Cabo San Lucas and One Unforgettable Dive
With a forceful surge of energy, I heaved myself up out of the chilling water, and collapsed onto the closest bench. The whole snorkel-boat shook -- though admittedly, it was scarcely more than a large white dinghy, having a maximum capacity of perhaps eight passengers. Gulping in the warm Baja air, I gasped with gratitude as our little native guide helped unburden me from my hefty load of scuba...
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Tiger Hunters
The rustic orange color of mud had completely taken over my black converse high-tops, my hands, and my knees by the time we got through the dense forest. The mud combined with the water flowing from a small rift in the surrounding rock turned that path into a slippery slide of mud, water, and possibly animal dung. Breaking through the forestry, we began to see the old wooden houses that the people...
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Ogunquit: Beautiful Place by the Sea
Maine is a beautiful state nestled on the coast of New England. It kisses the chilly Atlantic Ocean while spreading its arms toward the Canadian Province, Quebec. It’s filled with natural majesty; all manners of rock formations, beaches, and snow sprinkled forests. On the southern tip of Maine, where land touches sea, a tiny town called Ogunquit springs to life as summer vacationers...
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How to Have a Successful African Safari
Cameras clicked. Everyone sat motionless. I peered through a pair of binoculars at five cheetahs laying in the afternoon shade. My family was in one of the four safari vehicles that had gathered for this rare sighting. We watched as one cheetah slowly got up, stretched, walked several feet, and lay down again. Another twitched its ears and yawned. I had seen cheetahs...
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Blinding Beauty
Arriving at 10:00 pm anywhere can be a little unsettling. I’ve seen a total of 8 cars in 45 minutes since I got here. It’s quiet. Too quiet. Just the eerie lights that reflect off of the stagnant, black lake over the cliff remain. After miles of a dark mountain trek, the light in the darkness is our hotel at last. With warm food waiting hours later inside, the Das Hotel Panorama reveals itself...
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The Lesson Taught By Concrete
20 hours, 12 empty cups of off-brand ramen noodles, 2 cramped legs, and there I was passing through Washington on my way to the great big apple. We, my father and I, vainly opted to take the train instead of the similarly priced airline ticket. A 24 hour train ride can be accustomed to taking the "scenic route" and that it was. Ironically, the worst part of the trip was actually getting to our destination...
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Wild Travels in the Wild West
Many summer vacations include relaxing on the beach or lounging in a hammock under a blue sky with warm sun. However, my summer vacation was much less relaxing but surprisingly every bit as enjoyable. My family and I embarked on a two week road trip to the Western United States, which was completely unfamiliar to me as I have lived in the South my entire life. This trip had many purposes...
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Slowing My Pace of Life in the Birthplace of the Renaissance
Walking out of the cafe I see an elderly artist painting in the corner. I remember seeing this artist only two days ago in Babington’s Tea Room; another cafe with a rich history, found at the base of the renowned Spanish Steps. I had seen him painting there in a similar fashion, and went over to speak to him before I left. He had grabbed my pullover and subsequently pointed at his painting, indicating...
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The Blue Morpho of Tortuguero
A slight flutter in the corner of my eye captures my attention. I turn my head to catch a glimpse of the brilliant, shimmery blue morpho butterfly. As a butterfly enthusiast, I drink in the sight of this gossamer creature, desperately willing it not to fly away. Ecstatic about my welcoming friend, I cannot contain my excitement for my adventures in Tortuguero, Costa Rica. I...
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Capturing the Heart of Athens
The most unexpected moments sometimes turn out to be the ones that influence you the most. This was the force of the mighty Syntagma Square, the prominent historic area in Athens, Greece. It was my family’s second day on the trip and we were gearing up for an exciting day of sightseeing. The sight, aroma, and taste of Greek culture was being thrown onto us in a captivating...
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