tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10556883854213622422024-02-07T18:37:13.950-05:00Running the Race...or, let's be honest, Jog-Walking the race quickly. A Sassy Girl's Guide to Spirituality.
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith." Hebrews 12:1Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06098852834050397406noreply@blogger.comBlogger453125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1055688385421362242.post-22248618336929758022023-07-28T10:02:00.008-04:002023-07-28T10:27:34.014-04:00Summer 2023<p>This blog started out as a way for me to document my experience when I was discerning religious life in a convent. </p><p>It continued after I left as a way for me to share religious and spiritual reflections as I figured out what to make of my life as a grad student after that experience. </p><p>And now it seems this blog has turned into a full fledged travel blog which I am okay with :) I have continued to share spiritual reflections in other ways through presentations at school, church, and with some blogs that I have had pieces published with in recent years. Anything that I have published <a href="https://juliastrukely.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">I keep here. </a>This blog remains a personal one and at this time in my life I'm using it to share my journeys!</p><p>This summer has probably been one of my best, I'm going to go ahead and say that. After 13 years of teaching and 3 in a pandemic, I have seemingly mastered how to spend one's summer with balance of travel, activities, and true rest. </p><p>You may remember that I started a podcast in 2020. I decided to pause it this past May in 2023. It was getting hard to find guests and now that our lives have gone back to somewhat of a "normal", less people are spending time online at home (at least in their spare time) and we are out and about doing "real" things again. I bring up the podcast because in one of my later episodes, I discussed with a guest what true rest is. A lot of times, I think that me sitting on my couch scrolling through Instagram with Netflix on in the background is resting. However, I have found that true rest comes in some of the activities I love like going to a winery or reading a book or painting rather than just sitting. </p><p>So this summer I have tried to balance staying busy with equal parts true rest and I think I've done it!</p><p>Since Covid, one of my traditions during the very first weekend I am done with school is to find a cool, more local Air B n B and just have a quick little getaway to refresh. This also usually involves also going to wineries.<a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1JOnhPpGU9oWI6e-GP8JkrqL9RcU9S3E1Oz0Ew9NCn4A/edit#gid=0"> I have been updating my spreadsheet and have now visited over 100 of VA's wineries! </a>This summer I did begin by booking a little getaway for myself (with a hot tub) and adding a few more VA wineries to my list. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipBfGwNi5Xf5tPtIY3NQDZSI6sMAvaNwBNEda3KsIpHU2XuzUO7Yi_qpQgdqGJwl3pUZlgIY9uK1T8pEE6oCq5HxI473QuOBPKiX9xdez4kooRG0xRG-v-F4YQuLG14H6rM8hur4u_COA2iIAg-xXYcCq_FrjkXOEqtyFUwcY5izDezymUJWr86c09hZk/s960/va2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipBfGwNi5Xf5tPtIY3NQDZSI6sMAvaNwBNEda3KsIpHU2XuzUO7Yi_qpQgdqGJwl3pUZlgIY9uK1T8pEE6oCq5HxI473QuOBPKiX9xdez4kooRG0xRG-v-F4YQuLG14H6rM8hur4u_COA2iIAg-xXYcCq_FrjkXOEqtyFUwcY5izDezymUJWr86c09hZk/s320/va2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>Little VA getaway, June 2023</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCOjkwLl-DLDfSG28qyUKnuzffFP5WUaZi2fITZomgTyXCVUd1O68p7Qm9g4w9pcIS-LU_NWeQoe-JPMzy_JaPLWest6pZL5wvuxbcRzWQgoyndfjyuxQN8sJXMhlmzp6yW8x0FjPzqYKP87E3KkPMTsqd61cIxHkevoVVCxzHe7wcxF2ysfohkFty-Ok/s2048/va.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCOjkwLl-DLDfSG28qyUKnuzffFP5WUaZi2fITZomgTyXCVUd1O68p7Qm9g4w9pcIS-LU_NWeQoe-JPMzy_JaPLWest6pZL5wvuxbcRzWQgoyndfjyuxQN8sJXMhlmzp6yW8x0FjPzqYKP87E3KkPMTsqd61cIxHkevoVVCxzHe7wcxF2ysfohkFty-Ok/s320/va.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>I also had another trip pretty early on in my summer. I have been to Austin before. I'm sure that I even documented it on this blog back in 2015. I really enjoyed the city the last time I went, so when an artist friend said she was going this summer and asked if I wanted to tag along, I said absolutely. </p><p>We drank lots of margaritas, ate lots of tacos, saw lots of art, swam in Barton Springs, waited for the bats, and explored a few places I hadn't last time I was there like more of East Austin and also The Museum of the Weird. We had a great few days in Austin, even though it was grossly hot and humid. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYCMIzHNHXmfDFnxZAojLjlYAUATdF4cr1Af-YH5D1LFZt014IgGKXwNkTRFM2AmPr1GAJLQE9TR0xu_hGPXaH9uKHmnX-OhvQoOpN1aAPydn_ie1BKbg5YMBD1h0Z5boynh-YDQhRpZNuTB2RdLQCsru6HrAZ50gqma4156hnKjCEI7LtlpTYAGVZ64I/s417/austin2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="313" data-original-width="417" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYCMIzHNHXmfDFnxZAojLjlYAUATdF4cr1Af-YH5D1LFZt014IgGKXwNkTRFM2AmPr1GAJLQE9TR0xu_hGPXaH9uKHmnX-OhvQoOpN1aAPydn_ie1BKbg5YMBD1h0Z5boynh-YDQhRpZNuTB2RdLQCsru6HrAZ50gqma4156hnKjCEI7LtlpTYAGVZ64I/s320/austin2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>above: beating the heat in Barton Springs, below: checking out the Museum of the Weird. It lived up to its name. </i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEuBfvjuIC7uzjJT8fw1MQXqy8T686JZynIvfWSCUxKUlGD5tZ_Xu3Lw1_yqPhbH2kOxfTve5shN9PinOyVLnRK0Ics6xUy5AZZlyOtLUDqfEIhE3GrJf9NKvimgeMsqzpZdBQSPTLj9znJjWVWg-IVFYHiuhYzm1XQKXUWtiDMX0dXyxyZBg9B0rokis/s414/austin3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="414" data-original-width="311" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEuBfvjuIC7uzjJT8fw1MQXqy8T686JZynIvfWSCUxKUlGD5tZ_Xu3Lw1_yqPhbH2kOxfTve5shN9PinOyVLnRK0Ics6xUy5AZZlyOtLUDqfEIhE3GrJf9NKvimgeMsqzpZdBQSPTLj9znJjWVWg-IVFYHiuhYzm1XQKXUWtiDMX0dXyxyZBg9B0rokis/s320/austin3.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnZmbuCWUMHq3CX92fiK7f96rFb73JJi42mzneNcfmdpEksIKoldC1_t6cT8am_kcWmA2akYDLq34qIiBUhK8dejrwA2vz7DgkI2EBbcNo_mTmdfHhLDY2XDLyfANTH0e7Pj_KCn2rBWbbgYYKz6vPONbGKJm-eqhDLnmBmFUJggeBgqJTpEtyXxYTLt8/s960/austin.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnZmbuCWUMHq3CX92fiK7f96rFb73JJi42mzneNcfmdpEksIKoldC1_t6cT8am_kcWmA2akYDLq34qIiBUhK8dejrwA2vz7DgkI2EBbcNo_mTmdfHhLDY2XDLyfANTH0e7Pj_KCn2rBWbbgYYKz6vPONbGKJm-eqhDLnmBmFUJggeBgqJTpEtyXxYTLt8/s320/austin.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><i>Getting artsy in Austin!</i><div><i><br /></i></div><div>After the VA and Austin getaway, I made my way up to DC to celebrate a college friend's wedding. My 20s and 30s were marked with so many weddings. I was burnt out as a bridesmaid by 2012. The weddings have slowed down since I've entered my 40s and it was actually really nice to come together to celebrate with friends again. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0VHCPrkn3qR5Z7UengWF7gMyEDc3w4KDG3xyO_9XSb7VuHr8TKaNNmqwWUYI8h4UC-hI_qiOnzGXl_X8Uj4G2JqXpQprl3fMm6XBRLTJzfr8ePb2m2hV0VUDAVR8uF73hBVWua8nmpotb9UWQDQ7KawsShhZgb9iE4xIWsyhP4wbDRIq1jvp8BEd3tug/s2048/CUA.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0VHCPrkn3qR5Z7UengWF7gMyEDc3w4KDG3xyO_9XSb7VuHr8TKaNNmqwWUYI8h4UC-hI_qiOnzGXl_X8Uj4G2JqXpQprl3fMm6XBRLTJzfr8ePb2m2hV0VUDAVR8uF73hBVWua8nmpotb9UWQDQ7KawsShhZgb9iE4xIWsyhP4wbDRIq1jvp8BEd3tug/s320/CUA.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><i>CUA folks coming together after 20 + years of friendship to celebrate Stephen's wedding!</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>I also took the opportunity to explore some museums as you do in DC and explore a new brunch place with friends as well. I was particularly struck by one piece in particular at the Hirschhorn Museum.<br /><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOYCkj1toNlvSq_Owealncx8LQgjREXXvzpi0ikXBBv-ls7YrD40L0jXKG0oyVuVb_IHGJbEj9OzBym96hqdkzsL8rumvXK7iQD0srVyDTCC7FVJ-TBR7hHhaUI5ngsMP9XDZ0K6fE4Ff1aFk4jGldggJ8EsqYElWE4h5RPMRgyz1OZsFU1bz9jsBeQMQ/s414/art.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="414" data-original-width="311" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOYCkj1toNlvSq_Owealncx8LQgjREXXvzpi0ikXBBv-ls7YrD40L0jXKG0oyVuVb_IHGJbEj9OzBym96hqdkzsL8rumvXK7iQD0srVyDTCC7FVJ-TBR7hHhaUI5ngsMP9XDZ0K6fE4Ff1aFk4jGldggJ8EsqYElWE4h5RPMRgyz1OZsFU1bz9jsBeQMQ/s320/art.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><i>Exhibit at the Hirschhorn Museum in DC. The whole room was filled with phrases painted on walls, floor, and ceiling as a stream of consciousness that the viewer got to walk through and experience. </i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>After my DC weekend, it was back to RVA and a visit from a friend from Ohio for the 4th of July. We spent a couple of days eating and shopping our way around my city and also hanging out with friends in pools. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuAkxJhsFBP-D7lqnOgewTLVJLXVEskbDdaHg_2w_VKWjVx8DNBq8v1dAZWqPz1VKhYzCKoT9GsTr7kH3rbQ9te2cug2TasUnUDjrhsdNr794vTR9hySB8xmhguBtHou2SgbrggQuROPKxNzbogZ6Lga2TeMIOq-iIcaSa4uZrt-51O1RbMxEuFYib0w4/s2048/fourth.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuAkxJhsFBP-D7lqnOgewTLVJLXVEskbDdaHg_2w_VKWjVx8DNBq8v1dAZWqPz1VKhYzCKoT9GsTr7kH3rbQ9te2cug2TasUnUDjrhsdNr794vTR9hySB8xmhguBtHou2SgbrggQuROPKxNzbogZ6Lga2TeMIOq-iIcaSa4uZrt-51O1RbMxEuFYib0w4/s320/fourth.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><i>The Fourth of July with friends in RVA</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>After my friend left, I had a little downtime to get ready for my big, solo trip of the summer of 2023. I have been turning my attention since the pandemic to domestic travel and trying to visit all 50 states. After my Spring Break trip back in April (which I documented) and now also after this summer's trip, I only have 4 states left!!!</div><div><br /></div><div>This summer's trip was all about Maine and Vermont and a little bit of Canada since I was up there anyways :) Below is my itinerary of my summer East Coastal trip! Enjoy!</div><div><br /></div><div><u>Day 1: Fly to Burlington, VT and stay in Burlington.</u></div><div><u><br /></u></div><div>I have perhaps put Vermont and Maine off until the end of my 50 states list just because I do not like cold weather. When I think of Vermont, I think of one of my favorite Christmas movies, White Christmas (even though it wasn't actually filmed there. I was hoping to find the hotel it was modeled after, but it doesn't exist!)</div><div><br /></div><div>My expectations for Burlington were rather low, if I'm honest. I was just trying to check off one of my 50 states. But when I got my rental car and drove towards the city, I was taken aback by how pretty Burlington and Lake Champlain are. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnbb_yp5gI8xQPBJXadL0bPq8ivD29uOzT1az3_hAK5yJR65v53ZbjPb-hxulvPONYjSa7sN8AmJsQFmIIeXzW3eHnTindizyL3mc1-E3xGMNoRXwOwPiYjuOtvIVQ06rudZmemdBgvqpex4ifFRyVL_XDi7c2JrKdAZr6oIGo4ZRxEPix3cHwWX-SguM/s2048/VT.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnbb_yp5gI8xQPBJXadL0bPq8ivD29uOzT1az3_hAK5yJR65v53ZbjPb-hxulvPONYjSa7sN8AmJsQFmIIeXzW3eHnTindizyL3mc1-E3xGMNoRXwOwPiYjuOtvIVQ06rudZmemdBgvqpex4ifFRyVL_XDi7c2JrKdAZr6oIGo4ZRxEPix3cHwWX-SguM/s320/VT.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><i>View of Lake Champlain from downtown Burlington. </i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>This first day was my big day to check out Burlington, so I walked around downtown and found it to be so cute. A good balance of touristy but also some places/bars where locals hang out. I had lunch at a cute Mexican place, walked around Phoenix Books, and of course, got some Ben and Jerry's. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnftEaFxJPeSRh2HS6nvts_8ETauHrSk9oZ__Ogduwz6HRHXUBCOTPXznraybAX8SFHEDoG5kg6cQs5a9ICr9ozrfWeNRsoXYnN7g3C_yS2_1KuqlplTdgEUMT-mSJ36SpVcet9MvbVCoxm-RTYb-2FygwleD5NbiBol087LxJ5e_lhdq4qDwBXw-dRDY/s960/VT2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnftEaFxJPeSRh2HS6nvts_8ETauHrSk9oZ__Ogduwz6HRHXUBCOTPXznraybAX8SFHEDoG5kg6cQs5a9ICr9ozrfWeNRsoXYnN7g3C_yS2_1KuqlplTdgEUMT-mSJ36SpVcet9MvbVCoxm-RTYb-2FygwleD5NbiBol087LxJ5e_lhdq4qDwBXw-dRDY/s320/VT2.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><i>Cute lunch place: El Cortijo! I had a bean burrito and some of their homemade chips with a Mexi-coke.</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtKEO466mbiymhTuoYyYnWFg4PD6PvRH4RhmFD41wzWo8-o4GQvbBofZsTpwEv8CmfFtSbNGNgd4-1Lc2K9F2JVVA9Gxcx4S-XtGqkeHHpAD2o2j74mgJ9YMJ23T6_4k7baTgB9v_HLd9kKr8O3mCzp8he17lQ161wvnih0Tr_ib2bp2VpNL4mkMt9mTo/s2048/VT3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1538" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtKEO466mbiymhTuoYyYnWFg4PD6PvRH4RhmFD41wzWo8-o4GQvbBofZsTpwEv8CmfFtSbNGNgd4-1Lc2K9F2JVVA9Gxcx4S-XtGqkeHHpAD2o2j74mgJ9YMJ23T6_4k7baTgB9v_HLd9kKr8O3mCzp8he17lQ161wvnih0Tr_ib2bp2VpNL4mkMt9mTo/s320/VT3.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div><i>For some reason, I wasn't expecting the Marshmallow Sky flavor to be blue, but I guess it makes sense.</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>After hanging out around downtown, I decided to head closer to Lake Champlain and my air b n b. On my way, I crossed off one of my Atlas Obscura finds as well. </div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNM3TBFb1uF8gR-u8_PKetFfcirGlsPKeshvOnkWn5H1p2A-kr81YHKjLFNGp7_sM5eXMEcGcAXKfZ8_tP0o6TfxvwePMLebNaALg4Gffr1-zq1IqLT4WJB4i9hQdk_UjBltGWAzflnsBUf_iQ_7Xa39fTroU6c-XWnlCY4T1SFUcQfiabXcQqOkdKKNI/s414/VT4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="414" data-original-width="311" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNM3TBFb1uF8gR-u8_PKetFfcirGlsPKeshvOnkWn5H1p2A-kr81YHKjLFNGp7_sM5eXMEcGcAXKfZ8_tP0o6TfxvwePMLebNaALg4Gffr1-zq1IqLT4WJB4i9hQdk_UjBltGWAzflnsBUf_iQ_7Xa39fTroU6c-XWnlCY4T1SFUcQfiabXcQqOkdKKNI/s320/VT4.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>World's Tallest Filing Cabinet- an Atlas Obscura find!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZYGqDw_Ivw2Sb-celSy8mz0jFyS5L73Ul0ZXp5rZ44YZy1KS-ePPOVkWFQhmW2yxq2bJRrmbjkplnj9Vmayz1dcGqocVedzWP9oDpkr2AYtStthRz_G7wdfJ4_r5BwadeNpVlLeEzw023yOjO68K9dZwfqs-xL0spnUjEBWWmzykidBRvH1W6pReQDXE/s2048/VT5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZYGqDw_Ivw2Sb-celSy8mz0jFyS5L73Ul0ZXp5rZ44YZy1KS-ePPOVkWFQhmW2yxq2bJRrmbjkplnj9Vmayz1dcGqocVedzWP9oDpkr2AYtStthRz_G7wdfJ4_r5BwadeNpVlLeEzw023yOjO68K9dZwfqs-xL0spnUjEBWWmzykidBRvH1W6pReQDXE/s320/VT5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Another Atlas Obscura thing: The Earth Clock which is the group of stones to the left. Also reminded me of Outlander. I spent some time here at Blanchard Beach around sunset. It was perfect. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz-BRYPjJqQqR8sb8lVdnsmi7Wy1y8tQGgi0GsGskoIfq6NIlaPPWs5IgdD87EVVzcCnTJ8-CsqhHacbhrCZutTTfLm2Y2K-A2lfqscl75gXaR1MdCEKCH4hlNILdV60irgtSVLmWJPvzqIR_MJnWUyeG214EGJsShn01iyXBp8Q0LcJlOJu-W5VgvQiI/s2048/VT6.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz-BRYPjJqQqR8sb8lVdnsmi7Wy1y8tQGgi0GsGskoIfq6NIlaPPWs5IgdD87EVVzcCnTJ8-CsqhHacbhrCZutTTfLm2Y2K-A2lfqscl75gXaR1MdCEKCH4hlNILdV60irgtSVLmWJPvzqIR_MJnWUyeG214EGJsShn01iyXBp8Q0LcJlOJu-W5VgvQiI/s320/VT6.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Had to visit a brewery while in Vermont! This one was close to my Air B n B and recommended by my host. I liked the vibe there!</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><u>Day 2: Stowe, VT to Portland, ME</u></div><div><u><br /></u></div><div>This day was one of my heavier driving days, though all of my drives weren't much more than 3 hours which isn't long for me!</div><div><br /></div><div>My first stop this day was the town of Stowe which also happens to be close to where the real life Von Trapp Family lived when then came to America. I am a huge musical and Sound of Music fan so it had to be done. Despite the rain, it did not disappoint. Vermont was having major rains and floods at this time. I was lucky that my trip wasn't affected too much but I feel for the people who had to endure its effects. </div><div><br /></div><div>Stowe is about 45 minutes outside of Burlington and was a little bit out of my way on the way to Maine, but it was worth it to me to see this quaint town and one of the places associated with one of my favorite film families. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz4771MP6qTlGB0gCYM58-m9ik2-DkdFTzFSqR8P7rI59E45-WJLrxwHQJH98cenZExaKYrLW2oXRqLnQwP_4Om6oadRAxH6brKVQtW3PPSna2RAAbcLpYIrx37oWw9FIMR47jmBU2Q85X1eoxiQGtjGYtVT3dhBlP4Jc1-WszwVvD1MFDaCM6YUgAo44/s417/VT7.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="313" data-original-width="417" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz4771MP6qTlGB0gCYM58-m9ik2-DkdFTzFSqR8P7rI59E45-WJLrxwHQJH98cenZExaKYrLW2oXRqLnQwP_4Om6oadRAxH6brKVQtW3PPSna2RAAbcLpYIrx37oWw9FIMR47jmBU2Q85X1eoxiQGtjGYtVT3dhBlP4Jc1-WszwVvD1MFDaCM6YUgAo44/s320/VT7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>Stowe is what I picture when I think of Vermont. It had cute shops and restaurants and was very picturesque. </i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmaLkwUzTdvREZO9iGBJN73x2uWH8vsr78GWE0C_89p2pDBa-QJ0pZyopAlbMA48JcIuY_6mbxJgsP3WYFeLpk3d2IhlQtleUTZSgiNjDBSrQygFjDWEnNz0owIy4ws3g6q-tanrlYcJmdKOgo_NobgVbbNkTyZp3c3o5HUA9wMbrId54L3i9PkRD2piE/s2048/VT8.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1538" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmaLkwUzTdvREZO9iGBJN73x2uWH8vsr78GWE0C_89p2pDBa-QJ0pZyopAlbMA48JcIuY_6mbxJgsP3WYFeLpk3d2IhlQtleUTZSgiNjDBSrQygFjDWEnNz0owIy4ws3g6q-tanrlYcJmdKOgo_NobgVbbNkTyZp3c3o5HUA9wMbrId54L3i9PkRD2piE/s320/VT8.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>I didn't take the full property tour, but just explored the main lodge and the gift shop and drove around on some of the grounds. It was good enough for me to be where the real life Maria Von Trapp lived!</i><div><i><br /></i></div><div>After my morning in Stowe, it was time to make my way towards Maine. I drove through the rains and encountered one or two roads affected by the floods, but overall, my drive wasn't too bad. It was raining all through New Hampshire. I stopped in a town outside the White Mountains and had some lunch and got a maple-flavored soft serve as you do in Vermont/NH/Maine.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-9bHETB54OI2WkL09D14z5DccmsWZRyDZTvnmGXW5rzN4eBWW5RavI658HRsEIgOsLExnN1mXnsrlOHp6vifX49JFZtzbxhW6ABPjT4r1xIynjlQDv3_sFcY-72xvUkVJZHGE9eBkG-ilW2gjpWEL6l1CchYo8UaN2X4nvutzebRqPo87Up8xGg0qOuI/s2048/NH.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-9bHETB54OI2WkL09D14z5DccmsWZRyDZTvnmGXW5rzN4eBWW5RavI658HRsEIgOsLExnN1mXnsrlOHp6vifX49JFZtzbxhW6ABPjT4r1xIynjlQDv3_sFcY-72xvUkVJZHGE9eBkG-ilW2gjpWEL6l1CchYo8UaN2X4nvutzebRqPo87Up8xGg0qOuI/s320/NH.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><i>Maple flavored soft serve also did not disappoint. </i><div><i><br /></i></div><div>After driving through the rain for a couple of hours, I made it to my destination for the night: Portland, Maine. This was the city that everyone messaged me about. I had so many food recommendations, but after walking around the city for a while (including stopping in at a karaoke bar because duh, gotta get a feel for the city!) I made my way to The High Roller and it was such a perfect recommendation. </div><div><br /></div><div>I wanted all of the lobster things but decided on lobster bisque, a mini-lobster roll with pineapple "sauce" and an Allagash beer. It was amazing. The vibe of the High Roller was also a great vibe. It was diner and retro but also family and hipster all at the same time. I highly recommend this place in Portland!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6EfrdlIg9VzqQ_RMQHoACpmHYYTAvKrjG4W9oz-flqqSU9N1i5AWbp4-KbI7-YUVaW8Hdua-PAUqaDzP-u1e5m92VGWk2_5iepUdRJCK1V641XBR8EqBUSwQ7ATW2fnw1w9v5xOo6HvbRJ6RMNyWgjoRoIJ5RtWYSI2DeA-RSLrziWy7vQTJ43hEdh_E/s2048/ME1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6EfrdlIg9VzqQ_RMQHoACpmHYYTAvKrjG4W9oz-flqqSU9N1i5AWbp4-KbI7-YUVaW8Hdua-PAUqaDzP-u1e5m92VGWk2_5iepUdRJCK1V641XBR8EqBUSwQ7ATW2fnw1w9v5xOo6HvbRJ6RMNyWgjoRoIJ5RtWYSI2DeA-RSLrziWy7vQTJ43hEdh_E/s320/ME1.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><i>My first taste of Maine lobster, definitely not the last! Also, I highly recommend The High Roller in Portland!</i><div><i><br /></i></div><div>Day 2 was a big day with lots of rain, so after walking around the city of Portland for a while, I called it a night in the local hostel (which...I'm definitely too old for hostels, but at The Black Elephant you can get a private room, just have to share bathrooms. Also, it's really well located in the city and is decorated in Wes Anderson style. It's pretty decent for a hostel). </div><div><br /></div><div><u>Day 3: Portland, ME to Bar Harbor, ME</u></div><div><u><br /></u></div><div>In addition to all of the food recommendations, another thing people said I had to do in Portland was the Portland Head Lighthouse. It's a little bit of a drive from downtown to Cape Elizabeth, but I had some breakfast in town before heading out that way. The drive isn't too bad and the Cape is pretty nice. However, I was there for ALL of the fog. I hung out around the cape and in the park for almost 2 hours and the fog just didn't want to let up. Even when the sun was fully out, it was still somehow foggy? But I enjoyed exploring the park the lighthouse is in and made my way into town for a Whoppie pie (another Maine thing...it was just alright for me, though I'm not a huge sweets person). </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAj8qXQrDGYCuiA6dHA9R05TLkjHl0YmWZXnm282KlivKDsK-TDW9NaxN6-RrVlI9TFTcEX7lnBugNeSYJLrDiHvXdmn6zfraeT1IiUAz24C1XbimflOiYJpunvVv7nBya_JQkJsQsx8FQb7z64HGE7hblJaVQ0kioIxx_s4kRhXyQpsFSBZ-rxyJQa9o/s417/ME2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="313" data-original-width="417" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAj8qXQrDGYCuiA6dHA9R05TLkjHl0YmWZXnm282KlivKDsK-TDW9NaxN6-RrVlI9TFTcEX7lnBugNeSYJLrDiHvXdmn6zfraeT1IiUAz24C1XbimflOiYJpunvVv7nBya_JQkJsQsx8FQb7z64HGE7hblJaVQ0kioIxx_s4kRhXyQpsFSBZ-rxyJQa9o/s320/ME2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>Portland Head Lighthouse without much light....</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhytuosger2YY7vHdKhBCpDkxx470squuGtUGJMli_uY1aZP-ig8ng4CwVXFfLF1pFn0IJjKCyWLUS4ApmlIWGbqXZSri4OTemsB7B6KWZ1GcTwJKbBmY04uW2a8SmT4k96XdlpKhMY3ixkzJdYQGIU7e3_Q7Mr0xPKtCKLI4J2Vma5cJ4ZmvR1Atm85Jw/s2048/ME3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhytuosger2YY7vHdKhBCpDkxx470squuGtUGJMli_uY1aZP-ig8ng4CwVXFfLF1pFn0IJjKCyWLUS4ApmlIWGbqXZSri4OTemsB7B6KWZ1GcTwJKbBmY04uW2a8SmT4k96XdlpKhMY3ixkzJdYQGIU7e3_Q7Mr0xPKtCKLI4J2Vma5cJ4ZmvR1Atm85Jw/s320/ME3.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><i>Whoppie pies are a Maine thing...</i><div><i><br /></i></div><div>I could've definitely spent more time hanging out around Portland as it was a cool city, but my next destination was Bar Harbor. </div><div><br /></div><div>I stopped in Bangor, Maine along the way to check out another Atlas Obscura item. The town of Bangor was cuter than I expected. It had a cute downtown with restaurants and thrift shops and a river that was kind of picturesque. I was flying out of Bangor at the end of my trip so I was glad that I'd get to re-visit this city. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPh9skti7t2_nf8OYjIDPQUsnd9oBoZX4jJTiDMv5E-TjqfHyt0guic8bqPKvkTY4GoBtFrwlm80anQjrvXZSSVefo94b6YbSv7aFa-xUPpCe9SG8BrHE11GfMjE7BkUThIi1uiU3pkSAexfl-j6b6PhGgwppMmNXIhQ9_X7D_tgiYtXCumXcb4Xy2DqU/s2048/ME4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPh9skti7t2_nf8OYjIDPQUsnd9oBoZX4jJTiDMv5E-TjqfHyt0guic8bqPKvkTY4GoBtFrwlm80anQjrvXZSSVefo94b6YbSv7aFa-xUPpCe9SG8BrHE11GfMjE7BkUThIi1uiU3pkSAexfl-j6b6PhGgwppMmNXIhQ9_X7D_tgiYtXCumXcb4Xy2DqU/s320/ME4.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><i>Atlas Obscura find: huge Paul Bunyan statue was actually kind of terrifying.</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUMBBzK8uOXHVeUGX6SAYMhWRaF7D7BLeskxd8cIP96amSkxvoTcXW-lBltKRlN4DcPZozBXH-QcHcB0EM3wdjqVdubPtXHQs6onCFIylq8ABBteXjHcuJ9aIZJc2BC4rKgErXkhr8s_NxgVLgFTYmFhaO1z7EXDohFs4b6OEBntmVwgLfZB8dGQ0RBiA/s1334/ME5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="750" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUMBBzK8uOXHVeUGX6SAYMhWRaF7D7BLeskxd8cIP96amSkxvoTcXW-lBltKRlN4DcPZozBXH-QcHcB0EM3wdjqVdubPtXHQs6onCFIylq8ABBteXjHcuJ9aIZJc2BC4rKgErXkhr8s_NxgVLgFTYmFhaO1z7EXDohFs4b6OEBntmVwgLfZB8dGQ0RBiA/s320/ME5.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><i>Had a late lunch in Bangor at Sea Dog Brewery. Their beers were also tasty!</i><div><i><br /></i></div><div>After a little time in Bangor, I made my way towards Bar Harbor, but I had to pull over when I saw this roadside antique shop that was not to be missed! I'm so glad I stopped. It was the perfect little road trip break to stretch my legs and have a photo op!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7f5c50i1NENpkkcIG98V15PDhzO05haASDhsKLR_uCwWdOGaZuMqL_m-3zSG7ISZVKuNBmdGA9GjGBwh4zKEW7O2VlnjmNizyAUseJNuPmHN4F4Tr2Woee9I5h0B40kFFeJNx5c3tx0QzaacvVc7Z9N0kIEGLBJv5ZpwDz_8voTxRtoA3C30JCIsbuJk/s2048/ME7.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7f5c50i1NENpkkcIG98V15PDhzO05haASDhsKLR_uCwWdOGaZuMqL_m-3zSG7ISZVKuNBmdGA9GjGBwh4zKEW7O2VlnjmNizyAUseJNuPmHN4F4Tr2Woee9I5h0B40kFFeJNx5c3tx0QzaacvVc7Z9N0kIEGLBJv5ZpwDz_8voTxRtoA3C30JCIsbuJk/s320/ME7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>Fun stop on my way from Bangor to Bar Harbor...an antique store with all of the fun things!</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRJGXNvyqiKbH8vWRoyD7hHcryvNc3oQsDJ3VpGd2QI6wjYkrTSeeuI3HxiffwSfKNcaDfS43nXmLFdq4v2sROPJZTjg4RFwrLxzaxdf964biz5-ZA1s6DSGvu-uIigI6IK_UxJym0cE7YAnW-CmpJtYxLk1U10UmSGxSt_BIcVFOEwMG83OSKK1XSWE0/s417/ME6.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="313" data-original-width="417" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRJGXNvyqiKbH8vWRoyD7hHcryvNc3oQsDJ3VpGd2QI6wjYkrTSeeuI3HxiffwSfKNcaDfS43nXmLFdq4v2sROPJZTjg4RFwrLxzaxdf964biz5-ZA1s6DSGvu-uIigI6IK_UxJym0cE7YAnW-CmpJtYxLk1U10UmSGxSt_BIcVFOEwMG83OSKK1XSWE0/s320/ME6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>After a morning in Portland, an afternoon in Bangor, I finally made it to my destination for the next 2 nights: Bar Harbor. The weather was beautiful when I arrived and I walked around the adorable tourist town and sat by the water before heading to my air b n b for the night, but not before I stopped in Acadia National Park to watch the sunset. It was a little hazy, but still a great end to the day. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPz3aqZf7YWBpti4ikFccd0ZX-voaE2svNQAZ7sP-J7-kJVbT_M1Mx_chr7hzbZ_JMR4DACbFGjyJLzSDMNQeSZOTS_bXM1V5J-OvlJrpOrjoG9ja7SGD4ZG8yAMBl-uRUK3d7-XdtkMZrfnRD7VEarSt40SbJE94jkRmgCratKr9-3DoWM1qO9FCLi5s/s417/ME8.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="313" data-original-width="417" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPz3aqZf7YWBpti4ikFccd0ZX-voaE2svNQAZ7sP-J7-kJVbT_M1Mx_chr7hzbZ_JMR4DACbFGjyJLzSDMNQeSZOTS_bXM1V5J-OvlJrpOrjoG9ja7SGD4ZG8yAMBl-uRUK3d7-XdtkMZrfnRD7VEarSt40SbJE94jkRmgCratKr9-3DoWM1qO9FCLi5s/s320/ME8.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><i>Bar Harbor is beautiful! I can see why people summer here!</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix8qssxbL3TGdsbtZ02o1Cu3hylLsMg5JjwlAKZ7aRgbdjSl82r3kK0KKygHUcm0_obNvxluGLTjjh3T3SYQSyKFWFBUEE9GuqzyzrMqg69OWXn_ZKFtPH7H1iO0cgSY999X226jfI3Z4-eAjUDv246PSr03F7pHY3_GWhAiHjBeaxp6eJOGH7ZsF0rfc/s2048/ME12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix8qssxbL3TGdsbtZ02o1Cu3hylLsMg5JjwlAKZ7aRgbdjSl82r3kK0KKygHUcm0_obNvxluGLTjjh3T3SYQSyKFWFBUEE9GuqzyzrMqg69OWXn_ZKFtPH7H1iO0cgSY999X226jfI3Z4-eAjUDv246PSr03F7pHY3_GWhAiHjBeaxp6eJOGH7ZsF0rfc/s320/ME12.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><i>The National Park pass purchased for Utah and Wyoming has come in handy this year!</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><u>Day 4: Acadia National Park/Bar Harbor</u></div><div><u><br /></u></div><div>I spent the full day in Bar Harbor and most of it in Acadia National Park. I got up early and drove to the park. My air b n b host had suggested starting with Sand Beach. It was already busy when I got there around 8:30. I found parking in a lot (luckily) and walked the Ocean Path down to the beach. Everything was very foggy, similar to when I went to the Portland Lighthouse. You really couldn't see much at the beach. </div><div><br /></div><div>So I made my way to Thunder Hole which was in walking distance to Sand Beach. A line of people were also waiting there, but you could still see the waves that the hole makes when the tide recedes then comes back in. It was worth the wait and walk. </div><div><br /></div><div>I continued to just walk around the Ocean Path for maybe 3 miles total just taking in the coast and hoping that the fog would let up some. It was still beautiful even with the fog. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvNWmZsOx5Fl6mbu7JvHcEiS5vdvXsXWc7xRvKqylVAdatC46fUoQAoYpfHl3q_EBF9MTGoLN8ik_HWr7CxlLVcKvkxszSUp2Dqd3UZtTLI_E-7PLfhck7Snu0U_TQ5bJHRLouKqZtyf37oE443Cp9Vfqvhpxorf2mPSe2yZiCf6HH7lOqD1fLs0cOwhk/s2048/ME9.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1538" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvNWmZsOx5Fl6mbu7JvHcEiS5vdvXsXWc7xRvKqylVAdatC46fUoQAoYpfHl3q_EBF9MTGoLN8ik_HWr7CxlLVcKvkxszSUp2Dqd3UZtTLI_E-7PLfhck7Snu0U_TQ5bJHRLouKqZtyf37oE443Cp9Vfqvhpxorf2mPSe2yZiCf6HH7lOqD1fLs0cOwhk/s320/ME9.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>Acadia National Park. It was foggy the entire time, but still really beautiful. </i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoTP6LpNq5EaJF368hY_hBzDnU8Fukn6mI7dnkMSJc7_NWXNzF1MDvzSwuZ9-pN0tyAN1G32SEibWB3zaC8BhHPm8ISn_Tx_UdXjQYVgtMzgXZmmr3mDiOm6DUHBJjmdekfgSNzZBEOuqg1-kMT8w2OnAx0XqWkz_OG7UI18IKD06K6sawRW5KaCVNYNU/s417/ME10.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="313" data-original-width="417" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoTP6LpNq5EaJF368hY_hBzDnU8Fukn6mI7dnkMSJc7_NWXNzF1MDvzSwuZ9-pN0tyAN1G32SEibWB3zaC8BhHPm8ISn_Tx_UdXjQYVgtMzgXZmmr3mDiOm6DUHBJjmdekfgSNzZBEOuqg1-kMT8w2OnAx0XqWkz_OG7UI18IKD06K6sawRW5KaCVNYNU/s320/ME10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I got back into my car after walking the path for some time and drove to a couple of other spots on the park map. People had suggested stopping at the Jordan Pond House to get lunch, but reservations were already full when I had checked and there were so many cars parked there when I decided to just try and stop by. I still enjoyed my time taking in the park even though I didn't get to actually see very much of the scenery. <div><br /></div><div>After a day of walking and exploring nature, it was time for some lunch and beverages, right? </div><div><br /></div><div>I had seen on my drive in that Bar Harbor had a winery, so I had to stop there. It was pretty decent- there were a couple of wines that I liked and the host paired some with chocolates which was also a nice touch. </div><div><br /></div><div>I stopped for lunch at a Lobster Pound on the way into town and had a blueberry Atlantic beer which is my new favorite beer. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoWmjjOdeYjMwiVL9NOQIlwjGYssRU_Z3Yx46PFphfpK9kFLpnKjV1Rts2PtLXd_osMdgQaSmGhhrY02spLBOUFyup2hkaliVpVnPXO9SzX6twLcFmzlayyDw37SwBaY8txrq_HZLOURN31kR4zc7-MhRX93dhG56IRYlU3J3fz5M0fc5QMac4WeQv518/s414/Maine13.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="414" data-original-width="311" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoWmjjOdeYjMwiVL9NOQIlwjGYssRU_Z3Yx46PFphfpK9kFLpnKjV1Rts2PtLXd_osMdgQaSmGhhrY02spLBOUFyup2hkaliVpVnPXO9SzX6twLcFmzlayyDw37SwBaY8txrq_HZLOURN31kR4zc7-MhRX93dhG56IRYlU3J3fz5M0fc5QMac4WeQv518/s320/Maine13.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><i>Above: Bar Harbor winery with chocolate pairing, below: waiting at Lobster pound for my crab sandwich with my new favorite beer. </i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQvlKhoyPE0ps29GzNeFyQyBggoC_mbGDdFCZW139OLcglS51D9u4l1KqqO7jWxUBJ5FaHKAuUP1dYU4E0mc5gOC8nSFBzeG4g77DnLYyFFfo2PM4feQKbO2u6ILs6OcjytnzbqXlSgdMsf7PsUzDxnc19TFS7majWxhVhLs7r3BkrzTbzIXzNqNnb8u0/s414/Maine11.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="414" data-original-width="311" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQvlKhoyPE0ps29GzNeFyQyBggoC_mbGDdFCZW139OLcglS51D9u4l1KqqO7jWxUBJ5FaHKAuUP1dYU4E0mc5gOC8nSFBzeG4g77DnLYyFFfo2PM4feQKbO2u6ILs6OcjytnzbqXlSgdMsf7PsUzDxnc19TFS7majWxhVhLs7r3BkrzTbzIXzNqNnb8u0/s320/Maine11.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div>After grabbing lunch and some drinks, I went back to downtown Bar Harbor and did some shopping, walked the Shore Path, and had another beer while listening to some live music outside an adorable inn in town. Such a great way to relax after an active morning!</div><div><br /></div><div>I ended the evening at my air b n b (with some more of my favorite beer...I bought a 4 pack to take with me on the road to my next stop...Canada!)</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAJEJpnISvzT6adXJgF_YeX_5NeIr89laDBYbjp_qrswrgYNhreivqPm-S-8yfCnRM28UFwwsAu2M2LowrMwEkb5Dsf5XrWghwqjqtYrImEkzEjKTCT8Yuhw0bm_0YVLhDbyqbDM99XC33E7_LuKtr_HjchkDNmf0bFYWTMJvwtIcNigLhhFRrj1_zeY4/s2048/Maine12.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAJEJpnISvzT6adXJgF_YeX_5NeIr89laDBYbjp_qrswrgYNhreivqPm-S-8yfCnRM28UFwwsAu2M2LowrMwEkb5Dsf5XrWghwqjqtYrImEkzEjKTCT8Yuhw0bm_0YVLhDbyqbDM99XC33E7_LuKtr_HjchkDNmf0bFYWTMJvwtIcNigLhhFRrj1_zeY4/s320/Maine12.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><i>Above: taking in another beer and some live music in Bar Harbor, ending at my air b n b by the water with another beer...it was a big beverage day, I guess! Yolo! haha</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhViYmXqaz0YAoXsEiPQvV5X6hvl2Vgf3OB6mMEtv1Dlr8E-MhvYNE8WvMqCOZex7_gGo0qqbG231Sy9atOecEpT7HucmToJVG7GDLxFN0ZbkSjS6x9BTbDhd8aZayR-qVGTcA64HSDBIreXNr2sYC89eoqy_DobhCEo_BhJwul2-SL18NN8Kd6OK9eWec/s2048/Maine14.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhViYmXqaz0YAoXsEiPQvV5X6hvl2Vgf3OB6mMEtv1Dlr8E-MhvYNE8WvMqCOZex7_gGo0qqbG231Sy9atOecEpT7HucmToJVG7GDLxFN0ZbkSjS6x9BTbDhd8aZayR-qVGTcA64HSDBIreXNr2sYC89eoqy_DobhCEo_BhJwul2-SL18NN8Kd6OK9eWec/s320/Maine14.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div><u>Day 5: Bar Harbor to Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada</u></div><div><u><br /></u></div><div>I really enjoyed Bar Harbor. It was probably one of my favorite places on this trip. It was time, however, to say goodbye to the US and check off a couple of more provinces in Canada. </div><div><br /></div><div>Last year, I went to Montreal and Quebec City. Growing up in Cleveland, I had also been to Toronto a couple of times. On this trip, I was going to check off 2 more provinces: New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. </div><div><br /></div><div>I'm not really sure why I landed on Saint John. When I was doing research, it was one of the cities that popped up when researching the area. The city was billed as the oldest city in Canada. I pictured it to be something similar to when I went to Montreal or Quebec City last year. This, however, would not be the case. </div><div><br /></div><div>I got to the border and the border patrol woman really wasn't buying it when I said I was going to Saint John for vacation for two days without much of a plan. I would later come to see why. Or maybe she's just really good at her job. It was hard to tell. </div><div><br /></div><div>Before I got to Saint John, however, I stopped in the adorable coastal town of St. Andrew. It was a cute fishing town and even though it was (you guessed it) foggy, I enjoyed walking around the historic points, through town, and the beach. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1HPB74aFnPPQo1Gt7MYA37c5i2wdJ2zAlWf4OyQJmakWdydog_P0RyqlD360-b_N1uR784NTCkv-q3-5u5YGaQQtv6uqxctOrS148mqzzKns75RbJ-MuzjClYOCMe3v5zuu_QTw16cmkFFioBVei3UFOBCinGRHcwVRSsdi771i7C74Kf1ycUaEUeHno/s417/CA1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="313" data-original-width="417" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1HPB74aFnPPQo1Gt7MYA37c5i2wdJ2zAlWf4OyQJmakWdydog_P0RyqlD360-b_N1uR784NTCkv-q3-5u5YGaQQtv6uqxctOrS148mqzzKns75RbJ-MuzjClYOCMe3v5zuu_QTw16cmkFFioBVei3UFOBCinGRHcwVRSsdi771i7C74Kf1ycUaEUeHno/s320/CA1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>War of 1812 Blockhouse in St. Andrew's</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoeWOTT9uX1eYwRVsq9r7w-wmLIwoyFIIF3ocbuWlWhJesJ0ArfCthSxk8mlJVWrX_0PI62-befs04BmJvjy3Be4JEE1H3zf3OiRUzEAXYBNGjsIyf9C49rxWeVUxOE7DZwzgRv395KWqqB1tqsVCiXgEh5kMgQACKB-Gc0ed1iK4jjxW7B9Br_xVPUuE/s417/CA2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="313" data-original-width="417" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoeWOTT9uX1eYwRVsq9r7w-wmLIwoyFIIF3ocbuWlWhJesJ0ArfCthSxk8mlJVWrX_0PI62-befs04BmJvjy3Be4JEE1H3zf3OiRUzEAXYBNGjsIyf9C49rxWeVUxOE7DZwzgRv395KWqqB1tqsVCiXgEh5kMgQACKB-Gc0ed1iK4jjxW7B9Br_xVPUuE/s320/CA2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>Adorable downtown St. Andrew's</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfPuCbNJEjuSPYk-v8xDN_NOGLgzoIAt_Wc0ALKIsHtBAcpE-TpsXLjlLFBCGl88BAe3y7uD-Xb0avNnvv8Buy8W1Nm91mYIeEBRqiqEIcvKvaKRkpHoak3eVKv775RtsMBkUAgQAGeKkpu56-TMmSIolKXJZjutAvz-hXwKVdSVAZ3qjI2SR9KvbhXEo/s960/CA3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="722" data-original-width="960" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfPuCbNJEjuSPYk-v8xDN_NOGLgzoIAt_Wc0ALKIsHtBAcpE-TpsXLjlLFBCGl88BAe3y7uD-Xb0avNnvv8Buy8W1Nm91mYIeEBRqiqEIcvKvaKRkpHoak3eVKv775RtsMBkUAgQAGeKkpu56-TMmSIolKXJZjutAvz-hXwKVdSVAZ3qjI2SR9KvbhXEo/s320/CA3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><i>On the coast in St. Andrew's</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>I arrived in Saint John (why St. Andrew's is abbreviated and possessive I do not know. The border patrol woman corrected me when I tried to refer to Saint John in the same way) and it was too early to check into my hotel. So I walked around the city for a while and had some lunch. I was a little disappointed. This was not an adorable fishing town or European picturesque city. This was reminding me a little of the Steel belt where I am from. The locals were out and about mixed with families of tourists and it was an odd combination. It was also STILL FOGGY. </div><div><br /></div><div>I was getting a little downtrodden on my choice to stay in Saint John, but things perked up when I checked into my Victorian mansion of a hotel. I also decided to check out a couple of things on my list of the city which weren't what I had expected but I was learning about the city. I found a bar that had trivia going on in it and that was my entertainment for the evening. I was also glad I had the 4 pack (now 3 pack) of beer in my hotel waiting for me. Day 5 had started out strong but was probably not my overall favorite.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYaIOEYYaizzUF_SxarMBWnqNWK_qTT1FL_eS9pOSMGuxotytlhymIRiYz0K0aOYVJ0THNHSlO14syx6zAa6w9nlLulIo-Of4fFvJGnwKr3GIWTKfmTQNMjQ_Yt9zzaB06yBiF1qJ-m_jUpqzyCh_crI6LeaD9SYE4BCOXVgQ-85QKNAqeel2Pl9GcE1U/s417/CA4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="313" data-original-width="417" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYaIOEYYaizzUF_SxarMBWnqNWK_qTT1FL_eS9pOSMGuxotytlhymIRiYz0K0aOYVJ0THNHSlO14syx6zAa6w9nlLulIo-Of4fFvJGnwKr3GIWTKfmTQNMjQ_Yt9zzaB06yBiF1qJ-m_jUpqzyCh_crI6LeaD9SYE4BCOXVgQ-85QKNAqeel2Pl9GcE1U/s320/CA4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Above: Loyalist home from Revolutionary War period (or as they refer to it in Canada, the War of Independence). Below: my Victorian mansion hotel! Victorian architecture is big in Saint John as is its Loyalist history. </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz2G-_-YeCQAMQrX2qhv2-uSqtzP-1pJRxPvvbe0UeuvfahKx9rGQh7HVAyWTXXSXSzW9qBH-E6FettCfYbrz81354CykF1LvmBO70J4Am7_FI9fwv4xE2S_cIEbterPXP-I2J2zZajGvcpC1nbiCT9RSguCcI7wpUa5bKmp-xGyonAV6hOKzQVDLrsYI/s414/CA5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="414" data-original-width="311" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz2G-_-YeCQAMQrX2qhv2-uSqtzP-1pJRxPvvbe0UeuvfahKx9rGQh7HVAyWTXXSXSzW9qBH-E6FettCfYbrz81354CykF1LvmBO70J4Am7_FI9fwv4xE2S_cIEbterPXP-I2J2zZajGvcpC1nbiCT9RSguCcI7wpUa5bKmp-xGyonAV6hOKzQVDLrsYI/s320/CA5.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvUTOSnERYJceZu5AuKDtC8GFH2Ahqo9F09BpOnCzH5JJsIU8J3HNuelZ1gomddsLAVAF1PamNnGSZ9OBkamXuylAJ18DQ2lgiUcYrixfB3LUMW2IPfnqHUbOrR_0spDi590N2jiE1ShecHhCGqlsYCF-5Iyn-SQHsPQpVkiEuJ7ku-Wo8DjZABMrJv6k/s2048/CA6.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvUTOSnERYJceZu5AuKDtC8GFH2Ahqo9F09BpOnCzH5JJsIU8J3HNuelZ1gomddsLAVAF1PamNnGSZ9OBkamXuylAJ18DQ2lgiUcYrixfB3LUMW2IPfnqHUbOrR_0spDi590N2jiE1ShecHhCGqlsYCF-5Iyn-SQHsPQpVkiEuJ7ku-Wo8DjZABMrJv6k/s320/CA6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>Above: Saint John's City Market which was cute but a little underwhelming. Below: Reversing Falls which comes from the Saint John River and Bay of Fundy intermixing. This also is where supposedly Pangaea pulled apart separating North America, South America, and Africa!</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzOXwM5bEPMptYrB9vpxIr03mSge5bulHdeLkTshN51h1L55lbmh_tZmk0qw5BXYMGrkbAq_f_A94O1JJNxFBp9OivyIXK3uUU4CrGt5209sDe9Tf55OBN3YeNpQ30F0gwDYbBpkiSp6KbqL_DXPoUrDGrNgNCR_nWGF1j8GmL-pC9jrDQmwtFQJ0CrYU/s2048/CA7.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzOXwM5bEPMptYrB9vpxIr03mSge5bulHdeLkTshN51h1L55lbmh_tZmk0qw5BXYMGrkbAq_f_A94O1JJNxFBp9OivyIXK3uUU4CrGt5209sDe9Tf55OBN3YeNpQ30F0gwDYbBpkiSp6KbqL_DXPoUrDGrNgNCR_nWGF1j8GmL-pC9jrDQmwtFQJ0CrYU/s320/CA7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ccPKKO-JJ5CAy3Wmve9aqUHHILpvE55wfnMmizDaQRiO1cF0Bpmesir-y3UD3PGJFhyvnPlxd3QBIPNGVDZEKWDSkdZ5TbxcZqN1JuLE3La4CEzkRs_6jP46-o6X6OF_GPyeNalJQv5NDujoACcc1MOe4IcRO2thPC9dRO5FpiXrhhM6pkJKmY4Q8SM/s414/CA8.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="414" data-original-width="311" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ccPKKO-JJ5CAy3Wmve9aqUHHILpvE55wfnMmizDaQRiO1cF0Bpmesir-y3UD3PGJFhyvnPlxd3QBIPNGVDZEKWDSkdZ5TbxcZqN1JuLE3La4CEzkRs_6jP46-o6X6OF_GPyeNalJQv5NDujoACcc1MOe4IcRO2thPC9dRO5FpiXrhhM6pkJKmY4Q8SM/s320/CA8.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><i>Above: terrifying statue park with Saint John historical figures. Below: Another War of 1812 Tower.</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivUSxBLGJHRx9i-IeI837Z_OhmihYKo62xRPAKnhjETzzG8utz5qQ7KNLTadArslb4x-DUxFTadxWtbaeyoKVzp4fGZbjIUdpxzu10TgeRpgWWXVoi0Y2i2fnV1MufVxJt8xZzfi40nES9nkDsAQD5ZZ3i53REGgtqUpVXVnBu4SmoBYcTskjC8nkFcjQ/s417/CA9.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="313" data-original-width="417" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivUSxBLGJHRx9i-IeI837Z_OhmihYKo62xRPAKnhjETzzG8utz5qQ7KNLTadArslb4x-DUxFTadxWtbaeyoKVzp4fGZbjIUdpxzu10TgeRpgWWXVoi0Y2i2fnV1MufVxJt8xZzfi40nES9nkDsAQD5ZZ3i53REGgtqUpVXVnBu4SmoBYcTskjC8nkFcjQ/s320/CA9.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfeSI4dHuUUemNDGIPw8vXBc1mB9TOPmQiY6-Gg34HkEIDm4eF1FkVkHwGbulFozZdPuzW4HZ6KaXcU2N05M7AVmXpD3fBzcUFt5ktUn6XDWoij4h6cg_sHHzCxGDCHxEMLLmDzVWkh5Zh0M072qi5h5e6LYKvMfhcdsY3vmQLk50RZ_SYC4jYdRbcxdc/s2048/CA11.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfeSI4dHuUUemNDGIPw8vXBc1mB9TOPmQiY6-Gg34HkEIDm4eF1FkVkHwGbulFozZdPuzW4HZ6KaXcU2N05M7AVmXpD3fBzcUFt5ktUn6XDWoij4h6cg_sHHzCxGDCHxEMLLmDzVWkh5Zh0M072qi5h5e6LYKvMfhcdsY3vmQLk50RZ_SYC4jYdRbcxdc/s320/CA11.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>A foggy Irving Park beach </i><div><i><br /></i></div><div><u>Day 6: Saint John to Digby, Nova Scotia and back to Saint John</u></div><div><u><br /></u></div><div>After seeing that Saint John didn't have as much going on as I thought, that made my decision to get up really early and hop a ferry to Nova Scotia even easier. I had debated taking the rental car onto the ferry and driving around Nova Scotia, but I was going back to Saint John later that day and didn't want to spend my whole day in a vehicle. I made the decision to just walk on the ferry and do a day cruise which was a cheaper option anyways (this trip was not cheap! All of those seafood meals add up!)</div><div><br /></div><div>The ferry itself- called the Rose Fortune, named after an African American Loyalist (she fled the States and made her home in Canada)- was a really nice ship. I've taken boats to the Lake Erie Islands and was expecting more of something similar, but this was more like a cruise ship! It had a movie lounge, cafes, gift shop, and an educator gave periodic talks on the Bay of Fundy which I found helpful and gave me something to do on the 2+ hour ride. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheVBAF7ICXPXDm6FDzOCelIdK3TIF6uqfNW0Tdy3mgjWOb4qNBqIOtUUGua2LezaM0PEyhvHAqEwxGDc4v0mft8w55-LyJ6AJpHdbqYAtr_RQbyEAiX_KyzNrL4sfkGLJtz07QQASTTsFr5scndjl38ZYso86DbzjcTfsdIwgG_SYBbp2l0-1KSOJHmhY/s2048/ferry.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheVBAF7ICXPXDm6FDzOCelIdK3TIF6uqfNW0Tdy3mgjWOb4qNBqIOtUUGua2LezaM0PEyhvHAqEwxGDc4v0mft8w55-LyJ6AJpHdbqYAtr_RQbyEAiX_KyzNrL4sfkGLJtz07QQASTTsFr5scndjl38ZYso86DbzjcTfsdIwgG_SYBbp2l0-1KSOJHmhY/s320/ferry.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>Movie Lounge on the ferry to Nova Scotia!</i><div><i><br /></i></div><div>I was hoping that the town of Digby (where we were docking) would be close to the port, but alas, you really need a car to get from the port to the town. Also, Uber is not a thing in Nova Scotia. A woman who worked for the ferry was kind enough to call me a cab and the cab driver came quickly, however, he did not take credit card or American money. But he drove me to a bank and I got some Canadian cash out. He also gave me his card to call him for later when I'd have to go back to the port. This would definitely come in handy later. </div><div><br /></div><div>The town of Digby was somewhere in between the cute fishing town of St. Andrew's and the rough around the edges vibe of Saint John. And it was definitely small. However, the sun was out and it was the end of my trip and I was content to sit with a book and a drink and look at the beautiful surroundings of Nova Scotia. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOWajRFYiPLh_fEZ1qRFgsidXRjn2_P8mwiF7vZ3tH9D7bDZIJH41lfCpxbtYZuJP7Ib65ge_IKsRUPWMxLNLpf4djcH9xW44Vx4cJdE4gx9Z5yiL4egiuCQYgggdQeb7RLYJZA_p-htMh3091_EvY1QnSGz3Subvkg5FLYrehMteA1zkur51qyCdbN9A/s960/NS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOWajRFYiPLh_fEZ1qRFgsidXRjn2_P8mwiF7vZ3tH9D7bDZIJH41lfCpxbtYZuJP7Ib65ge_IKsRUPWMxLNLpf4djcH9xW44Vx4cJdE4gx9Z5yiL4egiuCQYgggdQeb7RLYJZA_p-htMh3091_EvY1QnSGz3Subvkg5FLYrehMteA1zkur51qyCdbN9A/s320/NS.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><i>Digby, NS, Canada</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn7bFSZUxxT0OlZg_uz9CSVvIWJv7FS3-6xUroXsl4zFf4r3xVQ_qGaOMUTMnHsfLP7zrW2U7b4NRkjnQAkadf6zk70IrUh9cfAvXjpLlSNj4t9n5UlQiVpviQM8lg8UuB525CYnOQEtFNtGtC1SzRak6A7qqLCThQHNEr6Ij02J7syhwXHLFFAevTXC0/s417/NS2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="313" data-original-width="417" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn7bFSZUxxT0OlZg_uz9CSVvIWJv7FS3-6xUroXsl4zFf4r3xVQ_qGaOMUTMnHsfLP7zrW2U7b4NRkjnQAkadf6zk70IrUh9cfAvXjpLlSNj4t9n5UlQiVpviQM8lg8UuB525CYnOQEtFNtGtC1SzRak6A7qqLCThQHNEr6Ij02J7syhwXHLFFAevTXC0/s320/NS2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>I walked through one end of town to a couple of shops and down by the water and decided to go to the Admiral Digby Museum to kill some time. I ended up spending almost 2 hours there. Not because there was a lot to see, but that I ended up getting a guided tour from the curator and we chatted a lot throughout the tour. It was helpful to learn more about Digby, their history, and also more about this part of the world. </div><div><br /></div><div>After an educational morning, I went to get some lunch on the water. Digby is known for scallops, so I had to get some before I went back to New Brunswick. </div><div><br /></div><div>The scallops on the menu were to be served fried which just seemed criminal, so I asked for them to be pan seared. They were seared with way too much oil for my liking, but the texture was certainly phenomenal. I had a great meal. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKrfqSOVhBVzTQQSzVZc1ixCO7je0qgDsCimDUNKbHwTkvMbj8fLPmAsZgMDrPkd6Al_vodivwXlfqEQGXXfyCVcqYiw9RywCQqphh3r6liu62hLh1koKoQXDn3E3kMJYqHe847v_2sOwrh-HSkRTfHU6N_YtzeL_zwAjxRDE3LbVxuoPCrBo4DpSRJOQ/s2048/digby.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKrfqSOVhBVzTQQSzVZc1ixCO7je0qgDsCimDUNKbHwTkvMbj8fLPmAsZgMDrPkd6Al_vodivwXlfqEQGXXfyCVcqYiw9RywCQqphh3r6liu62hLh1koKoQXDn3E3kMJYqHe847v_2sOwrh-HSkRTfHU6N_YtzeL_zwAjxRDE3LbVxuoPCrBo4DpSRJOQ/s320/digby.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><i>Digby Scallops and Haddock, which I also had in Maine. It's a local fish.</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinopT7u6rzwIIWcQa_JJT7XhdoOM9SXQV9a-AL_h0YdRE5CShKqkRd1mfp7pn5ZH6kXXc1IDaZyG6NW_SlAQzOYl88LFvxHBNPdQtIFamOXxIhT6rL3RCJXxgM3tIZb6Ufja629miF4C8lbAb5ImR3CgqZsnx87ov4DAOM6K65-m0VxRlEzFZ-cTByk8Y/s2048/NS3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinopT7u6rzwIIWcQa_JJT7XhdoOM9SXQV9a-AL_h0YdRE5CShKqkRd1mfp7pn5ZH6kXXc1IDaZyG6NW_SlAQzOYl88LFvxHBNPdQtIFamOXxIhT6rL3RCJXxgM3tIZb6Ufja629miF4C8lbAb5ImR3CgqZsnx87ov4DAOM6K65-m0VxRlEzFZ-cTByk8Y/s320/NS3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>Digby, NS</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAEIadgLKunTSErvywOScZjOcy7PG4qg_wgw3TsvFbCY76758lmcecuDcmxEJE3-C9moHpI9EcxySUyIFl0eKnTY_aZzd9xx9OIHNzjI8l21ot78PrZ6G6wSFwZWBCM89qPK4E9q0cl_0hBNkkqC03MRo2rr7CAchA5FqgFLu-k8FI1RfAdXNcGyE98JQ/s2048/NS4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAEIadgLKunTSErvywOScZjOcy7PG4qg_wgw3TsvFbCY76758lmcecuDcmxEJE3-C9moHpI9EcxySUyIFl0eKnTY_aZzd9xx9OIHNzjI8l21ot78PrZ6G6wSFwZWBCM89qPK4E9q0cl_0hBNkkqC03MRo2rr7CAchA5FqgFLu-k8FI1RfAdXNcGyE98JQ/s320/NS4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOkjkXn2Sg1Y8wUejGckfEG7VFvCBgM8tBSFwFDtV2Uf-trPIkDIjHisNfNakZC2Gp3ZkDDBdkqjMIUOVvheEPdPRPRmUYDIQ3ooqwuPjrIbyDlMnOiK9Cb1xPntMnJFNTYJwkDEu8jtQ5T6gxHvyL8gV-fXzuryR9qC0nhdhLKEGxWOwOWaX09NwYcj0/s417/NS5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="313" data-original-width="417" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOkjkXn2Sg1Y8wUejGckfEG7VFvCBgM8tBSFwFDtV2Uf-trPIkDIjHisNfNakZC2Gp3ZkDDBdkqjMIUOVvheEPdPRPRmUYDIQ3ooqwuPjrIbyDlMnOiK9Cb1xPntMnJFNTYJwkDEu8jtQ5T6gxHvyL8gV-fXzuryR9qC0nhdhLKEGxWOwOWaX09NwYcj0/s320/NS5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />After lunch, I went to a couple of more shops and a park and then literally sat on the dock of the Bay (of Fundy) reading and writing postcards and journaling. </div><div><br /></div><div>When it was time to check in for my ferry back, I walked back to the Admiral Digby Museum and asked if they would call my cabbie to take me back to the port. They did and he was there quickly to take me back. </div><div><br /></div><div>I was glad to spend the day in Nova Scotia even if the town didn't offer a ton to do and I didn't get to explore the province as much as I would've liked if I had a car. </div><div><br /></div><div>When I got back to Saint John...there was still sun! So I walked around and explored the city in literally a whole new light. Saint John had a lot more going on this evening probably since the sun was out and I came upon a "Container Village" which I wish I would've know about earlier! It is a whole set up of vendors and bars built within shipping containers! I thought it was a cool spin on the industrial city. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig_NdBGPmj_2R08UFwX1XrkoSxEl9-xrlJV5qaJCStTh0kE6SwvrVAvrAFI69b4m210Z6YKSsbVwXoAmfT0DoNmnlOAtgdGWH8iGBQAd2YvWB3klK16DunrT8I18mSsQiIoH3TiTP5uz5ZyZoeRWSbLDC0FE1dR6jnDN8saYxMBEGaK5QZB0iBoHVSPpw/s2048/CV2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig_NdBGPmj_2R08UFwX1XrkoSxEl9-xrlJV5qaJCStTh0kE6SwvrVAvrAFI69b4m210Z6YKSsbVwXoAmfT0DoNmnlOAtgdGWH8iGBQAd2YvWB3klK16DunrT8I18mSsQiIoH3TiTP5uz5ZyZoeRWSbLDC0FE1dR6jnDN8saYxMBEGaK5QZB0iBoHVSPpw/s320/CV2.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><i>Above; Saint John out of the fog and in the light! Below: bar in the Container Village</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4JURJDf5uf-BHfZd5HdI25s4ZEx0UA3EFQcizd2xXKwDIkRhCtBFRZ4rV12TgF_jRBcZk5SSgIbsZ0lMS82N_pzeRdkWlDgArhgThZoBiZFZWYOK_CkMjRugKmdmUw3aC7Wtnktm8dXospRwCfK_QibW6NaLNh-4E-Sk3u-8jmSzjPGDcUBiNoQFAKQY/s2048/CV3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4JURJDf5uf-BHfZd5HdI25s4ZEx0UA3EFQcizd2xXKwDIkRhCtBFRZ4rV12TgF_jRBcZk5SSgIbsZ0lMS82N_pzeRdkWlDgArhgThZoBiZFZWYOK_CkMjRugKmdmUw3aC7Wtnktm8dXospRwCfK_QibW6NaLNh-4E-Sk3u-8jmSzjPGDcUBiNoQFAKQY/s320/CV3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgklpwuG8qGd6nwFYa1KtggOPwNBkYaPLCImYsA0uWSkBowgQfv0Sa0kDCCbTjU1NiMpuu3J8Xow2sb7JYcWlPPD6ymTrkTTpn4Sc-o2zkaEW554kbHH5b7mWWFC5vRYx-JqtXoDrF85ogBd7sMN4ifJyZS0It220-AcM6lxL1ION0FnluQQkuunm7gP5U/s2048/CV4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgklpwuG8qGd6nwFYa1KtggOPwNBkYaPLCImYsA0uWSkBowgQfv0Sa0kDCCbTjU1NiMpuu3J8Xow2sb7JYcWlPPD6ymTrkTTpn4Sc-o2zkaEW554kbHH5b7mWWFC5vRYx-JqtXoDrF85ogBd7sMN4ifJyZS0It220-AcM6lxL1ION0FnluQQkuunm7gP5U/s320/CV4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>Above: more of Saint John in the light, Below: more of the Container Village</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFw4F9ebKIj8dLGMHUUrWYKXRXtU-O9vieTP9XiRnrNEFZvYUMvtl3F7zeSml0s9hZ_n6CZlBrvhQRifu5oRQIlwMDIQ7h6GDINVysYavjelOCOtRorAzah2twThFrhKe1sAvSb3CYzoqdRhSyiFg0ggseUF-EbvL-D72O6b0BA09459F2iCgZ0xyEaik/s960/CV.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFw4F9ebKIj8dLGMHUUrWYKXRXtU-O9vieTP9XiRnrNEFZvYUMvtl3F7zeSml0s9hZ_n6CZlBrvhQRifu5oRQIlwMDIQ7h6GDINVysYavjelOCOtRorAzah2twThFrhKe1sAvSb3CYzoqdRhSyiFg0ggseUF-EbvL-D72O6b0BA09459F2iCgZ0xyEaik/s320/CV.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /><div>I was so glad that I got to experience the Bay of Fundy and Saint John in the sun! I ended the day with my final lobster roll of the trip (which actually was better than the one I had in Maine!)</div><div><br /></div><div><u>Day 7: Saint John to Bangor, ME</u></div><div><u><br /></u></div><div>Even though I ended up enjoying Saint John more by the second night, it was time to leave. My coastal trip was coming to an end. </div><div><br /></div><div>My flight was going to be out of Bangor in the afternoon, so I had some time to kill in the AM before I returned my car in Maine. I decided to revisit one of the nearby towns that I had loved: St. Andrew's.</div><div><br /></div><div>I had coffee and a breakfast sandwich in this adorable coffee shop- Honeybean's (how cute is even the name!)- in St. Andrew's. It seemed to be a go-to spot for locals and tourists alike. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIHc2gCcWRs-a9ZpmoUVyOmFpvRR2u67lFArSbiFP2XAZMI-SYygZ8ul3AbCKG9xRAT5utggzyzaYh_3ZeGGBquK72_3j4nctjcyHvFbrFVvTFah0PU4amk7Q5RqBxmqE-3DD_w6MC22x5ZO9KORMBn63U32VE0_OH-pTSnj_fCHnMnracvpzMTALJb2E/s2048/NB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIHc2gCcWRs-a9ZpmoUVyOmFpvRR2u67lFArSbiFP2XAZMI-SYygZ8ul3AbCKG9xRAT5utggzyzaYh_3ZeGGBquK72_3j4nctjcyHvFbrFVvTFah0PU4amk7Q5RqBxmqE-3DD_w6MC22x5ZO9KORMBn63U32VE0_OH-pTSnj_fCHnMnracvpzMTALJb2E/s320/NB.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div><i>Coffee at Honeybean's in St. Andrew's.</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>I went to a nearby antique shop and also saw a couple of gorgeous buildings like this Baptist Church which I fell in love with (I love yellow :)</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWz7vK8Endpw6tvB7FcmI5fX-KZaW4zuOX-zuZdVGwB71OTbf8KgpIny6r_zeq0KBiOrhbfUH6dLByu3peGz-v26P4k_WbMdcq6kt8HYe9kVnj3OHqU3bX4gCq9dHfHglC5o8NgcB0qNBeE6YsxAPhvigCthy1ec-v0d3AsrALMbgyDc_5qdc5wCWq6Rw/s2048/NB2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWz7vK8Endpw6tvB7FcmI5fX-KZaW4zuOX-zuZdVGwB71OTbf8KgpIny6r_zeq0KBiOrhbfUH6dLByu3peGz-v26P4k_WbMdcq6kt8HYe9kVnj3OHqU3bX4gCq9dHfHglC5o8NgcB0qNBeE6YsxAPhvigCthy1ec-v0d3AsrALMbgyDc_5qdc5wCWq6Rw/s320/NB2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>Cool Baptist Church in St. Andrew's, NB, Canada</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkD2BsyoU647_07qpGY4HqvEI2wPADSjk4RtTrvYW99YC6E3Z_inWa6CiGSqX7clmxjFM7Gg9p7mOtT-vpVGL9wpkhOw7XKw3ZXLW2i7aLLw79kOwkSWonBO9UcMxqCvmHWsxTw9GtZ4rVKXwMNDLNnjUwcRLypaIybon0zB7aR-QAwi2f-LfgsnbGWqE/s2048/NB3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkD2BsyoU647_07qpGY4HqvEI2wPADSjk4RtTrvYW99YC6E3Z_inWa6CiGSqX7clmxjFM7Gg9p7mOtT-vpVGL9wpkhOw7XKw3ZXLW2i7aLLw79kOwkSWonBO9UcMxqCvmHWsxTw9GtZ4rVKXwMNDLNnjUwcRLypaIybon0zB7aR-QAwi2f-LfgsnbGWqE/s320/NB3.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div>On my way to St. Andrew's the first time, I had noticed a sign for St. Croix International Park. I had some more time to kill after my morning in St. Andrew's so I decided to hit it on my way back to the States. </div><div><br /></div><div>There wasn't much to the Canadian side of the park, but I learned that this was an International park and that both the US and Canada had some claim to it. The actual island itself that lies between the two countries isn't open to visit, but you can visit the visitors centers in both countries. The island hosted the first French settlers to the region and was a place where they were quarantined when the realized they couldn't withstand the cold winter. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzMLnVGJntuh2tu5CV2efAjIWnAc2qNsaTs0ZTdw7rzoXjERkJ-TwyYkZink46fwndjn5K3dHghsomD7PN5Xc3qf55V8nRDl2lPXeXGngDHlW5sXGHGF7ALQhVYP5VDoabX20rL5TrNiLrzYO6GEGNnmDGOJ3F5Ey1ZKaSTPaoc20xGx3jOKZU8djUZoE/s2048/CA10.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzMLnVGJntuh2tu5CV2efAjIWnAc2qNsaTs0ZTdw7rzoXjERkJ-TwyYkZink46fwndjn5K3dHghsomD7PN5Xc3qf55V8nRDl2lPXeXGngDHlW5sXGHGF7ALQhVYP5VDoabX20rL5TrNiLrzYO6GEGNnmDGOJ3F5Ey1ZKaSTPaoc20xGx3jOKZU8djUZoE/s320/CA10.jpg" width="240" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>Canadian side of St. Croix Island.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Well, now I had accepted the challenge that I was going to visit both countries' sides to this park/island. But first, I rolled through another adorable town that had a market going- St. Stephen's. This would be my last town in New Brunswick and in Canada.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9jc292BfqMeJ89QMKBS6qkVOiYC4wIgCExZh__ntIJgcGAWtxR_WBxnPXjGwmKeCp-T4PUq-K2RuZAkIwfbcU6lWmI9rLM8AuNVuPwPSkHxyrRubzglF29Nvh-jNpOG26e-hWguXVBlq17b0E-1flY6XYjDnd4MWSe_rnqZ19iXAcMVtdg4XPW6qE0iE/s2048/ST2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9jc292BfqMeJ89QMKBS6qkVOiYC4wIgCExZh__ntIJgcGAWtxR_WBxnPXjGwmKeCp-T4PUq-K2RuZAkIwfbcU6lWmI9rLM8AuNVuPwPSkHxyrRubzglF29Nvh-jNpOG26e-hWguXVBlq17b0E-1flY6XYjDnd4MWSe_rnqZ19iXAcMVtdg4XPW6qE0iE/s320/ST2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhulFL3LvM96gvrEizYqv9E8DEaVb6y_Gy0G5Jjky6sgVsCMbg5Zkxy0eKZsaGTzYo1mta6dQ9tTeY_ZldU8bU5RG3aRTbJIIH9N9ZDpOZ4EjRlKEfulXrAzSCxRanlR6wko_y0jvFKBDU_ahpIWCmYHxCvt-qV6Fum7ItW6iqmAEk3_EmiVOckMsSqs1w/s2048/ST.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhulFL3LvM96gvrEizYqv9E8DEaVb6y_Gy0G5Jjky6sgVsCMbg5Zkxy0eKZsaGTzYo1mta6dQ9tTeY_ZldU8bU5RG3aRTbJIIH9N9ZDpOZ4EjRlKEfulXrAzSCxRanlR6wko_y0jvFKBDU_ahpIWCmYHxCvt-qV6Fum7ItW6iqmAEk3_EmiVOckMsSqs1w/s320/ST.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>Cute market in cute St. Stephen's</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibUp-2qRdw3r5gi8pxfUKgspgUQFrqb0-WdfIEt-CQVDiI9aTBcsLx7M8GXnT_fAQitTVYowZTe2OD7n9oHKzxAPEPk8i5Eh0SYpz-AP98FRUBdQPJVB2t-nuIsirHaveUP-KjKDzfaSkOV3rRXEJM3fnlBxT-DrKGkIL7ZJbP9d9YZlf_06gaavQii8k/s414/ST3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="414" data-original-width="311" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibUp-2qRdw3r5gi8pxfUKgspgUQFrqb0-WdfIEt-CQVDiI9aTBcsLx7M8GXnT_fAQitTVYowZTe2OD7n9oHKzxAPEPk8i5Eh0SYpz-AP98FRUBdQPJVB2t-nuIsirHaveUP-KjKDzfaSkOV3rRXEJM3fnlBxT-DrKGkIL7ZJbP9d9YZlf_06gaavQii8k/s320/ST3.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><i>Crossing back into the US. The border patrol guy on this end of the border gave me much less hard of a time! Probably since I was returning as a citizen, not entering as a guest!</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIWPVxPArfLlPfRdWzpAz3OwRD8En_sSN2f6XrEQ3klqpL5L0_h_JcxZt_VG4hbKh3DGNgQOvuQRjMI3xJYeBAHSCdk3SHYw6syjjB3EPiP4jppvJ_4imsIlIru4Woq3lfZ6-Xo4sbT-yyMXtlwS5pDv6n7fXn_L4ndacDh9RbQWgBAUwGDCCpGg_FqLM/s417/US.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="313" data-original-width="417" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIWPVxPArfLlPfRdWzpAz3OwRD8En_sSN2f6XrEQ3klqpL5L0_h_JcxZt_VG4hbKh3DGNgQOvuQRjMI3xJYeBAHSCdk3SHYw6syjjB3EPiP4jppvJ_4imsIlIru4Woq3lfZ6-Xo4sbT-yyMXtlwS5pDv6n7fXn_L4ndacDh9RbQWgBAUwGDCCpGg_FqLM/s320/US.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>US side of St. Croix Island...same information, but this time statues :(</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After my morning of exploring, it was time to head back to Bangor, grab some lunch, and then return my rental car and catch my flight back to Richmond. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">All in all, another successful solo trip! I'm getting so good at this! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I have one last little getaway before reality sets in. I'm heading to North Carolina for a beach week with my family to close out July and usher in August before I head back to work in a couple of weeks. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I love summer and this one has been one of the best!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Peace,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Julia<br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><br /><br /></i></div><div><div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /></div><div><div><br /></div><div><div><br /><i> </i></div><div><div><br /></div><div><i><br /></i><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06098852834050397406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1055688385421362242.post-85918940289686581702023-04-17T12:47:00.005-04:002023-04-18T08:01:36.961-04:00The Easter Alleluia 2023 (aka Spring Break 2023)<p>It's that time of year again! Time for another spring break road trip! Last year, I took a pretty epic one across <a href="https://hebrews121-3.blogspot.com/2022/04/easter-alleluia-2022.html">West Texas</a> but this year may have even been bigger and better!</p><p>As we know, since I have become a teacher, I have become quite a traveler. I use my breaks in the spring and summer to visit places that I have never been before. During the pandemic, I came to perfect the domestic road trip, as many of us did when we couldn't fly. I also have made it a goal to visit all 50 US states. </p><p>I was able to cover a lot of US ground post-college when I traveled with a missionary group, NET Ministries. My team did the central US and we covered everything from Minnesota and North Dakota to Louisiana and Texas and much in between. Now that I am in my 40s, I only have a few states left and my plan is to check off the last of them in the next couple of years. </p><p>I have been wanting to go to Utah as many of my friends have been to the national parks and said they were worth a visit. Since I was going to be heading out that way, I decided to add Jackson Hole, Wyoming to my trip- a place that I've also wanted to visit. And if I could squeeze in Idaho since I would be right there, why not? </p><p>So enfolded this year's Spring Break trip out west which ended up being pretty phenomenal. One of my best friends decided to join me as we had done <a href="https://hebrews121-3.blogspot.com/2018/08/a-seat-at-table-of-wisdom.html">a western road trip </a>from Santa Fe to San Diego previously. We both enjoy a national park and a good roadside attraction so we filled our itinerary with as many as we could. </p><p>Below is how we spent our week. What a great way to take a break and celebrate Spring and the Easter season!</p><p><u>Day 1: Fly from Richmond to Vegas, spend some time in Vegas, drive to Zion, Utah</u></p><p>We started our Easter Sunday early with a 9am flight to <b>Las Vegas.</b> Vegas is one of the places you can fly into to visit Zion. Since we were going to be in Vegas, we decided to do a couple of things we've talked about for a while: the <b>Meow Wolf Omega Mart in Area 15 </b>and the <b>Neon Museum Boneyard</b>. Both of us had done the Vegas strip thing before, so these more off the beaten path things were more of a priority for this trip. </p><p>We started by picking up our rental car and driving to Omega Mart which we had already purchased timed tickets for. We both had also visited the flagship Meow Wolf in Santa Fe on our last western road trip in 2018. The Omega Mart offered the Meow Wolf weird with a different storyline that I'm not sure we entirely figured out, but we enjoyed exploring the facade of the store front with the mysterious world that lay behind it. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDfy_uO6ZEtKxaho9mZn-lzgr2WIZNcCA5D7uyVczlowJXIGVv33o_YqtQROY1s5c6IIF7ZSSZi7A-WitqGne_3ucPHNTUa-6tFgHCHyrZQGUjsW1VPYb8t36Iu9UAOKmuxaNl_4YoCbRkk_6YND7vSOYXZdskziIa6JhkP6cDeTKIKR83mZZ0c_6j/s2048/trip3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDfy_uO6ZEtKxaho9mZn-lzgr2WIZNcCA5D7uyVczlowJXIGVv33o_YqtQROY1s5c6IIF7ZSSZi7A-WitqGne_3ucPHNTUa-6tFgHCHyrZQGUjsW1VPYb8t36Iu9UAOKmuxaNl_4YoCbRkk_6YND7vSOYXZdskziIa6JhkP6cDeTKIKR83mZZ0c_6j/s320/trip3.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><i>Outside and inside Area 15 in Las Vegas</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIT32nd5IoB2iA5yKpjSiT0k96REhYqawB5UKRsr36f1PuaZGux6c558drcmmcewno5_O2CwtbWmKFkQP6riR1xmoQQuE_dI7Fr8_T2tcdhgsUUMjrTiAsrstoO_PLOGOmSaprkaeMc8zGI8EdtIELDPwiyvtxfbiPI3ot-th9SW9uPWf_zXK7AoOm/s2048/trip4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1538" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIT32nd5IoB2iA5yKpjSiT0k96REhYqawB5UKRsr36f1PuaZGux6c558drcmmcewno5_O2CwtbWmKFkQP6riR1xmoQQuE_dI7Fr8_T2tcdhgsUUMjrTiAsrstoO_PLOGOmSaprkaeMc8zGI8EdtIELDPwiyvtxfbiPI3ot-th9SW9uPWf_zXK7AoOm/s320/trip4.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><i>Below: another interactive art instillation outside Area 15 in Vegas</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmflfN6TGrpklhI6-XYZMhxViP0OjEKeOrEZe31fA3ad-cKj6iUXrsP9rM64A0wX_mokxCkVRoGLbdKu5nfO3pNb4FPOPaxICr7f_REa6KSbeh2DwxnBJY5GiRb425Y8v_RdQp3R7-MxMupXdUvDvZRkXzXSJWse8Biyaoh2_ZRrnqPVoMNAZnK8fE/s2048/trip1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmflfN6TGrpklhI6-XYZMhxViP0OjEKeOrEZe31fA3ad-cKj6iUXrsP9rM64A0wX_mokxCkVRoGLbdKu5nfO3pNb4FPOPaxICr7f_REa6KSbeh2DwxnBJY5GiRb425Y8v_RdQp3R7-MxMupXdUvDvZRkXzXSJWse8Biyaoh2_ZRrnqPVoMNAZnK8fE/s320/trip1.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>After exploring Omega Mart, we got an amazing lunch inside Area 15 at <b>The Beast</b> restaurant. There are couple of cool food and drink options around and inside Area 15. You could spend a whole day at the complex, but we only had like 2 hours. </p><p>Our next Vegas adventure took us to another attraction we had been wanting to visit that you also needed timed tickets for: The Neon Museum. It houses old Vegas signs that are no longer in use. You can walk around in the sign "boneyard" and see all of the old Vegas signs. If you do so at night (which we weren't able to do this time) they light them up!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSB24Q2zB5Ej_IY8pUlvLwWg_gxvFafiT02bMsbwXf-uttU-bD_8wbhTH7FP0NgAdOYKF2hmksGscMKRm1xYuNyzE8Up6IoLOx-ie3D6yDHD0iM13HOXotR6YhIKGReClLsAffqU1LgkUtsl4wN1CAh9SS_N2S944AKwPgtqJ0rZ704fsClKwh2LFw/s2048/trip5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1538" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSB24Q2zB5Ej_IY8pUlvLwWg_gxvFafiT02bMsbwXf-uttU-bD_8wbhTH7FP0NgAdOYKF2hmksGscMKRm1xYuNyzE8Up6IoLOx-ie3D6yDHD0iM13HOXotR6YhIKGReClLsAffqU1LgkUtsl4wN1CAh9SS_N2S944AKwPgtqJ0rZ704fsClKwh2LFw/s320/trip5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><i>Walking through the Neon Museum Boneyard in Las Vegas.</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPnhiBmUgIrjtm0ODmcXQCSMaZnwokYwOuY6pZcXAroI47tkHjuRrqdvLwb0Fte61sRJuRViu51UVzgEI-2zwzPCETg9iNXdoGOaFxWkjTViTusMgIm_bTDC-GpVKYk0jClan3bbfP5mJV-dUrkmbWnCte75oniE91C2VB8II0nCknMi9p8RoxPQDA/s2048/trip6.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPnhiBmUgIrjtm0ODmcXQCSMaZnwokYwOuY6pZcXAroI47tkHjuRrqdvLwb0Fte61sRJuRViu51UVzgEI-2zwzPCETg9iNXdoGOaFxWkjTViTusMgIm_bTDC-GpVKYk0jClan3bbfP5mJV-dUrkmbWnCte75oniE91C2VB8II0nCknMi9p8RoxPQDA/s320/trip6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>After checking off these two attractions on our Vegas list, we drove to outside Zion, Utah to our cabin for the night. We would be exploring Zion National Park the following AM. Our cabin was an air n b listing (all of our lodging I found on Air B n B! Looking at cool Air B n B listings is one of my favorite things to do :) but was a part of a site called Gooseberry Lodges which we thought was really cute. The accommodations were simple but clean and we made a fire and sat by our individual fire pit for a bit before heading to bed for the night. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeCM7chKkJ1EjJS-l7_keFcXIrF0aBScBV12FoJmEaKS2el3d1krii-l3RM0gGApJEovTiD6EZpkFXSJjbDZlg0gl5jUn-vxsIPyxxWJzVlAOhi0ScQ7--8-gEH73Z9QZisWIgRgN1b93ZZdhg5RgGUMrhPpviqaXYG1COqwUDzYSigPBpvE3I2GS6/s960/trip7.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeCM7chKkJ1EjJS-l7_keFcXIrF0aBScBV12FoJmEaKS2el3d1krii-l3RM0gGApJEovTiD6EZpkFXSJjbDZlg0gl5jUn-vxsIPyxxWJzVlAOhi0ScQ7--8-gEH73Z9QZisWIgRgN1b93ZZdhg5RgGUMrhPpviqaXYG1COqwUDzYSigPBpvE3I2GS6/s320/trip7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>Our little cabin in Gooseberry Lodges outside Zion, Utah. </i><div><i><br /></i></div><div><u>Day 2: Zion, UT to Kanab, UT</u></div><div><u><br /></u></div><div>We started Day 2 by getting up and driving to Zion National Park. On our way there. we stopped at an Atlas Obscura find (which is where we find a lot of these places): <b>Grafton Ghost Town</b> which is, you guessed it, an abandoned old ghost town. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhku75NE9OSAetY-OnWl3gSiFf1k4ADYeHLBaL70d81CvyLCxx0Bjw5CrIm9dImqUfvAPTibkkG1nYw80YlI2Gt_SfHdWiEgyyuC_6MZVvuK_Em4DpBRnGTsLLB9zlpqxb_YbkB2zn1UvY_mrEyjAGfLxVr32ffY97AWgJQgdxeFoNH7beBfX5fnGDp/s2048/trip32.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhku75NE9OSAetY-OnWl3gSiFf1k4ADYeHLBaL70d81CvyLCxx0Bjw5CrIm9dImqUfvAPTibkkG1nYw80YlI2Gt_SfHdWiEgyyuC_6MZVvuK_Em4DpBRnGTsLLB9zlpqxb_YbkB2zn1UvY_mrEyjAGfLxVr32ffY97AWgJQgdxeFoNH7beBfX5fnGDp/s320/trip32.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><i>Grafton cemetery (above) and Grafton Ghost Town schoolhouse (below)</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibKQLOSw5QFuz2WqFAlSan3L1KMG14mGoXWr0SZZuaZ4dzRjTlevUWopEuWr772pNjfgg59ckuD8WWoL3up6rUpegvuMJcNmpGCq9clTXtTNhuEIkTJ1hgDICNL84V-Kxq9uRMGudwRl4qav7p6CwcS1_cWwNJox4XUONJXSra9PjN8wOEum5mPBa4/s2048/trip33.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibKQLOSw5QFuz2WqFAlSan3L1KMG14mGoXWr0SZZuaZ4dzRjTlevUWopEuWr772pNjfgg59ckuD8WWoL3up6rUpegvuMJcNmpGCq9clTXtTNhuEIkTJ1hgDICNL84V-Kxq9uRMGudwRl4qav7p6CwcS1_cWwNJox4XUONJXSra9PjN8wOEum5mPBa4/s320/trip33.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>The Ghost Town was a little bit of a detour but still on our way to <b>Zion National Park. </b>It was an easy stop off before making our way to the park.There wasn't any timed entry to my knowledge for Zion, so we just had to wait in a long line of cars to get into the park. Once we were in there, there weren't many obvious points to pull over and park and parking was very limited, so we just kind of drove through and pulled over to the side of the road as many other people were doing when we could. It was a cool park to drive through, but we would come to find there are other parks that are a little more organized. We didn't spend a ton of time in the park since it was so busy. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0jlYqYp0DTaVJ5xcE9T2Z0cXmGVbjdkOzhn6ydPLpyD1uXRIrjpIWOvyX-uiUcTZyXT1OEJ9SWhAx2O2Q02yk0vIug1sQndEo5A7IZetec0aXU9WJxDbkmO5oNIJRq3oLIxOT91vG-Ho70k9y7P8VpqW2TM68csVsL3tRWPiEHKq7XYhDL3pXvDBP/s1200/trip2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0jlYqYp0DTaVJ5xcE9T2Z0cXmGVbjdkOzhn6ydPLpyD1uXRIrjpIWOvyX-uiUcTZyXT1OEJ9SWhAx2O2Q02yk0vIug1sQndEo5A7IZetec0aXU9WJxDbkmO5oNIJRq3oLIxOT91vG-Ho70k9y7P8VpqW2TM68csVsL3tRWPiEHKq7XYhDL3pXvDBP/s320/trip2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>One of our stop off points to walk a little around Zion National Park. </i><div><i><br /></i></div><div>We were going to be spending the night in Kanab, UT that night and we had a couple of roadside attractions that we wanted to hit before we checked into our Air B n B. One of the spots was <b>Moqui Cave</b> which was a cave that was once a bar and dance hall for movie actors who were filming in Kanab. The cave today is a total tourist trap, but the bar was cool to see (though it is no longer in operation) and they have some illuminated rocks you can view (though the background of this pic is just blacklight paint :)<br /><div><br /></div><div>We also had lunch outside of Moqui Cave at a sandwich stand that was really cute but only one girl was working so it took a while. It was a nice day, though, so we found a spot in the shade outside the cave and had a nice break before making our way further towards our Air B n B. Kanab is about 40 minutes to an hour from Zion.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnH28g8Qb8bgiFCHS-MR0SnjYl2ZsHEo4uwqs3pxhd2JhkZTqLCRWrmtwynKBT1r2ZEBW9497_6z01vXW0CG5vCc7NLKT_331lGAbipaN8Lt6Cvq0t68S2NRy7P08U5c1pTNIhCE5xFHLbzBAcTCBRa5aI5-QJPQpt5KhQ_ebZnfFpISoHDZxNCL9h/s1200/trip8.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnH28g8Qb8bgiFCHS-MR0SnjYl2ZsHEo4uwqs3pxhd2JhkZTqLCRWrmtwynKBT1r2ZEBW9497_6z01vXW0CG5vCc7NLKT_331lGAbipaN8Lt6Cvq0t68S2NRy7P08U5c1pTNIhCE5xFHLbzBAcTCBRa5aI5-QJPQpt5KhQ_ebZnfFpISoHDZxNCL9h/s320/trip8.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>Inside Moqui Cave (above) and lunch truck outside Moqui Cave (below)</i></div><div><i><br /></i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7VXyO3Cg8IEvm9uZeHT_cD0dvIpbTIh8-OqNGm5ojhE3hir9tLKZKoTY6ppE84PAuLb7GAWBTWQ_3gRXFnJRhJDe5dLYyU1bomWtVFhSFI69klgV7sKSt7pwXo2TqvHCNjCMMnubeFuFMii6TeG5DRSiAKsaU5iIKqhMIROyKbKP3b7HjmrkbBsN4/s2048/trip%2034.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7VXyO3Cg8IEvm9uZeHT_cD0dvIpbTIh8-OqNGm5ojhE3hir9tLKZKoTY6ppE84PAuLb7GAWBTWQ_3gRXFnJRhJDe5dLYyU1bomWtVFhSFI69klgV7sKSt7pwXo2TqvHCNjCMMnubeFuFMii6TeG5DRSiAKsaU5iIKqhMIROyKbKP3b7HjmrkbBsN4/s320/trip%2034.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After the Moqui Cave stop, we made our way towards our Air B n B, but we made another couple of roadside stops inside Kanab: a thrift store, a rock shop, and <b>The Little Hollywood Museum</b> which had old pieces from old movie and TV sets.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>Below: set from Little Hollywood Museum. </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHkoyyNmOB2ZYuu1f98rhENma7sYXV3YvhZHJ6KOUEaWeEwp2U-KAJb6ecHs3UPk1qA9NaTlXagH34rs776nEDG4dDWwrha7LHfcZmy93CuK9fFnZQzmBtRcS5q-X-FYHxAQMXpW6Q5JvivFwHxPlvwRlak3jwVBpxWpTTcRoF3yNFltDiWMvqHd3O/s1200/trip9.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHkoyyNmOB2ZYuu1f98rhENma7sYXV3YvhZHJ6KOUEaWeEwp2U-KAJb6ecHs3UPk1qA9NaTlXagH34rs776nEDG4dDWwrha7LHfcZmy93CuK9fFnZQzmBtRcS5q-X-FYHxAQMXpW6Q5JvivFwHxPlvwRlak3jwVBpxWpTTcRoF3yNFltDiWMvqHd3O/s320/trip9.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We ended Day 2 by going to an awesome dinner at <b>The Wild Thyme cafe in Kanab</b> and then sitting on our porch at our Air B n B. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimff4JVVmJV9ickPpa78Vup9fLtEvqhG5MbphZR94Nfi_HIIHtPm4LOF2b8GQT9IghbGd5fuHPwNaBtDv6ycqOKRH47D0BuG8k63cDdDhS5S4QTgBn98BRqSREqRFa0-x-PxcnpQPjtFzIujOJ4rjOx_ViLBz4mXnPh3-rdEH5fSWH01tzCtLDcYA6/s960/trip35.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimff4JVVmJV9ickPpa78Vup9fLtEvqhG5MbphZR94Nfi_HIIHtPm4LOF2b8GQT9IghbGd5fuHPwNaBtDv6ycqOKRH47D0BuG8k63cDdDhS5S4QTgBn98BRqSREqRFa0-x-PxcnpQPjtFzIujOJ4rjOx_ViLBz4mXnPh3-rdEH5fSWH01tzCtLDcYA6/s320/trip35.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><i>View from our Kanab Air B n B (above)</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><u>Day 3: Kanab, UT, to Bryce Canyon to Moab, UT</u><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There are quite a few things in Kanab to keep you busy there for a couple of days, but we weren't able to do all of them (we had wanted to stop at the Sand Caves but couldn't figure out where to get in to see them, for one). We did make a stop at this cool trail that also wasn't super well marked, but well worth putting into Google to find: <b>The Belly of the Dragon trail.</b> We spent less than an hour at this stop and just mainly took pictures, but you can walk a trail...not sure how far it goes!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVc8VSpSE5bGTsWa8Sy8Fncr5qottgDXeNpUv20szWpJhjECH_bp4QXhCRN2oRLRErDrnOfJmZDzi4aTA2L0i_GkwDAxWBczk3BavkFAAQzyfcUZeViBWuz2uqTRZqtxIeBKc_uCbwRX0-7vZTKswUxSLRynwm-8a9CevE7vlBv6Xv1ktMSGfxTv6n/s1200/trip10.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVc8VSpSE5bGTsWa8Sy8Fncr5qottgDXeNpUv20szWpJhjECH_bp4QXhCRN2oRLRErDrnOfJmZDzi4aTA2L0i_GkwDAxWBczk3BavkFAAQzyfcUZeViBWuz2uqTRZqtxIeBKc_uCbwRX0-7vZTKswUxSLRynwm-8a9CevE7vlBv6Xv1ktMSGfxTv6n/s320/trip10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Another one of the National Parks on our list was <b>Bryce Canyon</b> so we drove from Kanab to Bryce on our way to Moab. When we had visited Zion, there had been signs for a shuttle to take you through the park and we thought that might be a good thing for us to try at Bryce. We parked at the base of the park and the shuttle took as through the main 4 viewing points in the park. The first point, Bryce Point, was my favorite! Utah had record snow this year, so there were still remnants, though it was probably about 60 degrees while we were there. The views were incredible!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgpn7lYEextBgA3NFfoRE91iW0FR2PidVO-eMgivtUKx5nDgytk8wM0C-WsurPE7weMKim84GoVv0pRl9vmwn8qe4ml7VBazRRKY-CebrlQblxxVhp4CnYeQuA7fekpLQFuI494lpzQ6vzWoYy3OJH8tcsYWpLJpo8YlRCeICP3PYUKVbldj9xK6Yj/s960/trip11.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="722" data-original-width="960" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgpn7lYEextBgA3NFfoRE91iW0FR2PidVO-eMgivtUKx5nDgytk8wM0C-WsurPE7weMKim84GoVv0pRl9vmwn8qe4ml7VBazRRKY-CebrlQblxxVhp4CnYeQuA7fekpLQFuI494lpzQ6vzWoYy3OJH8tcsYWpLJpo8YlRCeICP3PYUKVbldj9xK6Yj/s320/trip11.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The drive from Bryce Canyon to Moab is about 4 hours so we had a big drive ahead of us. The drive also was a little treacherous for my liking and reminded me of some of the twists and turns I had encountered in Texas. Luckily, my friend was up for the challenge and she drove us into Moab where we had dinner at one of the very few spots that was open past 8pm- The Moab Brewery. So many restaurants in Moab close at 9pm, so be sure to eat before then if you go!<div><br /></div><div><u>Day 4: Moab, UT</u></div><div><u><br /></u></div><div>We had timed tickets for <b>Arches National Park</b> at 9am. We got coffee at Snake Oil coffee- a cute drive thru coffee shop close to our Air B n B- and then drove to the park which was really close to our Air B n B. Moab is pretty cute town with access to a lot of the main parks. The timed tickets were also amazing and limited the amount of cars and made available more parking spots so we got to enjoy the park way more than we did Zion. </div><div><br /></div><div>There are lots of stops in Arches park and we could've probably spent all day there. My friend and I are not hikers, so we just picked a couple of spots to walk through and the rest of the park we drove through making some stops for pictures. Here are some of the stops we made:</div><div><br /></div><div>the Park Avenue Viewpoint</div><div>the Organ and 3 Gossips</div><div>Balanced Rock </div><div>Double Arches (which we parked and walked up to)</div><div>The Windows (again, parked and walked up through)</div><div>The Fiery Furnace (parked and walked up to take pictures)</div><div>The Landscape Arche (this was probably our biggest "hike" which we only did like maybe a mile or so of)</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpjEPWUI4JhEFNyPU0tzTemoDrJt6C2B6fXA4wA7AWZ8ERJDO1oUgkQ1QA6_ukMLO1JhLOxSoTFOCYXXK1EjwlUbrH0orIhErO186-niZ0wo7K4Izwie2f75RNXHP0eOSfqgqPdWac3ndmBRNGoVO70tanL8ZTbxZFma--4DwRNss2s8M4v1dVawGW/s2048/trip12.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1538" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpjEPWUI4JhEFNyPU0tzTemoDrJt6C2B6fXA4wA7AWZ8ERJDO1oUgkQ1QA6_ukMLO1JhLOxSoTFOCYXXK1EjwlUbrH0orIhErO186-niZ0wo7K4Izwie2f75RNXHP0eOSfqgqPdWac3ndmBRNGoVO70tanL8ZTbxZFma--4DwRNss2s8M4v1dVawGW/s320/trip12.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>First photo op in Arches Park, Park Avenue Viewpoint (above), the Windows stop (below)</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs1xtTXRU6pvdR7tif8J6Qvc23oOnCKi8_zAhsI-txZ8ZpycfzA-VixmqComFQ3Z1KFbx4OHHyWLNgh9fxH4q2g3yzEXhNSETTRe7rN8FqWieTafWmmdgXLUfVhl4Uxhz6s3Xz6O7lakGVxVWekfVyed3bJlOGf7g5fY8EYxHgoYRSDffkx_LE4tqT/s1200/trip13.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs1xtTXRU6pvdR7tif8J6Qvc23oOnCKi8_zAhsI-txZ8ZpycfzA-VixmqComFQ3Z1KFbx4OHHyWLNgh9fxH4q2g3yzEXhNSETTRe7rN8FqWieTafWmmdgXLUfVhl4Uxhz6s3Xz6O7lakGVxVWekfVyed3bJlOGf7g5fY8EYxHgoYRSDffkx_LE4tqT/s320/trip13.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>We spent about 4.5 hours in Arches and we could've spent more, but after a busy AM, it was time for lunch. We went to a cute place in town and there are many in Moab (they just close by 9pm!) We had lunch at <b>Trailhead Public House</b> which had a little bit of everything and a nice, friendly vibe. It was also a good stop on our way to our roadside attraction for the day: <b>The Hole N the Rock!</b></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6tzwKZG3W6X7IM_wKUNHNkj052azkq6pRfz1BKFeII6davP5orUusORuY_HGueSTk_fh7N2278aueAmvTcbPjTpEY856SdvasvCRfIdneGNJyiJun8XcJj22d1LIcERojsiVPz6NlkxvFwVdra295S8DkfGrvTeAQHPc_WPlXE9uAtarQYinoDx0i/s2048/trip14.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6tzwKZG3W6X7IM_wKUNHNkj052azkq6pRfz1BKFeII6davP5orUusORuY_HGueSTk_fh7N2278aueAmvTcbPjTpEY856SdvasvCRfIdneGNJyiJun8XcJj22d1LIcERojsiVPz6NlkxvFwVdra295S8DkfGrvTeAQHPc_WPlXE9uAtarQYinoDx0i/s320/trip14.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>This is another tourist trap, but I found it really interesting. This was rock was purchased by a couple in the 1930s (I think?) and they blew out the rock and started a diner inside. They also created a home. You can tour the home for $6.50. It's about a 15 minute tour. They tell you a lot about the family who were artists as well as entrepreneurs. There is also a petting zoo on the grounds, but you need separate tickets and we didn't have much interest in that. We walked around the grounds after the tour and a really nice about an hour visit. </div><div><br /></div><div>We took some down time after a busy couple of days. My friend wanted to go to a thrift shop close to our Air B n B and I had found out a friend from CA happened to also be in Moab so she and I met up while my friend went shopping.</div><div><br /></div><div>After a relatively relaxing afternoon, we made the drive to <b>Dead Horse State Park</b> which is about 30-40 minutes outside of Moab, but totally worth the drive. I had read that this was a good location to do at sunset and we were not disappointed. The drive is a little hairy at times, but this would be a great place to camp and is definitely a good place to visit, especially for sunset. It wasn't overly crowded and even though it was cloudy on the night we went, it was still cool to see the light change and cast shadows and reveal different parts of the canyon as the sun set. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9yjkWMh0sRWyAPG77RAKm75I89vP5kzcAxWMtznCY01KOGFiFEMLYihB5uU70hmHMJvPb-18oV0CVn_SFP-N7DQA54SgMsn1LmU8a9TMyLRRdkYDKosR6tntdFIMiaAsBlT1l4Uh_d6lW7zTtdiQtad9qSnqPGtimx8FQ0dWywhFu31ZHfuzwpgWD/s2048/trip15.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1538" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9yjkWMh0sRWyAPG77RAKm75I89vP5kzcAxWMtznCY01KOGFiFEMLYihB5uU70hmHMJvPb-18oV0CVn_SFP-N7DQA54SgMsn1LmU8a9TMyLRRdkYDKosR6tntdFIMiaAsBlT1l4Uh_d6lW7zTtdiQtad9qSnqPGtimx8FQ0dWywhFu31ZHfuzwpgWD/s320/trip15.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho06CLccQAqWdozzFMPaVargLM9bhgw0KWS1aADAp1-vJt87LVUf0qUciaumDGdP-YPLAjBkp9kgA0KNgZtPAuiXak3OtMTULsqNlqqgwDLwUHLjl1TsZo4_CPwzqSx-KAe7YitKsRQI6nVFYc-YMHkPUPTxVw9HWs7au-Fi2dZej6pvbojTFSIYeV/s2048/trip16.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho06CLccQAqWdozzFMPaVargLM9bhgw0KWS1aADAp1-vJt87LVUf0qUciaumDGdP-YPLAjBkp9kgA0KNgZtPAuiXak3OtMTULsqNlqqgwDLwUHLjl1TsZo4_CPwzqSx-KAe7YitKsRQI6nVFYc-YMHkPUPTxVw9HWs7au-Fi2dZej6pvbojTFSIYeV/s320/trip16.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>Sunset at Dead Horse State Park, Moab UT. </i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>We had to pay to get into the State Park (it was $20. I had purchased the National Park pass for all of the other parks we did so we just showed the pass and were able to get into Zion, Bryce, and Arches easily) but it was totally worth it!</div><div><br /></div><div>After another full day, we ate dinner at the <b>Moab Diner </b>(which is open til like 10pm! whoo hoo!) and then called it a night at our Air B n B in Moab. </div><div><br /></div><div><u>Day 5: Moab, UT to Jackson, WY</u></div><div><u><br /></u></div><div>This was the part of the trip that I was probably most nervous about. Our previous long drive from Kanab to Moab went fine, but there were a lot of twists and turns (switchback roads, if you will!) and I was also nervous about the weather. We would be going through Salt Lake City which had unprecedented snow fall up until last week and I knew that Jackson Hole was going to be cold as it is a ski destination. We had been nervous about possible road closures. </div><div><br /></div><div>The drive ended up not being as bad as we thought. There were flurries outside of Salt Lake, but the rest of the total 8 hour drive was ok. We stopped at the<b> Red Iguana</b> for lunch in Salt Lake which was a fantastic, authentic Mexican restaurant. We would be returning to Salt Lake for our flight after our trip to Jackson, so we didn't spend too much time in the city this time around. </div><div><br /></div><div>As we got close to our destination of Jackson Hole, we came across a beautiful scene with Snake River amid the mountains, so we (my friend :) decided to stop for pics. As we stopped, a woman in a robe and bathing suit stepped out of her car, which we thought odd since it was 30 degrees outside. I assumed she was going to do a cold plunge, but she must've seen us looking strangely at her and told us there were natural hot springs below! We would return to the hot springs the next day, but we went down and explored a little before checking into our Air B n B. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Ovmt-R0nmjnXyYcDSG7Rx5u8xC5SVH9ulakh0TZhyC27ChV89PWmxziF2fis9hOF95cbQkaq46j_gqhC8AG0ViAh_KYiu9lgUXA89qg-kzughyuKQ9qvVBcmdkpOBeoCivLb7ZtBUq-XCzyE3Yg3ATWIlffNS2AXixY9cBTOqvvlK1gKIQkrrTWp/s1200/trip19.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Ovmt-R0nmjnXyYcDSG7Rx5u8xC5SVH9ulakh0TZhyC27ChV89PWmxziF2fis9hOF95cbQkaq46j_gqhC8AG0ViAh_KYiu9lgUXA89qg-kzughyuKQ9qvVBcmdkpOBeoCivLb7ZtBUq-XCzyE3Yg3ATWIlffNS2AXixY9cBTOqvvlK1gKIQkrrTWp/s320/trip19.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>Natural Springs between Alpine and Hoback, Wyoming.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We checked into our Air B n B in Jackson Hole, about 20 minutes from the hot springs. We had been driving all day and our plan was to use the hot tub at our resort for the evening and just unwind. Much to our dismay, the pool and hot tub were closed the night we checked in! However, they told us we could use the hot tub of a neighboring property so that is how we spent our first evening in Jackson Hole!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><u>Day 6: Jackson Hole, Wyoming</u></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><u><br /></u></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Jackson Hole is a pretty touristy town and pretty high end. There were lots of nice stores and restaurants (open for normal dining hours!) around town, however, we also were told after the hot tub disappointment that we were there during "off season". The skiers were gone and the town kind of shuts down at the end of April before re-opening once things have melted in May. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We still found plenty of stores and restaurants to check out and some of the roads in the Grand Tetons were still open. Many of the trails were covered in snow and they blocked off some of the roads, but we were still able to drive into the park and make a couple of picture stops and even walk some of a trail (on top of packed snow, however!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNtNa7dfAUPXCMWaX-BGRoq6YAgnyvuXqLYaaVQwso08c5iZ1wAEyV1lYNGwbvseJgljnHgolmquA6H298n8Suo3Sy97uq8J0Du16YCKSiD40M73x7hpLgUaqbq-opO2ZzyorbSwlk0vhbXiCJbW3AI0HlTGSAb7hHxcUt8ezA-QucXLHMzDM2Z5yK/s1200/trip23.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNtNa7dfAUPXCMWaX-BGRoq6YAgnyvuXqLYaaVQwso08c5iZ1wAEyV1lYNGwbvseJgljnHgolmquA6H298n8Suo3Sy97uq8J0Du16YCKSiD40M73x7hpLgUaqbq-opO2ZzyorbSwlk0vhbXiCJbW3AI0HlTGSAb7hHxcUt8ezA-QucXLHMzDM2Z5yK/s320/trip23.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>Standing on top of packed snow in Grand Teton National Park!</i><div><i><br /></i></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUxrSFVGZZ8A4ZnhWOv8iJqZAkroJgLpMSfAMVa_u8Ywpaf5mAr8PgOtuk0lX0qq6NGwXj6e63uHSK2tut1lex-v0dk6CHo9LRkKi7pGiHtcfkRfIVJIz7bSXMiM77wGP8sNItL79hHuacx-5O3z9L1iUa3pDXgi1ZXEADNG43mjHieGHoQMTPZN-p/s2048/trip22.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUxrSFVGZZ8A4ZnhWOv8iJqZAkroJgLpMSfAMVa_u8Ywpaf5mAr8PgOtuk0lX0qq6NGwXj6e63uHSK2tut1lex-v0dk6CHo9LRkKi7pGiHtcfkRfIVJIz7bSXMiM77wGP8sNItL79hHuacx-5O3z9L1iUa3pDXgi1ZXEADNG43mjHieGHoQMTPZN-p/s320/trip22.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>One of the restaurants open in Jackson Hole was a Polish-Italian one! I rarely get to have authentic Polish food so this was a treat! We got the Polish plate and it was fantastic!</i></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz-pOO6c859fAUdsWPeGeSxjMCpZv-y1mOaJIKGU_fCpM_J8i13Jy0GFIMHll7w8nZIkxoRgD-V_qTCT5U19QcId2UBI9OVFSB4bUVdyTwHNpTN4yLFoNih5bWZiRRqYLjMOkWAGjUjcrgMsY2wvZgHb_mBkGFyiIiuUTzjiZqw3j-WI-HnahPJlDM/s1200/trip24.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz-pOO6c859fAUdsWPeGeSxjMCpZv-y1mOaJIKGU_fCpM_J8i13Jy0GFIMHll7w8nZIkxoRgD-V_qTCT5U19QcId2UBI9OVFSB4bUVdyTwHNpTN4yLFoNih5bWZiRRqYLjMOkWAGjUjcrgMsY2wvZgHb_mBkGFyiIiuUTzjiZqw3j-WI-HnahPJlDM/s320/trip24.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>More fun on packed snow in the Tetons!</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE3ADa-iVOn0hJIFh_Xnn1d8kVf50jEAVMJUIfezbRN3bmMeTnnb_77-gC72gIKu6mpV3BcHfCDXT3kBW1i4gp5vaersNt9Gfyv71no90Xbi3Rk9sT2rqTOPf3XM7uzczuC3BlamV0oZxYMsuJAtH7U0W7KNmf_ZvHd5-w4DP8ubtmpKBEvyxDtuUL/s1200/trip26.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE3ADa-iVOn0hJIFh_Xnn1d8kVf50jEAVMJUIfezbRN3bmMeTnnb_77-gC72gIKu6mpV3BcHfCDXT3kBW1i4gp5vaersNt9Gfyv71no90Xbi3Rk9sT2rqTOPf3XM7uzczuC3BlamV0oZxYMsuJAtH7U0W7KNmf_ZvHd5-w4DP8ubtmpKBEvyxDtuUL/s320/trip26.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>Sitting on a "bear chair" outside of shop in Jackson Hole</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>We had wanted to return to the natural hot springs we saw on our way into Jackson Hole, so we made an appointment at Astoria Park and Hot Springs which for $20 has multiple hot spring pools available. This is how we spent our Friday after exploring the Tetons and a Polish lunch.<br /><br /></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigSK9C_eUhHn-ef9qWd1Kj2lWNpWHZ0Fu6biMLhu_95_-MNpELl-zpTbY3xV9IFvpN2bDO65CuEfTQmXq5ClD70rbr3j40JKAb1ovNkeictUINheJSAn3gzRml9biOi4rr5-MRLc3XVte2MlBdNHCPtlIklNhCmn50ZNgLzRuruwX2JvaR9PDCUvNf/s1200/trip25.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1083" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigSK9C_eUhHn-ef9qWd1Kj2lWNpWHZ0Fu6biMLhu_95_-MNpELl-zpTbY3xV9IFvpN2bDO65CuEfTQmXq5ClD70rbr3j40JKAb1ovNkeictUINheJSAn3gzRml9biOi4rr5-MRLc3XVte2MlBdNHCPtlIklNhCmn50ZNgLzRuruwX2JvaR9PDCUvNf/s320/trip25.jpg" width="289" /></a></div><i>Sitting in a hot springs in Astoria Park outside Jackson Hole, WY.</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>After a two-hour session (which we really only did 1.5 hours of...it's a long time to sit in 100+ degree water!) we went back to our cabin at the resort, showered and went out to dinner in town. We went to Gather which was a really great, more upscale place that had local fare and great cocktails!</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh11I110Tp1QD-F62NaewdUPZLj0bmN4uI8RWJY6ExgGTBRdD6JNvWHqBt0Ol8NVWWVSSipI6L81-476xz59H-bfdK3IyTSJLuUYS-padigLahu337vWfNY5AFH7VGbV9Jd3kbKcm7oLCJqaD3TFqYTdnSA3YlGuqhKVxdtrKvzmrMTx4MTncctP2gS/s2048/trip27.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh11I110Tp1QD-F62NaewdUPZLj0bmN4uI8RWJY6ExgGTBRdD6JNvWHqBt0Ol8NVWWVSSipI6L81-476xz59H-bfdK3IyTSJLuUYS-padigLahu337vWfNY5AFH7VGbV9Jd3kbKcm7oLCJqaD3TFqYTdnSA3YlGuqhKVxdtrKvzmrMTx4MTncctP2gS/s320/trip27.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><i>My elk bolognese and lavender gin cocktail at Gather in Jackson Hole, WY. </i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>We ended our second night in Jackson Hole back where we had spent the night before- the hot tub. Lots of hot water sitting in Jackson!</div><div><br /></div><div><u>Day 7: Jackson, Wyoming to Idaho to Salt Lake City, UT</u></div><div><br /></div><div>We had booked a red-eye flight out of Salt Lake City that didn't leave until midnight. This gave us a full day to explore before we headed out to the airport. </div><div><br /></div><div>We had driven through Idaho for just a minute on our way to Wyoming and I really wanted to explore Idaho a little more since we were right there. My friend researched and found a geyser that is natural but man manipulated to erupt every hour on the hour. We decided to head there and check it out as we made our way back towards Salt Lake for our late flight. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVOvJBXmDxIAwaW_JJWPAs7h5q3WGtLXCmX1fpgKBXCawQwefwfdUUEJOxX-TDHbRZDhA-wfsxpeQWohV5BF10KlG_AbDwSd3cpmzP8Yg1t9KjqMu3UVELspZnlJcUqzqfGPNcGGK20OIFJKD4qJ4YheJwvd7lo47lzrcoWDJR0iPLggwk8ChYDRdZ/s2048/trip28.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVOvJBXmDxIAwaW_JJWPAs7h5q3WGtLXCmX1fpgKBXCawQwefwfdUUEJOxX-TDHbRZDhA-wfsxpeQWohV5BF10KlG_AbDwSd3cpmzP8Yg1t9KjqMu3UVELspZnlJcUqzqfGPNcGGK20OIFJKD4qJ4YheJwvd7lo47lzrcoWDJR0iPLggwk8ChYDRdZ/s320/trip28.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div><i>Geyser in Soda Springs, Idaho. </i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>Even though we didn't want to sit in more hot springs and be wet for our flight, we still stopped in nearby Lava Springs, Idaho for lunch where we made sure to eat more game meat. We had bison/elk/boar/wagu beef burgers at <b>78 Main </b>in Lava Springs. </div><div><br /></div><div>Lava Springs, Idaho is about two hours to Salt Lake. We still had plenty of time before our midnight flight after lunch, so my friend found the <b>Antelope Island State Park</b> on the Salt Lake in Utah for us to explore before heading to the airport. This ended up being a really beautiful stop. It was $15 to get in since it was a State Park and not covered by my National Parks pass, but still totally worth it. We drove around half of the island and stopped off for small walks and to try and see some real roaming bison (which we did!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBkBrxM7SOztc5vMvP4cN6lj37j4s30miR_jqqMrBjeEWPZA_UfgR8ibZxQzoqyncBnWN6FV0HHCF9eIU_RcT6VNr7XQ1PnDj8WIxAPIjlI72UgIVXoXQmlkaelp-jVHz1shmytD3NDmo6JPzzceybmwHzJeUikzaSCD-8A4fwdbUWsXGAm8f4jO04/s2048/trip30.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBkBrxM7SOztc5vMvP4cN6lj37j4s30miR_jqqMrBjeEWPZA_UfgR8ibZxQzoqyncBnWN6FV0HHCF9eIU_RcT6VNr7XQ1PnDj8WIxAPIjlI72UgIVXoXQmlkaelp-jVHz1shmytD3NDmo6JPzzceybmwHzJeUikzaSCD-8A4fwdbUWsXGAm8f4jO04/s320/trip30.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><i>Beautiful Antelope Island park with the mountains reflecting off the Salt Lake (roaming bison not pictured :)</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>I wanted to at least check out Salt Lake City a little before we went to the airport, so we walked around downtown a little to see this art exhibit which is outside of the Salt Lake convention center. Salt Lake City was pretty lively on this Saturday night. It was 60 degrees which was much better than the snow we experienced when we drove through it a couple of days prior. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdRDqs4McN325vaLzE5Y12UXi6pcrzbErKZgPsF7OE9XTCLSeYaZURTQJSNNr5nVELLehYBFinZyDsDH4Usl9UJZ6pwxY6vkhz67xoa_ha-NmcrSytKGvIwUCU1zDgBUPyeWsGIhlEtliLFgBC6ARl8_o3ZiofWDkeBR1cKy42foAv4zTBTl3xA-6k/s1200/trip31.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdRDqs4McN325vaLzE5Y12UXi6pcrzbErKZgPsF7OE9XTCLSeYaZURTQJSNNr5nVELLehYBFinZyDsDH4Usl9UJZ6pwxY6vkhz67xoa_ha-NmcrSytKGvIwUCU1zDgBUPyeWsGIhlEtliLFgBC6ARl8_o3ZiofWDkeBR1cKy42foAv4zTBTl3xA-6k/s320/trip31.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><i>You Are Here exhibit outside Salt Lake City convention center. </i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>After walking around downtown a bit, it was time to return our rental car and head to the airport. We had dinner and some cocktails at a place by our gate and then boarded our red eye back to the East Coast. </div><div><br /></div><div>This trip ended up being better than I could have imagined! I had been nervous about all of the driving and weather but everything ended up working out perfectly and we found plenty to do in all of the locations we stayed in. </div><div><br /></div><div>Only 6 more states for me to visit to complete all 50! Until the next trip...</div><div><br /></div><div>Peace,</div><div>Julia</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06098852834050397406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1055688385421362242.post-68849370228066140132022-12-11T09:39:00.002-05:002022-12-11T09:39:06.116-05:00Gaudete Sunday 2022<p>Traditionally, I reflect back on the year on the Feast of Christ the King which is the end of our liturgical year. The end of Ordinary Time got away from me as has much of 2022. Whereas 2020 and 2021 gave us time perhaps to think and reflect, 2022 was all about making up for lost time and DOING. </p><p>When we finally got clearance to move around as we once did in the world, everyone was traveling, scheduling, and planning. This year was difficult in different ways than the previous two years of this decade. </p><p>I'm reflecting today as we are half way through Advent- the beginning of our new year. Better late than never, right? And Gaudete Sunday is a day that we get to rejoice so I am reflecting and rejoicing on this 3rd Sunday of Advent for the year of 2022. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEVVIoas7SnL28f1quFIM18p6wvztvkvXrLYeFLCc-caeR1IiipzMk1okpoKjaa57eFFlmlzQLNl8g3tLfqKirM13b9M28Hg3Rx0INNFZbw2rCF-oZtlcNXiHhaVr8kPUvrHn18j29Shz0jJrxAXAE8El0w3bPJHKKkTSHTD4PP1fEHBAKtW2QbVhj/s2048/NYE2021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1648" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEVVIoas7SnL28f1quFIM18p6wvztvkvXrLYeFLCc-caeR1IiipzMk1okpoKjaa57eFFlmlzQLNl8g3tLfqKirM13b9M28Hg3Rx0INNFZbw2rCF-oZtlcNXiHhaVr8kPUvrHn18j29Shz0jJrxAXAE8El0w3bPJHKKkTSHTD4PP1fEHBAKtW2QbVhj/s320/NYE2021.jpg" width="258" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Though we were able to gather for Christmas and NYE in 2021, Covid cases were still rampant and there was still much anxiety surrounding our gatherings. It felt good to be reunited, though, with my NYE crew after a 3 year hiatus. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxTYo7xb23Gnx9WxYyx1osQkKjesKGoLUwP2KLtREU4HmwBH9JNtJ1iq8W5Mri7d8d30COLw4Yl4vzCapbGRuvpQXboA9-7zb995h9ImzBcRbQVMZMz5PlKtXLnMQCmD3t6N1xdNYrFQxBxUyajd2BrOJEdmSz8AeFsknIcWBFOwR-f0LADYytVwvp/s1800/LC22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxTYo7xb23Gnx9WxYyx1osQkKjesKGoLUwP2KLtREU4HmwBH9JNtJ1iq8W5Mri7d8d30COLw4Yl4vzCapbGRuvpQXboA9-7zb995h9ImzBcRbQVMZMz5PlKtXLnMQCmD3t6N1xdNYrFQxBxUyajd2BrOJEdmSz8AeFsknIcWBFOwR-f0LADYytVwvp/s320/LC22.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">2022 was off to a difficult start. One of my best friends from college was diagnosed with breast cancer and was starting chemo treatments. One of my colleagues and deacon of my parish that I was close with suddenly passed also from cancer. And yet one more friend, our dear friend Dana who had been battling cancer lost her battle, too. We gathered at the beginning of the year often to remember Dana, raise money for her and her family, and to carry on her legacy. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU_L0Aqo3mRHcmRyuzLvR_5fEYwAigWc84UVn7ncJtrkvZ3egsNnsyqE6HmsC0BZ8vdUaOdMEtJAVDauMGSzXIaowZdSJgolYP2pH3UxRsyShER6qVFJF-KfNBg0sWMS8sd5oPfO3RIHZpf3TG2GQsHf358fyyxLiEA7M9JJHajoT2jxgScbE0Mo4i/s960/Dana22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU_L0Aqo3mRHcmRyuzLvR_5fEYwAigWc84UVn7ncJtrkvZ3egsNnsyqE6HmsC0BZ8vdUaOdMEtJAVDauMGSzXIaowZdSJgolYP2pH3UxRsyShER6qVFJF-KfNBg0sWMS8sd5oPfO3RIHZpf3TG2GQsHf358fyyxLiEA7M9JJHajoT2jxgScbE0Mo4i/s320/Dana22.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <i>Fundraiser for Dana, February 2022</i><div><i><br /></i></div><div>Things started to pick up a little in the Spring as I began to travel. I traveled quite a bit in 2022. Here are some of the highlights:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjeqtJmGuf-t2pmFABmB1VFxLPKqtcOCdy2XFd5uRpAc1uYlPbWv0GBwQTJ-7x5G3Vtps6DsMJ5sFaeH9nzhB17JwT_ZG_hEQXsAdZzOqcF6hEDG7YrSh17emE_STXCSULgwji5E9yNkLnQn-uFDWcR22p7B3ajTD4ZcxpTjprGrt_4EACu5TLoQWh/s2048/22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjeqtJmGuf-t2pmFABmB1VFxLPKqtcOCdy2XFd5uRpAc1uYlPbWv0GBwQTJ-7x5G3Vtps6DsMJ5sFaeH9nzhB17JwT_ZG_hEQXsAdZzOqcF6hEDG7YrSh17emE_STXCSULgwji5E9yNkLnQn-uFDWcR22p7B3ajTD4ZcxpTjprGrt_4EACu5TLoQWh/s320/22.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>Above: my friend Raven and I took a weekend trip to the Eastern shore of VA which I had never been to.</i><div><i>Below: for my Spring Break, I drove through West TX from El Paso to Marfa to Midland. It was such a wild adventure that I'm so glad that I got to do! I rang in my 41st bday with a friend in Texas. <br /></i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl9Gv0-MB2fp9aP6x-tCoR59VvOeXGcfmVXXkgQrMdfxYm724VYxEBGH6XeqqTXjragcpwaozby9Mk2TMX1hQqwGhRUFy6ibCFrCsNR80WCr-WE57X4enQdHJShwLo7siKXodse3CnecWfAd5zLEHYJiz1-6nocnLomYeMYXQZhoupJCVqcJ6KOmL7/s2048/tx22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1538" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl9Gv0-MB2fp9aP6x-tCoR59VvOeXGcfmVXXkgQrMdfxYm724VYxEBGH6XeqqTXjragcpwaozby9Mk2TMX1hQqwGhRUFy6ibCFrCsNR80WCr-WE57X4enQdHJShwLo7siKXodse3CnecWfAd5zLEHYJiz1-6nocnLomYeMYXQZhoupJCVqcJ6KOmL7/s320/tx22.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcz0YdRG6Tb9G8t9HIDh0ewK2zAVQy5qIfp9jdKjucn7X5z2nWEuE8xq_cz-o5wokaT1tjQv2S1EeNgZFMonlJRMlyHksBhEy1PHAhFFEGFEgoxJF-VRJClzw_oVpwjjaDNhT3faSTfbA-FrU1za7pPeqxwfCntHk7zmjynbuUTvQ10jW1BxQq_C_G/s1616/nugget22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1616" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcz0YdRG6Tb9G8t9HIDh0ewK2zAVQy5qIfp9jdKjucn7X5z2nWEuE8xq_cz-o5wokaT1tjQv2S1EeNgZFMonlJRMlyHksBhEy1PHAhFFEGFEgoxJF-VRJClzw_oVpwjjaDNhT3faSTfbA-FrU1za7pPeqxwfCntHk7zmjynbuUTvQ10jW1BxQq_C_G/s320/nugget22.jpg" width="285" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>My niece made her first communion in May which made for an interesting road trip to Ohio after flights were cancelled left and right this Spring, still a result from Covid. </i></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2NSTkuZOZVfxfFr7Ry20sS5aoHa1lO3M6VhCTBFTWuHU9P50duu3ubaoc5lucR6HAVou1KvKYoWsGeBwx44Lrvke9k1jcVVcrkZ3Eh9AXh7fpdi_WYJBlOF9m6KcRgz5UhyatcqnU0CBa3Edn9xXeARxR6Gcq8Yk_yLwu-QAJDXAkVR1VUp-Ts_4x/s5000/untitledouter-banks-family-photos-ben-9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="5000" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2NSTkuZOZVfxfFr7Ry20sS5aoHa1lO3M6VhCTBFTWuHU9P50duu3ubaoc5lucR6HAVou1KvKYoWsGeBwx44Lrvke9k1jcVVcrkZ3Eh9AXh7fpdi_WYJBlOF9m6KcRgz5UhyatcqnU0CBa3Edn9xXeARxR6Gcq8Yk_yLwu-QAJDXAkVR1VUp-Ts_4x/s320/untitledouter-banks-family-photos-ben-9.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><i>My family rented a house over the summer in Duck, NC in the OBX in June of 2022</i></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhviPDZ4cUR9doa_F2FsYDC1BQhL9CyfDayeZdQY6cPVgGu1GPMihdklHNpDIbGXCyBdLBnoVu76OgoW2iE3TeLEy_VBUfPBYB_6y_HWgvptYMMCtHf0ERS7uu-40oTiukpYc-NrowVsm_GZRI8Q88tenkNqj1Gr8-BxbW1YS9fqP9DXBbnlJG0Ak3s/s960/ca16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhviPDZ4cUR9doa_F2FsYDC1BQhL9CyfDayeZdQY6cPVgGu1GPMihdklHNpDIbGXCyBdLBnoVu76OgoW2iE3TeLEy_VBUfPBYB_6y_HWgvptYMMCtHf0ERS7uu-40oTiukpYc-NrowVsm_GZRI8Q88tenkNqj1Gr8-BxbW1YS9fqP9DXBbnlJG0Ak3s/s320/ca16.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>I flew to Montreal and took a train to Quebec City for my first solo international trip in July 2022</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVIm3QmhbfdZkQF-GmDhhhsG5MN3Ql8aX3LnrwevjY-g0nBB8FmBmDAzSN5bXd0KashF3ynOnyPuikShgaIIuCrSRK0mfOmH3sP8ORIgi9AdOQy_6XwloecRSWMXAqhg-G9Wqhk4C20YwKbnr4LFw0W0GIFod4SuAbCCfSFlnWAHKey9mHE4x-0mVx/s2048/ky22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1638" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVIm3QmhbfdZkQF-GmDhhhsG5MN3Ql8aX3LnrwevjY-g0nBB8FmBmDAzSN5bXd0KashF3ynOnyPuikShgaIIuCrSRK0mfOmH3sP8ORIgi9AdOQy_6XwloecRSWMXAqhg-G9Wqhk4C20YwKbnr4LFw0W0GIFod4SuAbCCfSFlnWAHKey9mHE4x-0mVx/s320/ky22.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><br /><i>I took a road trip through West Virginia to Kentucky to be reunited with childhood friend I hadn't seen in years. </i></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0pUoGL6eUZDaaT722kqgrOyIZ68up6ufshjQotKKeMkS_u8XmEqNNXvu9dzyeH0vpE1kfHHlf9v31gg6HzIMvFWoWUjDRXKKmMUSkz8ZP5kIMA6nCp83HC0RKGEXWpMXtVWIFx4lz5Q3YzqrptxbhGxVWbmVejCNr4ORsEMikYZ7hXkROpgvaIery/s836/nola11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="836" data-original-width="627" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0pUoGL6eUZDaaT722kqgrOyIZ68up6ufshjQotKKeMkS_u8XmEqNNXvu9dzyeH0vpE1kfHHlf9v31gg6HzIMvFWoWUjDRXKKmMUSkz8ZP5kIMA6nCp83HC0RKGEXWpMXtVWIFx4lz5Q3YzqrptxbhGxVWbmVejCNr4ORsEMikYZ7hXkROpgvaIery/s320/nola11.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><i>I flew to New Orleans to celebrate a friend's birthday with some college friends.</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX1Up5oZCrWPkvNyc1z4GoPw1nUMkd63Pmi2pGCzZ20BMnvAoGB4knOZDEgNfDHf12r5Z7fRJsh9LXSeW1yPY8MHYYPnmXDwlkRg3u-FjMAelRHTYI2FesLr0IsoApGYHFyKOhFb8pdW7o4_BwtmEIccREZOob842WmqGzWXufjeXgMlRh-Yj8GqB2/s666/nola22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="592" data-original-width="666" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX1Up5oZCrWPkvNyc1z4GoPw1nUMkd63Pmi2pGCzZ20BMnvAoGB4knOZDEgNfDHf12r5Z7fRJsh9LXSeW1yPY8MHYYPnmXDwlkRg3u-FjMAelRHTYI2FesLr0IsoApGYHFyKOhFb8pdW7o4_BwtmEIccREZOob842WmqGzWXufjeXgMlRh-Yj8GqB2/s320/nola22.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH43bLs-QHJoUIMI_gS-r-XrugRqurV1wy-n-MlTYmnIJr-2nKO2H-xAl1RFywqa2MZwtk9zxQjm77UFDBAeq8DZnSqQz6NeKWZfpaCBPim16iXkx9ZnmIY0_Qpr9loMGLm2Wez9mKdj3LA-RYthpUZMvG2mqGHF3UatOUl2-uWeBuxDrBwQZY5lR4/s2048/nc22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1538" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH43bLs-QHJoUIMI_gS-r-XrugRqurV1wy-n-MlTYmnIJr-2nKO2H-xAl1RFywqa2MZwtk9zxQjm77UFDBAeq8DZnSqQz6NeKWZfpaCBPim16iXkx9ZnmIY0_Qpr9loMGLm2Wez9mKdj3LA-RYthpUZMvG2mqGHF3UatOUl2-uWeBuxDrBwQZY5lR4/s320/nc22.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFUH1TsEvVnWZXW-ghsweBxrMXiEPm5xp2RbgAE7gT1vfXrNULPn-HjTRi8jxS3VTqMzzSZdLGeXaThcQ10LDXMth0kgbYM8M-RfBrPSlJCZ-ulF02-pGMzqXcNJDa12v9W11LQvWhW7NZ2wJinO-Mm8CFDcpURwQ193DkpWF0UPbEhkAc0TipKVaE/s2048/friends22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFUH1TsEvVnWZXW-ghsweBxrMXiEPm5xp2RbgAE7gT1vfXrNULPn-HjTRi8jxS3VTqMzzSZdLGeXaThcQ10LDXMth0kgbYM8M-RfBrPSlJCZ-ulF02-pGMzqXcNJDa12v9W11LQvWhW7NZ2wJinO-Mm8CFDcpURwQ193DkpWF0UPbEhkAc0TipKVaE/s320/friends22.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf7OhYCJRjTSGLZLlymvbLdGR6ufaq0CoTypn3GJQoBvSu44XCIfZ4WvsJrzF3e10Me9lENA27TSpW1FlT29zhX-tfPLgeIk8i7I4wqY4AFzQrKmo_4HnBRHd-9RXwCldJnE-gAmHrc8Da1X6i2hyFE2DVwXdHkqkMjfrI4Ai3TvV9XHPS_M7xkAi1/s2048/renfarie22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf7OhYCJRjTSGLZLlymvbLdGR6ufaq0CoTypn3GJQoBvSu44XCIfZ4WvsJrzF3e10Me9lENA27TSpW1FlT29zhX-tfPLgeIk8i7I4wqY4AFzQrKmo_4HnBRHd-9RXwCldJnE-gAmHrc8Da1X6i2hyFE2DVwXdHkqkMjfrI4Ai3TvV9XHPS_M7xkAi1/s320/renfarie22.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><i>I also made my annual trips to Raleigh, NC, Virginia Beach, and Annapolis, MD to see some museums, visit friends, and attend my 2nd annual Renaissance Faire respectively.</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>There were many happy reunions and friends who came to visit me in Richmond after a couple of years of being isolated:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoO5FnsDfqw6NvsoISMASxaMsNlc_ywCZMKkhtreL5wrbIvVrv7rnlrl11ZGbVbQIZnI-q4J6wwafnobYd4g2uovgz0xx9izk4uPrDVckJLV7fMkl2AJbrRoPbELCr5Us4AlsJq8xDtluWQuNkTFMBq7PlbcLH-gt754tnSeV2v6Jzhe9EP2M9ZNAQ/s2048/frands22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1538" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoO5FnsDfqw6NvsoISMASxaMsNlc_ywCZMKkhtreL5wrbIvVrv7rnlrl11ZGbVbQIZnI-q4J6wwafnobYd4g2uovgz0xx9izk4uPrDVckJLV7fMkl2AJbrRoPbELCr5Us4AlsJq8xDtluWQuNkTFMBq7PlbcLH-gt754tnSeV2v6Jzhe9EP2M9ZNAQ/s320/frands22.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Some of my besties came in from out of town to visit VA with me. </i></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNRZWOjrR-HAGx0L9CYcAC0sumFYYBqhETpC0dLT-2oYCiXxKXFonUACaIPqhIiGU1LIpSBhzgpcrbPnUOtHTpr6MzQ1EALR8j7SLklFQ4m6tSN97LX7w67CRvi67tvtOKGhAUzIej6jBNotwrdTG9gjs0lwdY3uRAccO4Nq6Rbmnz2kRTjjx66T6v/s1440/frandss22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNRZWOjrR-HAGx0L9CYcAC0sumFYYBqhETpC0dLT-2oYCiXxKXFonUACaIPqhIiGU1LIpSBhzgpcrbPnUOtHTpr6MzQ1EALR8j7SLklFQ4m6tSN97LX7w67CRvi67tvtOKGhAUzIej6jBNotwrdTG9gjs0lwdY3uRAccO4Nq6Rbmnz2kRTjjx66T6v/s320/frandss22.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWLiQCIWvDZSOu4laUIkjVfMxuJSVfy8uTIWQun5cziklclrJR-N4Sy0yjCBIv0Rwz7erE2nJbO71NK3-ZPTrWjU3qgFvVwN1p32cnQ9KiwYBygh9Ku2AiMzWxScMKHLmbuOcBMHMQNzTLjGTPW6WgQXsZ-vVlid42yzW9FFbl2aDhaHXmbVPthw5h/s2048/tgiving22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1538" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWLiQCIWvDZSOu4laUIkjVfMxuJSVfy8uTIWQun5cziklclrJR-N4Sy0yjCBIv0Rwz7erE2nJbO71NK3-ZPTrWjU3qgFvVwN1p32cnQ9KiwYBygh9Ku2AiMzWxScMKHLmbuOcBMHMQNzTLjGTPW6WgQXsZ-vVlid42yzW9FFbl2aDhaHXmbVPthw5h/s320/tgiving22.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ILzISe4wzO9Rg1jSxQo1WgdN9izDTyXKLv5DlbFXU-9SYzm9pQ0esb3GwVr-8DTPJa7_ZxbYj3tQ1yPL20uxH28c5Gm1rOwArG019rB3wKkRR1M_9B4GBHu8iKxi5laxwyMH6T4WwDeaoFQw_8IIbgxKTYE-ulNmpFVRpnXJhr-N-4A70kpaoKSQ/s2048/net22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ILzISe4wzO9Rg1jSxQo1WgdN9izDTyXKLv5DlbFXU-9SYzm9pQ0esb3GwVr-8DTPJa7_ZxbYj3tQ1yPL20uxH28c5Gm1rOwArG019rB3wKkRR1M_9B4GBHu8iKxi5laxwyMH6T4WwDeaoFQw_8IIbgxKTYE-ulNmpFVRpnXJhr-N-4A70kpaoKSQ/s320/net22.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>Above: some members of my NET team from my volunteer year almost 20 years ago were reunited when my school brought in a current NET team to lead a retreat for our students. </i><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>Below: my parents return to Richmond and this year we attended Maymont Glow together. <br /></i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHjVcqhNdbyVLjV9CkHg2H0SeHhNePRKu_e9W95n8n9hKQsC7NpapwbGFHboHPJ9zWIxTvi57mvmMdGyPDgOBX1BnFKmI8-tfGkqMt0tWBBEJSgQWJIFCAu8fEfMf7yl9JJmcXn_EHvFZStmhjMRYo5PjkWffgND0VvaLkSo2Y7l41NzYNa2DSNV4t/s2048/rents22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHjVcqhNdbyVLjV9CkHg2H0SeHhNePRKu_e9W95n8n9hKQsC7NpapwbGFHboHPJ9zWIxTvi57mvmMdGyPDgOBX1BnFKmI8-tfGkqMt0tWBBEJSgQWJIFCAu8fEfMf7yl9JJmcXn_EHvFZStmhjMRYo5PjkWffgND0VvaLkSo2Y7l41NzYNa2DSNV4t/s320/rents22.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div><i>My friends and I were able to gather for Halloween again this year (Corn was also very much a theme of 2022...)</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlIZNHVN070zmGw6PdpRyFC3TiBV546X2f5qpGrdYFjFgyJNMg4i9Vv0KNNDn37n1wX8az10WpBNZ48dipcx_9WxYEAwlUYiUDbcjPJgrVdyZ7FRv-t-OcEH8L5f0aBScy9oVR51h9V9IZ9UDyFCBRUJv6d28ulzHouLUZiOpcdJC5heSS3NmWEkad/s2048/hallo22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlIZNHVN070zmGw6PdpRyFC3TiBV546X2f5qpGrdYFjFgyJNMg4i9Vv0KNNDn37n1wX8az10WpBNZ48dipcx_9WxYEAwlUYiUDbcjPJgrVdyZ7FRv-t-OcEH8L5f0aBScy9oVR51h9V9IZ9UDyFCBRUJv6d28ulzHouLUZiOpcdJC5heSS3NmWEkad/s320/hallo22.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>And of course, there was wine:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg_mzVOxQL4QHigEhucA1diKPgyk_61E7Xpk8co52lXq_dNZa4BUA45_BIO7-b2hPb4wpaj5NYj3jxMo41AtZrjIZzFg01jwtnMVmtpd3W0fduZ35O2iCkfScPFJd8OPJBjacoBr-SLdrt5UaVvfamPA2-xmHEkdxdLKyN5Ey-Z-GYzXpT-kRHWm1F/s2048/wine22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1538" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg_mzVOxQL4QHigEhucA1diKPgyk_61E7Xpk8co52lXq_dNZa4BUA45_BIO7-b2hPb4wpaj5NYj3jxMo41AtZrjIZzFg01jwtnMVmtpd3W0fduZ35O2iCkfScPFJd8OPJBjacoBr-SLdrt5UaVvfamPA2-xmHEkdxdLKyN5Ey-Z-GYzXpT-kRHWm1F/s320/wine22.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi36NX7_WAaepTLcel1RaV2bNHjTR6L9CqcD90jjEiCi_dhaEX-uM3i2lmSoxoTj6UMMwtuF5znKBmS4p1_GtWLNMR4tXL8ed3ZelaMIB4rBfkkPrMEAh-tUwb_YSHvUGmQNM7r8zoIp3h0UJKlFl1ocJPWT5-LX2Jb8_BSetpvcUEw3G_XJ9S6RMg3/s2048/wine24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi36NX7_WAaepTLcel1RaV2bNHjTR6L9CqcD90jjEiCi_dhaEX-uM3i2lmSoxoTj6UMMwtuF5znKBmS4p1_GtWLNMR4tXL8ed3ZelaMIB4rBfkkPrMEAh-tUwb_YSHvUGmQNM7r8zoIp3h0UJKlFl1ocJPWT5-LX2Jb8_BSetpvcUEw3G_XJ9S6RMg3/s320/wine24.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqmm69KJ2PU2Y-psAwyeDKmYJjVTn1q3MIU_l0twKcj_Bb42wcsR2PpACacZXIH0hdiRNZumNVFMrXcbbkNEB2WBIAY11oS4F0vmfpVcGKMiBPQft_aIL5ezKyD18gf7IQ014LA8lQkVhRweDOkJ0yajgJCMuBz_rraBMZkKfvRtqoVry5QIFhCQuC/s2048/wine20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1538" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqmm69KJ2PU2Y-psAwyeDKmYJjVTn1q3MIU_l0twKcj_Bb42wcsR2PpACacZXIH0hdiRNZumNVFMrXcbbkNEB2WBIAY11oS4F0vmfpVcGKMiBPQft_aIL5ezKyD18gf7IQ014LA8lQkVhRweDOkJ0yajgJCMuBz_rraBMZkKfvRtqoVry5QIFhCQuC/s320/wine20.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQtBx1P5PFhnIzo_PE-ewWNg2mbO2-zXadBJo-m_KQU0zP0hYCU5O1mI0ien7FfjKMZzSwCh9nWv742G3QV43gD1zWfMwOHR3zF67RV3PdV9YMRoh_ARiXSNfIT2PwfusBn_fiQqnIQGbC-9MlVQG4eduOS1b74ne84di3ptof4Y8Hk_Of_du9QKaU/s2048/wineries22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1538" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQtBx1P5PFhnIzo_PE-ewWNg2mbO2-zXadBJo-m_KQU0zP0hYCU5O1mI0ien7FfjKMZzSwCh9nWv742G3QV43gD1zWfMwOHR3zF67RV3PdV9YMRoh_ARiXSNfIT2PwfusBn_fiQqnIQGbC-9MlVQG4eduOS1b74ne84di3ptof4Y8Hk_Of_du9QKaU/s320/wineries22.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>I am grateful and rejoicing for 2022, but hoping that 2023 will slow down a little so we can take in and enjoy even more our day to day. <div><br /></div><div>Happy Advent!</div><div>Peace,</div><div>Julia<br /><div><br /></div></div>Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06098852834050397406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1055688385421362242.post-52159610821570248032022-08-09T09:13:00.011-04:002022-08-09T12:47:38.201-04:00The One About Wine Part 3- Summer 2022<p> When I am not traveling or reading by the pool during these days of summer, I am out exploring my state of Virginia and all of the wine that it has to offer. It has over 300 wineries to offer, by the way. I am currently up to exploring winery numbers 71-76!</p><p>For my original post of #1-60 <a href="https://hebrews121-3.blogspot.com/2021/11/the-one-about-wine.html">go here.</a> </p><p>For #61-70<a href="https://hebrews121-3.blogspot.com/2022/06/the-one-about-wine-part-2.html"> go here.</a> </p><p>Read on for the latest winery visits of my summer!</p><p><br /></p><p><b style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Bluemont Vineyard </b> (71) - I can't believe I hadn't been to this winery when I lived in Northern VA. When I posted that I had been there this summer, so many DC friends posted that this was their favorite in the Northern VA region and I could see why. The views were absolutely breathtaking and the outdoor seating was plentiful. The wines were also really, really good. There were a couple of tasting options to choose from and I chose one with whites and reds. I ended up purchasing two bottles from this place: their Sauvignon Blanc and their Cabernet Sauvignon. In addition to their main tasting room, they also have a reserve room which is for guests 21+ only (you know she loves to see it), but you do have to make reservations ahead of time. This place is definitely in my top 5 wineries of VA now and I'm only sad that I didn't make my way here sooner! Definitely recommend. </p><p><u style="font-weight: bold;">Good Luck Cellars </u>(72)- I made a trip out to the Northern Neck of VA earlier on this summer and went to this winery. The winery was nice with lots of outdoor deck space. Y'all know that I prefer wine from more mountainous regions, though, but for a lower region, the wine was drinkable. The server was friendly and I enjoyed my time there. If you are in the Northern Neck, you can definitely check it out, but not sure I would make a trip just for this place. </p><p><u style="font-weight: bold;">Quievremont Vineyard and Winery </u>(73)- I stopped at this one recently on my way to Rappahannock Cellars. I got a tasting and it was 4 wines for about $10. There were a couple of options to choose from and I usually try to pick one with both whites and reds so I can get a sense for the winery and their grapes. This place does grow their own grapes...mostly. There was one red that used grapes from another VA winery because they had less yield in 2020. The red with the imported grapes was actually my favorite. The other wines were just okay. This place also doesn't have much in terms of atmosphere. The tasting room isn't that sophisticated and the decor was a little chaotic. There was a sculpture of a mastodon tusk for one? I would probably skip this place, but at least the tasting was affordable. </p><p><u style="font-weight: bold;">Rappahannock Cellars</u> (74)- This one had been on my list for a while so I had some high expectations. Driving up, the location is really beautiful and the space is really well utilized. There is lots of indoor seating and also a rooftop space that was very contemporary and gave you a good view of the vineyard. I did their premiere tasting which currently includes two sparkling wines which was definitely different than many of the wineries I had been to. I liked the Blanc de Blanc. The other sparkling was not a fave. They also have been serving their wines in testtubes since Covid which was just a little off putting to me and didn't seem very practical for the server or for aerating the wine. I liked the Chardonnay and their "Eighteen" red blend. The rooftop space was definitely the best part for me. There is also a distillery next door which maybe I will have to go back and try. All and all, this place was nice to visit. </p><p><u style="font-weight: bold;">Revalation Vineyards- </u>(75) This winery is in Madison, VA and is adorable. The wine is also really, really good. The tasting space is a very small cabin which made the experience different than other wineries. The tasting was done outside since there isn't much space inside the cabin. The rocking chairs on the porch of the cabin were fun and definitely added to the experience. The tasting was a little pricey- $20! But you could choose from whites or reds or a mix of both. I did the mostly reds and was not disappointed. Their white petit manseng and all of the reds I tasted were really good. I ended up purchasing a bottle of their Merlotage which was a mix of merlot and other red grapes. They grow all of their own grapes and found out they spell their winery Reva-lation because many of the grapes were grown in Reva, VA. They also served their tasting in mismatched vintage glasses which I thought was cute. This place was definitely different than a lot of wineries and is an experience I would recommend!</p><p><u style="font-weight: bold;">Slater Run Vineyards </u>(76) I saw a sign for this winery on my way to Bluemont and decided to hit it up on my way back. I was so glad that I did! This winery is a newer one, but the grounds and the tasting room are really nice. They have a modern feel while still having a farm vibe as well, which is kind of the best of both worlds for me. Their wine was also really satisfying. I am not usually a rose girl, but I remember really liking their rose. There was a group doing a tour while I was there and this space definitely lends itself well to groups. I would recommend bringing your group out there to check it out! Recommend. </p><p><u style="font-weight: bold;">Twin Oaks Tavern Winery</u> (77)- I can't believe that I never made it out to this winery which is close to Leesburg, VA and Purceville. I lived in this area for a while but tended to do the Route 50 and Route 9 wineries in NoVA, I guess. This is a winery I would go back to, though it wasn't the most memorable for me. I did this one on the day of Bluemont and Slater Run so of the three, it was probably my least favorite. The views are really, really nice, though. There is a nice outdoor space. I received 3 wines in my tasting and I went with reds which included a mulled wine slushie which I was dubious of, but it ended up being my favorite. The other reds were drinkable, but when the one with spices and is frozen is your favorite, I feel like that says something. I don't think a place should have to doctor up wines, but that's just me. But this place is pretty and worth a visit. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_RIC18z6pRHfQOLhAA12267Ia5gl3k2YK8qqCcOcQaHRmSOb7zzvaVGKQfUAIkfzffN3U47gSSlI-xif7ZTPvWjkqpLmHX_HM1-jghgSqyZ9J4aX5LuQPtl5BkZsUmN5CHsfvmPYrOY1ILX9jdmARNZJC3DBdxipEMs-zFr6OdishSS5G1iekBk7N/s2048/wine20.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1538" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_RIC18z6pRHfQOLhAA12267Ia5gl3k2YK8qqCcOcQaHRmSOb7zzvaVGKQfUAIkfzffN3U47gSSlI-xif7ZTPvWjkqpLmHX_HM1-jghgSqyZ9J4aX5LuQPtl5BkZsUmN5CHsfvmPYrOY1ILX9jdmARNZJC3DBdxipEMs-zFr6OdishSS5G1iekBk7N/s320/wine20.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>My new favorite winery- Bluemont!</i><div><i><br /></i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhniXHhVHhaIbDGoWfrdQoCjD1F8Po2rUR-UhE8Z3zG6Yeihl3qUJ2Y1PsDBAEI8XzGgJ564szKcF9gBgM_xMO6IMDD7ESab-LW9B12dNbTj0YvupAFDS6ez7tb_Exr26QDISwZe_WjK8FQpf69hAVteweW4eLfmCA9FEu46wE7uOay6ky9NnbuSe-N/s2048/wine22.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1538" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhniXHhVHhaIbDGoWfrdQoCjD1F8Po2rUR-UhE8Z3zG6Yeihl3qUJ2Y1PsDBAEI8XzGgJ564szKcF9gBgM_xMO6IMDD7ESab-LW9B12dNbTj0YvupAFDS6ez7tb_Exr26QDISwZe_WjK8FQpf69hAVteweW4eLfmCA9FEu46wE7uOay6ky9NnbuSe-N/s320/wine22.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>The rooftop views at Rappahannock Cellars</i></div><div><i><br /></i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBp743wa2X7E_DbTKeJDh9qNzAtM-KPidZort7sjXJcT-Le3ZZyhH0JxguKOdOamxlpEy5bazGiLJJLn5hmGsu-Bi8sNEFKNgzOScZUCU8d9WdF8jap9VHGO3nYnBgTrutzrKEmv8T-KRnS8Cbto0pCBDin58Qr14CyhT8tZIodxi4HiOgQ2_rBQom/s2048/wine24.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBp743wa2X7E_DbTKeJDh9qNzAtM-KPidZort7sjXJcT-Le3ZZyhH0JxguKOdOamxlpEy5bazGiLJJLn5hmGsu-Bi8sNEFKNgzOScZUCU8d9WdF8jap9VHGO3nYnBgTrutzrKEmv8T-KRnS8Cbto0pCBDin58Qr14CyhT8tZIodxi4HiOgQ2_rBQom/s320/wine24.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div><i>The adorable cabin and rocking chairs as well as vintage glasses at Revalation Vineyards- another new fave!</i></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYTiRhj8DAJl18erKAZI9k-PDgo3RzXEzyTkOY-O7MWT6ZoAtoNR2Liq_frLbrRSeY8x8lusUyG0Do3H5lLYHi0OUz0eGqN5nfgcN_lDVx4RNE1I-yKtCNNHdqGnnI0qUayiOxR6nsJGxNdaI1TOhMmmKzHP8h6MCxynsboE0yXyDgnt0CHFQImuAW/s2048/win23.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYTiRhj8DAJl18erKAZI9k-PDgo3RzXEzyTkOY-O7MWT6ZoAtoNR2Liq_frLbrRSeY8x8lusUyG0Do3H5lLYHi0OUz0eGqN5nfgcN_lDVx4RNE1I-yKtCNNHdqGnnI0qUayiOxR6nsJGxNdaI1TOhMmmKzHP8h6MCxynsboE0yXyDgnt0CHFQImuAW/s320/win23.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><i>The weird science tasting at Rappahannock Cellars.</i></div><div><br /></div><div>I will continue to document all things VA wine here! My summer of 2022 is coming to a close which I can't believe. 2022 as a whole has gone too fast. But I am sure that fall of 2022 will bring even more wine, so I guess bring it on! Fall 2022, here we come.</div><div><br /></div><div>Peace,</div><div>Julia<br /><p><br /></p></div>Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06098852834050397406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1055688385421362242.post-79115022216173640082022-07-10T12:56:00.003-04:002022-07-12T08:51:45.704-04:00Montreal and Quebec City 2022<p>These last two years of the pandemic have been very stressful and certainly have had their ups and downs. With vaccines becoming available in 2021, I was happy to be able to have things open up again and begin to travel. However, there still have been many restrictions and much anxiety since COVID cases are still constantly going up and down. Since we seem to be just functioning with Covid at this point, I decided I would book an international trip, but maybe start somewhere a little safe and still a little close to home. </p><p>I am originally from Cleveland, Ohio, which is on Lake Erie. Basically across Lake Erie is Canada. I have been to Toronto a couple of times growing up since it was just a quick drive through NY. Montreal and Quebec, however, have always been on my list of places to check out. (I also have Banff and Calgary on my list still as well!)</p><p>When I was looking to do a "safe" and "close" international trip to dip back into travel during this pandemic, Montreal and Quebec City seemed to be a great option. People often ask where I get my information to find the places that I check out and I think I may have mentioned in my Spring Break post from this year that I read a lot of blogs on Pinterest (just search for the city/place you are wanting to travel on Pinterest and all kinds of blogs will pop up!), Trip Advisor, and Atlas Obscura for some more wacky things to try.</p><p>I usually research ahead of time and make a Google doc or list of the places I definitely and also maybe want to see and then once I get to the place or look at a map, I map out the places that make the most sense to see together. Being a teacher and traveling solo help me as well because teaching makes me have to have a plan but also be flexible. And traveling solo means I can get up and go and spend as much time as I want at places!</p><p>Here is the itinerary I ended up with in the end- equal parts planning and letting the city(ies) speak to me while I was there! I could've spent more time in each city, but this was my first international trip solo! And I find that 5-7 days is kind of as much time as this introvert can handle on the road alone for right now. </p><p><u>Day1: Richmond to Montreal</u></p><p>I had kind of a later flight out of Richmond on Sunday because I am a musician and had two Masses scheduled to play Sunday AM. If I would've flown out earlier that day, I probably would've gotten to explore Montreal a little at night, but by the time I got into the Montreal airport that evening, I just took an uber straight to my air b n b. </p><p>I had asked my Air B n B host the best way to get to their place that first night from the airport. He suggested taxi or uber, and this probably was the best option for a tourist getting in at night. I got back to the airport a different way, though, which is much more cost effective! Uber was a little expensive, but I expected as much for late on a Sunday night and was just happy to get to my stay safe. </p><p>I really like staying in Air B n Bs because you get to be in a neighborhood and a more "real" perspective of a place, in my opinion. The place I stayed in Montreal was not one of the more posh or funky places, but it was perfect and simple for what I needed the next 2-3 days. </p><p><u>Day 2- Montreal</u></p><p>My air b n b was in the University/Hospital area part of downtown. The Guy-Concordia stop of the Metro station to be exact. Having lived in the DC area for so many years, I LOVE using the metro and find it really easy to use. Montreal's metro system was a definite win for me this week. I went to the metro station and bought a 3 day pass which was perfect for my 3 days there! I used that sucker well beyond it's value (which is cheap, btw. It was $21 Canadian dollars which was like $15 US. Getting to go up down and all around the city for $5 a day?? Amazing!)</p><p>I was not prepared, for whatever reason, for the hills of Montreal. I brought my usual cute, European travel outfits that I bring for hopping on and off tour buses and walking casually around cities. I should have brought my workout wear for the amount of hills and walking there is to be done in Montreal! (Realizing as I was there that Montreal means...Mont Royal. Royal MOUNTAIN. Quebec City- also built on a hill/mountain, but we will get to that). </p><p>Even though, I am very good at navigating metro, I am NOT good at navigating maps, even Google Maps when it talks to me apparently. My first outing was meant to take me to the metro by my air b n b, but I ended up hiking up to St. Joseph's Oratory instead (the complete opposite of my metro stop...I would get a handle on the metro later that day). </p><p>The walk was definitely UP HILL but through a nice, suburban area and it was actually the perfect place to start my Montreal trip as a Catholic. I didn't have any expectations of this Church, which is perhaps why it exceeded any and all that I could have had. This Church is a COMPLEX. But definitely worth the trip even if you aren't a Catholic, in my opinion. It is way more modern than a lot of the other Churches in Quebec and it happens to be the home of St. Andre Bessette which I had heard about, but didn't realize that this was the spot where he had lived and was buried! I was so stoked and happy to find that out. I spent much of the morning my first day there. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAh2rvrTM2cB-W7RFAuNPBf6Kd6MVDuPqmJbM1PuO68jRyHQc-VLektyRLLZXuPfVmckK4EUoSmwN0Ba7flfB1mkZWA0M7lAYDx-4T9oobMWYkaNCzOqIRVhD3YT1IAhH68HAik9clehcywAOTEgJEQ8magtFqmn9WGz0zEuN-Qyzu6ODAR2NH0bVw/s2048/ca1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAh2rvrTM2cB-W7RFAuNPBf6Kd6MVDuPqmJbM1PuO68jRyHQc-VLektyRLLZXuPfVmckK4EUoSmwN0Ba7flfB1mkZWA0M7lAYDx-4T9oobMWYkaNCzOqIRVhD3YT1IAhH68HAik9clehcywAOTEgJEQ8magtFqmn9WGz0zEuN-Qyzu6ODAR2NH0bVw/s320/ca1.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><i>Inside St. Joseph's</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0HHbmZnmKU5FYn4jLU9xx9mPkUpeZo6yEwH_Jj2cQlpGujJ6YG5rX5mXcS8TiI2tZBQHIP8GaWMITzSbuVmcNjFrGJaSBeypNeLiaghReBMKAaa6HUi7dStAfULdnhxXlmENQrDn0fc_34OVpuu-Gks12fY2jmgllAg-63S1rQ3ZQTlMLxcLq4uqW/s2048/ca2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0HHbmZnmKU5FYn4jLU9xx9mPkUpeZo6yEwH_Jj2cQlpGujJ6YG5rX5mXcS8TiI2tZBQHIP8GaWMITzSbuVmcNjFrGJaSBeypNeLiaghReBMKAaa6HUi7dStAfULdnhxXlmENQrDn0fc_34OVpuu-Gks12fY2jmgllAg-63S1rQ3ZQTlMLxcLq4uqW/s320/ca2.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><i>I literally got lost in this place...there was SO much to see! I ended up going to Mass in the Crypt Church which was a treat and yes...you can see St. Andre's HEART on display! Oh Catholics...we're weird.</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8XZ-FqlNZoQy6E64sK5v9jMF4aynIDdKwtMx5H3IgUNMjUMZ2pEcEDfC_voB-Q6D3w2lpOJ7ycduh_0Rwk5aIeqiZYDoAwhS2w74kvUx907ZrAw_8LV-g2-KQXr58nfhN-Wa6BIhz2tYYOaO8Uud6WTZjssEVeXr1n3WdbpmtzkQQHvE_gMwQhLva/s2048/ca3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8XZ-FqlNZoQy6E64sK5v9jMF4aynIDdKwtMx5H3IgUNMjUMZ2pEcEDfC_voB-Q6D3w2lpOJ7ycduh_0Rwk5aIeqiZYDoAwhS2w74kvUx907ZrAw_8LV-g2-KQXr58nfhN-Wa6BIhz2tYYOaO8Uud6WTZjssEVeXr1n3WdbpmtzkQQHvE_gMwQhLva/s320/ca3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>There is a great view at the top of the Oratory!</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOnykmeiXTNH_RSZRX8cQMjqCWQ4l0S9vPSviO08_w2nO9RhQz8_s6qBN18ImTUCg6QOfuynosjtlSaoyOyGOeLA-UADkOo-t8OW3MR2dmkQNa4A78WTcnrnB9f5L6rq-K6o8n2YIc3LBZQ9_rRW1Gr1n7vLrx7xEAwkaAL6j6McZZ98_1oagMTAbX/s2048/ca4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOnykmeiXTNH_RSZRX8cQMjqCWQ4l0S9vPSviO08_w2nO9RhQz8_s6qBN18ImTUCg6QOfuynosjtlSaoyOyGOeLA-UADkOo-t8OW3MR2dmkQNa4A78WTcnrnB9f5L6rq-K6o8n2YIc3LBZQ9_rRW1Gr1n7vLrx7xEAwkaAL6j6McZZ98_1oagMTAbX/s320/ca4.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><i>St. Joseph's from below</i><div><i><br /></i></div><div>I took a shuttle down from the Church to the street and walked to the metro and took it to the Mont Royal neighborhood. Maps were starting to fail me so I kind of wandered around not sure what I was looking for a minute but then decided to find a brunch place I had wanted to try, L'Avenue. That place had a long line and I wasn't wanting to wait that long for food. This would be a theme for many of my meals in Montreal. Luckily, there is so much good food in this city that you can find a lot of good options everywhere. I ended up going to a spot right next to L'Avenue and trying an avocado "toast" with a Montreal bagel. Bagels are a thing in Montreal and I had a couple. I'm not sure that they lived up to the hype for me, but I'm glad that I got to try. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSNPNn4gv3jOS8MEuitCrCbAdpS0a5Fxar_TieydHtbhLSgto3IoNtIyRgEQJ6QcEN7_64GOvEi8IAIR7wbVglApwj_LybMipd8o3CVleGcE0FcEz6NKAQFSspURp4GqtcFKYyn7NXALsfLgJt1zj8cBXGp8vlDtR3ICu87joFkbmLv6N5hKs0kM0_/s1334/ca5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="750" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSNPNn4gv3jOS8MEuitCrCbAdpS0a5Fxar_TieydHtbhLSgto3IoNtIyRgEQJ6QcEN7_64GOvEi8IAIR7wbVglApwj_LybMipd8o3CVleGcE0FcEz6NKAQFSspURp4GqtcFKYyn7NXALsfLgJt1zj8cBXGp8vlDtR3ICu87joFkbmLv6N5hKs0kM0_/s320/ca5.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br /><div><i>meal #1 in Montreal: brunch at Notre Boeuf de Grace in Le Plateau Mont Royal</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>I kind of wandered around the Plateau Mont Royal neighborhood most of the day. The Library (Biblioteque, which turns out is closed on Mondays) was also on my list, so I eventually took the metro to Place de Arts and found out that there was an International Jazz Festival in Montreal that week. I would return to this festival the next day!</div><div><br /></div><div>One of the things recommended on Trip Advisor was the Barbie Expo. I was never a huge Barbie Girl (heh) but I thought it was worth checking out so I metroed AGAIN to the Peel station and after wandering a bit AGAIN, found the Barbie Expo inside the mall next to the Peel Metro. It's definitely worth the trip. I enjoyed seeing all the different variety of Barbie through the years and some of the famous iterations of her.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs6tJ2eZVdqk0JcbY48LtwZJzMJ2Y6gI4eFbQBOPTX_uuLrr2ecRng7SrDxVWA_WvQnEdXo6mTCf883fna2DAgOcCWKCt7rVPyq-RHdNqokKKKVJHnhKSXxAvuOlAybv_JCBldLKbCfZJpowhDiAaHHURffHlbk0tpgJp6pNJEHXO-kEYNufXaxUwD/s2048/ca6.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs6tJ2eZVdqk0JcbY48LtwZJzMJ2Y6gI4eFbQBOPTX_uuLrr2ecRng7SrDxVWA_WvQnEdXo6mTCf883fna2DAgOcCWKCt7rVPyq-RHdNqokKKKVJHnhKSXxAvuOlAybv_JCBldLKbCfZJpowhDiAaHHURffHlbk0tpgJp6pNJEHXO-kEYNufXaxUwD/s320/ca6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfxNsGUEXolDkJ-jQhhJk7IW2XcVDDjzZ6BRhHLwCSVe8DjMh2pRtUwTypp30y3RH9UX9C6Bz98yC67R2CqGYG6tym6x7K918M3GpQ6avvJdN17pDK4UOPSjWZ7uaq6JCGVJ3shtZnHyiUVSbaAWJDm__0HcV_-7NGURnvdiVlegV_5i39w7e1_F1j/s2048/ca7.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfxNsGUEXolDkJ-jQhhJk7IW2XcVDDjzZ6BRhHLwCSVe8DjMh2pRtUwTypp30y3RH9UX9C6Bz98yC67R2CqGYG6tym6x7K918M3GpQ6avvJdN17pDK4UOPSjWZ7uaq6JCGVJ3shtZnHyiUVSbaAWJDm__0HcV_-7NGURnvdiVlegV_5i39w7e1_F1j/s320/ca7.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div><i>There really were soooo many Barbies to see! Too many to possibly post here!</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>After walking and wandering and metroing around the first half of my day, I went back to my Air b n b to regroup and recharge. After a respite, I returned back to the Mont Royal/Saint Laurent neighborhoods for some more walking and this time, mural exploring. There are SO MANY on Saint Laurent Boulevard. It's worth just talking a long walk up Saint Laurent to check them out. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Qqx37uEeo6RI3lCTQJNIyAyYJxc2eGBjkHf73q4BTcWizTme8VR6bag3Pzek3-bOpk5IjEnV7cNJHK28FcnRTuNXG8bE3RGXaiQJlxvHPgpaKQvZSus4nrp9e3_Lgg9NycOwLsXY_I1ZUNH1SF4UAaoMAp3EFL0QLYlQDIiNedqV1l4BSSO6BBCf/s2048/ca8.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Qqx37uEeo6RI3lCTQJNIyAyYJxc2eGBjkHf73q4BTcWizTme8VR6bag3Pzek3-bOpk5IjEnV7cNJHK28FcnRTuNXG8bE3RGXaiQJlxvHPgpaKQvZSus4nrp9e3_Lgg9NycOwLsXY_I1ZUNH1SF4UAaoMAp3EFL0QLYlQDIiNedqV1l4BSSO6BBCf/s320/ca8.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ob7LQ4tozL-Hv8BHqsC7oM6blL2UGPb5lYiHxpSSF6v80NHHetippLpZAM-D_oW9j7PcRA2yyj3Jh0jUfZe2tkCOefNpKyUZWJadtlwaXqysnODFZajzW3S-_PSbXZ4KUEbWdPCJAEjQy3LfBqkB2a1OWuO-_SZX0YQUxiPm7Wfgo7TDlt2PuoCc/s2048/ca9.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ob7LQ4tozL-Hv8BHqsC7oM6blL2UGPb5lYiHxpSSF6v80NHHetippLpZAM-D_oW9j7PcRA2yyj3Jh0jUfZe2tkCOefNpKyUZWJadtlwaXqysnODFZajzW3S-_PSbXZ4KUEbWdPCJAEjQy3LfBqkB2a1OWuO-_SZX0YQUxiPm7Wfgo7TDlt2PuoCc/s320/ca9.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVwVL_jiNBi1XCRaKFA0PX1u8HuVr9Z6fSnrqntxNp798GWtzANRR5JKHU1dPmPrdBcKAzbA5nEcWOzp-3dEd8Q0IvTgCyi30Gm1RhSUSPJ-nU9LswyTPubVxjKDsP0WSHTuqe-YGqQf8PwWgRcfMy8kFEgpiQttu_j3Nnjq36lMfKMqfOY1-InQ9s/s2048/ca10.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1538" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVwVL_jiNBi1XCRaKFA0PX1u8HuVr9Z6fSnrqntxNp798GWtzANRR5JKHU1dPmPrdBcKAzbA5nEcWOzp-3dEd8Q0IvTgCyi30Gm1RhSUSPJ-nU9LswyTPubVxjKDsP0WSHTuqe-YGqQf8PwWgRcfMy8kFEgpiQttu_j3Nnjq36lMfKMqfOY1-InQ9s/s320/ca10.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYyRRHylRduhVOoaiXjvl9n4pWpNDJSEYzIxt5xF3fw9Q9y7T1lpxuazBqt9bub7Wbz158WW_mIgv3n5QLzZL_uoZH-TGMiL6mFybFP4SkT68QorrH0k75waFm9ptYXiOfJEJ-PGKWNAQg6vfyPekeOFq21eauq0eLdGBztuoTjXNPvyVHHWmaiqFi/s2048/ca11.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYyRRHylRduhVOoaiXjvl9n4pWpNDJSEYzIxt5xF3fw9Q9y7T1lpxuazBqt9bub7Wbz158WW_mIgv3n5QLzZL_uoZH-TGMiL6mFybFP4SkT68QorrH0k75waFm9ptYXiOfJEJ-PGKWNAQg6vfyPekeOFq21eauq0eLdGBztuoTjXNPvyVHHWmaiqFi/s320/ca11.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div><i>Just a small sample of murals on Saint Laurent. I recommend metroing to Sherbrooke and walking to Saint Louis Square and then you can also see these classic Plauteau Mont Royale houses on your way towards Saint Laurent Boulevard. Make sure to cut over on Prince Arthur for cute restaurants as well!</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6b-Ri-LgEX9_-oMGoZYxVuz8qfEDQofF23pJSldSCu5lNT8pNeUaIvkFmln7Ru-Mv0lIobcLi9skU7Onh61FXRmFtcQJwGcWn1ullsIOlu6HiEI2TTRRCQM6jZFbQAdE0N-hTbnqGlh9HBx-tH08go4Yv-wt5Y7r4ZD7pIQInBNzdJ2Brt9mTy5J6/s2048/ca12.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6b-Ri-LgEX9_-oMGoZYxVuz8qfEDQofF23pJSldSCu5lNT8pNeUaIvkFmln7Ru-Mv0lIobcLi9skU7Onh61FXRmFtcQJwGcWn1ullsIOlu6HiEI2TTRRCQM6jZFbQAdE0N-hTbnqGlh9HBx-tH08go4Yv-wt5Y7r4ZD7pIQInBNzdJ2Brt9mTy5J6/s320/ca12.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />I did so much walking that first day. I ended up getting dinner in the Mile End neighborhood at an amazing, authentic ramen restaurant- Tsukuyomi Ramen. I then decided to call it a night and metro back to my air b n b to have a chill night watching The Great Canadian Baking Show which was available in Canada on Netflix! :)</div><div><br /></div><div><u>Day 3: Montreal Part 2</u></div><div><u><br /></u></div><div>Something that I had booked ahead before I got to Montreal, was a water circuit treatment at Bota Bota Spa in Old Port Montreal. I HIGHLY recommend this for a couple hours, especially after a full day or two of walking around Montreal! Our cell phones weren't allowed inside the spa, but there were hot tubs and cool water pools and saunas...I'd been to a place like this in Philly, but nowhere near the beautiful garden setting that Bota Bota has. There are 4 levels of water circuits! 2 of the 4 ask that you remain silent for true calm and relaxation. You can also book massages and other treatments, but I opted just for the water circuit was still very Zen and relaxing. There were so many cool little spots to sit and just chill. I highly recommend!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivz9WDASj9czu8cHpysqxbBGLadKmXRInD1ZoXUH6krDrPZ9GNpEbDGOoDC2oJcqMcn_OJsydCXq4KTbleAtGQszYSIhDA5dtTHB-ylAST793L0pWzb-h0pVESvYKskNutxSuIs_0epEtbYPBFQaRyqXjRStfXwHN7qGc222eDX33AKAelXW08kagH/s2048/ca13.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivz9WDASj9czu8cHpysqxbBGLadKmXRInD1ZoXUH6krDrPZ9GNpEbDGOoDC2oJcqMcn_OJsydCXq4KTbleAtGQszYSIhDA5dtTHB-ylAST793L0pWzb-h0pVESvYKskNutxSuIs_0epEtbYPBFQaRyqXjRStfXwHN7qGc222eDX33AKAelXW08kagH/s320/ca13.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>To get to Bota Bota, I metroed to Victoria Square which is a good stop for a lot of the "Old Port/Old Montreal" spots as is the Place de Arms Metro stop. On my way down to Bota Bota, I swung past the Underground City in Montreal to get some breakfast (the Underground City is just like that- kind of an underground mall and walk ways for when temps get frigid in winter!) and also stopped at the Notre Dame Basilica in Old Montreal. I was a little disappointed that you had to pay to get in and book a ticket, but I suppose they see this spot as more of a museum and it does have a lot of history to it, though, not all of the statues and stained glass windows to white colonizers seemed like the best history to honor in my opinion...</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-cHPARRyxE3te5-ZD3UP7Yr4nEeSC9jCDDYZg34GOK1Uy9D09ynduMZsQjryUYXyObMzMEMRkaKmvvtiwsjUZh_TBN1KjzFokklGwuawwqFuL0Ur4GCnhwC4gb3Q_GhnKwzCVwclvQlj8akjv81Tdg7eTu5Nt8SSHDhMaGcksmRtLSTuLiYSafaFG/s2048/ca14.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-cHPARRyxE3te5-ZD3UP7Yr4nEeSC9jCDDYZg34GOK1Uy9D09ynduMZsQjryUYXyObMzMEMRkaKmvvtiwsjUZh_TBN1KjzFokklGwuawwqFuL0Ur4GCnhwC4gb3Q_GhnKwzCVwclvQlj8akjv81Tdg7eTu5Nt8SSHDhMaGcksmRtLSTuLiYSafaFG/s320/ca14.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0BSNbtkImftv6kV2jdrYwnHPyRyFOrOOZaY9T9BJ8XVInMvDwu-3jyzLUoBIbL6uZtUL8uL_hBRHPHpyxZTZYaYl9-BJ4L7dKshQMTjgTBwtS0BttzBO-MzLHgjWasMHwkpyIf55cqpe7uDSdhFbBz_2Rx48JZBjmhk6hx-tI6o1bya7cot87UHTq/s2048/ca15.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0BSNbtkImftv6kV2jdrYwnHPyRyFOrOOZaY9T9BJ8XVInMvDwu-3jyzLUoBIbL6uZtUL8uL_hBRHPHpyxZTZYaYl9-BJ4L7dKshQMTjgTBwtS0BttzBO-MzLHgjWasMHwkpyIf55cqpe7uDSdhFbBz_2Rx48JZBjmhk6hx-tI6o1bya7cot87UHTq/s320/ca15.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>The wood work and the lighting they use inside the Church is very cool. It is very different than some of the other Churches I have seen and Notre Dame is such a fixture of Old Montreal. It is still worth seeing, I think, despite its cost and statues/windows to colonizers...</i><div><i><br /></i></div><div>After my blissed out time at the spa, I wandered down Old Port towards the Grand Roue de Montreal which looked fun even though it was raining. This would be a great spot for kids and families. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqOLmc1AeqFQBW4djSxeQ2AK_-ZqF1K7dsNsA-W9aniK7lzSoZ7rLunGvJp1RY-E8b3PbjuZPuojNSxyVs6ABEXTO6oHJIncMEeY0xhYO5-3nLKsxJwdaNkbONZ_xF4gOkRc8aOLwM1C7NH4siYn5s1nejXUxr478wFJ3Rtuh9qnZafjjsMRAtIBpk/s960/ca16.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqOLmc1AeqFQBW4djSxeQ2AK_-ZqF1K7dsNsA-W9aniK7lzSoZ7rLunGvJp1RY-E8b3PbjuZPuojNSxyVs6ABEXTO6oHJIncMEeY0xhYO5-3nLKsxJwdaNkbONZ_xF4gOkRc8aOLwM1C7NH4siYn5s1nejXUxr478wFJ3Rtuh9qnZafjjsMRAtIBpk/s320/ca16.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>Me blissed out after water circuits at Bota Bota in front of ferris wheel in Old Port/Grand Roue de Montreal. Below, a church spotted from Old Port that I had to check out. St. Margarite Bourgeoys is buried there- Notre Dame de Bon Secours (not to be confused with the Notre Dame Basilica. Notre Dame is just Our Lady in French and there are a lot of titles for Our Lady!)</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnaKAuz7oz8L5FB_x8_BcsYVSgk4GeYoUXuwKovfoEruzQ1P2QPt2pS4O1LSa5zSk4iAr_9cIMObtkk9S0tG4IS6Sni1S0FCJBi6XLwo_aIouX9NFeYRThUgxLBCIZrfXvF7KtvKkPRr256-JwaIdu1gdAzGvT1KM-vruPMBiFJfy8vnBdXZDHBn6a/s2048/ca17.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnaKAuz7oz8L5FB_x8_BcsYVSgk4GeYoUXuwKovfoEruzQ1P2QPt2pS4O1LSa5zSk4iAr_9cIMObtkk9S0tG4IS6Sni1S0FCJBi6XLwo_aIouX9NFeYRThUgxLBCIZrfXvF7KtvKkPRr256-JwaIdu1gdAzGvT1KM-vruPMBiFJfy8vnBdXZDHBn6a/s320/ca17.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div>I spent some time in Old Montreal and really enjoyed sitting in Place Jacques Cartier which was a square that felt to me the most like Europe. I got dinner in the plaza and then headed back to my Air B n B (I splurged for an uber to take me back) to get ready for my big night out at the Jazz Fest!</div><div><br /></div><div>During my wanderings the day before, I came across the set up for the International Jazz Fest at the Place de Arts part of Montreal and saw that a couple of artists I wouldn't mind seeing were playing. Some of the shows were free and on outdoor stages, but I splurged again and booked a ticket for inside the Salle-Wilfrid Pelletier theater to see Pink Martini- a jazz band that I have been following on Instagram (well, I follow their lead singer China Forbes, who is amazing!)</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAFVTBqjLYCnmbVd5DKSoKq3snZf2JWVh-12tgh0vxMu4USH3krS1dssihOYpOOcuoEHfdi2s-kqV3-Te1hby9qt-GgEOX4CW67X2yzUDR6ZLNnhqrS2DAT4DBZe58PLd5fbj91kHNmRHxspln0SmHNc8WdUbxklpxG-GzfKSfskeeQ0Ts_GFN3dFg/s417/ca19.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="313" data-original-width="417" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAFVTBqjLYCnmbVd5DKSoKq3snZf2JWVh-12tgh0vxMu4USH3krS1dssihOYpOOcuoEHfdi2s-kqV3-Te1hby9qt-GgEOX4CW67X2yzUDR6ZLNnhqrS2DAT4DBZe58PLd5fbj91kHNmRHxspln0SmHNc8WdUbxklpxG-GzfKSfskeeQ0Ts_GFN3dFg/s320/ca19.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>The Salle Wilfrid Pelletier theater is beautiful and the show was amazing! Afterwards, I caught some of the free shows outside one of which was Nathaniel Ratliffe and the Nightsweats whom I've seen here in the States!</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV28m-71Z6iY9tTkxJknNPsXJe_YSlhNy2Cpz6nAQ03XMr6PXya0BxwI0fNc7EaQSXAxYTLVga6SHuYMdoXx98YPZEm1trVXqiZuofADO-_G0r1l7oceNftY2v_Gek-OLieoCLskO7TCsaWW9dZjTq07vVN61tMxkRlTBpLjj5CzRPUsJc68AW0lNX/s2048/ca20.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV28m-71Z6iY9tTkxJknNPsXJe_YSlhNy2Cpz6nAQ03XMr6PXya0BxwI0fNc7EaQSXAxYTLVga6SHuYMdoXx98YPZEm1trVXqiZuofADO-_G0r1l7oceNftY2v_Gek-OLieoCLskO7TCsaWW9dZjTq07vVN61tMxkRlTBpLjj5CzRPUsJc68AW0lNX/s320/ca20.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>I called it a night after hearing quite a few amazing acts that night. Such a great night out in Montreal!</div><div><br /></div><div><u>Day 4: Montreal to Quebec City</u></div><div><u><br /></u></div><div>Another one of the things that I booked ahead of time before my trip was a train from Montreal to Quebec City. I had heard how much like Europe Quebec City was, so I had put it on my list. The VIA Rail system in Canada is great and I was easily able to purchase a reasonably priced ticket to Quebec City. </div><div><br /></div><div>I checked out of my Air B n B and metroed down to Victoria Square again to have breakfast (the place I wanted to go had a line- Olive et Gourmando) so again, I found an easy breakfast spot that was kind enough to keep my suitcase while I ate and then I took a last look at Old Montreal before getting back on the metro to the Bonaventure station which would take me to Gran Centrale station of Montreal to get my train. </div><div><br /></div><div>(gotta love when they make public transportation so easy! The Bonaventure station is part of the Underground City and I literally just went underground from the metro to Gran Cetnrale). </div><div><br /></div><div>The train ride to Quebec City is a little over 3 hours but the train was comfortable and had an amazing cheese plate that truly was delicious. The server on my way back said they always sell out of them and I could see why!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhY9pJ_g_YD-aM1js-Ya0GiP5XsQ8l2d0b1FFUXxT_4YKsEsYq8bDJIZmVJjWc9ETlleP3qxtRCLQCVL5a0DgI1XUIi4fkLaSbvEMlsXT5P4i6BNuenFZ_h54USE9NYUOdG4lwECqU5k_mG--phtuEyn2EdmQHNYjdohCN1RTylcJAcFSiCAm7P-dJ/s2048/ca21.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhY9pJ_g_YD-aM1js-Ya0GiP5XsQ8l2d0b1FFUXxT_4YKsEsYq8bDJIZmVJjWc9ETlleP3qxtRCLQCVL5a0DgI1XUIi4fkLaSbvEMlsXT5P4i6BNuenFZ_h54USE9NYUOdG4lwECqU5k_mG--phtuEyn2EdmQHNYjdohCN1RTylcJAcFSiCAm7P-dJ/s320/ca21.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>The amazing VIA Rail cheese plate on my train to Quebec City!</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoT-3keCv9ReNpUkr3Mplil2v9wfDf8hmj2Eo_aOFNSAcUtoLDBl47i-Br021VZE74cB38z-5I5zu6mud3hqdUdXHnshR7lnrXuzsQt0dX9pxGApr6zND7hlYuyU4ZlW_AoQ0MAv_hF9K624YT8NJsjPdE1gTCGMlW9jgb7yyO-qHXsxLepmPg0cCe/s2048/ca22.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoT-3keCv9ReNpUkr3Mplil2v9wfDf8hmj2Eo_aOFNSAcUtoLDBl47i-Br021VZE74cB38z-5I5zu6mud3hqdUdXHnshR7lnrXuzsQt0dX9pxGApr6zND7hlYuyU4ZlW_AoQ0MAv_hF9K624YT8NJsjPdE1gTCGMlW9jgb7yyO-qHXsxLepmPg0cCe/s320/ca22.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>The Gare du Palais aka the Train station in Quebec City which was adorable in and of itself</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLjKJnUGx8Uy04TUjFq3pCySuFoaNtkW-sPy59fXbapmVnVVhLBy_G-GVfIXg5qeA3lQrpEq93y1Jaz4ApwmQzhiisCdMt1TZToTccMYEhd9vr_VXHTJIUItlir0m1O2tY1fzqz7E2PSaBcs3f3NOCxzi2JECfmZqtTozGEqD3Igz-YfJvqvVQ-O3Y/s960/ca23.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLjKJnUGx8Uy04TUjFq3pCySuFoaNtkW-sPy59fXbapmVnVVhLBy_G-GVfIXg5qeA3lQrpEq93y1Jaz4ApwmQzhiisCdMt1TZToTccMYEhd9vr_VXHTJIUItlir0m1O2tY1fzqz7E2PSaBcs3f3NOCxzi2JECfmZqtTozGEqD3Igz-YfJvqvVQ-O3Y/s320/ca23.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>The street to my Air B n B!</i><div><i><br /></i></div><div>I stayed in another air b n b for my first 2 nights in Quebec City. As I mentioned, my air b n b in Montreal was in the city and just a typical, simple apt. The one I stayed in Quebec City was quite a find! It was in the basement of these older buildings right outside the "walls" of Quebec City. </div><div><br /></div><div>Quebec City is adorable and also at the top of a hill. My air b n b was kind of at the bottom, but Quebec City is so precious that I didn't mind enduring the half a mile walk up the hill past the walls of the city every day. </div><div><br /></div><div>I want to say my air b n b was in the Saint-Roch part of the city? But it was close to the train station and like I said, the walls of the city and inside the walls are where a lot of the main sites of Quebec City lie. </div><div><br /></div><div>So I marched up to the walls of the city that evening and just took it all in: Chateau Frontenac, St. John's Gate, Parc de artillerie. It wouldn't be my first time wandering these sites. The Chateau Frontenac is the main fixture, in my opinion, that had street performers outside it and access to buses and other things I will get to!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL2BfGEvYqeYX0TdoCV-59bRVgZ_I1Y1rTySUxTgwyz08wlAbis-FfTwBnliNY2uYQPh0ggaOexqiktrP8sVAJf5JBiJY8jZUzb2IVb1jKxRwNc5PQ88fgLUBuu4okWLfnVKSJ9M9hTKDbGdAiyMYiZiTUBcEbber0SB4UwfKMSJ2I9cR7B6wOnBX7/s2048/ca24.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1538" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL2BfGEvYqeYX0TdoCV-59bRVgZ_I1Y1rTySUxTgwyz08wlAbis-FfTwBnliNY2uYQPh0ggaOexqiktrP8sVAJf5JBiJY8jZUzb2IVb1jKxRwNc5PQ88fgLUBuu4okWLfnVKSJ9M9hTKDbGdAiyMYiZiTUBcEbber0SB4UwfKMSJ2I9cR7B6wOnBX7/s320/ca24.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><i>View from St. John's Gate in Quebec City!</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8L142Y1s720RAHCVeZSJC2zM8LLh7mz-ZpbUXJsZDOmUt-vo7kMB7u9CAt1dLtt0yeZUignhM2FOTp1Ls4tnTWHSFOCfycuByfjipIaV4ly63XwcyMDSSzylRGjiYvRka5uolY7SQACwxneGI6Lzpue07Z4kyhRTuFL5DtfC7twiuw5KpnJq2n8AB/s2048/ca25.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8L142Y1s720RAHCVeZSJC2zM8LLh7mz-ZpbUXJsZDOmUt-vo7kMB7u9CAt1dLtt0yeZUignhM2FOTp1Ls4tnTWHSFOCfycuByfjipIaV4ly63XwcyMDSSzylRGjiYvRka5uolY7SQACwxneGI6Lzpue07Z4kyhRTuFL5DtfC7twiuw5KpnJq2n8AB/s320/ca25.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>I loved that locals seem to gather at St. John's Gate for a meal and wine...I opted for the restaurant below which was not far from Chateau Frontenac and offered a three course meal plus wine for $50 CA dollars which was such a deal in my mind!</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXy6trgOlTOKs_whzz92vKNrfujB8fEvNQymU6chiMlZ8TLRQLUSS6gw2XVsVpBgu9I4VxO4n6fMyDW7Iin-ws2MaHSO7HYAFqT35YP7Q7fBQlRBRXcb3sFVfusOJJdzwRfHlm3d68bajP8MW0tTd_Hzf9Ibl-3s8rsnBjDspavyrdkNe5_vE8ngEZ/s2048/ca26.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXy6trgOlTOKs_whzz92vKNrfujB8fEvNQymU6chiMlZ8TLRQLUSS6gw2XVsVpBgu9I4VxO4n6fMyDW7Iin-ws2MaHSO7HYAFqT35YP7Q7fBQlRBRXcb3sFVfusOJJdzwRfHlm3d68bajP8MW0tTd_Hzf9Ibl-3s8rsnBjDspavyrdkNe5_vE8ngEZ/s320/ca26.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCDm-vHPbucUNObVWMSmrCrZrIUG7kEa7OdmXambNc93fVb9s6lOJQBrZeSkc7XtF0R1vEeYdxMs0QXSnQq1MjoV-zv8yy4mHIevdWgprvZdAJuuSDOPZvL0ADCvf2eLzCgHcYQibrD-FG91jGhysbElEaVR6xU04cr2KH6XcJ-1EkwWsADIJJokGU/s2048/ca27.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCDm-vHPbucUNObVWMSmrCrZrIUG7kEa7OdmXambNc93fVb9s6lOJQBrZeSkc7XtF0R1vEeYdxMs0QXSnQq1MjoV-zv8yy4mHIevdWgprvZdAJuuSDOPZvL0ADCvf2eLzCgHcYQibrD-FG91jGhysbElEaVR6xU04cr2KH6XcJ-1EkwWsADIJJokGU/s320/ca27.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><i>I instantly fell in love with Quebec City that night! So glad I had a couple of more days to explore!</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><u>Day 5: Montmorency Falls, St. Anne de Beaupre, Ile de Orleans and more of Quebec City</u></div><div><u><br /></u></div><div>The Ile de Orleans is an island just about 15 miles away from Quebec City. It's supposed to be a big wine and food destination, so it was definitely on my list to try. The question was the best way to get there. It was possible to uber or taxi, but a friend had also suggested that I go to Montmorency Falls and St. Anne's and I found a tour bus that was going to do stops to all three!</div><div><br /></div><div>I booked the bus tour online and met the bus outside Chateau Frontenac. There are a bunch of tour buses that meet there every day and a tourist center across from the Chateau in which you can book tours in as well. </div><div><br /></div><div>The first stop on the bus tour was the Church of St. Anne's. Some of the early settlers built a church and colony here to honor St. Anne, the patron of sailors. The basilica that now stands there is beautiful and the pope is actually going to be visiting later this month! I just missed him!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg-3JW760nylx0YzHm3UzZhTnHPCNp-9CYYsEYrV090wMEmzbvnk9oBk_AqhTJnS2g-pA-GRFlXAQHxeLhEu2NK87d7LrT-c3DBouWff315WDWJcAI9mIGMahWmF0FuMSuBGvy8MuYwOwtnwQqiAD9B1ouqVEgiN0HumffPxKjzmy-d-O7nrU9H8Ch/s2048/ca29.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg-3JW760nylx0YzHm3UzZhTnHPCNp-9CYYsEYrV090wMEmzbvnk9oBk_AqhTJnS2g-pA-GRFlXAQHxeLhEu2NK87d7LrT-c3DBouWff315WDWJcAI9mIGMahWmF0FuMSuBGvy8MuYwOwtnwQqiAD9B1ouqVEgiN0HumffPxKjzmy-d-O7nrU9H8Ch/s320/ca29.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div><i>St. Anne de Beaupre</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglM3qIDWylnlUWvReUr-KDfbjJSdJBwJUexdIpShlLJOXiM6o3Zllt6gywoucR4crXN_pBTiFYHJoG4ZQORTq5haZ2KNCL8LmSHg7aceqsqPGodVVjeMhZ8SsnirROVFBPyEBURtSr-eCsDU-O0k-R2zLlagSV572uC_XHbociZJPlfWsqQTmEgesN/s960/ca28.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglM3qIDWylnlUWvReUr-KDfbjJSdJBwJUexdIpShlLJOXiM6o3Zllt6gywoucR4crXN_pBTiFYHJoG4ZQORTq5haZ2KNCL8LmSHg7aceqsqPGodVVjeMhZ8SsnirROVFBPyEBURtSr-eCsDU-O0k-R2zLlagSV572uC_XHbociZJPlfWsqQTmEgesN/s320/ca28.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div><i>Original St. Anne's Church that was also re-stored due to a fire, I believe</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiWahHUaG8tZwOzgi-OW8bPfRFBquJkl0cTtGtoYxAXnidjZR2Prj88-w7DoT8hA9em9GRDGDe-MauET98bla54IE4Be1NMhvu3BCfwofjdb8xGGE8VZA2AKkugi20hR2a6Ri7fg2vOgLoqVESjk_SHxCtB6EYpSARGA_ro1y5MU6lz_R0OmyHgPi-/s960/ca31.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiWahHUaG8tZwOzgi-OW8bPfRFBquJkl0cTtGtoYxAXnidjZR2Prj88-w7DoT8hA9em9GRDGDe-MauET98bla54IE4Be1NMhvu3BCfwofjdb8xGGE8VZA2AKkugi20hR2a6Ri7fg2vOgLoqVESjk_SHxCtB6EYpSARGA_ro1y5MU6lz_R0OmyHgPi-/s320/ca31.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><i>There was a little cantine behind the basilica where I got a soup and sandwich from a sweet old owner</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja4Mad2RzrKsdSg_sI7UjJtRvp7a8MESn_-VjZOqnw-OUiyWNUZVbUSVkotVPbxrWL1hoXkfp4MgbX6YKjMqVBTxrlkRdVnLdfR1dzLNAvjs8EaMgyCjfLtYSTo0rQ602_5x2HjQdf84kxnq7ud_yB78MNJu6Qxw-cdGb9vQlw3Ld9h0bUKTB_k_SF/s2048/ca32.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja4Mad2RzrKsdSg_sI7UjJtRvp7a8MESn_-VjZOqnw-OUiyWNUZVbUSVkotVPbxrWL1hoXkfp4MgbX6YKjMqVBTxrlkRdVnLdfR1dzLNAvjs8EaMgyCjfLtYSTo0rQ602_5x2HjQdf84kxnq7ud_yB78MNJu6Qxw-cdGb9vQlw3Ld9h0bUKTB_k_SF/s320/ca32.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>The second stop on the bus tour was a copper demonstration at a copper art gallery. It ended up being more interesting than I thought. I find a lot of bus tours team up with a company and include them as part of their tours. It was pottery when I was in Greece, glass when I was in Venice, metal work when I was in Spain, rugs in Turkey...you get the picture.</div><div><br /></div><div>Third stop were the falls! We didn't have time to do the suspension bridge or cable cars as we were only there an hour, but you could walk up some of the stairs to get a little closer to the falls. After all the walking and ill-prepared outfits I had, I opted just to stay at a distance. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikIFjHMEThGtuSMEm_Ago2FAyK8LUD8ePeTI0baUNpkhrQju_lQDuEnd-CVAqlcA0jPJV2fpL6e-EVI0Ib3oEMgjb-KWMLUgg5hRNAdoWHCbKsvgIzTSjfBx0daChmfg6HUMunGKGGoasllG9dDX4gAfiESM5ypBFJJ3MWS9pAQ6rrV_OHpbvu8403/s2048/ca33.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1538" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikIFjHMEThGtuSMEm_Ago2FAyK8LUD8ePeTI0baUNpkhrQju_lQDuEnd-CVAqlcA0jPJV2fpL6e-EVI0Ib3oEMgjb-KWMLUgg5hRNAdoWHCbKsvgIzTSjfBx0daChmfg6HUMunGKGGoasllG9dDX4gAfiESM5ypBFJJ3MWS9pAQ6rrV_OHpbvu8403/s320/ca33.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Our last stop was Ile de Orleans which was the reason I booked the tour. I had no idea how big the island is and you really would need a car to get around to all of the farms and wineries. Our bus just stopped at the chocolatier that did have amazing chocolate!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbxw2wYTOywS_cfN45XbfN811kMckiTyu1-km8SPb0pu1g8dms_DLNFXVPaz9eOG0YKrpIFcbv6-ohFnnhqYS4QUvLehYpsjN6W-p3CClnj8bEKAn4WD0sITIHN2D9j1q2bWGH0h8i5WvoKYeivGaFi8rS1SyYmKJrV-l2D29g5pnlTW9uaJKfAdBa/s2048/ca34.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbxw2wYTOywS_cfN45XbfN811kMckiTyu1-km8SPb0pu1g8dms_DLNFXVPaz9eOG0YKrpIFcbv6-ohFnnhqYS4QUvLehYpsjN6W-p3CClnj8bEKAn4WD0sITIHN2D9j1q2bWGH0h8i5WvoKYeivGaFi8rS1SyYmKJrV-l2D29g5pnlTW9uaJKfAdBa/s320/ca34.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>After I got back from the bus tour, I was dropped off right back at Chateau Frontenac which is also by the Funicular- a tram of sorts that takes you down to the Old Port of Quebec City. It's $4 CA one way. I hadn't needed cash up until this point- the Funicular only took cash, but luckily there was an ATM inside the Chateau (I usually pay with card when I travel if I can help it!)</div><div><br /></div><div>You can walk up and down to the Old Port (which I would have to do the next day) but this is more fun.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisoYHUWcQNgdqJoQFHusUb0hK_umyEKheOjFkf6pxNZ5xsFWx14IuJHiCooFnsQ0MIbhKjW0zF6SqC7SwXTu27lsABLUrqRSDX6QV_itPJwmDxcmtIq6JObk_vuOIq_16kU5fR9ecw3AlzXMcPlEi8HFm_f3RolrqTMdmoUGT_wfxxsKT2JaD5pouH/s2048/35.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisoYHUWcQNgdqJoQFHusUb0hK_umyEKheOjFkf6pxNZ5xsFWx14IuJHiCooFnsQ0MIbhKjW0zF6SqC7SwXTu27lsABLUrqRSDX6QV_itPJwmDxcmtIq6JObk_vuOIq_16kU5fR9ecw3AlzXMcPlEi8HFm_f3RolrqTMdmoUGT_wfxxsKT2JaD5pouH/s320/35.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div>So I took the Funicular down to Place Royal and caught an exhibit of "Bad Art" which was pretty funny. I think it was just a temporary exhibit. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB0M1FtQZe-yRFQc1a2Y-RFhOsiLwPWLPoZNsScP8KDEr_q8El64JSV9hVS3WFwontryko518SqM_rhdhhVX5hGaduKrkWJ25CfZeqHRk0hFu8miiApmavYEiGMd0oy3jm5I92PAj2UXcWLfIF7Ayt-QZpOjDsnZmKGU-oG--UxsMC-WwQX0FAyt5x/s2048/ca35.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB0M1FtQZe-yRFQc1a2Y-RFhOsiLwPWLPoZNsScP8KDEr_q8El64JSV9hVS3WFwontryko518SqM_rhdhhVX5hGaduKrkWJ25CfZeqHRk0hFu8miiApmavYEiGMd0oy3jm5I92PAj2UXcWLfIF7Ayt-QZpOjDsnZmKGU-oG--UxsMC-WwQX0FAyt5x/s320/ca35.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>Place Royal and below is Our Lady of Victory Church- one of the first churches in Quebec City.</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHuyFuwnkF0gaIDdSphszmeyMT_gcaHG00wDTvL6qWBJuB9inrteLR2DgupBDqM9EvPLOCHmuvQnAYc5O97OA8GfEX5XZqx7fZMrd16RRpuc7pPWz1a2I0tRLhMTliWLmYT0aMILBao8L-0yKzveiZkf1esdDVuFw6urIuDG2avI4nh8D067BCHFsx/s2048/ca36.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHuyFuwnkF0gaIDdSphszmeyMT_gcaHG00wDTvL6qWBJuB9inrteLR2DgupBDqM9EvPLOCHmuvQnAYc5O97OA8GfEX5XZqx7fZMrd16RRpuc7pPWz1a2I0tRLhMTliWLmYT0aMILBao8L-0yKzveiZkf1esdDVuFw6urIuDG2avI4nh8D067BCHFsx/s320/ca36.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrbNYK4KJDwqOwOU_aS00wL9P2KSrPvWLU3MHuoNZLqYtIYrBnUhZJ94h7lMUcGsygt-VVJHUa0BvwkzgbChKNCTLEf7YCqE4IPmwqNV1l9godslO12faqjwEOf6q1wNtozoTXZDTa14DhOd1EE9JYe7HsNgnF3nZnIdqH4tQwzjzyeFrx_P07XDaj/s2048/ca37.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrbNYK4KJDwqOwOU_aS00wL9P2KSrPvWLU3MHuoNZLqYtIYrBnUhZJ94h7lMUcGsygt-VVJHUa0BvwkzgbChKNCTLEf7YCqE4IPmwqNV1l9godslO12faqjwEOf6q1wNtozoTXZDTa14DhOd1EE9JYe7HsNgnF3nZnIdqH4tQwzjzyeFrx_P07XDaj/s320/ca37.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><i>Was really excited to catch this temporary exhibit. Below is a fave piece of "bad art" :)</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizJ1ZSQXCTNHL_1j90176aSAChrhJYpcNwBEB_ugV7rq5e7UrONXMQZVvKty98_7YdIG9GpX0Z5IPRtF0qvxUvyL6X-Vj5xpUEUtoEekdUlvFICTO6E_rD85YqWSqZNKqAcfA-reeXn_8W5LJV_fauFdUkpAlA88d2qWDky0JLFABI6XAfC06Tu94L/s2048/ca38.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizJ1ZSQXCTNHL_1j90176aSAChrhJYpcNwBEB_ugV7rq5e7UrONXMQZVvKty98_7YdIG9GpX0Z5IPRtF0qvxUvyL6X-Vj5xpUEUtoEekdUlvFICTO6E_rD85YqWSqZNKqAcfA-reeXn_8W5LJV_fauFdUkpAlA88d2qWDky0JLFABI6XAfC06Tu94L/s320/ca38.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>I walked around the lower level of Old Quebec by the port and then took the Funicular back up to Chateau Frontenac and the main streets. I got my first dinner of poutine that evening as well! A great end to another full day in Quebec City. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE_qmR4KI1Hbcizw4oEPvuP-0dV5wfu6mncEl3GqpGoTb7VluSGmwgPSYVG8qXgWeR4aSTUwSjO4bBwr-eDKmCyUcndhv81217r5ii9eF6jBoYXvwG3X59e2BT1ElT3NOjWlmMz1UBtgcBDmreXagx4dSpFHPhh9KoSVeZTk-rtjVv8bDoV-mxYdaQ/s701/ca40.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="701" data-original-width="526" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE_qmR4KI1Hbcizw4oEPvuP-0dV5wfu6mncEl3GqpGoTb7VluSGmwgPSYVG8qXgWeR4aSTUwSjO4bBwr-eDKmCyUcndhv81217r5ii9eF6jBoYXvwG3X59e2BT1ElT3NOjWlmMz1UBtgcBDmreXagx4dSpFHPhh9KoSVeZTk-rtjVv8bDoV-mxYdaQ/s320/ca40.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div><i>There were a couple of types of poutine to select from this menu, but I went with the poutine with pulled pork which was kind of amazing!</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><u>Day 6: Quebec City and Levis</u></div><div><u><br /></u></div><div>Another thing that I had booked ahead of time was a stay at the St. Augustine Monastery which was one of the things to see on the blogs and Trip Advisory site I had used to research. Having lived in a convent myself, I was intrigued. The monastery is now a health and wellness type of retreat center/hotel. There is museum that has preserved some of the sisters' legacy and the rooms have been converted into hotel/retreat spaces. You can also book massages and do yoga there and the chapel is still open for Mass. I ran into a nun while I was there! </div><div><br /></div><div>So I started my day by dropping off my suitcase from my air b n b to the Monastery (hiked up the hill, but it wasn't a far walk, luckily!). Check in wasn't until later, but they held my bags for me. I explored the monastery grounds which were open to guests and the museum which is open to the public. It definitely brought back memories of my convent days!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf4yCbCVKYnugoqFR48OV_SDjZhnUZmlxvYyMT_q2GWyeAHhfApAq3_EN9yhh_A63p9p2DnxEw7Dsb8PWy2F5jsJqaqMbzLV9S3_R2Z6-Rhcr_7A6qoJV_4laCym90tw1XwRbq4lCFjbK7GR8qNzieAbOlmQQkDcRfGpU1FoKx_Q0bKnQAQatllhT5/s2048/ca41.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf4yCbCVKYnugoqFR48OV_SDjZhnUZmlxvYyMT_q2GWyeAHhfApAq3_EN9yhh_A63p9p2DnxEw7Dsb8PWy2F5jsJqaqMbzLV9S3_R2Z6-Rhcr_7A6qoJV_4laCym90tw1XwRbq4lCFjbK7GR8qNzieAbOlmQQkDcRfGpU1FoKx_Q0bKnQAQatllhT5/s320/ca41.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF3RZyi5xrGHwwIqryH6yfL_42BwyXa2yd7-5rLvo7SbK8jMLA0s9DYiDI_eFnieFTWMxk-cTZRyuNpNQ1D9TeNkDVytC22DIOrS3wWgRifF4uAqhrmdNoCl4aYTZ0V1rtrS_nPQsiQFnj2nQwGygxcV0V-Ch-6c1f2HnfymDzIRFR2Vlpnr1uHJpW/s2048/ca42.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF3RZyi5xrGHwwIqryH6yfL_42BwyXa2yd7-5rLvo7SbK8jMLA0s9DYiDI_eFnieFTWMxk-cTZRyuNpNQ1D9TeNkDVytC22DIOrS3wWgRifF4uAqhrmdNoCl4aYTZ0V1rtrS_nPQsiQFnj2nQwGygxcV0V-Ch-6c1f2HnfymDzIRFR2Vlpnr1uHJpW/s320/ca42.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6EV-XenI407hkbfnqqWegEljgRkUGL8S9SvSdchLk32uw_RhDYop5uHeZVCUAHMAzMOdQdmUmXFiK-kW1QNNtM2sYJNaQLzqtq6I3MW4Fu42_dnc7PsyCwO9EQRZrZRadT6iG5iZOWl0nI9Y5efM-vXA3t8vbqz-fEBkN2EORR3XBlHTfCK7210MB/s960/ca43.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6EV-XenI407hkbfnqqWegEljgRkUGL8S9SvSdchLk32uw_RhDYop5uHeZVCUAHMAzMOdQdmUmXFiK-kW1QNNtM2sYJNaQLzqtq6I3MW4Fu42_dnc7PsyCwO9EQRZrZRadT6iG5iZOWl0nI9Y5efM-vXA3t8vbqz-fEBkN2EORR3XBlHTfCK7210MB/s320/ca43.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><i>Part of the exhibit in the Monastery museum...check out those habits!</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>I knew I was going to be returning back to the monastery later, but was glad I spent the AM checking out the things like the museum that may not have been open by the time I returned. </div><div><br /></div><div>I then headed out to cross another thing off my list: The Plains of Abraham. It was on a lot of the blogs as a thing to check out, but it wasn't clear to me what it was. I walked from the monastery to the Plains of Abraham Museum, which was about a mile. The Plains are outside the city walls, but just barely. </div><div><br /></div><div>Quebec City was also setting up for a music festival on the Plains so a lot of the plains were set up like this while I was there..</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsxxZUpRDPSqRrTF3JSrBILYb7EcJ8AVKABMDvt3rVGEChMWRqoGRq1heF-A8zxmvJvm7F-FvVITD0Jsw9hB_aR1FYCh7UqlNdFouzQdZ03kk-OuMxmEno7hUXhVPRCL_XmfzAD_Q-570k-Dt0bovKu9jCtFqa29UhsI3stdPNmIinQnT_IRQobxiI/s2048/ca45.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsxxZUpRDPSqRrTF3JSrBILYb7EcJ8AVKABMDvt3rVGEChMWRqoGRq1heF-A8zxmvJvm7F-FvVITD0Jsw9hB_aR1FYCh7UqlNdFouzQdZ03kk-OuMxmEno7hUXhVPRCL_XmfzAD_Q-570k-Dt0bovKu9jCtFqa29UhsI3stdPNmIinQnT_IRQobxiI/s320/ca45.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><i>Set up for Music Festival on Plains of Abraham. </i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>When I went into the Museum at the Plains of Abraham, she said I could take a bus tour in about an hour to explore the plains that way. I still wasn't sure what they were, so I thought it would be a good option to receive more information. I also bought a ticket to explore the museum as well. Since the tour didn't start for an hour, I thought I would check out a local lunch spot near by that a friend had recommended with hot dogs wrapped in pastry! It was pretty delicious and a short walk from the museum.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglqoRNin6tQy4q2fCYba-vk7f06piuP54bXzOWvrzvp4nKe-XwtsZlx3LZFFT7AxDA-ilbeEXTuUxypALB3xb2hoq28Cz_AcSvou_dz6XUAfsPO3p3VjoAjMGYDee8gTR45CqTYYD2Mdksg-6vI1cU2bFGJZeJEvD740AsHZL8QhD-0MRauloazm_m/s2048/ca46.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglqoRNin6tQy4q2fCYba-vk7f06piuP54bXzOWvrzvp4nKe-XwtsZlx3LZFFT7AxDA-ilbeEXTuUxypALB3xb2hoq28Cz_AcSvou_dz6XUAfsPO3p3VjoAjMGYDee8gTR45CqTYYD2Mdksg-6vI1cU2bFGJZeJEvD740AsHZL8QhD-0MRauloazm_m/s320/ca46.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div><i>Hot dog wrapped in pastry from Inox brasserie and brewery- close to Plains of Abraham museum. This whole neighborhood had some cute restaurants. </i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>I was glad that I took the bus tour and bought a ticket to the Plains of Abraham museum. It took you through the history of the Seven Year War that was fought between the First Nations, French, and English in the 1700s and explained the back and forth between the French and English that the city has had. </div><div><br /></div><div>I didn't take a lot of pictures, but here is a pic of early settler Abraham waiting for the bus..</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmOZpaRug7U6EDvHT5N0r4MrMsMtlzPn-lENcjYMHeNMP-MmBQM03KPu3-Fe7T6bIowAoHc9VhcVOb0doDgYANQd1ZxH0T_y4qcwbFus4lflTl3r8uMVQcGv1BmZLSAhx0TyfNMmOegfomHWcVxRcf0WkIG3TQCRL6sPhy7eIKzCWIUNeRS3Absrij/s2048/ca47.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmOZpaRug7U6EDvHT5N0r4MrMsMtlzPn-lENcjYMHeNMP-MmBQM03KPu3-Fe7T6bIowAoHc9VhcVOb0doDgYANQd1ZxH0T_y4qcwbFus4lflTl3r8uMVQcGv1BmZLSAhx0TyfNMmOegfomHWcVxRcf0WkIG3TQCRL6sPhy7eIKzCWIUNeRS3Absrij/s320/ca47.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><i><br /></i><div>I spent a good 2 hours at the Museum with the bus tour. Then I headed back into the city walls all the way back to Old Port (over a mile and I didn't have any more cash for the Funicular, so had to walk down and up the stairs this time. They actually weren't as bad as I thought) to catch a ferry to Levis which the same friend who recommended Inox also shared with me. </div><div><br /></div><div>I was glad to take the ferry. It was a beautiful day and I had seen the ferris wheel across the river from Chateau Frontenac. The Levis ferry was under $10 both ways and gave great views from the river. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ2ilRiYPLCTpLocHKcC3ELFuuYLfoxks3p0UiA-zwwoN6s-T0aWdvDwZR1cEKxv2CimlXofOCPjPDxkYOxYQi7VuWD-SnuV-3MRiO1hLacOq63E2KirLPIqq413M39fLm-nU3wE32Mr5mutxo655tfwdJgTtFA-W8i2xjl53hAtXbuFKC6Obrde6O/s2048/ca48.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ2ilRiYPLCTpLocHKcC3ELFuuYLfoxks3p0UiA-zwwoN6s-T0aWdvDwZR1cEKxv2CimlXofOCPjPDxkYOxYQi7VuWD-SnuV-3MRiO1hLacOq63E2KirLPIqq413M39fLm-nU3wE32Mr5mutxo655tfwdJgTtFA-W8i2xjl53hAtXbuFKC6Obrde6O/s320/ca48.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><i>View of Chateau Frontenac and mountains from St. Lawrence River</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMrLFUahA99EltAolZST2d3CZxaZU6BmvZtXkHm266S2W1YKBSoNlbcFx8ewiRV6QT-g2drJj3kL7NbKotThocVb8dbQJjOGPoOnS3db-robpFria3LqKGopx29OivhR10i_GRN-Ibsy49EHT3sbin6Gb9FUtVsX4fPm2Q1DF7oj2hIXvn3IRUp5au/s960/ca49.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMrLFUahA99EltAolZST2d3CZxaZU6BmvZtXkHm266S2W1YKBSoNlbcFx8ewiRV6QT-g2drJj3kL7NbKotThocVb8dbQJjOGPoOnS3db-robpFria3LqKGopx29OivhR10i_GRN-Ibsy49EHT3sbin6Gb9FUtVsX4fPm2Q1DF7oj2hIXvn3IRUp5au/s320/ca49.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC56rSUW1dyFVZhjkY39XQE1Rxjfj1-KM0O-VxBqGb_DJEt6ub-udONzlfyR56vPk9HNs82hI3mtVHVmsIaCVZacrYQa-ucfWKAlF_RFsDokkJUJEWp2GLBesEG7drJiUk2c_6yrpQFtV3tutvjccc5g5rDo-RpF0SvsEgv1G-zp0nhsRbnuGvzFWq/s2048/ca50.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1538" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC56rSUW1dyFVZhjkY39XQE1Rxjfj1-KM0O-VxBqGb_DJEt6ub-udONzlfyR56vPk9HNs82hI3mtVHVmsIaCVZacrYQa-ucfWKAlF_RFsDokkJUJEWp2GLBesEG7drJiUk2c_6yrpQFtV3tutvjccc5g5rDo-RpF0SvsEgv1G-zp0nhsRbnuGvzFWq/s320/ca50.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><i>I got ice cream and hung out at the park next to where you catch the ferry in Levis. I probably could've explored a little more, but it looked like you may have needed a car and I had already walked so much that day/week!</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>I took the ferry back across the river after maybe an hour in Levis and then walked back to the Monastery which was a trek, but doable. I checked into my "cell" and got ready for my last night out on the town. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmhePu8gjykL6vmfIgHi8HfnqFh4MvGPWv9Vni9sODBGmzLeAoNC5BpMPbK8L8NLAGhnxvDFnZPlk5XTzIMlrG3C3ywWLJVHCTv-Ugi-judRw74jRMGjBoXtrxbtkuiEaSOhw1Nk0PH9mRWYMLGRZTuuCFPxoCauFzQg7TUkMYfGWdwRkUxHC7OQ8n/s960/51.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmhePu8gjykL6vmfIgHi8HfnqFh4MvGPWv9Vni9sODBGmzLeAoNC5BpMPbK8L8NLAGhnxvDFnZPlk5XTzIMlrG3C3ywWLJVHCTv-Ugi-judRw74jRMGjBoXtrxbtkuiEaSOhw1Nk0PH9mRWYMLGRZTuuCFPxoCauFzQg7TUkMYfGWdwRkUxHC7OQ8n/s320/51.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>The room definitely reminded me of my room in the convent...the hallway is a little more museum like and fancy.</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2EeTh7NiG_wj6XUMwCSoXP3fZ-1iLzBSnNcclr1rGk3jf9lV00cR3Q_YxeoTikNqy9Q14T8vInBFXnBcid-uoKulTxsteHJ0-G0l8EhZ93VKHutXEh3dOY1ONmTfoPxRrwm6zKLMr1PmgBBI5ZIiEAVTOQkIa0dgo3cV2aiH7FJTSnkuJUlDuJgRV/s2048/52.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2EeTh7NiG_wj6XUMwCSoXP3fZ-1iLzBSnNcclr1rGk3jf9lV00cR3Q_YxeoTikNqy9Q14T8vInBFXnBcid-uoKulTxsteHJ0-G0l8EhZ93VKHutXEh3dOY1ONmTfoPxRrwm6zKLMr1PmgBBI5ZIiEAVTOQkIa0dgo3cV2aiH7FJTSnkuJUlDuJgRV/s320/52.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>I wanted to just spend my last night taking in the city, so I had dinner on a side street that ended up being one of the top rated places in the city- Chez Temporal. I had some amazing sangria and a duck salad. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkXl4j561R79QVbAlBIh-0OMrBWJ_yqtzyCl0YK1oH020s6bL-sq3dZizlDae9DhKHCHpN7rd4FbdzVRjZf5PmFhWgiCoElE0GnhLNvB_Wet_vdZOyRisfgxwaU9LOMNB6iNxamAj0HuA80Zqwq_q3j9kLcwG_1WF-JXnYtauCQuBSSRGnsPBX6DFD/s414/53.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="414" data-original-width="311" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkXl4j561R79QVbAlBIh-0OMrBWJ_yqtzyCl0YK1oH020s6bL-sq3dZizlDae9DhKHCHpN7rd4FbdzVRjZf5PmFhWgiCoElE0GnhLNvB_Wet_vdZOyRisfgxwaU9LOMNB6iNxamAj0HuA80Zqwq_q3j9kLcwG_1WF-JXnYtauCQuBSSRGnsPBX6DFD/s320/53.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div>Then I walked one last time to Chateau Frontenac and watched one of the street performers. There are always street performers in this part of the city and they actually have bleachers so you can watch them. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge-n5cwafIAOqdONk_Qri1-CK6bXi-7Wg4MhUG7aSIxpCdvkiAHHAiHh8jus5VKWB71pe8nMNcg5auMySc9MuIRu524kZsggrjJBw-SpikKBtK_Cpm_ESqzY7s6nLTZNY4GIjQfye6ik0WREhimxtZKuNmfdwq7ik4PqGnahdHP893v-N9ChKWfmj5/s2048/55.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge-n5cwafIAOqdONk_Qri1-CK6bXi-7Wg4MhUG7aSIxpCdvkiAHHAiHh8jus5VKWB71pe8nMNcg5auMySc9MuIRu524kZsggrjJBw-SpikKBtK_Cpm_ESqzY7s6nLTZNY4GIjQfye6ik0WREhimxtZKuNmfdwq7ik4PqGnahdHP893v-N9ChKWfmj5/s320/55.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfxb2qb3ceaniSDM8d8aRY0lKe2F2mSO0sVk-NyxFftIHzTuq-oLilyqjxvu7QqR1b6uvV8QLktRr9_QH4nT12zmOUtJjaug_AC_BNaZhAO500DiH_8NrAMsPlHujjN9jBypm0zB95ThhkfCypddgeTPmRkq86D0QmVaaEUj4_T5s27VqLSzVsMiKt/s2048/6.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfxb2qb3ceaniSDM8d8aRY0lKe2F2mSO0sVk-NyxFftIHzTuq-oLilyqjxvu7QqR1b6uvV8QLktRr9_QH4nT12zmOUtJjaug_AC_BNaZhAO500DiH_8NrAMsPlHujjN9jBypm0zB95ThhkfCypddgeTPmRkq86D0QmVaaEUj4_T5s27VqLSzVsMiKt/s320/6.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div>After walking around and taking everything in, I made my way back to the monastery. At first I questioned my decision to spend my last night in silent, secluded place, but it was kind of nice to rest and take in and reflect on my trip as I needed to get an early start to travel the last day. </div><div><br /></div><div><u>Day 7: Quebec City to Montreal to US</u></div><div><u><br /></u></div><div>I started my day early, checking out of the monastery around 6:30/7am. I walked to the train station which was really close. I took the VIA Rail back to Montreal and then took my favorite metro to the Lionel-Groulx station to get the 747 bus that takes you to the airport. It's like $10 and you buy the ticket at the Lionel-Groulx station.</div><div><br /></div><div>I took the bus to the airport and checked in for my 1 of 2 flights. Everything went super smoothly and I hope that I have convinced you to make this trip to Montreal and Quebec City!</div>Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06098852834050397406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1055688385421362242.post-76524827832057823462022-06-16T07:34:00.000-04:002022-06-16T07:34:03.678-04:00The One About Wine Part 2<p> Time for another update! It's summer which means I have some down time and I love to treat myself, especially the first week or so of my break. One of my latest traditions is continuing to explore the over 300+ wineries in VA and I've been adding to my <a href="http://hebrews121-3.blogspot.com/2021/11/the-one-about-wine.html">original 60 list </a>that I wrote about last year. ( I did not go to 60 wineries last year. That list had been 2-3 decades in the making! I did, however, add these next wineries to my list over the past 6 months this year). </p><p>Wine is just a hobby of mine since I moved to Northern VA in my 20s. I've since re-located to Central VA and have been continuing to scope out the Northern and Central VA wine scene. I even added an Eastern shore one this year!</p><p>In general, I like drier, full bodied wines that tend to come from the more mountainous areas like Charlottesville or Fauquier County here in VA. However, I am not so much of a snob that I can't usually find at least 1 wine to drink at any winery. </p><p>Below are the 10 wineries I've added to my original list (see above link) so far in 2022. Please enjoy and I hope that you make a visit to some VA wineries as well sometime soon!</p><p><b>Chatham Vineyards on Church Creek- </b>This is the Eastern Shore winery that I added to the list this year when my friend and I went to Cape Charles for a weekend in early April. I wasn't sure what to expect as Cape Charles is not near mountains but very near lots of water. I wasn't sure how the grapes and wine would be or the atmosphere. This winery does well with what it has. I believe that they import some of their grape as well, which makes sense. It was still kind of cold and windy at the time when I went there so I started outdoors, but moved inside to do my tasting. The tasting room is basically their cellar/warehouse and its a small space, but if you don't mind sitting amid wineboxes, they made it cozy. Again, I think I was pleasantly surprised with this winery given its not in a necessarily typical wine region. Would recommend if you are out that way. </p><p><b>Delfosse Vineyards and Winery- </b>This one is a little out past Charlottesville and had been on my list for a while. I came out here on one of my first weeks of summer and found it quiet and enjoyable. The tasting room is a little dated (the sliding glass doors reminded me of my childhood in the 80s) but the tasting room is decent sized and all glass so you can see the views of the mountain on the property. There was some nice outdoor seating as well. This place is tucked away from busy roads which is nice and very green. The wines were all very drinkable. I had a Viognier, Grand Cru, their red blend and Petit Verdot. This winery recently changed ownership, but as been in existence since 2002/2003. The older vines definitely make a difference. My only complaint is that their serving glasses for the tasting were narrow- more like beer tasting glasses- which seemed odd. I prefer the tastings in round glasses to let the wine breathe, but that is definitely not a reason to skip this place. Good wines, decent views- give it a try!</p><p><b>Firefly Cellars- </b>This place is a new one in Northern VA off Route 9. Very close to 8 Chains and some of the Hamilton, VA wineries I mention in my original post. I think this one is worth adding to the Route 9 list. The vibe is a small barn with lots of outdoor space. There was live music and a very casual, fun feel. The wines were decent and drinkable. There is also an Air B n B house that you can rent on the property right next to the winery which a lot of wineries are doing now and I think is cool. Definitely add this place to your Route 9 stops!</p><p><b>Grayhaven Winery- </b>This place had been on my list for a while, too. This is between Richmond and Charlottesville and not too far from Fifty-Third winery. If you are looking for a winery that's not too far from Richmond....I would send you to Fifty- Third winery instead. This place is not sophisticated and has really weird grounds with an old 1970s rusted playground? This place had come recommended because they serve South African wines (the owner's husband is from South Africa) but as I mentioned in my original wine post, when places don't serve their own wine, it's usually a flag to me that their grapes aren't good. So half of the tasting menu are their imported South African wines which were decent and the other half are the ones they make. The only one I found drinkable of their own wines was their blend called the Trekker but it wasn't worth ordering a full glass to stay at their weird grounds. The server was very nice but not super knowledgeable about wine. Pass. Sorry!</p><p><b>Jolene Family Winery- </b>This winery is another one on the East side of Richmond which always gives me pause as, again, I like to go West towards the mountains for my wine. I will say, though, that this winery is my favorite of the "east of Richmond" wineries that exist. The property has a little lake and some tents that you can reserve which is a nice touch since the winery is somewhat off of a busy road and not necessarily the most scenic of wineries, but they do well with what space they have. They have some nice indoor tasting spaces in addition to the nice outdoor space. The wines are also all very good. I believe they import some grapes but make their wine there. If you are looking for a close-to-Richmond winery, this is one I recommend. </p><p><b>Lovingston Winery- </b>I did this one when I went out to Delfosse as it is only a few miles down the road. I'm so glad I did. This place might be one of my new favorites. It recently changed ownership, but I chatted with the new owner who is a young woman (along with her husband and they live on the property). I did my tasting inside the house on the property, which the top part they rent out as an Air B n B (see Firefly Cellars). The tasting inside the house was classy yet homey which is my favorite kind of vibe for a winery. They also were tucked away from the main road (but not too far) and had lots of beautiful outdoor space as well. I tasted the Seyval Blanc and Chardonnay, both of which I really liked, and I ended up getting a bottle of the Chardonnay. I usually prefer reds, but their Cabernet Franc wasn't my fav, however, I did really like their Reserve blend. I mostly just loved sitting inside essentially a living room and quietly reading my book. The owner said they are still somewhat of a "best kept secret' it seems, but they would love more foot traffic. I definitely recommend adding this winery to your list! Except I don't want it to get too much foot traffic because I love it so much!</p><p><b>Michael Shaps Wineworks- </b>This place was not on my list, but I'm glad that I stumbled upon it. I had set out to visit Thatch Winery (see below) and this one had signage next to Thatch. The workers at Thatch also recommended checking it out so I did. The space was quaint and had an interesting outdoor and indoor space. Interesting in a decent way. The winemaker is from France and the owner apparently also owns a winery in France as well, so half of the wines on the tasting menu were from France and the others from VA. I will let you guess which wines I preferred. The VA wines were okay, but I definitely preferred the French ones. Still, an interesting stop that I'm glad that I stumbled upon.</p><p><b>Mountain Cove- </b> I wanted to love this one and I did enjoy it but not necessarily because of their wines. This was one I added as it was on the way to Lovingston Winery. It is very off the beaten path and so cute and quaint. Very much a farm winery. They only do tastings outside as the indoor space is just a small office/store. No one else was there besides me and the owner (it was a Wednesday, but I wonder if they get much foot traffic on weekends) and he told me that they are (supposedly) the oldest farm winery in VA. They have supposedly been there 50 years. He was an older gentleman and is looking to sell the property, but they are still growing new grapes as he has had issues with deer. Again, the wines were not great (there were fruit wines, which, if you read my OG post, you know what that means to me. That being said, I think I enjoyed the Blackberry wine best, which is also saying something). But I enjoyed the quaintness of this place and chatting with the owner who clearly cares for the farm himself. Definitely a very different vibe from the more corporate type places around Charlottesville. Worth checking out just to see the space. The tastings were only $5 and free if you bought a bottle which...I could not justify, sadly, though I really wanted to support this guy! </p><p><b>Thatch Winery- </b>This place had been on my list and I was pleasantly surprised when I rolled up to find a lot of vines on a nice property with a house that had been transformed into this winery space. However, when I walked in, I was told that they were going to be closing at the end of the month. Remember Michael Shaps Wineworks up the road? He has purchased the winery and going to be taking it over. There weren't a lot of people when I was there (it was a Monday) so I chatted with the servers a bit and asked how often ownership had changed hands. It seemed pretty frequently, the last time being 2017. That being said, the space was nice and quaint (homey but classy which you know i love!) and the reds were pretty good. They were doing mad discounts on their wine since they are closing and I bought a bottle of the Meritage. I also enjoyed the Petit Verdot. Sad this spot is closing as I just found it and would be my vibe, but will be interested to see what it turns into. </p><p><b>Willowcroft Farm Vineyards- </b>This is another older winery that I often went passed in Leesburg for whatever reason but never stopped. I decided to stop this January as I was making my way back from PA after seeing my family. The views here are really beautiful. The wines were...just okay. They have a cute indoor room for their club members and some additional seats in their barn. Even though I was not a wine club member, they invited me to sit in the club room since it was such a cold day. I'm glad that I made the stop, but I'm not sure I would add it to my Leesburg list necessarily. Sorry! I know this place has been a Leesburg staple for a while, but there are definitely spots in the area that are more sophisticated that I prefer. </p><p><br /></p><p>And there you have it! #61-70! You know that I will continue to add, but was happy to make more of a dent to my list! Stay tuned as I'm sure there will be more where this comes from. Happy summer!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6pGJtmdmFmjHDIt5nTGOpkOqQOzDPbgKiWDtSe7bTHK_CFx52IRn5l7fH6jNvroo17_snWPCiLnxZJ1_Flpl5bxnshuJfprxk9eyqYE8dZYhAL3MPbZvzDuxyyBm73q80hn9Mo4-zqBBt4ktwh0u52khot946C72z559cIxq3GBm1sDx5Lwr1UMto/s2048/willowcroft.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6pGJtmdmFmjHDIt5nTGOpkOqQOzDPbgKiWDtSe7bTHK_CFx52IRn5l7fH6jNvroo17_snWPCiLnxZJ1_Flpl5bxnshuJfprxk9eyqYE8dZYhAL3MPbZvzDuxyyBm73q80hn9Mo4-zqBBt4ktwh0u52khot946C72z559cIxq3GBm1sDx5Lwr1UMto/s320/willowcroft.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>Willowcroft in winter. The views were beautiful. The wine was...just okay for me. </i><div><i><br /></i></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGxg5PlJtTcsxEHj5jV_obgEewB-jQ7VtkdtcHxzik65qIbWpXMykGFGm7Z4eq970sHxYM7BPppsl4v70U9hf57r1aCvXmNPIqR3ipfayY8HfYso4d506XVFVGpHaZAGe_oFmGH3iPm2fp6MMsRuL_O7LUf4yaoU7KP8ViBwHEkrZ1WcJ0IuagGxFR/s2048/that2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGxg5PlJtTcsxEHj5jV_obgEewB-jQ7VtkdtcHxzik65qIbWpXMykGFGm7Z4eq970sHxYM7BPppsl4v70U9hf57r1aCvXmNPIqR3ipfayY8HfYso4d506XVFVGpHaZAGe_oFmGH3iPm2fp6MMsRuL_O7LUf4yaoU7KP8ViBwHEkrZ1WcJ0IuagGxFR/s320/that2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><i>Property at Thatch Winery as of June 2022. </i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdtdf9NINkZwz0BAzdh8bmJs1yminN7U8DnEujdOr1F-BHxpbZqdMCse6Bna2KzIbcloSSCRBj3XemPE-SNKaIz3upOjAyb48mkX6AR_z-BodR_I7jr1MUT1HARR_-poWfUHetlXM6jEoweQNunSD9ARmugmjnVjavcVqTFhw-tsvUXY0NWhz8BuWq/s2048/lovingston.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdtdf9NINkZwz0BAzdh8bmJs1yminN7U8DnEujdOr1F-BHxpbZqdMCse6Bna2KzIbcloSSCRBj3XemPE-SNKaIz3upOjAyb48mkX6AR_z-BodR_I7jr1MUT1HARR_-poWfUHetlXM6jEoweQNunSD9ARmugmjnVjavcVqTFhw-tsvUXY0NWhz8BuWq/s320/lovingston.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>Lovingston Winery is probably my new favorite spot!</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx9SWPCMcv4Z-DROmGPJI9YRTYQ7w6BylU45De3xdtuAccFM5PyKbyP-Dz1BQjreShZvoPOaz-DTSS-e0buX9q1DnrXCL3VXUU1Sz23C1eP3PRFxNgkZPyjX1IsGyrfk6TN9XaNCVf-s8BRBc065tcakbShRyzuMNgR4k0LfM8B4W2ce08Uz5qUlOH/s2048/jolene.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx9SWPCMcv4Z-DROmGPJI9YRTYQ7w6BylU45De3xdtuAccFM5PyKbyP-Dz1BQjreShZvoPOaz-DTSS-e0buX9q1DnrXCL3VXUU1Sz23C1eP3PRFxNgkZPyjX1IsGyrfk6TN9XaNCVf-s8BRBc065tcakbShRyzuMNgR4k0LfM8B4W2ce08Uz5qUlOH/s320/jolene.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><i>Jolene tasting outside by the lake.</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>Peace,</div><div>Julia<p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div>Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06098852834050397406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1055688385421362242.post-29960865918517111602022-04-26T11:47:00.007-04:002022-04-27T08:19:06.601-04:00Easter Alleluia 2022<p> It's been a minute, but time to update on 2022 and my latest travels!</p><p>2022 started not much different than 2021, unfortunately. I think that we thought we had seen the last of COVID 19 affecting our gatherings, but that was not the case. I at least got to gather with friends and family a little bit more around the holidays, but the anxiety and uncertainty and cases of COVID going up were still there. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlGE3yco7PlRg2y5cHdnw_7tpqiEYZs6nlC6h4uy6m_wyhHdgJjkUw-zTL7ffoGpj53lIibGYzsCpvj1H5qWKON2Z5Trli2mn373uIN91J82JqvONf3PgmS7O1i8wVEklicc8Vcu-TER_UyNQ0GDgzH65m9ztpG3TG_gBDfrFs3-Wers1ruGid5YHn/s2048/frands.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1648" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlGE3yco7PlRg2y5cHdnw_7tpqiEYZs6nlC6h4uy6m_wyhHdgJjkUw-zTL7ffoGpj53lIibGYzsCpvj1H5qWKON2Z5Trli2mn373uIN91J82JqvONf3PgmS7O1i8wVEklicc8Vcu-TER_UyNQ0GDgzH65m9ztpG3TG_gBDfrFs3-Wers1ruGid5YHn/s320/frands.jpg" width="258" /></a></div><i>Visiting friends in PA for New Year's definitely didn't happen in 2020-2021, so I'm grateful that we got to gather, as well as a family gathering for Christmas pictured below.</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiQ2Zov3BJphFPFzoOZ5mHlA15qcuT-pzDxlKHNkXjQ5S7zwT8j4NcaJOJD85n_CgKYCLHe5IaKitL74TdKPTvoe0OSyAKwBdyaZ-7ws2zUASzzr43S4xsC37zx6lOzPFA1ZNBWzxTzyD-FwKZnzp5K1o66TuO_SMzyio-DLg8gTa5SSqpbctpoAC1/s2048/family.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiQ2Zov3BJphFPFzoOZ5mHlA15qcuT-pzDxlKHNkXjQ5S7zwT8j4NcaJOJD85n_CgKYCLHe5IaKitL74TdKPTvoe0OSyAKwBdyaZ-7ws2zUASzzr43S4xsC37zx6lOzPFA1ZNBWzxTzyD-FwKZnzp5K1o66TuO_SMzyio-DLg8gTa5SSqpbctpoAC1/s320/family.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk0O8QjLHx5K51-VCuA4yBqjUmwOfEOeVSlutmOnZISp9TJf19ErEcwu7Ur8FMcV-exXDnwuswACXY-mRNC1GUmEBOCvEj-L5snhAKjxHpx7LgoQTs6WXgeApDwTWRZFguAwedqSBOfPS_N2DYL21Ev-mx5iEzaMzLerA82bSrErBOSe9JNf8ZkVxl/s757/frands2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="757" data-original-width="750" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk0O8QjLHx5K51-VCuA4yBqjUmwOfEOeVSlutmOnZISp9TJf19ErEcwu7Ur8FMcV-exXDnwuswACXY-mRNC1GUmEBOCvEj-L5snhAKjxHpx7LgoQTs6WXgeApDwTWRZFguAwedqSBOfPS_N2DYL21Ev-mx5iEzaMzLerA82bSrErBOSe9JNf8ZkVxl/s320/frands2.jpg" width="317" /></a></div><i>These girls were part of my COVID "pod" for the past two years and I'm so thankful to have them in my life!</i><div><i><br /></i></div><div>Similarly, January and February of 2022 were stressful at school. Teachers and students were still getting COVID and we were having to sub for each other and get students caught up with absent work. Our new governor lifted the mask mandates in schools in January in the middle of cases still rising. This caused me anxiety like I had not felt before. </div><div><br /></div><div>Finally, in March of this year, I felt like I could literally and figuratively breathe again. COVID cases are low in our area and I feel safe being out in public with or without a mask (depending on the scenario). These past two years have been fast and slow all at the same time and certainly unlike anything we have experienced before. I know that we will be processing and talking about the effects of these last two years for years to come. </div><div><br /></div><div>Easter was a little late this year, which is stressful for a Catholic school teacher whose Spring Break depends upon the placement of Easter in our calendar. While March certainly allowed for more solace and stability in routine, I was ready for a break! I was sooooo grateful that lower cases of COVID meant that we can travel a little more! </div><div><br /></div><div>I have been wanting to go to Marfa, Texas for the past several years. People asked me how I learned about Marfa and I don't think that I could tell you where I first learned about it. I have been to Texas several times, but Texas is a world of its own, and there's always something new to see or explore. I decided to plan my Spring Break trip around my desire to experience Marfa and see what happened!</div><div><br /></div><div>Below are the details of my Spring Break trip. I was more nervous than I had been in a while to travel- probably because of COVID- but everything went sooooo smoothly and I am so grateful for this experience and this break!</div><div><br /></div><div><u><b>Day1: Fly to El Paso </b></u></div><div>I flew out on Easter Sunday ( I help out at our Easter Vigil at my church the night before which frees up Easter typically as a good travel day) and rented a car in El Paso, Texas. As I mentioned, I've been to Texas a couple of times, but never to El Paso. I wasn't sure what to expect and didn't really have many expectations as it was just kind of the location I needed to fly to to get to Marfa. But I was so pleasantly surprised by El Paso and it ended up being one of my favorite places and days of the trip!</div><div><br /></div><div>Even though a lot of things were closed. I still found some great food and stumbled upon the cutest, most perfect town which I will get to in a second. </div><div><br /></div><div>People had recommended L & J Cafe which was closed, so I wandered in to Lick it Up which turned out to be a vegan restaurant, but the tacos and drinks that I had still gave me that Tex-Mex fare I had been craving. </div><div><br /></div><div>El Paso is on the border of Mexico. You can literally walk across to Juarez, Mexico via a bridge. I was a little nervous to do so by myself based on things I had read recently, but I could see the town from some of the views and streets that I found myself on in downtown. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinJxe72LDssPNoahEu-xpGR_eV4JjO5Rli_L1YRubMiuxXRiHhFBlBtXx18G5YlDQKaWhigA01cn24A97m62k4ZLQnbo2lPo1xU5d27pQ0BncQTZMOAP3uecL9Kgg495jz_zRQoExR2LKCnz3Hzmof4y_IOthNrrMphH_MT2CD-ec-FTDyVhVAt80S/s2048/texas3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinJxe72LDssPNoahEu-xpGR_eV4JjO5Rli_L1YRubMiuxXRiHhFBlBtXx18G5YlDQKaWhigA01cn24A97m62k4ZLQnbo2lPo1xU5d27pQ0BncQTZMOAP3uecL9Kgg495jz_zRQoExR2LKCnz3Hzmof4y_IOthNrrMphH_MT2CD-ec-FTDyVhVAt80S/s320/texas3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>Mural next to L&J Cafe which was sadly closed. View from Tom Lea Park in El Paso with Mexico in the distance.</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRYM0-Xr2-rZN0x-lthxwnMGTecrZTwr4MtL0DUsT131x9Ojby2I0vp7DWn_vZe9UQ-VEXC6CFaGQaeR2znIbbJKks7tfj8jU-Urq5HlepO_IfaIyHtEuWLi7SmLR0PQC_Ylug0zeD1qwpJXmfFP-RUW7WDIYHjbLDmwWPenWN9mZaW_Uf9yTdPOn-/s2048/texas4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRYM0-Xr2-rZN0x-lthxwnMGTecrZTwr4MtL0DUsT131x9Ojby2I0vp7DWn_vZe9UQ-VEXC6CFaGQaeR2znIbbJKks7tfj8jU-Urq5HlepO_IfaIyHtEuWLi7SmLR0PQC_Ylug0zeD1qwpJXmfFP-RUW7WDIYHjbLDmwWPenWN9mZaW_Uf9yTdPOn-/s320/texas4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>First tacos and tequila of Texas, but not the last!</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivDGuWfo-67yarWyZJ2VKl7r4AfFh4SGKB953VeVtsIkJcJp8CPqOzmMK1DRc58UPdGCT7Vo5RJG84o_JVfZGhTg6yveQrzc_Xn7_rditxY8eN65MruEsLXFBKnJb0UHoBlRpkABAmVWpdjly-MuRByFOi-LiTnvcslZbHuAn_EnFwvxMdsy5skC-r/s2048/texas7.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivDGuWfo-67yarWyZJ2VKl7r4AfFh4SGKB953VeVtsIkJcJp8CPqOzmMK1DRc58UPdGCT7Vo5RJG84o_JVfZGhTg6yveQrzc_Xn7_rditxY8eN65MruEsLXFBKnJb0UHoBlRpkABAmVWpdjly-MuRByFOi-LiTnvcslZbHuAn_EnFwvxMdsy5skC-r/s320/texas7.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>After wandering around downtown a little, I decided to do the local Missions Trail a few miles outside of El Paso. I started at the furthest Mission, San Elizario, and worked my way back towards Mission Yselta which is closest to El Paso. I was so delighted with what I found at the San Elizario Mission. When I was looking at the Church (which was closed, but I was content to walk around outside), I could hear music playing in the distance, so I decided to go check it out. I came upon a cute outdoor restaurant with people singing karaoke! I also found some really awesome art galleries that were open and I enjoyed speaking with the artists inside and learning about their art. I definitely recommend a visit to this cute town!<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqzNReBMryNhd3zi-sGYcOK8WErJIbKVWraRYg5Z0uf8FYiocCFtO5GhJwltEDsM7tFUS6bSg8gG0eeQs7khJRyfKAKx0ED8W4zCKRNhhOcRByXKcJpellRasDGzIA44QTL6AFWKP1clMXMvhH7G-45w_lmUabOnWzyuaX3TmJxXFd5TTVQ71IyGqB/s2048/texas5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqzNReBMryNhd3zi-sGYcOK8WErJIbKVWraRYg5Z0uf8FYiocCFtO5GhJwltEDsM7tFUS6bSg8gG0eeQs7khJRyfKAKx0ED8W4zCKRNhhOcRByXKcJpellRasDGzIA44QTL6AFWKP1clMXMvhH7G-45w_lmUabOnWzyuaX3TmJxXFd5TTVQ71IyGqB/s320/texas5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>San Elizario Mission and cute art galleries in town!</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitQuvdYverNRJW93gv07ljF_zMV0gHgVMO7_yaJl8_jciA0hsI3t-lta-aAYhA8Lty9yycCG4AvF5MG1rGKfq9nyI7HIQAPVy61YF6xqFuSqqLkQdzjvCNGHLFQ46sJMhuu7tqVtsi1u8kGE9SmB2YDNVnrHdFCjrnb4UWTasHVJt396GoeO9HxFBT/s2048/texas6.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitQuvdYverNRJW93gv07ljF_zMV0gHgVMO7_yaJl8_jciA0hsI3t-lta-aAYhA8Lty9yycCG4AvF5MG1rGKfq9nyI7HIQAPVy61YF6xqFuSqqLkQdzjvCNGHLFQ46sJMhuu7tqVtsi1u8kGE9SmB2YDNVnrHdFCjrnb4UWTasHVJt396GoeO9HxFBT/s320/texas6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>Outdoor karaoke bar in San Elizario</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU0f-WrzqolgI23Z4noLrMyYCHzvSeINIbjllmbIDuhEQhWTW8ytxMMQ9J2BLeK9cUKpAOUaBI2meP5g1XxqNc-qMNBR_l6NSGUjIlDHg_m4MWKmO9VZY05KjO__K3BQqM5FfXZep3TwROcdXPvAhwrUdFvehjs1CpMGqutNou4Kv5ODJwhwgmf1Jh/s2048/texas11.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU0f-WrzqolgI23Z4noLrMyYCHzvSeINIbjllmbIDuhEQhWTW8ytxMMQ9J2BLeK9cUKpAOUaBI2meP5g1XxqNc-qMNBR_l6NSGUjIlDHg_m4MWKmO9VZY05KjO__K3BQqM5FfXZep3TwROcdXPvAhwrUdFvehjs1CpMGqutNou4Kv5ODJwhwgmf1Jh/s320/texas11.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div>After visiting San Elizario, I worked my way back to El Paso and stopped at the Socorro and Yselta Missions along the way. The Socorro Mission had a beautiful cemetery that I took a stroll through which was a nice little reflection on Easter Sunday. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXKi_nfWml9FnX41QT1gRipl3KgEktSqTFls9zXDmXERqNi9Sa_dOh7YOD4gKM_SxvlvwTxzbjGXJGRvNnI7oWwD0KmtXJhQUT267AW1EXjg2-6kG8okOw4y8FN211HWuLMBMpblIGSoj-rOWWQ4b-xLCqBjlF0a8sKYHk90T3hUegjSykOM__uZZX/s2048/texas8.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXKi_nfWml9FnX41QT1gRipl3KgEktSqTFls9zXDmXERqNi9Sa_dOh7YOD4gKM_SxvlvwTxzbjGXJGRvNnI7oWwD0KmtXJhQUT267AW1EXjg2-6kG8okOw4y8FN211HWuLMBMpblIGSoj-rOWWQ4b-xLCqBjlF0a8sKYHk90T3hUegjSykOM__uZZX/s320/texas8.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>Cemetery at Socorro Mission and Yselta Mission below.</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpPA0MlV335s_D1xYOCIQKiP97EUbETl2IqYyEhEdeaTCffCwOubuKuzhLh0VUDpdVXcqc8LTqbUXhWN3aaNkhtRWGv-ZqqlTbOKRXhYJ3jjHbI4klUSpsURW-bd45Uu4tITWIYl8hb0Ll2pr5vwnzi6B1aGJevjWkbRxqHGZF0K7VPVXdIElQh6f9/s2048/texas9.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpPA0MlV335s_D1xYOCIQKiP97EUbETl2IqYyEhEdeaTCffCwOubuKuzhLh0VUDpdVXcqc8LTqbUXhWN3aaNkhtRWGv-ZqqlTbOKRXhYJ3jjHbI4klUSpsURW-bd45Uu4tITWIYl8hb0Ll2pr5vwnzi6B1aGJevjWkbRxqHGZF0K7VPVXdIElQh6f9/s320/texas9.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I finished my first day out in El Paso by going to the Mesa Grill which was an upscale restaurant that happened to be open and got (you guessed it) more tacos and relaxed at my Air B n B for the rest of the night. All in all a successful first day in Texas!<div><br /></div><div><u><b>Day 2: El Paso to </b></u><b><u>Terlingua</u></b></div><div><u><br /></u></div><div>I had mentioned that I had wanted to walk across to Juarez, Mexico, but I decided against it. Seeing the border wall was still pretty jarring and made me think about the differences so close to us yet somewhat out of sight in the country right next to us. I got to contemplate this as I drove along the border a little bit on my way to my next destination. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgylM9TbbbokvCb68HJTVSzfeIUDyPuI3e0wGgnN4CbVPSONKlDx3_ClsZsO3-GtWC6RvGm6J8irUgNhZFELzjoBEWUNiAevgjo3_npqlfnvn-NqAYw7hu-7e9fFpm8uZ2Fgt6np--gz8p9P1_WCnc49xydYktHCQqWoosoJ7eFkpLy9l-VPoBHQKwx/s960/texas10.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgylM9TbbbokvCb68HJTVSzfeIUDyPuI3e0wGgnN4CbVPSONKlDx3_ClsZsO3-GtWC6RvGm6J8irUgNhZFELzjoBEWUNiAevgjo3_npqlfnvn-NqAYw7hu-7e9fFpm8uZ2Fgt6np--gz8p9P1_WCnc49xydYktHCQqWoosoJ7eFkpLy9l-VPoBHQKwx/s320/texas10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Before I left El Paso, I got a great breakfast sandwich here and also stocked up on some car snacks at the nearby Albertson's which ended up coming in handy on the long drives I would have the couple days ahead. </div><div><br /></div><div>My drive to Terlingua and Big Bend National Park was long. I ended up going past Marfa and Alpine- two towns I would return to later in the week. It was nice to get to get a little preview of Marfa though and I got to check off the list one of the main attractions of Marfa which is the "Prada store" outside of Marfa (which is really just a weird art installation). I saw this about half way into my drive. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDXJrGDURkHKyg1khNItcLcJYvgON0cdbf4Sxu4kcud1aBCGgxknOhJZppDes3PhV2Irp0IVqXpmlWLpNGYcqJ6v8ud-rR9D72nmlHpl8b_oCBRoHzmQKGCZzR-CguY8nDPcdzMKsg28yMzF6e6E6CRTMM41rR-xeUMvBQ523bQtLRR8xq4rJ4EkzB/s960/marfa1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDXJrGDURkHKyg1khNItcLcJYvgON0cdbf4Sxu4kcud1aBCGgxknOhJZppDes3PhV2Irp0IVqXpmlWLpNGYcqJ6v8ud-rR9D72nmlHpl8b_oCBRoHzmQKGCZzR-CguY8nDPcdzMKsg28yMzF6e6E6CRTMM41rR-xeUMvBQ523bQtLRR8xq4rJ4EkzB/s320/marfa1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>Drove past these going East...would return to Marfa later in the week!</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcX_xPw5hX-ql-mgi1o-gT3qvbup-pg_6aRiecD2JsW98S9VmWif91BDms9_-vkq5-JyjerlYsbhmUmb3BIqVhBYN8QOsIkhK2J9uccNReNEw3qqKf86TN0dkTjaqf9ThkR_qVenjkjHYjNnEyZFUTgazPk_L4_gtRKrlpGLLB0KssoQuJNefZr7z4/s960/marfa2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcX_xPw5hX-ql-mgi1o-gT3qvbup-pg_6aRiecD2JsW98S9VmWif91BDms9_-vkq5-JyjerlYsbhmUmb3BIqVhBYN8QOsIkhK2J9uccNReNEw3qqKf86TN0dkTjaqf9ThkR_qVenjkjHYjNnEyZFUTgazPk_L4_gtRKrlpGLLB0KssoQuJNefZr7z4/s320/marfa2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>The drive to Terlingua and Big Bend was maybe like 6 hours? And when I got to Big Bend it was even MORE driving through the park. I was tired so I only drove through a portion of it. What I did see was beautiful. You pay a fee to enter the park (as you do with all National parks) but the ticket is good for a week, which is nice. I wish I would've allotted more time for me to tour the Park because there is also part of it that is close to Mexico and I believe you can actually go across into the country from it. I stayed in the Santa Elena Canyon section of the park, but I had heard that the Rio Grande portion of the Park was worth doing as well. Maybe next time!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj71chOAdi9tbbTHfj2ER2c14-tmbU9M59GJtRuWGRoDnIpTK9X5XrB5-rWF2468BbayyU_dwSTeBHv6ieyej0bBVRqaUGtRhZJrLXjyt16g9R1PZU0RTQ_27APAN7vHzTZ6b66CmoVdlsRqjHcn3U8bms4pIbcykKFYbjo7WBB_tePBNS0FFmIoBgW/s960/terilingua2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj71chOAdi9tbbTHfj2ER2c14-tmbU9M59GJtRuWGRoDnIpTK9X5XrB5-rWF2468BbayyU_dwSTeBHv6ieyej0bBVRqaUGtRhZJrLXjyt16g9R1PZU0RTQ_27APAN7vHzTZ6b66CmoVdlsRqjHcn3U8bms4pIbcykKFYbjo7WBB_tePBNS0FFmIoBgW/s320/terilingua2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>Welcome to Terlingua! Such a weird, desert town</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD26ObNPrfomjDUKnL9mHg2slnc--OWWAhqcZ70crd1ZPZ-iIlbt0Fb9IUm1TqXE7_LrO0O-97UEtIwFLNVYeWH-m6YeztgW_QsDSfVRvvxluXCwx5WN7RalWtbXeSMcSp6TxyzJ-79BR-itVtNuGYCr5nH8-fOLGV7Ly0YT1nKsMpeGZ7nW6e9lzu/s960/terilingua3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD26ObNPrfomjDUKnL9mHg2slnc--OWWAhqcZ70crd1ZPZ-iIlbt0Fb9IUm1TqXE7_LrO0O-97UEtIwFLNVYeWH-m6YeztgW_QsDSfVRvvxluXCwx5WN7RalWtbXeSMcSp6TxyzJ-79BR-itVtNuGYCr5nH8-fOLGV7Ly0YT1nKsMpeGZ7nW6e9lzu/s320/terilingua3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>Santa Elena Canyon in Big Bend National Park</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit8Up4BJd8oWMf864JRsL0QTBxHmWMboGbWdWMsiVPLpZaUWXdAORpvnnixgO30Zqtypg8nUPrfwGBzoCsIU-5qlUjbKHH8baM1UyT4XXF_5eQi2K7q_ukNLiW6hdv8MCHclXoewg7LXHokzDh2gP5y-kmZwd1sOcqcdpe1SghTcZq-ABDHWp2mi3D/s960/terilingua4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit8Up4BJd8oWMf864JRsL0QTBxHmWMboGbWdWMsiVPLpZaUWXdAORpvnnixgO30Zqtypg8nUPrfwGBzoCsIU-5qlUjbKHH8baM1UyT4XXF_5eQi2K7q_ukNLiW6hdv8MCHclXoewg7LXHokzDh2gP5y-kmZwd1sOcqcdpe1SghTcZq-ABDHWp2mi3D/s320/terilingua4.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEsxHqx2cZ3PJJdcTbPPTDOxH2xZQSMAaYvj6ZzvI7aHCt3T1onUHCnz1-i15i9fQN2R19apVL7HiFV2p3rcMQnBdLmlpF3n1p7Oi-PPzr_NbREydvvFb0qUH4lNOlY9Aa-XHLyPrbMnLF8ZLz8bimL5DByYG3hb97uDF0eLyo3QPbjsjAeuxKD0l4/s2048/terilingua5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEsxHqx2cZ3PJJdcTbPPTDOxH2xZQSMAaYvj6ZzvI7aHCt3T1onUHCnz1-i15i9fQN2R19apVL7HiFV2p3rcMQnBdLmlpF3n1p7Oi-PPzr_NbREydvvFb0qUH4lNOlY9Aa-XHLyPrbMnLF8ZLz8bimL5DByYG3hb97uDF0eLyo3QPbjsjAeuxKD0l4/s320/terilingua5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>My air b n b on a mountain in Terlingua! It was a converted bus in the middle of nowhere, but there were other campsites nearby and running showers and flushing toilets elsewhere on site. Not the most glamorous stay, but amazing views and a definite experience!</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwscUTiWntG-0DSPjIZsyFXx1u6Y69q_bsDTR4zcKMX3BPLWgQ0g3UqQ23eoZAmjwFTm8PGI3fNlsqk28eSQ2ioQH-0-e60gIz53WOsraWNdK5RKEGj-wVcZygFdQJNi74IySRXmb5ynlgcN4kkJRXAC8oftT6guAZq5s62jRgKgWh-4xCElxpeJXE/s960/terilingua.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwscUTiWntG-0DSPjIZsyFXx1u6Y69q_bsDTR4zcKMX3BPLWgQ0g3UqQ23eoZAmjwFTm8PGI3fNlsqk28eSQ2ioQH-0-e60gIz53WOsraWNdK5RKEGj-wVcZygFdQJNi74IySRXmb5ynlgcN4kkJRXAC8oftT6guAZq5s62jRgKgWh-4xCElxpeJXE/s320/terilingua.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><i>One of like two restaurants in Terlingua with live music and more great tacos/burritos!</i><div><i><br /></i></div><div><u><b>Day 3: Terlingua to Chinati Hot Springs</b></u></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div>I got up pretty early on Day 3 and thought about going back to Big Bend, but I had still more driving to do in another direction to get to my next location. I had been wanting to try these Hot Springs that are outside of Marfa. The drive was another long, mountainous one but was really beautiful and the end result of peace at the Hot Springs was worth it!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhplVIS9PZZZo8yJfRej2sP0hWQraCuJqpSPyfHuT7A92sa41nJQHy9WQvPKqSdSPxId3NjPeFeK8krKFZFonKKHJC9p4P-8nNWYZFLjII0CTmmSR2kKZJniOwL-tfjfRsf6RcOh5S5cZTHpn27NEo_RgQQIBB2-UAs8FoPZIDeteV85hmVifOgtal6/s2048/chinati.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhplVIS9PZZZo8yJfRej2sP0hWQraCuJqpSPyfHuT7A92sa41nJQHy9WQvPKqSdSPxId3NjPeFeK8krKFZFonKKHJC9p4P-8nNWYZFLjII0CTmmSR2kKZJniOwL-tfjfRsf6RcOh5S5cZTHpn27NEo_RgQQIBB2-UAs8FoPZIDeteV85hmVifOgtal6/s320/chinati.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>Visited the cemetery in Terlingua before I left for the Hot Springs</i><br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg53LHnMbmi1uQj1bruCphA2FAJ9ilWLG7SBnBBvoO7aApyzxUd-1K5uWyuThUlyG58vPstuu0w3MwfRxTrKR9oFGP4-XMpGWAPWu3M9_itfkVwgo3DOTaJLBGNsMzz_aTl9_W1uzilC-bX8Xyy1Bypj0Xgfp0PaYNepGvG9ngqm3jI7oskoFrP-p1/s2048/chinati2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1538" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg53LHnMbmi1uQj1bruCphA2FAJ9ilWLG7SBnBBvoO7aApyzxUd-1K5uWyuThUlyG58vPstuu0w3MwfRxTrKR9oFGP4-XMpGWAPWu3M9_itfkVwgo3DOTaJLBGNsMzz_aTl9_W1uzilC-bX8Xyy1Bypj0Xgfp0PaYNepGvG9ngqm3jI7oskoFrP-p1/s320/chinati2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>Part of the view on my drive past Lajitas towards the Hot Springs</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ7HIG550mtlzsTeU4MKyhagMeeKcq5bqA6OYevaAGT8gNXyqI3CSzqd_-lkGzkr4XgHcKB0ebwiLkxkWOjme0trjmbNzXc9cDUcyOQIfqRKzicGPsYk9Vz6EpRAQVYbIBdHTupliLc0LWPccoo0mQXacFG7cvT-X-qsk8qLoN1F44jJPJAJXwhOk1/s2048/chinati3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ7HIG550mtlzsTeU4MKyhagMeeKcq5bqA6OYevaAGT8gNXyqI3CSzqd_-lkGzkr4XgHcKB0ebwiLkxkWOjme0trjmbNzXc9cDUcyOQIfqRKzicGPsYk9Vz6EpRAQVYbIBdHTupliLc0LWPccoo0mQXacFG7cvT-X-qsk8qLoN1F44jJPJAJXwhOk1/s320/chinati3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>My stay at Chinati Hot Springs.</i><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUivkf5a48vxkk0OBOcMjrmt5iINtvqpJgVa1e_BacECLh7oIvodNMrs9-RO3R8XlvbSIwZGV0PI90uNaI-mZQtcX17tw2g4jj8LZXUIAMynoTdcFgolqGr8gOt44-lH-Jc5pzxfVklzqqh7POUcZ2tfvcIWSTvr6XlLEyPPoYmQJ7d33nRMe-BA6X/s206/texas1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="206" data-original-width="206" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUivkf5a48vxkk0OBOcMjrmt5iINtvqpJgVa1e_BacECLh7oIvodNMrs9-RO3R8XlvbSIwZGV0PI90uNaI-mZQtcX17tw2g4jj8LZXUIAMynoTdcFgolqGr8gOt44-lH-Jc5pzxfVklzqqh7POUcZ2tfvcIWSTvr6XlLEyPPoYmQJ7d33nRMe-BA6X/s1600/texas1.jpg" width="206" /></a></div><i>Enjoying the pool and the hot springs at Chinati respectively. So peaceful!</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYVZeIog6OEyiNtFb9yPkjdRJUn-UxyeXqEQ-aYQw7_EvYj2OP9kzD1oMTb0qTmwTSZipRUiqN764yrDGRvQreEpwrptltJKALm-P291AqlkTC3PxG2ZsYnRQjGzhIZLkqL68FS6FPcEVeih0FwXdY1sK-jfXmiePnjeJBans13iJIaTp93QhYzq3d/s2048/chinati4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYVZeIog6OEyiNtFb9yPkjdRJUn-UxyeXqEQ-aYQw7_EvYj2OP9kzD1oMTb0qTmwTSZipRUiqN764yrDGRvQreEpwrptltJKALm-P291AqlkTC3PxG2ZsYnRQjGzhIZLkqL68FS6FPcEVeih0FwXdY1sK-jfXmiePnjeJBans13iJIaTp93QhYzq3d/s320/chinati4.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>There was no wireless or cell phone service at the Hot Springs which was extra refreshing. There are also no nearby restaurants or food provided on site (which the website to reserve lodging tells you) so you have to bring your own. But there is a communal kitchen where you can store and cook the food that you bring (those Albertson's car snacks came in handy and I brought and made some ramen for the night. I am not a cook...). </div><div><br /></div><div>I sat by the pool and read and got to meditate and enjoy the peace and quiet of my surroundings. I woke up early on Day 4 to also enjoy the sunrise. Chinati Hot Springs was one of my favorite parts of this week!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYh3cuPMttOipItV9P5kCikDc-2XAdNIu90LTok8GpvIam35S_lVwjiUMdz5yoHvfgAn8TxfJ4-BIOPkVDuoyQ8riD4483xHPPKkvFQR9syC237oW4TfLZaGp51j-5LA40KuwcT30v2E81Qqtbhf3vkfSRz5Gu9c5iUdVCv_lCWY8ElLbC3GpHWQ_I/s2048/chinati5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYh3cuPMttOipItV9P5kCikDc-2XAdNIu90LTok8GpvIam35S_lVwjiUMdz5yoHvfgAn8TxfJ4-BIOPkVDuoyQ8riD4483xHPPKkvFQR9syC237oW4TfLZaGp51j-5LA40KuwcT30v2E81Qqtbhf3vkfSRz5Gu9c5iUdVCv_lCWY8ElLbC3GpHWQ_I/s320/chinati5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><b><u>Day 4: Chinati Hot Springs to Marfa</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div>The drive down from Chinati to Marfa was not bad at all compared to all of the driving I had done the last two days. If I could plan the trip again, I would give myself more time at Big Bend rather than Marfa, but Marfa had been my main goal of the trip. </div><div><br /></div><div>When I arrived at Marfa, I decided to explore the town I had been wanting to visit for so long. I had researched ahead of time so I knew that a lot of stores and galleries had weird hours and weren't really open until the weekends. Even though I had done that research, I still didn't realize how quiet and sleepy the town really is when so many things are closed. In theory, there were lots of stores and bookshops and cute places to visit, but nothing seemed to be open. I did get lunch at Marfa Burritos which I was really happy about, hung out in my trailer which was home for the next two days at El Cosmico, and wandered into a couple galleries and stores that happened to be opened. I also went to the Hotel Paisano where Hollywood stars had stayed when they filmed "Giant". There also happen to be huge billboards of the movies stars outside of Marfa. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPt6xqqSG_wNxobkcv_6F39yknCiz33Qi00lDkMFBn44nNXoabx0jVw7YS7qHyY79o84CLZ4FD_l_GnciFnjuLSTuWi42LpBmypWRgBr0b4DBFOK_DrqQEgFxkObVnSNbcPeYUHvINyKutJ_t2yyg0Sr9nYqwIwqUn230o7eYSbNHOAbGZkb2pVHic/s960/marfa3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPt6xqqSG_wNxobkcv_6F39yknCiz33Qi00lDkMFBn44nNXoabx0jVw7YS7qHyY79o84CLZ4FD_l_GnciFnjuLSTuWi42LpBmypWRgBr0b4DBFOK_DrqQEgFxkObVnSNbcPeYUHvINyKutJ_t2yyg0Sr9nYqwIwqUn230o7eYSbNHOAbGZkb2pVHic/s320/marfa3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>Billboards and burritos.</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglLNjJG4Ve-nTytV89VIIEphBfwNw17lCj57rzUZzcNqk51r-GXOe94zhxLuIi3tpXev8BIHWay5mdgxzqJ_g7d-FOqSEDGY3QgAZWn_L93CT_Zolph4njH2j0CDSfQj0YD7T6q49xT8ofOPQGh2pEhYF9Ns6d9Gbic1NMtFcU7Q9B8K5GbhueRtrz/s960/marfa4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglLNjJG4Ve-nTytV89VIIEphBfwNw17lCj57rzUZzcNqk51r-GXOe94zhxLuIi3tpXev8BIHWay5mdgxzqJ_g7d-FOqSEDGY3QgAZWn_L93CT_Zolph4njH2j0CDSfQj0YD7T6q49xT8ofOPQGh2pEhYF9Ns6d9Gbic1NMtFcU7Q9B8K5GbhueRtrz/s320/marfa4.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihOI_UKhqgbmA55d0UBzBqeOnaJn_HQ6DCWwx1BYupnsMl1J5JR3IblU-XC1IegF_XUemLu5SK3Fygya8mW9btHRVqKqfCw8w7ZQPNurrbWmYSOxm5F2HntOwCZlojUeRlPTI-TNJpnwcDwE8ACg5HY61r6puA2zSL9UaMZe0icb6r9fFqGAFHxuGP/s960/marfa5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihOI_UKhqgbmA55d0UBzBqeOnaJn_HQ6DCWwx1BYupnsMl1J5JR3IblU-XC1IegF_XUemLu5SK3Fygya8mW9btHRVqKqfCw8w7ZQPNurrbWmYSOxm5F2HntOwCZlojUeRlPTI-TNJpnwcDwE8ACg5HY61r6puA2zSL9UaMZe0icb6r9fFqGAFHxuGP/s320/marfa5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>Hotel Paisano</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz_YitC1j8Tbaekwet8d5dQDGH1zXcepS9BWewVR6MZJP_A_bNM9gDZO6cilPuM3XxQizTjQyQqlUYruka8ldJj99bssrWuTZ1KDvFNqLl2XCesolMQbON08NoJyPfWRsU2YG9Ablq-WDVg-_3k2dsF-su8Y8drwq4k5wAyvezo4mUq9Hi8bk6CeJL/s960/marfa6.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz_YitC1j8Tbaekwet8d5dQDGH1zXcepS9BWewVR6MZJP_A_bNM9gDZO6cilPuM3XxQizTjQyQqlUYruka8ldJj99bssrWuTZ1KDvFNqLl2XCesolMQbON08NoJyPfWRsU2YG9Ablq-WDVg-_3k2dsF-su8Y8drwq4k5wAyvezo4mUq9Hi8bk6CeJL/s320/marfa6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>Above: Planet Marfa which is a fun outdoor bar and restaurant that was actually open, and below: The Lost Horse Saloon which I stopped in for a drink on my way out of town to see the Marfa Lights. It was a pretty sleepy bar as well. The only other people in there were another out of town couple who I talked to for a bit. </i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC5tiX_UNNdzxMaZkUQigvCLULgtwZucWtOjf28lO7UeuJtkgKtdBKQtJhlTHjiM3Od2b-pTfS6A_El_XjF6mljySJDH5nYnYEzA8fWLOPT9fEfoYXXxqoC0WAkuHPOFVIm_U_cztg9qxckfKgpetjmm-t6SopkP5E0HpXjNuaUyf7qwitS3F5nCzU/s960/marfa7.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC5tiX_UNNdzxMaZkUQigvCLULgtwZucWtOjf28lO7UeuJtkgKtdBKQtJhlTHjiM3Od2b-pTfS6A_El_XjF6mljySJDH5nYnYEzA8fWLOPT9fEfoYXXxqoC0WAkuHPOFVIm_U_cztg9qxckfKgpetjmm-t6SopkP5E0HpXjNuaUyf7qwitS3F5nCzU/s320/marfa7.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR4aznpuy4reIAYgMm8OpO6TW0PeZfDatzhDwTqxjGxEJW7ANLsaNMXCqyKS9mhmNzhPMQbjYxdqZxT0hLa7RGHVTd0FYIsQacgd-DvX_x0CuaGW4yEdoYiJEqD9wl9Q5qcxwltjboaXJcU3dETMuYB2kfonh9Sa8GH6Ayb9vcN-FCEc2tGOCiTHjz/s960/marfa8.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR4aznpuy4reIAYgMm8OpO6TW0PeZfDatzhDwTqxjGxEJW7ANLsaNMXCqyKS9mhmNzhPMQbjYxdqZxT0hLa7RGHVTd0FYIsQacgd-DvX_x0CuaGW4yEdoYiJEqD9wl9Q5qcxwltjboaXJcU3dETMuYB2kfonh9Sa8GH6Ayb9vcN-FCEc2tGOCiTHjz/s320/marfa8.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>Above: a few miles out of town, you can go at sunset to try and see the "Marfa Lights" which are mysterious, unexplained moving orbs? I didn't see any but I only stayed for like an hour. Some people stay all night! Below: my trailer at El Cosmico.</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIEdY3HHHK_K8Qzqaoc5w2cJFAnCem-tH7NwTD-QF48u2ftfHW2YTRYS_XN4mDspUjtdnHgiAwPU9tfYGbTEWcNJ7E3DgOeHzee3K3zFcjYDH4ELotjqWjJ2SSX2Rf4taqIu1BfYKTUuRUXDV3rrjd4-kHfe0rL3I6Nz73T6HycUfUn-2c5ZnIzrFv/s2048/marfa9.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIEdY3HHHK_K8Qzqaoc5w2cJFAnCem-tH7NwTD-QF48u2ftfHW2YTRYS_XN4mDspUjtdnHgiAwPU9tfYGbTEWcNJ7E3DgOeHzee3K3zFcjYDH4ELotjqWjJ2SSX2Rf4taqIu1BfYKTUuRUXDV3rrjd4-kHfe0rL3I6Nz73T6HycUfUn-2c5ZnIzrFv/s320/marfa9.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><b><u>Day 5: Marfa and Alpine</u></b><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div>I finally got to see one of the exhibits that drew me to Marfa: Donald Judd's 15 Works in Concrete which are outside at The Chinati Foundation which is right next to El Cosmico. You can tour the works for free, but to see the other exhibits inside on the property, you have to take a tour. I recommend the tour. You get to see more of Judd's work as well as installations from his collaborator, Dan Flavin. The tour also includes a cool space curated by Robert Irwin. The tour was really extensive and was a two hour tour with lots of walking! But definitely worth it. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXd17I7AFogzFb_ePjBXl5XNHjx-FdVz_BC7GPJmIh2xQr7O7VGl7zjn-GTm7MrzI-aiYl3TGMZrfJg7qTZBLvuCJGigKGXNe-i41gOxhhG4iE4-Kgfd7hEauNObwjH8JngaCJ_4V1e-3DiLZXsSNJrgh5bweMpruxY1ZSJ3UOWymP0ffWGUaYWVcG/s2048/marfa10.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXd17I7AFogzFb_ePjBXl5XNHjx-FdVz_BC7GPJmIh2xQr7O7VGl7zjn-GTm7MrzI-aiYl3TGMZrfJg7qTZBLvuCJGigKGXNe-i41gOxhhG4iE4-Kgfd7hEauNObwjH8JngaCJ_4V1e-3DiLZXsSNJrgh5bweMpruxY1ZSJ3UOWymP0ffWGUaYWVcG/s320/marfa10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><i>15 Works in Concrete outside Chinati Foundation. We weren't allowed to take pictures of the inside works.</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj61tsagcIhIqo12RGNrBNT98_U7AW8eEMFmqw8g8Pj-QcXPgTQeOQL98G9aVWNxihyj3vPgQIUZbGsPYbIAjg2vBABrhMn67VxTCkxIGRV4OJNJ8yTcklWl9322yKmvOZPW5JWotYBIzWajFOdal17P4blbSKoLUrKB5eMeFLD44KjUO0dMkIbJoOo/s206/texas.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="206" data-original-width="206" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj61tsagcIhIqo12RGNrBNT98_U7AW8eEMFmqw8g8Pj-QcXPgTQeOQL98G9aVWNxihyj3vPgQIUZbGsPYbIAjg2vBABrhMn67VxTCkxIGRV4OJNJ8yTcklWl9322yKmvOZPW5JWotYBIzWajFOdal17P4blbSKoLUrKB5eMeFLD44KjUO0dMkIbJoOo/s1600/texas.jpg" width="206" /></a></div>After the extensive tour, I was hungry so I went to The Water Stop in Marfa which was a really nice brunch place. I had also started my day at Do Your Thing coffee which was a cute coffee spot with a really nice server close to the Lost Horse I had gone to the night before. </div><div><br /></div><div>Marfa is really small and everything is pretty much just on a couple of blocks. I walked around a few more stores after lunch and visited Ballroom Marfa which had a couple of exhibits in the gallery, but as I mentioned, I was a little disappointed with the Marfa I had imagined versus reality. </div><div><br /></div><div>I had passed through the city of Alpine which is 20 miles east of Marfa when I did my drive to Terlingua earlier in the week. I decided to get out Marfa and see what I could see in Alpine. I was so glad that I did! There are lots of stores and galleries and murals in Alpine and I ended up having a really nice time walking around and taking pictures. I had dinner and drinks in Alpine as well. </div><div><br /></div><div>I found this super cute wine bar that operated out of an airstream which I got a drink at and ended up talking to the owner for a while who was super nice. I got dinner at Reata which was a local restaurant and had a good meal and then ended with a drink at Old Gringo Biker Bar! The people were friendly and there was live music. Definitely more of the experience I was hoping for in Marfa.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3P3rsVd8dOx-7IhbRqLzM6jmeG_YLR5Nctyk0mXN7Q0MSyyX__7PRxhv2n0lQjREgA5WBpaq-QIVlpP6s_tWMiSRhSlCUccGGQP1QLFJwTenZF-7IC1meQEJ2Nmgpuageqp6dFfm_fFeBQ2cJLszD1uXdSxyigLfw5n5K5H3QRzQBiDWjb4qobRx3/s960/alpin4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3P3rsVd8dOx-7IhbRqLzM6jmeG_YLR5Nctyk0mXN7Q0MSyyX__7PRxhv2n0lQjREgA5WBpaq-QIVlpP6s_tWMiSRhSlCUccGGQP1QLFJwTenZF-7IC1meQEJ2Nmgpuageqp6dFfm_fFeBQ2cJLszD1uXdSxyigLfw5n5K5H3QRzQBiDWjb4qobRx3/s320/alpin4.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><i>Fun drinking spot that also has food in Alpine: Old Gringo!</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8pw1cf9kyoi5DqqRQFSpEhU1LptKw3RFJRASD3o_6gwHDODx-AOnd89xfES4iFf8sq72sydxGvYS-Kx9HptXmKtV9Zn_XUwYXLNYAWBOq-Lo-xe0cQQSFu9Gx_k10xZdSkMbFuIw19vXvbn0vKWIpJ1UWIcqpHIWXUQ9-5z74f3EWvjs7a07LE230/s2048/alpine2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1538" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8pw1cf9kyoi5DqqRQFSpEhU1LptKw3RFJRASD3o_6gwHDODx-AOnd89xfES4iFf8sq72sydxGvYS-Kx9HptXmKtV9Zn_XUwYXLNYAWBOq-Lo-xe0cQQSFu9Gx_k10xZdSkMbFuIw19vXvbn0vKWIpJ1UWIcqpHIWXUQ9-5z74f3EWvjs7a07LE230/s320/alpine2.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><i>Cute Cactus corner in an art alley in Alpine, TX.</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBy49y8PG8ydtq7FvzNRvD1FmTW_ZLLNVw_L93gr6YVJJHwgQ6ypbCMDA71jG3JTkJYiviFijgfeGp9tzG4mBbHOpZaL6cK8_j3AZ9tu27X06PkWbJRFq9DDMwFHyXycpwOzBmKRD3JyUyPheWUZAaQvokPYJmwxEgSGhGFVbUo2DrKpGP47DfqkSz/s2048/alpine3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBy49y8PG8ydtq7FvzNRvD1FmTW_ZLLNVw_L93gr6YVJJHwgQ6ypbCMDA71jG3JTkJYiviFijgfeGp9tzG4mBbHOpZaL6cK8_j3AZ9tu27X06PkWbJRFq9DDMwFHyXycpwOzBmKRD3JyUyPheWUZAaQvokPYJmwxEgSGhGFVbUo2DrKpGP47DfqkSz/s320/alpine3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>Amazing airstream wine bar in Alpine.</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipklMvA9PkGCnx_yzaJbk1sQM03CLGOj5Qv_yyAyfxXqiG-v4LuNqahzzT7hCZSsD5HLr_eE6Hnz3XNGkHEEM3kTrkfi0JlTmxMo6zHjGF5GyFoav2Ozf5LxGewD0x-rI5skEzLoC_AjX4R59tmHYE9hWOTyUzY2mf53XeAqF2aIhEynGVg6oIuKol/s2048/alpine.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipklMvA9PkGCnx_yzaJbk1sQM03CLGOj5Qv_yyAyfxXqiG-v4LuNqahzzT7hCZSsD5HLr_eE6Hnz3XNGkHEEM3kTrkfi0JlTmxMo6zHjGF5GyFoav2Ozf5LxGewD0x-rI5skEzLoC_AjX4R59tmHYE9hWOTyUzY2mf53XeAqF2aIhEynGVg6oIuKol/s320/alpine.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>Another cute tucked away spot in Art Alley in Alpine. </i><div><i><br /></i></div><div>All in all, Day 5 was a good day full of art and Alpine!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Day 6: Marfa- Midland</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div>When you are researching how to get to Marfa, two airports are suggested: El Paso and Midland. I decided to start in El Paso and end in Midland since I have a friend in Midland. My birthday also happened to be on this day, so I definitely wanted to celebrate with a friend. </div><div><br /></div><div>Before I left Marfa, I got breakfast at Aster which there was a line for, but the spot was really cute and the food was good. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw9zyOXWDvU1rHnuGK0GBJU0NHH7ql1_jf4iexniHvwnR-HWekcSgo4qEW_IDsxBAatSnkgnrrPM7Ykt0iKhiQw8yXzQPVgCU86yi2RoJFq1aqBU-yPZ6TIKuHuGE9ghzzRE4cwQU71LgL6oU8_IFF_rJNGlK0pO-lUQ4KPnLI-_xEnM83s2HaqpDV/s2048/marfa11.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw9zyOXWDvU1rHnuGK0GBJU0NHH7ql1_jf4iexniHvwnR-HWekcSgo4qEW_IDsxBAatSnkgnrrPM7Ykt0iKhiQw8yXzQPVgCU86yi2RoJFq1aqBU-yPZ6TIKuHuGE9ghzzRE4cwQU71LgL6oU8_IFF_rJNGlK0pO-lUQ4KPnLI-_xEnM83s2HaqpDV/s320/marfa11.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><i>Birthday Breakfast Bagel Sandwich at Aster in Marfa. </i><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>After that, I hopped in my car yet again to my final destination- Midland. I spent my birthday with my friend and her family. We played cards, ate some more delicious Mexican food, and caught up on life. It was a perfect chill day after an eventful week!</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Day 7: Midland to Richmond</u></b></div><div>The last day of the week was devoted to travel, but I got coffee with my friend at Far West Coffee in Midland which was a really cute coffee spot before I had to get to the airport. There also were a couple of farmers/makers markets that morning nearby. </div><div><br /></div><div>My Spring Break West Texas Road Trip adventure was everything that I wanted it to be. If I could change anything, I would give myself more time at Big Bend and less time in Marfa and maybe stay in Alpine one night. I can't complain, though. Everything went so smoothly and I'm pretty proud of myself for braving the West Texan desert on my own!</div><div><br /></div><div>This is what 41 looks like and I'm so pleased!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJdtEAba8vVie6pIUa6re0as8qJ15uBN_RlfgbfD95EniK8qSROaUILC9K0RfOSAdLvM9S3CP7Domz9mf0F0lzfwWU4opmU-TeeRMSaLdgsow6IIu1a2Wj2CzYzJJJdRHRsXffq-S7VmPwvjbYnX1KttRyrA_l5QCQvHApxODGD4CLp-uYyGnDhYfk/s2048/marfa12.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1538" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJdtEAba8vVie6pIUa6re0as8qJ15uBN_RlfgbfD95EniK8qSROaUILC9K0RfOSAdLvM9S3CP7Domz9mf0F0lzfwWU4opmU-TeeRMSaLdgsow6IIu1a2Wj2CzYzJJJdRHRsXffq-S7VmPwvjbYnX1KttRyrA_l5QCQvHApxODGD4CLp-uYyGnDhYfk/s320/marfa12.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><div>Peace,</div><div>Julia<br /><div><i><br /></i><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div>Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06098852834050397406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1055688385421362242.post-11532957211258058552021-11-20T10:06:00.001-05:002021-11-20T10:06:27.787-05:00Feast of Christ the King 2021<p> For the past several years, I've used this weekend's upcoming feast day to reflect back on the year. 2020 and 2021 have brought about a lot of things for reflection. While 2020 was unprecedented and hard in many ways, I did come to appreciate the slowness of it. 2021 started off with the same stillness and slowness as winter and a pandemic will bring you, but once things started to open back up in March and April and more people became vaccinated, the busyness of life went back to "normal". Except. Things are not yet normal. People are still getting sick. We are still quarantining with Covid exposures. Even with vaccines and boosters. Quarantining and wearing masks and remote meetings and teaching is a way of life now. And it is still pretty exhausting. </p><p><br /></p><p>Yet, I am grateful for all that I was able to do this year after the anxiety and seclusion of last year. Here is a look back on the last liturgical year: </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkM2PK5iswPadIyxKYoVcAC0EVhozU21-dg623EnM7vLJUoaK8fP6ZbbwdGEVcDmNHLHtKoa32Zi4uNd__nmTtxmvamAK9ORsokwEA4K4H18GvcnGC10tmloUfqNQ_acAiIHSq5NPCHSY/s960/NYE21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="828" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkM2PK5iswPadIyxKYoVcAC0EVhozU21-dg623EnM7vLJUoaK8fP6ZbbwdGEVcDmNHLHtKoa32Zi4uNd__nmTtxmvamAK9ORsokwEA4K4H18GvcnGC10tmloUfqNQ_acAiIHSq5NPCHSY/s320/NYE21.jpg" width="276" /></a></div><i>NYE was very low key with me and literally two other friends doing an at home dinner since Covid was at its height and we didn't have the vaccine yet. </i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjisIOdx0pwJCUUKDzeSOGRtq2I0Dm8W1xrKyzBbG4lgc_ItetFP9AWHZUqnjkL1tt_b7JFz3_tqo-3e0VQeKI1A8LaNW0v8d0nrX8uBUOUgesO-FC29qBNoxO2JyP1l75IgAj7Sk0eAZU/s960/21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjisIOdx0pwJCUUKDzeSOGRtq2I0Dm8W1xrKyzBbG4lgc_ItetFP9AWHZUqnjkL1tt_b7JFz3_tqo-3e0VQeKI1A8LaNW0v8d0nrX8uBUOUgesO-FC29qBNoxO2JyP1l75IgAj7Sk0eAZU/s320/21.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>Winter is always rough, but 2020 taught us about using Zoom and FaceTime to socialize. This definitely carried over into 2021 until the vaccine. </i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0_DUaBdEm4a3O-1lmbnmHGHGYM93SmD5170LJJbjFBUyacMh7wyspjrfNDFagomoazsCSljek0IlE3bp8p9_VywOEMwdxw6PqG_eDzMoB9tCWCGCAzsnue__2QImGUx8pwGe6ulh62CI/s1800/212.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0_DUaBdEm4a3O-1lmbnmHGHGYM93SmD5170LJJbjFBUyacMh7wyspjrfNDFagomoazsCSljek0IlE3bp8p9_VywOEMwdxw6PqG_eDzMoB9tCWCGCAzsnue__2QImGUx8pwGe6ulh62CI/s320/212.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><i>Our ticket back into society! Vaccinated Feb. 2021!</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN41ThCyrp-u1Qg2AvPD_tlJkt8Un7jdonG69zaGgfTKom6l0qADd3dmxWHFYUWXwAkw6O4qwwt1kv1o_eNJwW_fzkmzRXny8T28O7lHBtwPTrT5wEEMW7DmpLZmRz4ObAzW385a-p3ns/s960/mar21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN41ThCyrp-u1Qg2AvPD_tlJkt8Un7jdonG69zaGgfTKom6l0qADd3dmxWHFYUWXwAkw6O4qwwt1kv1o_eNJwW_fzkmzRXny8T28O7lHBtwPTrT5wEEMW7DmpLZmRz4ObAzW385a-p3ns/s320/mar21.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>First winery trip since Covid in March 2021</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheNevjGVlKf8brYSqKXRAg08oKhipE-NcpCj5WjxzILtU3ODOfekhSmY26HCrbnwFRP5rqiqqQE47EBIwZ6SRFIi_4KWM2N9xMXBf6hdR3AkmAnm4o3oEJjmSgOqL_oI9jtEABbN8nog8/s960/sb21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheNevjGVlKf8brYSqKXRAg08oKhipE-NcpCj5WjxzILtU3ODOfekhSmY26HCrbnwFRP5rqiqqQE47EBIwZ6SRFIi_4KWM2N9xMXBf6hdR3AkmAnm4o3oEJjmSgOqL_oI9jtEABbN8nog8/s320/sb21.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>Friends at Outer Banks for Spring Break 2021</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNhIihZL2I7S7rro490I2dAfnnw7l_0jMsORVwtOXGWdh_DIBdY2f7IHZc53uQzRIWOaD9cjWVKRTDAwi5eYsgYUMJRGNijP91tGz7jtAJoIh3Ro3SdtIpQPlNntdAPADkejchuOU7Wow/s960/40th.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNhIihZL2I7S7rro490I2dAfnnw7l_0jMsORVwtOXGWdh_DIBdY2f7IHZc53uQzRIWOaD9cjWVKRTDAwi5eYsgYUMJRGNijP91tGz7jtAJoIh3Ro3SdtIpQPlNntdAPADkejchuOU7Wow/s320/40th.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>Getting to celebrate my 40th how I dreamed with close friends and family vaccinated with a winery weekend was a definite highlight of 2021. </i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSUr7dklPcZtrEUkTpvR0a6OQO9PbF2jPut9WDX_b2D5FYIWFDFGY76XzFa-aTdSxaS4u-DNAP5J9B96xsUvhpOM7dnr8k0T7dF-xVbwhiHv1o8Oop8jTbVVYTkAIqxSRdreJX44bentY/s960/Easter21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSUr7dklPcZtrEUkTpvR0a6OQO9PbF2jPut9WDX_b2D5FYIWFDFGY76XzFa-aTdSxaS4u-DNAP5J9B96xsUvhpOM7dnr8k0T7dF-xVbwhiHv1o8Oop8jTbVVYTkAIqxSRdreJX44bentY/s320/Easter21.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><i>Getting to attend Easter Vigil in person after having a quarantined Holy Week in 2020 and a quarantined year of RCIA was also a great joy. </i><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKSwximzC8XmYODkQv-bR_azmjpRbBIPLfhipPdKCi2L9tqZz4SNBsaBC53u03pwoXfApueqaACK1vVAjPQhH-wDIqFjgab7YCogVo7vCcJp8RNoRk6kZosPs1bJ-Ln49z7I-A41Z1LRM/s960/teachers21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKSwximzC8XmYODkQv-bR_azmjpRbBIPLfhipPdKCi2L9tqZz4SNBsaBC53u03pwoXfApueqaACK1vVAjPQhH-wDIqFjgab7YCogVo7vCcJp8RNoRk6kZosPs1bJ-Ln49z7I-A41Z1LRM/s320/teachers21.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><i>Celebrating a full year of teaching in a pandemic with the best staff a teacher could ask for in June 2021.</i></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhid6oEmfz1bdma-HyPRLWHyGciK_MttZAJzJ9OWAYeC1JQ_X1-5Oxpcl11Ya4gq5xawiaccoTZMHZjvzqePQuVPHzVwyuaTd3yV1vno-J9-PJ55Knba_YssXF8kUm6W9Mg7ep7qW9e2SQ/s960/spa21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhid6oEmfz1bdma-HyPRLWHyGciK_MttZAJzJ9OWAYeC1JQ_X1-5Oxpcl11Ya4gq5xawiaccoTZMHZjvzqePQuVPHzVwyuaTd3yV1vno-J9-PJ55Knba_YssXF8kUm6W9Mg7ep7qW9e2SQ/s320/spa21.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><i>Still sticking with domestic travel for the summer of 2021, I treated myself to a spa weekend in the mountains and lots of road trips like my Delta Blues trip and visiting friends and family in OH and PA.</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMCQYeW990qWGvvLU0WAPEgHvR8Ny8ZBBKG3I2Kk1BewoUd1twzfQmJm1frwVR27ZCDMua1a6Eh7M7FnRXmkeR3EUjAWe8vfzt07sGkosKlDCpYDSJ9hA0S0Dn6EEA5CWdp6ASUVyJHSo/s960/delta21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMCQYeW990qWGvvLU0WAPEgHvR8Ny8ZBBKG3I2Kk1BewoUd1twzfQmJm1frwVR27ZCDMua1a6Eh7M7FnRXmkeR3EUjAWe8vfzt07sGkosKlDCpYDSJ9hA0S0Dn6EEA5CWdp6ASUVyJHSo/s320/delta21.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>Above: Somewhere in Mississippi, Below: another winery, this time in PA with a bestie</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjps05FUBvaVsykq37A-VPM7xpLalPlbKbG7EzuAdqD3wOJp5YdMkweSgCVHZzqAkNseYWYYk5-q_lnqH7v5EtpbQVT0x50Z9CgdbASclDXzf7JvM7OTfOaOdZGnNrfC7ETcb_2LGr9Kxo/s960/friends21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjps05FUBvaVsykq37A-VPM7xpLalPlbKbG7EzuAdqD3wOJp5YdMkweSgCVHZzqAkNseYWYYk5-q_lnqH7v5EtpbQVT0x50Z9CgdbASclDXzf7JvM7OTfOaOdZGnNrfC7ETcb_2LGr9Kxo/s320/friends21.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ITRLyCIQXi2pny67Ur0RDq_-10miCA73LygTJdBAIFtQB0LR1kKq25JZRhqGYiX-jRkug32XvvUo1PvTwa6vCvQH3WnE_tfFdP16P9_KuCoLZY-ES1wjdwZe4FJ8ZXg6VXgYSDhsGwk/s960/fam21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ITRLyCIQXi2pny67Ur0RDq_-10miCA73LygTJdBAIFtQB0LR1kKq25JZRhqGYiX-jRkug32XvvUo1PvTwa6vCvQH3WnE_tfFdP16P9_KuCoLZY-ES1wjdwZe4FJ8ZXg6VXgYSDhsGwk/s320/fam21.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>Celebrating mom and dad's 70th and my 40th this summer in Ohio<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvSzEfjoRKTaZbBg9LrJ-H27Hux4Bkl87ss5vR6bGyvjw3HOsTMgLBFBfc_ic4xVZSvZR_UBKTZkCLp4f9RgcZl4flVsDUJ3Q8-kAG-Xti7LkHuDPDh21A-1drfBNbDyXt5zIVtSqmddU/s960/ren21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvSzEfjoRKTaZbBg9LrJ-H27Hux4Bkl87ss5vR6bGyvjw3HOsTMgLBFBfc_ic4xVZSvZR_UBKTZkCLp4f9RgcZl4flVsDUJ3Q8-kAG-Xti7LkHuDPDh21A-1drfBNbDyXt5zIVtSqmddU/s320/ren21.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I discovered a lot about myself in 2020 and 2021 and one of those things was that I *am* in fact into Renaissance Faires :) Went to my first one in MD in September. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiap9jg27rsqJm3ZtGgGy6SQ8aoy0HM_3YlJ0uOh_09dOMOR8s7ZCBeMIeyHiWu2uOslAuOXvnKW2BB0x2okSACAwMJBJ-lvbruyzz14Voobq65AHCh4KXcc5-CDcoNr1jwwSJV289XTc/s960/fall21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiap9jg27rsqJm3ZtGgGy6SQ8aoy0HM_3YlJ0uOh_09dOMOR8s7ZCBeMIeyHiWu2uOslAuOXvnKW2BB0x2okSACAwMJBJ-lvbruyzz14Voobq65AHCh4KXcc5-CDcoNr1jwwSJV289XTc/s320/fall21.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I was super stoked to do typical fall things again like fairs and hunting for decorative gourds with friends.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW2IGxyoBzrDKtqf6VYzsuthTQZGF2K50ziWXi7Zw70x2PI7yzzeW55Ols_Q7mgY96N5Mi6uAHN0NrNoM2ImorqXqy9TsKgd3x7io5gn3iexYS2EYGhqwh7byGhR1onxDUGSkfR45j5xo/s960/dc21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="910" data-original-width="960" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW2IGxyoBzrDKtqf6VYzsuthTQZGF2K50ziWXi7Zw70x2PI7yzzeW55Ols_Q7mgY96N5Mi6uAHN0NrNoM2ImorqXqy9TsKgd3x7io5gn3iexYS2EYGhqwh7byGhR1onxDUGSkfR45j5xo/s320/dc21.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Had a mini-reunion with some college friends in DC in October.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVICGCm-30trNuX7BapmqhRSh2vzs_cPgMwiLQVtvpsTiHr106TI6GW_hSiLG5qricY9Zh-zwyUiymr-myCVQxCVvqUZF-IriUOOOJCvIHVZW66YQK-FmxriYIfNuFT1CyK8k7daN-txo/s960/halloween21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVICGCm-30trNuX7BapmqhRSh2vzs_cPgMwiLQVtvpsTiHr106TI6GW_hSiLG5qricY9Zh-zwyUiymr-myCVQxCVvqUZF-IriUOOOJCvIHVZW66YQK-FmxriYIfNuFT1CyK8k7daN-txo/s320/halloween21.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div></i></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><div><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And we got to have a few more join us at Halloween this year. </div></div></i></div></blockquote></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6g9ypqrEeI7q45Qi8CZsIvCsABQzPc6NGMa6u55dUlLAgHkstLSwUh3Kri0hhwB771apaFGoNPf6sbHJ5DCH-bl8OwnYj3j45H6K1iVgB53485tS7VQNkFvlIC7eNDVZq-qK8MCCOEwE/s753/win21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="753" data-original-width="750" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6g9ypqrEeI7q45Qi8CZsIvCsABQzPc6NGMa6u55dUlLAgHkstLSwUh3Kri0hhwB771apaFGoNPf6sbHJ5DCH-bl8OwnYj3j45H6K1iVgB53485tS7VQNkFvlIC7eNDVZq-qK8MCCOEwE/s320/win21.jpg" width="319" /></a></div><i>Grateful to get back to somewhat "normal" with wine and friends this year, but still very aware of how our lives are still not quite the same. </i><div><i><br /></i></div><div>Feeling super grateful for vaccines and health and some of the busyness of 2021 and feeling hopeful for 2022! All of the projects I started in 2020 like <a href="https://rss.com/podcasts/sevenmilechats/" target="_blank">my podcast</a> and blogging and connecting with other Catholic social media content creators continued throughout this year. And shout out to St. Joseph whose year it was this past liturgical year in the Year of St. Joseph. He came through on a novena I did in March and will continue to see what his intercession will bring as we round out this year. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxvN42-RwGK4ci5HTkCZEwk8fvnCfFw72GW_qS11XY5biT0Fel292cO-QXlvX62JcZQzrTE4UU9txEFQTnLR_D4uoL8bM3VoAfO62xStmi535Tqfq4b9DO9lISzWvOTT8IMCcReF0fYCQ/s1000/joseph.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="649" data-original-width="1000" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxvN42-RwGK4ci5HTkCZEwk8fvnCfFw72GW_qS11XY5biT0Fel292cO-QXlvX62JcZQzrTE4UU9txEFQTnLR_D4uoL8bM3VoAfO62xStmi535Tqfq4b9DO9lISzWvOTT8IMCcReF0fYCQ/s320/joseph.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>St. Joseph, pray for us! Happy Feast of Christ the King!</div><div><br /></div><div>Peace,</div><div>Julia<br /><p> </p><div><i></i><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /></i><br /><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div></div>Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06098852834050397406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1055688385421362242.post-55257576506921499472021-11-07T09:46:00.006-05:002021-11-07T09:58:10.707-05:00The One About Wine<p>I've lived in Virginia and the DC area for almost 20 years now. In that time period from 23 years old until now, I have visited A LOT of the over 300 wineries that exist in Virginia. 60 to be exact! </p><p>Here are some pics from celebrating my 26 birthday in 2007:</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKKnSNpWZoDULVY_wZspcsKMbH_-WQdgRoCUkkEu48nnHiRtaUpqZptmxfIqHcZbI1c7YOLqZlSsEy_Beb9XBYKvAbyBchaXOJrKOTjoZyxw7fWpJraoXOG5g2iMw3BeA1CH24hSa5PZM/s604/wine071.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="453" data-original-width="604" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKKnSNpWZoDULVY_wZspcsKMbH_-WQdgRoCUkkEu48nnHiRtaUpqZptmxfIqHcZbI1c7YOLqZlSsEy_Beb9XBYKvAbyBchaXOJrKOTjoZyxw7fWpJraoXOG5g2iMw3BeA1CH24hSa5PZM/s320/wine071.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>Naked Mountain, Northern VA above and I honestly can't remember which winery below! Gah!</i><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDcXKFCpqsmyHktID6FF8pJ5zH_uBqTmhSXxXN1kYMGgMHENAuzCEVcY7Wdd0B5p3sQV4efN471I1aj5PqVfjY1cRR8FiGdxzZ3szSNkW0VAd1bQgOCQLjWp-q5vVfZCD-1YmME1X810o/s604/wine07.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="453" data-original-width="604" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDcXKFCpqsmyHktID6FF8pJ5zH_uBqTmhSXxXN1kYMGgMHENAuzCEVcY7Wdd0B5p3sQV4efN471I1aj5PqVfjY1cRR8FiGdxzZ3szSNkW0VAd1bQgOCQLjWp-q5vVfZCD-1YmME1X810o/s320/wine07.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>And are some from this year, 2021!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRSGCMdaQCDdX6lTX-gephdtuIoSuZGnn6zaAULOTQ2LygRNsp3L3R2z-hMPSMPqKBBOZVkVT2ueOlAccMuSTCbyPDh4B3fbqFXi1gReyQmpahl2pZx449vqBsUsCw1v9bRqi04JSG-tg/s960/wine21.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRSGCMdaQCDdX6lTX-gephdtuIoSuZGnn6zaAULOTQ2LygRNsp3L3R2z-hMPSMPqKBBOZVkVT2ueOlAccMuSTCbyPDh4B3fbqFXi1gReyQmpahl2pZx449vqBsUsCw1v9bRqi04JSG-tg/s320/wine21.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Afton Mountain Vineyards above and Valley Road Vineyards below</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsltqLir7USP7J5xCzRv1BV8i-t9Q6EkIx9DH1HdWoL3Wy0Wcu5P8JVjvQJtlfyXVgdUho9VIYVHjYpWiAOJxHAis-suzDwEAJ9riEx1nPB2N82Gkzq5TIaAs9cVTBzmMv5G-H3W03Zec/s960/40th.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsltqLir7USP7J5xCzRv1BV8i-t9Q6EkIx9DH1HdWoL3Wy0Wcu5P8JVjvQJtlfyXVgdUho9VIYVHjYpWiAOJxHAis-suzDwEAJ9riEx1nPB2N82Gkzq5TIaAs9cVTBzmMv5G-H3W03Zec/s320/40th.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>Obviously, I love wine. But I also love the whole wine-tasting experience. I love learning about why I like certain wines and how they are made. I also just happen to think Virginia is beautiful and I love going out to drink wine with friends amid the mountains. </p><p>The purpose of this post is to try and give some kind of documentation and descriptions to the 60 wineries I've been to! Some have been more recent and some were back in my 20s, so I'm sure things have changed since then. </p><p>I write this for my own memory but also maybe to help those who want to visit Virginia wineries as well! Here goes my first attempt at this. Some descriptions may be more detailed than others since I'm decided to do this after nearly 20 years of drinking wine! Ha!</p><p><br /></p><p><b>8 Chains North- </b>This is off of Route 9 in Northern VA and one of my favorites. They have a beautiful patio, spacious tasting room, and the wines are off the...er...chain. Ha. Always recommend. This is a solid favorite after all of my years of wineries in VA. <b>Recommend!</b></p><p><b>Afton Mountain Vineyards-</b> This is about a half an hour outside of Charlottesville and one that I went to most recently (pictured above with my friend, Raven). The views were BEAUTIFUL. They were VERY Covid conscious. Masks had to be worn in the pavilion to order wine and the tasting room was closed. Tables were outside and very spaced out, though they had a cool indoor space (the pavilion) that was enclosed in glass on all sides so you could still see the views. I had a chardonnay, a rose, their "Tradition" wine, Bacco '18, and Petit Verdot. The Bacco was my favorite. It was a blend of Tanat, Sangiovese and another grape that is escaping me. The white and the rose were just okay, the reds could've been a little fuller bodied for me, but <b>10/10 on views and safety! </b>It was off the beaten path, too, so far away from lots of other cars.<b> Recommend!</b></p><p><b>Barboursville- </b>This is a long-time staple in central VA. Beautiful grounds, lots of different varietals to try. I went in 2021 and they were using machines to do their tastings, but it was actually kind of cool. You got a card and a glass and the card allowed you to try I think 6 wines like a normal tasting, but you could pick which ones you wanted. They had lots of whites, reds, and sparklings to chose from. Definitely <b>recommend!</b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy-IexM8CSe4HbxgBAUhIw1Ryih-c4TRWsO-z9ESvfevMia10rNTsbMqg-_zKRXgof5Kw3F5nyBlmKIZ8y8PkGTK-R9zLIPe-1zKeAxGfDS4zWqftGx4fCLWbkR2vNQ4ctQtU8lWytHEw/s960/wine+5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy-IexM8CSe4HbxgBAUhIw1Ryih-c4TRWsO-z9ESvfevMia10rNTsbMqg-_zKRXgof5Kw3F5nyBlmKIZ8y8PkGTK-R9zLIPe-1zKeAxGfDS4zWqftGx4fCLWbkR2vNQ4ctQtU8lWytHEw/s320/wine+5.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><i>Covid era tasting machines at Barboursville</i><p></p><p><b>Barrel Oak- </b>This is another staple off 66 in Northwestern VA. It's a huge complex with big tasting room and outdoor space. The wines are tasty BUT I am NOT a dog person and this place literally markets themselves with dog-themed wines and everything. So while I've been here a couple of times and enjoy the wine, it's not at the top of my list because of all the dogs. <b>Recommend!</b></p><p><b>Blenheim Vineyards- </b>This is outside of Charlottesville and is "the Dave Matthews Winery" because he owns it. I went a couple of years ago, maybe in 2019? And remember liking the wines and views. Would go back and <b>recommend!</b></p><p><b>Boxwood- </b>This winery is in Middleburg and has quite a good reputation. It is very fancy and sleek looking. More corporate/professional than down-home vibes. I remember really liking the rose which is not a wine I'm usually drawn too. This place lives up to its reputation, but is a little *too* fancy/corporate of a vibe for me. <b>Recommend. </b></p><p><b>Breaux Vineyards- </b>This place is another one with a big reputation in Northern VA. It's off of my Route 9 route, but not necessarily one I stop at all of the time because it's so busy. The wines are good, space is nice, but I like a more unique experience and I hate to say it, this experience for me is just fine. </p><p><b>Byrd Cellars- </b>This winery was...not great in my mind. They had lots of wines to choose from which is a flag for me because that usually means they don't do any really well. This was also in Goochland which is not a region really known for its wine. I find wineries closer to the cities and closer east don't do as well with their grapes. They don't have the hills and soil need. Also lots of fruit wines is a trigger for me. I don't love fruit wines and that's again usually a sign to me that their grapes aren't great if they are using peaches and berries. It was a closer drive from Richmond, but there weren't really any views and again, not great wine. But it was a fine place for me to sit on the porch and read my book so there was that. And the workers were very nice. </p><p><b>Cana- </b>This place is off of Route 50 in Middleburg, VA and was new when I was working at a neighboring winery in like 2015. This place had fruit wines. See my above description of Byrd Cellars for my thoughts on that. Nice views, nice space. Hope they've found their footing since then, but in this area, there are so many better wineries to try. Sorry about it!</p><p><b>Casanel- </b>This place is close to the Route 9 string of vineyards in Northern VA. I remember the space being just okay but the wines being good. It's been a while since I've been to this one. It wasn't my number one on my Route 9 stops, however. Maybe I will have to go back to see further developments. </p><p><b>Cardinal Point- </b>This is out in the Afton/Wintergreen/Nelson County area and my friends and I went here for a girls weekend in 2019. We had a great time. The winery has a more country feel as opposed to corporate or modern and I remember liking a number of the wines. We brought food to sit outside (pro-tip...check to see if a winery will let you bring food in! Some of them want you to buy their food if they serve it. But definitely bring food if they will let you because it definitely optimizes your day of drinking! If only 38 yo Julia could tell that to 25 yo Julia...) and we had a good time here. It also came recommended to my friend Raven and I at our most recent trip to Afton. <b>Recommend!</b></p><p><b>Chateau O'Brien- </b>I love this place. It's very professional looking and has two different rooms to do two different types of tasting experiences (at least it did when I went back in like 2014). The outdoor space and views are amazing AND you have to be 21+ to be there! Kid free! Always a plus in my book!<b>Recommend!</b></p><p><b>Chrysalis- </b>This place is a staple off Route 50 in Middleburg, VA. They sell their wines locally in stores and are known for their Norton wine which is pretty good. It was never my favorite out in Middleburg, but definitely decent. I know that they have grown a lot in recent years. I may have to check it out again sometime soon.</p><p><b>Delaplane Cellars- </b>This one was always a favorite of mine in Northern VA. It's close to Sky Meadow State Park and just has incredible views, great wine, a nice sized indoor tasting room that's not too big, not too small. It often has live music and just good vibes. It looks professional but feels homey at the same time. Love this place.<b> Recommend!</b></p><p><b>Doukenie Winery- </b>This place is off the beaten path in the Hillsboro/Route 9 area of Northern VA. I remember liking a couple of the wines, but there are other wineries out in this area that I prefer. This had more of a farm vibe, which is fine, but I like somewhere between farm and bougie for my winetasting.</p><p><b>Dry Mill- </b>I enjoyed this place's wine tasting spaces and wine. It's not the *most* scenic in Northern VA, but has good whites from what I remember and cool indoor spaces for parties or special events. <b>Recommend. </b></p><p><b>DuCard- </b>This is kind of in the Harrisonburg, VA area. My friends and I did a girls weekend in 2019 (different than the one I just mentioned! Apparently 2019 was the year of girls wine weekends. It was also the year the movie Wine Country on Netflix came out so there's that) and had not planned on stopping at a winery, but made the trip. We were glad we did! I don't remember loving the wines, but I usually can find at least one I will drink. We brought food and they had a nice deck and grounds to walk on. It was also off the beaten path which I always enjoy because they typically get less traffic. We had a nice day here. They had live music and let you keep the tasting glass. <b>Recommend!</b></p><p><b>Early Mountain Vineyards- </b>this one is in the Standardsville area of VA which I visited this summer in 2021. I had been so excited to go to this winery because they sell wine at stores and restaurants here in Richmond. When I pulled up, I was super impressed by the space and the scenery. This is a RESTAURANT. It is much more fancy than I was prepared for. I had a waitress and fancy table with a waiter. Not really what I was expecting from a winery. And honestly, the wines were....just okay for the price I paid. I'm not sure this place is my kind of vibe. I like more down-home kind of wineries than corporate-fancy. But it's obviously a nice place and an experience. </p><p><b>Eastwood Farm and Winery- </b> My friend Raven and I stumbled upon this place in September 2021. We got good vibes from it form the beginning. They have a brand new tasting room that was beautiful also with some outdoor seating which I loved. The tasting room is very spacious and had a stage for live music. When we went into the tasting room, the server recommended that we make the drive to their second tasting room a little further up the mountain. We were glad she made that recommendation. I would've been happy to sit in the lower tasting room, but the view from up top was gorgeous. They had another tasting space up there under and large, open tent with a dance floor and live music. Perfect spot for parties or weddings. The wine is very GREEN. Very new, but this place has lots of potential. <b>Recommend!</b></p><p><b>Elk Island Winery- </b>This is another Goochland winery close to Byrd, but had much better wines. The wines were more sophisticated and the tasting menu was more standard (no fruit wines!). The wines were still not quite up to par with those in Charlottesville or Loudoun County, but more comparable. The winery is actually an old house which I kind of like. People sat out the deck and the screened in porch. I sat a little further out by the vines and it was a nice enough spot to read my book. Nowhere near the views further west, but okay if you want a quick trip from the city. Would recommend. </p><p><b>Fabbioli Cellars- </b>This is close to Leesburg, VA in Northern VA and was a favorite of mine for a long time. They always do food pairings with their wines which I liked. When I went there most recently in 2021, I was a little disappointed in the wine and the vibe. I know that 2020 was tough so maybe they made changes due to the pandemic. The place used to be a good mix between upscale and homey which I liked. It was a little less upscale most recently and the wines were not what I remembered them to be. </p><p><b>Fifty Third Winery- </b>This used to be named Cooper Vineyards which I had seen at wine festivals in years past and stood out to me for their chocolate, dessert wine. Definitely recommend. This place is in Louisa County, so between Richmond and Charlottesville. It's a very decent stop if you want somewhere closer in to the city and not drive all the way out to Charlottesville. It's not incredibly scenic, but off the beaten path but still relatively close. It has good, solid wines and two nice spaces to taste and drink. Also has an outdoor deck and live music. <b>Recommend</b>!</p><p><b>Flying Fox- </b>This is in the Afton region and off the main drag with a lot of other wineries, but a much smaller, hipster vibe. They also do vermouths which I've never seen anywhere else. Their aesthetic is very chic but funky with a speakeasy styled interior and cool mural out front. The views are just okay but the wine is AMAZING. It's the same wine-maker as Veritas, so if you want a more chill, smaller scale vibe than Veritas with the same solid wine, this is the place. <b>Recommend! </b></p><p><b>Fox Meadow- </b>This winery is a hike in Northern VA and the tasting room and wines are not necessarily spectacular, however the views are amazing!</p><p><b>Gautheir Vineyard- </b>When I moved to Richmond, I wanted to explore the nearby wineries like I had for Northern VA. As I've mentioned, I'm leery of wineries that aren't out west in our more hilly, mountainous regions. This winery is one of the reasons I am leery. It is cute and was setting up for a wedding on the property. It had a nice tasting room and wrap around deck, but the wine was...not great. I don't think they grew a lot of their own grapes and it didn't seem from what I can tell that winemaking was their strong suit. Pass. </p><p><b>Glass House Winery- </b>This is a pretty popular one out near Charlottesville. It's named for its greenhouse dining area. It had a lot of hype prior to me visiting and the vibe and wine was just okay for me, but would recommend giving it a try. </p><p><b>Grace Estate- </b>Another Charlottesville area one with a cool, small-ish tasting room and lots of outdoor space. I remember liking a good number of the wines and enjoying a glass of red outside with my friend on the deck. Nothing spectacular stands out, but would recommend if you are in the area. </p><p><b>Greenhill Winery- </b>This place used to be Swedenberg Estates off of Route 50 in Middleburg. It changed to Greenhill Winery in the early 2010s. I actually worked there from 2014-2015. The wines were amazing. Our wine maker was from France and he did amazing things with both the whites and the reds. He knew how to use what Virginia could grow so well. It used to be just a small farm house tasting room and a stone home for wine club members, but they've since built a huge complex on the property. I want to go back and check out the new space! <b>Recommend!</b></p><p><b>Hillsborough Winery- </b>This is one of my favorite stops on Route 9 in Northern VA. It has amazing views and the wine is great. A very old-timey, stone house vibe from what I remember!<b> Always recommend this place. </b></p><p><b>Horton- </b>This one is close to Barboursville, but remember what I wrote about Byrd Cellars and too many wines + fruit wines? Yeah, this place was not a fave. Go to Barboursville and hang out there instead. </p><p><b>James River Cellars- </b>For closer to the city wineries, I do enjoy this one. Their wines are fine. They often have a slushie that they are serving which is usually another red flag that the wines aren't great, but I enjoy a fair amount of these wines and it's a quick option from Richmond. The winery is kind of small and off a main road, but the vibe does what in can given the circumstances. I can sit and read a book outside here and find at least one wine to drink. It's fine. </p><p><b>Jefferson Vineyards- </b>This place is big and usually busy outside of Charlottesville. Similar to Glass House and Grace Estates, it's a fine place to stop and I remember liking some of the wines. Nothing spectacular stands out to me, though, except that it was BUSY. But would recommend. </p><p><b>Keswick- </b>This place has cool views as you roll up, but then ones you arrive to the tasting room, the area is very wooded. It's still a nice place to sit outside and read, though. And the wines were pretty tasty. I enjoyed myself here. Would recommend. </p><p><b>La Grange- </b>This place in Northern VA was always a go-to. Very good wines, cool tasting space in an old house, and lots of space on the grounds. <b>Recommend!</b></p><p><b>Lost Creek- </b>Not the most spectacular views in Northern, VA, but an upscale vibe in the tasting rooms. There is a separate tasting space for wine club members, but I actually enjoyed the regular tasting room the most. The servers are knowledgeable and I enjoyed the wines. Would recommend.</p><p><b>New Kent- </b>Of the "closer to the city" wineries, this one is probably the best that I've been to on the East side of Richmond. Again, I prefer to go west, but this winery had nice views (even without mountains) and decent tasting, enjoyable wines. They had a lovely tasting room and nice porch outback. I know they often have live music on weekends. </p><p><b>Meriwether Springs- </b>This place is off the beaten path on your way out of Charlottesville. It is an old house that looks like it would be a great place for a wedding. When I rolled up, I was directed to the basement that had a bar/pub vibe. And served beers. That they don't make there? Nor did they make the wines there? So it was just like a bar. The tasting was free though, which I appreciated, but the whole scene was kind of weird for me. I couldn't figure out the place's identity or what it wanted to be. I would pass unless you are intrigued at figuring out what this place wants to be.</p><p><b>Naked Mountain- </b>This place was a favorite when I lived in Northern VA. Close to Delaplane and Sky Meadow State Park, this place has a beautiful wrap around deck and tasting room very off the beaten path. The wines are not spectacular but definitely drinkable. Used to go here very frequently because I enjoyed the area so.</p><p><b>Notaviva Craft Fermentations- </b>This is also out by Hillsbourough and wasn't a frequent stop for me on the Route 9 route, but I believe that they had a chocolate or dessert wine that I really liked and a cool farmhouse/live music vibe. </p><p><b>Otium- </b>This is in the Purceville area of Northern, VA. When I worked at Greenhill, this and Boxwood wineries were the buzz. I went here once on a day off and it lived up to the hype. The wines are unique with a German influence and really well made. The winery itself was not necessarily a space to write home about, but it wasn't not fine either :) The wines made this place <b>10/10 recommend</b>. </p><p><b>Paradise Springs- </b>This place is a good enough winery closer in to DC. I've written about how wineries closer to the cities are not the best, but this place has a huge tasting room and a nice patio area and the wines are pretty good. A good alternative if you don't want to drive all the way out to wine country.</p><p><b>Pearmund Cellars- </b>I remember enjoying the whites? I think? I know this was on a lovely property and had a big barrel room for tastings which was cool. But...nothing much else stands out from this place, though I believe it to be decent. There's just so many other wineries out in Northern VA that stand out in my mind.</p><p><b>Pippin Hill- </b>This place is beautiful. It's what you think of and probably want from a VA winery. Perfect for weddings. For such a well known place, I was hoping the wine would be a little bit better. My friend and I brought a blanket on a Saturday for a little wine and views and were nearly trampled on by ALL of the people. This place, like Jefferson, was BUSY. And the wine was just okay. But the views are amazing. Would recommend, but there are others in this area that are way cooler and better wines with less hype (like Eastwood, Afton Mountain or Flying Fox)</p><p><b>Pollak Vineyards- </b>This is in the Afton area and was on my list to try. When we went to Flying Fox, I asked what other wineries the server would recommend since I liked the wines so much there. They said this place. Done. Sold. This place is BEAUTIFUL. We got here at like 3pm and it was a perfect spot for the "golden hours" of fall. There's lake, mountains, open area seating on the deck and patio and a very professional tasting room inside. My friend and I didn't have the whites, but the reds were pretty good. Would go back here just for the vibe and views. Off the beaten path, great place to sit and watch the sunset. <b>Recommend</b></p><p><b>Prince Michel- </b>I went here with a friend in 2020 after a hike in the Shenandoah. I had been wanting to try this place for years. It is quite the complex. It has a restaurant and a gift shop. I like a little less of a corporate vibe and like the focus to just be on the wine. I liked that they had yurts set up for covid style tastings, but the wine was just okay. My friend and I sat in the restaurant and watched TV. Not what I like for my wineries. I prefer for the wine and the views to be the focus. Meh. </p><p><b>Quattro Gumbas- </b>I went to this place very early on in my wine-tasting career and remember it being a scenic drive, but just okay wines. There are definitely so many more wineries out this way now that are perhaps a little bit more sophisticated. </p><p><b>Saude Creek- </b>Another "out east" winery that was okay. The tasting room was nice and there is a big wrap around deck on a large property. The wines were fine. Not bad for something not out west. I'm such a snob when it comes to my west vs east wineries! I'm sorry!</p><p><b>Stone Mountain- </b>I did this one this summer in 2021 on my Standardsville trip. The views are AMAZING but the drive was SCARY! I can't imagine driving that if it wasn't my first stop on a wine trip. The wines were also...not great which was a bummer since the tasting room and the views were SO COOL. If you want to drive a very long way for a spectacular view and sub-par wines, this is the place. That sounds harsh, but the views really are the draw. </p><p><b>Stone Tower- </b>This place is relatively new and I've been here a couple of times. It was another one we talked about when I worked at the winery in Northern VA and it is worth the hype. They weren't producing a lot of their own wines at first, but that's since changed. I remember really liking the wines when I went back in 2019 and the views are amazing. The space is gorgeous. <b>Definitely recommend</b>!</p><p><b>Sunset Hills- </b>This place is a favorite when in the Hillsborough/Purceville area. The wines are really good and it has a fun, farm vibe with a spacious tasting room. I love sitting on the deck area enjoying their wine.<b> Recommend!</b></p><p><b>Tarara Winery- </b>This place is the OG winery in an area now teaming with wineries. I remember going here when I first moved to Northern VA, so it's been a while. At the time this place was all the rage, but again, there have since been many more wineries that have popped up that may be more scenic and doing better wine-making, though I remember liking many of the wines from here and I'm down to check it out again soon. </p><p><b>Terra Nebulo- </b>I'm a little biased when it comes to this place as my friend's parents are the owners and built it. We used to have "field parties" on the grounds where the winery now sits. It's a really lovely, big, spacious barn on loads of open space with really good wines. I<b> definitely recommend</b> a trip out here on your Route 9/Northern VA tour!</p><p><b>The Barns at Hamilton Station- </b>This place has really good wine and a fun vibe. The indoor "barn" space is very nice. It's off the beaten path and a nice, easy place to sit and enjoy wine. There's usually live music as well. It's not the most scenic winery I've been to, but the wine and chill vibes make it a <b>Recommend!</b></p><p><b>Three Fox Vineyards- </b>This place was a favorite of mine for a long time. Then a lot of other places started to pop up that did wine a little bit better. I haven't been since maybe 2014/2015 and I'm always willing to go back. The grounds are beautiful and spacious and the tasting room is small and quaint. I enjoyed having a spiced, mulled wine in the winter around some fire pits. <b>Definitely recommend </b>for that in the fall/winter. </p><p><b>Upper Shirley Vineyards- </b>This place is all the rage in Richmond because it is close by and for a winery NOT "out west" in the mountains where I prefer to drink wine, this winery is nice. It has a nice tasting room and outdoor seating area and is off the beaten path. I had a decent Chardonnay when I was there. If you want a winery closer into the city, it's decent, I'm just so spoiled with my mountain views and wine!</p><p><b>Valley Road Vineyards- </b>I went here with my friends on one of the many girls weekends in 2019. They had wines that I really enjoyed and a froze which usually slushie drinks are a flag for me (see James River) but I really enjoyed it! This is quite the complex with a barn and tasting room and it has gotten BUSY after the last couple of years. But my friends and I got great pictures here, so the views are great. It IS off of a busy road and next to a very busy brewery, but once on the grounds you just noticed the lake, mountain and great wine. My friends may or may not have rolled down the hills here a la Wine Country (see DuCard). Also, I am biased as I decided to host my 40th birthday here (see pic up top with my family). The owners were so nice and easy to work with. They made sure my birthday was special and stress free even during Covid. And I got take home lots of yummy wines that my friends enjoyed as well. <b>Recommend!</b></p><p><b>Veritas- </b>I have been to this winery twice. Once in like 2010 and once in 2019. It has really grown and gotten a little more corporate in that time. The views are pretty, though, it's off the beaten path, and the wine is good (see Flying Fox). But I might go to Flying Fox for the less preppy, more chill aesthetic, though this winery is very nice. Lots of weddings are booked here. It's also usually very busy, but they are efficient with their tastings.<b> Recommend. </b></p><p><b>Wisdom Oak- </b>This was kind of a fluke trip. My friend and I were just looking for something after our Eastwood find in Charlottesville and this was close. This is very down-home kind of vibe which usually I like, but this place was just okay. It was a little too off the beaten path and the wines were just alright. I think there are better places out in the area, but the servers were all super, super nice and the experience was enjoyable enough. </p><p><b>White Hall- </b>I did this one by myself this summer during my Standardsville trip and I was pleasantly surprised and delighted by this place. There were not a lot of people at all, so I got to chat with the server who was very knowledgeable about the wines and the wine maker. She had also worked at the winery I worked at in Northern VA- Greenhill- so it was fun to chat about that. The wines were delicious and I loved the smaller scale space and vibe. I sat outside and still had a great view even though this place was off the beaten path and smaller than most places in the area. <b>Would recommend!</b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNSAFNHg0TBEoc07fPpe6IKORYS-nOFeZY4S7PDOrw5FUkOtP5ltwImuX_XYw0EKOXfnjKrSYKH-M11xXf4L0piy1hudflal7uT0mq_7MOCQUUSD0GaftTqSS05CCp0CGosGIQYrEGqT4/s960/wine4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNSAFNHg0TBEoc07fPpe6IKORYS-nOFeZY4S7PDOrw5FUkOtP5ltwImuX_XYw0EKOXfnjKrSYKH-M11xXf4L0piy1hudflal7uT0mq_7MOCQUUSD0GaftTqSS05CCp0CGosGIQYrEGqT4/s320/wine4.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /> <i>I loved the tasting presentation at White Hill- especially in the age of Covid!</i><p></p><p><b>Zephaniah- </b>Again, really biased with this one as another group of friends' parents run and own this winery that has been in their family for years. It's very much a family run operation and has grown from a unique, antique house that was used for tastings to a large barn tasting space that they've built more recently. A really unique property with great wines. I've even helped bottle and harvest some of their wine in the past. <b>Definitely recommend!</b></p><p><br /></p><p>There you have it folks. Until the next 60...</p><p><br /></p><p>Peace,<br />Julia</p><p><br /></p><p> </p>Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06098852834050397406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1055688385421362242.post-40080798769037914812021-08-13T09:09:00.000-04:002021-08-13T09:09:14.480-04:00Summer 2021 Recap<p> As I mentioned in my previous post about my early summer road trip, 2021 has certainly been strange. In 2020, I think we expected things to be different and limited, but now in 2021, I think we had hoped that this pandemic would be over by now. But over a year later, I am getting ready to begin my third school year in this pandemic (end of the 2019-2020 school year that ended remotely, all of 2020-2021 school year which we did in person, but many schools did remotely, and now the 2021-2022 school year which many schools are going back in person but we are finding the same restrictions need to be in place as last year). </p><p>This summer was fun and full, but I think my attitude at the beginning of the summer was: "whoo hoo! I'm vaccinated and survived a pandemic!" and by the end of this summer I'm just trying to take advantage of things as as much as I can before things get shut down for the fall and winter again (because people aren't getting vaccinated like we should and are still fighting masks after a year and a half!). My attitude has definitely shifted as I get ready to head back to school next week and deal with the realities of teaching in a pandemic AGAIN. </p><p>On the bright side of things, though, I did get to do a lot more this summer because I am vaccinated and it was nice to feel "normal" for at least maybe a month or two :) </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMmLlpBLmjTfjQAl2cmhQzCYUCu9lbS53t-aiohZ5ypQLZAJEs02bj9cc5snOPh92St1r3WCZm6qs5AlYBLKniPuo7ef-F5UFFztDCJ-Toq1T9ak4zIVCSNKaTXRB1o1Z5EEXVu9noNxk/s960/summer0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMmLlpBLmjTfjQAl2cmhQzCYUCu9lbS53t-aiohZ5ypQLZAJEs02bj9cc5snOPh92St1r3WCZm6qs5AlYBLKniPuo7ef-F5UFFztDCJ-Toq1T9ak4zIVCSNKaTXRB1o1Z5EEXVu9noNxk/s320/summer0.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>I made sure to hit up all of my favorite places this summer. First up- the NCMA in Raleigh for their Art in Bloom exhibit!</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHmj5bcPbNbdZ5JzTW9QKo953p-n5LP_XsOjUhyphenhyphenyWJtGtCjsg4ycSvpPbENJQxwm4-BQiAPcG63elPLpg8p7C1uyiul2AXTxk8ryKPup2E65q5250iw8uRIckV-EaJqvSlmeT6nRARuTY/s960/summer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHmj5bcPbNbdZ5JzTW9QKo953p-n5LP_XsOjUhyphenhyphenyWJtGtCjsg4ycSvpPbENJQxwm4-BQiAPcG63elPLpg8p7C1uyiul2AXTxk8ryKPup2E65q5250iw8uRIckV-EaJqvSlmeT6nRARuTY/s320/summer.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>Next up, I took to the mountains of VA for some thrift shopping, wine, and an eco-spa Air b n b!</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG8p2mc_DcEncsSCSfSRcmA17XjT3brLS2dABJOta4ZoN5BTZPC0Qnx_1Wieup-Rl4t8B3u61UuDUA6joGZNZdg-kmoF-8Mf8yU0xRWT0Tv0iUc3s19eqNHCzU3u-dvR_sRky7PpkTMPg/s960/summer2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG8p2mc_DcEncsSCSfSRcmA17XjT3brLS2dABJOta4ZoN5BTZPC0Qnx_1Wieup-Rl4t8B3u61UuDUA6joGZNZdg-kmoF-8Mf8yU0xRWT0Tv0iUc3s19eqNHCzU3u-dvR_sRky7PpkTMPg/s320/summer2.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><i>Above: thrift store finds and below, Eco Spa and Winery out by Standardsville, VA</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMmTssVBb3hg_PEjhiiMuoGY1Gq3yIYQH6pn0xXmuUlN4yhFy1DDoQ1dvgqQxkr1IkLZke0kH7jL8w7OwoWaRHVOsWjiQM1tXoeHnIjKgtvRop74GhkjVcIvMjHooOjLl5UH3TVNfFadE/s960/summer3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMmTssVBb3hg_PEjhiiMuoGY1Gq3yIYQH6pn0xXmuUlN4yhFy1DDoQ1dvgqQxkr1IkLZke0kH7jL8w7OwoWaRHVOsWjiQM1tXoeHnIjKgtvRop74GhkjVcIvMjHooOjLl5UH3TVNfFadE/s320/summer3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLua8o5T-JxdscToVKdW-3Sap9Nvb-jKRwdNgXT9yopcl_uBsUlduNS1aFtecNeciqUU2NmTqWOhUGJeO1efPtfYdjnenGlg-IBfrFxhvv4Sniwo8YjsEsqJXGxIjIJYv2xju4Cm_dBrg/s960/summer1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLua8o5T-JxdscToVKdW-3Sap9Nvb-jKRwdNgXT9yopcl_uBsUlduNS1aFtecNeciqUU2NmTqWOhUGJeO1efPtfYdjnenGlg-IBfrFxhvv4Sniwo8YjsEsqJXGxIjIJYv2xju4Cm_dBrg/s320/summer1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><i>Norfolk, VA has become a summer staple for me. Below are some pics from the latest exhibit at the Hermitage Museum in Norfolk. </i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8SLG57vU1gdjSHq4ENnqdqRiR2hr6hBugSL5FMQOSGv1yT-8Hp8TlFcNutw_plSCPE1-YOerBBHSC3r5uIDA7A7QJJ1v7Kig6jlK35JEKN7ADTmZksOey_I1L261_YKO4FraLfjDtYb8/s960/summer5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8SLG57vU1gdjSHq4ENnqdqRiR2hr6hBugSL5FMQOSGv1yT-8Hp8TlFcNutw_plSCPE1-YOerBBHSC3r5uIDA7A7QJJ1v7Kig6jlK35JEKN7ADTmZksOey_I1L261_YKO4FraLfjDtYb8/s320/summer5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>Above: Artist Auz Miles and below, artist dkane (@auz_can and @_dkane)</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizGFBpdM0fdGHR7WcRH8KOF1bv5zloROIJh7v6Df7OrWQ7dRWWdLxnA-Ekn4FR4o23YFAjNTf6PZ13JDEfUwoU6ENTQ6v_zScd8uecN2tcI8WZC0zAvfLbLumh6bmAInIl643w6BUVHgY/s960/summer6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizGFBpdM0fdGHR7WcRH8KOF1bv5zloROIJh7v6Df7OrWQ7dRWWdLxnA-Ekn4FR4o23YFAjNTf6PZ13JDEfUwoU6ENTQ6v_zScd8uecN2tcI8WZC0zAvfLbLumh6bmAInIl643w6BUVHgY/s320/summer6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHTg2D-nV_6eexWWJccMn_NpWwOeNKByTQHyHA6XCb66M4dRYeBT_mCgi7B4b0X2kesRfEvtuU7p5DxHe2prycNhV65hQBg78OdQbe0N50GC8YlGUiIliOqg8ZMATLltc8zSeTAZcV-i4/s960/summer7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHTg2D-nV_6eexWWJccMn_NpWwOeNKByTQHyHA6XCb66M4dRYeBT_mCgi7B4b0X2kesRfEvtuU7p5DxHe2prycNhV65hQBg78OdQbe0N50GC8YlGUiIliOqg8ZMATLltc8zSeTAZcV-i4/s320/summer7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>Have to stop at the beach when down in Norfolk. This happens to be Buckroe Beach.</i><div><br /></div><div><i>Then I went on my Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee road trip which you can read about in my last post, but I started in Memphis and ended in Jackson, MS. I did a lot of Civil Rights and Blues stops in between.</i></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWNGG5u2DBPaymeKuph49I8Tx4VaPe9GBmcBvCFJX2dfya01X_HmJzJtzyphoE_uajvzaWj1PTImUIJ6p8pkzq7mR1r1hpXYz433dBYXfmYLbPrI43i8IvbpqM4Mspc3Shu8YJqGsrQTs/s960/summer24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWNGG5u2DBPaymeKuph49I8Tx4VaPe9GBmcBvCFJX2dfya01X_HmJzJtzyphoE_uajvzaWj1PTImUIJ6p8pkzq7mR1r1hpXYz433dBYXfmYLbPrI43i8IvbpqM4Mspc3Shu8YJqGsrQTs/s320/summer24.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><i>Above: Lorraine Motel and National Civil Rights Museum, Below: Stax Museum both in Memphis, TN.</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL3QMVXWl3T3u8k10WiYrtvrbhC08pIvJgsZTR3fCo6A-7V_815uSwUn9eqy3DCkq6CzmFZuDsT7wv3IP_Hmn8c5LJ1igx87Dwvpq2WxfSexFcfhrvxNzPJog0ejvq2XIK7NkNUNyOzN4/s960/summer25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL3QMVXWl3T3u8k10WiYrtvrbhC08pIvJgsZTR3fCo6A-7V_815uSwUn9eqy3DCkq6CzmFZuDsT7wv3IP_Hmn8c5LJ1igx87Dwvpq2WxfSexFcfhrvxNzPJog0ejvq2XIK7NkNUNyOzN4/s320/summer25.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><i>Came back to VA for a couple of weeks to hang out with friends and win trivia! </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQPr0sUypBk8f1VJfEl1IvJw4nHzxyRLV_vsKUWxoSIaK23mSBS153XI3MpwChuDDn-wTGvzfrGO8MmjREbOgomPsMdRF7xBY3SfDwkYcwK7ibEY1NFJ9p32Oj9okxU3tcOHJu4NltEYw/s960/summer8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQPr0sUypBk8f1VJfEl1IvJw4nHzxyRLV_vsKUWxoSIaK23mSBS153XI3MpwChuDDn-wTGvzfrGO8MmjREbOgomPsMdRF7xBY3SfDwkYcwK7ibEY1NFJ9p32Oj9okxU3tcOHJu4NltEYw/s320/summer8.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>Then it was on to Ohio for my annual trip, this time to celebrate my parents' 70th bdays and my 40th all together. We had a "luau" for extended friends and family- many of whom we hadn't seen in over a year.</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWAiKV8fRQxXxiaPFMfq9I0ibOEKXMHSeN-XGnMbCpkJHaMniIw4trT94AUHkvJdy6sqcf_kaZaIPvxGs2e_O_9K1-OJJ4VeS01nY3PffIGgn2Ou0e3IINm-CCcC_z2s154YWDzhEn4dc/s960/summer23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWAiKV8fRQxXxiaPFMfq9I0ibOEKXMHSeN-XGnMbCpkJHaMniIw4trT94AUHkvJdy6sqcf_kaZaIPvxGs2e_O_9K1-OJJ4VeS01nY3PffIGgn2Ou0e3IINm-CCcC_z2s154YWDzhEn4dc/s320/summer23.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>I also stopped in Pittsburgh on the way to Ohio and went to the Andy Warhol museum for the first time. </i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVrjfpykpIFgL-LuIsGFYRCRFy8znzY0U0DOiKB4V24GZGh-y8OKrzkQGKL7hrEjsYLmBVd5WtzAAWgZaCcyXTB3UwnKxbhl2y7gQNGHnluvshQUl9U86l5ERO0sYrJ9IGxXPLU4zfW9o/s960/summer9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVrjfpykpIFgL-LuIsGFYRCRFy8znzY0U0DOiKB4V24GZGh-y8OKrzkQGKL7hrEjsYLmBVd5WtzAAWgZaCcyXTB3UwnKxbhl2y7gQNGHnluvshQUl9U86l5ERO0sYrJ9IGxXPLU4zfW9o/s320/summer9.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>I also did some weird Atlas Obscura things while in PA and OH. Below is Randyland in Pittsburgh, PA.</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGSLBpkCypUBExXurNc5bZLPTUPqvVKTaLKCHzOfQOuZcozuwIYXbThK4Qr_F0RppNs0dgjt3h5X8zdedb7X9jeorqpBx6lOHDHBb9lpg2opSJhT_BaOhs5z4S-iThA4gPXtztGv3cwaQ/s960/summer10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGSLBpkCypUBExXurNc5bZLPTUPqvVKTaLKCHzOfQOuZcozuwIYXbThK4Qr_F0RppNs0dgjt3h5X8zdedb7X9jeorqpBx6lOHDHBb9lpg2opSJhT_BaOhs5z4S-iThA4gPXtztGv3cwaQ/s320/summer10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd0nEftTaY1l93hz5nlXHbvjXxF_nmKWUn5MnAsu3vew0n0wc1jC16A7W68Pf8NFa-P06zw6ov4t8CgaMXwQj0h__VXxZJG1rzkSfRIUFSjR_eA6fzqptBp6gkK8tiMsfQWqp58MswVl0/s960/summer12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd0nEftTaY1l93hz5nlXHbvjXxF_nmKWUn5MnAsu3vew0n0wc1jC16A7W68Pf8NFa-P06zw6ov4t8CgaMXwQj0h__VXxZJG1rzkSfRIUFSjR_eA6fzqptBp6gkK8tiMsfQWqp58MswVl0/s320/summer12.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>Some weird while I was in Ohio- the town of Wellington, OH turned into Blacksmith for a Netflix movie while I was there. And below is Other World in Columbus, OH. </i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_4m90Rs3ddanTsRdcuX3clDqtytfQAcYfGyxtSfPMdT7BWwzeyXAaSgoU_VnO2Abyv0SNcRTQgYcw0eYRvPHrKdkvy22vCMTMm5rRulN1lhtAlfIVc_c-wds6GeDFMRAjNZUuurWPIAg/s960/summer13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_4m90Rs3ddanTsRdcuX3clDqtytfQAcYfGyxtSfPMdT7BWwzeyXAaSgoU_VnO2Abyv0SNcRTQgYcw0eYRvPHrKdkvy22vCMTMm5rRulN1lhtAlfIVc_c-wds6GeDFMRAjNZUuurWPIAg/s320/summer13.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>It was back to VA for a minute to again hang out with friends and hear some live music. I had gotten to hear some in Mississippi, but it was nice to go to some shows in VA again. Below is South for Winter which I got to hear on a rooftop in Richmond! Also went to hear Lucy Dacus and Bright Eyes in Charlottesville (not pictured). </i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3z_ifVgmXmzmUApAAx8yEts4zMqX9OacCih4ShdhYY8ZpISWrwNmUlTxnC64deP_cTrkUEixD2Qxbgof5rJwOzzafIaABtZSVxDp1ok1BtYN_v2Cj2JPYmUMfCBuj8H1ZjUDNGJYKGoI/s960/summer14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3z_ifVgmXmzmUApAAx8yEts4zMqX9OacCih4ShdhYY8ZpISWrwNmUlTxnC64deP_cTrkUEixD2Qxbgof5rJwOzzafIaABtZSVxDp1ok1BtYN_v2Cj2JPYmUMfCBuj8H1ZjUDNGJYKGoI/s320/summer14.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>Next, I made my annual Philadelphia trip to see one of my best college friends and celebrate her partner's birthday. We played "Heads Up" on the patio...</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFBOIC9AGPZq84sPswpk0NoqbaKJypUI-kwBH_EBubIpU4qDJNAXQKQu9luayGArBC-YoHJiJwe5O-9V5Rc3vL4MGqZqFZ9eLUCbS0iXgwx7chzfM3p6DZ61Lt5dr3391tkUUk7C1vgco/s960/summer15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFBOIC9AGPZq84sPswpk0NoqbaKJypUI-kwBH_EBubIpU4qDJNAXQKQu9luayGArBC-YoHJiJwe5O-9V5Rc3vL4MGqZqFZ9eLUCbS0iXgwx7chzfM3p6DZ61Lt5dr3391tkUUk7C1vgco/s320/summer15.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>Then I went up towards Allentown to see another college friend and his new house. We went to a winery as well :)</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIIZQTW90VbglUorQ9wWPg88SAzCaA4stOrxxxR7ebcLNqmcLtLCF1O3_xXd3rkcKT8zmM9CnzgOYPA3jDibcb51zBBgPjp9_kmJaO6WAqWlxtLknKE6aghEww0ZvK0Upin3NCAsdrXDs/s960/summer16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIIZQTW90VbglUorQ9wWPg88SAzCaA4stOrxxxR7ebcLNqmcLtLCF1O3_xXd3rkcKT8zmM9CnzgOYPA3jDibcb51zBBgPjp9_kmJaO6WAqWlxtLknKE6aghEww0ZvK0Upin3NCAsdrXDs/s320/summer16.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>Then it was BACK to Ohio for a cousin's wedding...here I am with my sister and my cousins....</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoQvEFDseDVLzjzIlprQpu0eVsdfeYiTgyG_xrOmsiFZtPycZSeY-MjVzdY-TnzE5jap9rzSip_kdQfxlBSutjPpJsNdb7zR8j5K2_dF80111mnpAPpFfoq1kHeNpFntFQya4STuZcPdc/s960/summer17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoQvEFDseDVLzjzIlprQpu0eVsdfeYiTgyG_xrOmsiFZtPycZSeY-MjVzdY-TnzE5jap9rzSip_kdQfxlBSutjPpJsNdb7zR8j5K2_dF80111mnpAPpFfoq1kHeNpFntFQya4STuZcPdc/s320/summer17.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>And finally back to VA to finish summer the way that it started- with some art and some wine. </i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHVRyOpyOQQp1OB7kw3Ne9fluLiDD0myaq1OAy1rtxXV3SOruh0V1MX342BHNVCyGFAuVWYoI22PqKmtrScBx_m_eHLZDtx8r3gepOcON7pu86tbxcPBL4QSEGlaO8spErrgWM4XVfksc/s960/summer18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHVRyOpyOQQp1OB7kw3Ne9fluLiDD0myaq1OAy1rtxXV3SOruh0V1MX342BHNVCyGFAuVWYoI22PqKmtrScBx_m_eHLZDtx8r3gepOcON7pu86tbxcPBL4QSEGlaO8spErrgWM4XVfksc/s320/summer18.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>Above: Alma Thomas exhibit at Chrysler Museum in Norfolk, Below: Lost Planet interactive exhibit in Virginia Beach.</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPq8qDUq9C-O3dx7lzfFvhPBtBFNK9WnWsHRz3_jtrS74vqM24uieGkGkKnBDLTAAa92Ong1V0tzFUnm3ekxWebOhRIvFqpLMnFzC3I2Xw8ZPzptBOg6vW90mq1QlpL_ZlyNNSigBn16s/s960/summer19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPq8qDUq9C-O3dx7lzfFvhPBtBFNK9WnWsHRz3_jtrS74vqM24uieGkGkKnBDLTAAa92Ong1V0tzFUnm3ekxWebOhRIvFqpLMnFzC3I2Xw8ZPzptBOg6vW90mq1QlpL_ZlyNNSigBn16s/s320/summer19.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIL6WAH8JrNcYeATjCh83VwqE8OzQv0bDAt-ZqGWgqpEmFNm_CAmrUGVjJazK5ebJli0eFJ2p1iUI7WUns3iMt5ctmlyoo3e2HJmfvm86ZThZgngXFTFLDj_gF0_4RDcyGr9R68lmVwcc/s960/summer20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIL6WAH8JrNcYeATjCh83VwqE8OzQv0bDAt-ZqGWgqpEmFNm_CAmrUGVjJazK5ebJli0eFJ2p1iUI7WUns3iMt5ctmlyoo3e2HJmfvm86ZThZgngXFTFLDj_gF0_4RDcyGr9R68lmVwcc/s320/summer20.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><i>Above: Early Mountain Winery outside of Standardsville, VA (literally close to where I started my summer vacation) and below: Stone Mountain Winery with one of the best views I've had at a winery!</i><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBZh97iqG2puQWtxFAY8SHPE5xYYj58zbWw8Xe-EiWBKL_EGU6HhL_TazjtBKROHoKU9TYslmpp5Ei5dShZy76UCmRs3H3WNRWEm3wVQLouN2PE3lcPhLwR3BYsvDzED7M_Ji4sQx70Xk/s960/summer22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBZh97iqG2puQWtxFAY8SHPE5xYYj58zbWw8Xe-EiWBKL_EGU6HhL_TazjtBKROHoKU9TYslmpp5Ei5dShZy76UCmRs3H3WNRWEm3wVQLouN2PE3lcPhLwR3BYsvDzED7M_Ji4sQx70Xk/s320/summer22.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I am most grateful that I got to see so many friends and family members this summer. After a year of being separated and not able to travel, I was grateful to do all that I did this summer. I am hoping and praying that we do what we need to do (get vaccinated! wear masks!) so that we can eliminate this virus. The 2020s are off to a weird start for sure. <div><br /></div><div>Spiritually and personally/professionally, I have been continuing the projects that I started in 2020. I've been continuing with my podcast, Seven Mile Chats, because it connects me with others and feeds me spiritually to hear others' takes on Scripture. I'm also continuing to blog and create social media posts for The Holy Ruckus and Live Today Well Collective. </div><div><br /></div><div>I continue to journal and pray about the Mass readings and most recently the ones about Moses and the Israelites in the desert have really hit home. We perhaps feel like we've been "wandering in the desert" of this pandemic for 40+ years. God has still provided us with things along the way, but we need to do our part. I am trying to focus on the abundance that He has given- health, job, survival and even some thriving in this pandemic- and not grumble and complain as much as possible. We will see how long that lasts as the school year begins :)</div><div><br /></div><div>Grateful for the things we have been able to do in 2021 even though it continues to be a weird year. And very grateful for a blessed summer in the midst of our second year of a pandemic. </div><div><br /></div><div>Peace,</div><div>Julia</div>Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06098852834050397406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1055688385421362242.post-85869807952369950932021-06-29T11:52:00.012-04:002021-06-30T09:53:22.693-04:00Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul 2021<p>2021, to me, has been maybe even stranger than 2020 for some reason. I think we are all still processing the pandemic while simultaneously still living through it. Certainly our lives are starting to get back to "normal" as vaccines have made it possible for numbers of Covid cases to go down and we are able to now start going places in larger groups even without masks. We are all so ready to get back to "normal" but I hope that we do take time to process and reassess what we have been through and what things we are going to do differently because of it. </p><p>In many ways, my summer of 2021 is going to look similar to my summer of 2020. It was still hard to plan things earlier this year, so while I usually do a big trip in the summer, my travel bestie and I decided to keep that South American adventure we had planned for 2020 postponed until 2022. While many countries are now starting to open up, things still seem somewhat shakey to me and I would rather just be safe and enjoy what I can safely for now. </p><p>For that reason, I planned another domestic road trip for this summer, which have become my thing when I am not planning an international getaway. <a href="https://hebrews121-3.blogspot.com/2018/08/a-seat-at-table-of-wisdom.html">Three summers ago</a>, my friends and I did a Southwestern Road Trip through New Mexico, AZ, and Southern CA, and <a href="https://hebrews121-3.blogspot.com/2019/07/summer-2019-take-2.html">two years ago, </a>I went to two cities I had been wanting to visit- Asheville, NC and Savannah, GA. </p><p>This year, I had watched A LOT of TV in quarantine, and had seen a couple of food and travel shows about the Mississippi Delta. My parents, who are big music people themselves, had taken a similar trip a couple of years prior. So I decided to start my research and put together yet another domestic road trip, this time, including a state I had not yet been to: Mississippi. </p><p>In addition to wanting to be on every continent (I'm getting close to achieving this! I've been to Europe a bunch, Central America, Asia Minor, Australia, and Africa! Antarctica isn't really on my agenda. If I get there, great, if not, I won't be disappointed to not have been cold for a week or more) I've also made it a goal to visit all 50 states. I'm also getting close to achieving this goal. After this past week, the states I still need to visit are:</p><p>- Alaska, Hawaii, Washington, Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Utah, Vermont and Maine. If anyone wants to do these with me in the future, let me know!</p><p>People always want to know how I plan these road trips and it's a combination of a couple of things:</p><p>1.) I usually go to Pinterest and search for blogs and pins about the places I want to visit. </p><p>2.) I go to Trip Advisor and Atlas Obscura and search for things to do in the cities I want to visit. </p><p>3.) I look at Google Maps and see if there are any other cities nearby or things to do that I am going to be passing through. </p><p>4.) Lastly, I go to Air B n B and see if there are any fun stays around the places I want to visit. </p><p>Pretty easy! But does require some time to research. </p><p>Below is a brief outline/timeline of my latest summer road trip to the Mississippi Delta. Usually, I am somewhere exoctic on this feast day like Prague or Portugal like I've been in the past. But today, I am back in Richmond, praying and processing what I saw last week. </p><p>I decided to drive to make it a true road trip and to stop and see some friends that live in Huntsville, AL on my way down from Richmond. But you could very easily drive or fly to Memphis and start there, though I will say, I saw some pretty cool things on my way to Memphis from Alabama. </p><p>Day 1: Huntsville, AL - Muscle Shoals, AL - Tupelo, MS, - Oxford, MS - Memphis, TN</p><p>Muscle Shoals is the home of the FAME Music Studio which records famous artists even today. It was a good first stop to get me in the mood for a road trip about American Music. I didn't take the tour of the studio, but they give tours and I wish I would've had time to take one!</p><p>Helen Keller is from a small town very near Muscle Shoals and you can also tour the grounds with a guided tour, which I didn't do, but snagged some pictures of the home from the outside. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtWd8FPwEjxDKgygbqXtCtfSrsM6A084Rmv2eYHogBJsBCSScFQr7hMx-kay2VxUtw0a3F6YL1ns44hWiYN2Vx1OYgXFbF53y7yMqoa4DbDecd6_NobGAl1uPUJm2gT0iv2bfxriNif5s/s960/Helen+Keller.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtWd8FPwEjxDKgygbqXtCtfSrsM6A084Rmv2eYHogBJsBCSScFQr7hMx-kay2VxUtw0a3F6YL1ns44hWiYN2Vx1OYgXFbF53y7yMqoa4DbDecd6_NobGAl1uPUJm2gT0iv2bfxriNif5s/s320/Helen+Keller.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>From Muscle Shoals I drove to Tupelo, MS which is the birthplace of Elvis. It also has a very cute downtown where I had lunch. I definitely could've stayed longer in Tupelo, but again, I was on a mission that day!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiki7YfQecVATSJ735FLFep8X7PZX5NEdKmjKp6aiy7BzmTqlZ8uBzPFvgc6qmXjAoofmoounPIMlFWuMIQNZVNlPqrri3dOidYAiFMODHxeEULr4gxFoG_99CZDU-Fz-hxm2WdHLPwNUk/s960/elvis.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiki7YfQecVATSJ735FLFep8X7PZX5NEdKmjKp6aiy7BzmTqlZ8uBzPFvgc6qmXjAoofmoounPIMlFWuMIQNZVNlPqrri3dOidYAiFMODHxeEULr4gxFoG_99CZDU-Fz-hxm2WdHLPwNUk/s320/elvis.jpg" /></a></div><i>Birthplace of Elvis and lunch in Tupelo, MS</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpUGxHNy0jBDggzHiyQAsK0AWJT1xA9SEQsMtvckH4PnY-xdze6IYrmsdkrEh_QwxDRlcvjvyWZQakgPo562RhgcYOrT_N3vJy7fCVG_OUaV94jIs4D8JWrv30XzfY9sj9eArRpXL3bA8/s960/tupelo.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpUGxHNy0jBDggzHiyQAsK0AWJT1xA9SEQsMtvckH4PnY-xdze6IYrmsdkrEh_QwxDRlcvjvyWZQakgPo562RhgcYOrT_N3vJy7fCVG_OUaV94jIs4D8JWrv30XzfY9sj9eArRpXL3bA8/s320/tupelo.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>My last stop on my way to Memphis was in Oxford, MS, which was a little out of the way, but I wanted to pay tribute to William Faulkner. I didn't take a tour at his house, either, as it was closed (many museums are closed on certain days which I found out the hard way in some cases, so definitely check websites for the museums you want to visit when planning!)</p><p>After all of my early AM and afternoon stops, I made it to Memphis, TN. I had a 3pm ticket to visit the National Civil Rights Museum which is connected to the Lorraine Motel where Dr. Martin Luther King was assassinated. It was a heavy start to my trip, but also set the tone for some of what I would encounter on the trip. I also checked out the Peabody Hotel for a drink afterwards as well as Sun Studios before it closed. It was a very full first day!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjcZZHf33SGDlcRqFpr-T9Btixv7AHTepm_6jYV8d3DiDYR8E2nuU4uB6Eru4kOufUlgOq_NTQDHxU0Paw-C6dHo6Eu2egkkE0Mx72b-xD6Xp3sOH7XrEHfm2F1WMXPwla62vOBF9FeQo/s960/Memphis.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjcZZHf33SGDlcRqFpr-T9Btixv7AHTepm_6jYV8d3DiDYR8E2nuU4uB6Eru4kOufUlgOq_NTQDHxU0Paw-C6dHo6Eu2egkkE0Mx72b-xD6Xp3sOH7XrEHfm2F1WMXPwla62vOBF9FeQo/s320/Memphis.jpg" /></a></div><i>National Civil Rights Museum, Memphis, TN</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheF2tr-4LNybEEqlBC0F3_0zvMVwOlhAaJsDxxRjBoUR04wLLgg6DDgp6_4lGXwjKA6-EpHC5g1q9aP9ghdXqOpeRs5Lt5NS0awI5xaTBBEcJrK0L9rnKrlwRXILuscSMsXdk79MruFaY/s960/Memphis3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheF2tr-4LNybEEqlBC0F3_0zvMVwOlhAaJsDxxRjBoUR04wLLgg6DDgp6_4lGXwjKA6-EpHC5g1q9aP9ghdXqOpeRs5Lt5NS0awI5xaTBBEcJrK0L9rnKrlwRXILuscSMsXdk79MruFaY/s320/Memphis3.jpg" /></a></div><i>Peabody Hotel, Memphis, TN- I missed the "Duck Marching" but that is a thing. </i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjARe32c5ppd-wywUs0l1QhZ4NFUgwkk4f7Fa6zQYPhsVJR9ZGUijfRz8Y0EZh-B9R7AkbyHV80HCGhtEBcoj-_ty8dYLdmFCNgiaK6gRpFoVaLcZa4iNNuh4Qws8R2PSYO57JNaNqRBE0/s960/Memphis4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjARe32c5ppd-wywUs0l1QhZ4NFUgwkk4f7Fa6zQYPhsVJR9ZGUijfRz8Y0EZh-B9R7AkbyHV80HCGhtEBcoj-_ty8dYLdmFCNgiaK6gRpFoVaLcZa4iNNuh4Qws8R2PSYO57JNaNqRBE0/s320/Memphis4.jpg" /></a></div><i>Sun Studios, Memphis, TN- I didn't take the tour, but wish that I could have! Still was cool to be in a space where Roy Orbison, Elvis, U2, and more have recorded!</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1gdMQHuI2B-bIWtbqRUc3ZZZmVTqgZczrqLEp96hHuD5N1lXiLZHvMpH5qOhASKV4BDPRGn-1pZwqoksb5QHQoftOXi2PPT6yrugQ0X7rsAamgr1uF0m-FDjrwKHlAxoZuZv2QCY8lY8/s960/Memphis2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1gdMQHuI2B-bIWtbqRUc3ZZZmVTqgZczrqLEp96hHuD5N1lXiLZHvMpH5qOhASKV4BDPRGn-1pZwqoksb5QHQoftOXi2PPT6yrugQ0X7rsAamgr1uF0m-FDjrwKHlAxoZuZv2QCY8lY8/s320/Memphis2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>Can't walk through Memphis without going to Beale Street. It was pretty dead due to it being a Monday and Covid, but still lots of historic markers and things to check out down there. </i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdpCIaD3Yzib6-PpO8B7NyNkG_k1zmEGgZOAoVm-SmHUrzpwLY73nentoap9xx08pFnNbpYjDwVM9GcQD3vTXj4KnQe0kZ1EyXK84QVGPFGQct90OMLp95vzyprl-AbyTEPVZoLGkzZw8/s960/Memphis5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdpCIaD3Yzib6-PpO8B7NyNkG_k1zmEGgZOAoVm-SmHUrzpwLY73nentoap9xx08pFnNbpYjDwVM9GcQD3vTXj4KnQe0kZ1EyXK84QVGPFGQct90OMLp95vzyprl-AbyTEPVZoLGkzZw8/s320/Memphis5.jpg" /></a></div><p><i>Of all the studios I could've toured on this trip, I chose to tour Stax Studio in Memphis and I'm so glad I did! So many amazing black artists recorded here. Definitely recommend checking it out if you go to Memphis!</i></p><p>Day 2: Memphis, TN - Tunica, MS - Clarksdale, MS</p><p>I started my day in Memphis with a tour of Stax Recording Studio and Museum. It was the perfect way to start my musical journey into the Delta Blues. Soul music is so connected to Blues music so it gave me great inspiration to start the rest of my journey. </p><p>After leaving Memphis, my next stop was Tunica, MS. This is kind of a weird place and reminded me a little of driving through the deserts of AZ and CA. Not so much for the landscape, but how deserted it kind of is. There are lots of casinos which I did not decide to stop at, but I did make the following stops: </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZAQZ9p4VoGA40W1MCh90_QzD_k1rqGQUfR-7TriWYPqAupMbSH79c9xM6yoiRA_F5VZFO_BDxMKs1PSMGU3UsYQhQJqC0hOPRThB-7Tz-DyBCTTTcRNAP_sx7TGSAU1hnHozqcT-Y2pw/s960/TUnica.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZAQZ9p4VoGA40W1MCh90_QzD_k1rqGQUfR-7TriWYPqAupMbSH79c9xM6yoiRA_F5VZFO_BDxMKs1PSMGU3UsYQhQJqC0hOPRThB-7Tz-DyBCTTTcRNAP_sx7TGSAU1hnHozqcT-Y2pw/s320/TUnica.jpg" /></a></div><i>Gateway to Blues museum...there will be many Blues museums to come. I couldn't do them all. </i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWH0a36Rsi3UliG05PiiIxSbgTZxEcST9peG2DMz7vIPkV-MkYuuBlOjWCUsNljm_fcj-brVOZXgEhdyEm_zUKioUVAwpEM5AzqqRu2tuv5S-7zpeO6QD_1Z1n10oRlQK4xlMFf9_lUn0/s960/TUnica2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWH0a36Rsi3UliG05PiiIxSbgTZxEcST9peG2DMz7vIPkV-MkYuuBlOjWCUsNljm_fcj-brVOZXgEhdyEm_zUKioUVAwpEM5AzqqRu2tuv5S-7zpeO6QD_1Z1n10oRlQK4xlMFf9_lUn0/s320/TUnica2.jpg" /></a></div><i>The Hollywood Cafe which Marc Cohen references in his "Walking in Memphis" song about the Delta Blues. </i><div><i><br /></i></div><div>After my stop in Tunica, I made my way to Clarksdale which is where I would stay for the night. Clarksdale was a historically African American city that birthed many blues and soul musicians. It still hosts a blues festival annually when it's not Covid. There are lots of blues venues to hear music around town, but the town seemed pretty dead when I was there. Maybe because it was a Tuesday, maybe because of Covid. The town is also not your typical tourist town. It still is very rough around the edges, but I found that when I would go into an establishment or store, people were so friendly and quick to tell you about other things to do there. </div><div><br /></div><div>I went to an art store called the Cat Head Folk Art Store and had dinner at a pizza place called The Stone Pony. I spent the evening at the Hambone Music and Art Venue. The people were so lovely. I met the owner who is also a musician and artist and had a really nice night. It was a very unique music venue with couches and a bar inside. The music was great, too!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9jI2j4jGDFLXV7ewNsdgQYESm6LRYb3BhetqbyTHqDIBj2ZHb-27BUE4kWDytTeNApFBsDH3m2faP8oSceHJ9GkKDeUQKbSis4EL4qR4pPG3bBEk_vhNLkQ65HhiPzQUuc3-McHxNSe0/s960/Clarksdale.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9jI2j4jGDFLXV7ewNsdgQYESm6LRYb3BhetqbyTHqDIBj2ZHb-27BUE4kWDytTeNApFBsDH3m2faP8oSceHJ9GkKDeUQKbSis4EL4qR4pPG3bBEk_vhNLkQ65HhiPzQUuc3-McHxNSe0/s320/Clarksdale.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div><i>Above- the musicians I heard at the Hambone venue in Clarksdale. Below is the most famous venue in Clarksdale. It was closed the night I was there, but apparently the same musicians I heard were booked for the next night, so I didn't miss anything!</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVYKIy-ymT9ZPqUJdjleVoR7jn6urqdhqQr7t5DzlG8s10VEC3EVVU8FAaLRsTUQXlKvWPTHymZ5yd7grxRI60lz62sXuI6ByqtLUE1wPTGZNql__TMggxl0aqYRODx81Yj3uATQAB2Lk/s960/Clarksdale2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVYKIy-ymT9ZPqUJdjleVoR7jn6urqdhqQr7t5DzlG8s10VEC3EVVU8FAaLRsTUQXlKvWPTHymZ5yd7grxRI60lz62sXuI6ByqtLUE1wPTGZNql__TMggxl0aqYRODx81Yj3uATQAB2Lk/s320/Clarksdale2.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXu53GWAEuoLlbrC6Cvo26MB54ojlTEhVaOfr5yW3-PXG3ZMvn-GubTGxFQWZKKURy8ip4_o2UKUjVjB4z44AKoYsVrrC-4QFpRhW7N-ijUMyOFX4jRQ1TKI3n_ynuUKpf5v3ZWfjKCKQ/s960/clarksdale3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXu53GWAEuoLlbrC6Cvo26MB54ojlTEhVaOfr5yW3-PXG3ZMvn-GubTGxFQWZKKURy8ip4_o2UKUjVjB4z44AKoYsVrrC-4QFpRhW7N-ijUMyOFX4jRQ1TKI3n_ynuUKpf5v3ZWfjKCKQ/s320/clarksdale3.jpg" width="320" /></a><i style="text-align: left;">This museum didn't seem like much at first, but once I started to go through it, I learned so much about the tough lives of so many of the blues musicians of the area. Many left for Chicago to escape Jim Crow laws. </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><i style="text-align: left;"><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><i style="text-align: left;"><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Day 3: Clarksdale, MS- Cleveland, MS,- Leland, MS, - Greenville, MS, - Indianola, MS</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I started my day with the Delta Blues Museum in Clarksdale, again, it didn't seem like much, but had a lot of information that I felt prepared me for the rest of my journey. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My next stop was Cleveland, MS. The Grammy Museum is there, but of course it was closed, however, I made a stop in the town for lunch and found it to be another really cute town with shops, similar to maybe Tupelo. It was becoming clear to me which towns were historically white and which were not. My guess is that Cleveland was a historically white town. It had a university in it and plantations close by. In fact, one of the markers for the Blues Trail is on Dockery Farms which was on Dockery Plantation, just outside of Cleveland, MS</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdJhNshiWqxjyqdXmXumzo1ePkK-d6g-i3VRbcGh4phVdG7cGvV2zxJK6xmZWROL_1RBAR79X_Zsh3AH4VIYj7wmUl5Se_gvYi5zxIENXWsQHmkMyD1E_YoBMjG6w5SDQaCZiTpTYzVjo/s960/cleveland.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdJhNshiWqxjyqdXmXumzo1ePkK-d6g-i3VRbcGh4phVdG7cGvV2zxJK6xmZWROL_1RBAR79X_Zsh3AH4VIYj7wmUl5Se_gvYi5zxIENXWsQHmkMyD1E_YoBMjG6w5SDQaCZiTpTYzVjo/s320/cleveland.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>Plantation in Cleveland, MS</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit5aDE_Tc3slDC9et85K9vz5pa8kSEwqG1GRNbVO1_f_fnbSiswWb2ZJXSr8yqd-k46vg2sLdczJjg-BCLBk6Rzdcccm-rnhGP1aoDTL0QBtKLFmYF7L9XILi_cU77t9DjRi7x8jV61jY/s960/cleveland2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit5aDE_Tc3slDC9et85K9vz5pa8kSEwqG1GRNbVO1_f_fnbSiswWb2ZJXSr8yqd-k46vg2sLdczJjg-BCLBk6Rzdcccm-rnhGP1aoDTL0QBtKLFmYF7L9XILi_cU77t9DjRi7x8jV61jY/s320/cleveland2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Cleveland was definitely a nice place to stop for lunch and if it would've been open, visit the Grammy museum. Going to Dockery Farms was a little eerie but an important stop as it made me reflect on why the blues is such an important art form. It will always have stemmed from the trauma and suffering of slavery. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My next stop was a little more light hearted. A verrrryyyyy small exhibit in Leland, MS, which is where Jim Henson lived his early years before moving to the DC area. This town claims to be the birthplace of Kermit the frog as Jim Henson grew up on Deer Creek in Leland and his best friend as a child was a boy named Kermit. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHT_KeHcXCUgnYbM3bjY1BtW1pUlaaWzjM-fG8mNeIBAyEZMG7ak57IrEPhpaTn-NPJX-r_66byWNU_dHH3IxOmsP_Y5PXmmJQYxN_MZ5ulYAhdVqmPxIsq1ghKBTkFZbqa7JVdK4HxCY/s960/leland.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHT_KeHcXCUgnYbM3bjY1BtW1pUlaaWzjM-fG8mNeIBAyEZMG7ak57IrEPhpaTn-NPJX-r_66byWNU_dHH3IxOmsP_Y5PXmmJQYxN_MZ5ulYAhdVqmPxIsq1ghKBTkFZbqa7JVdK4HxCY/s320/leland.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On one of the travel/food shows I had watched and also on one of the blogs I had read mentioned going to Doe's Eat Place. I didn't know what to expect exactly, but could assume that the food was good. The atmosphere is suuuuper casual like you are in someone's actual kitchen. The food is hearty and amazing, serving mainly steaks. It is actually considered a Steakhouse which is funny to probably some of us since our steakhouses in the Northeast are usually fine dining establishments. You will still pay steakhouse prices for your filet, but it is worth it for the experience and the meat is amazing. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPWe3UmyMO854vUgYbRHbjVyFMa09PISE53Wu9m1o_qdqa1hOXjEfLQL3XOaWhOhjbHqymcEBKZVnfwjKThxUt7sdGdjCtbVjkEXGSP1yz2Chi8Dwcc3hJm-cZVlvym2M2LR_5D9rKqzY/s960/does.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="952" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPWe3UmyMO854vUgYbRHbjVyFMa09PISE53Wu9m1o_qdqa1hOXjEfLQL3XOaWhOhjbHqymcEBKZVnfwjKThxUt7sdGdjCtbVjkEXGSP1yz2Chi8Dwcc3hJm-cZVlvym2M2LR_5D9rKqzY/s320/does.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>My view from my table at Doe's Eat Place in Greenville, MS</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After stopping in Cleveland, Leland, and Greenville, I spent the night in Indianola, MS which is where B.B. King was from. Of course, the museum was closed when I got there, but I drove past Club Ebony which was a historical blues venue. I stayed at an Air B n B behind The Blue Biscuit which was also closed that night so I didn't get to hear any music, but if I ever go back, I would totally stay at the Air B n B (it had a pool!) and do the museum and try out The Blue Biscuit. I've also heard The Crown restaurant in town is good but- you guessed it- closed! So definitely check hours of the places around town. I take for granted that things just seem to be open all the time here on the East Coast. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifgkFdi9BGc-pBxC5FSc6matv9l3NQlO9kHOpFBQ81A1ngnHOGBO5NtEb6B9XEwCEV8Qp7_PRDVaW_zz8t3wB4d1YYDAjbN1g4qQMQWCR-A6sdLK8PW4FoNu94ycuZVq2LbJEl5JYb0Pc/s960/indianola.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifgkFdi9BGc-pBxC5FSc6matv9l3NQlO9kHOpFBQ81A1ngnHOGBO5NtEb6B9XEwCEV8Qp7_PRDVaW_zz8t3wB4d1YYDAjbN1g4qQMQWCR-A6sdLK8PW4FoNu94ycuZVq2LbJEl5JYb0Pc/s320/indianola.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>Above- This venue is closed but apparently can be toured if you ask someone at the B.B. King museum in town. </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoicGZe9erCe2t86H-RZ2ySjQ6pg5pmVkB-aBsrCuW1hOPVAUF2u7rWxKaE9uYhYUasZfNhjU-BCBMXsQ3oaTEKe4oP4ZWPx5xLJhQQ40VxcOu42a-hJ_j2WULBemNkg8b6M9KCfbSp7Q/s960/inianola.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoicGZe9erCe2t86H-RZ2ySjQ6pg5pmVkB-aBsrCuW1hOPVAUF2u7rWxKaE9uYhYUasZfNhjU-BCBMXsQ3oaTEKe4oP4ZWPx5xLJhQQ40VxcOu42a-hJ_j2WULBemNkg8b6M9KCfbSp7Q/s320/inianola.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>My Air B n B in Indianola, MS- behind The Blue Biscuit restaurant and venue and across from B.B. King museum</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>Day 4: Indianola, MS- Greenwood, MS- Yazoo City, MS- Bentonia, MS- Jackson, MS<div><br /></div><div>I had planned to start my day maybe at the B. B. King museum, but I had made an appointment at The Alluvian Spa which I had read about that was in Greenwood, MS. Greenwood also had a few spots on the Blues Trail map, so I headed into Greenwood to walk around town before my appointment. The town wasn't much. A lot of things again seemed closed and restaurants, I was finding, had very limited opening hours like from 11am-2pm which was exactly the time of my appointment. </div><div><br /></div><div>The Alluvian Spa was nice, but honestly, I have gotten better services at other spas I've been to in various places. I was a little sad that I had decided to do that instead of one of the museums I had missed. But I guess it was good to relax, though it felt weird to do before I was going to be visiting some more intense stops on my Civil Rights and Blues Trail. </div><div><br /></div><div>At the recommendation of my pedicurist (and also since almost all of the restaurants in town were closed after 2pm) I had lunch at The Crystal Grill. It had a really good menu and my pedicurist had told me about the PIES:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGw6kP8yWKABOMS1JGqJb4K_rOg4PKBm6qDWgcJZjbxsafKvylhMG0Pr6CRC7_s7Ik68h1mCHnW_K9IpjZl_PZCLE58Y3x39huOTOVEtnmZcg1ohID0Us6YJAlS5kvzKfxi_IE8VoqmsU/s960/greenwood.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGw6kP8yWKABOMS1JGqJb4K_rOg4PKBm6qDWgcJZjbxsafKvylhMG0Pr6CRC7_s7Ik68h1mCHnW_K9IpjZl_PZCLE58Y3x39huOTOVEtnmZcg1ohID0Us6YJAlS5kvzKfxi_IE8VoqmsU/s320/greenwood.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div><i>Chocolate Meringue pie in Greenwood, MS. Below: the gravesite of legendary blues musician Robert Johnson at Little Zion Mission Baptist Church outside of Greenwood. </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzi5bRL0OK7lYJQ3RBPj5YmVoq8CyH8TLHSu8Zn_ewOkoONToVP5z6o44L5oOjs1o8Ut92Y6b1ChB2ifxUyh8tAsawRBwZ3JYQnWRiVnrfZ5rNa8jb_b8C1NXtNOGyxuOOWbs7YPCGPR8/s960/greenwood2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzi5bRL0OK7lYJQ3RBPj5YmVoq8CyH8TLHSu8Zn_ewOkoONToVP5z6o44L5oOjs1o8Ut92Y6b1ChB2ifxUyh8tAsawRBwZ3JYQnWRiVnrfZ5rNa8jb_b8C1NXtNOGyxuOOWbs7YPCGPR8/s320/greenwood2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg39kzbDnPZHbFnLgqhdrIeycmRTYTkmj6vi-_uz8kgaTphi_1hr3iXHqmA1bZK85AamPSjXM0EXMHINFUGyNMthlbFIwlEAEg9jcItV-kdHbyl-Nd-zaGu1OApBwdzy66qndPMhKGAPDY/s960/greenwood3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg39kzbDnPZHbFnLgqhdrIeycmRTYTkmj6vi-_uz8kgaTphi_1hr3iXHqmA1bZK85AamPSjXM0EXMHINFUGyNMthlbFIwlEAEg9jcItV-kdHbyl-Nd-zaGu1OApBwdzy66qndPMhKGAPDY/s320/greenwood3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>One of the darker places on my journey was going to be the former spot of Bryant's Grocery where in 1955 Emmett Till- a 14 yo African American boy from Chicago- whistled at a white woman and lost his life for it. Till was later hunted down, tortured, killed ,and tossed into a nearby river by two men related to the woman. The store no longer exists, but I went to pay my respects there. 1955 was almost one hundred years after the Civil War ended and we still hear of young black men losing their lives today. </div><div><br /></div><div>My next stop after Greenwood was a very brief one in the city of Yazoo City. I had read in a blog about its colorful buildings, so I had to stop for a picture. I wish I had more time to spend there because I had later found out that Sr. Thea Bowman, an African American Catholic whom I admire, is from there. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLOBjn4d-gTd04qInXLbTQvqHqD-UFoL5lDiSUdxRiiEewVCPPVk8uMMPFjo4tPaoE3hRCiE6miOYXMHsH6rF0ferfbffqLRd5L0F1h57pWQe5lo-tISoyMX7I8jwqVc5CCjGTVAu-YWw/s960/yazoo2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLOBjn4d-gTd04qInXLbTQvqHqD-UFoL5lDiSUdxRiiEewVCPPVk8uMMPFjo4tPaoE3hRCiE6miOYXMHsH6rF0ferfbffqLRd5L0F1h57pWQe5lo-tISoyMX7I8jwqVc5CCjGTVAu-YWw/s320/yazoo2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>Definitely worth the stop to see these colorful buildings though as like Clarksdale and many of the towns I've stopped through, the town seemed sleepy from the outside. </i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLE_Nu0vzegX4tIe2XnD_sBlVhn5XfUBQ7FnlWVqT-S_Zs6g_j5O-TcByQJQVKfQ-RnCxlbk41pidjaPutsKqOMPNYD2uNBjbqMc63pWCgMwKYNUn5Ld4Lc9np7l-pHL9-yy2BClpDvh0/s960/yazoo.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLE_Nu0vzegX4tIe2XnD_sBlVhn5XfUBQ7FnlWVqT-S_Zs6g_j5O-TcByQJQVKfQ-RnCxlbk41pidjaPutsKqOMPNYD2uNBjbqMc63pWCgMwKYNUn5Ld4Lc9np7l-pHL9-yy2BClpDvh0/s320/yazoo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>One of my highlights of the trip came next. After days of looking at museums and markers about the Delta Blues, I got to meet a living Blues legend. </div><div><br /></div><div>I had read on a blog that if you stop by The Blue Front Cafe, you may meet its owner- Jimmy "Duck" Holmes- who is a blues musician. He is in his 70s but still plays almost nightly. The Black Keys stopped here a few years ago and met Jimmy and later recorded with him. </div><div><br /></div><div>Again, from the outside, I wasn't sure if I should go in. It didn't look open and I wasn't sure who I would find inside. A couple of other tourists had pulled up and were looking at the Blues Trail marker, but I decided to go in. I'm so glad that I did! </div><div><br /></div><div>The cafe is not in great shape and is hardly a cafe. It is clearly just a place for Jimmy to play music and for people to come in and hear him. When I walked in he was sitting there with another older gentleman and a woman who looked passed out in her chair. The place did not have AC and it was super humid in there. I asked to use the restroom which was one of probably the least desirable ones I have used in my life, but he was so gracious with his time. As I looked at some of the merch he had displayed and I talked with him, some of the other tourists and locals came in too. I ended up talking with a teacher from Baltimore whose family lives in Arkansas and was super into the blues. I have to admit, I am a novice and this blues trip has made me appreciate the art form more. I felt out of place but welcomed all at the same time in the Cafe. As had been the theme, I wish that I could've stayed longer and maybe I would've made some new friends and heard Jimmy play. I had to settle for him signing the cd and poster I picked up and carrying the memory with me. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0qJ2BnHeAjW-dY5M6sjcTfPkzE3xzsPcEbkLgtRMJt2WrShoU6mW2ObU5uKzahQLEpYs6sM9zFujSYdWP4j7O2xXE1KHvKb4kSgvfBHb_L5y5vX2eXyk2rtCTklnMmirzf4KZEdekmFE/s960/Bentonia.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0qJ2BnHeAjW-dY5M6sjcTfPkzE3xzsPcEbkLgtRMJt2WrShoU6mW2ObU5uKzahQLEpYs6sM9zFujSYdWP4j7O2xXE1KHvKb4kSgvfBHb_L5y5vX2eXyk2rtCTklnMmirzf4KZEdekmFE/s320/Bentonia.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>Outside and Inside The Blue Front Cafe, Bentonia, MS</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCFMs5bhaIS-8ZrSJuxWI-7XMmyGIRrah25TOJxFIBcyOjuVzfNQcBx4M_S_d7D13FuJJuoD_4noKX6198GG48AZ8T86rL5Igk9cxqrtYkXiffwAGf4k_mUDIBCBVegjjJ0HapNyHIDL0/s960/blue+front.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCFMs5bhaIS-8ZrSJuxWI-7XMmyGIRrah25TOJxFIBcyOjuVzfNQcBx4M_S_d7D13FuJJuoD_4noKX6198GG48AZ8T86rL5Igk9cxqrtYkXiffwAGf4k_mUDIBCBVegjjJ0HapNyHIDL0/s320/blue+front.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I finally got to my Air B n B in Jackson and decided just to stay in for the night since I had the whole next day and evening to explore. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Day 5- Jackson, MS</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I started my day by going to the Capitol and just taking a couple of pictures around downtown. I had heard that the Lamar Life Building was like Jackson's "Big Ben" so I found it and took a picture. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDngj5wNLlr2SvBW5gFQssrlNO4GNxTJdKDxR5Cbqj2rzmhmNWtYt5nJpcArpxc3iOheghhBLJBz8K1XVQ8ObWskeOgLTKXEuy8Iv3cdpUMOd2QFfNPuZnponAjbQ066xb6zLAIqrA4Vo/s960/jackson.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDngj5wNLlr2SvBW5gFQssrlNO4GNxTJdKDxR5Cbqj2rzmhmNWtYt5nJpcArpxc3iOheghhBLJBz8K1XVQ8ObWskeOgLTKXEuy8Iv3cdpUMOd2QFfNPuZnponAjbQ066xb6zLAIqrA4Vo/s320/jackson.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I saw that the Cathedral was also nearby and had 12pm Mass. I knew that I also wanted to go to the Mississippi Civil Rights museum to kind of book-end my trip that started with the National Civil Rights museum in Memphis. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Before Mass, I had an hour or so, so I checked another sad memorial off of my list: the Medgar Evers home. I would learn more about him in the Civil Rights Museum later that day. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh41Zs7GYj3Gz00EVKBbHJnYpwPmxiKge8DuHJ98dJrC0DVqsYX-X6NUBXXP1TCGsrZsUi7bEkeZ1JKvLCl9a0TQTait3lH_6dwbE9fZox-Vxj29jAoNUXCR2RcWGwTP2Zj1pr2hpWbc_4/s960/medgar.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh41Zs7GYj3Gz00EVKBbHJnYpwPmxiKge8DuHJ98dJrC0DVqsYX-X6NUBXXP1TCGsrZsUi7bEkeZ1JKvLCl9a0TQTait3lH_6dwbE9fZox-Vxj29jAoNUXCR2RcWGwTP2Zj1pr2hpWbc_4/s320/medgar.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>Home of Medgar Evers that is now a stop on the Civil Rights Trail. He was an African American Civil Rights leader in the 60s who was shot here in his own home. </i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhmKaRV3t4Lv_ACi6FfOX3-I_0aH5YGVgvDG2PVpuUJdL13URE_1VCiNJPaCFVtcEQleiPuWgLLXeI_EtU7Qr2GB6vqv4gU1Ek_4aTXmDKWhAKbrQbsA62oMmIoPnlN9nFBLEWcR4X67g/s960/greyhound.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhmKaRV3t4Lv_ACi6FfOX3-I_0aH5YGVgvDG2PVpuUJdL13URE_1VCiNJPaCFVtcEQleiPuWgLLXeI_EtU7Qr2GB6vqv4gU1Ek_4aTXmDKWhAKbrQbsA62oMmIoPnlN9nFBLEWcR4X67g/s320/greyhound.jpg" /></a></div><i>I also stopped at the Greyhound station where Freedom Riders in the 60s were arrested. Their mug shots line the walls at the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum. </i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXSGYVVGQW_GoK8z6nfnRncFx6_9xdUsKIPWp8AFNoUj0IDpDhtxYV-lxIdTiF7bF632MiTgd3y4bqwdt7t_ajDlFTZBZ8n_5tXP0lRdqeOf_FIgI9KF8U9AG7rbwW6K5H0mwJJycjwuA/s960/greyound2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXSGYVVGQW_GoK8z6nfnRncFx6_9xdUsKIPWp8AFNoUj0IDpDhtxYV-lxIdTiF7bF632MiTgd3y4bqwdt7t_ajDlFTZBZ8n_5tXP0lRdqeOf_FIgI9KF8U9AG7rbwW6K5H0mwJJycjwuA/s320/greyound2.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After visiting those key places on the Civil Rights trail, I had a good southern lunch at Martins and the made my way through what they call the "two museums". The Mississippi History Museum and The Mississippi Civil Rights Museum are rightfully connected. I went through both of them which took up the rest of my afternoon. The Civil Rights Museum was of course very heavy. I found myself saying "my God , when will it stop?" because it just seemed too much for one group of people to endure. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The answer is WE are the ones who have to stop it. I have to educate myself and my students. I have to educate myself about history and current events. I have to educate myself about systems that still exist that are unjust. Representatives are still trying to block voting rights in states like Georgia. We have to donate time and money and stop these unjust systems and help others. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I ended my last night in Jackson by checking out some fun things after my heavy day at the museum. I found a speakeasy (many exist in Jackson since Mississippi was a dry state from Prohibition until 1966!) and went to hear some live music on my last night in Mississippi. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_zNWihwGZBckd-yV_uaGX3ll0DWdlAG59w7YWKWv76ytuAK5mCZVXlG9450-pupxUFQV7ZjIbDKvK9oSsSPqrIkEV64UyRWDAtpHUQ8jP8XIQV0nDVkMwfY5BCNEWkrXFnmqHKcpwDIE/s960/jackson3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_zNWihwGZBckd-yV_uaGX3ll0DWdlAG59w7YWKWv76ytuAK5mCZVXlG9450-pupxUFQV7ZjIbDKvK9oSsSPqrIkEV64UyRWDAtpHUQ8jP8XIQV0nDVkMwfY5BCNEWkrXFnmqHKcpwDIE/s320/jackson3.jpg" width="320" /></a> </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhulKL3p7Y7VwTxnmu1CgteRwqNri2FqpxOJAMJZARo5e-5uKy6-Nuyat5MGMfExP8LXZXwyCDrDfM5xtWwe5jTMOqhevXV71Ru90pMBwfRs8NQ-QLyM3aWJUuhu3sQprj358DNTgm4pH8/s960/jackson4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhulKL3p7Y7VwTxnmu1CgteRwqNri2FqpxOJAMJZARo5e-5uKy6-Nuyat5MGMfExP8LXZXwyCDrDfM5xtWwe5jTMOqhevXV71Ru90pMBwfRs8NQ-QLyM3aWJUuhu3sQprj358DNTgm4pH8/s320/jackson4.jpg" /></a></div><br /><i>Brent's Diner is in fact a diner, but if you go to the back by the restrooms, you find this door. Go through and find a "speakeasy" bar- The Apothecary. </i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjev-UrRh_29kVk9iQNKGeioWYkGDTnlUu8y-BVDMdZqMIwAzwcz6o5BVPDStij7oInIz8lkoRvSADdLiyt6ayQ9mlXZB49CnpqlZbgMjrlexgIaqUrjG7KkerzT2OMFr0_F0QDsjb102k/s960/jackson2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjev-UrRh_29kVk9iQNKGeioWYkGDTnlUu8y-BVDMdZqMIwAzwcz6o5BVPDStij7oInIz8lkoRvSADdLiyt6ayQ9mlXZB49CnpqlZbgMjrlexgIaqUrjG7KkerzT2OMFr0_F0QDsjb102k/s320/jackson2.jpg" /></a></div><i>Above: My drink at The Apothecary</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqlF9ZepMhH38zO-exrSpZAf_Oh86Pck9liNWrREOQYxR1FG3r5S-n9STTxdQYFEVXbIwbvrkS3cfqRDm7LUp6Fra40NSMUw-xDE6yzHSWP6UQUd5oDMoOCCxcrVSXwfqVilNQPxUvqe4/s960/jackson5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqlF9ZepMhH38zO-exrSpZAf_Oh86Pck9liNWrREOQYxR1FG3r5S-n9STTxdQYFEVXbIwbvrkS3cfqRDm7LUp6Fra40NSMUw-xDE6yzHSWP6UQUd5oDMoOCCxcrVSXwfqVilNQPxUvqe4/s320/jackson5.jpg" /></a></div><i>Dinner and live music my last night in Mississippi at Hal and Mal's</i><div><i><br /></i></div><div>All and all my Mississippi Delta trip was definitely a success. I didn't even realize how much important history exists in this state. It is a complicated and dark history for sure, but I appreciated that the state didn't seem to hide its mistakes. I found a lot of the exhibits in the History and Civil Rights museum forthcoming about the state's abuses to both Native and African Americans throughout its history. </div><div><br /></div><div>I would recommend a trip to the Mississippi Delta to anyone. There is so much history and culture there. Much more than I realized. I was grateful for a full and safe trip! I also realized that if I hadn't gone on my own, I don't know if I would've gotten to see all that I did. Inevitably, you have to make compromises when you travel with others. Traveling with other people often takes longer, too, to make decisions, to get ready, etc. Traveling on my own meant that I could get up and go when I wanted and see and spend as much time as I wanted, wherever I wanted! And social media makes it easy to share and stay in touch with others while traveling. I definitely recommend making a trip and do it solo if you want! As I've heard it said- "we did not survive a pandemic to...." complete your own sentence there! For me, it's giving me license to live a little more and to let go of some apprehensions and fears. </div><div><br /></div><div>Happy Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul! I will leave with a thought I had as I traveled through the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum. African Americans were very connected to Christianity and the Bible because so much of the Israelites' and early Christians' plights connected with theirs during slavery. The Blues, much like our Christian faith, are about suffering and beauty mixed together. Driving through this part of the country definitely got me thinking about Christianity in all its truths and faults and how ultimately it is a faith about suffering but ultimately freedom. We abuse and manipulate that freedom. We deny that freedom from others. Suffering and Freedom are always linked. But some of us need to sacrifice a little more so that others can be more free. </div><div><br /></div><div>Peace,</div><div>Julia</div>Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06098852834050397406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1055688385421362242.post-88229840871678309682021-04-17T09:32:00.004-04:002021-04-17T09:41:48.685-04:00Reflections on My 30s (on the Last Weekend of my 30s!)<p>I started this blog when I was 26 and had just decided to enter a convent. 26 already seemed so late to be just starting my vocation as so many of my peers were getting engaged and starting families. When I realized quickly that religious life was not my vocation (even after having quit my job that I loved and selling many of my possessions) I had to start over at 27. I moved into a house with a couple of women I knew from college that were also still discerning where God was calling them. I started a new job (that I didn't love), started grad school (that was a lot of work), and put myself back in the dating pool (ugh). Things were starting to come together, but I still had no idea where I was going. </p><p>At 29, while in grad school and still living with roommates, I started teaching. Looking back now, I have no idea how I was able to be a first year teacher in the chaos that was the last years of my 20s, but teaching has been one of the things that has been consistent throughout my 30s. As I reflect and write this on the last weekend in my 30s, I can say that my 30s were marked by their consistencies. Early on in my 30s, I finished grad school, moved into my own one-bedroom apartment, and became a department chair at the school I was teaching at. I discovered art and travel and by my mid-30s, I left the DC area that I had called home for so long and started to cultivate all of the things I had found in recent years for myself in Richmond.</p><p>I am not sure if this is the same for everyone, and my story is certainly my own and unique, but sometimes I don't realize how much I have accomplished in my 30s because it didn't have the same huge peaks and valleys that my 20s seemed to. In my 20s, I was throwing myself into "who am I?" and "what is my vocation?" in quite extreme and dramatic fashions. But in my 30s, I seemed to quietly, unceremoniously find it and just flow into it. Like I said, teaching was something I fell into as I turned 30 and it has been that consistent factor for me. I've also been consistently called to preach and evangelize in various ways whether that be through music ministry or blogging or giving presentations at schools and parishes or now Zoom meetings. My 30s have certainly been about laying the foundations of who I am and answering those questions I asked in my 20s without my even maybe realizing it. </p><p>I have heard that the 40s are fabulous. I am grateful that we are starting to emerge from our "upper rooms" of the pandemic as I enter into 40 and can take my vaccinated self out into the world again. I'm also grateful for having been quarantined this last year because it has caused me to reflect and evaluate and re-connect with friends I had maybe lost touch with throughout this decade (and start a lot of projects! <a href="https://juliastrukely.blogspot.com/">You can read more about them here</a>). I get to emerge confident in who I am and (hopefully) ready for whatever God has next for me. </p><p>I got to recently share my story on a podcast I became familiar with this last year, The Feminine Genius podcast, that seeks to present and highlight Catholic women and their own unique gifts. <a href="https://www.femininegeniuspodcast.com/listen-now/episode/90ec74c1/sharing-faith-through-media-with-julia-strukely">You can listen to the episode here.</a> I'm proud of what I have accomplished in my 30s. I've established myself as a solid Religious Educator through achieving my degree and 10+ years of teaching, become a world traveler dabbling in art and media while continuing to share music and foster communities in the Church with friends. I did some of it consciously but most of it with God slowly, subtly guiding me towards things. I will carry with me all that I've accomplished and established into my 40s with a true sense of gratitude getting to do so after a year in quarantine and living in a pandemic. </p><p>I hope that you all are also in a place of hope this Easter season even as we still grapple with this pandemic and racial injustice in our country. In the Easter Season, we journey with the apostles who also have just had their world rocked and are having to establish something new- the sometimes flawed but Holy Spirit driven Church. We are in good company as we navigate the unknown with the hope of good things to come. Thank you all for all that you have done and do to support me and help me to grow over the years! Happy Easter!</p><p>Peace,</p><p>Julia</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI7wC-yx5i7yqvPKzgNOKe6zPdDwkT1UbLJwhUf5BwLwNByimO3h-6FyecHyjvER3tclShBPttnB917pYkdr4PGY__RsarwhCYZBKwUjJxhtq8CNJsl95WrrHJGFWhHLMhyphenhyphen5EdpQWhXfQ/s960/self4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="886" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI7wC-yx5i7yqvPKzgNOKe6zPdDwkT1UbLJwhUf5BwLwNByimO3h-6FyecHyjvER3tclShBPttnB917pYkdr4PGY__RsarwhCYZBKwUjJxhtq8CNJsl95WrrHJGFWhHLMhyphenhyphen5EdpQWhXfQ/s320/self4.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p> <span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span> <i>39 almost 40 doesn't seem so bad...</i><br /></p><p><br /></p>Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06098852834050397406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1055688385421362242.post-49597917550114513192021-04-02T08:56:00.003-04:002021-04-02T08:56:42.255-04:00Lent and Good Friday 2021<p><br />Happy 2021?! In many ways, we have still been living as we did in 2020, but as Spring has begun, we have the hope of new life. I received my two vaccines in Jan. and Feb. so am fully vaccinated and ready to have a little more normalcy while still fully knowing that we are not yet out of this pandemic. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBZ1vLKUrj7R7ewdrZ0O7WgIuZOsOj9DC5CeyOPi1IrN-iBHWMctPwo5tGIbYNVCJh61rLWn75r0ZHWfYfE-QYYvtp5u_7ferkRgaW2udJGHdmJ8Sy6Z1qe2oZjh2a6v1Uqasd7KFPs2k/s640/vaccine.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBZ1vLKUrj7R7ewdrZ0O7WgIuZOsOj9DC5CeyOPi1IrN-iBHWMctPwo5tGIbYNVCJh61rLWn75r0ZHWfYfE-QYYvtp5u_7ferkRgaW2udJGHdmJ8Sy6Z1qe2oZjh2a6v1Uqasd7KFPs2k/s320/vaccine.JPG" /></a></div><p></p><p>January and February were hard. We were still locked in our houses and the pandemic was in full force after people had traveled for the holidays. Since I have been teaching in person since August, we had a lot of students go remote in January and a lot of teachers were out due to exposure to the virus. We haven't been able to bring in subs this year because of Covid so I had to sub for a lot of classes during my planning time. And we had a very, very cold February with lots of snow and ice. Winter is hard for me anyways, but add to that teaching in a pandemic, not having much social interaction due to Covid, and just the acknowledgment that we still were dealing with this virus a year later, plus all of the division in our country, I was very, very grateful for that vaccine that could provide some light at the end of this tunnel. </p><p>I have been keeping myself busy with a lot of projects that I started in 2020. You can keep up with<a href="https://juliastrukely.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"> the podcasts and blogs and things here. </a></p><p>Along with the vaccine, March and Spring have brought back that hope that I was meditating on back in Advent. Warmer weather and being vaccinated mean that I can leave my house and hang out outside with friends. The governor finally expanded indoor gatherings to 50 people instead of 10! It feels so good to get some life back and start planning events and travel- still not fully the way we were before the pandemic, of course- but it is something. </p><p>It is also Holy Week- Good Friday to be exact. Last year's Holy Week was exceptionally sad for me. To have to watch some of my favorite services of the year online by myself and not travel during the Easter break was so hard. Yesterday, I got to go to Holy Thursday Mass in person. It's one of my favorite services of the year. There was no washing of the feet due to Covid procedures still in place, and still no congregational singing, but there was beauty in its minimalism and simplicity. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP5ofsDG0VMzqFePKkeY4q5DVpBXurU22nQKpE_LWIDsupQbJgKGjYXv1oR13MUZ4BCGh-JQOkO-QH1IxLncKVIXIQMMb5kjQiNx2CQt8K9ooiVuoLavZ1fP-q6R4VQ9bYvaXh2Y7MabM/s960/MAss.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP5ofsDG0VMzqFePKkeY4q5DVpBXurU22nQKpE_LWIDsupQbJgKGjYXv1oR13MUZ4BCGh-JQOkO-QH1IxLncKVIXIQMMb5kjQiNx2CQt8K9ooiVuoLavZ1fP-q6R4VQ9bYvaXh2Y7MabM/s320/MAss.JPG" /></a></div><br /><p>Just to be with my parish in person celebrating one of my favorite Masses of the year was enough. One of my favorite parts of the Holy Thursday liturgy is the praying in silence with the Eucharist after Mass. We remember Christ going to the garden to pray and we have the opportunity to sit there with Him. I always meditate on His loneliness- how He must've felt when His apostles couldn't stay awake to pray with Him- and how He must've felt alone in what He was about to do. In many ways, we can identify with that loneliness, especially in this year that we have just had. But His loneliness in the garden is not the end.</p><p>I've been using this book to pray throughout Lent and the men and women who are written about in it have all inspired me with their bravery.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-kPgSg3Ddwz0wDmrT0hanJw9tLVFAlxEO8IBxGgfelVsEDK7aHIi2gLoMo6lvISdgS1nNcffsryFBf7LtK51MOZ-_-x_ymMzjtlteSYlWLAbU0JMwr_i18-dGd6A6J-ZECgimzNlYcHo/s960/Holy+Thurs.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-kPgSg3Ddwz0wDmrT0hanJw9tLVFAlxEO8IBxGgfelVsEDK7aHIi2gLoMo6lvISdgS1nNcffsryFBf7LtK51MOZ-_-x_ymMzjtlteSYlWLAbU0JMwr_i18-dGd6A6J-ZECgimzNlYcHo/s320/Holy+Thurs.JPG" /></a></div><br /><p>We have had to be brave in many ways this past year. We have had to reach outside of ourselves and try things in new ways because of the pandemic. Today as I pray on Good Friday, I usually find my prayer a continuation of Holy Thursday- uniting with Christ's loneliness and mourning in sorrow. Today, however, I am inspired by the men and women I have journeyed with this Lent in prayer and Christ bravely carrying His cross. </p><p>This Lent has been different. We got to be a little more gentle with ourselves because this whole year has been like Lent in many ways. We have sacrificed a lot this year. Now is not the time to surrender, though, but rather to pick up the cross and bravely carry it all the way to Calvary with Jesus. </p><p>I am empowered by His act of love today. I pray that we can all recognize our bravery from this past year and carry it with us into Easter and the rest of 2021. </p><p>Peace,</p><p>Julia</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06098852834050397406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1055688385421362242.post-47651423566837303312020-12-13T07:44:00.005-05:002020-12-15T08:52:55.037-05:00Joy in 2020: Gaudate Sunday<p>It's the 3rd Sunday of Advent. We've made it halfway through Advent and almost all of 2020. The pink (or rose as it's technically called) candle that we light on the Advent wreath this week reminds us of this and reminds us that we are to rejoice. </p><p>Rejoice? In 2020? How do we find joy even in this year? </p><p>I may submit to you that this year is the year that we have had to learn how to cultivate joy the most. Let me explain. </p><p>Joy is more than happiness. Happiness is a temporary emotion. Joy is something that is underlying and greater. We can be joyful people but not always necessarily happy. This year has certainly not been a happy one. We have seen pain and suffering due to this virus and also the pain and suffering that has existed in our country for centuries due to hatred and racism. </p><p>So where is the joy? We each have different things that bring us joy and I still think that this year is the year we have had to search for those things in new and real ways. We have had to give up those temporal things that give us happiness- like celebrating in large groups or going to a concert- and look for what will sustain us for much longer than those temporary things. </p><p>Now, certainly, we can find joy in groups and in music and maybe some of the things that we've had to give up, but we've had to focus on the things this year that truly matter, and this is how we cultivate joy. </p><p>In my adult life, I've grown to make going to confession a habit as much as I can. I try to go pretty frequently. When I was at CUA, it was so easy to run into the Basilica on campus, that I almost started to take the sacrament for granted. Now, I try to go on Saturdays, but sometimes Saturdays are the days I am running around doing errands, so I really have to schedule it in. </p><p>Since it is Advent and Advent and Lent are the liturgical seasons we focus on repentance, I scheduled some time in to go to confession yesterday. I went to a parish and priest that I had never been to before just to kind of get my out of my comfort zone or routine. When it came time to give me my penance, the priest gave me something that in all of my 30+ years of going to confession I don't think that I have heard before. <b style="font-style: italic;">He told me to "Praise the Lord" as my penance.</b><b> </b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKB17F6UnttOjutWpiX5DLLxEsclet8L8Ey8-G9EdHVsUto0uLPxamWWY1QnWXuCwrGNYsny73cBfA7IFgd19eCGCs0_tcfdXhtjM7ZlQZCEXWSe3zha6wpvz3zpCcFn9CSKEsIyRJE7I/s1024/praise.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKB17F6UnttOjutWpiX5DLLxEsclet8L8Ey8-G9EdHVsUto0uLPxamWWY1QnWXuCwrGNYsny73cBfA7IFgd19eCGCs0_tcfdXhtjM7ZlQZCEXWSe3zha6wpvz3zpCcFn9CSKEsIyRJE7I/s320/praise.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>And it occurred to me- isn't this what those who were healed by Christ did in the Scriptures? After He had healed them, didn't they go forth rejoicing? It makes so much sense and I couldn't believe that I have never been given this penance before. Why should we go away still lamenting our sin when He has given us His forgiveness? This was the perfect penance for this week focusing on Joy as well. </p><p>When we think of Jesus, do we think of joy? Perhaps we think of Him as a pretty serious guy, but he would have rejoiced with those that he healed. He would've celebrated things with his apostles and friends. He would've enjoyed spending time with His Holy Family. </p><p>On this Gaudate Sunday in 2020, it's a great time to think about what brings us true joy and what brought Christ joy as well. Do we count ourselves as a source of joy for Him and others? </p><p>Today is a great day to meditate on joy and to go forth praising the Lord for all that we do have in our life. Even in a year when we have had to deny ourselves much, there is still joy. We may have had to see it and experience it differently this year, but even in 2020, joy is still there below the surface. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeXhaoDhs2q0YN7BaQoyXmfbUQxj-dszDtcBKm59jnpDUtoUyG2kgJdsD_XpqcGJ77KHyRGrbTs3P0J_ntSAmqLR5KB0SilfJaRotcRlgFTlV4n7kWSxWgh5zf8VsMQh7xXiCewbi82nQ/s960/Advent.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeXhaoDhs2q0YN7BaQoyXmfbUQxj-dszDtcBKm59jnpDUtoUyG2kgJdsD_XpqcGJ77KHyRGrbTs3P0J_ntSAmqLR5KB0SilfJaRotcRlgFTlV4n7kWSxWgh5zf8VsMQh7xXiCewbi82nQ/s320/Advent.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Yesterday was also the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. I played for Mass that has a large Hispanic population and I loved seeing all the flowers and roses amid the rose candle yesterday. <div><br /></div><div>Here's to being a little closer to Christmas, a little closer to the end of this year, and finding joy even in the darkness. </div><div><br />Peace,</div><div>Julia<br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div>Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06098852834050397406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1055688385421362242.post-24884042742708099502020-12-05T08:36:00.002-05:002020-12-05T08:36:54.979-05:00Advent 2020: Wait for It<p><br /></p><p>2020 has been about many things and many of those things have been dark and serious. I don't want to make light OF the darkness that we have had to face and are still facing, but during this time of Advent, we are to start thinking of light IN the darkness; to think about some of the more positive things in our lives and wait with joyful and grateful hearts. This can certainly be difficult in this time. I am currently re-reading Pope Francis' <a href="http://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/apost_exhortations/documents/papa-francesco_esortazione-ap_20131124_evangelii-gaudium.html" target="_blank">"Evangelii Gaudium" </a> which he wrote back when he began his papacy in 2013. To read it now in this darkness of 2020 is a little jarring, but also a good reminder that darkness will not last forever. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtW8RXUxG0JJNFMew8uWTGAC8sdgFbDmrR6T2KT7rIKA9PqMR57YAVMXFb5TtPBQmfcieAxBFUgsk6va6sjSukoyi6LQH3ColVnOnaLSPoQzuBOVnuEdHWwipQavskVklC8h4g27fdNoM/s600/hamilton2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtW8RXUxG0JJNFMew8uWTGAC8sdgFbDmrR6T2KT7rIKA9PqMR57YAVMXFb5TtPBQmfcieAxBFUgsk6va6sjSukoyi6LQH3ColVnOnaLSPoQzuBOVnuEdHWwipQavskVklC8h4g27fdNoM/s320/hamilton2.jpg" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">To jump to something much more trivial but still joyful for me, Hamilton appearing on Disney Plus was one of the brighter lights this year. I had been familiar with and listened to the soundtrack, but had never seen the production. Since it has aired in July of this year, I've probably watched it at least thirty times and I'm not exaggerating. Not having many places to go this year certainly has contributed to the amount of times I have watched it, plus, we do have to find joy in the smallest things these days.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I was recently trying to name my top five songs from the show and the song "Wait for It" is on that list. It's a song where we get a glimpse into the differences between Hamilton and his friend-turned-enemy, Aaron Burr. While Hamilton is "young, scrappy and hungry" (to quote the song "My Shot") and works "Non-Stop" (the song that ends Act One), Burr sings that he is willing to wait for the things that are to come to him. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I have always found myself somewhere in the middle of these methods of achievement. I certainly am like Hamilton in his go-getter spirit. If there is something that I want, I will work to obtain that thing as quickly as I can. However, in life, we know that don't get everything that we want. So there are naturally somethings that we have to wait for. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Advent, as we know, is a time of waiting. And I don't know about you, but usually Advent sneaks up on me and then is over before I even realize it. This year, because of the pandemic, hopefully our preparation for Christmas isn't filled with as much busy-ness. We are hopefully avoiding stores, avoiding gatherings, which means less hustle and bustle. I know that I already feel like my first week of Advent has been much more focused and centered than in the past, and therefore more felt. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It helps that- to borrow a line from Burr- we are "lying in wait". We have been waiting all year for a vaccine and for our lives to return to what they were before March. We are waiting for a time when we can gather and see friends and relatives as we once did. Maybe we've even gotten a little better at waiting? I have never been a patient person. Ever. However, throughout my life, I have gotten a little better at making the most of the times that I've had to wait for something. I've gotten better at shifting focus and being grateful for the things that I have instead of the things that I am still waiting for. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I think that this time of 2020 has been just that. Hopefully, we are looking at the things that we are grateful for instead of the things that we don't have right now. Where Aaron Burr is certainly painted in a light that makes him look foolish for waiting in the show of Hamilton, I empathize with him. As <a href="https://bible.usccb.org/bible/ecclesiastes/3" target="_blank">Ecclesiastes says</a>, there is a time for everything. And right now is the time to wait- both liturgically and literally- as we wait for a vaccine. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So how are we going to use this time of waiting? I've decided for Advent to not look at my phone first thing in the morning and "wait" to use social media until after I've prayed. It's been a little challenging, but ultimately I've done it successfully and it's been productive. I've been using some prayer devotionals that use Scripture and poetry to remind me of times where God has made things new. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We are in a new liturgical year since Advent has begun. Things may not feel very new right now since we've been in this holding pattern since March. It's been a nice reminder to read from Scripture that God's people have had to wait throughout Salvation History, but God has always been faithful when it was time for something new to begin. For example: Noah and the new life after the Flood, the Israelites and the new life in the Promised Land after 40 years in the wilderness, Simeon in the scene of the presentation where his eyes have "finally seen the salvation" of the Messiah in Jesus, just to name a few. The whole of Salvation History is waiting- from the beginning of the creation stories until we meet our God and hopefully remain with Him in heaven. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">However we are preparing for Christmas this year, I hope that we are relying on gratitude and God's faithfulness to get us through. He always provides in His time, we just have to "Wait For It". </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Happy Advent!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Peace,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Julia</div><br /><p></p>Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06098852834050397406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1055688385421362242.post-36557670959922779132020-11-14T15:25:00.002-05:002020-11-21T11:40:45.033-05:00Christ the King 2020 Edition<p>This weekend is the feast of Christ the King AKA the last week of the liturgical year. </p><p>We somehow made it through 2020, y'all. </p><p>As has become custom for me at this time of year, I like to do an annual round up of my year and we all know that 2020 was a doozey. </p><p>But in many ways, this year was one of my most full and productive, surprisingly. Just like the years about a decade ago that I thought would be terrible because of the endless weddings or vocation woes or jobs that I just tolerated, God brought joy and goodness from those periods of suffering. This year's suffering has been on a much larger scale, of course, but I have seen goodness and change flourish and emerge, despite the hardships. </p><p>To be a Scripture nerd for a second, during the time of the Babylonian Exile- a period where the Jews were being invaded and captured by Babylon which was a time of great turmoil for the Jews- they produced some of their most beautiful poetry and psalms and grew closer to their Jewish faith and their God. It is recorded in the Wisdom and Prophetic sections of the Old Testament. </p><p>While this year of 2020 will go down as one of the strangest in our history, it also produced many movements and work that will hopefully carry through to make change in this decade to come. </p><p>Here are some of my highlights:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYHAnIRyKid_PLIRTgpvcayZzqqF42bdgMGA-AVv3bCMYOPncpnj507DhG4AWnX_5u9ADPX6P9FMpkXRoBBboxEsqGn2__Mi0fRoqDsGCR_jvrWto80LC73KFwWZieKs2H65DYtZjZGRM/s960/20201.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="954" data-original-width="960" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYHAnIRyKid_PLIRTgpvcayZzqqF42bdgMGA-AVv3bCMYOPncpnj507DhG4AWnX_5u9ADPX6P9FMpkXRoBBboxEsqGn2__Mi0fRoqDsGCR_jvrWto80LC73KFwWZieKs2H65DYtZjZGRM/s320/20201.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><i>We started the year so optimistically...roaring 20s indeed!</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV2zzP0hH2m0Aw9jm44qIvb-ppZRd5pI6Y3Nq5B7_yrDWuh-Mn4vWsfxRgjMwhEVzqvc92pRxi02YaXFhpKSQRMv2GiF-t25ZV_jjpl_Lsm5dms35Ap5SFDuOEP7DZHBAoVSx1yUvwAmI/s726/art20201.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="726" data-original-width="709" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV2zzP0hH2m0Aw9jm44qIvb-ppZRd5pI6Y3Nq5B7_yrDWuh-Mn4vWsfxRgjMwhEVzqvc92pRxi02YaXFhpKSQRMv2GiF-t25ZV_jjpl_Lsm5dms35Ap5SFDuOEP7DZHBAoVSx1yUvwAmI/s320/art20201.JPG" /></a></div><i>January and February were "normal" with trips to VA beach and Texas with friends. </i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSq0yZvEruH3-CgzMcyOEYyqXrL9Ew7cPLudcZw3wRuAQPA8zi1UIEu3I389kPIVRUXxciV3wF8_FAVKC6vqXkOoJkSfBjR7iCeicKZTINDJ0JStnb136EklNi0CnEH7WkUjz6kFqlsqQ/s960/tx2020.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSq0yZvEruH3-CgzMcyOEYyqXrL9Ew7cPLudcZw3wRuAQPA8zi1UIEu3I389kPIVRUXxciV3wF8_FAVKC6vqXkOoJkSfBjR7iCeicKZTINDJ0JStnb136EklNi0CnEH7WkUjz6kFqlsqQ/s320/tx2020.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgglH7Ya68fJSlosPFjMAlg-wzontovjsiLhGCLuzcFFbYx8-1g4ZVFef5cP-HVqUnjY60oByJyFCttcYTe0Khvlu8nSmpKdmIkvKz-1g3d-p_8S5jP337MvHu3AEkMQFhMBzyzcpUehJA/s960/flight2020.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgglH7Ya68fJSlosPFjMAlg-wzontovjsiLhGCLuzcFFbYx8-1g4ZVFef5cP-HVqUnjY60oByJyFCttcYTe0Khvlu8nSmpKdmIkvKz-1g3d-p_8S5jP337MvHu3AEkMQFhMBzyzcpUehJA/s320/flight2020.JPG" /></a></div><i>The last flight I took the weekend that the world shut down. Clearly, there was no one on it. </i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzDf4TYYl6sXqDTuyK6nIKWQvGKb_R8cDo9HVn2TuVf5ezTvyJOE9gDr0AKAem6s6QlI5PWnt2-P2Rv3ffbl3Z5jOTKqWWzGU1Z8QSBhZ6OeRDuMeHwQIRzAPAF1YZxxLtVbq9V7wcQbg/s960/school20201.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzDf4TYYl6sXqDTuyK6nIKWQvGKb_R8cDo9HVn2TuVf5ezTvyJOE9gDr0AKAem6s6QlI5PWnt2-P2Rv3ffbl3Z5jOTKqWWzGU1Z8QSBhZ6OeRDuMeHwQIRzAPAF1YZxxLtVbq9V7wcQbg/s320/school20201.JPG" /></a></div><i>Week 1 of remote learning and not the last.</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHdoNUBLnAIPMlGuwg0bi2htBDA1qghsBXCDH-4_5fY5IlLiJHsaUyxSabwFWfnsQpiKozvpUfeh3L38P3WrViAm17bGlT5wqKlvMjPvk-J1sqhXfP6fm3mYA1GldEX68G_x1x2G2wfQA/s960/churc2020.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHdoNUBLnAIPMlGuwg0bi2htBDA1qghsBXCDH-4_5fY5IlLiJHsaUyxSabwFWfnsQpiKozvpUfeh3L38P3WrViAm17bGlT5wqKlvMjPvk-J1sqhXfP6fm3mYA1GldEX68G_x1x2G2wfQA/s320/churc2020.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><i>Attending Palm Sunday (and all Masses from March-June) from home.</i><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5aESIwjSsupO_8jaEa_A6G_bQBFF0k7qSiZwjLEKavbP7i1YOgbZWTxYRX8RjGCx0unEv8Kla8hOnnmnPfQrIK5-4szTk0Ht9h0a29BVAVMkAWK7nSvP3ZoMKwyys5s-dy40le90-YV8/s960/bday2020.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="610" data-original-width="960" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5aESIwjSsupO_8jaEa_A6G_bQBFF0k7qSiZwjLEKavbP7i1YOgbZWTxYRX8RjGCx0unEv8Kla8hOnnmnPfQrIK5-4szTk0Ht9h0a29BVAVMkAWK7nSvP3ZoMKwyys5s-dy40le90-YV8/s320/bday2020.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><i>Birthday 2020...and pretty much how the rest of 2020 looked from Zoom.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ZT8XP_LqBO22-_wtUZQjfU2R6bGj6n5WBlVBKm7JFodK-teYuLEZGe1sAm6XQxOyEisQ_Wgw6NnyNROOgo9YmRZ40F4TOEzVBbwDztqfba2cpPKnoP9MSdWUH_mxGa03SzFKaNksKuc/s960/nc2020.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ZT8XP_LqBO22-_wtUZQjfU2R6bGj6n5WBlVBKm7JFodK-teYuLEZGe1sAm6XQxOyEisQ_Wgw6NnyNROOgo9YmRZ40F4TOEzVBbwDztqfba2cpPKnoP9MSdWUH_mxGa03SzFKaNksKuc/s320/nc2020.JPG" /></a></div>Finally getting to bust out of the upper room and get to the beach with a couple of friends. <br /></i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtyEmGBWgaXilMrX6OhVs5W2Vbl8cJJ71lMxPGZHyGLWANPW-KMPMi_gqwfe_uk412OelStI5LUx50uKGd38PRuFfhOymqZybdGfY6Y0jkWtfZbwYgTO8UhGivmStNz9kpgQnPi9dXN8A/s960/blm2020.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtyEmGBWgaXilMrX6OhVs5W2Vbl8cJJ71lMxPGZHyGLWANPW-KMPMi_gqwfe_uk412OelStI5LUx50uKGd38PRuFfhOymqZybdGfY6Y0jkWtfZbwYgTO8UhGivmStNz9kpgQnPi9dXN8A/s320/blm2020.JPG" /></a></div><i>Black Lives Matter protests in Richmond- summer 2020</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLh1ut9XFX3lqhDSegU5iC9XZgo02a8GLtmS2GKzo_s6UKT9wqDJCVRAGMEbZPr9Hf_botO4Z7G03zUJS4WCNxgqP9BXnVGQsHGNsEimMnZ52d5sYhT22EJmRdJJFIvqFzwgpT7oDE1b8/s960/junk2020.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLh1ut9XFX3lqhDSegU5iC9XZgo02a8GLtmS2GKzo_s6UKT9wqDJCVRAGMEbZPr9Hf_botO4Z7G03zUJS4WCNxgqP9BXnVGQsHGNsEimMnZ52d5sYhT22EJmRdJJFIvqFzwgpT7oDE1b8/s320/junk2020.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><i>Mini-road trips to DC around VA in the summer...</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxNLu7mfykRFMYN4F3eA8UETKL0lJzBhFij3GzPUjcl7lCyP5i7VXvzPWG9W7TmpHOjQAQOySE5NDJq9S11LYbs9ueMghJzunp_rp_MfhxmnAAOoRoVZo2v1-W3FK6VvpxHVM7tcZfBts/s960/LTP2020.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="816" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxNLu7mfykRFMYN4F3eA8UETKL0lJzBhFij3GzPUjcl7lCyP5i7VXvzPWG9W7TmpHOjQAQOySE5NDJq9S11LYbs9ueMghJzunp_rp_MfhxmnAAOoRoVZo2v1-W3FK6VvpxHVM7tcZfBts/s320/LTP2020.JPG" /></a></div><i>I became a part of so many projects! Virtual Retreats for Liturgy Training Publications and starting my own podcast to name two!</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGL8qMgD27M73OGbxmRmJFLE6HBNwUp2rbOwCEygiGprL-dtpI8NaGlA1QimymzzZeIyqXj0ddSzTYo7W3wrpVDFT6al3oKWiNUnC8EIfiyxHpiMdTKQ8mG8cv_R_eADGmCzJum-ZP4jc/s960/2020.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGL8qMgD27M73OGbxmRmJFLE6HBNwUp2rbOwCEygiGprL-dtpI8NaGlA1QimymzzZeIyqXj0ddSzTYo7W3wrpVDFT6al3oKWiNUnC8EIfiyxHpiMdTKQ8mG8cv_R_eADGmCzJum-ZP4jc/s320/2020.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNVsGvHD_mC2CAEZhsK33mo49cDUMhC71-Q0znS8msen2GWvQehv4Y6a_K41g46EH0InQXggbGmbrKXN9X717SPiMxEfDbxM6RFZBGcQngmQTYzgg9KVUSz0nXzK2gjyi8D6eaRS4cjNQ/s960/apt2020.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNVsGvHD_mC2CAEZhsK33mo49cDUMhC71-Q0znS8msen2GWvQehv4Y6a_K41g46EH0InQXggbGmbrKXN9X717SPiMxEfDbxM6RFZBGcQngmQTYzgg9KVUSz0nXzK2gjyi8D6eaRS4cjNQ/s320/apt2020.JPG" /></a></div><i>Oh! And I moved to a new neighborhood and a new apt!</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMvUjxIMTXAWgxpCZ-0viJKSTRBdRFUEMW0-cIlPpvfuNsSAfEcvrALDjwScZCDUiNBayNhKdsBfiVPsN09FNCnjaxPvEgQ5T5Jc05sH2K5SXa35XS5Q-WuxUFZHM8pD9oW5CRPJxSxEU/s960/school2020.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMvUjxIMTXAWgxpCZ-0viJKSTRBdRFUEMW0-cIlPpvfuNsSAfEcvrALDjwScZCDUiNBayNhKdsBfiVPsN09FNCnjaxPvEgQ5T5Jc05sH2K5SXa35XS5Q-WuxUFZHM8pD9oW5CRPJxSxEU/s320/school2020.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><i>Going back to school in person and more local getaways distanced with friends. </i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAVEujGzTaIiCsJ-FRCJF-8pa-jxh1I9D6LHSaTTPHhFJDzgemosZy36ciiCvSnVppKVOMJkLnpxBYqUxaueccBOa8o3C1X1dYUkoMvbTLeiElb33tGu3hUu_33cUF_NEBF6SRlsGJtIA/s960/va2020.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAVEujGzTaIiCsJ-FRCJF-8pa-jxh1I9D6LHSaTTPHhFJDzgemosZy36ciiCvSnVppKVOMJkLnpxBYqUxaueccBOa8o3C1X1dYUkoMvbTLeiElb33tGu3hUu_33cUF_NEBF6SRlsGJtIA/s320/va2020.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQceM8ubyox5e3H6zb5c_ofFas9d8vQMt7xLmlZG0ushCqoTbg6cjV1fLdGo7PErrq_jvPMNSO0AdGx9nh_vk02lwEOWMKluEwS9fE9eLTGmFP3fj0EDe5ZPdvsa3DuZNQ5Lm5RLy4IY4/s1440/friends2020.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1197" data-original-width="1440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQceM8ubyox5e3H6zb5c_ofFas9d8vQMt7xLmlZG0ushCqoTbg6cjV1fLdGo7PErrq_jvPMNSO0AdGx9nh_vk02lwEOWMKluEwS9fE9eLTGmFP3fj0EDe5ZPdvsa3DuZNQ5Lm5RLy4IY4/s320/friends2020.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMxCEQ4E_HAzcOKxgdCeXdxFoW4Us__uGRnDp73CWWyRn1QgfPIB2vhFtTcA8RlzOM8nrR0FmBFLSqSDA9mrECu4GqvYvip2h8LhNUZgBpuZArK1JUQdjZ6kdvrkDFNXO2jqN7l59ie_M/s960/halloween2020.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMxCEQ4E_HAzcOKxgdCeXdxFoW4Us__uGRnDp73CWWyRn1QgfPIB2vhFtTcA8RlzOM8nrR0FmBFLSqSDA9mrECu4GqvYvip2h8LhNUZgBpuZArK1JUQdjZ6kdvrkDFNXO2jqN7l59ie_M/s320/halloween2020.JPG" /></a></div><i>Halloween was much smaller this year, but still fun with some of my core people...and we didn't get to celebrate my dad's 70th as we had originally planned, but I still got to drive to Ohio to be with family.<br /></i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE-cKYPGeUO1zUA6j-cfzZqFEzSA4vbuoptE7owaU99-QKuvLUuGHK13fx934b9eht9DSdzYHQMkeIO6qPDdzSny1I7Uqw6ZukNUZ50Fd88JnB8tq6x1zwKofl01oB-xxFP1BayDQPNVg/s640/family2020.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="548" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE-cKYPGeUO1zUA6j-cfzZqFEzSA4vbuoptE7owaU99-QKuvLUuGHK13fx934b9eht9DSdzYHQMkeIO6qPDdzSny1I7Uqw6ZukNUZ50Fd88JnB8tq6x1zwKofl01oB-xxFP1BayDQPNVg/s320/family2020.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Oh, and we got a new president after a historic election!</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgydL7M1uIV80Lg50gh9hHkmoB88ZzcG2f7D1V8GyCR3IQnSUlQDmNE32JkqUDrd1beqkFCJBWxQb9Qg5diPoZO9igIEv3Fx6-xmzO5fKZpdp7FI2-xbQqay7MEzjQeIaJCoS71cu_Ou-o/s960/dc2020.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgydL7M1uIV80Lg50gh9hHkmoB88ZzcG2f7D1V8GyCR3IQnSUlQDmNE32JkqUDrd1beqkFCJBWxQb9Qg5diPoZO9igIEv3Fx6-xmzO5fKZpdp7FI2-xbQqay7MEzjQeIaJCoS71cu_Ou-o/s320/dc2020.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div>Honestly, the year was strange and isolating at times, of course, but a lot of good things were produced as well. I know that we have all experienced this year differently and I continue to pray for our health and our country. This year was a lot, but we learned and grew a lot. I've learned more than ever that we can only plan so much. I have no idea what to expect in 2021, but I hope to continue a lot of the growth that was started this year. <div><br /></div><div>Peace,</div><div>Julia<br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div>Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06098852834050397406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1055688385421362242.post-28873693838069013302020-10-03T09:02:00.000-04:002020-10-03T09:02:03.901-04:00Fall 2020 Check In- Neediness and The Little Way- Also, Quarantine Week #30?!<p> It has been a minute since I have written. As I've summarized previously, the first couple of months of this year were "normal". I was out and about with friends and family, visiting galleries, flying on planes, going to bars and restaurants. </p><p>Then the shutdown happened. From March until about July, I was trying to find things to do with my time at home. I tried to visit outdoor spaces, have small outdoor gatherings with friends, and find new and old hobbies like podcasting, blogging, using virtual and social media to catechize and connect with others...I even made some more art. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlvXg6yfKfG9uK9aUrxXmUpDlbri41mIEqIEnLqWgovFIh4NWGhXOHhC2ABk41BLXX4HxaPMoyE5RfXHRDjWgDI8yABqXXxeVT7_vpKflMqy8paGIgNKaYlNq03_4O4GQib3C2GPkI-sQ/s960/art2020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlvXg6yfKfG9uK9aUrxXmUpDlbri41mIEqIEnLqWgovFIh4NWGhXOHhC2ABk41BLXX4HxaPMoyE5RfXHRDjWgDI8yABqXXxeVT7_vpKflMqy8paGIgNKaYlNq03_4O4GQib3C2GPkI-sQ/s320/art2020.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh42Y7k2p5kPYHppmXEiUQHVaST8ERCY3Npd1sc3sVR0yFyXoAWqVcHv6KoTbWgjFprUbcB2IxCWvaWIqxJXZO9qQ3_YrgyCGS-Rylqkp9VzpD38xw1bAUFlhf4ALq7ycLHM2kcLvBMAPw/s960/art3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh42Y7k2p5kPYHppmXEiUQHVaST8ERCY3Npd1sc3sVR0yFyXoAWqVcHv6KoTbWgjFprUbcB2IxCWvaWIqxJXZO9qQ3_YrgyCGS-Rylqkp9VzpD38xw1bAUFlhf4ALq7ycLHM2kcLvBMAPw/s320/art3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnDIjBgB88VGFOT9r9T_sH21dmpx8YlJ9FP-xVBHMf6f3omI9bIjRcvm85VQQpXgtR1QXbw8yw5hsgmERt-K1dzxAheNgJ_w5vMAfnWbDUGzpNRBskDm5L8sh5BG9vjqeVtAaBzpZttyI/s960/art2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="780" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnDIjBgB88VGFOT9r9T_sH21dmpx8YlJ9FP-xVBHMf6f3omI9bIjRcvm85VQQpXgtR1QXbw8yw5hsgmERt-K1dzxAheNgJ_w5vMAfnWbDUGzpNRBskDm5L8sh5BG9vjqeVtAaBzpZttyI/s320/art2.jpg" /></a></div><i>Here is some of the weird art I made during quarantine. I took a virtual class and we used modern artists to take inspiration from - my attempts at Picasso, Kusama, and Kehinde Wiley above. They aren't great, but it was therapeutic to connect with a class I used to take in Arlington virtually.</i><div><i><br /></i></div><div>Then August came and it was time to head back to school. I had reservations and Teacher Work Week this year was unlike any I had experienced in my 11 years of teaching. Though, by the end of the week, I grew more confident in my school's plan to re-open and it was good to be surrounded by my colleagues again. </div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>September seemed to fly by, though I began to see the fruits of some of my labor. The podcast I had started in July was in full swing. I started to feel almost "normal" again. Even though teaching and gatherings<i> </i>looked different with masks and distancing, I almost started to feel like myself again.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZywKx4EW9HphRM5BQD8A0dGDvFUZ3KUxk6riW8jtLxREX2K-uFE5GStrAEl1cFbwgIetDQkkD2__pQ2mAF36NdhnetK2wM0vqTWrYMhAtgi9BSvYyqCEv0R2I4GLCrkXbn1tmWM5KiDM/s1440/AUG2020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1127" data-original-width="1440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZywKx4EW9HphRM5BQD8A0dGDvFUZ3KUxk6riW8jtLxREX2K-uFE5GStrAEl1cFbwgIetDQkkD2__pQ2mAF36NdhnetK2wM0vqTWrYMhAtgi9BSvYyqCEv0R2I4GLCrkXbn1tmWM5KiDM/s320/AUG2020.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>Setting up my distanced classroom.</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoLQUVwcFxS3E6Jr0-tzDsyskN46JtTPhyphenhyphenDfGarsoLHAmRVOBf_6ti86heM4HzMSdELI0cBYinjuTiIJZzRabx1oX-oMQeaY0IDmt4YBHH7phGKZrNkAdOcunA7O3MdpMhNtD5lylvQuM/s960/friends2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoLQUVwcFxS3E6Jr0-tzDsyskN46JtTPhyphenhyphenDfGarsoLHAmRVOBf_6ti86heM4HzMSdELI0cBYinjuTiIJZzRabx1oX-oMQeaY0IDmt4YBHH7phGKZrNkAdOcunA7O3MdpMhNtD5lylvQuM/s320/friends2.jpg" /></a></div><i>Exploring an outdoor art installation. </i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjTIgKnqJNuxG3jAak6IhyilKgavJBcVfmZYW0hapZfQLre0uaXw9gHsGiRJJfNZDjz_7yVXIYPkZtr1fBxcccguS40sogLu6Jv_IJErPvcWvpwmZURCDxrKjlOMzTTF6QLyyVUT1_0iY/s1440/friends2020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1197" data-original-width="1440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjTIgKnqJNuxG3jAak6IhyilKgavJBcVfmZYW0hapZfQLre0uaXw9gHsGiRJJfNZDjz_7yVXIYPkZtr1fBxcccguS40sogLu6Jv_IJErPvcWvpwmZURCDxrKjlOMzTTF6QLyyVUT1_0iY/s320/friends2020.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>My friend's art show opening. </i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUJKvPMAeoDGlFztec2h51GBGDIDB6wrOKNFaDm_1zz9x_e8hkPKEvQ5va82rH1RtZxWLFw6AaZSErULaIO9p7aD3Z0xbB_4UEsVZIAupIjB-8ed5gq-Bgj5dj6DRDHFOnX4HBqn0A8_E/s960/babci1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUJKvPMAeoDGlFztec2h51GBGDIDB6wrOKNFaDm_1zz9x_e8hkPKEvQ5va82rH1RtZxWLFw6AaZSErULaIO9p7aD3Z0xbB_4UEsVZIAupIjB-8ed5gq-Bgj5dj6DRDHFOnX4HBqn0A8_E/s320/babci1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><i>Making pierogies to remember a year since Babci entered eternal life.</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>Then this week hit. Just as I had started to feel normal, I was reminded this week that it is still 2020. </div><div><br /></div><div>The presidential debates were embarrassing to me. Our president who has been downplaying the virus that has been shutting our country down and killing thousands contracted it, right before the election. Heavy rains burst through Richmond and into my classroom. I came into school the day after the debates to water everywhere. I was discouraged by several other things this week at school and beyond. I was quickly humbled that things are still not "normal."</div><div><br /></div><div>I love fall, but when the days start to get shorter and the weather starts to get colder, my mind and body know that winter is coming and there is a shift. I definitely suffer from SAD- seasonal affective disorder- and it seems that every year I experience that shift. </div><div><br /></div><div>Luckily, this time of year is also the time I am reminded of God's faithfulness by a great saint. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUlU5kbu_R0JROGlHo7TZTCDX_J1KWPAAbOswqh8XOF_zk7_HA7iMwLI1Apxy8I1TivxZW70h00QJD8Qy1vzY2_uhg8xNl83ELQAAeNmFNM9Oeh4_UjgtareJn3KancwkuBn4YQN61wMU/s559/therese.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="425" data-original-width="559" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUlU5kbu_R0JROGlHo7TZTCDX_J1KWPAAbOswqh8XOF_zk7_HA7iMwLI1Apxy8I1TivxZW70h00QJD8Qy1vzY2_uhg8xNl83ELQAAeNmFNM9Oeh4_UjgtareJn3KancwkuBn4YQN61wMU/s320/therese.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><i>My girl- St. Therese of Lisieux </i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>Ever since I read her autobiography, <i>A Story of a Soul, </i>my attitude towards this saint known as The Little Flower changed. I had previously wondered how I could ever connect to a saint who died so young and knew from a young age that she wanted to serve God as a nun and who came from a whole family of holy people. </div><div><br /></div><div>In reading her autobiography, however, I related to Therese's openness about her selfishness and being spoiled as a child. She recognized her neediness and turned it into generosity. </div><div><br /></div><div>During this week, when my neediness started to seep in, I was glad to have the reminder of this saint's Little Way. She committed to doing small things to step outside of herself- to be kinder to those in her convent that weren't kind to her. Her attitude of humility was exactly what I needed during a time when I start to turn inwards on myself because of the weather, because of the cultural climate, because of whatever this time of year tends to bring for me. </div><div><br /></div><div>St. Therese is also said to show signs of flowers or roses for answered prayers. I have documented in blogs past the signs that she has given to me. I always tell my students about the novena that I pray to her and they want to know if I've received a flower from her. </div><div><br /></div><div>I have yet to receive my flower this year, but on her feast day- Oct. 1- I went for a much needed walk to get out of my head and I felt her and God's presence with me. There weren't signs of flowers, but the sky was unique to me that night- with the clouds looking like mountains- and I felt like Therese would find some kind of analogy for mountains in the clouds as a way to draw us closer to God. </div><div><br /></div><div>I feel a little calmer today as I continue to battle my self-centeredness with gratitude. It seems small, but that was what St. Therese was about- finding the little, small things as a way to unity with God. I was also struck by the readings for today, too. The Old Testament readings this week have all been from Job (and we all know how things went for him, yet he remained faithful to God) and Psalm 119 really got me today. The whole thing struck a chord with me, but this line in particular:</div><div><br /></div><div><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #363936; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;">"It is good for me that I have been afflicted,</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #363936; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #363936; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;">that I may learn your statutes."- Psalm 119: 71</span></i></div><div><br /></div><div>I want to be clear- I know that I have not been that afflicted. My afflictions are very small compared to others. St. Therese reminds me of my littleness and to take gratitude as the antidote to any sadness that I may have. </div><div><br /></div><div>I am grateful for the health of myself and those close to me. I am grateful for a job I love. I am grateful for shelter. I am grateful to be able to live a comfortable life. I am grateful to have people who love and care for me. I am grateful to be able to share gifts and time with others. </div><div><br /></div><div>As we enter into this time of short days and harvest, our thoughts can shift to what is dying or disappearing, but it also is a time to reap from our labor of the summer, and I do feel that, too. </div><div><br /></div><div>I have to continue to be hopeful and grateful. It is the only way- The Little Way. </div><div><br /></div><div>I hope that you all continue to stay safe and healthy and may you reap the fruits of your harvest as well.</div><div>Peace,</div><div>Julia</div><div><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #363936; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"><br /></span></i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i><br /></i><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i><br /></i><div><p><br /></p></div></div></div>Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06098852834050397406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1055688385421362242.post-71561717271565024402020-07-30T09:17:00.001-04:002020-07-30T09:17:01.916-04:00New Podcast! Introducing "Seven Mile Chats"Since quarantine and COVID are not showing any signs of letting up any time soon, I started to think about what else I might be able to do to connect with others and share faith during this time. I really enjoyed working with a friend on his podcast earlier this year and wondered if that might be something that I could do myself. My friends were all super supportive and have helped me to put together this new podcast. Introducing...Seven Mile Chats!<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj49NEM14CeNaDlkf-4Uc24FEq9xTtPNHdKrv-tkHiHRjpwtHFQUCLLlRBs3szN6S4mp-FQL6uZvdja3-tVK2lmC4rQQf2JKlMgjFqQUxZNZH4jiQvAppNh1QGGjYSPxwr6a9MCIXGQaOw/s1074/IMG_5147.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1074" data-original-width="750" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj49NEM14CeNaDlkf-4Uc24FEq9xTtPNHdKrv-tkHiHRjpwtHFQUCLLlRBs3szN6S4mp-FQL6uZvdja3-tVK2lmC4rQQf2JKlMgjFqQUxZNZH4jiQvAppNh1QGGjYSPxwr6a9MCIXGQaOw/s320/IMG_5147.jpg" /></a></div><div>I am really excited about this project because I get to talk about something that I love and know a little bit about- Scripture- and I get to do it with friends. I want to say thanks to everyone who encouraged me and helped me to put this together whether that be as a guest, creating the artwork, or giving me tips and insight on how to do this. </div><div><br /></div><div>The introductory teaser episode is out today with official episodes to drop each week. Subscribe on iTunes and Spotify! And let me know if you would like to be a guest and talk Scripture with me. </div><div><br /></div><div>Peace,</div><div>Julia</div>Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06098852834050397406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1055688385421362242.post-38503078141380889032020-07-14T12:18:00.000-04:002020-07-23T09:29:20.530-04:00Mid-Summer, Mid 2020 Check-In<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Well, June turned out to be quite a strange frenzy of a month, but perhaps the month that we needed. Today's post is really just for me to document kind of where I'm at with this very chaotic year.<br />
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2020 started out "normal". It was winter, though not quite the severe winter that we usually would have. I don't think that we had any snow in Richmond which is actually a little abnormal, but I was doing what I do: teaching, hanging out with friends, going to art shows, bars, gatherings, events. I even took a couple of flights in February and early March to hang out with friends and family.<br />
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As we all know, in mid-March, immediately after I returned from my last flight, it was time to quarantine. I recently looked back at my old posts and journals and found that even though we were in this time of quarantine, it hadn't really sunk in as to what that meant yet. We had been told we only would be out of school for two weeks. I even still went to a couple of friends' houses those two weeks in March (albeit they were small, outside gatherings). But once March 31st hit and it was known that we wouldn't be returning to school that year, the reality of what we were facing started to sink in.<br />
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April was full on lock-down as it was the month where we saw the most spikes and peaks of the virus. My conference in Baltimore was canceled. My trip to Ohio for Easter was canceled. Holy Week and Easter were streamed from my computer in my apartment. My birthday was a Zoom party and any social gatherings were also on Zoom. I truly didn't leave my apartment except for groceries and exercise (and once to see the new apartment I was eyeing) during the entire month and first half of May.<br />
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May was still pretty much lock down as Richmond didn't open anything back up until the very end of the month. And on Memorial Day this year, George Floyd was murdered. Richmond opened just in time for our streets to be flooded with protesters and for us to face the realities of our centuries of oppression over black lives.<br />
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June was a frenzy of a month. Now that things were starting to re-open simultaneously with protests, I had some choices to make. I chose to go to the Outer Banks in NC with my friend's family for the first week of June. It ended up being the right choice for me at the time. Not many people were at the beach yet, and we stayed quarantined in the house we rented for the entire week. I came back to Richmond refreshed after two months of being holed up in my apartment alone.<br />
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June also saw the re-opening of Church for me and I was able to start attending Mass in person again and even getting hired to play piano for some Masses and make the money I wasn't able to make when quarantined. Of course things weren't back to "normal". Mass looks different now. We register before we attend. We wait in line to go in and wear masks We are asked questions about our health and then are sat six feet from each other in roped off pews. It isn't "normal" but it has become, as we have all heard and said, "the new normal".<br />
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Throughout June, I started to see friends- again in small groups, mostly outdoors. I started to take little mini-trips around DC and VA to outdoor things as most indoor activities were still closed. I started to make a list of State Parks to visit and visited a few of those parks. I blogged A LOT in June as there was a lot to think about. I started to reach out to friends and Catholic organizations and think about what I could do to keep myself busy in case we don't go back to school.<br />
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And that brings me to July. Museums have opened back up, which are my happy place, so I went to quite a few this past first week in July. June and July also saw my first restaurant experiences. I have been to two or three outside and two inside. I can still count on one hand the establishments I've been to, and I want to keep it that way. As much as I have been appreciative to go and do some of the things I enjoyed doing before all of this, I don't want us to rush to do and open all of the things too soon. Yes, it has been four months so far in these various stages of quarantine. Yes, I want to go back to school. But I don't want us to if we aren't ready and if we continue to run around and do all of the things, we won't be ready. It won't be worth the risk. Cases of COVID are continuing to appear and while VA numbers are staying relatively low, they aren't disappearing. In other states that have reopened, the numbers of cases are going back up.<br />
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I need to keep reminding myself that we are still in quarantine. So this month, I am going to travel a little bit- to see my friend in Philly and my family in Ohio- but the weeks in between those things, I'm staying in my apartment and quarantining still. So, I'm still looking for and working on projects, blogging, maybe starting a podcast? Who knows. I'm also starting to think about what I will need to do to my lesson plans depending on what school will look like in August. I'm bracing for all possibilities and it is a little overwhelming.<br />
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But the constant in ALL of this is God's hand and prayer. Quarantine has been a time for me to reflect, for better or for worse, and have consistent prayer time each day. It's been a time for me to have to reach out to others in different ways. And I know that God has His hand in the movements in our country, the shaking up of our systems, and the reckoning we are having with our culture right now. 2020 has been weird and hard. In some ways, it has gone by really quickly. I don't know what the second half of 2020 will bring, but I think we are seeing the possibilities and I hope that we do what is right and take care of ourselves and one another.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLAEnLB_YISyrXVzIRVQLdy58bCURWiJTXN-6eku_VlgQpgy23bHzrDXmzKSZYrzx8j5ayG2I3GVAgXINeNNYxp2H4cC5SFHsJtd0D1FmIBssQ_3o1hBRoqlFYBpdaCZbFYACZAcOcmNE/s1600/st.+kateri.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLAEnLB_YISyrXVzIRVQLdy58bCURWiJTXN-6eku_VlgQpgy23bHzrDXmzKSZYrzx8j5ayG2I3GVAgXINeNNYxp2H4cC5SFHsJtd0D1FmIBssQ_3o1hBRoqlFYBpdaCZbFYACZAcOcmNE/s320/st.+kateri.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Today is the feast of St. Kateri Tekakwitha- the first Native American saint. Her story is complicated, much like our country's history. But we know that she had a heart for God and people which is what made her a saint. St. Kateri Tekakwitha, pray for your Church and your country. We need you and your prayers right now!<br />
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Stay safe, everyone. But know that we've got this if we work together and do what is best for the common good: wearing masks, staying in as much as we can, supporting black lives and lifting up our voices for those in need.<br />
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Peace,<br />
Julia</div>
Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06098852834050397406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1055688385421362242.post-82180642910600764702020-06-24T10:42:00.001-04:002020-06-24T10:42:08.140-04:00Shout-out to St. John the Baptist<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #01004e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">A few of our saints in the Catholic Church get more than one feast day to recognize and honor them. Obviously, Mary, the Mother of Jesus has numerous feast days throughout the year. My favorite saint, St. Paul, has at least two that I can think of. Today's saint- St. John the Baptist- also has at least two days to honor him: one to commemorate his birth and the other to honor his martyrdom.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #01004e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #01004e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #01004e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Today, we remember the birth of St. John the Baptist which is actually remembered and recorded in the Gospel of Luke. All of the Gospel writers include John the Baptist insomuch as they mention that he baptized Jesus. However, Luke gives a background to the announcement of his birth and even parallels the announcement of John with the announcement of Jesus. Luke also includes the birth and naming of John which</span><a href="http://www.usccb.org/bible/luke/1:57" style="background-color: white; color: #3a4db5; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-line: none;"> is the Gospel for today (Luke 1:57-80</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #01004e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">) John the Apostle (not to be confused with today's John, John the Baptist) includes an amazing soliloquy of sorts from John:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 16px;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/null" name="51003025" style="border: 0px; color: #3a4db5; font-family: georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-stretch: normal; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">"Now a dispute arose between the disciples of John and a Jew</a><i style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif;"> about ceremonial washings. </i></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/null" name="51003026" style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;"><span class="bcv" style="border: 0px; display: inline; font-family: "arial important"; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: bold; left: -40px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: center; top: 19px; width: 25px;"><i style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; text-align: left;"></i></span></a><i style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/null" name="51003026" style="border: 0px; color: #3a4db5; font-family: georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">So they came to John and said to him, 'Rabbi, the one who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you testified, here he is baptizing and everyone is coming to him.'</a></i></div>
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<i style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/null" name="51003027" style="border: 0px; color: #3a4db5; font-family: georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">John answered and said, 'No one can receive anything except what has been given him from heaven.<b> </b></a></i><i style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/null" name="51003028" style="border: 0px; color: #3a4db5; font-family: georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">You yourselves can testify that I said [that] I am not the Messiah, but that I was sent before him.<b> </b></a></i><i style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/null" name="51003029" style="border: 0px; color: #3a4db5; font-family: georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">The one who has the bride is the bridegroom; the best man,</a> who stands and listens to him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. So this joy of mine has been made complete.<b> </b></i><i style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/null" name="51003030" style="border: 0px; color: #3a4db5; font-family: georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">He must increase; I must decrease.</a></i></div>
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<i style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/null" name="51003031" style="border: 0px; color: #3a4db5; font-family: georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;"><br /></a></i></div>
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<i style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/null" name="51003031" style="border: 0px; color: #3a4db5; font-family: georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">The one who comes from above is above all. The one who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of earthly things. But the one who comes from heaven [is above all].<b> </b></a></i><i style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/null" name="51003032" style="border: 0px; color: #3a4db5; font-family: georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony.<b> </b></a></i><i style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/null" name="51003033" style="border: 0px; color: #3a4db5; font-family: georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">Whoever does accept his testimony certifies that God is trustworthy.<b> </b></a></i><i style="font-size: 16px;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/null" name="51003034" style="border: 0px; color: #3a4db5; font-family: georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">For the one whom God sent speaks the words of God. He does not ration his gift</a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/null" name="51003034" style="border: 0px; color: #3a4db5; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #008061; font-family: arial;"> </span></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", times, serif;">of the Spirit. </span></i><a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/null" name="51003036" style="border: 0px; color: #3a4db5; font-family: georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;"><i style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif;"></i></a><i style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/null" name="51003035" style="border: 0px; color: #3a4db5; font-family: georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">The Father loves the Son and has given everything over to him. </a></i><a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/null" name="51003036" style="border: 0px; color: #3a4db5; font-family: georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;"><i>Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains upon him." - John 3: 25-34</i></a></div>
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This passage from John's Gospel is beautiful to me because it really shows John the Baptist's character. He was a humble guy. He was a New Testament prophet in a time that didn't really have a lot of prophets. He bridged the prophets of the Old to Christ Himself. The prophets in the Old Testament were also strange characters and misunderstood. Many of them were outcast because of the messages that they were given to proclaim. We see John <a href="http://www.usccb.org/bible/matthew/3" style="color: #3a4db5; text-decoration-line: none;">described in the Gospels as living in the desert, wearing camelhair, and eating locusts</a>. But he wasn't so weird that people didn't come to him. John the Baptist had a following of his own before Jesus (at age 30) decided it was time to begin His Ministry. We always describe John the Baptist as the kind of precursor to Jesus. Again, he was the one who continued the ministry of the prophets of old, telling people to get ready for the Messiah, and then actually ended up baptizing the Messiah Himself. </div>
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St. John the Baptist could've made his own little following about himself instead of about Christ, but he was always focused on the one to come- the Messiah. John is such an important character because of these things- his humility, his connection to God and the prophets, as well as being the cousin of Christ Himself! And he was proclaiming the Gospel- the Good News of Jesus- before that was even a thing. It isn't until after Christ's Death and Resurrection that we see the women coming from the tomb to proclaim the Good News about Christ the Messiah. And it isn't even until after Pentecost and receiving the Holy Spirit that the other apostles get in on that. St. John the Baptist had the Holy Spirit in a way before any of the other disciples knew what that was. He was the O.G. of disciples. A total hippie/hipster, doing things his own way before it was "cool". </div>
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Perhaps this is why I am drawn to St. John the Baptist- not because I am so humble or cool- but because I admire someone who is a trailblazer and does his or her own thing and goes his or her own way. He still had a purpose and a "cause" though, and that sole purpose was always to point the way to Jesus. In the discourse from John above, St. John says his famous quote: "He must increase, I must decrease" when talking about himself and Jesus. That is a motto that is always a humble reminder of what ministry is about. </div>
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In this time of quarantine and the Black Lives Matter movement, we need modern day St. John the Baptists. We need trailblazers who are pointing the way to truth. We need leaders who are proclaiming what is true not for their own sake, but for the sake of the greater good. St. John is described in the Gospels as "a voice crying out in the desert". There are voices crying out in our "desert" today. Will we listen to their truth? Or discard them as St. John the Baptist and the prophets before him were disregarded?</div>
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When I was in Israel last year, we got to visit the Church of the Visitation- aka the home of St. John the Baptist as a child. We got to see the marker designated as the place of his birth. Earlier that day, we had visited Bethlehem- the place of Jesus' birth. It was very moving and powerful to have our day bookend-ed by these two very powerful, very connected births- the Messiah's and the one who went out before him to prepare his way. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinqYT_Tcp2J16q1FEmsKyntGkLD8Ik75N7D66MO5I4jI5lqasPMx2cw-T3lXccPogNVgeNm3SKuEKzZCUo_K_7xWxfoNBuQja1Vl6L9my3afTz2OvxeJ5A50VXPl8UcChDsgSICg5aKlA/s1600/IMG_4214.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: #3a4db5; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinqYT_Tcp2J16q1FEmsKyntGkLD8Ik75N7D66MO5I4jI5lqasPMx2cw-T3lXccPogNVgeNm3SKuEKzZCUo_K_7xWxfoNBuQja1Vl6L9my3afTz2OvxeJ5A50VXPl8UcChDsgSICg5aKlA/s320/IMG_4214.JPG" style="background: transparent; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #01004e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #01004e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">marker in the Church of the Visitation designated St. John the Baptist's birth</i><br />
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<i>The Church of the Visitation in the Hill country of Judah, Israel.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ9M-k3eSpDvnQI0ds8xUmbcIVMQ7QKPitmuvLfyqgW2j_klEer9ewRrfItjBHWrV1CUiIcmTVMeSyKEv7TUo5FEVt0pdL2GJ4YSxYREie1bmyujrE2AQxPs142NJiAJoctbyf9p8i3T8/s1600/IMG_4216.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: #3a4db5; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ9M-k3eSpDvnQI0ds8xUmbcIVMQ7QKPitmuvLfyqgW2j_klEer9ewRrfItjBHWrV1CUiIcmTVMeSyKEv7TUo5FEVt0pdL2GJ4YSxYREie1bmyujrE2AQxPs142NJiAJoctbyf9p8i3T8/s320/IMG_4216.JPG" style="background: transparent; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>Icon of St. John the Baptist from the Church of the Visitation- love his hippie/hipster look!</i></div>
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This time of quarantine may be a little like St. John's "desert"- a time when we are preparing for something greater to come. St. John the Baptist can be our guide as we navigate through this unprecedented time. May we be humble and ready for when Truth does appear. And may we lead others to Truth, not for our own sake, but for the sake of the greater Good. </div>
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St. John the Baptist, pray for us. </div>
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Peace,</div>
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Julia</div>
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Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06098852834050397406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1055688385421362242.post-31120871231026071532020-06-22T19:55:00.000-04:002020-06-22T19:55:58.373-04:00Encounters With Grace<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="http://hebrews121-3.blogspot.com/2020/06/we-are-body-of-christ.html">In my last post,</a> I wrote about how I believe that we encountered the Body of Christ in a new way this year. Instead of the Eucharistic Processions that we are maybe used to seeing on the feast of Corpus Christi- with the Body of Christ in a monstrance paraded through the streets- we saw the part of the Body of Christ that is crying out for justice taking to the streets demanding to be considered an equal part of the whole Body.<br />
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Both of these types of processions are encounters. When you see Christ in a monstrance being carried through the streets, you cannot help but look at Him. It is the same when we see the people who make up the Body of Christ shouting and chanting that they are not being treated equally. You cannot help but see and hear and think about their message.<br />
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In this time of quarantine and the increased visibility of the Black Lives Matter movement, we are encountering things in a way in which we haven't before. Some of these encounters are painful because they are forcing us to look at ourselves and our country and maybe see things that we would rather not see. Or maybe this time is painful because we aren't able to truly encounter friends, family, and our environments as we once did because of the virus.<br />
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I really think a lot of what we are seeing going on in our country right now- and even in the Church- is a result of something that happened way before quarantine, however. We had stopped encountering one another in a sense. Even before quarantine, we would so often encounter one another online instead of in person. It is so much easier to choose the opposite of an opportunity for grace when leaving a comment on someone's Facebook page than we speaking with them face to face. Even working at a Catholic School where our students are given opportunities to experience Christ in the sacraments and in prayer, even there, opportunities for grace can go unused. Whether it be a misunderstanding with a parent, or teachers not communicating as we should when we encounter one another, opportunities and encounters for grace can pass us by. These are just two very simple examples from my every day life before we as a country started to look at much larger pandemics- both scientific and social.<br />
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Grace is what the Church teaches is the free gift that we are given to help us with sin. When we as Catholics receive the Body of Christ in the Eucharist, we believe that we are receiving Christ Himself. And with His presence, He gives us grace- which is a type of strength to help us live our lives in a more holy way. We believe in "actual grace", too, which is a free gift for everyone. Grace helps us to draw closer to God and what is good and true.<br />
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I think one of our issues just as humans in general is that we constantly want to focus on that encounter with sin, and not so much leave room for the encounter of grace. We do this with ourselves by maybe just focusing on the things that we do wrong, and not being gentle with ourselves and forgiving ourselves when we make a mistake. I know as a perfectionist, I struggled with this for years, personally. I had to start giving myself space to mess up, accept it, and not focus so much on the negative that I thought I had done.<br />
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We also do this with people we don't agree with- we focus on the sin, rather than the opportunity for change. I again see this online and in my school, and now we see it on a much larger stage with the conversations that we are having surrounding the issues in our country. These conversations CAN and should be opportunities of grace- freedom from our sin. Protests are calling attention to a gravely wrong sin that we have accepted for so long- racism. But in order for grace to come from this moment, we have to do as Christ did. We have to encounter. We have to engage.<br />
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One of my favorite Church documents is <a href="http://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/how-we-teach/catechesis/adult-faith-formation/our-hearts.cfm">Our Hearts Were Burning Within Us</a> which was a document that bishops came out with over twenty years ago to help adults encounter their faith more. It takes the Scripture story of the Road to Emmaus from Luke's Gospel and essentially breaks down what happened in that story and applies it to how we are to encounter our faith. Namely, that we encounter Christ in the following things: conversation and in breaking bread as the two in that story did (If you aren't familiar with the Road to Emmaus story, <a href="http://www.usccb.org/bible/luke/24">here it is</a>. Scroll down to verse 13).<br />
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<i>Image: Gang nacn Emmaus by Robert Zund, 1877</i><br />
<i><br /></i>The men in that story have a conversation about the events that happened to Jesus. They are physically talking to Jesus, so they are praying in a sense. They then gather for a meal and receive the sacramental grace of breaking bread with Jesus. It is for us too, then, that our faith will grow if we are talking to God in prayer, conversing with one another, and sitting down together in community and in sacraments.<br />
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In this time of quarantine, some of these things are hard. We can't all sit together right now. Some of us still can't go to Mass and receive the sacraments. But we can pray and then let that prayer spark conversations with others. And if we are in a phase of quarantine that allows us to go out and have a conversation with someone- whether that be an elected official, a protest, or someone that maybe we disagree with or need to reconcile with- then we should. These are how moments of grace can happen. We need to encounter people and engage, but then allow them room for change. Grace is a free gift, but it requires openness. Grace has to be given freely and freely received.<br />
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It may seem to some that Black Lives Matters protesters are being forceful with their message right now and not leaving an opportunity for grace or change, but I don't think that is true. Because of the force that was and is used on African Americans for centuries, they are being forceful with their message, but what I see is a call to engage and encounter. Protesters are not forcing us to do something- we still have the freedom to choose to engage with their message or not (and this is part of privilege). African Americans have not had the freedom to choose in the past and because of this, our systems are still set up so that they do not have the same privileges and freedoms as others.<br />
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If I think about what Christ would do and where He would be if still physically walking the earth today, I believe that He would absolutely be down in the crowds speaking with others, trying to bring healing to those who are hurting, trying to bring about understanding and change. Wasn't He always doing that in the Scriptures? He is always depicted preaching in crowds, walking among the people and engaging with them, whether that person be a leper, a tax collector, a woman, a foreigner...anyone considered an outcast. Christ is still present among us...but through US. We need to be His hands and feet. We need to encounter and engage.<br />
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Juneteenth- a holiday that has long been celebrated by African Americans, but just recently started to get the recognition it deserved- happened to be the Feast of the Sacred Heart this year. The date of this feast varies depending on when Easter and Pentecost happen, but I think it is fitting that on a day when we finally are talking about Civil Rights and significant African American history, we also celebrate Christ's burning love for us. This feast day reminds us that we are all called to encounter Christ's Sacred Heart. By engaging with one another, we can encounter grace- a help for our sin. And this will ultimately draw us closer to His Sacred Heart and one another.<br />
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The stage has been set. The conversations are happening. The question remains:<br />
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How will we encounter that grace today?<br />
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Peace,<br />
Julia</div>
Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06098852834050397406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1055688385421362242.post-28136275073985159282020-06-14T12:32:00.001-04:002020-06-18T13:47:35.917-04:00We are the Body of Christ<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Corpus Christi is one of my favorite feast days. I have documented it well on this blog, just like my love of Pentecost. Also similar to my experience with Pentecost, I first really witnessed the feast of Corpus Christi when I went on school mission trips to Guatemala in 2001 and 2002.<br />
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<i>Picture of Corpus Christi Procession, San Lucas Toliman, Guatemala, 2002.</i><br />
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I had never seen a Eucharistic procession before this time in my life. I had been to Eucharistic Adoration, but not seen the Eucharist processed through the streets as some communities do all around the world. I have since then traveled to many places around the world and seen Corpus Christi celebrated in a way that I, personally, wish that we would do more of in the States.<br />
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In Guatemala, each family created altars and shrines to the Blessed Mother and the Blessed Sacrament in their homes. The priest would then bring the Eucharist through the streets and into their homes to bless their house and visit their shrines. We followed the Eucharist into each person's space and said prayers for and with them.<br />
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Because of our current time of quarantine, it is hard to picture something like this happening right now. It is hard to picture people in large groups going with each other into a small space like someone's home. We are being socially distanced in our Churches now and, even in these larger spaces, it is still challenging for us to pray together. But Eucharist is still happening. Eucharist, in many ways, may not look like what it did before COVID-19 hit, but we are gathering as a body as best as we can and we are finding new ways to be the Body of Christ.<br />
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Similarly, during this time in which our country is once again discussing the need for systemic change in our country's many structures, I am wondering if these protests are not, in a way, a form of Eucharistic Processions in our time? Follow me here. We have had many processions through the streets recently where I live here in Richmond. People have organized and brought their voices and instruments to the streets to call attention to black lives and the need for change in our country regarding everything from monuments to white men who fought to keep black people enslaved, to dismantling the systems we have in place that still ultimately oppress people of color. Are these protests not still processions of the Body of Christ?<br />
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<i>Image taken from NBC News.com- Protest in front of Robert E. Lee Statue, Richmond VA, 2020</i><br />
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As the priest at the Mass that I went to today reminded us, WE are the Body of Christ. We sing songs in Mass about being the Body of Christ, but what does it really mean to be it? I think we are seeing what it means in very real ways today.<br />
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While Christ as the head is perfect, the body is not. The body of Christ can be broken and is certainly suffering right now, but that does not make it less of the body. In a Eucharistic procession, the priest and the people draw the community to Christ. With the Body of Christ literally in the monstrance, we ask the community to receive Christ and our message that He is with us. I know that the protests have not done this in the same way, but have they not drawn attention to their message and the suffering parts of the body?<br />
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The Body of Christ is not always pretty. When Christ was bleeding on that Cross, after enduring beatings and scourging, it may have been easier for some people to look away from His Body. The Body of Christ right now is literally and figuratively bleeding. Are we going to help it? Contemplate it? Take care of it? Do what we can to engage with it? Receive it? Or are we going to look away?<br />
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St. Paul says:<br />
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<i>"But God has so constructed the body as to give greater honor to a part that is without it,</i><br />
<i>so that there may be no division in the body, but that the parts may have the same concern for one another. </i><i>If [one] part suffers, all the parts suffer with it; if one part is honored, all the parts share its joy."- 1 Corinthians 12: 24-26</i><br />
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I pray that our Church and its members may not look away from the parts of the body that are suffering right now. They are literally calling out to us and processing in the streets. I know personally that it is much easier not to engage in that hard conversation with that person that may not agree with me. I have deleted my own share of posts or comments on social media rather than engage that person in conversation. But am I lifting up the Body of Christ if I don't have that conversation or am I looking away from it?<br />
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When I think about Christ and His ministry, He went to all of the broken parts of the Body: the poor, the prostitute, the tax collector and engaged with them. He said things like: "take me to your house for dinner!" "Come down from that tree!" "Go, and rejoice, your faith has saved you!" We need to be Christ on earth and engage in these times with the people we may have rather looked away from. It is one way that we can uphold and help the Body of Christ right now. We should see the Body processing in the streets and receive the message that it has for us so that we can then better engage with that part and bring it to Christ, the Head.<br />
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Happy Feast of Corpus Christi.<br />
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Peace,<br />
Julia<br />
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Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06098852834050397406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1055688385421362242.post-17232737873682141342020-06-07T10:21:00.004-04:002020-06-18T13:51:54.362-04:00Black Lives Matter 2020 Edition<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The Holy Spirit came in with a bang.<br />
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The Holy Spirit came in a way that maybe a lot of us weren't expecting, but that was needed.<br />
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I write because it helps me process. I also write to educate when I can. I also write to document. This week has given us as a world and a country a lot to process, educate ourselves about, and I hope that we will document.<br />
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It's hard to comment on what is going on right now because 1) I am a white, privileged woman. But I have found that being silent does not help people get justice and that even if I don't think that my voice is important, there is always someone who is listening that may need to learn, not necessarily from me, but maybe from my research or someone who is smarter or more qualified than me that I can share about.<br />
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2.) We are still living in and through this time in history, so it is hard to comment on what will come of it. We have gone from global pandemic (which we are still very much in) to radical movements because three more African American lives- those of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd- were taken due to systemic racism that lies in our culture and in our policing systems.<br />
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The purpose of this blog post is to share what I can in hopes that I can maybe help someone who is struggling to understand what is happening right now. It's also my own very tiny contribution because I don't want to remain silent. I cannot possibly sum up everything that we are all feeling. I think one of the downfalls of the internet is that we want to simplify everything into one concise comment or meme and sometimes those things if done right can be effective. But racism in this country is so deeply rooted in our systems, it is going to take more than just what is happening this week, more than one blog post.<br />
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On Saturday, May 30, I was attending yet another Zoom party for a birthday of a friend. While I was online, I could hear sirens and helicopters outside of my apartment. I live in Richmond, VA, about two blocks from The Daughters of the Confederacy building and maybe half a mile from Monument Avenue which holds several monuments to white male soldiers who led the Confederacy. I texted some friends to see what was going on and was told that protesters had been organizing and mobilizing and were moving through tagging monuments and even setting The Daughters of the Confederacy building on fire.<br />
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This was the moment that I had to process and decide. The George Floyd murder had happened over Memorial Day which was back on May 25. All of that week, up until the protests, I had said nothing. Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor's deaths had actually happened before we went into shutdown and I remember hearing about them and seeing a couple of posts, but I said nothing.<br />
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With the protests happening literally two blocks away from me and helicopters flying over my head, I could not ignore or stay silent anymore. The protests forced me to look at what was going on. The protesters did tag and set fire to buildings and structures, but they did so to buildings and structures that stand for a racist ideology and our racist past. I have long agreed with taking our confederate statues and monuments down, but in the capital of the Confederacy? I never thought it would happen. I had tried to talk about the issue of taking monuments down with my students for the past couple of years, I had addressed cases like Trayvon Martin's with them, I had wept for Tamir Rice, and I tried to make a case for Colin Kaepernick with them, but other than those dialogues (which are important and I am glad that I have in my classroom), I have mainly stayed silent.<br />
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The morning after the protests, I (like many other white people of privilege, I noticed) walked over to see what had been done to the structures. I took some pictures and posted them, again, to document. And then I went to Church for the first time since the middle of March when quarantine had started.<br />
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My parish has been very organized now that Phase 1 has been implemented in Richmond. I had to sign up online to receive a "ticket" to Mass (which certainly felt weird, but I get that we need to document who is attending and make sure we stay at 50% capacity) and answer questions about my health. We waited in line to be checked in and while I was waiting in line, I heard some older white people standing behind me saying it was "such a shame" that the protesters were causing destruction to our monuments. I wanted to turn around and say something to them. But I didn't.<br />
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I could've turned around and said: "People are angry." "Those monuments stand for hate." "Destroying monuments is nothing compared to destroying lives." But I didn't.<br />
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I went into my first Mass, one that I thought was going to be a joyful end to the Easter season, with a very heavy heart. I was glad that our bishop addressed the movements happening outside our doors and we prayed. I then actually got into my car shortly after the Mass and joined my friend's family for a week in North Carolina for a beach trip. I obviously hadn't planned to leave town when all this was going on- it was the last week of school, we had been just been moved to Phase 1 of quarantine, and now my city and cities around the world were starting a movement- but I retreated. And I'm not going to fault myself for that completely because after two months of quarantine and ending the school year as I did, I believe I needed this past week for some self care. While at the beach, I took time each day to read articles, sign petitions, post on social media about what was happening in Richmond and around our country. I tried not to be silent, even though I was still removed.<br />
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Today is a new day. I am back in Richmond and about to head to Mass for the second time. I hope that today, if I hear comments in line, that I will say something. I plan on attending some of the protests that are continuing here in my city. I will continue to post and read and educate myself.<br />
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For those of you who might be wondering- why now? Well, "why not now?" And "why hasn't it happened sooner?" might be the better questions. I personally do think that the quarantine has had something to do with it. People have had time to sit and process and also to mobilize since many of us are at home. I also think that having a president who has allowed racism to come to the surface has angered people enough that people will not sit quiet anymore. Similar to the "Me Too" movement and Women's March that mobilized after we elected a president who openly said that he would sexually assault women by grabbing them and making fun of a female reporter's "bleeding", I think in a weird way, this presidency has allowed these issues emerge to the surface where we can't look away anymore. We can't say that theses issues don't exist, because they are in our faces. This is NOT a credit to him in any way, but to the people that are mobilizing and creating movements and who are not tolerating his behavior and I think that is "why now."<br />
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Also, we don't want any more black lives to be taken. Too much blood has been shed in this country due to systematic racism. If you don't understand what that means, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrHIQIO_bdQ">here is a video I thought explained it well</a>. And if you are someone who thinks we should say "All Lives Matter", here are a couple of passages in Scripture that I think point out otherwise:<br />
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- In Paul's 1st Letter to the Corinthians (chapter 12: 12-27), he says that we are all parts of the one body of Christ. But that when one of the parts of the body is hurting, the whole body suffers with it. Right now, black lives are the part of the body is hurting, so we call attention to it. We lift them up. We are still all one body, but that part needs attention and healing right now. That is what the Church's Catholic Social Teaching on Solidarity has long taught.<br />
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- The Parable of the Lost Sheep (Luke 15)- Christ is the Good Shepherd. When one of the sheep is "lost", He leaves the 99 to go and find it. Right now, we need to attend to that one part of the sheepfold and serve them and help them, just as Christ would.<br />
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- The Beatitudes (Matthew Chapter 5)- We know that all are "blessed", but Jesus calls out and separates those who are truly blessed. The poor, the mourning...aren't these the communities crying out now?<br />
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So what can we do to help? I have actually heard from people in the black community that we should not ask them what we can do right now, but rather we should research for ourselves. Read books and articles by black authors. Support black business owners. Follow black artists and advocates on social media. Listen to podcasts by black content creators. Hear their stories.<br />
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We live right now in a "cancel culture" where we hear of something that we don't agree with and we immediately want to write off that thing or person. I have struggled with this concept for the past couple of years. There are some things that absolutely need to be cancelled- things like the confederate monuments that were put up during the Jim Crow era to remind an entire demographic of people of the war and people that wanted to oppress and enslave them, for example. In the "Me Too" movement- people like Harvey Weinstein who had assaulted hundreds of women- needed to be taken down so that he wouldn't assault another woman again. But most of us, in most cases, we need room for growth and forgiveness. We need time to educate and learn and reconcile. I have heard from at least two friends that seeing people's posts about Black Lives Matter has made them change their ways of thinking. Having open dialogues does work. But so do large demonstrations that people can't look away from.<br />
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I believe the Church and ultimately Christ have always taught me what I need to know for difficult situations that I may not know how to deal with myself. Christ does say in the Gospels that if something is leading you to sin (or in this case influencing evil in the world), to cut it off. But Christ's whole mission and Paschal Mystery (his suffering, death, and resurrection) was about forgiveness. He died so that we could have redemption. He says in the Scriptures to correct your brother if he has wronged you, and to go to the Church or the courts if he has wronged you, but not to harm him or humiliate him or tear him down.<br />
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I know that this time is confusing and we are all processing a lot. This is just the beginning, just a start to hopefully some great changes. But it isn't going to be easy. Tough conversations are going to be had. We are going to have to rely on those gifts of the Holy Spirit if we want to see the fruits.<br />
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I'm going to end with a quote that I found this week that sums up some things that I have been feeling well:<br />
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All Will Be Well. But it is going to be a long, uphill climb- one that our black brothers and sisters have been on for centuries and the rest of us are just waking up to. We need to use our voices when necessary and we need to listen when necessary.<br />
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Black Lives Matter.<br />
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Peace,<br />
Julia</div>
Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06098852834050397406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1055688385421362242.post-47135123335446363442020-05-29T14:29:00.003-04:002020-05-29T14:29:57.701-04:00Pentecost 2020<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
One of my favorite feasts of the year is here- Pentecost. The Easter Season has been very different for us this year and when we started quarantine way back in Lent, I prayed and hoped that we would be out of this by Pentecost.<br />
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Well, we are not "out" of it, but the Holy Spirit is coming regardless, and obviously, is always with us. One of the very cool things that I have been able to be a part of this Easter season are some virtual "retreats" run by Liturgy Training Publications. A friend from college works for them and asked me to present during one of the retreats way back in April. I was honored to be asked back to co-lead two additional retreats, including the one for the readings for this Sunday.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ijFG0CbjEgA1dP_BeYyhnAoHRT7Ho2hIyUT7-RKUUzsNlwqJb9wTwtc0obsXTXfDcOuohkivSsQtGt8YeIG47GE1H4V5ibAfD85EuNbImXwV04ARyzwlfsrAmvJfOOwsp1lXws7ulGs/s1600/IMG_3258.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="797" data-original-width="960" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ijFG0CbjEgA1dP_BeYyhnAoHRT7Ho2hIyUT7-RKUUzsNlwqJb9wTwtc0obsXTXfDcOuohkivSsQtGt8YeIG47GE1H4V5ibAfD85EuNbImXwV04ARyzwlfsrAmvJfOOwsp1lXws7ulGs/s320/IMG_3258.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<i>My presenter's view during this retreat. I'm in the middle at the bottom. The others featured were my co-leaders. Attendants chatted in the boxes on the side. I was so impressed by the platform and set up!</i><br />
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During the retreat, we of course called attention to the Gifts and Fruits of the Holy Spirit that are given to us at Baptism but that we can pray for an increase of at any time. I take for granted as a Religion teacher that I still have these memorized, but for those who might need a refresher (the acronym for the gifts that my students always used was "puffwick"):<br />
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Piety (or Reverence in the "new" language)<br />
Understanding<br />
Fortitude (or Courage)<br />
Fear of the Lord (or Wonder and Awe)<br />
Wisdom<br />
Counsel<br />
Knowledge<br />
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These are referenced in the Old testament in Isaiah and the fruits are referenced in the New Testament in Galatians:<br />
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Love<br />
Peace<br />
Joy<br />
Patience<br />
Self-Control<br />
Gentleness<br />
Kindness<br />
Goodness<br />
Faithfulness<br />
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When I think about these gifts and fruits, I often think about how I might need these gifts to help myself and my relationship with God. But last night during the retreat, retreatants shared how they were praying for these gifts to help them serve others. It was truly a humbling experience and moment. People were asking for prayers so that they can be more understanding and counsel their friends at this time or be more patient with loved ones. I was especially struck by a woman who said she was praying for Piety and reverence so that she could better respect and revere those around her.<br />
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At the beginning of quarantine, I was hopeful that we would emerge from this time better. After almost three months, I feel worn out and exhausted, even though I haven't really been "doing anything". It has been emotionally exhausting to try and feel of worth and productive and to try and be a part of a community at this time. I had hopes that we would come out of quarantine even more empathetic and compassionate, but when I look at what is going around in our world and on social media, it seems like we have become even more isolated the longer this goes on. But it doesn't mean that compassion can't still happen. The Holy Spirit is coming. We will be renewed.<br />
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Because the Holy Spirit doesn't pick and choose what it does when it is called upon. As we will hear in the psalm on Sunday: <i>"Come Holy Spirit and renew the face of the earth." </i>When the Holy Spirit is called upon it <i>will </i>shake things up. That's just what it does by its nature.<br />
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When the Holy Spirit is described (even though we don't maybe think about the Spirit as often as the Father or Son) it is described through verbs and action which I will get to in a second. My solution when I have started to feel down during this quarantine has been to try and look back on the good and be grateful for the good that does exist. The retreat last night and the prayers and reflections on these gifts on the Holy Spirit was powerful. Another really powerful reflection from last night was looking at the Sequence that is said before the Gospel on the feast of Pentecost. It is something that is sometimes discarded or overlooked, but the words this year- just like many of the readings during this Easter Season- mean so much more during this time of quarantine.<br />
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<i>You can read the sequence here <a href="http://cms.usccb.org/bible/readings/053120-day.cfm">with this link, </a>but I wanted to post a picture of it as well. </i><br />
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As I just mentioned, the Holy Spirit ("Ruah in the Hebrew which means "movement" or "wind" or "breath") is always described with such powerful verbs. COME. SHINE. POUR. HEAL. WASH. MELT...<br />
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I was really taken with the phrase "Melt the frozen, warm the chill" from this sequence last night. Isn't it true that we have felt "frozen" in time these last months? The Holy Spirit with its power and its gifts and its fruits can help us emerge stronger just like the apostles did after being locked up in their Upper Room scared and terrified.<br />
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I am very much looking forward to Pentecost this year. Even if it isn't going to look like what I thought or hoped it might at the beginning of this, I have to trust in that the Spirit will move us and will move us towards those gifts and fruits and that those gifts and fruits will help us help others. <br />
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I am planning on attending Mass this Sunday as VA is now in "Phase 1" which means 50% capacity for churches. I was wondering how my parish was going to enforce this, but I received an email with a link to get a "ticket" for one of the Masses being offered this weekend, so I guess it is going to be first come first serve. Everyone has to wear a mask and keep proper distance...actually, my diocese released <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EaxmgngGXF4&t=132s">this video</a> which I found really helpful and answered a lot of my questions.<br />
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Part of the beauty of the Holy Spirit is that it moves and we don't necessarily know where it is going to take us. But after this time of the Easter Season and quarantine, I am ready- maybe more than ever- ready to see where it takes us and how it renews us.<br />
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It's not a question. The Holy Spirit will renew us. We just need to be open to that movement. And I am so ready!<br />
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Happy Pentecost!<br />
Peace,<br />
Julia<br />
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Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06098852834050397406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1055688385421362242.post-34301724140304785542020-05-17T13:56:00.001-04:002020-05-17T14:00:08.167-04:00Waiting for the Advocate: The Sixth Sunday of Easter and Week 10 of Quarantine<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Two months ago I definitely didn't think I would still be here in my kitchen, blogging about quarantine. I knew in my head that I wasn't returning to teach in my classroom this school year and that I'd be still teaching online, but I didn't realize how exhausted my students and I would be at this point. Our school year is coming to a close and summer is upon us, but I have no idea what my summer is going to look like. Usually I fill my summers with travel but that still is not able to happen at this point. States are slowly starting to lift and shift their "shelter in place" directives, but we still are only operating at 50% capacity in spaces at best, with six feet and masks in between us.<br />
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I realize that I don't sound as optimistic as my last couple of quarantine posts. I have been trying hard to keep the Easter season spirit of joy, and I've slowly started to go back into my classroom and see some colleagues and friends in social distanced spaces, but week 9 was kind of a rough one. I feel like I've exhausted every possible thing one can take advantage of during this time. I am a very goal-oriented person. Here is a list of my "accomplishments" from the over two months of quarantine:<br />
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- daily prayer, sometimes going into the churches that are open to 10 people at a time<br />
- daily walks and exercise<br />
- developed online lesson plans and activities for two months of curriculum<br />
- created countless audio and video recordings for my students<br />
- created content for an education platform I am contracted to work with<br />
- attended meetings and numerous happy hours and "social gatherings" on Zoom. Or Meet. Or Facetime. Or Facebook. Or literally all of the available platforms for video chats at this time<br />
- I've written and presented at least five Faith Formation sessions virtually for adults for my school, parish, and even a national organization<br />
- I played my first RPG game. And, honestly, probably my last. It was not for me!<br />
- I've read six books and two short stories.<br />
- I've recorded podcast episodes with a friend about aforementioned short stories<br />
- I've taken weekly online art classes<br />
- I've binged Tiger King, Love is Blind, Dead to Me and probably a ton of other shows that have come out on Netflix during this time<br />
-Watched all 9...or rather 10! of the Star Wars movies <a href="https://theforceawakensjulia.blogspot.com/">and blogged about them!</a><br />
- I've driven within a 1 hr radius all around central Virginia and walked all around Richmond just to get out of my apt<br />
- started brushing up on my Spanish and learning Polish<br />
- looked for a new apartment (and found one!)<br />
- cleaned out my hall closets and spaces around my apartment<br />
- donated items from aforementioned closets and spaces<br />
- reinstated "Cocktail of the Day" on my social media<br />
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I know there is much more that I can do and probably have done...but the point is, quarantine continues and it continues to be hard. I know we all are over this. And there is still so much to be grateful for, which I have to continue to focus on to get myself out of the heads spaces I can sometimes go to when I start to reflect a little too inwardly. At the beginning of this I was grateful for this time of introspection and I think it still is a good thing to come of this. But I can tend to over analyze and I am totally there and frankly exhausted from it.<br />
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So where is the Good News??? This is still the Easter Season. Ascension Thursday is this week and we have about two more weeks until Pentecost, which is definitely one of my favorite days. I still have hope that the Holy Spirit will be moving at Pentecost and we may be able to be free from our upper rooms while still being safe. But things aren't going to be "normal" for a while. And I do keep thinking about the apostles as we read from Acts during this time of Easter. They were nervous. They were confused. They were scared. They endured imprisonment. But it didn't stop them from delivering the word of God to the world. And it didn't stop their faith.<br />
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The Gospel today for the Sixth Sunday of Easter is from Jesus' Last Supper Discourse in John where He tells the apostles He will not abandon them. He tells them that He is sending "an Advocate" which we know is the Holy Spirit. He is comforting them because they are about to be sent into the whirlwind of Good Friday. He gives us this comfort and assurance now, too, even in this time.<br />
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<a href="http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/051720.cfm">The psalm today, too, </a>references a time when God delivered and saved His people with the Exodus from Egypt and the parting of the Red Sea. Reflecting on these moments of deliverance and promises fulfilled do help to give me assurance and comfort and hope as we continue to quarantine.<br />
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Finally, today is a special day because it is the 6th anniversary of my friend Dan's death. I am struck every year with how this anniversary often falls around the Ascension. It seems this time of year is always a joyful yet bittersweet time of year. My friend was always full of joy and love for others but we miss him dearly and wish that he was still with us. The apostles, too, loved Jesus and wanted Him to stay with them, but His mission was complete at the Ascension. My friend, too, leaves a legacy that my friends and his family try to spread the good news of continually, especially on this day.<br />
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My college friends and I will be celebrating with a Zoom call this year, but we always join in prayer and raising a glass for him on this day. I know that Dan is our own "advocate" in heaven.<br />
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<i><a href="http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/051720.cfm">D</a>an and I during Senior Week at CUA. </i><br />
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A phrase that Dan and his friends and family used during the time of his leukemia was a paraphrase from a quote from St. Julian of Norwich: "All Will Be Well". What a perfect reminder then and also now as we continue to await an end to quarantine, the feast of Pentecost, and ultimately our own ascension.<br />
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All Will Be Well. Happy Sixth Week of Easter (and tenth week of quarantine...)<br />
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Peace,<br />
Julia<br />
<a href="http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/051720.cfm"><br /></a>
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Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06098852834050397406noreply@blogger.com0