http://instagram.com/p/gvLmOLEp31/ Wandering with my sister in Washington, D.C. Follow her @valeretxe. She'll be blogging here soon!!
wander
Wanderlust Wednesday: The Alhambra
The Alhambra, Granada, Andalucía, Spain
Travel time from Madrid to Granada by train: 4-5 hours. Ideal trip length: A week if you want to explore Andalucía. Tips: Book in advance. Visit at night and during the day.
"Everything here appears calculated to inspire kind and happy feelings, for everything is delicate and beautiful. The very light falls tenderly from above, through the lantern of a dome tinted and wrought as if by fairy hands." Washington Irving, Tales of the Alhambra
There is so much history and there so many stories you can find online. I found an old post of mine -- too funny:
Granada was everything you can imagine, and more . . . again I will try and show you with my pictures and not my words :)
One night a bunch of us had our own botellón because we were too lazy to walk over to where the actual botellón was taking place . . . What is a botellón you may ask? It is basically just where people gather to drink, BYOB style . . . yet Christina and I (she is a friend that goes to NW) get fanta and vodka because it tastes much better. When you go to the little stores to buy the alcohol they actually ask you how many cups you want and give you ice. Technically,drinking in the streets is illegal, but everyone does it anyway. The cops even came to our botellón! But, as usual, they just walk by, make sure everyone is happily drunk and socializing, than leave---only in Spain.
Hope my travel blogging has gotten better, for now loving the #nostalgia. And now, back to laundry.
Follow my Alhambra pinboard on Pinterest:
Wanderlust Wednesday: Caves of the Thousand Buddhas
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R29A0GyLYlE Mogao Caves, Gobi Desert, China
Travel time from downtown Dunhuang, China by bus: about 40 minutes. Ideal trip length: As long as they let you stay. UNESCO Heritage Site since 1987. Tips: No cameras allowed. Take a flashlight and wear walking shoes/clothing. Be ready for sun and crowds if you are going in the summer.
A monk once had a vision of 1,000 buddhas bathed in gold. So he started digging...
Read this National Geographic article about the Mogao Caves: Caves of Faint--In a Silk Road oasis, thousands of Buddhas enthrall scholars and tourists alike to learn more.
And yes, there is an app...check it out here
Wander: Dolores Park
Travel time from anywhere in San Francisco: 5 minutes to an hour, depends on where you come from. Ideal trip length: an afternoon. Nice to haves: blanket, sweater, sunscreen, beer and a sandwich from that place on Guerrero or pizza from Delfina or both. Directions: Take the bart towards Daly City/SFO and get off at 16th and Mission and walk.
Wanderlust Wednesdays: Haight-Ashbury
https://vimeo.com/69580857 Travel time from the mission: About 20-30 minutes on the bus, depends on how crowded the bus is. Ideal trip length: 5 hours. Nice to haves: a tolerance for groups of people with dogs. Directions: Take the 33 from 18th and Valencia and get off on Haight and Clayton, walk to Ashbury.
Today, a stroll down (upper) Haight is more of an exercise in consumerism and dodging tourists than anything else, but there's still something in the air--besides the smell of pot--that reminds you of its hippie history. I always get a little claustrophobic when I am over there, and I wonder what it would have been like had I been able to stroll 30 or 40 years ago. I probably would have felt the same, but maybe I would be a little less uptight about it.
Wander over sometime to experience what it's like today. It's so close if you live in the city, and worth a stop if you are in town for a visit.
Have you been to Haight-Ashbury? What did it remind you of?
Wanderlust wednesdays: Sedona
in TRAVEL, IN THE STUDIO
Travel time from Los Angeles by car: About 7 hours. Ideal trip length: A week. It takes time for the spirits to set in ;). Nice to haves: sunscreen, a golfcart, access to a pool. Directions: For a real desert adventure, take the 10-E to the I-15 N to the I-40 E to the I-17 S and exit at 89A S Sedona.
Sedona is sandwiched between Coconino and Yavapai. These are counties I learned about in elementary school. I distinctly remember not finishing some coloring book assignment about the history of Arizona and my mom, annoyed at the banality of such an assignment, let me go to sleep and she instead stayed up all night coloring between the lines. I got the highest grade in the class and my teacher was really impressed. I've never felt guilty about it, but I was rather impressed too; my mom's really good at coloring.
Anyway, Sedona is the perfect place to get some sun, set your aura straight, explore vortexes, channel crystal power and sit by a pool watching the red rock dust slowly fall from the sky.
My friend had an epiphany. I did not. I still love wandering in Sedona.
Have you been to Sedona? Did you have an epiphany? Leave a comment below and share your travels!
