-- Post From Sara's iPhone
Location:Chicago,United States
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Yellowstone Adventure!!
I feel like the title of this post should be in a bold, colorful font with the text moving upward at a slight angle. Like a 'B' movie title such as "Swamp Thing!" or the vintage billboards when you leave small towns saying "Come Again!". But, yes, we are once again setting off and once again will try to bring you along for the ride.
And if the title of this post isn't clue enough here is where we are off to first...
-- Post From Sara's iPhone
And if the title of this post isn't clue enough here is where we are off to first...
-- Post From Sara's iPhone
Location:PHL Airport Marriott
Sunday, June 27, 2010
New (again) Mexico
I am in Santa Fe, sitting outside a tearoom off of Canyon Rd. I'm here briefly, a pit stop on a business trip, taking advantage of the hospitality of a good friend. I grew up in New Mexico, so everything is familiar, but it has been awhile since I have been here. My fabulous host has been my tour guide today which has been fun. It is like going back to the house you grew up in and having the new owners show you all the improvements they have made. I'm impressed by the number of new restaurants but am disappointed they chose to put the casino along that particular road... Overall, I have decided that I have a love/hate relationship with New Mexico. I love it, I do, there is no place like it! But it brings back so many memories...many good...but the not so good ones always tag along. So today feels a tad bittersweet...with the emphasis on the sweet.
-- Post From Sara's iPhone
-- Post From Sara's iPhone
Location:Santa Fe,United States
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Curling!
The big hour finally arrived! We stepped off of the new Vancouver Sky Train at King Edward Station and followed the crowds for several blocks. We passed houses and a school and then suddenly in the middle of this unlikely residential setting peaked our first glimpse of the Vancouver Olympic Center, home of the curling events.
After a short line through security we excitedly entered the venue, spent way too much on souvenirs and made our way to our seats. As we entered, the first practice had just started and we were instantly plunged into the excitement.
I know it's not the most popular sport, but ever since I first saw it on TV during the Calgary Olympics I have been fascinated. It's a game of strategy, but these guys are in really good shape, too: it's non-stop action. I knew this coming in, but I was really surprised at how fast paced it really is, you miss out on this watching on TV. There are actually four simultaneous games going on and each team has only a limited amount of time to play their moves or they risk forfeiting the match. Its self policing too, the entire time we watched the officials were only involved once and this was to pull out the measuring device on a close call. It's really fascinating to watch all the action.
In our session we had:
Germany vs Switzerland
Canada vs Denmark
US vs France
Norway vs China
The crowd was whole heartedly behind their home team and the Canadian team is really amazing to watch. They are undefeated so far and deservingly so; such precise feats performed wearing flat bottomed shoes on a sheet of ice. The Norwegians and their now famous pants were also a favorite. And a pretty large number of Americans also turned out to support our team.
Canada fairly quickly pulled way ahead and the Danes conceded, but the other 3 matches all went 10 ends. The US match was close and the last one to finish. In the end most of the crowd got behind the US and the final shots were made amidst raucous stmping and chants of USA...very unexpected.
After the match we reluctantly left and made our way to the Olympic flame for some pictures and then off to meet my former labmate Danielle and her husband Jason who now live in Vancouver. They took us to an awesome Ethiopian Restaurant and shared some of their tasty home brewed beer before chaufering us back to the ferry terminal to make our midnight ride back to Victoria.
As we boarded the ferry we were plenty tired, but still exciting from such a great day of Olympics and visiting friends. :)
-- Post From Shawn's iPhone
After a short line through security we excitedly entered the venue, spent way too much on souvenirs and made our way to our seats. As we entered, the first practice had just started and we were instantly plunged into the excitement.
I know it's not the most popular sport, but ever since I first saw it on TV during the Calgary Olympics I have been fascinated. It's a game of strategy, but these guys are in really good shape, too: it's non-stop action. I knew this coming in, but I was really surprised at how fast paced it really is, you miss out on this watching on TV. There are actually four simultaneous games going on and each team has only a limited amount of time to play their moves or they risk forfeiting the match. Its self policing too, the entire time we watched the officials were only involved once and this was to pull out the measuring device on a close call. It's really fascinating to watch all the action.
In our session we had:
Germany vs Switzerland
Canada vs Denmark
US vs France
Norway vs China
The crowd was whole heartedly behind their home team and the Canadian team is really amazing to watch. They are undefeated so far and deservingly so; such precise feats performed wearing flat bottomed shoes on a sheet of ice. The Norwegians and their now famous pants were also a favorite. And a pretty large number of Americans also turned out to support our team.
Canada fairly quickly pulled way ahead and the Danes conceded, but the other 3 matches all went 10 ends. The US match was close and the last one to finish. In the end most of the crowd got behind the US and the final shots were made amidst raucous stmping and chants of USA...very unexpected.
After the match we reluctantly left and made our way to the Olympic flame for some pictures and then off to meet my former labmate Danielle and her husband Jason who now live in Vancouver. They took us to an awesome Ethiopian Restaurant and shared some of their tasty home brewed beer before chaufering us back to the ferry terminal to make our midnight ride back to Victoria.
As we boarded the ferry we were plenty tired, but still exciting from such a great day of Olympics and visiting friends. :)
-- Post From Shawn's iPhone
Location:Vancouver, BC
Friday, February 19, 2010
Oh Canada!
We were up before dawn this morning to make the ferry to Vancouver. Today is game day! Ok it is actually the 8th day of the 2010 Olympics, but it is THE day we are going to be there. Apparently, so were lots of other people. It was fun to be a part of the en mass excitement as young and old decked out in Olympic gear and wearing Canada red lined up for their game day too.
-- Post From Sara's iPhone
-- Post From Sara's iPhone
Location:Vancouver 2010
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Seals!
We were able to add another animal to our wildlife list today! Harbor seals! Upon getting off the ferry in Victoria we headed straight for our favorite spot. We discovered it quite by accident on our honeymoon nearly nine years ago. It is the Aylor Farm at the Eastern Sooke Provencial Park. It was a farm at some point as evidenced by the open meadow by the parking area and the fruit trees near the picnic area. But the highlight is the access it grants you to the coastal hiking trails. Once to the beach you are rewarded with a rocky shore, a cozy harbor and on a clear day like today a veiw of the Olympic Mountains and Mt Rainier.
It was here we were sitting on a rock enjoying the view when we noticed (too late to get a decent picture) that we were being watched by two harbor seals at the waters edge.
A little way up the trail we found Kreyke Point, a rocky outcrop overlooking the water that reminded us of Gros Morne in Newfoundland. There seems to be a quality about the places that we crave, geology and water, nature and time.
-- Post From Sara's iPhone
It was here we were sitting on a rock enjoying the view when we noticed (too late to get a decent picture) that we were being watched by two harbor seals at the waters edge.
A little way up the trail we found Kreyke Point, a rocky outcrop overlooking the water that reminded us of Gros Morne in Newfoundland. There seems to be a quality about the places that we crave, geology and water, nature and time.
-- Post From Sara's iPhone
Location:Eastern Sooke, BC
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
A little place called Forks
After departing the Lake Quinalt area, we headed northward and followed the signs to the Upper Queets river. This took us far off the beaten track into some pretty remote country. We were rewarded by a beautiful auto trail through some truly quiet country.
After the Queets valley the road shifts toward the coast and the National Park includes some beautiful beaches covered in rounded stones and massive driftwood (full sized trees). We stopped and hiked around at several and soaked in the peaceful scenery.
As twilight set in we rolled up to the formerly backwater town of Forks. We were here back in 2002 and the glitz and glamour of book and movie exposure has meant big changes for Forks. Such as all the hotels have slogans like "Welcome to the Twilight Zone" and there's a store dedicated to selling Twilight memoribilia. In all seriousness it is still the same quiet town, complete with a herd of elk grazing on the runway of the airport.
We drove past Lake Crescent (which even in the dark is one of the most beautiful lakes I have ever seen) and ended the day with wonderful Thai food in Port Angeles near the Downtown Inn where we will spend the night.
-- Post From Shawn's iPhone
After the Queets valley the road shifts toward the coast and the National Park includes some beautiful beaches covered in rounded stones and massive driftwood (full sized trees). We stopped and hiked around at several and soaked in the peaceful scenery.
As twilight set in we rolled up to the formerly backwater town of Forks. We were here back in 2002 and the glitz and glamour of book and movie exposure has meant big changes for Forks. Such as all the hotels have slogans like "Welcome to the Twilight Zone" and there's a store dedicated to selling Twilight memoribilia. In all seriousness it is still the same quiet town, complete with a herd of elk grazing on the runway of the airport.
We drove past Lake Crescent (which even in the dark is one of the most beautiful lakes I have ever seen) and ended the day with wonderful Thai food in Port Angeles near the Downtown Inn where we will spend the night.
-- Post From Shawn's iPhone
Location:Forks, WA
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)