Island time

Spent some time on an island with work friends. That's right work friends! Half of us were from my office and the other half from the NY office. We don't all work together anymore, but we all at one point kind of did. A few in the group planned the whole thing and it turned out to be one of my favorite vacations! Days upon days on the beach, sitting in the warm gulf-coast water, followed by pool time, followed by jenga, flip cup and cards of humanity. We got pretty creative with the cocktails because there wasn't easy access to groceries and we forgot the mixers...but remembered the moonshine-drenched strawberries.

I grew up on the west coast, so this was a very different kind of beach experience. The water was really warm. There were storms every day at 4pm. Mosquitoes! No bonfires. Totally private beach (whole island was a resort actually). 

And spending a vacation with coworkers? It was actually fantastic. We didn't talk about work (much), just hung out and spent time in the sun. We kayaked with dolphins and ate all our meals together before we set up the table for red cup games. We literally watched the sun go down every single day and it was gorgeous. 

Can't wait for the next trip with these folks!

Wanderlust Wednesdays: Sopelana sunsets and approaching dreamscapes

Sopelana, País Vasco

"For whatever we lose (like a you or a me) it's always ourselves we find in the sea." - E. E. cummings

Living in a small beach town on the Northern coast of Spain was an absolute dream. I'm wandering in my memories right now, ready for the onset of dreamscapes that always materialize when I'm reminiscing. I'm pretty sure I'm still technically a resident.

"I could never stay long enough on the shore; the tang of the untainted, fresh, and free sea air was like a cool, quieting thought." - Helen Keller

The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever. - Jacques Cousteau

wanderlust wednesdays: Mundaka

Mundaka, País Vasco.

Travel time from Bilbao by car: About 45 minutes. Ideal trip length: A few days, a week if you surf. Nice to haves: sailboat, surfboard, and knowledge of the word 'pintxo'. Directions: It's a little confusing...google it here.

Mundaka is situated to the west of the Oca/Oka river, south of the Bay of Biscay and is not that far from the French border. A haven for surfers, Mundaka is absolutely breathtaking and part of the Urdaibai estuary. I went on a day trip and had a great time eating in a small restaurant/bar and watching the waves roll in and out.

Legend (or wikipedia) has it Mundaka comes from the latin expression 'aqua munda' or clean water...I just love saying the word. It's like Mufasa, but better. I've know one person from Mundaka (from when I was living in Bilbao) and he was the closest thing to hipster chic that I think any Basque man will be. Meaning: he was effortlessly cool, perfectly tanned, always on the front end of the latest trend, and had the only mullet-style haircut that was actually good-looking. And perfect taste in music--slightly esoteric, but mainstream enough to be popular with the cool kids.

They also hold the Billabong Pro events here, or used to (looks like it is Brazil this year). They say you can surf 1 out of every 3 days, which I'm guessing is higher odds than most places. But really, a great place to visit, surf, and eat (pintxos=tapas in the Basque country).

Have you been to Mundaka? What was your experience? Leave a comment below and share your travels!

wanderlust wednesdays: Santa Monica

Santa Monica, California.

Travel time from West Hollywood on the bus: 1 hour. Ideal trip length: 5 hours (or until you burn). Nice to haves: retro bathing suit, sun hat, and camera. Directions: take the 704 bus towards Santa Monica.

There is nothing like a day escape to the beach. And sometimes, you aren't looking for a quiet place to relax, but a public arena to watch the crowds. Santa Monica is best for that: sun tanning amongst the general public. Avoid Santa Monica Pier (unless you want to really be in it) and Venice boardwalk (unless you want to literally walk through a mosh pit). Just pick a spot anywhere near the water on the stretch of beach near the pier or the boardwalk and watch.

There will be families from all over around you, but that's precisely what is fun. You won't read your magazine because you will be too busy laughing at surfers. Or watching kids in the sand. It's great.

I just heard a piece on NPR about Nick Gabaldon, an early surfer of African-American and Mexican decent. He grew up in Santa Monica in the 1940s and started surfing on the stretch of Santa Monica Beach nicknamed "Ink Well" or "Negro Beach" because it was one of the few places minorities were allowed to use the beach. He died in June of 1951 attempting a 'pier ride'; crashing into the Malibu Pier.

His story reminded me of the segregation my grandparents and great-grandparents faced growing up in Miami, Arizona and San Pedro, California. I don't know if my great-grandma ever went to Santa Monica to sun bathe, but I'm thankful to not face the same discrimination myself when I go to sun bathe with my friends. Though the same discrimination still exists and I see it, however subtle it may be, every time I go to a public beach.

So if you are angry about being too close to a beach neighbor that doesn't look like you, remember, we all have a right to wander.

The capricious ocean so very strong, Robust, powerful, can I be wrong? Pounding, beating upon its cousin shore, Comes it clapping, rapping with a mighty roar.

The sea vindictive, with waves so high, For me to battle and still they die. Many has it taken to its bowels below, Without regards it thus does bestow, Its laurels to unwary men.

With riches taken from ships gone by, Its wet song reaches to the sky, To claim its fallen manmade birds, And plunge them into depths below, With a nauseous surge.

Scores and scores have fallen prey, To the salt of animosity, And many more will victims be, Of the capricious, vindictive sea.

O, avaricious ocean so very strong, Robust, powerful, I’m not wrong. Pounding, beating upon your cousin shore, Come you clapping, rapping with a mighty roar.

-- by Nick Gabaldon May 31, 1951, six days before he died at Surfrider Beach.

Have you been to Santa Monica? What was your experience? Leave a comment below and share your travels!

wanderlust wednesdays: bolinas, california

Wednesdays are for wanderlusting. I love travelling and exploring different parts of my city, state, country and world! I'll be sharing trips every week with photos, directions, tips and tales from my adventures.  Bolinas, California.

Travel time from San Francisco: just over an hour. Ideal trip length: day. Nice to haves: car, bathing suit, surf board. Directions: Drive North on the 101 across the Golden Gate Bridge. Once you are on the Marin side, take the exit for CA-1 north towards MIll Valley/Stinson Beach. Stay on for about 17 miles then turn left on Olema Bolinas Road. Continue onto Wharf Road and you are there. You essentially go around the Bolinas lagoon. It's the west side sister of Stinson beach.

I drove up mid-morning and arrived in time for a lazy lunch at Coast Café (lunch is served 11am - 3pm). There's an outdoor seating area, which is nice on a hot day. No ocean views, but it is very close, and there aren't really any other options. On a weekday, it will probably be pretty slow, but the service was nice and the food pretty good--not amazing but good for what it was. After lunch, I wandered into the Bolinas Museum for some art and then walked east to edge of the Bolinas lagoon and watched a man teach his son how to surf, which was pretty adorable. Then I just took my time walking along the beach, collecting shells and sticks and such. Sometimes there are lots of surfers, but this day there weren't many, just a nice clear beach and ocean to stare out at.

If you want to try surfing, you can check out Bolinas Surf for lessons. They have private and weekend group lessons, as well as a surf camp coming up in August. They also rent out everything you need if you don't actually have the board or attire. There's also the Marin-Bolinas Botanical Gardens that is open to the public on the weekends.

Close enough you can use a sick day to make the trip; far enough you'll feel like you are on vacation far far away.

Have you been to a spa in Bolinas? What was your experience? Leave a comment below and share your travels!