Picture of the Moment - Foggy San Diego

University Heights Park

Favorite Moments - Bogota, Colombia

 

Life has been a whirlwind of activities and somehow the summer and most of autumn slipped away without any blog posts. Travel and adventures have been plentiful during this time, so there is much to share!

Though I am woefully late on writing about Colombia, I have been itching to give you a taste of what the country is all about.

Oh Colombia, how you won me over with your kind and generous spirit. Each day brought a new-found appreciation for this region of the world and the friendly genuine people we encountered.  With so many memorable moments, I will attempt to do the trip justice. Here are my favorite moments from the first destination, Bogota.

Bogota By Bike

 

Perched 8,600 feet above sea level on a plateau in the Andes Mountains, the sprawling capital city of Colombia is home to approximately 7 million people. With many neighborhoods to choose from, we decided to make our home in the historic neighborhood of La Candelaria.  

Colombia Teasers

Sadly, my trip to Colombia has come and gone. I have so much to tell you about the beautiful people and sights from this trip. Here are a few teasers to tide you over while I scribble away.

Old Town - Cartagena

Las Nieves Market - Bogota

Coffee country - Manizales

Colombia or Bust!

You’re going where?  You mean as in Colombia, the country? Is it safe? Don’t they kidnap foreigners?

These are just a few of the questions that people have asked since I announced the destination of my spring trip. Yes, indeed. I am heading to Colombia…the country.

Even five years ago, the thought of traveling to Colombia wasn’t up for consideration given the extreme violence and corruption that had wrapped itself around the core of the country. But big changes have taken place in recent years making travel safe again. And it doesn’t hurt that the United States finally lifted their travel warnings last year to match what England and others had done at least two years ago.

Colombia is hard at work repairing their tarnished image. Colombia Travel Blog created this insightful poster showcasing some of the misconceptions people have of Colombia and highlighting the reality of Colombia today.

The murmurings have been getting louder and I can feel the “must visit Colombia” momentum building right before my eyes. Last month, I was excited to see my first Colombia travel advertisement in my National Geographic Traveler magazine describing the beauty of both the people and the countryside. I think it will just be a matter of time before people start flocking to Colombia to see what the fuss is all about. 

So here I am, ready to see how the country stands up to its new reputation! Stay tuned for stories when I return

Picture of the Moment - Seattle, WA

Glorious Green Lake

Dune Bashing in Dubai, UAE

Dubai certainly lives up to its ostentatious extravagant reputation.  Amidst the glittering luxurious world-class hotels, malls complete with indoor skiing, artificial islands in the shape of palm trees floating in the sparkling waters of the Persian Gulf, and towering skyscrapers that loom over the bustling city, one can easily forget that they are in fact in the desert.  And not just any desert, the Arabian Desert.

When you tire from shopping and frolicking on the beach, head out of town to explore the vast desolate beauty of the desert. A fantastic way to experience the desert is to go dune bashing. Dune bashing, essentially is riding the hills of the sand dunes in a four-wheel vehicle such as a Toyota Land Cruiser.  Tire pressure is reduced before you get started to gain more traction on the sand.

Flying up the sand dunes at what felt like ridiculous speed, with thumping Arabic music pouring out of the driver’s stereo, was without a doubt, an exhilarating ride.

Timed to perfection to absorb uninterrupted views of one of the finest sunsets I have seen, this excursion was the highlight of my Dubai adventure.

Pictures of the Moment - Temecula, CA

Temecula Valley Wine Country

Quirky Quinta da Regaleira - Sintra, Portugal

After an exhilarating day climbing mountains, to reach the fanciful Pena Palace and the ruins of the 1,000 year old Moorish castle, both perched high on the hills overlooking the town of Sintra, I stumbled upon another unexpected delight.  As I neared the bottom of the hill on my walk back into town, I noticed signage for Quinta da Regaleira, a turn of the 20^th century palace that is now a UNESCO World Heritage site.  The brief description in my guidebook sold me with promises of caves and other enchanted goodies scattered across its extensive grounds. So without a moment’s hesitation, I set off in that direction.

The predominately neo-Manueline mansion was built by an Italian opera-set designer and is layered with a fusion of several other architectural styles giving it a whimsical look. The mansion itself is worth touring, but it’s the grounds of the property that beg to be explored. Armed with a map written entirely in Portuguese, I did my best to decipher what sites lurked along the meandering footpaths in the nine acre parkland built into the hillside.

Picture of the Moment - Irish Dreamin'

Slea Head, Ireland

Picture of the Moment - Palm Springs

Falls Martini - Palm Springs, California

The Wonders of Portuguese Tile

Portuguese tile!

I have to tell you, I am just a little bit obsessed with Portuguese tile. I haven’t stopped talking about it since I returned from my trip. Mention of this surprising architectural detail was strangely absent from my research. So imagine my surprise when I encountered the sea of tile my first morning walking the streets of Lisbon. Tile baths the exterior walls of buildings and churches and brings the streets to life with a splash of unexpected color. Then, the tile spills into the interior of said buildings and covers the walls, floors and ceilings. I even encountered the spectacular tile work at the train station!

Origins of the Portuguese painted ceramic tile work, also known as Azulejo, which means polished stone in Arabic, date back to the 15th century and is still an art that is practiced today. The extensive use of tile in the Portuguese culture serves a functional purpose as well as one of ornamental beauty. The tiles, when used to cover large exterior surfaces, were also found to be a great way to control the temperature of the structure that they adorn.

Because the tiles really need to be seen to be appreciated, here is a rather large sample of what I encountered on my travels in December. You’re welcome!

Doors of Lisbon

Chapel of Bones - Evora, Portugal

Where are you going in such a hurry traveler?

Stop … do not proceed;

You have no greater concern,

Than this one: that on which you focus your sight.

Recall how many have passed from this world,

Reflect on your similar end,

There is good reason to reflect

If only all did the same.

Ponder, you so influenced by fate,

Among all the many concerns of the world,

So little do you reflect on death;

If by chance you glance at this place,

Stop … for the sake of your journey,

The more you pause, the further on your journey you will be.

by Father António da Ascenção (translation by Fr. Carlos A. Martins, CC)

My travels to Evora, Portugal last month were inspired by an entry in my page-a-day calendar, which highlights travel destinations. Throughout the year, I stockpile items of interest and use them as an added dose of inspiration when I am in travel planning mode. I was delighted to discover that Evora’s close proximity to Lisbon warranted a place on my agenda.

Portugal Teasers

My how quickly time passes. My fantastic excursion to Portugal was over before I knew it. I have oodles of pictures and stories to share with you. Here's a sneak peek of what's to come!

Lisbon

View from Belém Tower

City view looking towards the Alfam

Monastery of Jerónimos

Sintra

Pena Palace

Grounds of Quinta de Regaleira  

Moorish Castle

Evora

Chapel of Bones

Roman Temple

Evora street

Winter Solstice - Newgrange, Ireland

In honor of the winter solstice next week, I wanted to showcase Newgrange, the prehistoric stone structure from circa 3200 BC. Located north of Dublin in County Meath, the 5,000 year old Newgrange is older than both Stonehenge and the Pyramids of Giza. Covering an acre of land, the Neolithic structure is topped with grass and the face of the mound is a mixture of white quartz stone and soil.

While little is known about the exact intention of this site, it is widely believed to have been built for spiritual purposes. During the sunrise of the winter solstice, the cross-shaped inner passage and chamber of the mound glow with light from the sun for approximately 17 minutes. Undoubtedly built to highlight the shortest day of the year, the precise engineering design aligns the inner passage and chamber with the roof box above the entrance allowing the weak winter sun to shine through to its core.

Tours are allowed for this spectacular occurrence, but only 100 lucky people are selected each year. So make sure you plan well in advance to see this event.

Underground Cistern - Istanbul, Turkey

Who doesn’t like the idea of getting a glimpse of what lurks beneath the ancient streets of Istanbul? I don’t know about you, but it makes me just a tad bit giddy when I think of the layers of history just aching to be explored in this bewitching city.

The sheer number of remarkable riches scattered around every corner in the historic Sultanahmet neighborhood in Istanbul, can be daunting to even the most seasoned of travelers. The city is thought to be at least 2500 years old and as you can imagine, has acquired an abundance of cultural masterpieces during this time. When you need a break from poking around the harem in Topkapi Palace, absorbing the awe-inspiring grandeur of Hagia Sophia, pausing for a moment of reflection at the Blue Mosque, or haggling with the exuberant shopkeepers in the labyrinth of stalls known as the Grand Bazaar, head underground.

Located at the foot of Hagia Sophia, the Basilica Cistern (or in Turkish known as Yerebatan Sarayı) is a Byzantium underground water tank that dates back to the 6th century. Hundreds of cisterns exist in the subterranean world of Istanbul, with Basilica Cistern being the largest of the bunch.

Soulful Shoes - Budapest, Hungary

Along the Pest side of the Danube River in Budapest, lies a powerful memorial commemorating the victims of the Holocaust. The memorial, Shoes on the Danube Promenade, was created by Hungarian sculptors, Gyula Pauer and Can Togayn, in 2005.

The monument consists of 60 pairs of cast iron shoes, all modeled after traditional 1940s footwear. Placed along the bank of the Danube River, the shoes represent the Jewish Hungarians, who were shot into the water along this promenade during the Arrow Cross terror reign in 1944 and 1945. Given the scarcity of leather shoes during World War II, the victims were made to leave theirs behind before they were brutally executed and buried in the water of the Danube River.

Strolling along the water’s edge among the fallen shoes, one can’t help, but reflect and pause in a moment of silence to honor those whose lives were taken much too soon.

Park Life - Kew Gardens, London

They lured me in with promises of traipsing through the treetops. Add in a lake, a palace, a pagoda, and miles of paths meandering through the world’s largest collection of living plants and you have all the ingredients for a spectacular day in the park. Throughout the 15 years that I have been exploring London, Kew Gardens has been on my park list. However, it wasn’t until a recent trip that I finally made the journey to Kew to see if the park’s beauty matched its reputation. And it did with Autumn colors!

Name: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (more commonly called Kew Gardens)

Location: Kew in Southwest London, England

Size: approximately 300 acres

Established: 1759

Park Highlights

Picture of the Moment - All Hallows’ Eve

Foggy day - Rock of Cashel, Ireland

Autumn Days in Julian, CA

We are midway through my favorite season, autumn, but you wouldn’t know it living in San Diego. Certainly not with the 80 degrees heat wave we had last week. I’m not complaining, but I do find myself longing for the more distinct seasons of my Colorado childhood. This year I was determined to at least experience a sliver of this glorious time of year. To satisfy my craving for multi-hued trees, crisp weather that warrants wearing a jacket and maybe the odd ramble in the wilderness, I set my sights on a weekend camping in Julian.

Julian, California is an easy hour drive east of San Diego. October is Apple Days in Julian and the Main Street of this historic mining town was nearly bursting at its seams with weekend tourists vying for a taste of the famous apple pie sold at nearly every café and coffee shop.

There are plenty of activities to partake in whether you are visiting on a day trip or for the weekend. Julian offers various places for wine and cider tasting, gold mine tours, nearby hiking trails and wooded campgrounds, romantic bed and breakfasts, farmers markets, apple picking at the apple orchards, and this time of year a fantastic pumpkin patch and raspberry picking.

Below is a glimpse of Julian in the autumn.

Pumpkin and Raspberry Picking

Hiking in William Heise County Park
 

After a weekend spent recharging with a nature fix, I am ready to reenter city life. But now that I have had a taste of autumn, I may have to figure out how to squeeze in more fall activities in the upcoming month!