Tag: Vacation

• Revelstoke, BC

  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on September 25, 2024

  When I was in my early 20’s I took a weekend trip to Victoria, BC. My pal and I took a boat from Seattle into Victoria where we spent a couple days wandering the city. I can’t recall many trips to Canada prior to this, but it was time I had a proper visit to this neighboring country of mine. At the beginning of the year my dear friend Caitlin asked me if I wanted to go to Banff with her in the fall, and it seemed like a no brainer.

  If it weren’t for my sweet geriatric cat this would have been the easiest yes. Someone else wants to drive, someone who hikes just as frequently as me (and at the same pace), someone who is chill and I enjoy spending time with…yes, yes, yes. Although I did said yes, my anxiety leading up to this trip was gnarly. Leaving my cat with my mom for six days was hard.

  Thankfully this trip was great, my cat was fine, and I wish I could go back and do it all over again.

  

  Banff had been on my bucket list for many years, and rightfully so. This area of Canada is unbelievably beautiful, but what I learned quite quickly was that the entire journey getting to Banff was going to be progressively scenic. The drive from where we live to where we were staying in Banff was about 10-12 hours depending on traffic, and we decided to break the drive up into two days.

  We drove around 8 hours the first day to a mountain town called Revelstoke. We spent one of five nights living large in a nice hotel, and it was in this town we pretended we were royalty. We left Washington around 0500, and arrived in Revelstoke around 1330. With plenty of daylight left we walked around the small town, grabbed a coffee, and headed to a nearby river for a 6 mile walk.

  

  

  This town was cozy and quaint, and I can see why people flock here in the ski season. Our walk was wonderful, and the perfect introduction for the week to come. Truth be told one of my biggest worries for this trip was entering into bear country. We have bears where I live, and there are sightings all the time, but something about the Canadian Rockies screamed grizzly to me.

  I developed a somewhat unhealthy fear of bears after falling down the Grizzly Man rabbit hole. If you don’t know who that is, give him a Google. Since I became obsessed with his story I have been terrified of bears. I carried my bear spray with me almost everywhere, and I even slept with it in the tent. More on that later.

  

  After our long walk through town and on parts of the Greenbelt Pathway we headed to our fancy pants hotel to soak up our last night of luxury before four days of tent camping. We stayed at the Basecamp Resorts property in Revelstoke, but this company has locations all over Western Canada. We stayed in the plebeian micro apartment, but they have luxury suites that were far beyond my willingness to pay.

  Overall this hotel was worth the cost, had beautiful river views, a proper kitchen to cook dinner, and the most amazing hand soap I have ever used/smelled. Too bad the small bottle would have been $20. We savored the space for as long as we could keep our eyes open before heading off to bed. Our plan for the following morning was a hike in Mount Revelstoke National Park before making the final drive to Banff.

  

  Revelstoke was lovely. I would absolutely return to this town and also to this hotel. The coffee shop we visited had multiple Australian employees, and it had me daydreaming of the days I too moved around to different states or different countries to work. I think of those days fondly, and while I may not be getting any younger, I think there are more of those days in my future.

  Next up: hiking in Mount Revelstoke National Park

  Q: Do you have a normal, healthy fear or bears, or would you be constantly on edge knowing they might cross your path?

  

  | 39 Comments Tagged Canada, Hiking, Revelstoke, Vacation

• Delos and Mykonos, Greece

  Posted at 10:00 AM by Brittany, on July 10, 2023

  After a long and wonderful day in Istanbul, I was excited to sleep in and have a morning on the ship before our last full day of vacation. If you read my first post of this series you will know I wanted more time on the ship to soak in the sights from the water, the activities on board, etc. Somewhat of an ironic statement for someone who has thalassophobia.

  From Turkey we were heading back to Greece for one more adventure, but we would not arrive until 1200. I’m naturally an early riser and this gave me time to do all the things I wanted to do that morning. I greatly enjoyed having a leisure breakfast, time to savor my coffee, and one more run around the outdoor jogging track.

  The wind was wild that morning, and one side of the ship had me running through what felt like full bodied molasses thanks to the wind.

  

  Lucky for me, the wind meant there were no other humans on the deck and I could run without having to stop. After my run I showered and got ready with Duncan to grab some lunch before we took a ferry boat to the shores of Mykonos. We were unable to port the cruise ship, but a constant shuttle was running throughout the day for people to come and go.

  We took the small boat to the shore where we met our guide who was taking us to Delos, a small island that can only be reached by boat (third boat ride for us of the day.) There are boats that depart from Mykonos and some of the surrounding island, and I highly recommend a trip to Delos if you’re ever in the area.

  

  

  The boat ride took about 45 minutes and the waters of the sea were beautiful. When booking this tour I had never heard of Delos, but it was one of the few options that sounded interesting. The archaeological site on the island of Delos is the remains of a sanctuary to the gods Apollo and Artemis, and the city that developed around it.

  What was once a bustling port city is now a fascinating piece of history.

  We chose a tour that offered iPads, showing us what the land might have looked like back in the day. I was indifferent to the 3D aspect when booking, but Duncan was intrigued. Once we got to the tour the iPads were not of interest to either of us, and more of a hindrance.

  Our guide was knowledgable, kind, and easy to understand, but the iPads slowed us down and I wanted to explore more of the ruins.

  

  

  

  Immediately upon arrival to the island we were greeted by cat, after cat, after cat. If you have been following along with this vacation series (or if you just know me), you will know the cats stopped me in my tracks and were a huge distraction from listening to the guide. I eventually took my headpiece out and focused on the surroundings and focused on the cats.

  Duncan and I wandered off a few times, never out of ear shot, and we always found our way back to the group.

  

  

  

  This place was amazing, and I will absolutely return. I want to see more of the ruins as well as climb to the top of Mount Kynthos. I could not stop looking at this peak during our tour and wishing I had time to run up it. We were given about 15 minutes of free time at the end of the tour before wandering back to the boat heading to Mykonos. We found a cool structure, and then we were followed by two locals.

  

  

  

  

  After our adventure on Delos we had two hours to wander Mykonos as the evening wore on. It was 1800 when we arrived back to Mykonos and we were planning to take the 2000 shuttle back to the cruise ship. Originally I was worried this wouldn’t be enough time, but two hours was more than enough to wander and get a feel for this small city. It was beautiful weaving in and out of the streets in the evening.

  I had no goals here, other than to see white and blue streets, find the famous windmills, and pet as many cats as possible. We would be leaving the land of wild kitties the next day and I had to soak in as much as I could.

  

  

  

  

  After chatting with Duncan when we arrived back home, he decided this last day in Greece was his favorite. We were able to watch the sunset on the beach looking out towards the water, and Delos fueled his passion for history. My favorite day was still our first day in Israel, but the freedom of no plan in both Mykonos and previously in Rhodes made Greece a top contender for a return visit.

  

  

  

  Mykonos is a bit kitschy for my taste, but I was happy to have seen it. I don’t feel the need to return to Mykonos, but there are plenty of other islands I would love to see. Thankfully, while the shopping in Mykonos wasn’t for me there were plenty of friends to see before we left. We didn’t eat in any of the restaurants, but I can only assume the food was delicious.

  Before we left the island Duncan had the idea of taking another cringe hand guiding photo, but this time he would be leading me towards a cat. We took one of these photos as a joke on the ship one of our days, and now this feels like an appropriate tradition for us whenever we see a cat.

  

  

  

  We made it back onto the ship by 2000 and ate one final dinner in the buffet. The following morning we were up early to get our stuff together before disembarking the ship for the last time. The process for getting off the ship was chaos, my only negative feedback for the entire trip, but I made it off $30 richer thanks to a free credit we didn’t use. A win is a win.

  It has been two and a half months since our return, and I am still daydreaming about this adventure.

  I’m in awe of all that we saw – from Greece, to Israel, to Cyprus, to Greece, to Turkey, and back to Greece. Cruise ships vacations aren’t for everyone, but man was this an easy way to travel. This was my first international trip with Duncan and it went amazingly well. Now we will just have to see how he likes a Brittany planned international vacation. Muahaha.

  Q: Do you have any upcoming summer/fall/winter plans? Let me live through you!

  

  | 16 Comments Tagged Cats, Delos, Greece, Norwegian Cruise Line, Vacation

• Türkiye Pt. 1 – Ephesus and the Carpet Shop

  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on June 15, 2023

  In January of 2020 my best pal MaryBeth and I booked a trip to Turkey. We bought plane tickets, reserved hotels, and became overjoyed at the thought of visiting this European/Asian country. Then, shit hit the fan. I couldn’t remember what exactly happened, but MB reminded me that an American soldier had killed a Turkish citizen (I think.) The Turkish president wasn’t happy with Americans after that, and Turkey was potentially unsafe for Americans to visit at that time.

  After we each talked to our military raised fathers, we decided to redirect our trip. We had an amazing adventure in France that took us to Disneyland Paris, as well as a visit to the beaches of Normandy. We stayed at the most amazing Air B&B which I still dream of today, but my desire to visit Turkey never wained.

  Fast forward to booking this cruise, and when I saw Turkey as one of the options I knew it was finally time to dip my toes into this country.

  

  After an excellent day in Greece, we made the journey to our first of two Turkish ports. We docked in Kuşadası, a beach resort town on Turkey’s western Aegean coast. This town is apparently where Europeans flock for a “cheaper” beach vacation, but I can’t say I have a huge desire to return. The town itself is almost exclusively supported by the cruise ship industry, making for an uncomfortable time walking around. More on that later.

  Thankfully we were not spending much of our time in Kuşadası, and our adventure for the day was a visit to the ancient city of Ephesus.

  I should have known we were going to have an amazing morning after I was blessed with a tiny black friend the moment we stepped off the ship. On our previous days we had to venture further off the dock before I found my kin, but it was as if this ball of love knew I was missing my little black fur child. There he was just sitting at the end of the ramp off the ship, waiting for me to love all over him.

  

  I couldn’t stay long, we had a tour bus to catch, but I was on cloud nine. Our tour guide for this excursion was excellent. His name was Mehmet and he spoke amazing English, was personable, and he was well versed on the location we were heading to. If you read my previous posts you will know having this guide was a blessing. Our bus ride to Ephesus was about 30 minutes from where we docked, and Mehmet gave us a history lesson while I contemplated my outfit of choice.

  A few weeks prior to this trip, I saw the most gaudy, amazing shirts at REI and I knew I had to have one. When realizing there was a matching version for men I reluctantly asked Duncan if he would wear one with me. His answer surprised me as he said yes with no hesitation. I anticipated we would wear our matching shirts on the cruise ship only, but lo and behold we chose Turkey to don our attire. It just so happened this was the one chilly day of our trip. Good thing we are from the PNW.

  Our shirts were a hit with both locals and our fellow cruisers, and despite the chilly weather I was warmed from the inside out as soon as we arrived.

  

  

  This area had the most cat to human ratio we saw on the entire vacation, and I was in absolute heaven. It was as if a colony of cats had come here to live and never left. For all the dog lovers out there, we saw some stray dogs here too. Equally as friendly, living in harmony with the cats. It was truly an amazing sight.

  

  Animals aside (for the moment) this city was one of the most fascinating locations I have ever seen. Ephesus was once a port city, considered to be the most important trading center in the Mediterranean region. It changed many hands and survived many attacks, but the ruins are well preserved to this day. It is also said that this city is where Mary, mother of Jesus spent her last days.

  Ephesus is a pilgrimage site for many Christians because the Apostle Paul lived within the city to preach the gospel and gain followers. I too was on a quest to gain followers while in Ephesus.

  

  I did my best to pay attention to everything Mehmet was saying, but I found myself distracted by the cats. I know I have been saying this a lot the last few posts, but this was such a unique experience for me. I have never in my life seen so many stray/well taken care of cats in this way. I was also soaking in the views of the ruins, trying to imagine what they looked like in their prime.

  I didn’t take too many photos, just the essentials like photos of cats, statues, and an old bathroom.

  

  

  

  

  We eventually made our way to the old library, originally in ruins, but reconstructed between 1970-1978. This was a beautiful location, and I knew this needed to be the backdrop for Duncan and I to take a photo in our matching shirts. I asked a man passing by to snap our photo, but I didn’t like the shot he took. Thankfully moments later someone from our tour asked us if we would like a photo in our matching shirts.

  I of course said yes.

  

  After we snapped this photo we were approached by a French couple I had seen around on the ship. The woman and her partner were wearing matching sweatshirts, and she wanted to take a selfie with us. As she was taking the photo her guy said to Duncan, “she roped you into matching too?” Which I found to be comical, because it was Duncan who had to convince me to wear these in public.

  I wanted the shirts, but was too shy to wear them out.

  Now that we have broken the ice, I can’t wait to match again. My inner eight year old is screaming with twinning joy. We finished up our time at Ephesus and were given about 15 minutes to roam the shops outside of the gate. Duncan and I didn’t want to shop and we instead headed to the bathroom. Nothing could have prepared me for what we saw next.

  

  A rooftop of feasting cats was the perfect way to end the tour to Ephesus. We loaded back into the bus and headed back to Kuşadası for the remainder of our tour. This second part was optional, and while I am glad to have had the experience (I think), it was wildly uncomfortable for both Duncan and I. Turkey is known for their amazing carpets, the intricate patterns and colors are enough to keep you mesmerized for hours.

  Fitting that we would end our day at a carpet shop.

  Our group gathered into a small shop where we sat around a long couch as if we were seated into an auditorium waiting for a show. We were given a snack and a beverage and before we knew it four or five men were throwing carpets onto the floor while one ring leader described what we were looking at. Perhaps while trying to be personable he asked where everyone was from, and he said the words Duncan still sneers at me for replying to: “is anyone from Seattle?”

  

  While we are not directly from Seattle, I typically tell people I am from Seattle (or Canada) while traveling. Because of this my hand shot up before my brain knew what I was doing. The ring leader looked at us with eyes beaming, “I have been there! My daughter studied at the University of Washington.” I smiled and told him that was wonderful and he continued on with the show. I thought we were in the clear, safe from the attention directed at us, but then the show ended and it was time to shop.

  Duncan and I were the youngest two in the room, and neither of us feel the need to buy “stuff” so while we tagged along for the experience we were not planning to spend our hard earned cash on any carpets. The moment the show ended the ring leader bee lined over to Duncan and I and started whispering to us. He told us that because he loved Seattle, he would give us an extra special deal. He asked which carpet we liked the best, and while I had no plans to buy any of them I pointed to an exceptionally beautiful blue one.

  

  He pulled back the carpet to reveal the price tag. $10,000. WOOF. But for us, for us he would sell the carpet for somewhere just under $4000. What a steal right? My face flushed as I felt the pressure to get away from this salesman. I knew we could not be the last ones in this store, so I told him we were going to continue browsing and would let him know what we decided. This got him to focus on another set of people, giving us enough time to escape. We thanked Mehmet as we ran out the door and attempted to wander for a few minutes in the town.

  Just as I thought we were free of the aggressive salespeople we were met with human after human trying to lure us into their shop. Nothing pushes an introvert away more than being followed and summoned. I knew I wanted a Turkish coffee maker, but after attempting to enter into one of the shops and not being given the time to breathe let alone think about what I was looking at (when I buy things it takes me time to think) I knew this was not the place I would be shopping.

  We headed back to the boat, because I was no longer interested in exploring this town, and it was as if my little friend knew I had been overwhelmed by my final moments. He was there, just as he was at the start of the day to bid us adieu. He left a much better impression on me after being bombarded by the shopkeepers. It took everything in me not to stuff him in my shirt and smuggle him back onto the ship.

  

  My first taste of Turkey was a bit much at the end, but I knew I could not base my entire experience on this tiny cruise ship town. Our second day brought us into Istanbul and the entire day was marvelous. Kuşadası is a town of its own, I would love to return to Turkey one day and visit some of the other cities like Cappadocia, Antalya, and some less touristy towns, but I’ll likely avoid the carpet shops.

  When we returned to the cruise ship we overheard a man waiting for an elevator tell a couple about why he will never set foot into one of the carpet shops again. He said the one time he did, the shop owner locked the door and told him he couldn’t leave until he bought something. I can’t even imagine what I would do! Thankfully our ring leader was nothing like that, or maybe we just got lucky because we were the first to leave.

  I guess we will never know.

  Q: Have you had a pushy shopkeeper experience? Multiple?

  

  | 40 Comments Tagged Cats, Ephesus, Norwegian Cruise Line, Turkey, Vacation

• Rhodes, Greece

  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on June 6, 2023

  Call me crazy, but Greece had never been high on my list of places to visit. I really don’t know why, maybe because I associate Greece with beach vacations and those aren’t really my thing, but upon arrival in Rhodes I was shown that Greece is so much more than just a pretty beach. Ironically, the second I saw the beach I wanted to sit and stare at the water for hours.

  The waters of the Mediterranean are truly mesmerizing.

  Our previous port destinations required some type of transportation into the city centers, either through a tour or through a shuttle provided by the cruise, but once we pulled into the Rhodes port everything was right there. It’s a good thing too, because this was the only day we didn’t book any tours or have any plans. I am so thankful we kept this day free, this was likely my second favorite day of our trip.

  Our plan for the day was to wander, and as fate had it right before we entered into the Old City we saw a Hop on Hop off bus. I am A SUCKER FOR THOSE TOURIST BUSES!

  

  

  The full rotation of the bus was about an hour. Our plan was to ride the loop in full and decide where we wanted to get off and explore more. These busses provide an affordable option for getting a lay of the land, some historical information, AND transportation for a full day. I love walking as much as I can, but I also love maximizing time with the option of location hopping by bus.

  As we started our tour Duncan and I decided to count the cats we saw for the day, and I was already up to 12 by the time we chose our first place to explore.

  After one full rotation we decided to get off at the Acropolis of Rhodes. Here there are many old ruins including the Temple of Apollo, the Odeon (small marble theatre), and the Stadium (what we came for.) As we were walking towards the Stadium my cat count shot up and I officially lost track of how many I had seen. I was loving the old Stadium, but I was enamored by the cats.

  

  

  Our original plan was to spend some time here and then walk down to the beach where we would catch the bus and ride back to the Old City where we started. I was trying to maximize time while also wandering by foot, but we spent just enough time at the Acropolis to warrant waiting for the bus. This gave me the opportunity to find more friends.

  I wonder if these cats were around when the Stadium was in full swing, lounging on the benches like they do today.

  

  

  As we walked back towards the bus stop, I saw my future as clear as the shallow waters of Hawaii. A woman speaking in Greek was summoning the cats in the above photo, with a bag of cat food in her hand. She splayed food out in piles along the flat stone and it was here I learned the way in which humans and cats coexist in these Mediterranean locations. She was such a sweet older woman, and I have never been more certain of my purpose.

  We decided to skip the beach and go straight to the Old Town. If time permitted we could walk to the beach, but we wanted to ensure enough time in the Old Town and some of the surrounding locations. We entered into the city through the Gate D’Amboise, one of the many gate entrances, and it was my favorite of them all.

  We wandered the bustling streets inside the Old City, but eventually found our way towards the quiet residential areas where we both enjoyed the solitude.

  

  

  

  

  We walked, and walked and walked, petting as many cats as we could. They were everywhere within this city. They were everywhere on the entire area of this island and it was pure paradise. While we were inside the Old City we climbed some stone stairs providing a view of the water as well as a view of a spit of land leading out to the Windmills of Mandraki (once used to grind grain that was brought to Rhodes via the ships), and the Fort of St Nicholas (designated as a place for guarding the entrance to the harbour.)

  A vantage point to show us where we would wander next, off we went!

  

  

  Our walk towards the spit was not without reward, the views of the water were stunning and we eventually stumbled upon the most adorable catuary I have ever seen. A small piece of the old fort was filled with cats. I only wish I’d had more Euros on me, but I spent most of what I brought on water earlier in the day. I gave the only change I had to the cats, anything for the cats.

  

  As we got closer to the fort we tried to climb on the rocks to get a view of the front facing the water, but the rocks got a bit sketchy. Instead we stopped to soak up the view for a bit before walking towards where the Colossus of Rhodes once stood. There is much debate over the true original location of this giant statue, but what seems to be accepted by all parties is the earthquake causing the statue to fall only a handful of decades after it was built.

  I like to believe the statue was standing over the entrance to the Mandraki harbor, where today you’ll find two deer statues standing atop pillars.

  

  

  

  We spent the rest of the day wandering more within the Old City. The entire day was full of winding in and out of new streets, getting “lost”, and finding cats. It was one of the most enjoyable days I have had throughout all of my wandering travels. I was thankful to have spent the day with Duncan, we walked around 10 miles this day, and he was loving it just as much as I was.

  We did not end up riding the HOHO bus again, but we also didn’t need to. We saw a larger area of the city thanks to the bus, but we managed the rest by foot. It was nice to have this mode of transportation at the beginning of our day to maximize time, as the Acropolis would have taken over an hour round trip to walk to without having GPS.

  If you’re short on time, or if you want an idea of places to visit I highly recommend any of the HOHO style city bus tours.

  

  

  

  

  As the day came to an end we stumbled upon a community of cats, where we were surrounded by over ten at once. All of them wanted pets and love, and I so badly wanted to take all of them home. Duncan was such a trooper with all the photos I wanted to take. I never want my photo taken, but put me next to a cat and I become like a D list celebrity lusting for the paparazzi.

  Rhodes is a beautiful, relaxing city. History abounds for those who enjoy it, and for those who don’t there are endless shops, cafes, and beaches to satisfy your needs. There is quite literally something for everyone here. If I have the opportunity to visit Rhodes again I will likely rent a car because there is so much more to the island than this tiny port area near the Old City.

  The Old City is a must see of course, but I would love to drive the entirety of this island one day.

  

  

  We left no stone unturned in Rhodes. I felt we saw all that we wanted to see for this particular day, and we made it back to the ship with empty bellies ready to devour the dinner buffet. We chose to predominantly eat on the ship for this vacation, while I love experiencing cultures through food, I also love saving money.

  Food was already included with our trip, so we ate as much as we could on board.

  My opinion of Greece was changed after this day. I look forward to an exclusive Greek vacation in the future, spending at least a week touring a handful of Greek Islands. I have some food to eat, and more cats to pet. Our next stop of the cruise brought us to Turkey where we visited an amazing ancient city, with even more cats. Go figure.

  Q: Would you eat the food you already paid for with a vacation package, or splurge on extra local foods?

  

  | 27 Comments Tagged Cats, Greece, Norwegian Cruise Line, Rhodes, Vacation

• Cashews and Cats of Cyprus

  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on June 1, 2023

  When I chose the destinations for this vacation, Cyprus was a bonus spot. It wasn’t until AFTER I returned home that I learned Cyprus has MORE cats than humans on the entire island. This fact alone would have been enough for me to book a trip exclusively to Cyprus. My first impression was fast and furious, I enjoyed the latter half of our day, but I didn’t feel the need to go back.

  Until I discovered the cat fact.

  Our day in Cyprus started early and ended early. We only had five hours to explore, and we booked a tour to show us a few spots near our docking port in Limmasol. I will spare you all my true thoughts on how bad our tour guide was. She did her best, but the woman was not fluent in English and her lack of enthusiasm sucked the excitement right out of me.

  It was so hard to listen to her I eventually stopped all together.

  I fully understand that when I am in these foreign countries I am the minority. I never expect locals to speak my language, and I think it’s rude to speak to someone in English without attempting to learn a bit of their local language. However, when booking an English speaking tour I do believe the guide should be fluent in English. This goes for any language, if I book a Spanish tour I would hope the guide would be fluent in Spanish. Alas, this is the last you’ll hear of my grievances with these guided tours.

  Thankfully Cyprus is not a place I felt a need for endless information, and I instead used the tour as an opportunity to be transported around with ease.

  

  We started our day with a very quick visit to the archeological remains of Kourion, a city with evidence connecting it to the Greek legend of Argos of Peloponnese. We sat down with our group in this large amphitheater, before deciding to stray off on our own. This decision was half fueled by the fact I could not understand anything being said (wasting time sitting in one spot), and half fueled by my overwhelming need to get away from the small child who was sitting behind me on our tour bus.

  Was it the broken English that caused me not to hear our guide, or the child who would not stop talking at the top of her lungs? Jury is still out.

  I’m thankful we broke away, because there was so much more to this site than what our guide was showing us. I would have loved to wander this area on my own with endless time, but even the short bit we saw was beautiful. We didn’t wander too far, we only had about 30-45 minutes total at this place, but we wandered just far enough to get a view of the water and more of the ruins.

  

  

  From Kourion we drove to the Sanctuary of Apollo Hylates. I wasted no time deviating from the group once we arrived, and I was immediately blessed with my first friend of the day. A small black and white feline with a tick on his head. I did my good deed for the day and removed the tick with a piece of paper. I then proceeded to pet him regardless of the tick sighting.

  What can I say, I like to walk on the wild side.

  

  

  This area was small, but without the struggle of trying to focus on someone speaking I was able to enjoy myself more. I wandered the ruins and soaked in the history, but truth be told these types of sites don’t really tickle my fancy. Unless I have time to read more about what I am looking at. Ruins are fascinating, and I do enjoy history, but as one of the couples we met on this trip said: “once you’ve seen one you’ve seen them all.”

  I don’t entirely agree with that, but there are certain ruins I feel more connected to. Either way this site was a sight to see.

  

  

  

  

  I said goodbye to my new friend, and we hopped back on the bus for a 30 minute drive to our final stop of the day. We drove to the small town of Omodos, and this was my favorite part of the tour. We parked the bus and walked as a group towards the city, passing by some cats in a small park. It was as if the Greek Gods sent us good vibes after visiting the sanctuary.

  We aggregated as a group in front of a church where we were given the green light to break off and meet back in an hour and a half. I couldn’t go inside the church because I was wearing shorts, and both Duncan and I wanted to wander as much of the town as possible. We beelined back to the cats before weaving in and out of the small narrow streets.

  

  

  

  I quickly discovered Duncan is just as keen on wandering European streets as I am, and we covered as much ground as possible in our short time. We passed a man watering his plants who asked us where we were from. We exchanged a few words before moving on to find more cats. I eventually lost count of how many cats we found, but the amount of dopamine I received after each sighting was enough to keep me at a forever high.

  

  

  We saved just enough time to sit in the center of the city while Duncan enjoyed some ice cream, and I enjoyed some honey covered cashews I bought before we started wandering. The shop claimed they were locally made, and one sample was all it took. My only regret was not buying two bags. I ended up eating these cashews as my dessert most nights after dinner.

  

  

  

  Before we knew it we were back on the ship with the entire second half of the day ahead of us. I enjoyed having a half day in Cyprus, it was just enough to see some new places, while balancing rest after the two previous longer days. The morning started a bit rocky with the tour guide and the linoleum lizard behind me on the bus, but the afternoon in Omodos ended with relaxation and my cup filled with joy.

  Give me cats and candy cashews and I’m a happy gal.

  We spent the rest of the day eating, walking the ship, enjoying the views, and watching the onboard entertainment before slipping off into a slumber. I didn’t think I needed to go back to Cyprus, but now I imagine how many more cats there are that I could say hello to. Thankfully my cat quota was filled again the very next day…Next up: the back roads of Rhodes.

  Q: If you saw the stray cats of the Mediterranean would you say hello or avoid them? They were all so friendly.

  

  | 29 Comments Tagged Cats, Cyprus, Norwegian Cruise Line, Vacation

• Norwegian Cruise Line

  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on May 9, 2023

  Duncan and I returned home from our 9 day Mediterranean cruise about a week and a half ago, and I am still experiencing the post vacation blues. Never in my life would I have imagined I would be a cruise girl, but we have already started looking at options for another one. This was my second cruise, and just like my last one everything on this ship was down to a science. Amazingly organized and I did little to no decision making other than what I wanted to eat each meal.

  Don’t get me wrong, I will forever enjoy being on my own schedule, planning everything myself, and getting off the beaten track – but sometimes it feels nice to let other people take the wheel.

  For those of you who don’t know, in December of 2022 (five months ago) I was advised I had a credit for Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) from a cruise my dad had booked back in 2020. The 2020 cruise was cancelled, but no one knew about the credits until recently. I was also advised in order to receive the full credit I had to book a cruise by the end of December 2022 (the same month I found out.)

  I had about two weeks to choose a cruise and mentally digest what was happening.

  

  I managed to wrangle Duncan into this fiasco with me, and I was thankful he was interested in the same cruise destinations I was: Israel, Cyprus, Greece, and Turkey. I had been wanting to see Turkey for years, and Israel also intrigued me. I was truthfully indifferent to Greece and Cyprus, but they were added bonus locations. I figured for someone with anxiety, the safety net of an organized group (a cruise) was a great way to first experience Israel and Turkey.

  This trip was fantastic, and the destinations were awe worthy, but this post is going to focus on the ship itself and how we entertained ourselves. My future posts will give respect to each destination we visited in full. The planning process for this cruise was fairly simple, I had a point of contact I worked with and he took care of all the logistics. Then a few weeks before we left I did an online check in with further instructions, and before I knew it we were off.

  

  Our flight left at 0600 on our day of departure, which is only slightly better than getting shocked by an electric fence. I slept maybe 45 minutes total the night before we left, which made for a very long 30+ hours of being awake before I made it to the bed on the cruise ship. I don’t sleep on planes, and our travel day was very long. The silver lining was that by the time I made it to sleep I was immediately on track with the local time. No jet lag.

  A win is a win.

  We arrived in Athens where handfuls of NCL staff herded us like cattle onto a bus, and drove us to the cruise port. We settled in easily, ate some dinner, and slept until 0900 the following morning. Our first day was an “at sea” day, which was perfect for acclimating to the time zone as well as resting after a long day of travel. This was also perfect for exploring the entirety of the ship. Our ship was moderate, with a 2400 passenger capacity it was easy to find pockets of solace aside from our stateroom.

  

  

  We started our first day eating breakfast at the buffet, the spot we would eat every meal on board for the remainder of the trip. It was quick, it was easy, and overall it was good. It took me a few days to settle into which foods sat well with me, but ultimately I found a way to ensure I felt my best the entire trip. My one main complaint on this ship was the water. It was foul. I’m talking sewer water slightly filtered foul. It tasted so bad I eventually stopped drinking it.

  I relied on watermelon and kiwi each morning to bring me back to life.

  The free coffee was bad too, so I went against my rule of not spending any extra money (what can I say, I’m cheap) and I splurged on three venti Starbucks coffees for the 9 days ($10 total.) I only drink a small cup each morning, and I always have to cut the coffee with hot water, so I was able to stretch the coffees over multiple days. A worthy investment for a guaranteed expulsion of the previous nights dinner, as well as a bit of anti inflammatory assistance for my swollen face each morning.

  

  After breakfast I went for a jog on the outdoor running track, which was a bit frustrating on day one. Too many people were using the track to stop and take photos which made it difficult to jog on. I managed my miles and calmed down with regard to gatekeeping the track the remainder of the trip. Later, Duncan tried to teach me chess on a large outdoor chess board, but if you asked me right now what each piece does I couldn’t tell you.

  The ship had endless entertainment options, from the pool deck with live music, to cigar lounges, to live shows. We spent most of our first day lounging, listening to live music, eating food, and getting excited for the days to come.

  

  

  

  Most of our days on the ship after our at sea day were spent eating quick meals at the buffet (there were also 4 complimentary restaurants, but neither of us wanted to sit down and wait), going to live performances in the theater after our daily excursions, lounging on the pool deck, walking laps on the promenade, and sleeping.

  Our room was small, but neither of us complained. I chose the cheapest option and other than the shower not fully draining, and the toilets proximity to the wall (Duncan is over 6 feet tall and had to sit sideways), it was perfect. I’m not one to care much about my accommodations. As long as they are safe, clean, and the bed is comfortable I am set.

  

  My main tips for anyone worried about being around too many people would be to choose a ship with a lower max capacity. Wash your hands AFTER you touch the buffet utensils to prevent germ spreading, and eat either right when the buffet opens, or close to when it closes. Duncan ended up getting a little bug towards the end of our trip and I guarantee it’s because he ate more foods from the buffet that required his hands to eat.

  It’s absolutely possible to eat at a buffet and stay healthy, but washing hands multiple times is a must as well as using utensils. I managed to get by without getting sick, even sleeping next to him. There were a few times we ate when the entire ship seemed to be eating, and it felt like a fish swimming upstream. I was content eating at the buffet, but if this isn’t your cup of tea you can dine at restaurants where they seat you.

  We also ate outside for each meal providing fresh air and less people.

  

  So how much did it all cost? I’m a sucker for the numbers, let’s break it down.

  The cost of this vacation was definitely higher than most of my travels when I sat down and did the calculations, but it was also nearly effortless. The cruise and airfare for two people was $4776, and that’s including port fees, mandatory tipping, travel insurance, and transfers to and from the airport. Divide that by two, $2388 for one person to pay for flights, all accommodations, all food, PLUS travel between four different counties.

  The additional expenses for this trip were the shore excursions. I normally wouldn’t spend extra for these, I would find local guides on my own, or just wander, but ultimately I wanted the security of booking through the cruise ship to ensure I didn’t get left behind. We booked six shore excursions costing an additional $1660 for two people. Most of these excursions were worth the cost, a few were not, but overall it was nice to have everything planned and not have to think twice.

  The shore excursion process was well organized each day, we would meet in the theatre and when our tour was called we would make our way to the gangway where our numbered bus was waiting. This was a wonderful experience with very little stress.

  

  $4776 for cruise/flight + $1660 for (optional) excursions put us at $6436 before we left Washington. $3218 per person to fly, see four countries, have all the guess work taken out, go on excursions, and so on, and so on, and food, and a bed, and entertainment…I also spent $272 (I’m not calculating this into any of these numbers, just making note of it) for myself while on the trip and that included $60 of tips for tour guides, a few souvenirs, and some food.

  BUT, if you remember what I said at the beginning of the post I had a credit. So this $6436 did not all come out of my own pocket. When it was all done and dusted I spent a total of $2617 for two. Split that in half and we each paid $1308 for a 9 day cruise around the Mediterranean. I would absolutely call that a win, and when it was all said and done I would have paid the full cost without a credit if I had to do it again. Absolutely worth it.

  Had I paid full price this would have been my most expensive vacation to date. I am typically one frugal traveler.

  

  Final thoughts: We traveled light because we wanted to. This meant no waiting for baggage claim and no worrying about lost luggage. We washed a few outfits in the shower (I brought liquid detergent) which worked surprisingly well. We did not buy any drink packages or specialty meals, we had plenty to eat with the free options. Entertainment was free, I did not leave extra tips (everything was included in mandatory pre tip payments), we took zinc, vitamin D, and magnesium daily to help prevent sickness, wifi was extra money and that felt icky to me (I did not pay for wifi, my package included 150 min for each of us and we rationed those like each minute was our last meal), and we both slept well in our small cave.

  For any future cruises I do I will likely go on them for vacation rather than for travel. Vacations are meant to be lazy, to move at slower paces and soak up the immediate surroundings. Travel is for fast paced, non stop exploring to see as much as possible. A cruise is different than traditional travel. There are comforts on a cruise that might rob you of experiences you might have if you’re on your own schedule. There is always a trade off.

  There were moments I felt myself wishing I had more time to explore certain areas, but I tend to feel that way regardless. I like to have control over my time and maximize what I see. Ultimately these types of adventures are always what you make of them, we had a blast, and I need to get better at living in the moment! Stay tuned for a week of travel, starting with a day at the Dead Sea and Masada National Park!

  Q: Have you been on a cruise? If yes where, if no would you?

  

  | 28 Comments Tagged Cruise, Norwegian Cruise Line, Vacation

• Early Morning Confessions

  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on February 22, 2023

  1. It’s been a while and I have a lot to share, so we are doing an EMC explosion of words. Each number will likely be more words than a usual EMC post, consider yourself warned this will be a long read. Winter has been kicking my butt. We’re talking lifting me up, spinning me around, and dropping my on my head style. My motivation, my drive, and my cares have all flown out the window.

  I don’t want to go to work, I don’t want to exercise, and I don’t want to eat well. Thankfully my discipline is still in tact so I am showing up to work, I am still exercising, and I am eating well…somedays, but man am I ready for spring. There is a reason animals hibernate in the winter months, and the older I get the better that sounds.

  Humans need rest too.

  2. My dear friend Sam got married last February, and she and her husband had a small ceremony with just a few close friends. The ceremony was lovely, but she wanted to have a reception the following year when Covid chaos calmed a bit more. Fast forward to this February and she had the reception.

  I cannot remember the last time I put on a dress and went into public.

  My favorite part of the entire evening was seeing Duncan in slacks and a tie (albeit the tie was a bit short, but we had a good laugh about it.) That was a sight I never knew I needed to see until seeing it. Insert drooling emoji. My mom and my sister are friends with the bride, and they came with us as well. My sister said Sam looked like a princess in her dress, and I would have to agree.

  

  

  

  3. Back in January Duncan and I went to see The Whale in theaters. I have not paid to see a movie since I went to see Jojo Rabbit back in Garmisch in 2019. I don’t think spending money for a movie is typically worth the cost, however the moment I saw the trailer for The Whale I knew I would be spending my money to see this film. I nearly wrote an entire blog post about this movie because I had so many words. I cannot remember the last time I cried in a movie as hard as I cried watching The Whale.

  I absolutely sobbed. I had to sit in my seat for a minute after the movie ended trying to compose myself before I could leave the room. I was also days before my period, but that’s beside the point.

  The movie was hard to watch at times, and some reviews have given it flak calling it fat phobic, or grotesque. To these comments I would assume those reviewers have never personally struggled with the type of trauma that accompanies addictions. Or rather have not experienced addictions caused by trauma. The movie was raw, and painful, and while it might not be for everyone it was hands down the best movie I have seen all year.

  A movie that can hit me on so many emotional cords will automatically climb to the top.

  This is a movie about a broken family both collectively and individually, traumas of multiple varieties, and redemptions. It’s heavy, and it’s unbelievably sad, but I am crossing my fingers and my toes that Brendan Fraser wins the Oscar for his performance. That’s saying a lot because I normally couldn’t give two cares about those award shows. Hollywood sucks, but Brendan is amazing.

  4. Moving onto something less heavy…while stuffing our faces at Sams wedding, Duncan fell in love with the bacon wrapped goat cheese stuffed dates (say that five times fast) they made. I knew we would have to recreate these someday, and then that societal pressure filled holiday known as Valentines Day rolled around. You don’t have to give me a reason to do something nice for Duncan, but I will happily take a “holiday” as an excuse to make food.

  I picked up a handful of his favorite foods for a picnic style smörgåsbord. I got brie and crackers, smoked salmon, olives with garlic and jalapeño, and then I made the infamous dates. Ohhh man were they good. I also made chocolate peanut butter hearts, both of which took me far longer to make than expected. And of course, it took us all of 10 minutes to eat like pigs.

  Don’t ask me how I felt the next day. Ooooph.

  

  

  5. I am absolutely, positively, burned out at work. What was meant to be a transition job from Germany to America has turned into a two year and four month job with more ups and downs than my mood swings during my luteal phase. The job has been flexible, and I am working in an area I worked hard to get to, but I don’t enjoy the environment. I don’t align with the corporate values or goals, and I have reached a point where most days I struggle going to work. Maybe it’s the winter mood?

  I have never shied away from talking about working jobs that fill your cup regardless of the pay, and this is no different. I have worked odd jobs all over the world in order to fulfill my need of adventure and learning new things, and I know it’s ok to close this chapter soon. I like my paychecks, and I have stayed longer than I thought because I get a decent pay, but I know I cannot stay somewhere just for the money. If only every job has similar flexibility…

  Best thing I got out of my current job was meeting Duncan. He was an unexpected detour in my journey, but one I am thankful I took.

  6. I turned 34 last week. A concept that boggles my mind, and has me turning inward as I do most years around this time. One because it’s winter and those are the times for us to rest more and be more present with our thoughts, and two because I am slapped in the face with the reality that I am not getting any younger. For my birthday most years I choose to do something outside. Usually that includes a hike, or traveling somewhere new, and this year was no exception.

  Duncan took the day off (what a gem), and accompanied me on a Pacific Northwest adventure.

  I had wanted to visit a coffee shop a handful of miles from where I live for over a year now, and what better time to do so than on a birthday. The Espresso Chalet has gained attraction for its quirky Sasquatch themed exterior, and its breathtaking views of the Cascade Mountains. I’m indifferent to the Sasquatch stuff, but I had to see the views. We had a chilly, but clear day and while the coffee was not good, the views made the trip worth it.

  

  

  Duncan and I each got an Americano, but they tasted more like coffee flavored tea. Very weak – which is saying a lot coming from me because I am someone who waters down my coffee as it is. We both would come back, but would order something else. All was not lost with the crummy coffee though, our second plan for the day was to go for a hike in the area. I had wanted to see Wallace Falls for some time as well, so we threw on our wool socks and waterproof shoes and hit the trail.

  The hike was about 5.5 miles, with just under 1500′ of elevation, and after the feast I’d had the day before (my birthday is the day after Valentines Day if you remember the food I made a few confessions up) I was struggling to put one foot in front of the other. I felt like the Michelin man trying to climb up a hill. The trail was beautiful and the waterfall views were gorgeous. 10/10.

  

  I ended the evening with my first froyo in likely a decade, and a homemade gluten free chocolate cake courtesy of my mom. Needless to say I needed a few days of nothing but air to recover. My poor little autoimmune body.

  7. In the summer of 2020 my dad and his family planned a Mediterranean cruise for everyone as a celebration of my younger sister graduating college. Obviously that trip did not happen because life as we knew it changed forever, but little did we know there were six cruise vouchers sitting nicely in the cruise voucher ether. For two years these vouchers sat, unbeknownst to anyone, until my step mom received a phone call at the end of last year.

  We are all at different places in life, meaning a group cruise for all six of us was no longer an option. In December I was presented with: “you have a voucher and you can also use your sisters, but it has to be booked by the end of the month.” My anxiety and overwhelm went into overdrive as I realized I had to book a cruise within two weeks. My credit was significantly higher than my sisters, and while technically the credit was hers, I was given the option to transfer it to Duncan should he want to go.

  After figuring out all the logistics, and getting Duncan on board with my plan, I settled on a 9 day cruise going through Greece, Turkey, Israel, and Cyprus. These are all locations I have been wanting to visit, but a few of them I would not feel comfortable traveling alone. Having Duncan with me will make me feel safer, and while I don’t love the fast paced travel a cruise offers, I think this is a perfect way to get introduced to some of these places. We are taking full day excursions on all but one port day, and I am equal parts excited and anxious. We leave in April.

  While the credit did not end up covering the entirety of this trip, it certainly covered a LARGE part of it. There is no way in hell I would have booked this kind of vacation without it. My frugal blood would have been screaming and I would not be unable to fully enjoy myself. It took a lot for me to accept booking the excursions through the cruise opposed to saving money and finding a local tour, but at the end of the day I would rather pay for the peace of mind that comes with doing everything through the ship.

  The last thing I need is to be left behind.

  8. Duncan moved into a new apartment last week, and I am stoked because he is now significantly closer to me. We will have been dating for two years in April, and while we did entertain the idea of living together it didn’t feel like the right time yet for me. The biggest obstacle for me, which is going to sound silly, is my cat (I am also struggling to accept leaving my mom alone to take care of my autistic sister, but that is another story.) I cannot live without my cat and I wasn’t sure how it would be moving him (he is fifteen) into an apartment complex.

  He has lived in a home for his entire life and all I could see was him getting out and getting lost.

  Duncan has been nothing but supportive of me in all the decisions I make and all the things I do, and he understand and accepts my crazy when I sometimes take a long time to come over because I am struggling to leave my cat. I have an arguably unhealthy bond to my cat, but ever since I almost lost him in 2018 I am now obsessed with spending time with him. Especially since I left him for two years. My point in all of this is to share what Duncan got me for my birthday.

  Once again, it’s not just the gift, but it’s the thought behind the gift.

  

  I cannot deny that this mug looks moderately like a memorial to my fur child, but I absolutely adore it. Duncan said to me, “now when you have coffee at my place it’s like you are with Little.” INSERT CRYING EMOJI. While I adore that idea, I am not taking this mug to his place, it will live with me at mine so I can use it every single day until I perish. He did everything he could to find a cat clip art with a white patch, but he could not find one. Either way, this is my favorite mug for life.

  I have thought about putting a blob of whiteout on his neck, not sure how that would go. Thoughts and ideas are welcomed.

  9. For the first time in all of my existence I messed up on my taxes. I filed them far too early, and after they were filed I received a W2 I had completely forgotten about. My caregiving job (helping provide care for my autistic sister) switched companies at the beginning of last year, and it had slipped my mind. I filed with the W2 from the company we switched to, and then later received the W2 from the original company. I have since amended my return, and my anxiety has balanced back out.

  10. A couple weeks ago I went for an amazing 5 mile run. The weather was lovely, but a bit crisp. I wore a vest because I was going to run by the water, and the wind is always brutal in that area. I tucked my keys and license in one pocket, and my phone in the other and off I went. Or so I thought.

  I made the rookie mistake of putting my phone in the SAME POCKET AS MY ID.

  I didn’t notice it was missing until I got home, so I drove my running route again to try and find it, but no luck. I had a gut feeling someone was going to mail it to me, but just in case I went to get a new one. I got my new ID on a Friday, and that following Monday my old ID showed up in the mail. A painful $20 lesson, but a wonderful run nonetheless.

  

  Q: What’s your confession?

  

  | 32 Comments Tagged Birthday, Coffee, Duncan, Early Morning Confessions, Running, Vacation, Valentines day, Wedding

• A Weekend Away

  Posted at 9:45 AM by Brittany, on July 21, 2022

  I’ve always been a bit indifferent to holiday weekends. Most of the jobs I have worked don’t have holidays off, and they often feel like just another day of the week. I do love a good Thanksgiving feast, thrive watching my cat run through Christmas wrapping paper, and when I was a kid I felt like an all star staying up late watching Twilight Zone marathons on NYE, but these days I can take or leave most of the lesser known holidays.

  Fourth of July is typically my least favorite holiday. I don’t enjoy fireworks unless I am hot and sweaty after a full day at Disneyland, and I don’t have a big family to aggregate with for BBQ and brews. This year, things were a bit different. This year I am dating a human who works a M-F job, where holidays are a thing. This meant the Fourth of July weekend was a prime time for a weekend getaway.

  So we got away.

  

  Duncan has more of a Type B personality, while I am more of a Type A. This means I like control of the planning process, not that we needed to plan too much for a short weekend away. I made a last minute change in plans, taking us to the town of Anacortes, and this turned out to be such a lovely little reset.

  We arrived Saturday afternoon, and our first stop was to Mount Erie – the tallest mountain in Anacortes. This wasn’t saying much, as the peak tops out at 1300′, but after recovering from my second bout of Covid just a few days prior I felt the 1000’+ elevation gain. We took it slow, and savored the view from the top.

  

  

  After basking in our sense of superiority at the top amongst the other humans who drove up, we made our way back down and headed to our Air B & B. I found this Air B & B two days before we were to arrive, which was literally perfect timing. Someone had just canceled their stay, and the hosts put the spot back up for a discounted price.

  I happened to be the lucky soul who found it – talk about divine intervention.

  This Air B & B was PERFECT. I adored everything about it. It was small, and minimal, and bright, and OPEN, and airy and beautiful. Fully equipped with everything, including a fun couples card game that Duncan and I played. I would absolutely stay at this place again, it was just so wonderful.

  They even provided sleep masks because the skylights brought in so much natural light! Little touches do not go unnoticed.

  

  After dropping off our stuff we headed to the nearby grocery to buy some fooooood. We made dinner, watched some Netflix, played the card game, and headed to bed. The next morning we had a casual breakfast before driving to Whidbey Island for a walk at Fort Ebey. I had found this hike (more like a walk) a few weeks prior, but I knew it would require a weekend trip away as it was too much to drive in one day.

  The drive took about 40 minutes, and it was a rainy, blustery day, but we had a car full of snack and veins full of coffee. The trail was beautiful. Like something out of the UK. My only complaint was the amount of snails. It was like I couldn’t catch a break. If you read my last post you will know I JUST walked a trail where the slugs were endless, and I felt like my anxiety was in overdrive.

  Thankfully my lovely boyfriend hugged me and let me take my time when I had a full blown meltdown.

  

  

  

  

  I don’t claim to have a “normal” phobia, alas it is what it is. We made it out of snail territory and looped back on the beach for a relaxing walk back to the car. We hunted for beach glass, unique rocks, and pretty shells to take home with us. Duncan even got himself an eagle floof. We very briefly went to see one of the old military bunkers at Fort Ebey State Park before making our way back to the Air B & B.

  Duncan promptly fell asleep after eating an early dinner, so I made myself a Brittany friendly meal while watching Netflix and let the gentle giant slumber.

  The following day we were set to head home, but not before one more minor exploration. It was Monday the 4th, and downtown Anacortes was crowded for a parade. We headed to Washington Park for a loop around the area, which turned into more after getting a wee bit lost. Duncan spearheaded us out, and we made it back to the car and back home in record time.

  

  I tend to enjoy a busy vacation, with lots to see and do. Duncan enjoys more of a restful vacation, but he was a trooper and indulged me in my need to walk and hike and explore. This was just what I needed to scratch the itch. A weekend away keeps the wanderlust at bay, even if just temporarily.

  Q: Do you enjoy weekend getaways, or would you rather save everything for a week long trip?

  

  | 10 Comments Tagged Duncan, Hike, PNW, Vacation

• Walnut Canyon National Monument

  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on January 15, 2018

  Raise your hand if you know the difference between a national park and a national monument. In simple terms, a national park is an area that is set apart for use by the public, typically because of the scenic, inspirational, or recreational value. A national monument on the other hand has pieces of history that need to be preserved such as fossil sites, ruins, or military forts.

  

  Knowing the difference between the two can help give us an idea of what to expect when visiting America’s parks. I recently took a trip to Walnut Canyon National Monument in Flagstaff, Arizona and took a step back through time. What made this location a National Monument were the preserved cliff dwellings that are over 800 years old.

  

  View from afar.

  The Island Trail is the trail you’ll want to walk first, a quick one mile out and back loop taking you along a flat path to view 25 cliff dwelling rooms. The elevation of this park is near 7000′ providing expansive views of the surroundings cliffs.

  There is also a short trail that walks the rim of the below cliff, providing a view from the other side. It’s a small park, one you can easily see all of within two hours, but one that showcases an amazing part of human history.

  

  

  While you don’t need to be in great shape for this adventure, you’ll want to be mobile. In order to access the Island Trail you must descend a set of steps 185 ft down from the visitors center. It’s well worth the stair master burn though, there’s no better way to experience the dwellings.

  

  I absolutely love taking a step back in time to see how people lived before America was so privileged. I couldn’t help but wonder what these people did to pass time, you know without technology and the unnecessary distractions we have today. I try hard to spend some of my time without distractions, but I admit it’s difficult.

  One of the reasons I enjoy living a minimalistic life is because I crave the simplicity that accompanies it. I’m not saying these people had a simple life, they worked damn hard to survive, but the contrast of lifestyles couldn’t be more different. I think our survival goal is the same today as it was back then, but the approach is so vastly different.

  

  Some of the dwellings were open like the above photo, and some were more enclosed with small doors and a small hole to allow smoke to exit the rocks. Each “apartment” like dwelling was connected to the neighbor next door. I imagine these people living like families, raising their children together and hunting for food together.

  The smoke stains on the walls brought my imagination to life. Did they have parties together? Did they keep isolated? Did they live a happy life?

  

  Tiny door.

  

  Tiny window.

  

  It’s no secret that often times those with less appreciate life more than those with excess. Those with less have a knack for making themselves happy without inanimate objects. When living in cliff walls I assume the focus of each day was where the next meal was going to come from, where the fresh water source was, and what to do in the event of an attack.

  I’m incredibly thankful for the life I have, but it’s good to have reminders like this, that the roof over my head evolved from something like a cliff dwelling. Eventually the people that lived in these cliffs moved onto new dwellings, naturally following the path of change.

  

  

  Time is valuable. Figuring out how to be content with idle time is a blessing I think a lot of us could benefit from. Myself included. Sitting in silence, not needing a distraction, and of course spending time with others. Surviving is a necessity, but how we do so is sometimes a choice. This choice is personalized, and no one way is wrong or right, but perhaps we can all learn something from those that live with less.

  Q: What’s your favorite national monument, and why?

  

  | 30 Comments Tagged Arizona, National Monument, Vacation, Walnut Canyon

• Arizona Ascents

  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on January 11, 2018

  I’m currently on an extended vacation visiting my family in Arizona, and although I miss the greenery of my home state, I’ve taken advantage of the sunshine and dry hiking weather. Every time I visit Arizona I make it a point to hike a popular trail near Phoenix called Piestewa Peak, formerly known as Squaw Peak.

  

  Compared to the trails in Washington where I live, this trail would be considered small. The elevation is small, and the distance is short, but the gain happens quickly. The climb kicked my butt this time around, but I did make it to the summit quicker than I had in the past. I normally hike this with family, but this time I went solo.

  It took me 45 minutes to get to the top, rested for a few, and back down for a RT total of an hour and 40 minutes. Ish…

  

  One thing that sets this hike aside from what I’m used to is the uneven terrain. My preference for a trail is one that has a steady and smooth incline. The rocks, and stones make Piestewa Peak more difficult because it requires more energy to step up onto. This hike also requires more mental attention, I find myself thinking of my next step before I even take it.

  Sometimes, when the path has a rock-less option I take that path.

  

  To the right.

  I find it difficult to make the brown and dusty landscape look pretty, but that’s because my preference is always green. I was able to capture a few good shots before the dust completely engulfed the valley below, it was incredibly windy this day.

  The wind was so bad I had to stop a few times to blink the dust out of my eyes. 

  

  This windy afternoon was the precursor to a “storm” that was coming. Hours later rain was falling from the sky like a flock of seagulls towards a loaf of bread. When I come to Arizona the weather is mostly consistent, and rarely deviates from sunshine. This day was completely unpredictable starting with sun, moving to wind, and ending with rain and thunder.

  The perfect metaphor for life, nothing is predictable. 

  

  Learning to expect the unexpected has helped me cope when things don’t go as planned. How boring would life be if everything followed a schedule, or if we never let go of control to simply trust the process? This isn’t to say that we shouldn’t plan for things, but rather evaluate how we react when things don’t go as planned.

  I wasn’t expecting overcast on this hike, but I welcomed it with open arms. I wasn’t expecting to feel like I was going to die on this hike, but I accepted the challenge to whip myself back into shape. I wasn’t expecting rain in Arizona, but I sucked in the smell of it like a brand new vacuum.

  There is something magical about the smell of warm rain. 

  

  Rain is invigorating. Cleaning the air and washing away dirt, it feels like a fresh start.

  It would be remiss of me not to update those of you that haven’t heard the latest on my cat. He is recovering amazingly well after his surgery, and will get his final evaluation on Saturday. He will also get to take off his cone of shame, and get his stitches removed.

  He has been given a fresh start.

  The little Houdini escaped the cone multiple times, is eating like a full grown grizzly, and is successfully urinating. I’d say he’s well on his way. Thank you again to those that helped this process. Please continue to keep us in your prayers as he undergoes one more procedure when I get back home.

  

  Q: How do you react when things don’t go as planned? Meditation has helped me to react less aggressively. 

  

  | 23 Comments Tagged Arizona, Cat, Desert, Hiking, Solo Hike, Squaw Peak, Vacation

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