http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Tesha/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Tesha en-us Sat, 02 Jan 2010 12:47:32 +0000 Sat, 02 Jan 2010 12:47:32 +0000 Aboard the Erin Go Bragh sail boat we anchor off the coast of Los Palominos to snorkle. It was a popular site about one hour sail from the main island. Los Palominos is the island the luxury resort El Conquistador rents for its guests. http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Puerto-Rico/blog-463595.html The Christmas winds brought in some fabulous waves for bodysurfing on Flamenco Beach Dec. 14 2009. http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Puerto-Rico/Culebra/Playa-Flamenco/blog-463133.html Flamenco Beach on the island of Culebra deserves its reputation as one of the prettiest beaches in the Caribbean if not the world. Located between Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands it's like walking into paradise. http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Puerto-Rico/Culebra/blog-463125.html Hailed as one of the nicest beachest in Puerto Rico Luquillo Beach is pictureperfect with tall swaying palm trees and sugarwhite sand. When you get hungry head to one of the famous 50 Rum Shacks that line the beach on the west side. Beware the sand blowing in your face and clinging to everything when the Christmas winds come in December. http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Puerto-Rico/blog-463123.html Garret and TJ snorkle off of Seven Seas Beach in Fajardo Puerto Rico just off the coastline of Las Cabezas de San Juan Nature Reserve. At the nature reserve visitors learn about the ecological importance of the mangrove forest the offshore coral reefs the sandy beach the rocky coast and the bioluminescent Laguna Grande. The guys were thrilled about the variety of species they saw in the wate http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Puerto-Rico/blog-463118.html THE BEACHToday we headed east to the point. Irsquom not sure if this beach is still called Seven Seas or not. Itrsquos a very slim beach with shrubs about 10 feet from the water. By later afternoon when we headed back the beach had gotten even slimmer because the tide came in. Itrsquos also very soft. Just walking was an effort because your feet sink into the sand. Tip Donrsquot bring a http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Puerto-Rico/blog-462871.html OUR VILLAYou can see the ocean from our rooftop. Framed by a line of rooftop patios itrsquos a gorgeous scene. Our villa is as large as a house. Set off a gated street its one of about 10 that line up side by side. Each is a different color. The brightness extends into the villa. Walls are yellow green and red. It is vibrant and tropical. The first floor is mostly an open living room with a http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Puerto-Rico/blog-461596.html Take the ferry from the port of Fajardo to the island of Culebra in Puerto Rico. It's only 2.50. What a great deal The trip takes between one to one and 12 hours depending on the wind and waves. http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Puerto-Rico/Culebra/blog-461234.html Built inside a historic train repair shop this Best Western is the most unique hotel I've stayed at. The original train tracks run through the floor The original wooden ceiling beams are still there as well. The rooms are all situated around a lobby with a platform that replicates a train stop along a train route. How fun is thatGet wireless highspeed Internet and a free continental breakfast http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Minnesota/Saint-Paul/blog-461233.html BYE BYE SNOWY MINNESOTAItrsquos hard to come up with something good to say about a day spent in an airplane. We woke up at 4 a.m. showered and headed out into a snowstorm. Brr. Ordinarily I would have hunkered down at home. Instead I wrapped the ninemonthold baby up and out we went. She was less than thrilled. It was the first time a cold winter wind had whipped across her face. I put he http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Puerto-Rico/San-Juan/blog-461216.html Find peace without driving to the MinnesotaCanada border.Irsquove always gone up to Voyageur National Park to center myself. Irsquove found that a dose of wilderness brings calm back to my soul. But with a fivemonthold baby I wasnrsquot up to boating into a remote campsite. I discovered that at some state parks you can ldquocart in.rdquo These campsites are slightly off the beaten t http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Minnesota/Alexandria/blog-435368.html Bring the kids to Zollman Zoo in Oxbow Park. Located about 20 minutes west of Rochester this countyrun zoo and park is free. Check out owls prairie dogs badgers bald eagles cougars river otters and more. http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Minnesota/blog-404968.html Today wersquore heading home. After waking up and making whatrsquos left of the bacon we pack up. Wersquove got one more place to see before we turn the truck back north. Itrsquos actually the reason we came to Forestville. MYSTERY CAVEThe name itself is enough to entice me. Irsquove always been interested in going underground to see what wonders have been carved into stone by centuries http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Minnesota/blog-405580.html While away an afternoon in Historic Forestville. Guides bring you back to 1899. Shop in a general store with original merchandise left on the shelves. Then head over to the kitchen to sample tasty bread cooked that day. Bring the kids out to the barn to try wood carving. Located in southern Minnesota inside Forestville State park the historic site is managed by the Minnesota Historical Society. http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Minnesota/blog-404980.html With a two and onehalf month old baby we knew we couldn't undertake a long road trip for our first anniversary. But I had a hankering to go someplace. My hubby gave me these perimeters 3 hours or 200 miles. I knew I wanted to go south having gone north and froze too many times in early summer. I dug out one of my favorite books Backroads of Minnesota and starting reading. Forestville State http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Minnesota/Root-River-Harmony-Preston-Valley-State-Trail/blog-404666.html I love the sound of rain on a tent and the fresh smell it brings. Although the weather man said rain was in the forecast for Saturday night it came on Friday. Figures. But we didnrsquot sweat it our tent was leakproof so we just snuggled down deeper and kept sleeping. I was worried about the baby but she was fine.She seems to really enjoy this camping thing. Shersquos been sleeping better http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Minnesota/blog-404745.html Plane ride home http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Beijing/blog-321080.html THE ROAD TO THE OLYMPICS We didnrsquot get to see any Olympic games in person but we are going to get a first hand glimpse of the buildings where records were broken. Wersquoll get there by subway of course using the cards we bought yesterday. Riders can either buy 2 RMB tokens prior to each ride or buy a resusable card. Wersquore a bit confused about how things work not speaking Chines http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Beijing/blog-319282.html MING TOMBSToday is my last day in Nanjing and Irsquove decided to return to Purple Mountain. My feet still hurt from all the walking I did yesterday so Irsquom going to try to take it easy mdash no small feat when you consider how spread out attractions are on Purple Mountain.I spend the morning writing eat leftovers and noodles for lunch then strike out. My first action is to catch a ca http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Jiangsu/Nanjing/blog-318542.html A LITTLE BIT OF PEACEToday I found the first place in Nanjing that Irsquove really really liked. Xuanwu Lake. Itrsquos on the edge of town nudging up against the Purple Mountain. Itrsquos full of trees flowers walkers and boats. Itrsquos peaceful. Irsquove been seeking out quiet here in China and find very little of it. One park in Shanghai and now this one in Nanjing.To get to the http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Jiangsu/Nanjing/blog-318540.html