seven-month itch

Hello, blog.   Glad to see you’re still here. 

I haven’t disappeared; I’m still around.  Just having a little too much fun, I suppose.  Or the Spanish time must have gotten to me, too.

So where were we… it has been 4 months since my last update.

It's hard to believe that it's been seven months since I left Denver.  Six months in Europe plus counting the three weeks I spent in the Philippines in April. It does feel as if I have been away for longer than that especially when I have missed so many things back home.  Important milestones in my friend's and family's lives like thirtieth birthdays, a newborn baby, weddings, a new home purchase, closing of doors and new beginnings... all of which I regret not being a part of.  

On the flip side, adopting a life of a gypsy is something I don’t regret either.  The new places and faces,  the buffet of languages, the anxiety of finding the perfect accommodation... it’s all in the experience.  And feeling this certain sort of freedom that I’ve never felt before.  It must be the European effect.  The kind that made me take my bathing suit top off while at the beach for pretty much the entire summer.  When in Europe…

It also feels as though I haven't been away for that long since I still have countless unchecked boxes on my to-do and to-go list.  Yes, I’ve been to six countries in that length of time but I still have six more I’ve been dying to go to and a whole other continent I’ve just added to my list.  What was I thinking I'd accomplish all of them in a seven-month period?  Let alone do it without a bi-weekly automated deposit in my bank account?  In Europe, no less?  I could’ve definitely picked a better continent to stretch my dollars a lot farther .  Nevertheless, no regrets and all life-long experiences gained. 

Barcelona has proven to be a very fun to city to live in, albeit an expensive one.  Hands down, it’s my most favorite city out of the all the ones I’ve visited in Europe.  It’s the perfect blend of a rich culture,  picturesque architecture from Renaissance, Gothic and Modern marvels, a pleasant Mediterranean climate,  bustling nightlife, the limitless choices of Catalan cuisine, from one charming tapas bars to the next, tucked away in  quaint cobbled streets.  Not to mention the eye candy galore in both genders.  I can definitely live here.

But it’s that time again,  when I am feeling that familiar restlessness and yearning.  Time to plot my next moves.  Googlemaps, Wikitravel, RyainAir, SkyScanner, AirBnB… what would I do without you all? 

So what’s next?  More of Spain, to where 30 euro flights can take me to.  Germany, for sure, to spend holidays with mi familia.  Turkey?  India?  Central America?  Or how about exploring down under?  What to do, what to do?!  Stay tuned.  I’ve also been busy writing and editing photos, so more to come!

The hills are alive!

After a month of hopping around from one destination to the next, I can honestly say that I’m glad to be at a resting point where I can take a breather.  I need a vacation from my vacation.

Not that I’m complaining, quite far from it, but to think that I’ve been in 5 countries and in multiple cities within the last month, it’s a little surreal to me.  It seems not too long ago when I sat at my desk at work, looking at a small Eiffel tower I bought from last year’s Euro-trip, thinking how great it would be if I were back in Europe.  That five euro souvenir has been a perfect token of remembrance for me to come back. And today, I’m living my dream come true.  It took me a couple years to get here but without a sliver of doubt, it has been worth it.

My home base has been in Steinbach, Germany where my brother and his family lives.  It’s a small beautiful town about 15 km southeast of Frankfurt.  He pretty much lives in the countryside with his backyard overlooking fields and rolling hills. Waking up to this view is something else.  It’s really quite magnificent.  And I have been fortunate enough to have him and his family here.

With no major or convenient form of transportation around his house, it’s been a challenge getting out of his neighborhood.  Pedaling on the autobahn with a bike is probably not the smartest thing to do either so I've spent a lot of time lounging around.  But I really don’t mind it much and instead, I’ve been taking advantage of the scenic trails just outside his front door by going on walks/runs for a couple of hours at a time.  The view reminds me of one of my all-time favorite movies – the Sound of Music.  I feel like pulling a Julie Andrews, frolicking through miles of grassy fields, as I scream on top of my lungs, “the happiest sound in the world!” Take a look; you would too if you were here…

{the road outside of his house, which is over to the right}

 {at the top of the road leads to this view}

{through the woods...}

{and to the other side which leads to more of this} 

Beautiful, no?

So for now, I’m enjoying a lazy Sunday with the fam before I set off on my next journey.  More photos to come soon!

Where am I? Eivissa, better known as Ibiza

I know I haven’t been the best in keeping this blog up-to-date.  I’m trying to make an effort to detach myself from the web and spend more time reading or writing in my journal instead.  I have to tell you, it feels quite liberating to be digitally disconnected. It’s like a mental detox.  I think this is a practice everyone should do once a week… unplug yourself for a whole day (or if at the very least, a few hours) from your computer, blackberries, iphones, etc.  You won’t miss a thing.

So where am I anyhow?  I am in beautiful, majestic Ibiza.  It’s a little hard to believe that I’m actually here.  And surprisingly enough, airfare was rather affordable coming from Barcelona.  I have also been fortunate enough to know a friend who willingly welcomed me to visit.  Love and thanks, beautiful Cassandra.

Ibiza has completely taken me by surprise.  It is not at all what I had imagined.  When I thought of Ibiza, I pictured beaches with crystal blue waters, gorgeous tanned men and women (clothing optional) abundantly strolling around town, clubs at every single street corner, villa and boat parties on the daily… pretty much a European version of Miami, if you will.  And granted, all of this is true but Ibiza is more than that and definitely a lot more than Miami.  Actually, it is far from Miami. The island is a lot more mountainous than I expected, densely covered with tall pine trees providing shade for hidden trails.   Beaches are a given but there are also very special spots with towering cliffs and hidden coves.  The climate is just perfect.  And it goes without saying that it is very much a party island but it is at the same time so very peaceful and serene. There are so many magical places here on the island.

One of these magical places Cassandra took me to is Es Vedra.  There are many myths and urban legends about this mysterious rock formation but it is most especially known for it’s “special magnetic energy.”  Standing at almost 400 meters tall with high concentrations of metals and minerals, this mystical rock is believed to be the third most magnetic spot on the globe.  And it really does have this mysterious magnetic pull.  There is this sudden energy that surrounds you the moment it’s in your presence and I felt it way before anything was mentioned to me.  I have never seen such a mesmerizing sunset with Es Vedra in sight.  This is truly a very special place on the island.  Purely magnetic.  Maybe this is why Ibiza, in general, is so full of energy and so captivating.  I'm taking it all in...

So on that note, I will be back with more updates and hopefully, I’ll get to upload all the photos I’ve taken from Paris and Barcelona. Be back soon…

jump

“Don't be afraid to go where you've never gone and do what you've never done, because both are necessary to have what you've never had and be who you've never been.”
......

Thanks to Mike Dooley (and a former colleague who shared this quote on a typical Monday morning meeting), this quote has given me my introduction to a new chapter in my life.  Of all the inspirational quotes I’ve come across about adventure, life and the sorts, this one in particular speaks to me the most.

Don’t be afraid… surely, those words are not the easiest to utter in whichever context you put it in.  Don’t be afraid to jump off a bridge with nothing but a bungee cord saving your life from shattering into pieces.  Don’t be afraid to drink that milk past its expiration date.  Don’t be afraid to go outside without your make up on.  Don’t be afraid to eat that third donut and then put on your skinny jeans.  Don’t be afraid to drink that umpteenth shot of tequila.  Don’t be afraid of the dark.  Just don’t be afraid...

A lot easier said than done, right?  More often than not, people go about their lives being afraid of something, of someone, of some place.  We let these fears dictate the course of our day or for some, their entire life.  And while some could very well be warranted, most are fears that you could easily overcome if you just snap out of it and believe.  I know I have been guilty of this on many occasions.   Like milkshake, for example.  I’m afraid to have a milkshake, not because it is loaded with calories but because I’m lactose intolerant and the wrath of it is unpleasant.  But there are times when I force myself to get over it, especially with ice cream/gelato, to which I would gladly sacrifice for and say, “it’s just going to be some minor discomfort, maybe spent in the bathroom, but it’ll all be ok.”  It's just worth it.  And while for the most part, I am the adventurous type, willing to do things that would make my mom and dad, for lack of a better word, lose their shit, if they ever knew half of the things I want to try and do.  It’s not easy for a lot of people, to step out of their comfort zone and go to an unfamiliar place and do unfamiliar things.  Because a big part of taking these chances is the fear of failing. 

Failure, I’ll have to admit, is not the easiest to accept.  So you get accustomed to doing things that are comfortable and that are within your immediate reach, without having to face the uncertainty of falling flat on the ground.  The fear of failure is the very thing that holds people back from getting what they want in life.  I know…  This fear hit me, as I was packing up my apartment, to the point where I almost started undoing one of the boxes.  I could feel it in my bones and it shook me, that’s how powerful it was. What was I so afraid of?  And it was that pivotal question, that moment where it came to me and I realized what I knew all along (and thanks to my mom and close friends for reminding me)... that there is nothing, absolutely nothing, to be afraid of. There is nothing holding me back; seize this opportunity now.  I have nothing to lose and everything to gain.  And that’s the damn truth.

It really is.  You have to believe in these simple truths.  You can’t live your life in fear; you will only end up living in regret. No one else is responsible for your happiness.  You have to go for the things you want in life.  Talking about it and wondering what it could be like is pointless and certainly not an accomplishment.  Be passionate about the things that you want and don’t take them for granted.  Just because you've started the process doesn't mean you can stop working on it... you have to put in the effort to make things happen.  So put on your best dress, your best foot forward with open arms and an open mind.  And if at first you don’t succeed, you can always try again.  Or you can try something else.  The point of it is, you’ve tried and you can wake up in the morning knowing that you have.  Learn from it, accept the lessons and move forward.  Simple as that.

So after two years of wondering and wanting, I have chosen to jump on the opportunity.  To take that leap of faith, take my chances and throw fear, job security, money, all caution to the wind.  And just live for the moment and experience all that the Universe has to offer.  There is a big world out there.  So many different people, different cultures and different ways of living.  It only takes one golden opportunity to make other golden opportunities happen.  Just open up your eyes, your heart, yourself, to the possibilities and welcome the adventures that will follow.

There is so much to learn from this experience.  And just because I have taken that step doesn’t mean that I’ve already done what I needed to do.  This is only the beginning and believe, there is more to come.   Soak it all up, enjoy the ride, and never forget to stop and appreciate the beauty, remember your intentions and be grateful for the opportunity, for life.

So, here I jump...

: jump :

[Apologies, in advance, to my friend for sharing this photo.  It just goes with the title.]

goosebumps

Love her voice.  Love this song.

time flies when you're having fun

Wait just one minute... It's December already?! What are you doing here so early, fake Santa Clause with your fake Rudolph?

It's kind of sad that the older we get, the faster time flies.  Spring jumps right into summer and summer nights fade away too quickly into fall.  And out of nowhere, leaves turns its lush green colors to a burnt pumpkin-like hue and you speed right through to the holidays.  Which is where I'm at now, updating a blog three months later and didn't even realize it's been that long.  Thank god for my mom's neighbor's annual gaudy light show that easily compares to Vegas' Stardust casino lights.  Only this showcase involves a stuffed Santa climbing into their chimney, complete with his sleigh and reindeers.  How could I have not noticed that it's Christmas time already?  I can blame it on a busy work schedule or I can blame it on complete negligence.  Either way, it's about time that I update this little space I own on the world wide web.

Albeit the overloaded schedule we all have, I can honestly say that there's some fun had in the last few months.  From birthdays, to weddings... to more birthdays and more weddings.  And even just the little stuff that I cherish, like Sunday brunches and discovering new restaurants.  And most importantly, the friends you share these moments with.  So before I turn into sap mode, here are some photos from another golden birthday celebration of a very dear friend of mine.  The D to the G.

p.s.  Sunny, I haven't forgotten about your wedding photos.  They're on the way... :)

What's a birthday celebration without champagne...

Groovin' music...

A toast...

A birthday cake, of course...

Not to mention a special moment shared between two friends.

I'm guessing Mike wasn't happy I interrupted that said moment.

Good [amazing] food is a must for a proper celebration.  And Table 6 delivered, like always.

: PB&J French Toast :

: An over easy egg is the icing on the cake on this burger :

 : Tater Tots "Animal" :

And most importantly, celebrating your special day with special friends...

: lobsters :

Teddy looking so confused as to what's come over Alex...

When all Alex wanted was a picture!

: Sunday funday brunch bunch :

: D&G :

 How everyone should drink their cocktail.

 : stunner shades :

 : stunner shades w/ blue steel :

 And that's all folks.  Till the next post...

eye candy :: chuck taylor all star cup collection fall 2010

Two posts in one night... I'm on a roll even though I stumbled upon this a couple months late.  This cup sole Chuck collection from Converse with monochromatic tones are definitely on point.  Love the cool grey and the electric blue in suede.  Couldn't help but share this...

: via highsnobiety.com :

H&M x Lanvin

Denver has been teased for quite some time now with the possibility of H&M opening in our very own mile-high city.  Whether it's in Cherry Creek or Park Meadows, I believe that Denver is a city credible enough to house this fashion retailer.

This Fall 2010, Lanvin becomes the latest brand to collaborate with H&M.  Enough with the tease.  Come to Denver already...

: via The Society :