"Traveling lets me
see the world through my eyes!"
Thank you for stopping by!
Kathy
My On-line name is Trekcapri but my real name
is Kathy and I created this website as a way to journal my travel experiences (including photos/videos) and other hobbies.
Visit my Trekcapri Blog which I originally started so I can blog while traveling.
Since then, I have expanded it's use to also include serving as a creative outlet to write about my hobbies, interests
and other random thoughts (and trust me there can be a lot of them stirring up in my mind)!
Note:
Below, you will also find an archive of my past blogging prior to March 1, 2008. Since I no longer blog
here, I moved my FAVORITE BLOGSto my Trekcapri Blog site.
BLOG ARCHIVES
MARCH 1, 2008 & OLDER
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Two becomes One . . .
I've decided to maintain just one blog starting this month. I found it too time consuming to keep up with two separate
blogs and actually found myself debating over whether to put an entry in my Travel Blog or on this blog.
And then I realized, why don't I just keep one blog and rename it. Besides I like how my travel blog has categories.
It's just so much easier. I'll still create a Trip Planning page and continue to maintain this website to keep up with
all my photo albums, trip reports, etc. I will simply link to them from my one main blog.
Sometimes you just have to make adjustments as you move through life. Here's just one more! :)
Okay, I've decided that I really need to finish my Venice Report and photos! I'm beginning to forget
a lot of details and that can't be good. I have a lot of projects up ahead of me and I know that I'm behind
on this year's trip planning to Spain! Yikes!
But wait . . . my trip report is important to me! Venice is important to me! And my memories and photos
are important to me! And so I've decided to discipline myself to get it done, even if it cuts into my SlowTravel
time!
By popular demand, I've decided to re-write a blog
entry that I did on April 29, 2006. The entry was about my experience seeing famous R & B Recording artist,
Teena Marie, perform at a 5K Run benefit here in Los Angeles.I'm
hoping that this entry will help to feature this wonderful artist once again as she is an awesome singer/songwriter. Based
on the reaction of the audience during her performance, it was clear that even after all these years, Teena
still maintains her broad appeal and fan base.
This amazing
performance was highlighted by a duet Teena sang with her 14-year old daughter, Alia Rose. They sang "Resilient"
from her Sapphire Album and it was so awesome to watch mother and daughter perform together.
Here’s what I wrote (along with my photos) . . . .
Famous R&B performing artist Teena Marie serenaded
a crowd of runners at a recent 5K Race last Sunday.Her latest album due out
May 9, 2006 will feature her newest hit single “Ooh Wee.”
Teena is famous for her
soulful vocals and she proved it on Sunday morning.With
the accompaniment of her pianist she belted out a smooth and soulful song whose title unfortunately escaped me as I was busy rushing the
stage to be in the front row.Although absent from the limelight for some
time, Teena’s soulful vocals managed to move some to tears.
After her performance I approached her and managed to thank her in person.She was very kind to even pose for a picture with yours truly.What an experience.She is truly a superstar in my eyes.
So thanks to those of you who alerted me to the missing
photos on my original post. I must have mistakingly deleted them when restructuring my website.
So what's up for 2008? I've been contemplating Spain and just recently decided to add Lisbon, Portugal, just
because!
At the recent LA Travel Show I was lucky enough to spend a lot of time talking about my trip with the guys from the Spain
Tourism Office Booth. He took out a map and drew me a possible itinerary so I could cover the things I wanted to
see (ie., the White Villages, Sevilla, Granada, etc.). He said to fly into Madrid then take the high speed train to
Sevilla. Even gave me tips on where to see the flamenco shows. So this year I'll be venturing off to two
new countries. COOL!
Yes, it is killing me not to visit Italy this year, but I still have this undeniable desire to see and
experience other countries too! Honestly, Italy will be there in 2009!
And who knows, maybe I'll really enjoy Spain and Portugal. I may even enjoy South America, Eastern
Europe, Asia, Turkey, Africa,etc. The point is, I'll never know unless I give it a try. And
if I don't happen to fall in love with it as I do Italy, then so what. The experience of getting to know different
cultures around the world will only enrich my life.
Here's a photo of a speaker from the South Africa Tourism Office. She really did a great job in her
presentation and NOW I'm thinking about South Africa for 2010! She said that South Africa will be hosting
the next World Cup in 2010 and is starting to prepare for the worldwide attention. Picture it! An African
safari adventure and then off to see a World Cup Soccer match. NOW that's different! Dang, I'm easy!
Now this is a "SUPERBOWL" performance . . . Watch it while you can!
Edited to Add: As suspected, the Youtube of Prince's 2007 Awesome Superbowl Performance was pulled.
Another one went up again, but it'll probably be pulled within hours too. If you missed it, it was really good.
Luckily, I have that performance on tape somewhere.
Any Amazing Race fans out there? PHIL KEOGHAN was doing a workshop at the LA Times Travel
Show in Long Beach and he was an awesome inspirational speaker! He authored a book called "No Opportunity
Wasted" or NOW! The basic premise . . . live your life each day as if there's no tomorrow. Ask yourself
. . if I only had until tomorrow at 3:00 pm to live, what is the one thing that I would want to do? Tough question
because I have so many things that I'd want to do. And it is in this realization that drives his "No Opportunity
Wasted" life motto!
More on Phil . . . he created NOW based upon an experience he had when he was 19. He was on a job
scuba diving when he had a scare of being lost in a shipwreck. He thought he was not going to make it and thought of
all the things he has yet to do in life. From that point on he vowed to make a list of all the things he wanted
to do in his life and just do them. It could be something really simple or it could be something outrageously adventurous.
The point is to just do them.
He urged us to incorporate this philosophy in our lives as well as when we are traveling. He said
that it was really important to think about doing something new and challenging. To think
outside of our comfort zone and challenge ourselves to do something different. He gave examples of some
of the adventurous things he has done. For example, he hiked up this active volcano and then had a 5 Star chef from
Libre, Italy to cook a fine dinner. When they toasted their meal, the volcano erupted behind them. The video of
this adventure was so cool! He also said that we should try to do the things that we fear
the most in life! Why, because once we accomplish doing them, everything else in life will seem so easy.
This is very true!
Listening to him I begin to realize that there's a little bit of NOW in me too! Was
that why I decided to run a marathon, why I've done several cycling challenges, why I hiked up the Yosemite Half Dome, why
this past winter I decided to finally try snowboarding, why I decided to travel on my own to Europe not once but twice! And
why I want to hike Machu Picchu, hike to the Everest Base Camp in Nepal, why I want to go to Africa and India .
. . and the list goes on!
He said that each trip we take, each adventure we undertake is not only a journey (to get there) but it's a
journey within ourselves. I sort of get that.
I want to live my life with no regrets and I want to have fun and just enjoy the experiences. I
want to do things that are new, different and challenging. I'm kind of beginning to feel like there's more to my
travel experiences than just slowing down. I have a feeling that 2008 will be an interesting travel year for me . .
.
It's superbowl weekend and I can only guess that Costco will be packed today with people stocking up for their big Superbowl
Bash. I get to do the traditional Redondo Beach Superbowl run then get geared up for the huge pre-hype superbowl extravaganza.
I think New England will win but I always seem to pull for the underdog (Go Giants!). In the end I'm just looking forward
to a good game. I must say that I'm not too thrilled with this year's half time show performer. They should've
asked Prince to perform again but I guess after that guitar controversy . . . ? It's hard to think that Tom Petty
will be as good, but oh well! And I don't know about you, but I am a big fan of those quirky yet hilarious superbowl
commercials. I think that they sometimes tend to outshine the game itself.
Superbowl isn't just about the game, it really is an American tradition that is fun and entertaining no matter what your
interests are. So whatever you're doing this weekend, have fun!!
This month's photo is of course from Venice. It is one of my favorite blogger's (AnnieNC) favorites and
one of mine. But I'm a real sucker for cute pets! I really found the dogs in Venice so mild mannered.
I sat next to a few of them in restaurants, bars, cafes and even internet sites. It was great chilling with
some of them as well as with their owners too, of course! (he, he)
After a long day at the office I arrive home to enjoy a full hour of American Idol. Watching the preliminary rounds
are the best!
It's almost a little scary to know that there are people out there who really think they can sing! Talk about needing
a reality check! Yikes! Oh well, at least it makes for great entertainment.
I have to say that I totally agree with Simon at least 98% of the time in his assessment.
Hey, hey . . . it's American Idol time again! Preliminary rounds start tonight! I get a kick
out of watching the early rounds with all the personal stories and singing talents!
So what exactly inspires my trips?TO INSPIRE . . . to awaken, stir up, arouse, kindle, excite,
motivate, ignite, electrify, stimulate, to encourage . . . .
During the holidays, my sis and I got into
a discussion about our family lineage. We talked about how one of our ancestors was a full blooded Spaniard
from Spain.He was six feet tall and
fair skinned.And unfortunately that’s pretty much all we know. We don't know if he was from Northern or Southern Spain. Only that he was born and raised there.
Spain
is in Europe and has been on my must see list for a really long time and yet I have
not visited this beautiful country. In the past three years, I've been to the Czech Repulbic, Switzerland,
Austria, Germany, England, France, and Italy twice!
So what's the plan for this year?
I know I'll be back to Italy next year, so this year it has to be somewhere new! I asked my friends if they
still wanted to hike Macchu Picchu this year? They said yes. But if for some reason our Peru plans don't
work out, then Spain it is!
A couple of co-workers have told
me that they went to Spain and had the best time. They said that they had fun and met so many wonderful people!
My kind of place. Lately, I've been cruising the Spain/Portugal Forum on Slow Travel and finding some very interesting
discussions and recommendations. And the more I read about this wonderful country, the more I want to
go. I am even tempted to visit Portugal as well. Sevilla, Granada,
Malaga, Galicia
. . . . and if that isn’t enough . . . . tasty Tapas, Spanish Wine, Flamenco Dancing and the music! Does that sound
awesome or what!
To “Inspire” . . . to awaken, stir up,
arouse, kindle, excite, motivate, ignite, electrify, stimulate, rouse, to encourage . . .
It's clear, sunny and cool out here in Southern California! I intended to take a photo of the first day
of the new year but dorkie me forgot to recharge my camera battery before I left for the beach! Guess I must've been
excited! He, he!
On Friday, my sis and her family flew back to the islands and as usual, she and I both cried like
a couple of babies at the airport. It NEVER fails! It was fun to spend the holidays with my sis and
her family and I am really thankful that they were here!
As we contemplated the new year, my sister reminded me of an old wive's tale that in order to start brand
new, one needs to clear out the "old". She said that people always put away all of their holiday decorations
and gifts before the new year rolls in. A sort of out with the old, in with the new! Or maybe she told
me this, because of the big gift wrapping mess I had in my room! Anyhoo, over the weekend I cleared out
all of my christmas decorations in preparation for the new year.
So as a new year rolls in, I reflect on some of the memories of 2007.
- I am grateful that my sis recovered from her diagnosis of stage one cancer and that she is 100% healthy.
- I am grateful that I have stayed healthy & that my family and friends are in good health.
- I am grateful that I was again able to travel to Europe. This year it was an awesome two weeks in Venice, Italy.
And I am so grateful for discovering the community of Slow Travel, which is a wonderful site that taught me to really
appreciate and experience the places that I was traveling to. I am so grateful for the terrific people on ST who
provided me with valuable advice and inspiration. They also read my blog (which is not a very easy thing to do, trust
me!). He, he!
I am grateful to all the folks that I also had the pleasure of meeting during my travels. Sometimes I just
feel so dang lucky to be able to have such great people in my life. And of course to my friends who always encourages
me in my crazy and adventurous endeavers! They are never discouraging and that means a lot to me! Thank
you all!!
My priorities in life have definitely changed over the last 3 years. I have a carpe diem mentality that drives
me to seek out new adventures and discover unique life experiences like never before. I want to live life
to the fullest and the new year will be no different. I can't wait to feel inspired for that next big adventure!
Can you feel it? . . . I can!
So, in honor the new incoming year (2008) this month's photo is a shot of the interior of the very prominent church
of Santa Maria della Salute located in the Dorsoduro District of Venice. . . . It was taken during the very special Festa
della Madonna della Salute which was held on November 21.
The Fiesta della Madonna is a religious celebration that involves a procession, led by the
Patriarch, that leaves St. Mark's and crosses a pontoon bridge across the Grand Canal and ends at the Salute Church.
Thousands of local Venetians go to seek pardon in front of the Madonna. They bring candles to light. I
was very fortunate to be in Venice during this special celebration and I too brought my candles to light and to give thanks.
As I stood there in this awesome church among hundreds of venetians I felt a sense of honor to be a part of this local tradition,
celebration! In a way, it sparked an inspiration in me to seek out other celebrations around the world. It was
a very cool feeling!
I want to wish everyone a very happy, healthy and safe new year filled with lots and lots of great travel experiences!
Our snowboarding trip was awesome. I'm pretty much a skiier but have always wanted to try snowboarding. And
for my sister and niece, this was to be their very first time on snow period!
We all decided to strap on those boots and head out to the local mountains of Southern California to give it a whirl!
As my motto goes, life is too short to miss out on anything and as far as trying something new. You'll never know unless you
give it a try!
I was proud of them for daring to try something new, especially something that can potentially cause great
bodily harm if not careful. We learned to toe and heal edge down the slope and even took our boards and shimmied down
the tinest bunny hill. Even that was fun!
What I personnally found out . . . Snow boarding isn't
my thing. I'm pretty much going to stick with skiing but I was really glad that I gave it a try. And
now I know!
My sis learned that she can be adventurous and try new and different things in life. It was pretty awesome to see
that fire in her! My niece was the quickest learner and shimmied down that hill like it wasn't her first time!
. . . .We all had a blast!
My sis and her family leaves on Friday so today & Thursday we will do some after Christmas shopping.
I think this will be a pretty adventurous undertaking in and of itself, since those bargain hunters can be
a pretty aggressive bunch. Just kidding folks!
Got back from Vegas where I saw fake Paris, fake Venice and fake Bellagio! A lot of people despise Vegas, but
I for one think it is a fantastic place to "indulge" in a little fun every now and then. There's some great food,
lots of drinks, live entertainment and it is open 24 hours a day! I'm not a big gambler or boozer, but I do like to
just have fun and this place if you're not the "obsessive" type is a great destination to visit and just hang
out, see a show and let your hair down. Plus it was fun to spend some time with my sis and her family!
Next, I traveled to a place where your imagination and "inner" child can go wild! Yes, folks. I
brought my sis and her family to Disneyland. It's been several years since I've been back and it was actually fun to
see good old Main Street Disney and ride on some of the new rides! My motion sickness really got a test on some of them,
let me assure you!
Guess what my favorite ride is? It is a ride that always makes me happy. And it has
all those countries and lights and singing!
With my travel experiences of late, my view of the world has definitely changed. The more I see
of it, the more I realize just how small this world really is! AND I am enjoying the heck out of getting to
SEE and EXPERIENCE as much of it as I possibly can!
Today, we're off for a little bit of snowboarding! It's been a great Holidays for me made even more
special by my sister and her family being here.
And on this note, I again want to wish everyone and their families a very Happy, Safe and Healthy New Year!
Peace . . .
As another year draws to an end, I can't help but start to reflect on life again! I have so much to be thankful
for these days. I'm thankful for the health of my family and friends, my continuing ability to travel and my good
fortune to (virtually) meet some awesome travelers from the Slow Travel Community. I hope to one day have the
right timing to attend an actual GTG and meet some of them, because they just seem so nice. Which
reminds me, I need to get back in contact with Kevin and Lauren to wish them a happy holidays! Me and my friend met
them in 2005 during our group tour and got together several times since then.
When I came home from Venice, I re-read my blog entries and was surprised at what I wrote. Sometimes I was
impressed with what I had to say and other times I laughed so hard! Who on earth would admit on a world wide internet
site that they can't "cook?" Well, that would be me, of course! I couldn't believe that I referred to finally
buying groceries as (bread, half a dozen eggs, cheese and prosecco). Talk about your "dork" moments!
I was recently corresponding with another traveler and blogger about my blog and about how I really enjoy reading her
blog. It inspired me to create "My Favorite Blog" link on my travel blog, so check it out . . .
Anyhoo, my sis and her family are arriving tomorrow and then we're headed to Vegas for a few days (I might
blog from there too). After, we'll do the Disneyland thing and a bit of snowboarding in the local mountains here
in Southern California!
Which reminds me, I have to finish setting up my spare rooms for them and get some groceries!
Trust me, it will consist of more than just bread, cheese and a half dozen eggs! He, he!
But before I leave, I wanted to wish everyone a safe, healthy and very Happy Holidays and New Year!
I'm back safe and sound everyone! What an awesome trip. Check out my Live Blog site for some overal impressions.
I hope to work on my trip report and have it down within a couple of weeks (I hope!). Kind of tough with me going out
of town in a couple of weeks and oh yeah, a special event called Christmas & New Years! He, he!
Anyway, I'm a little late but this month's photo of the month obviously has to be from my last trip. This photo
was taken high up in the Italian Dolomites near a quaint restaurant that we stopped at for a great lunch!
Well, my bags are finally packed (whew! that was way harder than I thought it was going to be) and I'm ready to call
it a night. Have to be up at 3:00 am in order to be ready for a 5:00 am pick up.
I'm so excited to return to Italy (where my heart belongs). I'll arrive Tuesday, November 13, 2007 and will probably
hit the ground running again.
I have two weeks of adventures and relaxation time to look forward to. It's going to be so AWESOME!
There were moments today while I was packing when I felt a little sad that mom and dad never got the chance to travel
to Europe and see all the beautiful things and meet all the great people that I have had the opportunity to see. But
somehow I feel like they are always with me! I know it's a bit corny to say that but I do mean it.
I am grateful for the opportunity to travel again to someplace familiar and some places that are new! My next post
will be on the road so do check out my LIVE from VENICE blog by clicking on the link at that top.
Thank you again to my family, friends, co-workers (who gave me a send off on Thursday) and the entire Slow
Travel Community (who provide the knowledge and inspiration for my trips). You guys are (to quote a famous Bette
Midler song) the "WIND BENEATH MY WINGS." He, he . .
Only 7 more sleeps before I'm off to Venice, Italy! Whoo Hoo!
It's funny but a couple of good friends have asked me how I could travel clear across the world on my own. I have
no explanation other than to say that when it comes to traveling I'm pretty "fearless." Or maybe I just don't know any
better. To me, it's all about doing the things that I really love to do that matters.
So in celebration of my long awaited trip "back to where my heart belongs" this month's photo is of Venice! You
have no idea how much I am looking forward to this new adventure. It's going to be so AWESOME!
I'm not sure if I'll get the chance to blog again before I leave next Monday. I'll be so busy doing some last minute
preparations like packing, printing out my notes, etc. so the next time I will be blogging may be on my newly created
Travel Blog. I am so excited!
And who knows, maybe I'll really enjoy Spain and Portugal. I may even enjoy South America, Eastern
Europe, Asia, Turkey, Africa,etc. The point is, I'll never know unless I give it a try. And
if I don't happen to fall in love with it as I do Italy, then so what. The experience of getting to know different
cultures around the world will only enrich my life. 
My sis learned that she can be adventurous and try new and different things in life. It was pretty awesome to see
that fire in her! My niece was the quickest learner and shimmied down that hill like it wasn't her first time!
. . . .We all had a blast! 
