Peru :)

60 days....

St Thomas & St. John, U.S.V.I.

St Thomas & St. John, U.S.V.I.



By the time I boarded the plane at 6am in July of 2009, a get way seemed long overdue. It was one of those times in your life where you feel your head spinning and every move you make sinks you deeper into a hole... Anyway, I was lucky enough to be accompanied by my sister, Stephanie, and by the time we made it to our final layover in Puerto Rico, we where both ready for some cocktails and sunshine. As we made our way out the outdoor gate, I practically had to force my sister on the eight seat commuter airplane that was waiting for us. I quickly volunteered my assistance as "Co - pilot", which pretty much consists of riding in the cock-pit and taking a montage of "look at me" photos.


I'm almost certain that my driveway is bigger then the runway for St Thomas' airport. So that proved to be an experience from the front seat indeed. After landing and watching Steffie kiss the ground in thanks for her life, we were quickly jam packed into a van full of strangers for a $35 taxi cab to our hotel. The price of this ride proved not so bad because we quickly found that our native taxi driver was actually more of island tour guide. I think I learned more about St. Thomas on that ride then I ever did in any high school history class, but that could be my downfall.


Point Pleasant resort is located on the cliffs of the island and is, if I may say so, quite a spot. Our room was spacious with window shutter doors opening the bedroom into the living room and a wall of glass sliding doors stretching from one wall to the next. As you slide them open you are led out to a gorgeous balcony with arguably one of the most spectacular ocean views on the island.







After getting settled in, we showered up and we headed out to see what the St. Thomas night had in store for us. If your going to the island, the spot to party at night is "Red Hook". The area has all the beach bars, ethnic restaurants, and over priced shops any thirsty tourist is looking for. My personal favorite " Duffy's Love Shack" was our first stop. First on our path to destruction was a fish bowl. Yeah,... I'd recommend doubling up with a friend on this one and still proceed with caution. It wasn't long before we had been laid by the staff and were conversing with locals and tourists alike. Needless to say that the evening spun out of control at a rapid pace.





The next morning was a little rough around the edges, but after a shower and a few Advil, I quickly pulled it together and we headed to the famous Magen's Bay. " It's on National Geographic top 10 beaches!" boasted Steffie as we arrived and paid our $15 entrance fee. Now maybe it was part the hangover I was nursing or that fact that it was a bit overcast, but I've seen better. Don't get me wrong its a beautiful beach, far better then anything the mainland United States has to offer. Top 10 in the world? I'm not so sure. Guess you will just have to judge this one for yourself.



The following day we head over to Sapphire Beach. By this point I have started to take advantage of the island's policy on open containers. Which is that they are completely fine with them. I enjoy a few coronas on the shore as my sister floats on her rented raft in the Caribbean. It's not long before I am approached by a Jet Ski Rental Agent. He is from Arizona and first tries to sell me a jet ski rental. After realizing I'm not interested he begins to ask personal questions. At first I am understandably weary and unwilling to reveal to much. After a long conversation he departs and heads back up the beach. About 15 minutes later he returns with a unusual, but tempting offer.

It only takes me about 5 minutes to convince Steff to accompany me on my new Jet Ski Friends "Friends" Yacht. He claims to have a charter scheduled for the next day and that he just had the boat fixed and needs to take it for a test spin. He'd rather not go alone. Now usually I would never take rides from from strangers, let alone boat off into the middle of the Caribbean with one. Especially not with my little sister in tow, but what the hell. He seems nice enough and I was pretty sure between the two of us we could have taken him, if need be.

So just like that, there we are, speeding through the Caribbean, weaving in and out of the Virgin Islands. Drinks are flowing, as well as conversation. Our captain, Tim, is from Florida and has moved down to St. Thomas for the same reason most do. Escaping the life of quiet desperation that most either lead or fear leading in the continental United States. He shows us the private beaches of St John. The ones that no guided tour or taxi by road will take you to. You can only get to "Little Cinnamon" by boat. There is no dock, so you must anchor out and swim or snorkel in. This is arguably the most spectacular spot I have ever reached in my short life thus far. It's defiantly worth the swim ;) We spend the rest of the day beach hoping in between the two islands.

On Friday, which also happens to be my birthday and the second to last day of the trip, we depart from our hotel with intent. To Trunk Bay on Saint John we go, the smaller islands principle attraction as far as beaches go. Unfortunately today we won't have our private Yacht to take us where we need to go. We will need to ride the ferry. Which departs from St Thomas on the hour. From there an open air taxi will take you to Trunk Bay. Bring your snorkel here and experience the beaches magnificent under water national park. A giant reef is surrounded by underwater signs with explanations on corral, fish, any other forms of life found around the reef. Before leaving St John, which I must say is my favorite of the Virgin Islands, we made a stop for some much needed food at the famous "Woody's Saloon". Look no further for dollar drinks all through happy hour. This little bar/restaurant is the perfect island atmosphere and should not be missed. The West Indian mussels hit the spot, as well as the Rum and Pineapples that followed.

Later that night after returning to St Thomas via ferry ride, it was off to "XO" for a birthday dinner. The sashimi was fresh and flavorful. The wait staff is also attentive and don't be surprised if you have a visitor or two stop by and sit a your table with you for a while. We ended our night with drinks at "Duffy's Love Shack" before departing back to Point Pleasant for the night.

With an amazing trip behind me as I laid staring straight up at the sky, in the hammock at our hotel on the last day waiting for the shuttle to pick us up and take us to the airport, I reflected on the beaches, the drinks, the food, the island hoping, the people, and all the other experiences the islands had shown me. I wondered on what lay ahead. Could this be the most amazing destination I have visited so far? Possibly. I did know one thing for sure, there was more out there, more to see, more to experience, and with a trip to Europe in the near future I knew there was more in store for me. I walked to Fungi's, the beach burger joint at our hotel just beside the the Caribbean Sea, and sucked down a few pomegranate daiquiris before departing. I loved the Virgin Islands, but as Robert Frost put it so eloquently. "..and miles to go before I sleep".

Leaving on a Jet Plane JFK to Barcelona !!!

84 Days!!!!!!!!!!!
or
2 months , 23 days
or
7,257,600 seconds
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120,960 minutes
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2016 hours
or
12 weeks

More details to come on Anna and I's Backpacking Adventure through Barcelona, Paris, Amsterdam , Venice, Florence, Rome, Pompeii,... and maybe Ibiza???

Travel Voices

If we are doomed, if any day may be our last, stop thinking what everyone wants stop thinking of what society expects from you what you should be who you are being compared to and just do what ever it is you want. If we are favored by the gods then Aphrodite smiled upon me. I will not stop I will not conform I will travel and keep looking for home for answers and for the questions that history can only answer. You will not see me at 30 getting married driving that Volvo wagon and living in that house with a white picket fence I will search for my escape.

- Fellow Travel Enthusiast And Beloved Friend, Anna Kanar

Captiva Island, FL

After paying my $6.00 at the toll for the cos way that leads you over onto Sanibel Island, I began to make my way across the Florida waters. The view at this point was breathtaking. All I could see was the islands in front of me, sailboats and palm trees that awaited. The water was blue green and weather was about 78 degrees and clear as far as you could see. To get to Capitiva Island you have to drive through the length of Sanibel Island. So at that point I still had 30 minutes to go before reaching my destination. Luckily I was kept occupied by all the scenery.

After meeting up with my friend from Minneapolis, whom was kind enough to meet up with me on the island, we enjoyed the first evening by taking a stroll down to the beach to watch the sunset an heading off to "The Bubble Room " an island themed restaurant on the island. I had my share of raw oysters as I usually do and washed them down with a few pints of beer. For anyone who has a taste for seafood, Capitiva is not a bad spot to grab some. Grouper is the fish of Southwest Florida and I would highly recommend trying some while your in the area. Followed up by a late night swim in the heated pool.

The next morning we woke up had some coffee and breakfast and headed off for a long walk down to the tip of Captiva Island. This walk turned into 4 hour hike down along the beach of the island, but was well worth it. This will be a great source of exercise and enjoyment during your vacation. Most of Captiva is made up of a private resort called , South Seas. Its a large all- inclusive resort that dominants most of the tip of Captiva island. good luck trying to grab a Bloody Mary or a bit to eat around those parts. Everything is run on a room card system so you are out of luck, unless you are a guest of the resort. This part was a bit of an inconvenience

for us.

The next day came quickly, and the first thing on my mind in the am was grabbing a tall bloody Mary ASAP. We headed over to a small island restaurant called,The Key Lime Bistro. There is live music even in the late morning and the sun shines right onto the patio. Nothing short of perfect island atmosphere. The drinks are good, too. This is also the best nightlife stop as well. Captiva is generally very quiet at night. So if your looking for a beach spot to grab a few during the day or night this is the spot.

Later that day I had to get my water sport fix, so we rented Jet skis for a couple hours. After Cruising around the Gulf of Mexico for a awhile and Practicing my "first time jet ski driver skills" I spent the rest of the day on the beautiful beach. Rumor has it if you stick around until sunset you may spot a fisherman reeling in a hammer head shark!

On our last day we felt it was only fitting to suck it up and rent a pontoon boat. Anyone who has been to Florida knows these are a dime a dozen. We cruised around all day made our final stop at the the famous Cabbage key. You can get there only by boat, but there are constant shuttles from Captiva. Jimmy Buffet allegedly wrote his famous song here," Cheeseburgers in Paradise" and when you arrive, you'll understand why. The cheeseburgers rock, the setting is sublime, and there are no fried foods or microwaves in sight. It's a place rich in history, and in money. Thousands of dollar bills are signed and stuck to the walls and ceiling with masking tape. Be sure to look for mine when you get there. ;)

Minneapolis, MN

In October 2008 I took a weekend trip out to Minneapolis to visit a friend. I personally never imagined I would have a reason to make it out to Minnesota, but as it turns out I did. I do have to say I was pleasantly surprised by the twin cities and what they have to offer.

The first night was a Friday night, so like most travelers after settling into the Crownplaza Northstar on 2nd St, I headed off to dinner. Chinos was the spot of choice. Sushi and exotic drinks made up most of the menu and the atmosphere was something to speak of. Chinos is a large restaurant with many tables wrapping around a center bar area.

I made my way downstairs to the bathroom after ordering a Mohito. As I walked in I felt disoriented while looking into the mirrors to the left of me. What appears to be a double mirror is actually no wall at all and you can see straight through to the men's room!

Back upstairs we ordered three kinds of sushi and a chicken peanut lo main dish for our meal. The food was excellent and our seat next to the window was an ampule spot for people watching.

From there I was wildly entertained all night by a series of clubs and bars in Minneapolis. We hopped in and out of taxis, clubs and bars for hours most of which is a slightly a blur.

The next morning we woke up early, grabbed some breakfast and headed off to the Science Museum of Minneapolis. The Science Museum offers plenty of educational exhibits to play with as you explore. We followed our tour up by catching a showing in the IMAX theater. " Mysteries of the Great Lakes" was showing.

On Sunday, after checking out, I decided I had to see what this famous Mall of America was all about. So we decided to head over there before my flight in the evening. The ginormous three floor mall is overwhelming to a person who has not been to it before. Any store you can possibly wish to find there, you will find there. Let me not forget to mention the Nickelodeon theme park located directly in the center of the mall. After shopping around a bit we decided to head over to the Showcase cinema inside the mall. We watched "Max Payne" and headed for the airport.

Although already a bit cold in late October, Minneapolis had plenty of activities to keep an individual entertained. I can only image it being even more appealing in the summer months when the weather permits you to walk around the city more comfortably. In case you were wondering about that, don't worry, Minneap has sky walks that allow you walk from building to building without even going outside!

Brentwood, CA

I will start this off by back tracking a bit. Last month I took a trip out to Los Angeles to visit a close friend in Brentwood. As usual in the warm and sunny city of LA, the sun was shining, traffic was bustling, and people were, well interesting. As an individual who once called the city of Los Angeles home, I was pretty familiar with what I would find waiting for me as I exited LAX. So I hopped in my rented Hybrid and headed for Brentwood with the help of Anna via cell phone directions.

The next morning I woke up to the California sun shining in the window of the second floor apartment I was lucky enough to be a house guest in. As my friend and I walked down San Vicente I was immediately reminded of the difference in scenery, food and products available on the West Coast. The streets were lined with people walking, jogging and biking. The restaurants are pro-health and the stores have the latest and most expensive items available to its wealthy residents. After getting a fresh squeezed orange juice from, "Robeks' ", Anna's favorite stop, we quickly continued our walk down to a small salon, where they offer a full manicure and pedicure for only $20.00. I was shocked by the quality of the service at such an amazing price. I believe this is because the service industry has such competition around the area.

From there it was off to El Segundo beach. Now in LA there are many beaches to choose from, but I would highly recommend hitting up this particular quiet "scenic" beach. On most days you will be one of only a few sunbathers. However you will find this is a favorite spot of the local surfers. If you get hungry while your there let me recommend a excellent restaurant in Manhattan Beach beach called "Ebizos Skewer". The Kobe beef Shabu Shabu is a wonderful choice that will not disappoint! Wash it down with an Asahi beer and enjoy!

If you are in the mood for sushi make your way back to Brentwood and stop by " Hara Sushi" on Wilshire. They have a wide selection of delicious sushi to choose from. If you are a Sake drinker like myself grab some of that for your table. Most of the sushi is half priced everyday so you can order away with out running up your bill.

Another beach to stop by if your in the area is Santa Monica Beach. Complete with a pier and shopping center along side of the usual beach amenities. Palm trees and sidewalks full of walkers, joggers, and rollerbladers will fill your view as far as you can see. Santa Monica also has some interesting restaurants, shops and bars to keep you busy all day. A favorite of mine is Monsoon on the corner of Wilshire and 1St.

If you still have some energy after the California sun goes done, there is more then enough nightlife to chose from. In Brentwood, the Cabo Cantina is right around the corner on Whilshire. This is a Mexican themed bar with tropical decor. It is usually busy on any given night and is a great spot to check out. Want to stay near the beach? I would try Niki's in Venice Beach. It's trendy and laid back all wrapped into one.

I would indubitably recommend a visit to Brentwood and its' surrounding areas. It is easy to be fooled into believing it is a warm July summer day rather then a fall day in mid-October when when you are spending time in Los Angeles. LA offers much entertainment and can divert anyone of any age.