One of my photos of Prague was selected by Marta on SlowTravel as photo of the week (April 22-28, 2007)!  Here’s the Photo!

 

  

I felt pretty honored and was slightly embarrassed to be in the limelight so to speak!  The picture turned out pretty good considering I was a complete dork and forgot to pack my photography notes and camera instructions!  And then to deal with lighting issues (being it was November).  I really lucked out having some pockets of sunny days!

 

For my trip in September I won’t forget to pack my notes.  Maybe I should pack those notes now!

 

Several of my most favorite posters, Terry, Kim, and someone new Angel & Tobias complemented my photo, which was very, very kind! 

 

I really enjoy Photo of the Week and look forward to it each week because it inspires me and gives me tons of ideas for future trips!  It reminds me of how beautiful this world really is and how lucky I am to get to see some of these things up close and personal!  Being able to Travel is a privilage! 

 

Now Kim has started Blog of the Week, which I’m also looking forward to.  I love hearing live reports from travelers.  Makes me feel like I’m right there and it also gives me ideas of things I'd like to do and places I’d like to see.  You can’t find this stuff on any guidebooks.  Priceless!

 

Have I told you lately that I just love Slow Travel!  Well, I do!  Now, off I go for my 2^nd long bike ride for the week! 

Whoo Hoo . . . Actually . . . more like Ouch, Whoo Hoo!!!

 

Ciao’

 

 

I was off from work today and went for a long ride up to Venice Beach.  Hadn’t done that in quite a while and I just know that tomorrow my thighs will be throbbing in pain.  Somewhere between El Segundo and Manhattan Beach, there is a long stretch where it is straight, rocky and a hot spot for surfers.  The waves are always free flowing and I can easily get distracted.  

 

Well, I started to slow down so I could stop to watch some of the action but I think my clips were too tight and I couldn’t snap lose quick enough and I went down.  It’s funny how things just tend to move in slow motion when you’re taking a serious face plant.  Well, not really!  Luckily, I manage to land on a nice soft patch of sand and suffered nothing but a bruised ego. 

 

I awkwardly untangle myself from my bike, looked to the left and was glad to see no one was there.  Then I turned to the right and saw a line of cyclists come into view.  They smiled and asked if I was okay!  I embarrassingly smiled and said oh yes. . . I’m fine . . . thank you.  Talk about your embarrassing moments!  This is going to be a long summer! 

 

But seriously who hasn’t had an embarrassing moment happen to them?  When they happen, you just got to say “oh well”, that’s life and move on!!

 

My goal this weekend!  Three long rides and a hill!  Madonna del Ghisallo, here I come!

 

 

Tonight I have been blown away by what I watched on American Idol.  A 12-year old boy who was raising his younger sister all by himself, because their parents died from aids . . . a young women who died from aids two days after Simon Cowell and Ryan Secrest visited with her!

 

As Simon so succinctly put it. . . it’s just wrong!

 

I decided to call and make a donation.  To take a page from the lyrics of famous song writer and singer, John Lennon!

 

 . . . Imagine . . . . a world free of hunger, extreme poverty, hate, aids and cancer! 

 

 

I discovered another great resource in preparation for my upcoming trip to Italy!  YouTube!

 

Here is a great video of "Venice by Night."  Someone on Slowtravel said that Venice at night is really quiet and it should be something one should experience.  So my goal after viewing this video and hearing those comments is I will definitely venture out in Venice late in the evening!

 

Here's what I could be seeing . . . In a word . . . AWESOME!

 

 

 

Guess what I stumbled upon?  I just figured out how to embed YouTube video's onto my website.  VERY COOL!

 

I went back to my posts to replace all my YouTube video links with the embedded version.  It makes a huge difference.  The screen remains on your website and just plays from there without going over to the YouTube page with all the other stuff.  It looks way more cleaner.

 

A little pat on the back . . .

 

Yes, I'm still training for my Madonna Shrine climb, so off I go for another long ride.  It's projected to rain tomorrow, so this may be the only chance I get this weekend to get a long ride in!

 

 

 

Okay, so I couldn't resist posting another YouTube!  Next to Prince, I think that Freddie Mercury had a really great stage presence! 

 

Radio Ga Ga is a Classic!  Enjoy . . .

 

 

 

Well, I ended up finishing my Tax Returns last night.  I'm getting a decent return from my Federal taxes but ended up paying a little on State Taxes.  Guess where the Tax Refund is going?  You got it!  Right smack dab into my Italy Fund.  A whopping $2,300!  Whoo Hoo!  That's a lot of Wine and Gelato!

 

Well, since I've told myself that I will be cycling up to the Madonna del Ghisallo Shrine above the hills of Bellagio in Lake Como, I started to do more cylcing to get ready. 

The waves were really coming in today and it was just beautiful by the beach.  Ahhhh, life can be great living in Southern California!

 

 

Today I was off from work and was supposed to get my taxes done, but instead I made a YouTube Video of my trip to Prauge!!  What can I say! 

 

I have a new found respect for the Best Editor Winners for the Academy Awards!  Keeping the clip under 100megs was not a walk in the park!

 

 

 

 

Happy Easter! Everyone!  I'm heading out for my run but first I wanted to share this little gem I found on YouTube.  Can you tell, I'm a little addicted to YouTube right now!  Geez, I should actually be working on my trip. 

 

It's funny but growing up in Hawaii I used to play the uke before taking up the guitar, but I never played it like this local girl (Brittni Paiva).  I wish there was a way that I could record this, because it was so beautifully played.   

 

Enjoy . . .

 

 

 

My work project is finally over and I can now devote more time to planning my "Back to Where My Heart Belongs, Italy trip" in September.  I am so excited about re-visiting the very beautiful Venice and then training over to Lake Como (Bellagio) where I have never been to before.  More to come . . .

 

This month's photo of the month was motivated by my constant thoughts of my return to Italy after two years!  Whoo Hoo!!!!

 

To tide me over the summer months in great anticipation for my big trip, I put together a Youtube slideshow of my hiking experience in the Cinque Terre, one of the most beautiful places that I have ever seen.