2.5 Months in South America: Packing List

Well look at that. I figured out how to add numbers to a picture. Game changer. So here is the most coveted of all packing list blogs and pictures: the clothes and gear list. 

To preface this blog entry and questions as to why I chose certain items or gear over others, I will just start out by explaining where I will be. As mentioned in the previous entry, I will be backpacking through 8 countries from Mid-October to the end of December. During that time I will be within multiple climate zones and temperatures ranging from 90 degrees Fahrenheit to 30 degrees Fahrenheit. The zones in which I will be adventuring include the tropical rain forest, tropical moist deciduous forest, tropical dry forest, tropical mountain system, and subtropical humid forest. I found all of this information here: http://www.fao.org/docrep/004/y1997e/y1997e1b.htm. And it seems pretty legitimate to me. 

What all of that means: my climate will be changing pretty dramatically throughout this trip and I need to be prepared and flexible. Now to explain all of the gear, when I might plan on using it, and other thoughts and details, just because. 

1. 1 Land's End packable rain jacket. This rain jacket got me through the monsoons in Ghana during their pounding, sideways rain. It's light but gets the job done and packs small. It's a keeper. 

2. 9 pairs of socks. I have two pairs of warm, toasty technical wool socks for the Inca Trail hike and other times I expect I will be freezing along the way. I have three pairs of technical mid shin length socks for hiking or when its a bit chilly and wool socks are over kill. Four pairs of non-cotton ankle socks are packed and will be used for everyday city exploring. 

3. 1 Infinity scarf. I know, i know, I could buy a sweet one over there that is probably much warmer and authentic. However, infinity scarfs are perfect for flying, since I am always freezing, and it acts as a nice neck blanket. 

4. 2 Swimming suits. One set that is matchy and a top and bottom that can be interchangeable, because change is good. Good for the beaches and thermal baths. 

5. My most favorite dress of all time. It is a Columbia sport dress (with pockets!), that is the wicking, quick dry material. It's fantastic and will be perfect for the beaches in Brazil or boat tour of Iguassu Falls. 

6. 3 Nike Long sleeve quick dry, wicking tops. I am bringing three for the simple fact that the hike through Inca is 4 days long and it will be the coldest part of the trip (I hope). 

    1 Columbia Quarter sleeve active top with hood. This is a sweet top that is perfect for a windy day while adventuring through the cities. 

7. 4 sports bra and 1 'normal' bra. I love sports bras and am not going on this trip to impress anyone, so this is what I will be wearing 99% of the time. Comfort rules all. 

8. 14 pairs of Undies. Yes, that is a lot. However, that means I only NEED to wash clothes once every two weeks. Sounds good to me. And they pack very small. 

9. 2 pairs of hiking shorts (with sweet pockets). 1 pair of Nike running shorts. 1 pair of silky night capris when it is hot at night. 1 pair of sports capris. 1 pair of yoga pants. 1 pair of hiking pants that zip off into shorts (yes, I am thee most attractive of them all with those pants). 1 pair of fleece leggings for cold nights. And 1 pair of skinny jeans. Okay, lots of personal debate on that last item. However, thinking it through, I am cold all of the time and if I will be in Ecuador for three weeks with an average temperature of low 60's I will be sad without the warmth. 

10. 1 Ironman hat. I am proud of my past accomplishments and this is sincerely the only hat that remotely fits my child size head. 

11. 1 sport headband. I never really wear headbands. Maybe I will find a reason to wear one there? It's small, so it's okay. 

12. 1 nice tank top. 2 layering tank tops, one brown and one black. 2 short sleeve wicking tops. 1 short sleeve grey v-neck (which just happens to be my favorite shirt of all time). 1 short sleeve Columbia active top. 1 patterned top, because my wardrobe is boring and too plain without one. 1 baggy and super comfy Nike shirt for night. 

13. 1 pair of Merrell's hiking shoes. These puppies are awesome and light weight, but I am worried about the shoe strings that do not always tie very tight or securely. And that I should have been wearing them more before my trip to get used to them. Oh well, too late now. 

14. 1 pair of my beautiful TOMS sandals. I love them. And they make me look less backpacky traveler and make me feel like I don't always look gross. They make me feel dainty. Even with a size 10. 

15. 1 super old school Columbia jacket. I found said jacket at a thrift store for $7.99. It's the perfect jacket that I do not have to worry about getting ripped, ruined, or lost. I think it's from the 80's. 

16. 1 pair of the dorkiest of all of the Tevas. My Tevas are not the most attractive thing in the whole world, but oh my goodness, they are the most comfortable little cloud shoes. They are also rugged. And allow me to walk through water, rough terrain, and avoid injury, especially when unconcernedly  walking through an underwater field of sea urchins (oops). 

17. 1 silky sleep sack. Okay, before I go on I must tell the tale of when I went to Ghana and how I under packed for the unexpected cooler temperatures. My dad, (otherwise known as hero in this situation) in the last moments of my day before I left for Africa, bought me this sleep sack which I almost quickly tossed aside and left in the US because I am a snob about not over packing. Well, thank the Lord I did not! That sleep sack was the only source of warmth I had for every night of those two months I was there. It came in handy when I stayed all over the country in many hostels and even on later trips to other countries. Case in point, this baby is coming with me! 

     1 travel towel. Because honestly, who uses normal towel material towels when they are backpacking anymore?

     1 wash cloth. Because sometimes the travel towel just is not necessary for every face washing, hand drying need. 

18. 1 fleece Columbia jacket with a hood and deep pockets. Perfect for chilly nights and layering with my old school packable coat. 

      1 sweater that keeps me warm, but actually does not make me look like a backpacker. I am saving this for the classier of occasions. Occasions that the zip off hiking pants will not be invited to. 

Alright, so there is the pile of clothes that I will be wearing for the next two and a half months. Woah, seeing it all piled neatly there gets me very excited and ready for this experience. 8 days. I cannot wait. 

Rio to Quito

Rio De Janeiro, Brazil to Quito, Ecuador 

The long awaited two and a half month backpacking trip to South America has finally reached single digits until take off. With that being said, I am still in the preparation mode for this 72 day journey as I type.

My adventure will take me through 8 countries: Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, Peru, and Ecuador. I will be spending the majority of my time, 51 days, backpacking throughout the first seven countries. Exploring, soaking in the culture, hiking Machu Picchu, boating through Iguassu Falls, and checking off bucket list items. The last 21 days will be spent living with a host family, with whom I still do not know anything about, in Cuenca, Ecuador. While there, I will be taking Spanish lessons for six hours a day and enjoying the thriving city.

While initially researching my travels abroad I searched and researched through many travel blogs and websites to decide on which was truly the best backpack, things to pack, clothes to wear, etc. So here it is for those who also enjoy reading blogs about traveling and what others pack for their journeys. 

Hygiene

Okay, even though I will be staying in hostels, sleeping on a lot of busses, and generally not caring much about how I look, I do appreciate keeping my good habits while abroad. Going from top left and over, because I am unable to figure out how to add numbers to my pictures:
Floss/ picks. Foldable toothbrush. Dirty Lush Brand Toothy Tabs. Small travel tube of toothpaste, because sometimes it just does not feel right to use powdery tabs. Deodorant, disclaimer: I WILL be using more than one stick for the amount of time I am going, I just still need to make those purchases. Pocket pack of hand sanitizer. Travel size body wash. Travel size conditioner, sometimes I feel like the bar conditioner just won't be my friend. Disposable razor, since I plan on carrying on all of my belongings I am not technically allowed to bring said razor on to the plane (I plan to sneak it on and if caught will surrender it, but with sad eyes knowing who knows when I will find another source in which to shave my legs and pits). Travel size brush and large tooth comb. Lush Brand Bar Conditioner. Lush Brand Bar Shampoo. Q-tips. Four travel size bottles of contact solution, again, I know how much wasted plastic these provide but to stay within carry-on regulations, travel size it is. Two boxes of contacts. Contact case. Glasses and glasses case.

Cetaphil wipes, for face and body, if need be. Pocket pack of soap leafs. Two styles of stick sunscreen, I have never used either so I bought two different types to try out just in case. Seven packets of powder laundry detergent. Three rolls of toilet paper to go, these puppies saved me back when I was adventuring in Ghana, they are a must. Wet ones, because well, why not. 45 Repel Mosquito Wipes with 30% DEET, I got malaria while in Africa: NEVER AGAIN. 

Medications

This might be a handy reference for those who are traveling with Type 1 diabetes. Since I will be gone for two and a half months, I have planned to bring enough diabetic supplies for around three months, just in case. For the 'betes: Glucose tabs. Glucometer and kit. Three hundred test stripes, in cool, and yet, incredibly wasteful individually packaged foil packs. Needles, not sure how many exactly but around 90. Syringes, I do not use these since I used insulin pens, but just in case a situation might arise that I need a clean syringe I am ready. Lancets, a have a lot of those, probably around 50. Humalog, I will be bringing 8 pens with me. Lantus, I will bring 6 pens. 

Other non-diabetic related medications:

Tums. Big bandaids. Little bandaids. Stomach Relief Aid pills, think Pepto, never used them but want to be prepared. Malarone, a 75 day supply. Birth control, I don't want female cycles occurring during this awesome journey, just no. Allegra, just in case my allergies flare up. Aleve, for the 27 mile hike into Machu Picchu. Anti-itch Allergy Cream, for all of those inevitable bug bites. Airborne gummies, to help keep my immune system in check. Water purification tablets, this is specifically for the Inca Trail hike, but could come in handy at other times. Two Platypus collapsable 1 Liter water bottles. 

Bags 

I went to my not at all local REI while vacationing in California to find the perfect bag for my trip. I wanted something that was a medium capacity and could be used as a carry-on, could allow me to zip it down to the base to retrieve items from the bottom of the bag easily, and had awesome pockets and storage. This is when the beautiful Kelty Redwing 50 called my name. This beauty comes from a brand that I know, love, and trust. It is the smaller version of the Redwing 50 so it is technically 49 Liters, rather than it's male counterpart that is 52 Liters. The bag itself is only 3 lbs 3 oz. I cannot explain how much I love this bag anymore without sounding like a weirdo, but trust me, I cannot wait to take this thing on our little adventure together. 

The second of the bags, the Columbia Silver Ridge 30 Liter, is the bag that I plan to use for day hikes around the cities and on my four day Inca Trail hike. The backpack is pretty sweet with it being a 30 Liter at 2 lbs 8 oz and comfortable straps, and even a waist belt for support. However, the small feature that won my mother over when she was helping me pick it out was the small built in whistle included in the sternum strap. I thought the built in rain cover was cooler, but okay, safety first, mom. 

As the trip nears closer and I have all of the gear in order I will add another entry on what I plan to wear for the trip and other random thoughts in which I did not include here. Hope this was helpful or, at least, somewhat entertaining to read for those who do not plan to journey into SA. 

Northern California.

Instead of recapping every day of this fast week, I've decided to touch on a few points about this trip that I especially enjoyed. 

This trip completely encouraged my love of traveling, particularly solo traveling. With my sister at work during the days, I had the freedom to explore as I pleased. I feel this allowed me to meet more people and hear about others' stories at a somewhat comical rate. Every night I ventured back into downtown San Jose and gave a quick synopsis of the day with my sister, she would say, 'Of course you met someone new'. Meeting people is probably my favorite part about traveling. Yes, seeing new cities and culture is amazing, but truly, those things start from the people in those cities showing their real life to those who wander into it. 

A certain joyful coffee barista, named Sean, working at a local coffee shop in San Francisco called Creamery started one of my days in a very positive manner. After waking at 5am to catch the train into the city, I was a bit weary and ready for a needed kick of caffeine. As soon as I entered the rustic shop, he greeted me with compliments on my outfit and a warm smile. After casually talking about what my day ahead had planned and other answers to his questions, his fellow barista joined in and spoke about his youth in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The two were so welcoming and truly inviting, reminding me of the sincerity of San Fran. While on my way out, Sean offered a pastry from the shelves as a parting gift and a thanks for meeting me. I was pretty taken a back by this, holy cow, what a nice guy. Oh and the coffee was great, too. 

Another handful of amazing people that I met are as follows: Mike, a visitor from Jerusalem who loved the relaxing waves near Santa Cruz; Nicole, a young author from New York celebrating her solo travels through California on her birthday and after publishing her book, Unadequate; Julian, a local who surfs and found that our spirits and love of the ocean called us to meet; Maureen and Jim, a lovely couple from Virginia who encouraged my nursing career, as Maureen had been practicing for 30 years; the Highway 17 Express bus driver, who I never got his name, but helped me to find the way and even handed me a free pass to allow me to catch the light-rail just in time; two hunky Chilean doctors, Nicolas and Marcelo, who encouraged me to check out their beautiful country that they call home; and all of the other beautiful and colorful people that I connected with throughout the short week. 

This may seem odd to the general population, but I have a strong love for quality public transportation. I used the local buses, trains, and shuttles for a large majority of the trip and it was awesome! It was reliable, very affordable, and the drivers were friendly and always willing to help. Roundtrip to Santa Cruz from San Jose: $10. Roundtrip to San Francisco from SJ: $18. It would cost me more in gas money to get to those destinations! I dream of living in a city with the same transportation accommodations that California has to offer.  

The views. Oh the views. I was able to see a wide range of sights on this quick trip, from family loving beaches to historic Redwoods in a national park to miles of thriving grape vines. I love the diversity in each and every city that I saw. The beauty of the trees in Muir Woods blew me away. I've never seen Redwoods or Giant Sequoias and the sight of them made me understand why William Kent and John Muir had such a strong desire to protect the lands they have resided on for so many years. The vineyards full of family history also caught my attention and love for the work that many have put into producing a fine product that has led families to succeed in the country. A site that I have seen before was the Golden Gate Bridge. I have run past it years ago during the Nike Women's Marathon, but have never see it in such an astounding view as I did this trip. The International Orange color blazed triumphantly and rose strong before the city, leading some to their first taste of America. I loved hearing the history behind the bridge and how the city of San Francisco came to be. But most of all, the view. It was a great way to end my day in the city. Santa Cruz's beach had a charm to it that seemed to playfully lear in the crowds. I enjoyed the sun and refreshingly cool waves and unending sand. The local Farmer's Market in the downtown area was just too much fun, with vendors offering their fresh fruits, vegetables, crafts, and nuts. It was plain beautiful to see all of their hard work come to fruition and see their smiles with every purchase from an equally happy customer. The mountains surrounding the views near San Jose reminded me that this is a view I do not get to enjoy back home and encouraged me to sit outside and gaze as long as possible. Be it at a bus stop, while sipping on an In N Out shake, or walking to my next destination. 

I was so thankful that my sister, Melissa, allowed me to tag along on this trip with her. I know it was full of long hours, lots of meetings, and hard work for her, but just the fact that she even wanted me to come was so exciting for me. Thanks Miss, next time we will have to go on a trip somewhere when neither of us are working :)

It's Been Awhile

Okay, it's been like 10 months since my last post. Talk about being a procrastinator. Or just insanely busy with life, or the lack thereof with being in nursing school. 

A lot has happened in the past 10 months. 

A lot of checking things off the bucket list and seeing new cities. And a lot of personal, professional, and spiritual growth.  

 I guess I'll start with the beginning and fly through to now. 

Nursing School

I began Creighton's twelve month Accelerated Nursing School in August. I honestly had no idea what I was getting myself into. I just knew I needed to start working towards a fulfilling career and nursing seemed pretty natural to me. This program was pretty insane to jump into after a year off of school, but has been so very rewarding. I have met some incredible people throughout this year. My class and I have finished our first two of three semesters and it feels surreal to be 99 days away from graduation and pinning. But man, oh man, am I ready to be done! Of course, I already have plans to continue the perpetual learning that is school and have found a few DNP programs that look like great fits for me. Life is good.

Okay, so now that it's out in the air that I have been working my butt off and that is where I have been since August, I'll let you in on a secret. I've been having a ton of fun, even while in this program.  

October: LA and the surrounding areas

For Fall Break in school I was lucky enough to be able to turn in a few SkyMiles and get a flight out to LAX. It was my first time in LA and met up with two buddies, Greg and Will. For only having 4 days, we had a lot of fun. The first stop was the Getty Museum. Can you say beautiful?! The view was spectacular. Next things next, Hollywood Boulevard. It was fun thing to see, but to be honest, not too impressed. It probably doesn't help that I'm not the biggest fan of stars or fame. The weekend continued on with celebrating Greg's birthday and spending the evening at the Red Lion Tavern. The next morning we hit the waves at Huntington Beach and I was able to check Learning how to surf off of my list. It was a blast. And I'm pretty terrible. After the morning of sun we hit the road and drove to Ventura to go camping on the beach. The next morning we all hiked up to the Hollywood Sign which was a bit anticlimactic, but neat to see the city so high up. Then enjoyed a delicious meal at Greg's favorite restaurant, which I incidentally do not remember the name of.  The last day Greg took me to the Santa Monica Pier where we rode the Ferris Wheel and walked around in the warm rays of the sun. I know I left a ton out, but it was a blast of a weekend and so nice to see old friends. 

December: Jamaica 

Summing up this extraordinary trip in this blog post would make this entry way too long. Backpacking around a whole country with your best friend, hiking a beautiful mountain, checking cliff diving off of your bucket list, and hanging with the locals in hostels and on the beach made this trip one of those you could never forget. 

December: Shooting with my papi

My pops and I went to an indoor shooting range in Bellevue called Take Aim. He taught me how to properly hold and fire a gun. It was exciting and a little frightening with larger guns being fired right near us. I was so happy to have checked off another item, especially with my dad. 

January: Oklahoma City

Drew, my very best travel companion, and I took the fastest down and back trip to OKC to visit our friend Brandon. Those eight hours each way gave us plenty of much needed catch up time since our nine day backpacking adventure around Jamaica. When we finally got to the great state of Oklahoma we met Cha, Brando's roommate. That next day, and the only full day we actually spent there, was an absolute blast. We rented bikes and rode all around the Bricktown district. The guys rented Segways and we had our share of tasty margs throughout the area. We also spent some time at the golf course that Brandon and Cha work at. Cha, you need to come visit us in Nebraska! 

March: Scottsdale, Sedona, and the Grand Canyons 

Spring break brings more travel. And more travel brings more amazing moments with friends. Drew and I flew to Arizona to stay with his very close family friend, Casey. We had too much fun in Scottsdale at 'real' bars and clubs and spending some quality time with Case and her friends. Drew and I left for Sedona early Sunday morning and hiked the Devil's Bridge. I had never seen such beautiful landscapes. After the morning of hiking we drove through Flagstaff and stayed the afternoon. We ate at Criollo, and oh my Lord, they had the most amazing margaritas of all time. I'm not much of a drinker, but I have had my fair share of margs. Drew, the aficionado of margaritas, still talks about the Jalapeno drink and how we wish we could recreate it. After walking around downtown Flagstaff to walk off our dinners we headed up to the Grand Canyons. We booked a lodge right on the rim of the Canyons and was that an experience. We woke up at 4:30am to catch the sunrise while hiking in the Canyons on the South Rim. Seeing the Grand Canyon for the first time was breath taking. It challenged the beauty of the many oceans I have seen. And that is saying a lot, especially since I live for the beach. After hiking a total of 6 miles and an elevation change of 2,040 feet we headed back to the top and shared one last view before heading back to Sedona. I was so fortunate to have such a wonderful friend like Drew to check another item off the list! We decided to stop at Slide Rock State Park and I am so glad that we did! There is a natural limestone 'water slide' that had been carved out by the water flowing from the mountains that people from all over come to experience. When we drove up to the park the sign said that the current water temperature was 42 degree Fahrenheit. That did not deter us from the rush of trying something new and may perhaps be once in a lifetime! It certainly was a rush! After our fun at the park we headed back to Scottsdale and enjoyed our last night in the downtown area. The next morning, before we had to leave, Casey treated us to breakfast and drinks at the W pool. Getting that much needed sun before our trip back to Nebraska definitely ended the trip off right. 

Well that was quite the sum up for the last 10 months. I have such a beautiful, blessed life and am beyond thankful for the journeys I have experienced and all of those to come.  

 

Side note: excuse the weird font and highlighting. My lack of tech savviness has led me to post this the only way I could without it appearing invisible. Sorry.

D.C.

Visit the nation's capitol.  Check. 

I was able to spend the past 5 days in the nation's capitol and surrounding areas while staying with my Uncle Tony, Jen, and little AJ. They kept me busy and helped me to truly get the most out of my stay.  

Top Ten 

favorite 

Things I Saw in D.C.

Nationals Baseball Game 

The stadium was amazing. The seats we had made it even better. The crowds of people in their red, white, and blue was about as patriotic as you could get on the morning of the 4th of July. Sure, it was a sticky, hot day but we made the most out of it. 

Best part: the Nats won. 

Fireworks on the National Mall

I thought I have seen some impressive firework displays in my day; man, was I wrong. These fireworks were the best of the best. The view sure didn't hurt either. I was out on the grass lawn smack dab in the middle of the Capitol and the Washington Monument with a group of friends. The warm summer night and big beautiful sky full of colors was a moment I won't forget any time soon. 

The Natural History Museum

When I asked people for suggestions on which Smithsonian museums to visit I surprisingly did not hear this one as a response too much. Well, this was by far my favorite that I visited. The many displays that showcased Ghana made me miss my adventures abroad and gave me the motivation to look for my next African home. The special exhibit on Genomes: Unlocking Life's Code enticed my nerdy interests.   Overall, this was a big winner in my book. 

Annapolis and the Naval Academy 

What a beautiful little town and impressive campus. My uncle, Jen, AJ, Shannon, Gerred, and I all went to mass at the chapel on Sunday morning. It was very special with the arch bishop presiding over mass and the plebes singing in front of the congregation. It was exciting to see the chapel in which my cousin Gerred and his fiancé Shannon will be married next year. Annapolis was equally as exciting with cute shops and the waterfront in sight. 

The city while riding a Capitol Bike Share bike

This neat way of touring the city is one I wish more cities had. Or maybe they do and I just don't know about them? Either way, man, did I love biking along the paths from monuments to memorials. 

Capitol Tour 

Jen was the best tour guide. She took me through the Capitol on Sunday afternoon and showed me all of the neat little areas normal people usually don't get a peak at. Did I feel special or what? Her 16 years on the Hill definitely helped make this possible. The building made me feel so small and really made me appreciate how amazing our country is. 

Eastern Market 

I love a good Saturday Farmer's Market. This market was that and more. It had an area for produce and even a fish and meat counter in the air conditioned building. A flea market area was around the corner and featured many fun artsy goods. I found a vendor selling old maps and of course one came home with me: one of western Africa from 1897! 

The Great Falls

This was a trip I did not plan. My Uncle Tony surprised me with a side trip to the Great Falls, on the Maryland side. It was breathtaking! I did not imagine something so powerful and natural would be that close to such a thriving city. I was so thankful that he took me out to see a piece of the unbeaten path. 

Iwo Jima and Arlington Cemetery

I cheated, I put two places as one thing. They are near each other and it was really hard to choose either or. Uncle Tony and I headed out to the Cemetery at 7am to catch the sights before the humid temperatures and sun caught us. It was such an experience seeing the Iwo Jima statue at sunrise. And man, did they make my pictures look great. It was nice to see the cemetery and privately take a moment to reflect on all of those who have fallen for our blessed country. 

Lincoln Memorial and Vietnam Memorial 

Again, it was much too hard to choose out of all of the memorials just one, so I picked two. The Lincoln Memorial was majestic and everything I thought it would be. Lincoln looked so strong and sure sitting up there. I wonder what life might have been like with him as a president. The Vietnam Memorial showcased so many names and had quite an effect on me. Seeing older men and women look onto the wall with heavy hearts, fingers trailing over names: this is what made this memorial much more of an experience for me.  

Top Nine

 favorite

Things I Ate in D.C. 

Gluten Free Chocolate Toffee Crunch Cupcake: DC Cupcakes 

So I know everyone always talks about how awesome this place is, well, they definitely know how to make a great gluten free cupcake. I've tasted many gluten free desserts in my day and they sure got this one right. The cute little shop was filled with loads of flavors and little pink boxes full of love. 

Chicken Pie: Dangerously Delicious Pies DC

Jen was awesome and decided to have a little sweet pie tasting right after our Chicken Pie dinner. The Chicken Pie was so good: perfectly flaky and not super gooey in the middle. Then we tried their cherry crumble pie, apple pie, pecan pie, and Baltimore bomb pie. To ask me to pick a favorite out of the four is like asking a parent to choose a favorite child: not going to happen. They were all amazing in their own special way. 

Chicken on Pita: Tasty Kabob Food Truck 

My goal while visiting D.C. was to try out as many food trucks as possible. Unfortunately, I only was able to try out one on the trip. Fortunately, this is the one I tried out. When I looked at the menu the first thing that stood out as something I'd love to try was the Lamb Gyro. Since I rolled up to the truck at about 2:45pm they were all out, so instead I was able to try the Chicken on Pita. I'm usually too afraid to try chicken because faux chicken is the worst, but theirs was delicious, real, and spiced to perfection. It was topped with tomatoes, lettuce, dill sauce, and loads of hot sauce (per request). 

 

Crab Boil in Annapolis 

The Kirby's invited us all to come over for a Maryland Blue Crab boil and a night of fun with their family. We feasted on crabs, corn, hushpuppies, and many, many delicious drinks. Mr. Kirby even gave me a tour of his man cave/beer brewing station. It was awesome. And he makes delicious beer. With really cute, and sort of embarrassing (Sorry, Shannon) labels! We ended the fantastic night with s'mores and sparklers. 

Hazelnut Praline Salted Caramel Macaron: The Sweet Lobby 

I've been on a macaron kick lately and since the only macarons that I know of that are made in Omaha are from one place, I was craving to try a new shop. The Sweet Lobby is right on Capitol Hill and has many cute patriotically named package deals for cupcakes and macarons alike. I tried a few macarons, they were small, and my favorite was the Hazelnut Praline Salted Caramel Macaron. So delicious. 

Prosciutto & Black Mission Fig Pizza: Matchbox at Capitol Hill  

Talk about an awesome pizza. This pizza reminded me of one I tried at Pitch in Omaha, and dare I say, it was better! The crust was perfectly crisp and the slices of black mission fig atop a layer of mozzarella and gorgonzola was insanely good. The prosciutto was thinly sliced and added to the top for the perfect balance of sweet and salty. 

Jen's Halibut and Panzanella 

Whenever I eat really good fish I ask how it was prepared so I can try to do as awesome as they did. Her simple and yet tasty halibut dish was flaky and moist. She paired it with panzanella, using fresh tomatoes from the Eastern Market that we had been to earlier that day. I would eat this meal everyday if I could prepare it as well as she did. 

Eggs Chesapeake: Treaty of Paris in Annapolis

Treaty of Paris is a historic hotel with a classic dining room for visitors to stop for a bite to eat. I chose to try the Eggs Chesapeake for our late brunch. It came out on a plate decorate with sliced fruit, full of breakfast potatoes, and two English muffins stacked with a crab cake and poached egg on each. The eggs were covered in hollandaise and were so delightful. It was definitely one of my favorite dishes of the trip. A bit of the Maryland flair with the crab cakes but dressed up with the poached egg and sauce. 

Peanut Butter Oreo Ice cream: Annapolis Ice Creamery 

I love homemade ice cream. I also love a fun atmosphere. This store had both. The Ice Creamery was a cute little shop with tons and tons of decorated spoons on display and a case filled with classic and unique ice cream flavors. I decided to try the Peanut Butter Oreo ice cream because I am slightly obsessed with peanut butter and although I am not the biggest fan of Oreos, I thought I would give it a try. Thank goodness I did. Wow, good work Annapolis, that's some tasty ice cream you've got there. Another flavored I sample, thanks to a suggestion from Shannon, was strawberry Oreo. Yeah, wrap your head around that one. Amazing. 

Ten Things I've Learned or Relearned in the Past Week or So

Always, always, always wear sunscreen on your face when being out in the Florida sun all day. 

Know that so many people believe in you and your dreams, even if you might doubt yourself at times. 

A lot can change in just a short, memorable weekend with friends. 

Always go on that date. You never know what could happen. And how much fun you might have. 

Never stop planning trips. They will happen someday. 

Strive to learn something new each day, even if it seems silly. 

DIY projects are so much harder and time consuming than they look!

Never let people treat you wrong. They are not worth your time. 

Hard cider on tap makes me oh so happy. 

Always appreciate the here and now. Life is so sweet and good to you. 

Jon, Phyllis, and Vero Beach, Florida

Long weekend trips are the best. 

Especially when your hosts know how to pack in the fun. 

Phyllis and Jon, two of my parents' very close friends from Germany, let me come visit and stay with them from Friday (way early Saturday morning) through Monday afternoon.

Saturday: 

Around 1am my plane landed in the warm, and not so sunny, lands of Florida. 

Jon, Phyllis, and I met up at the airport and headed on our way from Orlando back to their home in Vero Beach. 

Of course, a quick stop at the beach to look for nesting turtles was a must. 

We found a nest! 

Then it was off to bed for two and a half hours of shut eye! 

When we woke it was off to the Indian River for fishing, exploring, lunch at Suzi's Tiki Bar, and swimming in the ocean! 

As soon as we got back home and cleaned up the boat it was time to ride! 

Horseback riding was on my list and I was excitedly able to check it off! 

After our beautiful ride, all three of us drove back to Vero and grabbed groceries for a delicious dinner, thanks to Chef Jon! 

After a refreshing post dinner dip in the pool it was off to bed to get ready for another full day. 

Sunday: 

Rising bright and early, we headed back to Fort Pierce for Deep Sea Fishing on Lady Stuart! 

I had such a fun day casting out and seeing every one's catch.

And checking off yet another bucket list item! 

With only a small bout of sea sickness added on the side.  

After getting our fish filleted and cleaned we ate our lunch and head on to our next activity! 

Jon suggested we check out the gators at a local conservation area! 

We hopped onto a stadium style air boat and were on our way out into the natural habitat of so many neat animals and species! 

After our ride we headed home for dinner and some company from their friend, Liz. 

Jon cooked our catch from earlier in the day to perfection and Phyllis and I made a fresh fruit salad.

After dinner we shared some wines and had a mini red wine tasting! 

Which, thanks to Phyllis, I have discovered one that I actually like! 

Check, another item crossed off my list! 

After a great late night chat with Phyllis we headed to bed to get rested up for our last day. 

Monday: 

The last day of the trip is never a fun one, but Phyllis and I had a girl's day and made it the best even with my upcoming departure. 

We walked down Ocean Boulevard and checked out a bunch of cute boutiques. 

After spending a little time, and money, we headed off to lunch at Waldo's! 

We snacked on the dolphin fingers: think Mahi-mahi fish sticks. And shared the fresh fish basket. 

After feeling way too full we headed to the beach for some much needed ocean time. 

It was the perfect day for swimming and enjoying the sand. 

After the beach we headed home and I packed up my bags, not quite ready to leave such wonderful company. 

We arrived back to the airport at 5pm and hugged and waved my newest friends goodbye; they're no longer just my parent's friends now! 

So many thanks go out to Phyllis and Jon for treating me to such an incredible adventure and being so extremely kind to me. You two are amazing people and your love for each other is admirable. I hope to someday find a love like the one you share.