I emerged from the dull yellow tinge of the metro system into an early evening. The sun was snugly settled beyond the horizon but a kaleidoscope of lights danced in the streets. Billboards smiled brightly exhuberating a thrill I had forgotten to expect. I stopped mid foot traffic, eyes wide and searching. Skyscrapers were lit up by screens on all sides, flashing Coca Cola advertisements, current plays, TV shows, and restaurants. Shop windows showcased everything from the finest jewelry and fancy clothes to gift shops and knockoff designer bags. I was in a hurricane of people. Life sized super heros and Disney characters patrolled the street. Mickey Mouse gave a kid a high five while Iron Man posed with a Japanese family of four. Feet shuffled furiously all around me. Each person had somewhere to be ... read more

If I made a prioritized list of all of the states I wanted to travel to in the U.S., Texas would be at the very bottom of that list. But, on the top of my list of people to see is Juli “Juju” Ragan. Juli and I played Rugby together in Alaska the year before we both left, but long before that we were bosom friends. We had a long history of dressing in full body spandex outfits, singing karaoke, dancing our lives away, and supporting each other through some crazy situations. Here are some things you need to know about this girl: She is an American hero, serving in the Air Force almost four years; she has the best dog, Maude; her car has a mustache; the closest thing she eats to vegetables is drinking ... read more

With my blogs, I aim to capture out of the ordinary experiences, travel off the beaten path, provide insight to local culture, and highlight alternative perspectives. From a worldly, cultured standpoint, the epitome of a conventional, predictable, and an uninspiring escapade would be to take a cruise. However, I am sure that if you stumbled across a four night cruise to the Bahamas for less than $250 leaving from a nearby port, you couldn’t resist either. Never having been on a cruise, I had some preconceived expectations. I imagined I would spend the entirety of the cruise on the top deck, in a lawn chair with a Miami Vice in my hand (half piña colada half strawberry daiquiri). Occasionally I would dip in the pool to cool off and if that got old, I would read ... read more

My first week in Islamorada was coming to a close. The sun had set and the dusk was dwindling. The only thing on the agenda was laundry and reading. I was not super excited about that. So, I decided it was time to venture out on my own again, even if just for a day. Sunday night I packed up my little old car and headed to Key West. Key West is the last island in the Florida Keys. To get there I would have to continue driving on the one-lane no passing road for two hours, crossing over dozens of other islands, through a protected deer area and over the seven-mile bridge. I sent out a few Couch Surfing requests. For those who don’t know, Couch Surfing is an online network of people willing to ... read more

Mountains towered and rolled in a 180-degree panorama. The sun sifted through the small breaks in the clouds, sprinkling the bay with short bursts of light. Waves crept in and out between the rock-creviced shore. Driftwood blended any barrier separating the rocky shore from the damp, greening grass. Our tent settled under leafless trees, scattered with trunks and branches squiggling the grey sky in reach what rays they could grasp. Marya and I sat in two camp chairs. The humble crackling of the coals harmonized with the subtle crashing of the waves close by. Steam from our sweating reindeer sausages rose and filled the fresh clean air. The near by tree swing made of beach-salvaged rope and drift wood still swung from our recent attempts to reach the clouds with our feet. All else was still. ... read more