tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-293452082024-03-14T06:58:21.886-03:00tarmax and train traxUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger47125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29345208.post-49780443875213111342010-07-15T11:06:00.001-03:002010-07-15T13:46:56.823-03:00Almunecar, summer 2010Erik and I love to travel. We both possess incredibly strong (and argumentative) personalities, but when we travel, we have learnt to live with a synchronicity. We enjoy similar things and have a similar sense of wanderlust. We also see the world as one big adventure, waiting to be discovered. I think this is perhaps my single favorite thing about him….his curiosity about the world. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/TD8NqS0QvGI/AAAAAAAABLw/c1B3IEZfhZQ/s1600/35859_447815736351_690871351_6460911_6475812_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/TD8NqS0QvGI/AAAAAAAABLw/c1B3IEZfhZQ/s400/35859_447815736351_690871351_6460911_6475812_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494125090672000098" /></a><br /><br />Our recent trip to Spain was filled with normal ups and downs. From the outside perspective, I have been told it looked idyllic. Frankly, parts of it were simply breathtaking and zen-inspiring. But like anything truly extraordinary, some parts were hard as well.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/TD8OESLtaVI/AAAAAAAABMo/tvFNG1YYzmM/s1600/34614_452153071351_690871351_6571763_1605980_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/TD8OESLtaVI/AAAAAAAABMo/tvFNG1YYzmM/s400/34614_452153071351_690871351_6571763_1605980_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494125537178511698" /></a><br /><br />But the good parts....they were simply great.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/TD8VIr4BrNI/AAAAAAAABNQ/2oYzAxFDuLQ/s1600/35722_447803796351_690871351_6460481_1629668_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/TD8VIr4BrNI/AAAAAAAABNQ/2oYzAxFDuLQ/s400/35722_447803796351_690871351_6460481_1629668_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494133309376146642" /></a><br /><br />There was magic in the landscape and colors……<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/TD8N2r8lpvI/AAAAAAAABMI/apVODmdGucA/s1600/36099_448870526351_690871351_6484412_8077500_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/TD8N2r8lpvI/AAAAAAAABMI/apVODmdGucA/s400/36099_448870526351_690871351_6484412_8077500_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494125303576241906" /></a><br /><br />There were moments of pure bliss….<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/TD8N36JEMbI/AAAAAAAABMg/1EvrDmOZik0/s1600/35053_449508506351_690871351_6502143_3080688_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/TD8N36JEMbI/AAAAAAAABMg/1EvrDmOZik0/s400/35053_449508506351_690871351_6502143_3080688_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494125324566540722" /></a><br /><br />There were balmy evenings spent on a terrace overlooking the Mediterranean with always-cold white wine, Serrano ham and crusty bread….<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/TD8NpWxQczI/AAAAAAAABLY/VjplxKzJo04/s1600/food.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/TD8NpWxQczI/AAAAAAAABLY/VjplxKzJo04/s400/food.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494125074553271090" /></a><br /><br />And there were experiences and emotions to soak in. Football comes very close to religion in most small towns in Spain. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/TD8N3aS1BGI/AAAAAAAABMY/p3jPq-8uxuk/s1600/36012_449163716351_690871351_6491466_2908728_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/TD8N3aS1BGI/AAAAAAAABMY/p3jPq-8uxuk/s400/36012_449163716351_690871351_6491466_2908728_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494125316017554530" /></a><br /><br />There were new toys of all shapes....<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/TD8OE4N56wI/AAAAAAAABMw/89WloCLVTS8/s1600/37489_452153196351_690871351_6571766_2530020_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/TD8OE4N56wI/AAAAAAAABMw/89WloCLVTS8/s400/37489_452153196351_690871351_6571766_2530020_n.jpg" border="0"/></a><br /><br />And sizes....<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/TD8NqnaHiMI/AAAAAAAABL4/VXpo7R5BfTo/s1600/33408_448128066351_690871351_6467794_5237487_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/TD8NqnaHiMI/AAAAAAAABL4/VXpo7R5BfTo/s400/33408_448128066351_690871351_6467794_5237487_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494125096199489730" /></a><br /><br />And there were (many) hot afternoons spent nibbling on tappas, drinking sangria and letting boy wonder wander along cobblestone sidewalks....<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/TD8NqOgVCEI/AAAAAAAABLo/X7a7C6K35qs/s1600/34455_447806776351_690871351_6460570_875762_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/TD8NqOgVCEI/AAAAAAAABLo/X7a7C6K35qs/s400/34455_447806776351_690871351_6460570_875762_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494125089514653762" /></a><br /><br />And lots of days filled with adventures for boys, both big and small.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/TD8N3ESkffI/AAAAAAAABMQ/QJA6JZO5LQs/s1600/36012_449163701351_690871351_6491463_1699630_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/TD8N3ESkffI/AAAAAAAABMQ/QJA6JZO5LQs/s400/36012_449163701351_690871351_6491463_1699630_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494125310110891506" /></a><br /><br />Traveling is, at its very best, an escape from the ordinary and a journey into the extraordinary. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/TD8NpzCd1uI/AAAAAAAABLg/3DC6-fTSdIA/s1600/35722_447803806351_690871351_6460483_3593744_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/TD8NpzCd1uI/AAAAAAAABLg/3DC6-fTSdIA/s400/35722_447803806351_690871351_6460483_3593744_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494125082141644514" /></a><br /><br />We were lucky to be staying with family during this trip. It made things alot easier and alot more special. And in a million ways, it felt natural to share this trip with people who form part of the rich tapestry of our lives. It hits you hard, as you grow older, just how important and fulfilling it can be to foster these connections through the years. I hope that as boy wonder grows older, that he remembers how wonderfully rewarding it can be to connect with other people on a human level. At the very best of times, it doesn't even require language.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/TD8R_rieCDI/AAAAAAAABNA/19jBGegywkQ/s1600/35053_449508511351_690871351_6502144_6882948_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/TD8R_rieCDI/AAAAAAAABNA/19jBGegywkQ/s400/35053_449508511351_690871351_6502144_6882948_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494129856132024370" /></a><br /><br />Not all days spent traveling can be perfect....but during this trip, except for a couple of days of illness, they all came close. I don’t know if it had to do with planning, with destination or with company; I suspect however that it was a precarious combination of those three things. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/TD8OpE9LNuI/AAAAAAAABM4/IWS1gppxx0s/s1600/35800_448533646351_690871351_6476750_3442654_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/TD8OpE9LNuI/AAAAAAAABM4/IWS1gppxx0s/s400/35800_448533646351_690871351_6476750_3442654_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494126169283049186" /></a><br /><br />There were a couple of scary days, including one that required a trip to a foreign language pharmacy to find medication for a sick toddler. But we all recovered, only slightly worse for the wear. And on the balance….it was a grand adventure, the kind of journey that helps shape us into the people we want to become.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/TD8T1oZwQOI/AAAAAAAABNI/akKc846wisc/s1600/34143_449163496351_690871351_6491451_2147997_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/TD8T1oZwQOI/AAAAAAAABNI/akKc846wisc/s400/34143_449163496351_690871351_6491451_2147997_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494131882514727138" /></a><br /><br />I’ll always hold a soft spot for Spain, in particular Almunecar, because it’s where I saw boy wonder experience travel, at its very best.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/TD8N2TRNlfI/AAAAAAAABMA/xEX8IzikQp0/s1600/36099_448870506351_690871351_6484408_5595875_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/TD8N2TRNlfI/AAAAAAAABMA/xEX8IzikQp0/s400/36099_448870506351_690871351_6484408_5595875_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494125296951858674" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29345208.post-61294254884915770562010-06-23T15:23:00.003-03:002010-06-23T15:28:47.754-03:00Almunecar<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/TCJSQ0ndjwI/AAAAAAAABKI/pr0tLlPoCPE/s1600/almunecar.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/TCJSQ0ndjwI/AAAAAAAABKI/pr0tLlPoCPE/s400/almunecar.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486037745046228738" /></a><br />In about 2.5 hours, we are leaving on a jet plane to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Almu%C3%B1%C3%A9car">Almunecar</a>. Pictures and stories to follow. <br /><br />Anticipation of sun, wine, tappas and relaxation. Will check in soon.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29345208.post-30894680580344779732009-09-30T06:30:00.023-03:002009-10-14T19:03:23.034-03:00Tokyo (round 2) Sept 25-28The first thing you should know about Tokyo is that Metropolitain Tokyo houses approximately the same population as all of Canada. One (crazy) city.<br /><br />To say that Tokyo is unique is an understatement of massive proportions. Tokyo is about a million things, all rolled into one. Tokyo is majestically old yet wonderfully modern and creative. Tokyo is all organization and rules as well as innocence and perversion.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/StUeqCENmAI/AAAAAAAABAs/6BTF6Z30azE/s1600-h/kid.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 288px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/StUeqCENmAI/AAAAAAAABAs/6BTF6Z30azE/s400/kid.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392249836303915010" /></a><br /><br /><br />I could go on and on....and give you a page full of adjectives but I'm not sure I would be properly describing Tokyo or doing it justice. I think a better way to describe Tokyo is through a few standout experiences <span style="font-style:italic;">(both pictured above and below, some sort of festival-walk, seen on streets of Hajaruku).</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/StUivk3ThbI/AAAAAAAABB8/2_4zoUs-MkQ/s1600-h/street+ceremony.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 260px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/StUivk3ThbI/AAAAAAAABB8/2_4zoUs-MkQ/s400/street+ceremony.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392254329590875570" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shinjuku">Shinjuku</a><br /><br />Tokyo is so big that it is divided into wards, 23 of them to be precise. Each one of these wards could be a vacation destination in itself. When we read about Tokyo, trying to determine what we'd do, it felt a little overwhelming. We basically decided that we'd focus on just a couple of places. For approximately half of the time we were in Tokyo, we stayed in Shinjuku. We stayed in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asakusa">Asakusa</a>, <a href="http://tarmaxandtraintrax.blogspot.com/2009/09/tokyo-stopover.html">photographed here</a>, for the remainder of the time.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/StUe-6P71hI/AAAAAAAABA0/vTnExvC-Qhs/s1600-h/shinjuku+station.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 296px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/StUe-6P71hI/AAAAAAAABA0/vTnExvC-Qhs/s400/shinjuku+station.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392250194982852114" /></a><br /><br /><br />Shinjuku is known for many things including its ubiquitous (and obnoxious) train station (see above), crazy bars, hundreds of restaurants, not-to-be-missed red light district, towering business center and quirky yet intense nightlife. We chose to stay in East Shinjuku on the fringe of the entertainment district. <br /><br />Shinjuku is the least homogenous-place in all of Tokyo. It is rich, interesting, fast-paced and also complicated. We found our stay to be interesting, fun, dizzying and overwhelming. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/StUjq9sSj5I/AAAAAAAABCE/bgavuGYExbs/s1600-h/complicated.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 280px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/StUjq9sSj5I/AAAAAAAABCE/bgavuGYExbs/s400/complicated.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392255349867843474" /></a><br /><br /><br />We thought staying in Shinjuku would allow us to walk almost everywhere we wanted and that we'd really be in the heart of things, even if it was only for a few days. A certain amount of care was taken in chosing our hotel, which was about a half a km away from the reputed alleys of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Gai">golden gai</a>, about the same distance from the red light district and only about 20 minutes walk from the insanity of Shinjuku station. In theory, we thought we could find almost anything we needed in about 15-20 minutes.<br /><br />Heh!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/StUiGHS2KTI/AAAAAAAABB0/WFRRzRsLZXc/s1600-h/Disaster+Managment.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 280px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/StUiGHS2KTI/AAAAAAAABB0/WFRRzRsLZXc/s400/Disaster+Managment.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392253617278691634" /></a><br /><br />Our first order of business after arriving was to find a francophile bar called La Levée. We had a point of reference on a map, a name, a tentative location (in the alleys of the golden gai) and that's about it. According to all of these things, it was determined that la Levée was about 500m distance from our hotel. Again, one might *think* that this should be easy to find. Heh! One would think wrong. I'm pretty sure that neither of us was drunk by this point....but everything seemed to feel like this.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/StX1cV-JItI/AAAAAAAABDk/2bZ3_BYni9c/s1600-h/SL380582.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 260px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/StX1cV-JItI/AAAAAAAABDk/2bZ3_BYni9c/s400/SL380582.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392485996128969426" /></a><br /><br /><br />Shinjuku is a dizzying tangle of streets, alleys and temples. It ended up taking us over 2 hours to find La Levée....with a map. But the place did not disappoint.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/StXbZwkq2iI/AAAAAAAABDE/WAQBLCHOsZ8/s1600-h/SL380583.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 235px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/StXbZwkq2iI/AAAAAAAABDE/WAQBLCHOsZ8/s400/SL380583.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392457364427954722" /></a><br /><br /><br />We saw the small (minute) sign for the bar sandwiched between two other bars on a dimly lit side street. As we climbed the stairs to the 2nd floor, we had no idea what to expect. We did not expect to find a bar that sat less than 12 people.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/StX2T4de8_I/AAAAAAAABDs/oTkzeZgFkSw/s1600-h/SL380587.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/StX2T4de8_I/AAAAAAAABDs/oTkzeZgFkSw/s400/SL380587.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392486950280033266" /></a><br /><br />We did not expect to spend the night laughing with a bunch of French ex-pats. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/StXbaa0wyHI/AAAAAAAABDM/WHeq1OS0JpE/s1600-h/SL380585.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 280px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/StXbaa0wyHI/AAAAAAAABDM/WHeq1OS0JpE/s400/SL380585.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392457375769741426" /></a><br /><br />We did not expect to learn that regulars could buy their own bottles, mark them, and put them on the wall. We did not expect to see bottles marked with Quentin Tarrantino and Francis Ford Coppola (above). We did not expect to have such a great night.<br /><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yomiuri_Giants">Giants!</a><br /><br />When Erik proposed that we take in some baseball on our trip, I (Natalie) had my doubts. I (Natalie) had never been to see a major league game, and here I was, agreeing to see two of them in just as many weeks. The Tokyo Dome was a great place to get initiated to baseball. For those skeptics, I assure you that the Japanese take their baseball very seriously. The Yomiuri Giants franchise is 75 years old this year. They are the current leaders in their division and also the pride of Tokyo (and Japan, to a certain extent). <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/StUfmSEX5SI/AAAAAAAABA8/9DftrowZWPI/s1600-h/giants+banner.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 295px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/StUfmSEX5SI/AAAAAAAABA8/9DftrowZWPI/s400/giants+banner.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392250871391708450" /></a><br /><br />The Tokyo Dome is an electrifying dome which serves copious amounts of beer, hot dogs and sushi. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/StUgGkq-yWI/AAAAAAAABBM/779PN08khdY/s1600-h/Dome+Post+game+2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 251px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/StUgGkq-yWI/AAAAAAAABBM/779PN08khdY/s400/Dome+Post+game+2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392251426141292898" /></a><br /><br /><br />Fans are dedicated, hardcore and organized. In turn, their voices are loud, heartfelt and patriotic. The game itself went 0-0 for all nine regular innings. The fans tried to will it otherwise and both teams played their hearts out. But still a draw. <br /><br />By the time the game went into its first overtime inning, the crowd had reached full fever pitch. The tension in the air was intoxicating, every swing a possible victory. And when <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hayato_Sakamoto">Sakamoto </a> swung his bat and connected with the ball, magic happened. Pure Magic. And I (Natalie) now truly GET why people LOVE baseball.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/StUgGKnL-UI/AAAAAAAABBE/mxixke_Y-9I/s1600-h/dome+2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 273px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/StUgGKnL-UI/AAAAAAAABBE/mxixke_Y-9I/s400/dome+2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392251419146058050" /></a><br /><br /><br /> <a href="http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2080.html">Sumo!</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/StUg8ih2knI/AAAAAAAABBs/nLknkF5QqKk/s1600-h/sumo+graffiti.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/StUg8ih2knI/AAAAAAAABBs/nLknkF5QqKk/s400/sumo+graffiti.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392252353279070834" /></a><br /><br />Sumo is as much part of Japanese culture as sushi and electronics. A <a href="http://sumo.goo.ne.jp/eng/ozumo_joho_kyoku/shiru/kiso_chishiki/beginners_guide/index.html">Beginner's Guide to Sumo</a> will tell you that sumo dates back at least 1500 years and actually helped determine, at some point, the future of the Japanese race. <br /><br />Sumo is incredibly simple yet also strangely complex. The entire goal of a match is to throw your opponent to the ground or outside of the sumo ring. Simple. But not really, sumo is so much more. Sumo is about ranking, training, fight-winning moves, categories and ancient rituals and theatrics. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/StUg73KHduI/AAAAAAAABBk/gycrmvuZRAQ/s1600-h/Sumo+2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 252px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/StUg73KHduI/AAAAAAAABBk/gycrmvuZRAQ/s400/Sumo+2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392252341636789986" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://tarmaxandtraintrax.blogspot.com/2009/10/sumo.html">In a mini-post of its own</a>, Erik posted the winning match at September's Grand Tournament. At the grandest of grand venues, the two wrestlers entertained not only an electrified crowd but also a newly elected Prime Minister. There were dozens of rituals that we observed (most of which we couldn't understand) and thousands of cheers and heckles that rung out like foreign songs throughout the stadium. Reigning Champion Asashoryu Akinori also did not disappoint. He stomped, he slapped and he yelled. Best of all though, he performed.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/StUg7EqKNCI/AAAAAAAABBc/CwQ-T6SmmcE/s1600-h/Sumo+3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 250px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/StUg7EqKNCI/AAAAAAAABBc/CwQ-T6SmmcE/s400/Sumo+3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392252328080978978" /></a><br /><br /><br />Although relegated to an obvious 'foreigners section' in the sumo stadium, the sumo tournament was one of the most authentically Japanese parts of our whole trip.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/StUg6mTeNgI/AAAAAAAABBU/1npyU_OMHj8/s1600-h/Sumo1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 232px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/StUg6mTeNgI/AAAAAAAABBU/1npyU_OMHj8/s400/Sumo1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392252319932757506" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29345208.post-23900384465720647102009-09-29T20:30:00.001-03:002009-10-09T09:38:41.534-03:00Kyoto - a wonderful mix of old and new. Sept 20-25<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/SsvVeN7ABBI/AAAAAAAAA_U/_24REcmNw4Y/s1600-h/River+with+boats.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 263px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/SsvVeN7ABBI/AAAAAAAAA_U/_24REcmNw4Y/s400/River+with+boats.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389636094188848146" /></a><br /><br />Kyoto was the 2nd of 4 stops on our two-week trip to Japan/US. After a weekend of relaxing in Niijima, we headed to Kyoto partly because a friend of ours was doing a sabbatical at the University of Kyoto and also partly because this city, so wonderfully foreign, just seemed interesting. <br /><br />In the reading we did prior to leaving for our trip, we had read much about the insanity of Tokyo. We could easily imagine the exoticism in Niijima but we couldn't quite form a clear expectation of Kyoto. And as a rule, blank canvases preconceptions make for interesting trips.<br /><br />While we were aware of some history, we couldn't fully appreciate that Kyoto remains a tangle of graceful Shinto temples...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/SsvTmvBgXNI/AAAAAAAAA-8/gZeQ8cUnY-Q/s1600-h/fushimi+inari+2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 275px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/SsvTmvBgXNI/AAAAAAAAA-8/gZeQ8cUnY-Q/s400/fushimi+inari+2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389634041490201810" /></a><br /><br />a place where old traditions somehow remain largely mysterious...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/SsvUnEKBzOI/AAAAAAAAA_E/Btedj2S-ut4/s1600-h/fake+maiko+2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 294px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/SsvUnEKBzOI/AAAAAAAAA_E/Btedj2S-ut4/s400/fake+maiko+2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389635146674719970" /></a><br /><br />a city that has some depth....<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/Ss5-BdpEKeI/AAAAAAAAA_c/fLmC0cy7XLQ/s1600-h/looking+for+crabs.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 292px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/Ss5-BdpEKeI/AAAAAAAAA_c/fLmC0cy7XLQ/s400/looking+for+crabs.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390384367610898914" /></a><br /><br />and beauty...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/Ss5-YP-z-NI/AAAAAAAAA_k/8Cc5kfBuEV0/s1600-h/Golden+Temple.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/Ss5-YP-z-NI/AAAAAAAAA_k/8Cc5kfBuEV0/s400/Golden+Temple.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390384759081007314" /></a><br /><br />and surprising youthful edge...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/Ss5-qrnrGWI/AAAAAAAAA_s/kjoLTWiRzdQ/s1600-h/my+would+be+album+cover.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 269px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/Ss5-qrnrGWI/AAAAAAAAA_s/kjoLTWiRzdQ/s400/my+would+be+album+cover.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390385075737794914" /></a><br /><br />and finally, contains a living dichotomy that is harder than you might think to nail down, or categorically identify.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/Ss5_IQH1L9I/AAAAAAAAA_0/mCjhdwaIbTM/s1600-h/old+and+new.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/Ss5_IQH1L9I/AAAAAAAAA_0/mCjhdwaIbTM/s400/old+and+new.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390385583752556498" /></a><br /><br />Kyoto was both everything that one might expect...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/Ss5_bWl2qDI/AAAAAAAAA_8/0pohblzrvUQ/s1600-h/alleyway.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 273px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/Ss5_bWl2qDI/AAAAAAAAA_8/0pohblzrvUQ/s400/alleyway.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390385911906609202" /></a><br /><br />and amazingly, just a little more...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/Ss5_r0lAesI/AAAAAAAABAE/O1V3YviTjzw/s1600-h/prayer+fushimi.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 280px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/Ss5_r0lAesI/AAAAAAAABAE/O1V3YviTjzw/s400/prayer+fushimi.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390386194834029250" /></a><br /><br />We made but two quick day trips outside of Kyoto, to places that still house castles that you might remember seeing in your childhood dreams. It was hard to reconcile not having two more weeks to do even more exploring.<br />(<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Himeji_Castle">Himeji</a>, an hour from Kyoto)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/SsvU7K6WX4I/AAAAAAAAA_M/aFVNbCXtbps/s1600-h/Himeji.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 270px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/SsvU7K6WX4I/AAAAAAAAA_M/aFVNbCXtbps/s400/Himeji.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389635492085391234" /></a><br /><br /><br />As happens frequently when we travel, we both identified with Kyoto as a place where we could actually live...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/Ss6ASYKExzI/AAAAAAAABAM/wQdf9coPQqk/s1600-h/myloveinkyoto.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 270px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/Ss6ASYKExzI/AAAAAAAABAM/wQdf9coPQqk/s400/myloveinkyoto.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390386857219770162" /></a><br /><br />If only....<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/Ss6C6nclVMI/AAAAAAAABAk/Xgxo3ui55Zw/s1600-h/bamboo+forest.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/Ss6C6nclVMI/AAAAAAAABAk/Xgxo3ui55Zw/s400/bamboo+forest.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390389747541955778" /></a><br /><br />one could ever make the leap...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/Ss6A9ouIN4I/AAAAAAAABAU/2oOf8v2CFho/s1600-h/budda+at+Nara.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 284px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/Ss6A9ouIN4I/AAAAAAAABAU/2oOf8v2CFho/s400/budda+at+Nara.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390387600400332674" /></a><br /><br />5 days was entirely too short....<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/Ss6BjLM9iyI/AAAAAAAABAc/V0xroeWDcLc/s1600-h/cemetary+near+kiyomizudera.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 246px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/Ss6BjLM9iyI/AAAAAAAABAc/V0xroeWDcLc/s400/cemetary+near+kiyomizudera.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390388245311621922" /></a><br /><br /> <br />Next stop - Tokyo.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com208tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29345208.post-57806013958889527692009-09-28T06:30:00.001-03:002009-10-09T09:40:09.486-03:00Sumo Sept 27One of the coolest and most cultural things we saw during our travels in Japan was the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sumo">Sumo</a> tournament at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ry%C5%8Dgoku_Kokugikan">Ryōgoku Kokugikan</a> in Tokyo. It is a 2-week long affair lasting approximately 8 hours a day and we got to go to the final day of the tournament! It was incredible how one can get caught up in a sport one hardly knows. Despite all that, we had a blast: we ate sushi, drank beer, spoke to two Spaniards and most important of all, watched some Sumo!<br /><br />Below is a little video of the playoff match between the two best sumo wrestlers out there today :<br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asash%C5%8Dry%C5%AB_Akinori">Asashōryū Akinori (winner)</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hakuh%C5%8D_Sh%C5%8D">Hakuhō Shō</a>.<br /><br />Asashōryū being the crowd pleaser at minute 6:00.<br />The actual duel at minute 6:30.<br /><br /><object width="445" height="364"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/SMz6qeV9WBs&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999&border=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/SMz6qeV9WBs&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="445" height="364"></embed></object><br /><span style="font-style:italic;"><br />More posts and photos to come : Erik just wanted to share this video asap.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29345208.post-59018245068860341622009-09-21T20:42:00.013-03:002009-10-09T09:39:44.637-03:00Niijima Sept 18-20We arrived via high speed Ferry to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niijima">Niijima</a> on Friday right before a (then unknown to us) Typhoon. Our friends living in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyoto">Kyoto</a>, graciously arranged for us to stay at a local bed and breakfast near the beach. We could write a whole post about the owners of the B&B including details on chain-smoking, bickering, generosity and home-made sushi that would have been worth a fortune that could be served at any Michelin-rated restaurant....but we'll stop here in telling you that it was all that and more...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/SrhOg94PafI/AAAAAAAAA9o/m3w0I0mUi8M/s1600-h/IMG_0382.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/SrhOg94PafI/AAAAAAAAA9o/m3w0I0mUi8M/s400/IMG_0382.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384139682794662386" /></a><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niijima">Niijima</a> is a funny, exotic and wonderful place. As we were visiting off-season, we mostly had the place to ourselves. We counted all of 5 white people on the whole Island. Niijima is a favorite vacation destination for ppl living in Tokyo and we are told it is incredibly busy during the summer season because of its proximity to Tokyo (less than 3 hours away) and its rich history...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/SrgQPq1MsmI/AAAAAAAAA9I/duXsPudB-fs/s1600-h/IMG_0458.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/SrgQPq1MsmI/AAAAAAAAA9I/duXsPudB-fs/s400/IMG_0458.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384071215902929506" /></a><br />The best way to describe Niijima is that is a place that really makes you feel like you are in some sort of Indiana Jones movie...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/SrgQO8Ska2I/AAAAAAAAA9A/ZBAahI-iZfA/s1600-h/IMG_0451.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/SrgQO8Ska2I/AAAAAAAAA9A/ZBAahI-iZfA/s400/IMG_0451.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384071203409652578" /></a><br />It is not only beautiful...but full of great things like tons of fresh fish (making for incredible food) and a slow languid pace of life (not to mention a strange and slightly bizarre surf-culture complete with marijuana-leafed souvenirs and Bob Marley posters). And one of the best parts....no one is in hurry is Niijima.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/SrgPukbITII/AAAAAAAAA84/P1cSDHc943M/s1600-h/IMG_0474.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/SrgPukbITII/AAAAAAAAA84/P1cSDHc943M/s400/IMG_0474.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />We spent our weekend riding bikes back and forth across the Island, swimming, trying to communicate with the owners of the B&B and quite frankly feeling astounded....at the raw beauty of this place that was so close to an urban center yet felt so foreign and exotic to us.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/SrgPuG5cTZI/AAAAAAAAA8w/fV-SidEalP8/s1600-h/IMG_0428.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/SrgPuG5cTZI/AAAAAAAAA8w/fV-SidEalP8/s400/IMG_0428.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384070639321370002" /></a><br />Native blooms<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/SrgPtTEcNxI/AAAAAAAAA8o/T6eei39KXlw/s1600-h/IMG_0414.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/SrgPtTEcNxI/AAAAAAAAA8o/T6eei39KXlw/s400/IMG_0414.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384070625408857874" /></a><br />The coast line with a slight outline of the public <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onsen">onsen</a> (hotsprings) where we spent a fair amount of our time...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/SrgPs1idMhI/AAAAAAAAA8g/nBEgjpw1Phg/s1600-h/IMG_0393.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/SrgPs1idMhI/AAAAAAAAA8g/nBEgjpw1Phg/s400/IMG_0393.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384070617481687570" /></a><br />Better shot of the onsen...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/SrhQBWi6AzI/AAAAAAAAA9w/9q7EvG7-05I/s1600-h/IMG_0489.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/SrhQBWi6AzI/AAAAAAAAA9w/9q7EvG7-05I/s400/IMG_0489.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384141338683507506" /></a><br />More beach. There were kilometers upon kilometers of various colored sand, we swam on one of the beaches, the water was salty and warm and the surf was fun and strong. The rest of the time we spent simply gazing at the waves...and no, it never got repetitive....<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/SrgPsOLp-HI/AAAAAAAAA8Y/cOA3oD7CJM8/s1600-h/IMG_0378.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/SrgPsOLp-HI/AAAAAAAAA8Y/cOA3oD7CJM8/s400/IMG_0378.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384070606917073010" /></a><br />As the weekend went on, we noticed with only slight worry that the weather network (which was all Japanese) seemed to be announcing some bad weather off the coast of Tokyo. <br /><br />It was pretty rainy and windy (which sucked for biking) but as we did not understand Japanese, it was difficult for us to figure out that it might actually mean something bad, especially in terms of our return. We figured out that it *might* mean something when we finally understood (though diagrams) that all flights and boats on Saturday were canceled (we were intending on leaving on the Sunday ferry)! With a bit of confusion, much beer and alot of pointing and drawing and even a phone call to a bilingual relative in Toyko, we finally were able to exchange our boat tickets for a direct flight to Tokyo as we were told that this was likely our only chance to get off the Island. We took it.....<br /><br />About two hours before we left...we decided to make one last trip to the beach, the surfing beach. Erik was riding his bike ahead when all of a sudden he heard a gigantic crash and some screaming. The rusty metal clip which held the basket over the front wheel of Natalie's bike snapped (does this REALLY surprise you?), causing the basket to get jammed into the wheel...and causing Natalie to go head over feet over the bike. See results below... <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/SrgQRl2oSRI/AAAAAAAAA9g/Asn9hlbgPak/s1600-h/IMG_0515.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/SrgQRl2oSRI/AAAAAAAAA9g/Asn9hlbgPak/s400/IMG_0515.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384071248926492946" /></a><br />Yes those are actual tears (the damage to Natalie's face actually got much worse than it appeared after the swelling set in, more pictures later) but she took it in stride and decided to enjoy her last couple of hours on the Niijima. It was, after all, rather hard to not feel better when you got to recuperate in a place that looked like this.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/SrgQRPU70YI/AAAAAAAAA9Y/y68KG1-SkkQ/s1600-h/IMG_0518.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/SrgQRPU70YI/AAAAAAAAA9Y/y68KG1-SkkQ/s400/IMG_0518.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384071242879586690" /></a><br />Next stop Kyoto!<br /><br />Love to everyone<br />Natalie & ErikUnknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29345208.post-3700580273158202852009-09-21T20:34:00.009-03:002009-10-09T09:40:44.224-03:00Tokyo (a stopover) Sept 17-18Our flight on Japan Airlines (JAL) was everything you might imagine a 13 hour flight to be. Exhausting, boring, interesting, fun, strange and long. JAL was a pretty good option however...imagine a cross between British Airways elegance and WestJet value. The food was good (not great), the seats were reasonable (not comfortable) and the service was polite (not friendly).<br /><br />Arriving at Tokyo airport could be the subject of a whole separate post...but we are lazy, so it wont! Imagine more people than you have ever seen (none of which look even remotely like you) and signs everywhere (none of which you understand) and noise.....so much noise. And then, imagine yourself having to navigate trains and buses after having been awake for 24 hours. Welcome to Japan....insanity! It is actually now about a week later and when we both discussed the evening (prior to this post), we found it hard to remember much...except for the confusion.<br /><br />We stayed our first night at a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryokan_%28Japanese_inn%29">ryokan</a> (a traditional Japanese Bed and Breakfast). A ryokan generally differs from a B&B in a few key ways. Usually, breakfast AND supper are included, some sort of view is usually provided (we overlooked a small zen garden) and the bedding is traditional futon which is laid out on a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tatami">tatami</a> floor. The reception was however warm (see sign below)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/SrgOPh6mblI/AAAAAAAAA7g/EvcMvxhj8ow/s1600-h/IMG_0302.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/SrgOPh6mblI/AAAAAAAAA7g/EvcMvxhj8ow/s400/IMG_0302.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384069014486412882" /></a><br /><br />Our ryokan was located <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asakusa">Asakusa</a> (a historical part of Tokyo) and offered and traditional <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tatami">Edo</a>-styled meal (which had more food than what 4 people could properly eat!)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/SrgOPBc3rUI/AAAAAAAAA7Y/JfUaDkYhtVs/s1600-h/IMG_0291.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/SrgOPBc3rUI/AAAAAAAAA7Y/JfUaDkYhtVs/s400/IMG_0291.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384069005771779394" /></a><br /><br />Later that evening we walked (ok, more like ROLLED) around some quiet alleys nearby to see what we might find...It was mostly quiet...but graceful and beautiful.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/SrgORXWjDsI/AAAAAAAAA74/cyMp8WV6ccI/s1600-h/IMG_0324.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/SrgORXWjDsI/AAAAAAAAA74/cyMp8WV6ccI/s400/IMG_0324.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384069046010580674" /></a><br />At this point, our stop in Tokyo was meant to be temporary...but it was hard to not get excited about returning....<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/SrgOtwbJpII/AAAAAAAAA8A/0pGqmzGWVaY/s1600-h/IMG_0316.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/SrgOtwbJpII/AAAAAAAAA8A/0pGqmzGWVaY/s400/IMG_0316.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384069533777110146" /></a><br /><br />One of many temples we stumbled across....literally about 5 minutes walk from our ryokan (not exactly akin to anything in downtown Fredericton)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/SrgOQTusezI/AAAAAAAAA7o/evSwE4KcTlg/s1600-h/IMG_0320.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/SrgOQTusezI/AAAAAAAAA7o/evSwE4KcTlg/s400/IMG_0320.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384069027858250546" /></a><br /><br />The next morning, bright and early, we hit the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsukiji_fish_market">Tokyo Fish Market. </a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/SrskvecJ4II/AAAAAAAAA94/yfY_MPEowLs/s1600-h/IMG_0355.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/SrskvecJ4II/AAAAAAAAA94/yfY_MPEowLs/s400/IMG_0355.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384938177495163010" /></a><br /><br />This market runs 5 days a week and plays host to an INCREDIBLE amount of commerce. On any given day, hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of fish are won at auction or bought outright. The auction section of the market is an actual tourist attraction where you can watch (from a roped-off area) local buyers carefully inspect single fish or large lots of fish. Some (like the tuna shown) are worth THOUSANDS of dollars. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/SrgPMYPp20I/AAAAAAAAA8I/7Bwy7-5BsJ4/s1600-h/IMG_0339.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/SrgPMYPp20I/AAAAAAAAA8I/7Bwy7-5BsJ4/s400/IMG_0339.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384070059862383426" /></a><br /><br />Part of what is difficult, in any city, is actually getting a *feel* for the city without becoming an annoying (and obtrusive) tourist. We usually strive to find a happy medium....however this fish market was difficult....because as much as we wanted to SEE what was going on....we absolutely wanted to avoid annoying (or getting in the way) of business.<br /><br />As we were heading out however....camera still in hand, we caught one of the fish vendors fueling up his mini-cart at a local gas station....and he posed, spontaneously...and suddenly, most of our worries evaporated.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/SrgPNTY-mcI/AAAAAAAAA8Q/wlroIMXT8Po/s1600-h/IMG_0368.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/SrgPNTY-mcI/AAAAAAAAA8Q/wlroIMXT8Po/s400/IMG_0368.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384070075739183554" /></a><br /><br />Given the incredible quantities of fresh fish, it goes without saying that breakfast that morning was the freshest bowl of sushi that either of us will no doubt EVER have....it was the perfect way to end our (brief) stay in Tokyo before catching a ferry for our first real destination, Niijima.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/Srskvz5oZ2I/AAAAAAAAA-A/vUPd0dMxsYE/s1600-h/IMG_0363.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/Srskvz5oZ2I/AAAAAAAAA-A/vUPd0dMxsYE/s400/IMG_0363.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384938183255943010" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29345208.post-70681259975942045782009-09-19T06:00:00.002-03:002009-09-19T06:07:34.500-03:00NiijimaSpending an incredible weekend in Niijima. Limited internet access, will post more later...but for now....here are a couple of pictures of paradise.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/SrSfF2BqdWI/AAAAAAAAA7Q/nX5gskHHwIg/s1600-h/%E7%94%BB%E5%83%8F+003.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/SrSfF2BqdWI/AAAAAAAAA7Q/nX5gskHHwIg/s400/%E7%94%BB%E5%83%8F+003.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383102377365239138" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/SrSfEqdq5mI/AAAAAAAAA7A/iUiJKzLU-os/s1600-h/%E7%94%BB%E5%83%8F+001.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/SrSfEqdq5mI/AAAAAAAAA7A/iUiJKzLU-os/s400/%E7%94%BB%E5%83%8F+001.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383102357081613922" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/SrSfFUHUlaI/AAAAAAAAA7I/E0T90nHa7OY/s1600-h/%E7%94%BB%E5%83%8F+002.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/SrSfFUHUlaI/AAAAAAAAA7I/E0T90nHa7OY/s400/%E7%94%BB%E5%83%8F+002.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383102368262165922" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />Love<br />Natalie and ErikUnknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29345208.post-48390604589344214422009-09-13T21:29:00.008-03:002009-09-15T08:20:20.939-03:00Part 1 - Québec and Ontario - Family and FriendsWorking on the same day you leave for vacation can be really difficult. Working on the same day as you leave for vacation is probably not a good idea!... This past Thursday was no exception to this rule. Enter two hurried, stressed and did I mention hurried people....and you get a picture of the way our vacation started. Thank god we started packing three weeks ago....what neither of us can figure out is how we still ended up forgetting things. Why is vacationing so hard sometimes?<br /><br />After a smoother than anticipated drive (Felix-wise) we stopped our first night in Québec city to visit with dear friends G. and G. The evening turned into ALOT of late night laughter. The next morning (which started a bit too early) made way for a great stroll through Québec City, breakfast and time spent at a local park. It was the perfect way to start a vacation. Here's an attempt at a family picture.... you may notice that "Someone" didn't want to stay still for the picture (Erik is such a brat sometimes! Heh!)<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/Sq2UuDhYcCI/AAAAAAAAA6Y/CUPyBYVUmBQ/s1600-h/park.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 234px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/Sq2UuDhYcCI/AAAAAAAAA6Y/CUPyBYVUmBQ/s400/park.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381120648717824034" /></a><br /><br />Here is HUGE cross at a location which is THOUGHT to be the landing place of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_de_Champlain">Samuel de Champlain.</a><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/Sq2UtmtXiJI/AAAAAAAAA6Q/b29wa6rWR7A/s1600-h/cross.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 243px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/Sq2UtmtXiJI/AAAAAAAAA6Q/b29wa6rWR7A/s400/cross.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381120640983468178" /></a><br /><br />Made it to Northern Ontario in great time...and MOST surprisingly had to make almost NO stops except for gas. Narrowly avoided a head-on collision BUT realized that kid will likely NOT cry if he has a backseat buddy. Also, spent considerable amount of time questioning whether our Felix was indeed abducted by aliens and replaced with newer, easier baby. Odd...and incredibly pleasant. Discovered that the kid is COMPLETELY obsessed with trucks and tractors....OBSESSED.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/Sq2VBSqRisI/AAAAAAAAA6o/BhIIAxtbQTk/s1600-h/tracteur1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 278px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/Sq2VBSqRisI/AAAAAAAAA6o/BhIIAxtbQTk/s400/tracteur1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381120979199167170" /></a><br /><br />Did I say OBSESSED?<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/Sq2UsEfnvtI/AAAAAAAAA54/XAxsjSazs80/s1600-h/avec+papi.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 255px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/Sq2UsEfnvtI/AAAAAAAAA54/XAxsjSazs80/s400/avec+papi.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381120614619135698" /></a><br /><br />In Cochrane, we went to see some pretty awesome <a href="http://www.polarbearhabitat.ca/">Polar Bears</a>. Entertaining and awe-inspiring. Also entertaining = the fact that "Someone" thinks that all animals are called "doggies". (Erik does know all of his numbers tho! Heh!)<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/Sq2UsjVtZWI/AAAAAAAAA6A/j81eTMNikf8/s1600-h/bear+and+kid.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/Sq2UsjVtZWI/AAAAAAAAA6A/j81eTMNikf8/s400/bear+and+kid.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381120622899062114" /></a><br /><br />DOGGIE!<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/Sq2UtJHUgCI/AAAAAAAAA6I/jZbDTBxQmNU/s1600-h/bear.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/Sq2UtJHUgCI/AAAAAAAAA6I/jZbDTBxQmNU/s400/bear.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381120633039257634" /></a><br /><br />Spent some time visiting things around town....<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/Sq2VBKzYMcI/AAAAAAAAA6g/k-hhQObi78U/s1600-h/Qu%C3%A9bec,+Cochrane+154.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 276px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/Sq2VBKzYMcI/AAAAAAAAA6g/k-hhQObi78U/s400/Qu%C3%A9bec,+Cochrane+154.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381120977089868226" /></a><br /><br />Spent some time visiting the back yard....(life in a Northern town can be quite glorious at times...)<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/Sq2VB2fpxcI/AAAAAAAAA6w/5ihf_N95P0c/s1600-h/wheat.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/Sq2VB2fpxcI/AAAAAAAAA6w/5ihf_N95P0c/s400/wheat.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381120988818294210" /></a><br /><br />And last...but not least...spent alot of time on the floor (mostly sober)....laughing and playing.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/Sq7hkYY_s7I/AAAAAAAAA64/MhIReb5Za9Y/s1600-h/Qu%C3%A9bec,+Cochrane+257.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/Sq7hkYY_s7I/AAAAAAAAA64/MhIReb5Za9Y/s400/Qu%C3%A9bec,+Cochrane+257.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381486619893150642" /></a><br /><br />Vacation has started well....in fact, one might even say VERY well.<br /><br />Natalie, Erik & FelixUnknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29345208.post-82077535631735597532009-08-31T21:19:00.003-03:002009-08-31T21:26:33.323-03:00Summer 2009 - Japan and ChicagoIt's that time of year. The time of year when we find ourselves itching for a vacation, getting impatient for time off, and chomping at the bit to just get out of this tiny little City.<br /><br />This summer will bring us to a few very different places that all hold great promise for fun and adventure . In just under two weeks, we leave the Tiny Capital and head to Northern Ontario, from there we drive back to Ottawa to begin a kid-less vacation (go team!). We then fly Ottawa-Chicago-Tokyo. Once in Japan, we'll spend time in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokyo">Tokyo</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niijima">Niijima</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyoto">Kyoto</a> with many stops between. On our way back to Ottawa, we'll also spend a brief stint (3 days) in Chicago getting a taste of the Windy City, probably just enough to convince us that we HAVE to return (so many places to visit, so little time!).<br /><br />Pictures and itineraries to come, but first, there is packing to do, work to finish and plans to be finalized.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29345208.post-85153795361898450962009-05-20T10:40:00.001-03:002009-05-20T10:40:57.102-03:00NYC - Natalie<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/ShNB0BSyhNI/AAAAAAAAAv4/tVuYJgQAsqg/s1600-h/Rainy+Square.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/ShNB0BSyhNI/AAAAAAAAAv4/tVuYJgQAsqg/s400/Rainy+Square.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337682345320416466" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Thursday morning 8am:</span> arrive to a rainy day in New York. Think to self: wow...simply fucking wow!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/ShNB0HgnbvI/AAAAAAAAAwA/Avdh8yd7SZo/s1600-h/tourist+photo.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/ShNB0HgnbvI/AAAAAAAAAwA/Avdh8yd7SZo/s400/tourist+photo.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337682346989022962" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Thursday morning about 9:30am:</span> soldering through a pre-booked double-decker bus tour. Feel very dorky, but wow...also COLD and WET and this guy's head is really very shiny.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/ShNGI6grrjI/AAAAAAAAAxA/CVDDvLh8-k8/s1600-h/M%26Ms.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 255px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/ShNGI6grrjI/AAAAAAAAAxA/CVDDvLh8-k8/s400/M%26Ms.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337687102323404338" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Thursday morning noon:</span> note to front desk staff at Doubletree, please please PLEASE do not tell us to come back for our room until it is ACTUALLY ready. Thank you!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/ShNHWwF_XVI/AAAAAAAAAxw/t2E8jMsenLU/s1600-h/pretzels.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 228px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/ShNHWwF_XVI/AAAAAAAAAxw/t2E8jMsenLU/s400/pretzels.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337688439556889938" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Thursday late afternoon:</span> all previous angst replaced by intense desire to relocate to this City. Start imagining how I could sell this to MD. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/ShNB0pbJyiI/AAAAAAAAAwI/IuS3VK-SVdE/s1600-h/radio+city.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 250px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/ShNB0pbJyiI/AAAAAAAAAwI/IuS3VK-SVdE/s400/radio+city.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337682356092914210" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Thursday 3pm:</span> hotel still not ready...but it's hard to be really angry when you are seeing things like this....*le sigh* And, why did I not buy that shirt from Banana Republic when I had a chance? Am sometimes too cheap, *double sigh*<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/ShNB009xR9I/AAAAAAAAAwQ/cQdSn_WrOn0/s1600-h/church.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 259px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/ShNB009xR9I/AAAAAAAAAwQ/cQdSn_WrOn0/s400/church.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337682359190898642" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Friday morning about 11am:</span> up bright and early,...this day is going to be great!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/ShNENXnJ7aI/AAAAAAAAAwY/N_DnCIQnYdA/s1600-h/by+boat.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/ShNENXnJ7aI/AAAAAAAAAwY/N_DnCIQnYdA/s400/by+boat.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337684979831401890" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Friday afternoon:</span> Circle K cruise, feeling happy, light and free...also staggeringly exhausted and wondering how on earth we will find energy required to see entire island in 4 days. Also, doing mental math concerning relocation costs.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/ShNEN-JosjI/AAAAAAAAAwo/qSB34yfWbzw/s1600-h/911+note.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 286px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/ShNEN-JosjI/AAAAAAAAAwo/qSB34yfWbzw/s400/911+note.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337684990176571954" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Saturday morning:</span> First stop of the day is Ground Zero. Saw this note, had a hard time keeping it together. Didn't expect to feel so emotional.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/ShNENkKVOxI/AAAAAAAAAwg/WP6I69s7ln4/s1600-h/truck+in+shadow.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/ShNENkKVOxI/AAAAAAAAAwg/WP6I69s7ln4/s400/truck+in+shadow.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337684983200168722" /></a><br />Watched a fireman work around a truck located in front of Ground Zero construction site, had to resist urge to hug him. Almost like an out of body experience.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/ShNEOP0j0EI/AAAAAAAAAww/MUBwIH3t-DE/s1600-h/chinatown.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/ShNEOP0j0EI/AAAAAAAAAww/MUBwIH3t-DE/s400/chinatown.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337684994920009794" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Saturday 1pm:</span> pre-Canal street purse adventure, trying to imagine what life must be like as an immigrant. Hard, yet full of so much promise. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/ShNEOo1uxUI/AAAAAAAAAw4/VTrc8z1K1uo/s1600-h/little+italy.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 294px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/ShNEOo1uxUI/AAAAAAAAAw4/VTrc8z1K1uo/s400/little+italy.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337685001635808578" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Saturday 1:30pm:</span> wondering why Little Italy (1 block away from Chinatown) seems so much more civilized than Chinatown...maybe has something to do with cannoli, or then again maybe it's because no one is assaulting one another with the promise of fake leather goods.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/ShNGKKxr0UI/AAAAAAAAAxY/iAz8Eed9wVs/s1600-h/flatiron.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 244px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/ShNGKKxr0UI/AAAAAAAAAxY/iAz8Eed9wVs/s400/flatiron.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337687123869552962" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Saturday 5pm:</span> feet legs and back hurt....yet must....go....on. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/ShNGJMFbtNI/AAAAAAAAAxI/ByGhP9DHgDU/s1600-h/central+park.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/ShNGJMFbtNI/AAAAAAAAAxI/ByGhP9DHgDU/s400/central+park.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337687107040949458" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Sunday 10:30am:</span> thinking that Central Park has to be one of the happiest places on earth, also, WTF is this guy doing with 5 dogs?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/ShNHWTvY9SI/AAAAAAAAAxo/MgnRIMA06QI/s1600-h/Bergdorf.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/ShNHWTvY9SI/AAAAAAAAAxo/MgnRIMA06QI/s400/Bergdorf.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337688431945905442" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Sunday 11am:</span> 5th avenue is full of magical places AND dichotomies. Felt like schoolgirl in the elevator at Tiffany & Co.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/ShNGKfexemI/AAAAAAAAAxg/1ykYseGZ2aQ/s1600-h/Plaza.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 270px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/ShNGKfexemI/AAAAAAAAAxg/1ykYseGZ2aQ/s400/Plaza.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337687129427376738" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Sunday 11:05am:</span> briefly wonder what it would be like to be independently wealthy and actually stay at the Plaza....then get a little sad that this will never happen, related: buy lotto tickets more often.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/ShNGJvfBnYI/AAAAAAAAAxQ/5eHu8bYhYBI/s1600-h/Ferari.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 292px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/ShNGJvfBnYI/AAAAAAAAAxQ/5eHu8bYhYBI/s400/Ferari.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337687116543532418" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Sunday noon:</span> So hungry I could eat a horse, or a metal model car, or both. Related, why doesn't anyone know where Serendipity III is? And I wonder if John Cusack will be there? <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/ShNHXhD3t0I/AAAAAAAAAyI/2Nt59PmXjyI/s1600-h/BE.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 282px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/ShNHXhD3t0I/AAAAAAAAAyI/2Nt59PmXjyI/s400/BE.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337688452701337410" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Sunday 5pm:</span> wonder if it's normal that I cried for most of production. Also, SEE Billy Elliott, no really. See it if you can and bring tissues. <br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">And finally, my ladyloves...my awesome, fun, creative and completely wonderful long-time, long-lost fabulous friends. I miss you already! Next time let's bring better shoes and more money!</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/ShNJqnXdDeI/AAAAAAAAAy4/XgdMfLRaKvo/s1600-h/Rachel.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 263px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/ShNJqnXdDeI/AAAAAAAAAy4/XgdMfLRaKvo/s400/Rachel.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337690979834858978" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/ShNJqtqxMEI/AAAAAAAAAyw/VUdHiQNuIB4/s1600-h/Gin.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 262px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/ShNJqtqxMEI/AAAAAAAAAyw/VUdHiQNuIB4/s400/Gin.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337690981526483010" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/ShNJqWSRE_I/AAAAAAAAAyo/15L_bGcLKkc/s1600-h/Carole+BW.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/ShNJqWSRE_I/AAAAAAAAAyo/15L_bGcLKkc/s400/Carole+BW.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337690975249699826" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29345208.post-85451228274305608252008-08-20T10:44:00.000-03:002009-05-20T10:45:37.134-03:00Reykjavik - Pure EnergyWhat a place....what a place...what a place.<br /><br />The last 6 days have been filled with great food, crazy drinking with insane Icelanders, lazy sleep, relaxation, swimming, sightseeing, wonder and wandering. Details soon to follow about exactly how we spent our days...but in the meantime, here's a picture of the <a href="http://www.bluelagoon.com/">Blue Lagoon</a>, where we started (and will end) our trip...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/SKyqqE2yLuI/AAAAAAAAAZY/r8-ilau0wIA/s1600-h/blue+lagoon.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/SKyqqE2yLuI/AAAAAAAAAZY/r8-ilau0wIA/s400/blue+lagoon.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236748106559794914" /></a><br /><br />PS - The colors are 100% real...no digital enhancement....word!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29345208.post-5925263066369385312008-08-07T13:00:00.002-03:002009-09-01T08:09:02.510-03:00IcelandTo follow our adventures in Iceland read The 2-D Capers Of Genghis & Felix at <a href="http://www.genghisthedog.com/search/label/2D">GenghistheDog.com</a>.<br />Older posts begin below.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29345208.post-60304499979117237972007-07-25T10:03:00.000-03:002008-12-09T10:24:19.716-04:00heartbreakingly beautifulIt's trite to start a post saying that a picture paints a thousands words...but there's often simply no better way to convey a feeling, a color, a mood or a story. <br /><br />I wish we'd taken more pictures, I wish we'd had more energy and motivation to be those people that constantly had their cameras ready...<br /><br />I wish you could understand the heartbreaking beauty that we saw day in and day out...I wish I was back in New Orleans.<br /><br /><br />Bourbon Street, colorful, vibrant, decadent....you would not be complete without a Mango Mango at each corner!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/RqdVYLtXJII/AAAAAAAAAQ4/7gr7bLwzSAc/s1600-h/Mango+Mango.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/RqdVYLtXJII/AAAAAAAAAQ4/7gr7bLwzSAc/s400/Mango+Mango.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5091131777713906818" /></a><br /><br /><br />The French Quarter was charming...<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/RqdVPLtXJHI/AAAAAAAAAQw/ZHVF3VApxcw/s1600-h/red+doors.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/RqdVPLtXJHI/AAAAAAAAAQw/ZHVF3VApxcw/s400/red+doors.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5091131623095084146" /></a><br /><br /><br />delightful...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/RqdUVbtXJDI/AAAAAAAAAQQ/Z8BxEb_7bJE/s1600-h/Lys.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/RqdUVbtXJDI/AAAAAAAAAQQ/Z8BxEb_7bJE/s400/Lys.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5091130630957638706" /></a><br /><br />and decrepit, all at the same time...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/RqdUObtXJCI/AAAAAAAAAQI/MVrC37ctZVs/s1600-h/Napoleon.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/RqdUObtXJCI/AAAAAAAAAQI/MVrC37ctZVs/s400/Napoleon.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5091130510698554402" /></a><br /><br /><br />We saw the Bayou in all of its glory...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/RqdUkbtXJEI/AAAAAAAAAQY/jVZcWWXEjWQ/s1600-h/car+bayou.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/RqdUkbtXJEI/AAAAAAAAAQY/jVZcWWXEjWQ/s400/car+bayou.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5091130888655676482" /></a><br /><br />And we were witness to culture, proud and true....<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/RqdU6btXJFI/AAAAAAAAAQg/XXYiZMbhIy8/s1600-h/go+Zydeco.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/RqdU6btXJFI/AAAAAAAAAQg/XXYiZMbhIy8/s400/go+Zydeco.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5091131266612798546" /></a><br /><br />We saw heartbreak....<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/RqdVB7tXJGI/AAAAAAAAAQo/SOYkJISHlLg/s1600-h/devastation.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/RqdVB7tXJGI/AAAAAAAAAQo/SOYkJISHlLg/s400/devastation.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5091131395461817442" /></a><br /><br />But we also saw beauty...<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/RqdVl7tXJJI/AAAAAAAAARA/Prrjvnae8IA/s1600-h/acadian+village.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/RqdVl7tXJJI/AAAAAAAAARA/Prrjvnae8IA/s400/acadian+village.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5091132013937108114" /></a><br /><br />and pride...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/RqdVr7tXJKI/AAAAAAAAARI/3tTltx1yUEY/s1600-h/blaconys.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/RqdVr7tXJKI/AAAAAAAAARI/3tTltx1yUEY/s400/blaconys.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5091132117016323234" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29345208.post-23202169292632848732007-07-04T16:21:00.000-03:002007-07-04T16:25:39.470-03:00An Open Letter To New OrleansYou are a mystery worth discovering for so many reasons....yet you keep us guessing because there is far more substance to you than what you'd like to let on. You are not all Bourbon Street and Mardi Gras... <br /><br />You are young musicians playing trombones on street corners, you are old jazz men wearing white hats sitting on bar stools, you are speak easy pubs where local legends stop in and get invited on stage, you are kids glistening shirtless giving tap performances using buttons stuck to their sneakers because they can't afford tap shoes.<br /><br />You are gumbo and jumbalaya, sure thing...but you are also twenty foot oyster counters, lobster stuffed ravioli, fried aligator, sugar coated beignets at 2am, po' boy sandwiches for less than 10$ and portions that are good for the soul.<br /><br />You are tragedy and heartbreak... but you are also resilience and passion and kindness. You are the guy at the end of the bar who has moved 9 times in the past two years, you are the guy in the Vodoo store who admitted to not yet having a kitchen, you are the entire family who was taking our cooking class who was from a parish that was completely destroyed...who was still laughing and still there...<br /><br />You are about calling people 'Ma'am and Sir', you are about tipping your hat, you are about asking complete stangers you meet on the street 'How y'all doing today?'...<br /><br />You are where the Saints live and play...on so many levels... and despite all that you've been through in these past couple of years...you are most definetly open for business.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29345208.post-8320947061891311132007-06-29T07:07:00.000-03:002007-06-29T10:24:25.362-03:00And...we're off!After a 5am rise in our hotel room, and clearly feeling the effects of only a few hours sleep, we are now in crappy Montreal airport, with an, ugh, 3 hour lay-over. <br /><br />However, we do see the light at the end of the proverbial tunnel: we will be in NOLA in less than 8 hours. <br /><br />At which time we will be sweating like pigs, drinking our alcoholized beverages in plastic cups in the middle of the street and jazz hopping. <br /><br />As they say often in Cajun country: <br />Let the good times roll!<br />Or more appropriately:<br />Laissez les bons temps rouler!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29345208.post-65474247823521174092007-06-24T16:31:00.000-03:002008-12-09T10:24:19.915-04:00way better than studying for the bar....<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/Rn7HFRc-LfI/AAAAAAAAAPo/szQpedSEiC4/s1600-h/NOLA+Books.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/Rn7HFRc-LfI/AAAAAAAAAPo/szQpedSEiC4/s400/NOLA+Books.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5079716323118689778" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29345208.post-70298201753363877042007-06-21T11:10:00.000-03:002007-06-26T12:58:58.952-03:00New Orleans 1 - The Big Easy<div style="text-align: justify;">Alot of people we know don't tend to travel. They list many reasons for not traveling among them; lack of money, lack of time, and surprisingly, lack of interest. While I get the first two, I seldom get the third. I (Natalie) do think that it IS possible to travel with limited means and limited time when you plan ahead (we are both young professionals, we understand this and also understand that it's not easy) but I GET that not everyone is interested in traveling this way, on a budget and with a plan. I do get it, sort of. I also get that the <a href="http://tarmaxandtraintrax.blogspot.com/2006_08_08_archive.html">Trans-Siberian Express</a> is not everyone's "cup of tea". <br /><br />In speaking to friends and family about recent trips, I've noted that generally we get that <span style="font-style:italic;">waning look</span> or that <span style="font-style:italic;">wide-eyed look</span>...people generally fall into the "I could care less about Mongolian culture camp" or "you two are certifiably insane camp". I have NOT however see either of these two looks when talking about our next destination: New Orleans, Louisiana. It seems to be a popular place....YAY. Anyone want to join us? It's still a week away!<br /><br />In just over a week, Erik and I will leave on a 9-day trip to NOLA. While both of us have expressed interested in visiting the Big Easy many times through the years, this trip came about in a rather strange kind of way. It all started with the Police. Not the real "police" but rather the musical Police. Many of you know that <a href="http://www.thepolicefile.com/home.html">The Police</a> are one of my all-time favorite bands. EVER. Erik has known this for years and has even gotten extraordinary entertainment out of this fact in foreign countries. (I recall a day in Amsterdam, summer 2001, where I spent a frantic 20 minutes trying to spot Sting in a crowd....simply because Erik thought it would be funny to get me going...NOT FUNNY, imagine the injuries I could have sustained?!?). I really did assume that I'd never get the chance to see The Police live. I mean who would have imagined that they'd reunite to tour and play music?<br /><br />So when the tickets went on sale this past Spring for the Police reunion tour, Erik and I tried to make what seemed like the impossible...possible. I logged onto www.ticketmaster.com an hour early. We had chosen Boston as our destination (close, drivable, as it were) and we even knew what kind of seats we wanted, it was the perfect plan. But the ticket gods had other plans. Rejected, I sulked for the rest of the day. <br /><br />Then it dawned on us (ok, on Erik)....AIRMILES = UNLIMITED POSSIBILITIES<br /><br />And thus a trip to New Orleans was born. We will be flying out of Halifax, NS on June 29th, returning via Washington DC and Halifax on July 9th, 2007. While in NOLA, we will be staying at a (hopefully) fabulous hotel in the French Quarter. As we are staying for just over a week, we are optimistic about getting the chance to do more than just eat, drink and see live music. <br /><br />When I think of the Big Easy, I imagine early morning walks, long lunches, smoldering afternoons, lively people and places, chilled wine and spicy food on luscious patios and easy nights filled with smoky bars and smooth sounds. Easy, fun, relaxing and invigorating. <br /><br />Updates and pictures soon. Please leave a comment with any useful information.<br /><br />Natalie (& Erik)</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29345208.post-73962198210763256612007-01-04T11:04:00.000-04:002007-01-04T11:41:19.727-04:00Bleeding hearts in San Francisco<div style="text-align: justify;">There's a saying that goes something along the lines of not being able to visit San Francisco without leaving your heart behind. I (Natalie) get it, I really do, but that's not really want happened to my heart when I was there over Christmastime. Yea, a little of my heart got left behind but a whole chunk of it got smashed, broken and melted into a tearful and sobbing mess.<br /><br />...<br /><br />One of the first things you notice about spending time in San Francisco are the sheer number of homeless people living on the streets. With the easy climate, dearth of places to live and eclectic nature of the city, one can easily understand the reasons for this occurrence. I assume (possibly naively) that it would be easier to be homeless in San Francisco than in NYC.<br /><br />In the past decade, I've been to quite a few big cities in several countries. I've seen homelessness before that has tugged at my heartstrings (there was an incident involving the Statten Island Ferry terminal that haunts me to this day) and I've even visited cities with horrendous child poverty problems but NOTHING prepared me for the homelessness in San Francisco. It is rampant, it is sad and it is everywhere. <br /><br />Some of the homelessness in San Francisco is easier (for me) to take; the artist siting and sketching against a parking meter in Haight or the young dreadlocked couple playing instruments near one of the Piers. I'm not saying that any aspect of their respective lives is easy, I'm simply saying that I was less affected by the tragedy of their particular situation...at least what was perceptible to me. I ingorantly assumed (and may be totally wrong) that these kids probably have some kind of skill that will get them by and will probably find their way to a better life, eventually. There were however many others, including an aggressive man who approached me on Christmas Eve, for whom I don't hold this hope or belief. <br /><br />As a small town Canadian, extreme poverty and homelessness isn't something I encounter (at least not to this extent) on a daily basis. I don't have a tough shell when it comes to dealing with the problems and personalities of people who are forced to live on the street. Yes, I do see people living on the streets. I try to buy samosas for the guy standing outside of the market on Saturdays and I try to remember to bring along extra coffee money for the guy that stands outside of the Tim Hortons each morning. However, that's about the extent of my day to day involvement with homelessness. <br /><br />When it comes to homelessness, I don't understand, I can't relate. For this, I am eternally grateful. However for this I am also eternally guilt-ridden, upset and angry.<br /><br />There is a part of me (which is not so small) that secretly wants to bring all homeless people home with me, feed them, clothe them and give them each a part of my life savings. I once almost naively invited a couple sitting on the curb, with their mangy dog, to sleep on our kitchen floor (it was all we had as we were living in a Bachelor apartment at the time). Believe it or not, I had to be convinced (in my slightly drunken state) that this was a colossally bad idea and was extremely unsafe and unwise. (duh!)<br /><br />I naively think (and still do) that all people that I set out to help will be nice, kind and grateful..... I am a bleeding heart liberal. I can't help it, it's the way I am built. It probably comes as no surprise that I am woefully unprepared (emotionally) to deal with homelessness when we travel and often find this aspect of any trip to be particularly difficult. <br /><br />There is another part of me however that takes a certain comfort in the fact that despite being exposed to so much homelessness and so many tragic situations that I haven't become hard. Sure, it would be easier, sure, it would make traveling a little less emotional at times. But the fact remains that I never want to become hardened to to the problems of humanity.<br /><br />I guess I am doomed to more frustration, more anger and likely more tears. I can strengthen my resolve to take more action to help improve the lives of those around me and around the world.....but I won't strengthen my resolve to the point of judgment or ignorance.<br /><br />I can't...I won't.<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29345208.post-3122749141488912112006-12-26T13:06:00.000-04:002008-12-09T10:24:22.179-04:00Faithful<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/RZFcE1QvigI/AAAAAAAAACU/-52ZdwnObYw/s1600-h/sanfran+329.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/RZFcE1QvigI/AAAAAAAAACU/-52ZdwnObYw/s320/sanfran+329.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5012889098326608386" border="0" /></a>On December 24th, 2006 Erik and I attended a game at Monster Stadium with Lori and Shayne.<div style="text-align: justify;"><br />I (Natalie) was the only one amongst the 4 of us who had never been to an NFL game. I've seen the Hollywood movies and I've had many male friends. I've been told many times that a great NFL game can sometimes be a thing of legend, can sometimes bring brothers, families and friends together. Funny enough, I also thought that these things could also tear these same people apart....(maybe that's just Hollywood speaking).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/RZFc-1QvihI/AAAAAAAAACc/i4NuzBHD5kk/s1600-h/sanfran+545.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/RZFc-1QvihI/AAAAAAAAACc/i4NuzBHD5kk/s320/sanfran+545.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5012890094759021074" border="0" /></a>I was lucky to be seeing this particular NFL game through the lense of a lifelong 49ers fan. It was kinda like bringing a 5-year old to Santa's village. Everything about the game was like a trip to Germany for me. Everything about the game was like a trip to Mecca for him.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/RZFdwlQviiI/AAAAAAAAACk/zo-gSRblmYc/s1600-h/sanfran+314.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/RZFdwlQviiI/AAAAAAAAACk/zo-gSRblmYc/s320/sanfran+314.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5012890949457512994" border="0" /></a>We walked through the expansive parking lot which was filled with entire families barbecuing, playing cards and throwing around a football. You could hear laughter, music and fun. Some came equipped with stereos, barbecues, TVs and I even saw a generator. These people are serious about their football....but they are JUST as serious about their tailgating. There was no lack of comfort.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/RZFeqVQvijI/AAAAAAAAACs/T6OUH5-eNc0/s1600-h/sanfran+535.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/RZFeqVQvijI/AAAAAAAAACs/T6OUH5-eNc0/s320/sanfran+535.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5012891941594958386" border="0" /></a>Walking into an NFL stadium for the first time is something of a religious experience even for a football neophyte like me. The size of the crowd, the size of the stadium, the size of the field...none of which even compares to the size of the hearts on display....which are all hoping, wishing, praying that the 49ers would lead them to victory on the homefield. The cheers, the boos, the smell of hotdogs and most of all the laughter. There is no other way to describe these fans...but as a family.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/RZFfr1QvikI/AAAAAAAAAC0/SbFd5vt0XGw/s1600-h/sanfran+346.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/RZFfr1QvikI/AAAAAAAAAC0/SbFd5vt0XGw/s320/sanfran+346.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5012893066876389954" border="0" /></a>Throughout the game complete strangers came together believing in one single thing...that the 49ers should WIN this game. I saw 60 year old men dancing and 3 year old girls waving and cheering. But on Christmas Eve, it was not to be.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/RZFgolQvilI/AAAAAAAAAC8/ux6hRWnc_lE/s1600-h/sanfran+532.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/RZFgolQvilI/AAAAAAAAAC8/ux6hRWnc_lE/s320/sanfran+532.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5012894110553442898" border="0" /></a>As the game wound down, 49ers down by 7, dozens started to make their way down the aisles, back to their cars. The final game of the year would not be one of legend.<br /><br />Others straggled in the aisles, exchanging Christmas wishes, hugging fellow fans and extending warm handshakes "See you after Christmas" was heard all around me.<br /><br />I didn't learn much about football on December 24th, 2006, but I learnt a lot about football fans. In a word they are Faithful....faithful to their team, faithful to their sport and most surprisingly.... faithful to one another. It was a good day.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/RZFiJFQvimI/AAAAAAAAADE/DrH6kDz_HBM/s1600-h/EL+BW.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/RZFiJFQvimI/AAAAAAAAADE/DrH6kDz_HBM/s320/EL+BW.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5012895768410819170" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29345208.post-83352068602803849822006-12-25T14:33:00.000-04:002008-12-09T10:24:22.626-04:00Merry Christmas Everyone<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/RZAaWFQvieI/AAAAAAAAAB8/I6B-n_0vZBE/s1600-h/sanfran+085.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/RZAaWFQvieI/AAAAAAAAAB8/I6B-n_0vZBE/s320/sanfran+085.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5012535351935207906" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">May you all have a wonderful day filled with love, tenderness and<br />lots of the good things in life.</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Natalie & Erik</span><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29345208.post-32087195003338681552006-12-24T14:56:00.000-04:002006-12-24T15:13:13.083-04:00Out of Africa.....<div style="text-align: justify;">Fresh off a pretty interesting tour of Alcatraz, all hungry and tired, we set out for our hotel. We waited in vain for a cable car (too full). We ambled through the streets laughing (men are bad at not knowing proper directions) and ended up walking up Battery Street from the Pier.<br /><br />I (Natalie) casually remarked that a friend of ours had told me about the great comedy clubs in San Fran when not a full block later, we stumbled on the awning for the <a href="http://www.punchlinecomedyclub.com/">Punchline Comedy Club.</a><br /><br />We decided, on a lark, to check out the billboard and quickly saw that for the dates of December 22nd and 23rd ....right beside the words "SOLD OUT"...was written DAVE CHAPPELLE!<br /><br />NO...fucking...way.<br /><br />Again, on another whim, we climbed the stairs to the door, saw a last minute lineup and were informed that stand-by seats might be available, but only for the 10pm or midnight show. We collectively laughed at our "good try" and went about our way walking back to our respective hotels.<br /><br />After eating and sleeping, some texting took place and despite my protests (haha) we decided (again, on a whim) that we'd be stupid to NOT try to get into the midnight show. What IF? So we set out to walk to the club again, leaving at midnight with Red Bulls in hand.<br /><br />We waited in line for a little over two hours (still not thinking that it would be possible, to see Dave Chappelle LIVE ....at such a late hour)....and the stars aligned....WE GOT IN.<br /><br />After two opening acts, Dave took the stage at about 3am...and played for over 3 HOURS!....when he started he was stoned out of his mind...then he sobered up....then he got delirious with fatigue....but the WHOLE time....he brought funny to a WHOLE new level. Man, he is one seriously funny (and deranged) guy.<br /><br />Thanks for the awesome Christmas present San Fran. We might have to leave our hearts here for good.<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29345208.post-91012993010949988382006-12-23T15:25:00.000-04:002008-12-09T10:24:23.908-04:00San Francisco here we come (sung to the tune of the OC) UPDATED WITH PICTURES<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/RY7KuVQvibI/AAAAAAAAABY/CY-eAT7VXsI/s1600-h/sanfran+017.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/RY7KuVQvibI/AAAAAAAAABY/CY-eAT7VXsI/s320/sanfran+017.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5012166332640102834" border="0" /></a>Why the title? Wanna guess? It's not really because we are still "on our way" .....but it MIGHT have something to do with the fact that Erik sang that damn song intermitently for about 10 hours on Thursday, it has stuck....and it's stuck good. I was working on the "flowers in my hair" thing....his song is however much more annoying....therefore much stickier to get rid of in the brain!<br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><br />We got here late on Thursday night after a very painful flight (babies crying, hotter than hell and turbulence that kept Erik saying "remember that scene in Lost"....thanks hon!) We are staying in this funky little hotel called Hotel des Arts, which is a neat, if not a little too beatnick...but so cheap that we really can't complain. Our room is small but brightly furnished and we have a perfect window view into the next building (which is located about12 feet from our window at the same level....ahhh...the joys of staying in a downtown hotel!). I hope to make a new friend!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/RY7MLlQvidI/AAAAAAAAABs/EXP-bPz8V7U/s1600-h/sanfran+027.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/RY7MLlQvidI/AAAAAAAAABs/EXP-bPz8V7U/s320/sanfran+027.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5012167934662904274" border="0" /></a>We got alot done on our first day in the SF. We walked through the Castro, the Mission, the Shopping District and also wandered into Chinatown (which is about 2 blocks from our hotel). We had a fabulous lunch in the heart of the Latin Quarter at the <a href="http://www.zagat.com/verticals/PropertyDetails.aspx?VID=8&R=47927&AJX=VID%253D8%2526Ntt%253Drosevelt%25257c8%2526Ntk%253DHomepage+Search%25257cVerticalID%2526Ntx%253Dmode%25252bmatchall%2526N%253D0%2526Nr%253DOR%2528Item+Status%25253aActive%25252cItem+Status%25253aClosed%2529%2526Ns%253DName%2526Nf%253DLatLong%257CGCLT+37.775001%252C-122.418296+60">Rosevelt Tamale Parlor</a>.<br />At the end of the day, we climbed Hayes Street to see the much anticipated Painted Ladies....funny, I didn't see Uncle Jessie anywhere...we did step in lots of dog crap and Erik managed to slide (baseball style) down a grassy hill getting mud all the way up to his elbows.....(you can't take us anywhere)<br /><br />We capped off the the night meeting up with Shayne and Lori for dinner at <a href="http://www.zagat.com/verticals/PropertyDetails.aspx?VID=8&R=88174&AJX=VID%253D8%2526Ntt%253Dbrindisi%25257c8%2526Ntk%253DHomepage+Search%25257cVerticalID%2526Ntx%253Dmode%25252bmatchall%2526N%253D0%2526Nr%253DOR%2528Item+Status%25253aActive%25252cItem+Status%25253aClosed%2529%2526Ns%253DName%2526Nf%253DLatLong%257CGCLT+37.775001%252C-122.418296+60">Brindisi</a>, drinks at Voda (a vodka bar, as it were!) and then more drinks at the Irish Bank where an Irishman rather aggressively tried to take Lori home with him....in front of Shayne.<br /><br />Today has started with a hangover.....but not of the monumental St. Petersburg kind. Will post more pictures later.<br /><br />Natalie (& Erik)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/RY2NelQviaI/AAAAAAAAABM/aVNKmw59y6c/s1600-h/sanfran+143.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/RY2NelQviaI/AAAAAAAAABM/aVNKmw59y6c/s320/sanfran+143.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5011817516871158178" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29345208.post-8778743375350735932006-12-19T09:20:00.000-04:002008-12-09T10:24:24.133-04:00San Francisco: Waits with charms unfoldin'<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/RYfoqFQviYI/AAAAAAAAAA0/bdhXYpd-zN8/s1600-h/Moon+over+San+Francisco.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mmrMvnZ8n80/RYfoqFQviYI/AAAAAAAAAA0/bdhXYpd-zN8/s320/Moon+over+San+Francisco.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5010228920137517442" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:78%;" >Source: http://bergoiata.org/fe/californie-paysages/25.htm</span><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">In a short couple of days, Erik and I are lucky enough to find ourselves traveling to the city by the Bay for the Christmas holidays. We'll arrive in San Francisco on Thursday evening and will stay for approximately one week and then we'll be off to Vancouver for the remainder of the trip to spend some time with the brother in law (Hi Serge) and spend some more time exploring another cool city. We'll be accompanied by two good friends who will ensure trouble, laughter and great memories.<br /><br />We're not really sure what SF has to offer (aside from Trolleys, Bridges, Wharves and Burlesque) but we're keen to find out and anxious to go exploring. We do have a few things figured out though....we know we're staying <a href="http://www.sfhoteldesarts.com/index.php">here</a> (which we are super psyched about) and we've officially planned a trip to <a href="http://www.nps.gov/alcatraz/">here</a>. We've also bought tickets to see <a href="http://www.sf49ers.com/">these guys</a> on Christmas Eve (Yes, you can all say it now, I am the best wife EVER, period). The rest is up in the air...I love these kinds of trips.<br /><br />Anyone reading ever been there? Any suggestions?<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29345208.post-36303885742721545432006-11-17T14:44:00.000-04:002006-11-17T14:45:16.741-04:00Hope George Lucas does not sue me!!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/1464/3582/1600/lukevsdarth.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/1464/3582/400/lukevsdarth.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0