Dec. 2008: Kayaking Remedy

This day was like a gift . . . it was Dec. 27th and it was 69F degrees. It was unseasonal and so incredibly perfect. I had to take a double take when I read the forecast just days earlier but as soon as I saw that it was going to be nearing 70F, I had a plan!

The plan was to GET ON THE WATER :) So, I packed the kayak and all the necessary gear and hit the lake. That was that ;)

It was the most unusual feeling. The sun was shining, there was a breeze and even the breeze was warm. I did not want the day to end. Once on the lake, I quickly noticed that the water level was down about 15-20 ft. That was weird but it allowed me to see so many things that otherwise go unseen.

Beech Fork Lake is located in Lavalette, WV and it is man-made so of course, there are trees. When the water is at normal level, the trees are completely submerged but today, they were tipping out of the water surface. I describe it as a "graveyard." It was cool to paddle in and around the trees. It was spooky but also, super neat. The day was just perfect and I am pretty sure that I officially have SPRING FEVER after today :)

All in all, it was a day that I did not want to end and being on the water was exactly the remedy that I needed :)

Cambridge and Boston, MA

This was a whirlwind of a trip. It happened over the course of a weekend. We caught a flight to Boston on Friday, experienced Harvard and downtown Boston on Saturday and at dawn, we were catching a cab to the airport. It was jammed but that is the only way to organize a weekend trip. My motto is "Do all that you can do in the time that you are given."

The main purpose of the trip was to escort selected high school students to an orientation seminar at Harvard followed by a campus tour. Sounded simply enough but from the start, he had its trials. First, our flight was delayed which made us miss our connecting flight. This was crucial because if we did not make the connecting flight then that could have potentially crushed the purpose of the trip (to attend the early AM seminar at Harvard). However, by some magic and good will, US Airways was able to find 11 seats to accommodate my traveling group on the last flight to Boston out of Charlotte.

We stayed at an interesting hotel/house that reminded me of "nice" hostile. It was owned by Harvard and was in business to provide housing for prospective students and their families while visiting the campus. The next morning, I was "in charge." I managed to get us lost in Cambridge just by making a left instead of a right. Finally, a man walking along the street was able to steer us in the right direction. All the while, I was very upset because the students were clearly going to be LATE for the seminar because of my silly mistake. Turned out, that we booked it and we were only about 7 minutes late for the hour long presentation. Still, I was disappointed that I was not able to get them there in a timely manner. Then, I grounded myself by realizing that in the scheme of things: "We made it to Boston safely, we attended the seminar and now, it was time to enjoy the city of Boston."

As a way to culminate the trip, we had dinner on the wharf (which is the bay area). It was a perfect way to end the trip. Most of us ordered seafood just because that is what you do on the wharf ;) In summary, it was terrific traveling experience with unusually warm temperatures and rainy weather (Rain and Boston are married, that is just the way it is).


I have created a slideshow to bring the trip to you.

April 2008: Ireland!

This trip was incredible. It was the second leg of the April European Trip. It was the one that I was completely stoked about from the first time that I learned that there was a possibility that I would be taken the trip in November of 2007. Ireland is such an unique country-side. I have always had this drive in me to make it to the shores of Ireland and I did it, I really did it! I can remember a distinct moment as I walked the path to the Cliffs of Moher and even as I walked the shores of Lahinch . . . I felt like everything was right in the world and I was exactly where I wanted to be :) I have really never felt like that at any other time in my life but I was keenly aware that Ireland brought so much solace to me.

I would like to share some information about the place that visited while in Ireland. It was a quick trip. We stayed for 3 days but that included 2 nights in a castle in the country and one night in the heart of Dublin in a hostile. It was a phenomenal trip that I will always hold close to my heart.

FACTS:

Ballyseede Castle: Take a step back in time with a hotel steeped in history that offers luxurious surroundings within 30 acres of private gardens and woodland. I have fond memories of playing chess in the drawing room and relaxing to the sounds of the piano in the sitting room. It was also the big joke that a ghost of one who lived there many years ago still roamed the halls of the castle. It was enough for me to not sleep a wink and for my roommate to have a good laugh at my expense.

Blarney Castle: The castile is a medieval stronghold in Blarney, near Cork, Ireland. It is near the River Martin. The castle originally dates from before AD 1200. At the top of the castle lies the Stone of Eloquence, better known as the Blarney Stone. Tourists visiting Blarney Castle may hang upside-down over a sheer drop to kiss the stone, which is said to give the gift of eloquence. Photographs are taken of the "magic moment". There are many legends as to the origin of the stone, but some say that it was the Lia Fáil—a magical stone upon which Irish kings were crowned. According to legend, kissing the stone endows the kisser with the gift of gab (great eloquence or skill at flattery). The stone was set into a tower of the castle in 1446. Surrounding the castle are beautiful and quite extensive gardens.

The Cliffs of Moher are located in County Clare, Ireland. The cliffs rise 394 ft above the Atlantic Ocean at Hag's Head, and reach their maximum height of 702 ft just north of O'Brien's Tower. The cliffs boast one of Ireland's most spectacular views. The Cliffs of Moher were filmed as the "Cliffs of Insanity" in the 1987 movie, The Princess Bride.

Bunratty Castle: (Castle at the Mouth of the Ratty) is a large tower house in County Clare, Ireland. In Irish, means the 'bottom' or end of the 'Ratty' river. The first dwellings to occupy the site, in 970 were part of a Viking trading camp.

Killarney National Park (Irish: Páirc Náisiúnta Chill Airne) is located beside the town of Killarney, County Kerry, Ireland. It was the first national park established in Ireland, created when Muckross Estate was donated to the Irish state in 1932. I think the most impressive park of this area was the “Land of Lakes.” The lakes (many lakes) were situated on the tops of mountains.

Lahinch : The beautiful beach sweeps past the town and creates waves for surfing. The beaches were a miz between large and small boulders with a sandy beach that seemed to miles and miles away. I just sat there watching the waves crash into the rocks and feeling the cool Irish breeze in April. It was chilling but at the same time, I knew this was something that I had never experienced before in my life. While others shopped, I chose to have fish and chips at a local restaurant on the seaside and then, watched the beach for the remainder of the time.

Dublin: This is the site of my very first hostile stay. Actually, I am happy to report that survived. Truly, hostiles have a bad wrap. They are basic living, which many can compare to camping or even dorm life. While in Dublin, I kept a keen eye out for my favorite band, “The Cranberries” but was not able to find them L I experienced my first Irish Cab Driver chat (talked US politics which was different). I visited St. Patrick’s Cathedral and went to Ireland’s oldest pub to eat and drink! It was a great last night traveling abroad.

St. Patrick’s Cathedral: Saint Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin, formally known as The National Cathedral and Collegiate Church of Saint Patrick, Dublin or in the Irish language as Árd Eaglais Naomh Pádraig, founded in 1191, is one of the two largest cathedrals in Ireland. It was one of only churches that I visited that allowed photography and I took advantage.

Torc Waterfall is a notable tourist attraction at the base of Torc Mountain, about 5 miles from Killarney in County Kerry Ireland. We could only see the base of it but it is awesome to think that I have had the chance to see a waterfall in Ireland. The watershed was beautiful and the cool breeze of the April was undeniably chilly. I loved every second of it. I don’t think that I took my eye off the waterfall until I heard that it was last call for transportation.

Oktoberfest 2008

As many of you know, I totally get into Oktoberfest! This year marked the 4th Annual Oktoberfest in Huntington, WV! It was a chance for my Omi and I to hang out and have some fun. This year was the greatest for so many reasons!

In years previous, Omi's display was either inside Empire Books or just outside Empire Books. However, this year, things changed . . . for the better :) My Omi's tent had perfect placement. Her German display table was right in the square of Pullman Square. That was good because we could man the table and still enjoy the music and activities of the festival.

Just before going downtown to setup the tent and table for the day's event, Omi made pretzels. Then, we geared up by putting on our DIRNDLS :) My Omi wore a more contemporary style dirndl while I wore the traditional design. We had a blast.

Highlights of My Day:

1. Some of best friends stopped by to see me and support the event making the day even better.
2. Hogan and I entered the Beer Stein Relay! We lost but it is about the FUN not the WIN :)
3. Bands all day, including a really great band called City Heat (local to Huntington). I enjoy their cover tunes.
4. The weather was perfectly mild with sunshine and easy breeze. Best weather in all the years of Oktoberfest.

April 2008: England

Always, always . . . I am excited when I hear of a travel opportunity. During the Spring, I had the chance to travel to England!! The trip to England lasted four days and I made the most out of each day. I actually fell asleep in my suitcase one night after pushing myself to the limit to experience all that London had to offer. This trip was also coupled with a short stay in Ireland but I will tell you all about that in my next blog posting :)

Our first stop was the great city of London. My first impression was, "Whoa! This is worst than NYC and does it ever stop raining?!" The crowded streets, the tube . . . all a little much for the first day but I soon find myself enjoying the fast pace. We had dinner at the London Hard Rock and then, hit the ground running to catch "Wicked." The production, the talent and the creativity that went into creating the story-line was incredible. It is by far the best musical that I have ever seen! I def. recommend it!

I think the neatest thing about our trip was that we really got to settle into the city life. Instead of hotel accommodations, I stayed in a flat which is the equivalent to an apartment equipped with a very cozy bed, large bathroom and kitchenette. It was located not too far from a tube station and that made it convenient for inner city travel. All in all, London was terrific. I want to be sure to tell you one of the greatest highlights of London. It was the tour of the Tower of London. I believe that it was the Tower's tour that sparked my deep interest in Queen Elizabeth I and the Reformation of England. I believe it is travel that opens a person's mind and it is a true chance to experience the history rather than just reading about it as if it is an abstract "thing."

Really, it is hard to sum up the amazing trip in a blog. The pics speak from themselves. Now that I think about it, it is hard to capture the grand beautiful of living history in a photograph but I did try ;) I have included some travel details just below followed by a picture slideshow. Enjoy!

Travel Details:

Buckingham Palace- It is the official London residence of the British monarch. Unfortunately, on the day that I was there to visit, the did not hold the changing of the guard ceremony.

Westminster Abbey-It is a large, mainly Gothic church, in Westminster, London. This is the site of Queen Elizabeth I's burial. At her funeral on 28 April, the coffin was taken to Westminster Abbey on a hearse drawn by four horses hung with black velvet. I must add that many brilliant leaders of science and literature, monarchs and queens alike. It really something to see!

Warwick Castle-It is a medieval castle in Warwick, the county town of Warwickshire, England. It sits on a cliff overlooking a bend in the River Avon.

Wicked-A musical based on the best-selling novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire. Wicked tells the story of Elphaba, the future Wicked Witch of the West and her relationship with Glinda, the Good Witch of the North. Their friendship struggles through their opposing personalities and viewpoints, rivalry over the same love-interest, their reactions to the Wizard's corrupt government, and, ultimately, Elphaba's public fall from grace.

London Eye- Known as the "Millennium Wheel," is the tallest (the diameter of the wheel, or its height, is 135 metres (443 ft) Ferris wheel in Europe. Its height is measures 443 ft.

Tower of London-It is called "Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress," more commonly known as the Tower of London. It is a historic monument in central London, England, on the north bank of the River Thames. This was also the place of imprisonment for Queen Elizabeth I just before she took the throne for her 45 years of reign.

Oxford University is located in the city of Oxford, Oxfordshire, England. It is the oldest university in the English-speaking world. It is also regarded as one of the world's leading academic institutions.

Stratford upon Avon - he town is a popular tourist destination owing to its status as birthplace of the playwright and poet William Shakespeare.

Lake Robertson, VA

Today, I spent the afternoon at Lake Robertson. During my first months of living here, nearly 3 years ago, I visited this lake. Of course, at the time, I was not able to truly take it in because I was so overwhelmed with just moving and starting a job and certainly, I was preoccupied with trying to find my "place." Today's trip was different. It was like I was coming back to the lake to really take a moment to experience it. The weather was perfect. A gentle breeze, sunshine and it was not too hot. The reason behind coming was to attend a BBQ that was hosted by a co-workers' family. It was a nice get together and after the eating, we played several sets of volleyball. It was a great time.

FACTS ABOUT THE LAKE
31-acre fishing and boating lake
Crystal clear lake with an average depth of 18 feet
Great for taking a quick paddle on flat water (canoe or kayak)

Carter Caves, KY

The trip to Carter Caves has been a "long-time running spare of the moment getaway" for many locals to the Tri-State area (WV, OH and KY) for years. Today, it served that very purpose. My family and I hopped in the car with snacks and a cooler full of water, Sprite and Diet Coke. We were off to the caves :) Really, we did not have an agenda but only to take it easy and stop wherever we wanted when we wanted. Our first landing was the Natural Bridge Trail. Personally, it was the highlight of the trip for me. The other stops included the main lodge/resturaunt and gift shop. However, I don't want to forget the picnic by the water (Tygarts Creek). We had snack time and then, we jumped back in the car for the short 45 minute drive back to my grandparents' home. It was a short trip but it was fun to doing something with my whole family :)
FUN FACTS: The half-mile Natural Bridge Trail passes beneath a third natural bridge, the only one in Kentucky that is paved and supports traffic.