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July 2009
In English, my English -
Each time I travel to Mexico it feels a little different. The first was a family vacation in Playa Del Carmen. It felt so foreign, so exotic. I was a teen and could barely say please and thank you. Then years of ship travel and it all became a little more familiar: the people, the language, the driving, the colors, the trinkets, beers and the tacos… oh the tacos. Later, a trip to Mexico City and I began to feel local. If it weren’t for the parasite I picked up in Peru, I think that trip would have been much more enjoyable. But my host family was warm and loving, and the small daytrips, memorable. Then this last time was different again. A little more romantic, albeit dusty amidst construction down the Cabo San Lucas main street.
One thing you can always count on in Mexico… impeccable grammar.
En Español, care of Yahoo Babel Fish Translator (English to Spanish) -
Cada vez que viajo a México siente un poco diferente. El primer era vacaciones de familia en Playa del Carmen. Sentía tan extranjero, tan exótico. Era un adolescente y podría decir apenas por favor y agradecerle. Entonces los años de recorrido y de él todo de la nave llegaron a ser un poco más familiares: la gente, la lengua, la conducción, los colores, las baratijas, cervezas y el tacos… oh el tacos. Más adelante, un viaje a Ciudad de México y yo comenzamos a sentir locales. Si no estuviera para el parásito que cogí en Perú, pienso que el viaje habría sido mucho más agradable. Pero mi familia de anfitrión era caliente y cariñosa, y los pequeños daytrips, memorables. Entonces este último vez era diferente otra vez. Un poco más romántico, no obstante polvoriento en medio de la construcción abajo de la calle principal de Cabo San Lucas.
Una cosa que usted puede contar siempre encendido en la gramática impecable de México….
Back in English, care of Yahoo Babel Fish Translator (Spanish to English) -
Whenever I travel to Mexico feels a little different. The first one was vacations of family in Playa del Carmen. It felt so foreign, so exotic. She was an adolescent and it could say just please and be thankful to him. Then the years of route and him everything of the ship got to be a little more relatives: people, the language, the conduction, the colors, the trinkets, beers and the tacos… oh the tacos. More ahead, a trip to City of Mexico and I began to feel the premises. If it were not for the parasite that I took in Peru, fodder that the trip would have been much more pleasant. But my family of host was hot and affectionate, and small daytrips, memorable. Then east last time was different again. A little more romantic, despite dusty in the middle of the construction underneath the main street of Cabo San Lucas.
A thing that you can always count ignition in the impeccable grammar of Mexico….
August 2006
When looking out my childhood bedroom window on clear days, I could see the Rockies. Although I repeatedly moved back and forth between Calgary, Alberta and Regina, Saskatchewan, I now choose to tell most that I grew up in Calgary. Time spent, memories made and schools attended all support calling Calgary home... as well as the fact that any non-Canadian can't hide their smile if I say I grew up in Regina. Why do we pronounce it that way anyway?
Weekends, more often than not consisted of hikes in the mountains, bike rides in the city parks, swimming, camping, skiing or anything outside. Until spending my first shipboard contract sailing the Bahamas, I hadn't realized how fortunate I was. Living in Miami now, I think about it every day.
This particular photo was taken on one of my favorite hikes. Pile my brother, his wife, their 6 children and me in a Suburban and you've got yourself a holiday! The 2 oldest nieces and I chose to conquer a mountain one afternoon. Amidst our awe and exploration, we could not stop laughing. Bumblebees, trips & falls and unidentified droppings. In a 13-year-old's words: What animal pooed that?
P.S. If you happen upon the same question, I found this site to help. It's awesome. My favorite line:
Look, more than touch!! If you have to touch, use a tool and/or properly gloved hands!! STAY UP WIND!!
~
October 2004
It's a special thing when you meet someone who shares your travel vision. In this case, we both wanted to experience our own country before seeing the world. And experience we did.
This particular moment caught on camera was an instant of revelation.
We arrived at Meat Cove well past midnight after hours and hours on the road. We were no longer speaking. We hadn't seen civilization in hours. It was cold out there. Was the car making funny noises? But you see, I'm persistent to a fault. Call it stubborn; I am immovable: "I swear this place is for real", "I don't think it matters that the campsite is closed" , and most significant "But I want to camp at the top of the world!".
Once we arrived (although it was so dark we weren't really sure we were there), it was obviously closed. We had to manually open a gate, and may have actually driven the car under a chain blocking the road. We "borrowed" firewood from the only house around (the population is less than 100) and built a fire. We set up tent in the dark. We were still not speaking (but I was secretly smug... we were at the top of the world!).
So I end as I started, this particular moment caught on camera when we woke up and stared in awe, was an instant of revelation: THERE IS NO REASON TO WASTE TIME ARGUING. I AM ALWAYS RIGHT!
Top of the World = The most Northerly settlement in Nova Scotia on Cape Breton Island (see map).
Here's an excerpt from an email written, by me November 2004:
CANADA ROADTRIP
15 000 kms (that´s 10 000 miles) on the road.
2 months.
1 small car.
1 miscalculated budget
What an incredible experience! Not only have we come out of it still speaking, we had an amazing time everywhere we ventured (and not one speeding ticket, that warning in New Brunswick doesn´t count). We hit 9 out of our country´s 10 provinces, missing Newfoundland as it would have been another trip in itself. Highlights were Montreal (it felt like an entirely different country; so much culture), Halifax (cheeseburgers & poutine out of a truck at 3:00 in the morning?), Meat Cove (breathtaking! Check your map of Cape Breton), Niagara Falls, Confederation Bridge, and every stop in between. We slept everywhere from an x-ray room in Kelowna, Ottawa´s old jail (ask to see the home video tour; he got spooked and came back to the room), the top of the world (Meat Cove), motels, hotels and a variety of campsites, some open, some not. We had a riot trying to get motel rooms, a campsite and find beer in small Quebec towns with our pitiful French... and why do they sell cheese curds by every cash register?
~
December 2005
Peru had never made it to my must-see destinations list. Let's be honest, I didn't even know where it was until after I had my flight booked (anyone else as ignorant, click for a map). But, the experience was monumental in my quest to see more, and more, and more. Along with parasites, I officially caught the travel bug here.
How did I get to the land of llamas, pisco sours, and delicious ceviche and Inca Cola? My travel partner and I knew we were heading to Mexico City to stay with the Ambriz family. Where would we go from there? We knew we wanted to get out of Mexico, and not North. We got in touch with a travel agent who provided us with some options for flights. We chose the cheapest: Lima, Peru. From there, the adventure began.
Fast-forward to 4:00 in the morning after the grueling 4-day trek along the Inca Trail. My feet had blisters, I hadn't showered in days and the cocoa leaves had lost their kick (on the bright side thankfully, unlike my travel partner, I hadn't had troubles with my number twos); it was time to wake up. Dozens of trekkers like us were up at the crack-ass of dawn to literally, race to the gate. Once there, we were registered and passports stamped. As stated before, it was a race and as expected (insert arrogance here), we lead the pack and arrived first and thus, our photos were completely unobstructed. The tour buses had not yet started arriving for those not bold enough to take the long route. Just as the sun was rising and the fog setting in: Machu Picchu in all its glory. Phenomenal. It was breathtaking, and each time I look through the photos, I have to catch my breath.
Simple Pisco Sour Recipe
3 parts pisco brandy
1 1/2 parts lemon juice
1 - 2 tbsp sugar
Add all ingredients to a mixer with ice. Shake well (until ice is melted), and serve in a cocktail glass. Enjoy!
