Airport view

Charlotte airport from above.

Setting sun

Sunset at The Resort

Kebabs, bubbles and family time. About sums up the evening.

Oh and the brother and I have an addition to the list:
1. Preferred mode transportation around the resort: golf cart, snowmobile, skis. These are not to be confused with the activities one might engage in at said resort

Thank you and goodnight.

Holiday with the southern kin

First look at The Resort.

The Brother and I are wondering what makes a resort a resort? Here are our criteria in no particular order:

1. Must be at a natural location: beach, lake, mountain
2. Must require a map to get around the resort
3. Must have a pool
4. Must a golf, seaonal
5. Must have a "business center"
6. Must have multiple keys or codes to get in
7. All inclusive by being exclusive
8. Must have a bad restaurant, or mediocre at best
9. Any addition items that you want or need or heaven forbid forgot will cost 3 times the normal price
10. Must have pre-planned activities and entertainment

More to come!

Hiking with American pilgrims

Met up with a group of Pilgrims and Pilgrims-to-be for a day hike at Big Basin. A perfect day for hiking in a fantastic park overrun with redwoods. I was a bit apprehensive as I did not know anyone, and  generally find American have a different perspective on travel and the world than I do. Still, I figured it was worth the risk, they were all coming together because of Camino.

I met many interesting people, those filled with worry and excitement as they planned their Camino and those who are Pilgrims once, twice, and three times over. I felt a great camaraderie, there is just a connection, a deeper understanding of humanity I think...being with other Pilgrims filled a void and I was reassured that it was an incredibly beautiful and inspiring experience that does not go away.

New plans and new technology

Work, work and more work. This is how I have spent the last 9 months. It took a few months to settle in to the routine of life here in the States. I am still trying to figure things out but I suppose that will always be the case- I think that is more a mismatch of personality and culture than location or workload.

Travel planning has begun, an 18 day trip that includes a 10 day trek in the alps has been booked. Now it is just details and training; almost as fun as the actual trip itself! Also talking to friends about a week in Mexico for the premiere of a new film festival...more on that later...

Testing out new technology too, in hopes it will afford me the ability to post within the day or even hours of each adventure.  Expect little notes and thoughts the next few weeks as I test reliability and functionality.

Good times ahead!