Wedding Weekend

Two of our best couple friends are getting married tomorrow in the Hill Country - the fabulous Amanda & Josh and wonderful Julia & Christian. Alexander and I are very excited to be a part of both weddings. Will post pics soon...

Other than that there are 10 days left in the legislative session, 14 days until we hightail it to San Sebastian, Spain, and 24 days until I start the 40-Day Personal Revolution at Breath & Body Yoga Studio.

All very exciting stuff!

Mexico!

Alexander and I just barely escaped the freak snow that happened in Austin last Thursday night on a quick trip to Mexico. Our flight left at 7 a.m. and by 2 p.m. we were bathing in the hot Mexican Riviera sun. Yeehaw! While we are not resort people, we decided to try it out since we did not have much time to plan. We stayed at Excellence Resort's Playa Mujeres location. Wow! Disneyland for adults. The food was not spectacular but was fresh and healthy enough for a 4-day, 3-night trip. There was also a bed waiting for you everywhere you went - the pool, the beach, your hotel room balcony! And every room is equipped with it's own hot tub. The resort's spa was such a sight to see and the experience was wonderful. The alcohol was all top shelf and they were not stingy. I am ready to go back now. More pics coming soon...

Girl's Weekend

I headed to Houston this weekend with one of my besties for some culture and to celebrate the birthday of one of my lonftime girlfriends. We started off the day with a trip to the Menil Collection. I love a couple rooms in the Cy Twombly Gallery (one pictured to the left) and always the Surrealist room in the main building.

We also visted Angora for a glass of wine, had great sushi and finished off the night at Houston's oldest bar (right photo). Overall a fabulous weekend!

My first real deal backpacking trip

Eek! I am so behind on posts. I am hoping to catch up this week as I have a lighter work load than normal. In August, Alexander and I took our first real vacation of the year - you know, one where neither person has to work, check their Blackberry or call into conference calls. We decided to head back to Garibaldi Provincial Park where we did a short trip in 2008. This time we stayed four days and three nights, which meant I actually had to carry something up the 9.5 km hike uphill to the Lake Garibaldi camp sites if I wanted somewhere to sleep and something to eat. I was a bit nervous about how I would do physically. However, despite the extra lbs I've been carrying around, I found myself to be in darn good shape. Alexander was a great coach, getting me set up with my gear and helping me pack it in the best way to carry.

We spent the first day getting there (3 hours and 45 minutes- impressive!) and setting up camp. The second day we hiked the Black Tusk and the third day we hiked to Panorama Ridge - both amazing and wonderfully unique experiences. Check out the links for a better sense of the hike and elevation.

However, I have to say the best part was the complete relaxation you feel when you escape all technology, including running water, background noise and all modern conveniences and simply melt into the stillness and subtle excitement of the earth. I returned a new person, relaxed from the realization of the smallness of my stress. The earth will still spin even after I say something dumb in an important meeting or if I can't pay a bill and so on... Everything feels so small from the top of a mountain when all you care about is how to get to the top and then how to get back down (In the case of day three, that was sliding down a several thousand feet side of a mountain on my backpack cover. Whee!) and I plan to carry this with me as I ease back into my normal life. Wish me luck!

Blanco State Park

Needing to get away from a crazy week preparing our house to sell, Alexander and I decided to load up the '89 Trooper we call Snoopy with our camping gear and kayak and head out. Yee Haw! This time of year it's super tough to find a camping reservation but it forced us to go outside our comfort zone and try a new park. We headed to Blanco State Park for two nights with Chef Alexander on call. He cooked up, as usual, the perfect charcoal-grilled burger (those grilled onions are to die for, baby!), egg & bacon sandwiches for breakfast and for dinner grilled half a chicken that just fell off the bone (the rub was amazing) with roasted brussels sprouts - simple but always amazing!

The kayaking trip may not have been as successful. Turns out the Blanco River is broken up by dams about every 500 feet, in which you must lift your kayak over. When we got to the fourth one, it was just too tall. We ended up paddling in circles and getting a good tan. Overall, the park was clean, had lots of wildlife to view (a very personable llama and a dancin' goose, for example)and was perfect for swimming. It was great for kids and we may go back when we have some but next time are looking for a more adventurous place. Below are a few photos of the fun.

San Fran continued

Here are a few more pics from our trip...

Tel Aviv Food

One of the best parts of our trip to Israel was the food - fresh veggies esp. eggplant, fish, lamb, hummus, yogurt...the list goes on. The Golgan Heights wine we drank was more than decent, and every bar we visited the bartenders greeted us warmly and by the end of the night, which does not end until the sun comes up in Tel Aviv, with one too many complementary shots.

Jerusalem

Here are a few pics from our day trip to Jerusalem, which was truly an amazing experience.

Valentine's in Israel

Faced with the fact that we would spend our first Valentine's Day alone as a married couple, Alexander saved his own you-know-what and flew me out to Tel Aviv where he was working. I received a first-class treatment not only from my husband but from the Israeli people. I fell in love with the people, scenery and food and can't wait to go back! Here are a few pics from our journey, where after work happy hour is on a beach and Americans are fed drinks well after 2 a.m. I am totally in love with you, Tel Aviv. Next posts are pics of food and Jerusalem from the rest of our trip.

Paris at Christmas at night

Just a few more pics from when the sun went down and the Eiffel tower laser light show started....

Oyster season in Rockport-Fulton Beach, Texas

For the weekend prior to our third anniversary, the manfriend and I headed down to Rockport, Texas to soak up some of the slow, small town life and to taste the treasures of the sea. We started out with a fried fare of oysters and shrimp, lightly battered and fried to a perfect crisp. The oysters seemed to melt in your mouth, and I especially enjoyed the contrast of the crisp exterior with the soft, buttery center.

The next night, after a bottle of sparkling French wine, we enjoyed some Cajun-style boiled shrimp and blue crab with fresh raw oysters. All was good, but what can I say, the oysters were my favorite. After all, it's oyster season in France, and I enjoyed a little piece of it right on the Gulf Coast. Maybe one day, I'll experience a French Christmas filled with raw oysters and a crisp white wine. Until then, the sway of the Gulf waters in Rockport, Texas will have to suffice.

The photos taken are of or from the bungalow we rented for the weekend.

Camping at Colorado Bend

My partner and I headed to Colorado Bend State Park in Texas this weekend. The waterfall picture posted is what it really looked like minus a little bit of water. Good times, great escape and wonderful for our mental health. Too bad the truck won't unload itself and wash the dishes!

Picture courtesy of: http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/colorado_bend/