So now that I am back in school (MBA) I get a "Spring Break", so this year for spring break Haley and I took a trip down to Trinidad and Tobago (T&T). T&T are a set of Caribbean islands just off the coast of Venezuela. Trinidad is the larger and more populous of the main islands; Tobago is much smaller, comprising about 6% of the total area and 4% of the population. I was very interested to check out this somewhat off-the-beaten-track tropical island. It was a little more difficult to gather information and plan this trip because T&T is not [View Full Entry]

---

---

We left Luxor on a late night flight out of the local airport and arrived in Sharm El Shek around 11:30pm. We had arranged for a driver from our hotel to pick us up but he was no where too be found. So here we are, sitting at the local terminal at midnight in Sharm, Egypt trying to figure out how the hell we were going to get to Dahab (which was over an hour away). Luckily I was able to borrow the cell phone of a local, call our hotel and sort out the issue. After another 20 minutes a [View Full Entry]

---

---

Haley and I had to end our Christmas celebrations with my family in Stanton VA a little early so that we could begin our long trek to Egypt. After a 3 hour drive, a 5 hour bus ride, and a 10 hour flight we arrive in Cairo. A trip that only took us a day or so, but when we stepped out of the airport we both felt a world away. I am continually amazed that I can get into a plane in New York City and step out of it 12 or so hours later in Ancient Egypt, or China, [View Full Entry]

---

---

We took full advantage of Tims' hospitality and not only showered but washed some of our clothing. Amber was actually ended up doing it and she turned it into a bit of a game - "who has the dirtiest clothing". The level of dirtiness was measured by how many rinses it took before the water didn't turn black anymore. I am proud to say that the original Schwalm family (jeff and I) both tied at like 5 rises (which is pretty damn dirty) - the water was disgusting (poor Amber). Healdsburg, CA (Sonoma) We got a late start that morning and [View Full Entry]

---

---

My brother and his wife are both teachers so they are blessed with a summer break. This year for their break they went on a cross country trip, I was lucky enough to convince them to let me join the road trip for the Las Vegas, Nevada to Portland, Oregon leg. It is very much a national parks and camping oriented trip which suited me very well as I have been eager to do some camping. Las Vegas Las Vegas, the city of sin. This was very apparently to me - the sleepy-eyed backpacker who arrived at Planet Hollywood at 1:30 [View Full Entry]

---

---

Imagine that you are on a long road trip and want to get out of the car to stretch your legs, or go to the bathroom behind a tree, or get a closer angle for a picture of a bird. Then think of the feeling that you get when you realize that if you do get out of the car you could potentially be EATEN by a LION . That is the only way that I can convey the feeling that is ever present while in South Africa’s Kruger National Park. Haley and I were there in the summer so it [View Full Entry]

---

---

Against all initial advice (well from everyone save Freeman) I decided to go cage diving with the GREAT WHITES in a small town not too far from where we were staying in Hermanus. And damn....what an experience. There is actually not that much to talk about just check out the photos. Haley, Freeman and I all decided to go (Natalie was not feeling so hot). The small fishing village of Gansbaai (where we would dive from) is only a short drive from Haley's parents house in Hermanus. Dyer and Geyser Islands, just off the coast, are home to a large colony [View Full Entry]

---

---

Haley and I have finally started our South African trip. One that we started planning over a year ago. One that seemed so far away for so long...but has finally come around. After dating a South African for 2 years you can believe that I have heard PLENTY of stories, complaints, bragging that all started with "In South Africa we <fill in the blank>" - so I was excited to finally go to the country that I have heard so much about, from both Haley and her family/friends. Let me start off by saying, we are only half way through our [View Full Entry]

---

---

As a memorial to my grandmother who died in the Fall, my parents decided to have a "family bonding" event. That event took 13 of us to Playa del Carmen, south of Cancun, for 3 night. After countless hours of research, trying to find a date that worked for all, we settled on January 31 through Feb. 3rd. The trip included my parents, of course, Lisa and her fiance Nate, Jeff and his wife Amber, my grandparents from Michigan - Dorothy and Don, my half-brother Mark and his wife Sara from Boston and my half-brother Brian from Boulder, CO. Haley wasn't [View Full Entry]

---

---

Las Vegas Zion National Park The drive to the north rim of the Grand Canyon Bryce Canyon National Park Cedar Breaks National Park Hoover Damn [View Full Entry]

---

---