Ocean Beach, San Francisco 2014

We took an alternate route into San Francisco that morning and took 1 to Ocean Beach past Half Moon Bay. The morning fog was lifting away and the sounds of a kids at an elementary school picnic in the sand, seagulls crying for leftovers, and cars whooshing by were all muffled by the sounds of the waves crashing at the shore.  Some surfers braved the water and caught a few waves before being sucked in and spit out by the white bubbles. 

With the rental parked, we marched towards the Cliff House in hopes of finding a bathroom.  Even more than that, we hoped to get down to the ruins of the old bath house, explore the waters edge and poke around.  We found the Camera Obscura out on the patio of the Cliff House but not yet open for business for the day.  

We explored the cliffs and caves around the area before walking back to the car.  It was really beautiful.  With a grumbling stomach we both headed to 21st Amendment for some lunch.

Travel Time, Excellent!

My best friend from college is getting hitched, so I'm off to the land of Gangnam Style for a few weeks.  Stay tuned for pictures and tales of azn adventures...

Ricketts Glen State Park

We parked off of 118 and took the Falls trail through the park.  It was an absolute perfect day to do it.  Only 30 mi from my Dad's house, we trekked out this past Saturday for a hike.  The pictures don't do it justice, but it was a lot of fun.  I look forward to hiking this every season! 

Anyone else do some hiking over the weekend?  Any trail suggestions near Philly?

Iceland: Last Batch

As you may have read in a previous post, these pictures are a continuation of a friends recent trip to Iceland.  Shockingly they aren't bloggers or tumblr-ers so I jumped at the chance to share them here.
I wish these were my vacation pictures, but still enjoyable nonetheless!

Beltane (Mí Bhealtaine or Bealtaine)

All necessary items to make your Beltane a success:

Edward Dwelly in Bealltuinn (1911) describes a 1 May custom of his day, practised in the Scottish Highlands, where young people met on the moors, lit a bonfire and made an oatmeal cake toasted at the embers. The cake was divided, one of the pieces marked with charcoal, and, drawing the pieces blindfolded, the person who got the marked piece was compelled to leap over the flames three times.

Is this right?  I really need to experience the real thing one day.

dreaming of a...

 A summerhouse and woodshed in the French Pyrenees.

France: A friend's perspective

I met a great group of people away at college in a small town in Western, PA.  Truly, I really have been inspired by them to explore new things, open my eyes to the joys around me and just, well, sometimes, get a little crazy.  One person in particular is Kelly.  She has been away in France working, exploring, eating, laughing and (probably at some point) crying.  Her adventures have been documented in her blog (here) so that everyone back home could get a glimpse of life as a farmer in SW France.  And surely so she could document her time there for herself.  

I'm inspired by Kelly's trip and excited when she describes her time in different regions.  There aren't enough nice things to say in the world to sum up how happy I am that she was able to go and do this.  If you are looking to find a little inspiration today, read Kelly (and Colin's) blog.  

Halloween Weekend

Northeast PA

10/28-10/30

 Isle of Coll, Scotland 

This house and concept is beautiful.  What once laid to waste has been turned into one of the most brilliant houses I have seen connecting the old and new. Oh, to live in a beautiful place by the sea...

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And I'm Back!

I had the opportunity to travel to Riviera Maya in Quintana Roo, Mexico over the last few days.  The ocean was a magnificent turquoise color and the trees were lush with coconuts and flowers.  Everything smelled so wonderful and the fruit was amazing.  I can't say that I have ever had a mango that delicious in my entire life.

These pictures are from Tulum, an ancient Pre-Mayan civilization.  The ruins are huge and surrounded by a rock wall making it accessible only by entering tunnels or by the ocean.  My only regret was not bringing my bathing suit, the water was warm and the sand was almost white...(sigh).