The next stop on our Mediterranean journey turned out to be even more magical than Mykonos, which is an astounding feat. The ship spent the night curving around the Greek mainland to the enchanted island of Corfu on the Northwest side of Greece, floating between the Greek/Albanian border. A small channel of deep blue separated... Continue Reading →
Our Mediterranean Adventure Part Four: The Mysterious and Enchanting Island of Mykonos
Leaving the grandiose spectacle of the wondrous ancient city of Athens, we set sail that evening, arriving the next morning at Mykonos, an island Southeast of the Greek mainland. This island, nestled in the sparkling blue waters of the Aegean Sea, was a strikingly barren and rocky terrain. Its mountains and hillsides were towering granite... Continue Reading →
Our Mediterranean Adventure Part Three: On the Acropolis, the Parthenon, and an Endless Sea of Wonder
After our most memorable lunch in the village, we followed the coastal rode back north to Athens, to a special place at the heart of the city. Passing through the crowded streets and tight-packed buildings, we emerged at an opening in the middle of the city, where all else gave way and the dazzling blue... Continue Reading →
Our Mediterranean Adventure Part Two: On Athens, the Temple of Poseidon, and the Art of Enjoying a Meal
Athens is a place that almost doesn’t seem real, like the lost city of Atlantis or Mount Olympus’s home of the gods. Its reputation as a mecca in the Western political, social, cultural, and spiritual ethos makes it seem from another dimension. It is transcended by myth in the minds of all who read about... Continue Reading →
Our Mediterranean Adventure Part One: Departure and the Sea
It was finally time for our honeymoon! Our wedding had been a month prior in the springing beauty of April. The lingering emotions of that day played in our minds for weeks, slowly transforming into an exuberance for our trip that was increasing overwhelming. A 10-day Mediterranean cruise in the temperate month of May was... Continue Reading →
Danger and Serenity in a Frozen World: Thoughts from Linville Falls and Gorge
Walking alone through a silent, frozen forest only to emerge at the precipice of a frigid gorge with cascading waterfalls and biting winds is all at once unsettling and entrancing to my mind. I arrived to the trailhead of Linville Falls and Gorge just at sunrise. The uncleared snowy field that was the parking lot... Continue Reading →
The Top of the Mountain, The Edge of the Sea, The Beauty Is Out There, For It Pours Out of Me
By humanity’s collective upward gaze, the top of a distant mountain takes on a mythical aura that is difficult to fathom. When we peer at a mountain’s peak from below, it breathes with the rule of an eternal force, unencumbered by the rhythm and flow of mortals. Its ascended stature emanates a holy presence and... Continue Reading →
The Infamous Seattle to Chattanooga Solo Road Trip: Part 4 [Final]
The energy of the last day’s drive was a mixture of exhaustion and excitement. I knew that this day was the day I would be home, finally in the arms of family and friends again after a long absence. My body was tired but my heart was invigorated at the prospect of being on the... Continue Reading →
The Infamous and Wondrous Seattle to Chattanooga Solo Road Trip: Part Three [photos]
I woke up to a new day eager to set out, yet still feeling a sting of anxiety from the previous day’s mishap. As I passed through South Dakota on the third day, the snowfall took an intense turn for the worse. The winds picked up on the rolling plains and the snow started blowing... Continue Reading →
The Infamous and Wondrous Seattle to Chattanooga Solo Road Trip: Part Two [photos]
Waking up to the Bozeman scenery and a hot cup of coffee gave me all the motivation I needed to hit the road on the second day. Montana is quite the land mass so it took me a good chunk of the day just to drive through it. Passing through the Cheyenne Nation in Eastern... Continue Reading →