punchbowl so I had to stop. It is located at Otter Rock, South of Depoe Bay. It is really neat. At first I thought I was in the wrong place cause I couldn't see the punchbowl. You can't really see it until you walk to the fence along the cliff and look down. WOW! It is really cool! It is a hollow rock formation with a hole in the wall near the bottom. The ocean slams through that hole into the formation and swirls and foams.

Near Yachats I stopped to see the Devil's Churn. Hmmmm, have you ever noticed how a lot of locations have "Devil" in their name? There is a Devil's Den near my dad's cabin North of Harrison. There is a Devil's Swimming Pool on the top of Victoria Falls that I want to visit someday. It's just weird how many locations have the "Devil" in their name. Okay, now moving on. :) Even though it was still raining very steadily I decided to walk down the trail to get a close up view of Devil's Churn. Keep in mind that I was the only person around. I got to the bottom of the trail and started carefully walking across a bunch of slippery rocks to the edge of the churn so I could get pictures. Also keep in mind I had on flip-flops. So I got pretty close to the edge and...and...I slipped! I almost fell in! If I had fallen in I would've been a goner! Devil's Churn is a large, long, crack in the rocks. The water slams into the crack and boils all the way to the end. It is very loud...it was especially loud when I was there cause the Ocean was very rough due to the weather. I got some pictures and then wandered over the hill, where it was much safer. On the other side of the hill from the churn there are a lot of tidal pools. Unfortunately I didn't see any sea creatures in the pools. The waves were crashing very beautifully on the rocks though so I got closer to get a cool picture. As I was taking a picture of a wave crashing another wave crashed on me! Good thing I was already soaked! :)

It was starting to get dark so I decided I better get to Florence. I still wanted to see my favorite lighthouse, Heceta Head, which is 11 miles North of Florence. I drove to Heceta Head Lighthouse and discovered it is a 1/2 mile walk from the parking lot to the lighthouse. Like I mentioned before, it was getting dark, plus it was still raining like crazy. I decided to go on into Florence and find a cheap hotel room (as camping was once again out of the question even though there were many campgrounds nearby). I found a decent place, hauled my saggy self into the room, dried off, got warm, watched "The Top 20 Unsolved Murders" (made me glad I didn't camp), and then "hit the hay".

"I love traveling. I love just going about on my own, feeling I have no roots." ~ Tom Jenkinson

"But more wonderful than the lore of old men and the lore of books is the secret lore of ocean." ~ H. P. Lovecraft

Self-Discovery Trip: Day 5

Day five consisted of A LOT of walking! Half of it in the rain. I started out by wandering around the Pike Place Market. If you ever go to Seattle I strongly urge you to check out the market! It is awesome! The first shop I saw was Pike Place Fish, home of the "low flying fish". It was so cool! If somebody ordered fish a guy in front would grab the fish, yell something at the guy in the back, and then throw the fish. I could've stood there all day and watched, but I had other things to do.

I wandered further into the market and saw many awesome things! I was surprised at how many flower stands there were...all run by Asians (if I remember correctly). There were all different kinds of flowers and they were so pretty! One of the first things I noticed when I arrived in Seattle was the number of people walking around downtown carrying a bouquet of flowers. I'm assuming they purchased the flowers at the market. While in the market I stumbled upon a pasta stand. It turns out the man running it is from Laramie, WY. How crazy is that? Small world. :)

After leaving the market I walked 12 blocks down 1st Ave. and a few blocks up Jackson Street to the International District. My main reason for wanting to go to the International District was so I could eat some authentic Asian food...particularly Dim Sum. I wandered around for a bit and then decided it was time to eat. The only problem...there were tons of restaurants to choose from. I saw a small restaurant with pictures of their Dim Sum options in the window so I checked it out and decided it was too busy. I really didn't want to wander into a really busy Asian Restaurant by myself. I could just imagine the looks I'd get. I started walking back down the street and an Asian man stopped me and asked me if I was looking for a place to eat. I told him I was and said he was too, but he didn't want to eat alone. He asked me to join him so I agreed. We walked a few blocks to a large, very busy restaurant. After waiting for 20-30 minutes we were seated. I'm so glad I ran into Tim cause I couldn't understand a single thing the waitress was saying! We ordered a few dishes of Dim Sum. I have no idea what they were called but they were all very delicious! We also enjoyed some Oolong tea. After lunch Tim wandered with me around the district. He took me to a grocery store so I could see all the different items. There were so many strange things, but it was really neat. Tim even bought me a rice cake filled with red beans so I could sample Asian dessert. It was good, but not something I'd eat all the time. I was getting a little nervous cause he kept talking about how he's still single and he kept mentioning that he makes great money so finally I ditched him as politely as I could. I told him I had to get back to my Hostel to do some things, thanked him for everything, and then I hurried on my way.

I walked quite a ways down Jackson Street and when I determined that Tim wasn't following me I walked down Occidental Ave. so I could check out Qwest Field, home of the Seahawks and Sounders, and Safeco Field, home of the Mariners. I then walked all the way back up into the Pioneer District. I was pretty tired and my feet and lower part of my jeans were soaked so I sat down on a park bench to rest. Shortly after, a big black man sat down next to me...and lit up a joint! Haha! He was talking away and half the time I couldn't understand him cause he was talking so fast, but he was very nice so I sat and listened. We talked about all kinds of stuff and I found out that he grew up in Kansas City, MO and that his name is James. He asked me to take his picture, so I did. He then asked me to send it to him when I got home, which I will do. :) After talking to James for about a half hour or so I told him I had better be on my way as I still had lots to see. He thanked me for making his day brighter and for being a beautiful ray of sunshine and then he gave me a big bear hug and a kiss on the cheek. I thanked him for making my day better too and I went on my way.

I walked a couple blocks and happened to be walking past Diva Dollz (the vintage inspired clothing store I fell in love with the night before) and noticed they were open! Uh oh! :) I wandered inside and fell deeper in love! It was a very quaint shop full of the most amazing clothes, shoes, and jewelry! I tried on a few things and ended up buying an outfit, which I paid an ungodly amount of money for. I don't even want to talk about it. I decided vintage inspired clothing is a huge weakness of mine and I better try my hardest to never go in that shop or another vintage inspired clothing store ever again...unless I become extremely rich. :)

I decided I needed to change my shoes cause they were soaked so I stopped at my car, which was parked near the Hostel and I made the big mistake of putting on my old worn out "chucks" instead of my nice running shoes. I then walked 16 blocks to the Space Needle. The view from the top was amazing!! Luckily the sun had come out so you could see quite a ways. I stayed in the needle for a while and then walked down to the Waterfront. I started walking up the Waterfront towards Pike Place Market, which was another 16 or so blocks away. By this time I realized that it was a huge mistake for me to have opted for my "chucks" instead of my running shoes. My feet were hurting and I could tell the bottom of my pinkie toes were blistered. It was quite an uncomfortable walk back to the Pike Place Market area. I stopped in a few shops along the Waterfront, ate at Ivar's Fish Bar, which I thought was pretty much like a Long John Silver's.

After eating I made my way back to the Hostel, showered, and got ready for bed. All that walking wore me out! I'd like to know how many miles I walked. By my calculations I walked well over 100 blocks on day five! Probably between 120 and 130 blocks. Holy cow...no wonder my feet were hurting!! Next time I walk that far I will be sure to wear my running shoes.

"The longest journey begins with a single step." ~ Lao Tsu

"Good things happen when you meet strangers." ~ Yo-Yo Ma

(I still haven't gotten my pictures downloaded so bear with me. They will be posted as soon as I have time.)

Self-Discovery Trip: Day 4

I'm home now, but I need to play catch up with my trip. :) I'm not gonna lie...on day four I slept in. I needed the rest! After I finally got ready and hauled all my crap back out to the car I headed to Seattle. I stopped at Mount St. Helens on the way, but I couldn't see it! :( They said it had been days since they've seen the famous volcano, due to the cloudy weather. Bummer. So what I did instead was drive to the nearest gas station, bought the biggest taco salad (for only $3.99) ever, and headed back to the St. Helens visitor center to picnic. It was slightly drizzly, but they had a couple picnic tables under some trees. It was a nice picnic and the taco salad was great!

After my picnic I headed on my merry little way towards Seattle. Once again, though, I veered off course. I was driving through Olympia and saw a sign mentioning the Capitol Building. I thought, "Why not? It will be good to see the Capitol Building of another state." So, I drove to the site of the Capitol and luckily it wasn't too far off the Interstate. I walked around the grounds and took pictures of some amazing war memorials. I then got to go inside the legislative building. It was awesome!

After I was done at the Capitol I was back on my merry way. I made it to Seattle and followed the GPS directions to where the Hostel I wanted to stay in was suppose to be. Unfortunately the Hostel was under construction. Fortunately the GPS system I borrowed will tell you where the nearest lodging sites are. Low and behold, there was another Hostel in the same area...actually a much better area than the first one was in! It was directly across the street from the Pike Place Market and between the Space Needle and the International District! Everything I planned to do and see was within walking distance of The Green Tortoise Hostel!!! How lucky can I get?! So I checked into the Hostel and headed to my room. I liked this one much more than the Hostel in Portland. Don't get me wrong. The Northwest Portland International Hostel was very nice, but The Green Tortoise had curtains on the bunks so you could have a tiny bit of privacy and each bunk had its own light and fan! Plus there were more bathrooms so you weren't nervous to take a shower longer than 5 minutes.

Once I got settled in I headed out into the city. I wandered the Pike Place Market but it was already closed for the day so I found my way to the Waterfront. Seattle sits right on the Puget Sound so there were many freight ships and sail boats to see. I wandered the Waterfront for a bit and then decided to eat at a seafood restaurant right on the pier. I had fried oysters! Mmmm. :) After eating I wandered a little further down the pier and then crossed back over into the hustle and bustle of the city. I ended up right in the middle of the Pioneer District, which is one of the places I wanted to see. It's an old part of town and has some awesome character about it. While in the Pioneer District I stumbled upon a store that made my jaw hit the ground. It was a vintage inspired clothing store! I LOVE vintage inspired clothing! Unfortunately they were closed, so I had to be happy with just admiring the vintage clad mannequins in the windows.

After some admiring and drooling (haha) I finally made my way back up to the Green Tortoise to get some sleep.

"The traveler sees what he sees, the tourist sees what he has come to see." ~ Gilbert K. Chesterton

Self-Discovery Trip: Day 3

I spent the morning of day three walking around the Pearl District and the Saturday Market in Portland. The first place I went to was Powell's City of Books. It is an amazing book store! It is huge! There are numerous rooms...named after a color. For example, the orange room contained books about crafting and cooking. The rose room contained books for children and books on how to teach children. I purchased a book about cake decorating and a book I loved when I was a child. Animalia. I thought Pacen might like it. I really didn't go into any other stores in the Pearl District but I did wander around and down to China Town. I was not impressed with China Town. It was dirty and rather scary.

My next stop was at the Portland Saturday Market. I loved it! If I lived in Portland I would probably spend many weekends at the market. It is right next to the river. There is live music and numerous booths containing arts and crafts, food, jewelry, etc. I stumbled upon a booth with the most amazing art pieces. I fell in love with many of the pieces and ended up buying two. The artist is Sienna Morris. She draws her pieces using the numbers of the clock: one through twelve...to "signify time in a fleeting moment". I suggest you check out her work...it is amazing!

I then checked into the Doubletree Hotel and got ready for my cousin's (Kirby) wedding (there was even a swag bag for the wedding, containing a 40 of PBR, peanuts, chex mix, PSU pins, etc.). The wedding was on the roof top of the Urban Center at Portland State University. I ended up riding the MAX to the Urban Center with the bride (Bronwen), her family, the bridesmaids, and my family. The ceremony was very nice and very short. The best kind. :) After the ceremony everyone hung out on the roof sipping champagne. The reception was held at the hotel and it was absolutely amazing! Everything was gorgeous and the band was absolutely fantastic! (If you ever get a chance to hear "The New Groove" band I suggest you take the opportunity!)

The wedding had a rather unique "theme". Mustaches. Each table at the reception had a picture of a famous mustached man. To figure out what table you were seated at you had to find your name on a chocolate mustache on a stick. I was seated at the "Hulk Hogan table". I think my table was probably the most fun! We had so much fun with the mustache's, some fake tattoos that were put on each table (with stickers that said "Keep Portland Weird"), and we laughed a lot. I ate some amazing food, danced my butt off, and hung out with my cousins. It was a great night.

"A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person." ~ Mignon McLaughlin

(I will post pictures after I return home.)

Self-Discover Trip: Day 2

On the second day of my trip I slept a little longer than planned, but I really needed the rest. I checked out of the hotel between 6:30 and 7:00 and drove part way around Coeur d'Alene Lake. It is beautiful! I then headed toward Portland. I didn't make many stops between Coeur d'Alene and Portland, as there really wasn't much to see. I was actually very surprised at how barren the East side of Washington is. I did stop at a country market to buy some fresh cherries though. I saw a sign along the highway and I just had to stop. I love cherries! :)

Most of the rest of the drive to Portland was along the Oregon/Washington border, which is the Columbia River. The river is huge and the gorge is WINDY! I stopped at a gorgeous rest area between The Dalles and Hood River. Yeah, I put the words gorgeous and rest area in the same sentence. :) It was probably the nicest rest area I've ever seen. Hood River is where the scenery started to become breath taking! The mountains are amazing and everything was so green! BEAUTIFUL!

I arrived in Portland about 2:00 p.m. (Portland time) and found Northwest Portland International Hostel, which is where I stayed. It was the first time I ever stayed in a hostel and I liked everything about it, except for the fact that you have to try to be super quiet cause your roommates are sleeping. When you're trying to be super quiet the sound of a zipper zipping seems as loud as a foghorn!

After I checked into the hostel I headed to run some errands (buy shoes for the wedding and a wedding gift). That is when the 2nd "incident" of the trip happened. I locked the keys in my car. Ugh. Luckily the DSW Shoe Warehouse ladies helped me out and found a number for me to call. About 45 minutes later I was back on my merry little way. I headed to the International Rose Test Garden and the Portland Japanese Garden. Both were very beautiful and the smell of the Rose Garden was absolutely wonderful! It rained the whole time I was touring, but I had an umbrella so it was just fine. I also checked out Pittock Mansion. The parking lot was empty (except for one car) so I took a picture of the mansion and left. It was somewhat eerie.

By the time I got back to the hostel it was about time for the "meet and greet" party for the wedding. I got ready and drove to the bar where the party was. I got there at the perfect time...my dad's cousin, Mike (groom's father), and his wife had just pulled up. I met a lot of people and had a good time. I ended up staying later than I had planned, talking and playing shuffle board with my cousins and some of their friends, but it was great! By the time I got back to the hostel everyone in my room was asleep.

"The world is a book, and those who do not travel, read only a page." ~ Saint Augustine

Self-Discovery Trip: Day 1

I left Lusk at 5:00 this morning on what I'm calling a "self-discovery trip". My cousin, Kirby, is getting married on Saturday in Portland, Oregon. I decided I wanted attend the wedding, but I didn't want to fly, so I planned a big road trip! I'm not going to tell you all about the road trip just yet...I want to do it on a day-to-day basis (if I have time), so here is day 1:

Like I mentioned above, I left at 5:00 a.m. For those of you that know me, that is extremely early for me. I am not a morning person...at all. I did really well until about two hours into the trip when I was between Casper and Buffalo (very boring stretch of highway) and then I started getting very drowsy. When I got to Buffalo I stopped to grab a coffee and after that I was fine.

Last night my dad told me not to treat this trip like a "mission". He told me to take time to stop and see the sights and enjoy the scenery. My parents took across country bike trip before I was born. They were gone for two months and only took two rolls of pictures! They even rode right by the Grand Ol' Opry and didn't stop! So, I took my dad's advice and I stopped at the Little Bighorn Battlefield...and I took lots of pictures. :)

After that stop I didn't really see anything of interest except the Louis and Clark Caverns. That sounded neat, but it was a ways off the Interstate so I didn't check it out (I still had four hours to drive and it was 3:00). I did stop and take some pictures of the mountains though. Montana has so many gorgeous mountain ranges.

My goal for today was to make it to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. I had just passed St. Regis, Montana (about 80 miles from Coeur d'Alene) when I blew a tire. Seriously, the whole middle section of tire came off and flew across the Interstate. I did what any independent semi-young woman would do in such a situation...I pulled to the side of the road and changed my tire. While changing my tire dangerously close to the lanes of traffic I discovered something. 98% of people driving through Montana don't care that a semi-young woman is trying to change a tire...they stay in the right lane instead of moving to the left lane. Even semi's stayed in the right lane, which was very scary. So after 10 minutes or so my "doughnut" was successfully put on the car and I'm thinking I'm ready to roll to the next exit to get help, but fate had other plans for me. While I was changing my tire the battery died. Seriously! Well crap, a dead battery is definitely something I can't fix on my own with just one vehicle, so I called 911. The lady who answered (after 6 rings or so) informed me that I was in such-and-such county and she was dispatch for a different county. She told me she'd have the correct county call me. After waiting 15 minutes and not hearing a word from dispatch I decided to take care of business myself. I popped the hood, got my jumper cables, put a "helpless puppy look" on my face, and stood in front of my car. It worked! A very nice man pulled over and jumped my car. He even offered to let me stay at his house (he made sure to inform me that he is married and has a child so he was harmless). About that time a cop finally shows up. Wow! What if this had been a huge emergency?! Anyway, the cop was zero help so I drove away with my "doughnut" to the next exit with a business (10-12 miles away, over a mountain pass). I stopped at a cute bar/restaurant called "The Oasis" and the very nice bartender called the "local" mechanic who happened to have a tired that would work. Yay!!!! Well, I was excited until I saw the shop. I actually had to follow one of the mechanics to the shop because it was a couple miles back in the mountains. When I pulled off the main "street" and onto the dirt road leading to the shop, "dueling banjos" started playing in my head. This place looked like it came straight out of a hillbilly horror movie! There were even Rottweilers running around. To top it off, when I pulled my car into the shop one of the mechanics was sitting in a chair fixing his fake leg! The third mechanic was very old, and I didn't look too close, but I wouldn't be surprised if he was missing most of his teeth. When it came time to pay I asked Mr. Fake Leg if they would accept a credit card. He hem hawed around and finally said they could and then he asked me if I had any cash. I told him I did so he said he'd charge me $60, which was supposedly half-price. I gave him $80 and then I got out of there. They were nice people, but it felt weird there.

My original plan was to camp at Coeur d'Alene at a very nice campground, but when I got here it was raining and I decided I'd had enough excitement for one day...I didn't want to mess with a wet tent, so I found a hotel. Whew! Now I'm going to take a nice hot shower and hit the hay.

I have many pictures, but I will have to post them later...I'm exhausted! G'night!

"People often say that this or that person has not yet found himself. But the self is not something one finds, it is something one creates." ~ Thomas Szasz

My True Love

I have one true love. No, it is not the love for a man. Yes, I love my son - he has a place in my heart that nobody else will ever have access to - but my one true love isn't even human. My one true love is...the ocean. The deep blue. The briny deep. Most of my life I have held a profound fascination for the great blue ocean. I don't recall how old I was when I first read about or was told about the ocean, but from that moment on I've been mesmerized. Everything about the ocean amazes me. The millions of creatures, the cycle of the tides, the different currents, how absolutely enormous it is...everything.




I have only been to the ocean three times in my 28 (almost 29) years. Only three times?! That is just sad. The ocean is where I am meant to be. Period. I am in love with it and always will be. When I am on, near, or in the ocean I am at peace and I am happy.


Last week when I was on vacation in Florida it was my third time seeing the ocean. I spent a lot of time on the beach near our condo, staring out at the blue expanse, letting the salty breeze blow through my hair, and listening to the waves crash. So peaceful. I even braved the 54-56 degree water one day. My sisters and I drove to Flagler Beach, I slipped into my wetsuit (a shorty - my legs and arms were bare), and waded about chest deep into the water. I didn't go under and actually swim, but by the time I was done frolicking in the water I was wet from head to toe due to the many waves. It felt great. I could have played in the waves all day, but we had other things to do.

I have always wanted to get a picture of the inside of a wave, aka, the curl. It is a lot harder than I thought it would be. Maybe it would be easier at a location where the waves get a little larger. Maybe someday I'll find out. As for now, I'm impatiently awaiting my next encounter with my one true love.






"I must go down to the sea again, to the lonely sea and the sky; and all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by." ~ John Edward Masefield

Surprise!

Friday evening after I got off work Quinn and I headed to Breckenridge, CO to surprise an old friend of ours. The friend we surprised was Matt Seidel. He grew up in Crawford, NE, which is only 30 miles or so from Harrison (the town I grew up in). We've been friends for 10+ years and he is just an all-around awesome guy (super nice, hilarious, etc). He moved to Sacramento, CA a few years ago or so and ended up joining a band. Arden Park Roots. They released their first album last year and this year they went on their first tour. They also have another band, The Livin's Easy, which is a Sublime Tribute Band. They do awesome with their own music and with Sublime's. Anyway, I've been wanting to see them play for quite some time and when I found out they were going to be in Colorado I was stoked! Many of their shows were on weeknights and the shows that were fairly close to where I live were taking place while I was in The Bahamas. Luckily their final Colorado show was in Breckenridge on a Friday night.

After 5 1/2 hours of driving (and giving my sister a major panic attack with my driving skills) we made it to the Three20South bar where the band was playing for the night. We got there at just the right time. The band was just getting ready to play so we got to say hi to Matt before they started. Unfortunately, our surprise was ruined. Matt had heard we were coming just a couple hours before we got there. By some odd coincidence Matt's mom and our dad ran into each other and dad told her about Quinn and I driving down to see Matt. Apparently neither knew it was a surprise so she called Matt and let him know. :) Oh, well. He was still happy to see us.

The band(s) did great and it was so awesome to see Matt in action (he plays the guitar)! The only downfalls of the trip were the fact that it was a very fast trip (we had to be in Harrison by 7:00 Saturday night for Pacen's 1st Communion) and we ended up staying in a creepy Motel. The Motel looked nice online when I made the reservations, but it turned out to be pretty trashy. I slept with a can of pepper spray next to me and Quinn slept with my softball bat, aka Baby Blue, next to her. We also had my self-defense class moves to protect us. :) Nothing happened, but I guess it's better to be safe than sorry, right.

So, everyone, be sure to check out Matt's bands. You can find Arden Park Roots here and The Livin's Easy here.

Quinn, Matt, and I

Matty in action!

Quinn and I with a creepy statue thing. :)

Our creepy motel room. (It was way worse than it looks)

"Surprise is the greatest gift which life can grant us." ~ Boris Pasternak

"The secret to humor is surprise." ~ Aristotle

Paradise

Well, I've been back from The Bahamas since Saturday and I miss it so much! I fell in love.

I fell in love with the crystal clear water.

I fell in love with the sea life.

I fell in love with sailing (I already loved sailboats, but now I know for sure that sailing is definitely for me).

I fell in love with almost everything about The Bahamas. (The traffic is something to be desired and Nassau is a little dirty, but everything else I saw was amazing.)

I've been obsessed with the Ocean since I can remember and I've always felt that I was meant to be near the Ocean. Now I know for a fact that I want to be near the Ocean. I want to move somewhere warm that offers great diving. Some place that has the crystal clear water, the abundant sea life, and that's oozing with personality.

As for the trip...it was AMAZING! I lived on a sailboat (The Morning Star) for a week and it was great! We headed South from Nassau along The Exumas (some out islands). The furthest South we went was Staniel Cay. Staniel Cay is home to Club Thunderball. For those of you who are James Bond fanatics, you know that Thunderball was filmed in various areas of Staniel Cay. We spent port night at Club Thunderball watching one of the NBA Finals games. While at Staniel Cay we got to snorkel in a cave under an island...it was awesome! We mostly stayed on the West side of the islands, but a few times we went East of the islands to do some wall dives. The first couple times we did this we encountered very rough seas. Only one person got sea sick...and it wasn't me! I got "rocked" to sleep and sunburned my back bad! As long as we were on the West side of the islands everything was smooth.

Here's a map of The Exumas

I made 12 dives the whole trip and saw numerous kinds of sea creatures, including an Eel, Sea Turtle, Sharks, many Grouper, Angel Fish, Flamingo Tongue, Conch, Rays, and the list goes on! I made my first night dive, first wreck dive, first drift dive, and first dive over 60'. All the dives were awesome, but my favorite was when we saw the Sea Turtle. She was beautiful! Some other things we got to do were feed the Iguanas on Allan's Cay and feed the swimming pigs near Staniel Cay. I saw the most beautiful sunsets and the stars were absolutely breathtaking (on the nights it was clear) as was the full moon reflecting off the Ocean.

Pretty much everyone on the trip was cool. There were a couple people who were annoying, but I guess that to be expected. The crew was absolutely amazing! Grayson was our captain, John was the chef, Adam was the master diver, and Jamie and Mike were engineers/mates. They all made the trip very enjoyable and made sure we all had a good time.

Thursday night when we got back to Nassau the crew took some of us to a bar called Crazy Johnny's. Crazy Johnny's plays mostly 70s and 80s rock and we danced our butts off! It was a BLAST! I was sad to leave and if I didn't have the responsibility of a child I think I would've stayed! It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life, thus far. I can't wait to go back!

The Morning Star!

Crystal Clear blue waters in the Exumas.

The water was like glass this day!

Beautiful Bahamian Sunset

Captain Grayson doing a trick with an orange. He made it float & spin in mid-air using a SCUBA tank.

Grayson with a Grouper he speared while free diving.

Isn't she majestic

Pretty fish

Shark dive!

This is in the cave at Staniel Cay. The sun was shining through a hole in the ceiling onto the coral. So pretty!

"The reason I love the sea I cannot explain — it’s physical. When you dive you begin to feel like an angel. It’s a liberation of your weight." ~ Jacques-Yves Cousteau

"It is not the ship so much as the skillful sailing that assures the prosperous voyage." ~ George William Curtis

2 days!

Two days left until I'm here.
Nassau, Bahamas. (Thank you sumolounge from flickr for the use of the picture.) I can't wait. I will be living on one of these for a week!
The company that owns those boats is Blackbeard Cruises. I found out about this trip through Western Divers. Western Divers is where I became SCUBA certified. If you haven't ever gone SCUBA diving before I suggest you try it sometime! It is so fun and relaxing. I'm hoping this trip helps to get Kurtis off my mind for a while (at least a week anyway).

I'm ready for sunshine (it's been dreary here). I'm ready to feel the ocean breeze on my face. I'm ready to feel the sand on my feet. I'm ready to see the full moon reflecting off the ocean (it's suppose to be full while I'm there). I'm ready to relax. I'm ready to dive. I'm ready to sail. I'm ready for fresh sea food. I'm ready for Rum and fun! I'll be sure to post pictures after I return.

Sucker for the old and mysterious

As long as I can remember, I have been a "sucker" for all places "old" and "mysterious". I absolutely love old buildings, cemeteries, etc. It's the aura of mystery that surrounds many old places that I love the most. I absolutely adore the historical architecture that you don't see in many new buildings (columns; tall, paned windows; intricate hand-carved details; crow-stepped gables; stone; etc.) and when it comes to cemeteries, I just love the creepy moss-covered headstones. It's kind of sad that they don't make things like they used to.

Growing up, every time we went to my mom's hometown, Palmyra, MO, (my 2nd home) to visit family, I HAD to see my "favorite house" and my "favorite cemetery" (that sounds morbid). I used to make my mom drive past both places at least once every time we were in Palmyra.

One of my Uncles and his family lived a couple blocks from the house so anytime we could get away with it, my sisters, their youngest daughter, and I would wander down the street and gaze in awe at the "spooky" old house. The house was a circa mid-1850s, two-story, rectangular, brick structure with tall windows and a huge wood front door. The lower story windows were covered with very old shutters and all you could see through the upper story windows were old, tattered, shredded, white lace curtains. On the west side of the house was a single story addition and a covered porch. The property was rather dark (even on a sunny day) because of the enormous mossy trees growing around the house. We always wanted to sneak into the house, but we never did. I always imagined that there was a huge staircase in the parlor that led upstairs (the kind that rises to a platform and then branches off to the left and right). At one point I took a picture of the house (back when I hadn't evolved to digital photography) and shortly after that a gentleman bought the house and leveled it. :( That was a sad day for me. I regret only getting one picture of the place and never exploring it (although I would've been in big trouble had I gotten caught).

As for the cemetery, it is filled with moss-covered head stones of all shapes and sizes. There is even a headstone shaped like a coffin (the lid even comes off), which is the one that amazed me the most when I was growing up. Other headstones are at least 20' tall or taller. Some have intricate carvings and others are plain. The cemetery is surrounded by a wrought iron fence and as soon as you step into it the world seems to get dark and quiet. There are many trees growing in the cemetery and they block most of the sunlight. The last time I was there some of the trees had been cut down so it seemed a little brighter, but it still had its aura. As with many old places, it has been vandalized and some of the headstones have been knocked over. Sad.

Luckily my mom is from a very old part of Missouri (only 12 miles from Hannibal - home of Mark Twain) so there are many other old places for me to photograph. Some have been preserved and some are rotting away (sad). I haven't been "home" in over a year, but the last time I was there I managed to get some pictures of a few old & mysterious places. Next time I will spend more time enjoying the mysterious aura that part of the country has to offer.