Macaws!

Smiling for the camera...maybe.

Giant Bobble Owl!

Both my mother and I were immediately drawn to this giant, larger than life bobble head. I walked right up to it and started bobbling its head while my mom started taking pictures...I'm not sure what this says about us.

Hugging a big bobble head, not promoting Hooters.

Yes. I'm sunburned. I'm at this mall buying aloe! (and a purse.)

Romance in Cancun

¡Hola from Mexico!

My mom and I are spending a few days warming up in Cancun! We've been laughing about how romantic our day was yesterday: We took long walks on the beach. We were seated side by side at dinner (candlelit) with a window to watch the chefs at work. And we spent Earth Hour on the beach watching the stars.

From 8:30 - 9:30 our hotel, Live Aqua, participated in Earth Hour! It felt like they really put in a lot of thought and effort to balance running a great hotel with participation in the movement. I'm so glad!

Beach for miles | Candlelight dinner at the best table in the house (and champagne with a cherry!)
Earth Hour: March 23, 8:30-9:30 p.m. | Lights out! Candles lit the hallway outside our room

Then I stayed up most the night finishing Gone Girl - so the romantic feeling ebbed away. But the book was excellent and I am very happy I finished book one for the trip! Wild is next on my list!

Last Look at Hong Kong

Taking a last look at Hong Kong from the ship deck.

San Salvador, Bahamas

San Salvador, Bahamas

I spent a few weeks during college studying abroad in the Bahamas...yes, believe it or not, as a part of a real program (archeology and anthropology). My grandma is fond of sharing that she feels this particular trip was a boondoggle―and she isn't completely off the mark―but it was also an incredible and once in a lifetime experience.

The dig portion of my trip was at an old plantation on the small island of San Salvador. I loved clearing the brush, excavating the land, and mapping the results layer by layer. Our class worked hard during the day and had a lot of fun around the clock. A number of late nights were spent on this virtually private beach across from the research center where we stayed.

Sifting | December 2006