So I have arrived safely in Sydney. It was a mammoth journey from NYC via LA to Sydney.
I have posted some photos of my Mexican family, as spending time with Ingrid (aunt), Beto (uncle), Rene and Pelancha (grandparents) and my extended family was one of the main purposes of my North American adventure.
So, this will be my last official post for this trip… until next time!
One word – Crazy.
I felt like I have not stopped adventuring during my last week in NYC.
Words do not do justice to the amazing depth of experiences that are offered in this city. So much yet to explore and yet, we leave tomorrow.
Monique and I have shopped up a storm, explored the city by day and by night, sampled a culinary extravaganza, taken some amazing photographs (only a small selection on show for you tonight) and met some cool people. Shannon, my great friend from Australia is living here with his girlfiend and it has been fantastic to spend time with old friends.
I am in awe of the architecture. I have been moved by some incredible artwork – standing in a room with so many Picasso, Cezanne, Monet, Van Gogh masterpieces and seeing Salvador Dali’s “Persistence of Time” left me speechless. Reconnecting with Orozco, Rivera and Frida Kahlo brought tears to my eyes as I recalled my incredible time in Mexico. Witnessing the intense sunset colours which engulfed the city skyline from the Central Park reminded me of the power of nature.
This is all part of the incredible tapestry of life. Experiences which help us to grow. Experiences that breathe new meaning and perspective into our daily existence. Thank you for taking that journey with me.
So, here I sit with my tia (aunt) Ingrid, as we’re heading on the same flight to Chicago. Ingrid is heading on business, and I am transiting through to New York City to meet up with Monique. How exciting!
The last week has been a whirlwind of US cities and catching up withMexican family and Norwegian friends.
Jon and I spent time cruising down the West Coast of the US, to Seattle and Portland. Perhaps winter is not the best time to explore these cities as a tourist, but we sure had fun staying up late chatting and drinking wine with Jon’s friends Tore and Laura in Tacoma (near Seattle). Tore is Jon’s longest standing friend – growing up skiing, being boy scouts and travelling the globe. We were thoroughly entertained by Endre and Clay and their beautiful little girl Maren (now 16 months). Endre and Clay visited us in Australia 2 years ago….9 months before Maren was born… can anyone else see a pattern here?
Maren knows how to work a crowd – she’ll enter a crowded space like a restaurant or bakery, burst out in semi-fake but highly adorable laughter, and then look away coyly…. the crowd will go wild and think she is the cutest little kid ever and thus she will have befriended an entire room of grown adults.
After the US, I made it back to Vancouver for a farewell dinner and drinks. We had the BEST ever all-you-can-eat Sushi AND Korean BBQ… and according to Canadian Jon we had to pay for what we didn’t eat. I’m not sure if that was true… but he made everyone eat until they burst at the seams. I haven’t regained my full appetite since.
Dinner in Vancouver was followed by drinks with more friends at Yaletown Brew Co, just down the road. The girls had the “sampler beers” - 9 different types of beers, kind of like a tasting. The boys ended up skulling the remainder of the beer so that it didn’t go to waste.
I have spent the last 3 full days in Indianapolis (plus one day of travel from Vancouver to Indiana) with my beloved aunt Ingrid and Uncle “Beto” (Luis Alberto). Beto is my dad’s brother, and they played in the band “La Tinta Blanca” when they were entering University - it was a very successful Mexican band onthe cusp of the late 60s/early 70s, and they were given the choice to become professional musicians, or continue their studies. They both chose their studies. My uncle’s love of music and zest for life are manifest in his home - a professional recording studio, a grand piano, a stage with professional lights that can be converted into a Karaoke club or converted perfectly for a photoshoot. My aunt Ingrid is a talented performed, singer, musician and avid Yogi. They both love travel, so you can imagine what our dinner conversations were like! And to top it all off, it was pretty much an English free zone….it’s great to speak Spanish when I can!
One of the highlights was learning more about my Mexican family and reconnecting with them. I was lucky enough to receive a silver brooch that my great grandmother used to wear… a very special moment for me in my rediscovery of all things Mexicano.
I can’t believe my trip is coming to a close. At least the Vancouver part of it!! It has been an amazing 3 months, and it has been more incredible because of my awesome flatmates -Canadian Jon, Kelly, Sara and Lola. My second home has been, without a doubt, the Whistler suite (at Judy’s beautiful home) and I want to give Judy the biggest cyber hug ever for being my dear friend and Canadian “mum” (or should I type “Mom”… “don’t do it”, says my Australian-English heritage!)
Jon, Kelly and Sara have a beautiful bunch of fun-loving friends, and our road trips (including Mt Baker) have been so much fun!! Pity that our car was pulled over - the Scandinavian/ Australian/Mexican/English/ Toronto/ Vancouver/ Doctor/Teacher/ Dog combination was a little too crazy to pass unnoticed at US customs. We must also thank Phil for lending Jon his ski clothes when Jon’s stuff was still in Chicago, and for Jonny and Jesse’s expert Ultimate Frisbee tutelage.
And my third home has been the hospital - the great bunch of people I met there, and all the kind souls who pointed me in the right direction when I looked a little lost!! I made it!
I am driving back up the coast with Jon (we have been visiting friends in Portland and Seattle, in the US) and we arrive in Vancouver tomorrow afternoon. It will be a whirlwind of hugs, happy and teary recollections of adventures and the crystallisation of my ambition to live like a Vancouverite and morph into a ski bunny.
What an awesome week of fun in the snow. We started it off with a mass of powder, untouched, as part of the mountain had remained closed for a few days after some great snow fall. Jon and Kelly joined us for January 3. We laughed as we glided through fresh ‘pow’ (powder for the novice!). I had quite a few falls as I learnt to ride powder with more skill than ever before. I have never skiied in such great conditions. And on the days where there was no fresh snow, there was blue sky and picture perfect sunsets on the slopes.
And in the evening we hung out with Judy at her amazingly beautiful house. We also had dinner with some of Judy’s friends (including Bronwen, who was there at the Cornucopia luncheon at Judy’s place at the beginning of November). A great beginning to winter adventures with Jon Haavard Salicath.
So, Jon arrived on January 2, late in the evening. This was after our Vancouver style Christmas dinner at Jon and Kel’s place – we invited Christa, Phil, Sara, Chris (Phil’s brother) and Nico over for scrumptious turkey, ham and condiments. There was delicious dessert, including Sara’s chocolate and pomegranite treats.
Jon was the last to arrive off his flight.. and I was in the bathroom when he came through the gate (I had been waiting for a long time!) Unfortunately Jon’s baggage stayed behind in Chicago, and so Jon had to borrow ski clothes from Phil, and rented some equipment for the next day skiing at Whistler. His ski stuff eventually arrived in Whistler at 3am nearly 2 days’ later!
I was so happy to see Jon after 3 months of travel adventure!
I don’t have photos currently of the Polar Bear Swim (they’re on Kelly’s camera), so I thought I would put up the beautiful people shots from the NYE bash. I warn you that the Polar Bear Swim photos (when they arrive) are not pretty!
There are also some great shots of Whistler skiing between the Christmas and NYE celebrations!
