Tag Archives: United States

Landing in the City of Angels

Posted on July 27th, 2015 by

Flying Photos

As much as I fly, you would think I would take tons of aerial photos from planes. NOT SO! With a few exceptions, I usually don’t. I am, what you might call a getter-upper. I drink a ton of water (and wine) when I fly and I tend to use the lav as much as the rest of the cabin combined. As such I am an isle seat preference on my account (you have that set, RIGHT). On this flight, the sky was crazy colored with the sunset and the smog hanging over L.A. that I just leaned over the guy sitting next to me. He too was taking photos so that helped break the ice!

Landing in the City of Angels
Landing in the City of Angels

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A Girl Looking Off the Top of Sleeping Giant, Kauai

Posted on July 6th, 2015 by

Kauai the Beautiful

The hike to the top of Sleeping Giant (Nounou Mountain) in Kauai isn’t the most arduous hike, but the view at the end if rewarding, if you dare disobey the signs warning of the immanent fall to your death (always heed warning signs!). When I reached the Giant’s chin, there was a small group occupying the top. This girl stayed here looking out at the expanse of Kauai for a long time. I cant say I blame her. Kauai is one of the most beautiful places in the world, there is a beauty, a majesty in all of Hawaii that is palpable. That sub-current is one of the reason’s I think people get “caught” by the Hawaiian Islands and leave their lives on the mainland. The pull is just TOO powerful. I am constantly feeling that pull myself. Even though I know I should go other places (there are so many places to go), I time and time again am pulled to Hawaii, to sit, to stare out, to lose myself in wonder.

A Girl Looking Off the Top of Sleeping Giant, Kauai
A Girl Looking Off the Top of Sleeping Giant, Kauai

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Covered Bridge Vermont 1875, Kokomo, Indiana

Posted on June 18th, 2015 by

Interesting Sights

When I visit small towns for work, I generally check the internet and ask the locals about the “interesting” parts of their towns. Many places have something they can call their own…like Gaffney, South Carolina’s Peachoid (I SO want to visit this)!

When visiting a few small towns in Indiana, I was directed to a Kokomo’s Highland Park to the Vermont covered bridge. I wasn’t able to go until after dark (during work trips you have to work), but it lent an almost Sleepy Hollow feel to the whole scene!

Covered Bridge Vermont 1875, Kokomo, Indiana
Covered Bridge Vermont 1875, Kokomo, Indiana

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Ferrari on the Streets of Austin, TX

Posted on June 11th, 2015 by

Random Super Cars

Today is for fun! I was walking with Pamela down the street in Austin, TX during one SXSWi when I came across this random Ferrari on the Streets of Austin! I don’t know who can afford such things, but one day I hope to drive a few of these super cars and hopefully in the process learn how to properly drive them!

Ferrari on the Streets of Austin, TX
Ferrari on the Streets of Austin, TX

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Inside Pike Place Market, Seattle, Washington

Posted on May 14th, 2015 by

Cornucopia of Sights and Smells

When I think of Pike Place market I think of a mess. Not because it’s unclean, no more than any open air mall, but because is the wild sense you get when visiting. There are 100 different and strong smells vying for your attention. Fish mongers throw fish, flower sellers clip stems for bouquets. Vendors hawk their wares, candy, nuts, fruit, pasta, flowers, fresh fish. The Puget Sound is right outside. All is chaos here, but its also alive and vibrant. The chaos can overwlems, but it also is exciting and wonderful.

Inside Pike Place Market, Seattle, Washington
Inside Pike Place Market, Seattle, Washington

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A Tree in the Grand Canyon

Posted on April 30th, 2015 by

Hole in the Ground

I expected The Grand Canyon to be less the exciting. I pictured that scene from Guilt Trip…”How long are we supposed to look at it?”. In reality I was blown away! I love hiking and one day would love to hike all the way down and spend the night, though I would NOT relish hiking back up with a pack. Even the fit hikers looked tired that were headed up from the bottom of the canyon! This was one of the many scenes from our hike down…we made it to the first rest stop before making the trek back up.

A Tree in the Grand Canyon
A Tree in the Grand Canyon

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Island in the Columbia River

Posted on April 27th, 2015 by

Foggy Island

I sat in a car, riding through the fog. I would have preferred to fly…I always prefer to fly, but my colleague insisted. It was a long trek, but in the end I got to see part of the country I had never knew existed. The diverse landscape of Washington and Oregon is vast, it changes abruptly and in surprising ways. This stretch along the Columbia River was enshrouded in dense wisps of fog…not completely obstructing your view, only adding mystery.

Fog
By Carl Sandburg
The fog comes
on little cat feet.

It sits looking
over harbor and city
on silent haunches
and then moves on.

Island in the Columbia River
Island in the Columbia River

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Sedona Airport Road at Sunset

Posted on April 23rd, 2015 by

Perhaps the Most Beautiful Place

I have a hard times with picking favorites. I recently alluded that ONE of the most beautiful places I have been is Lago Como in Italy. It now has a contender…Sedona, Arizona. I will admit when I first rolled into town I got a “Branson” vibe. It’s not that I don’t like Branson, it’s just fake. It’s a place for tourists. I actually texted a friend from Arizona and asked if Sedona was Arizona’s Branson. He corrected me that Sedona, Arizona is one of the most healing places in the world…and he was right.

What is There!?

I don’t know what is there, in Sedona, but it’s ancient and powerful. You can feel it in the Earth. You can hear it speak to you on the wind. I felt more connected here, more powerfully than anyplace I can recall. We hiked through Red Rock State Park for about an hour, and even my mother in law was energized. We went to Airport Road for sunset and I hiked down to this vista near the Airport Vortex. I will return to Arizona…soon.

Sedona Airport Road at Sunset
Sedona Airport Road at Sunset

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When Mules Pass Sign, Grand Canyon

Posted on April 20th, 2015 by

Sage Signs

This sign telling hikers what to do when mules pass, cracked me up for some reason while hiking down the Grand Canyon. I guess there are people all around and potential to fall. Mules are the sure footed’ist of creatures, but still I guess you need some guidance for hikers who are not quite a used to the mules are as the mules are to the hikers! The Grand Canyon was absolutely amazing as was most of Arizona. There are parts I will definitely be revisiting!

When Mules Pass Sign, Grand Canyon
When Mules Pass Sign, Grand Canyon

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Buick Super Eight Tusayan, Arizona

Posted on April 16th, 2015 by

Road Weary Buick Super Eight

We pulled up to the National Geographic Visitors Center in Tusayan, Arizona and there was this beautiful car. It sat all alone in the lot and I parked right next to her. Our new Ford Focus rental seemed insubstantial next to this solid metal behemoth, it was from another time, but one look and you saw this car was on the trip, perhaps of its life. How many miles had she seen? How many roads had she traveled? How many gallons of gas had she consumed? Soon she would be at the Grand Canyon all but a baby by comparison.

Buick Super Eight Tusayan, Arizona
Buick Super Eight Tusayan, Arizona

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