I find myself in the Houston airport.

I'm tired, I have snippets of that movie Aloha flashing through my dazed mind. Country pop music is playing on the intercom. I just witnessed a full blown cowboy, 10 gallon hat and all, getting his boots shined. I am in a time, space, and culture warp.

I was last in the good ol' US of A some 11 (?) months ago. It feels nice to be returning, everything also just feels big. I suppose this not a new feeling for me, I've come and gone enough times by now, but the sheer number of chairs, iphone outlets, burger joints, places to buy stuff, and security people, never ceases to shock.

One more leg and back to the heartland.

Three flights later and we were in paradise

When the sun had set and we were starting to feel tired, we once again laced up our traveling boots and headed for the airport.  Our suave taxi driver raced us through Santiago’s massive Metropolitan area and in no time we were unloading our bags on the curb of the departure terminal.  I was, for a moment, transported back to so many midnights spent sleepily wading through the Jeddah airport.  Yet again it seems that most flights out of our country of residence occur in the middle of the night.  groan.

But, one benefit of the red eye… you can breakfast anywhere!  We landed in Bogota and had a few hours to kill before our connection so we indulged in a hearty breakfast at Crepes & Waffles.  This Colombian chain is well known for both its artfully prepared dishes and also for employing mostly women, and women who represent the head of their families.  After some sweet bread, coffee, crepes, and a waffle, we were more than ready to tackle our next flight.

We waved good-bye to mainland Colombia and headed off to San Andres.  San Andres is a Colombian island in the Caribbean off the coast of Nicaragua.  This tropical island is a popular destination hotspot with many large hotels crowded around the beautiful beaches.  The moment our flight neared the island I was amazed at the bright blue water and tropical splendor.  Winter in Chile had made me forget how colorful the tropics are!  I was positively beaming as we landed, I could see ocean just on the other end of the tarmac.  The amount of pictures that I took just of the San Andres airport (which is pretty lackluster) is ridiculous.  But Pablo reminded me that we still had one more flight to go…

…because we had decided that we were looking for a slightly more quiet and remote vacation destination; a place were we could walk along a beach and potentially not see anyone else, a place where we could hear the ocean from our bedroom window, a place where we could feel close to the local culture, and a place where we could disconnect completely.  So, we boarded one final teeny tiny plane for… Providencia.

^Bogota ^

so much reading.. he didn't even notice me taking the picture :)

^San Andres^ Our teeny tiny plane... with no AC... our thick Chilean blood is not used to the heat!

We're off.  If you happen to be traveling through IND, YYZ, SCL, or ZAL in the next 24 hours you might just see a girl and her cat hiking from terminal to terminal.  Gordo was checked at the gate, Loco serves as my bonafide carry on.  Already its been a bit of a traumatizing experience, but with any luck by Friday afternoon we'll be seeing you in Chile.

I said a final tearful goodbye to friends I might never see again, or at the very least will not see for a long time.  We shared a last supper and talked about memories and good times and who know's what is to come in the future.  As I cycled through the night to my taxi rendezvous point I let the sadness well up inside of me and overflow.  The warm humid evening mixed well with my tears.  I was not and am not sad because I don't want to leave.  I know that it is time to move on and I look forward to beginning a new journey.  But there is something incredibly emotional about realizing that a chapter of your life has ended.  That as much as you will remember that time in your life, it will henceforward dwell in the past.  And things will be forgotten.  Relationships will become more distant and that something that was your everything will be not.

But when the times of change come rolling in we can choose to remain in place and be pummeled by the waves or we can float along with them.  Have a good cry and then move forward.

And there is nothing like German competency and a comfortable ride in Lufthansa business class to take the sting off of a goodbye.  In all these years of midnight travels in and out of Saudi land, it is my final flight in which I win the lucky free upgrade.  The gods must be smiling upon me.  Now, well rested and refreshed I write to you in transit from Frankfurt.  I know this airport like the back of my hand after all the years of coming and going but now that I move back to the western side of the world it might be a long time before I return.  So, in contrast to the usual, I will enjoy my layover.  See you on the other side.

See ya later Saudi heat, I'm off to Norway for the week.  I hope it snows!

We just returned to the desert land yesterday.  I had such a wonderful time in the US of A and Colombia, it is hard to get back in the groove here.  I spent quality time with my fam and Pablo's, we made cookies, and shopped for pretty things, we found a swimming hole and we hiked for hours.  It was hard coming back but I know it will be just a few more months and then we're off on another crazy adventure...

adventures in a cinquecento // barcelona to perpignan

El Prat is the closest international airport to Perpignan, so after landing in BCN following a short connection in Jordan, we headed over to rental car alley and signed up for an all inclusive three-day access to the great European Tiny Car Extravaganza.  Our trusty guide turned out to be not only cute, but also equipped with USB port, sunroof, and ample side mirrors perfect for photo ops.  While two-doored, this friend of ours could comfortably seat four, though overpacking is cautioned as claustrophobia hazards are imminent.  

Without skipping a beat, we zipped through Cataluña into Languedoc-Rousillon passing rows and rows of perfectly aligned trees and distant snow-topped Pyrénées mounts.  On the left we passed grape vines, strung out and waiting for spring, and on the right there was the lovely La Jonquera.  But when the signs switched from Catalan to French we new we were getting close, so we pressed our guide forward and soon found ourselves in the home of friends, enjoying delicious cheesy treats.  

Thanks Fiat friend, couldn't have done it without you.

Yahooo!!  The semester is over!

I had my last final exam today and now I can finally rejoice in all that is the holiday season.  I have learned more about copepods and Sverdrup's hypothesis than I ever thought I would.  Chaetognaths and peanut worms have haunted me in my sleep.  It was a semester of all things ocean and now I am ready to come back to Earth and soak up the terrestrial sphere.  What with its conifer trees, snowy precipitation, and abundance of food stuffs.  Like pumpkins, and pies, yule log, other nogs and cookies.  Lots of cookies.

And as it is notably very difficult to get in the holiday mood when you live in the land of eternal sunshine and 90 degree days, where better to go to start the gleeful acclimatization?  

France.

Copious amounts of fermented beverages, good friends, and stinky cheese await us.  We leave in twelve hours, see you in a few days.

fremantle first impressions

lots of pirates or at least
many unkept hooligans.
New Orleans meets Hawaii.
$200/ night for a hotel,
doesn't include internet.
them Aussies like ta partay

under NYC

Have I told you about my love for public transportation?

While parts of me are truly horrified by seats-where-have-sat-one-million-bottoms, handrails sticky with human scum, benches and corners where someone has most certainly urinated, and the general coagulation of so many people, but, the reigning part of me overrides these dislikes and revels in the awe that is the efficient movement of a populace.  Now, efficient I most certainly am not when I first look at the map of the underground.  I would be lost and helpless, forever wandering the swiss cheese layers of the subterranean realm, without my much more street-smart love by my side, guiding me along.  But, I must say, that after a few rides downtown and then back uptown, traversing various letters of the alphabet in tracks, I started to get the hang of it and oh-my how far you can travel so quickly and all the while getting to people-watch along the way.

Thank you New York City subway.  You might be a bit gritter than the Métro de Paris, and a whole lot  less taken care of than the MTR in Hong Kong, and not as sky-high as the Metro Cable, but you got us where we needed to go.  And we had fun along the way!

ready to roam...

...errr' kinda.

I've got my stunner shoes laced up, my bags are packed and bursting at the seams (how does that always happen?), our flight leaves mid-morning, but I am not ready to go!  Not only has our host from Airbnb failed to respond to my urgent messages of "how do we pick up the key for our stay in your apartment," but also and more importantly, I hate saying goodbye.  It never gets easier and in fact, I think it gets proportionally more difficult the longer you stay.  Since my move to the Middle East in 2010, this month-long vacation back home has been my longest yet.  We had so much fun playing at the lake, visiting the Amish, going to markets, hanging out at camp, and road tripping across the greater Midwest (posts on that coming soon) that heading back to a sticky Saudi summer is going to be tough.  And tougher yet, is saying goodbye to all of the people that I love here.  I know it won't be long before I am back again and with Skype and gchat and email and blogs it is virtually impossible to not keep in touch, but still, I'll miss you guys.  I love you and will see you soon!

whelp, see ya later!

Right now we are crossing the Atlantic!  (not via a kayak, I just thought I would share a photo from a recent adventure in the Red Sea)  We are headed back stateside for the next month.  I am totally stoked.  I haven't spent more than 10 days at home since I moved to Saudi in 2010.  We have great plans to indulge in corndogs, relax at the lake, spend quality time with the fam, and perhaps even take a road trip.  It should be an epic vacation!

summertime is here, get in the mood with some links here, here, here, and here

paradise

We are back in Saudi-landia now.  Exhausted from two long days of travel, too many hours spent on airplanes, a nice dose of jet lag, and the-vacation-is-over blues.  We had a wonderful time, though.  Being completely disconnected from the world, internet, cell phones, and work was so so great.  We spent many hours reading in hammocks, walking on the beach, swimming in the sea, eating weird and delicious fruits, snorkeling, diving, and just enjoying each others' company.  It was hard to say goodbye to paradise.

Hey Everyone-

I am probably halfway across the Atlantic right now!  Pablo and I are on our way to see my family in Indiana for Christmas.  While I am sipping hot cocoa, making cookies, playing in the snow, and spending as much time as possible with my loved ones, I hope you enjoy some of the posts that I made in advance.  There will be several special guest posts (see previous ones here, here, here and here) and hopefully a few more fun things.  So please enjoy and stay tuned because there is a lot of excitement to come!!

-em

getting prepared...

...for Paris!!!!  We leave tonight.  11pm taxi to airport.  2am plane departs for Frankfurt.  again.  by mid morning Friday, I'll be eating my croissant along the Seine.  Pablo lived in France for 7 years.  one of those seven years was in Paris.  my very own tour guide and translator :)

I have a few posts set up to entertain you while I am gone, but besides those, I'll see you in a week!

side note: I bought the map above here and have been embroidering it as we move about the world.  I am aware that Paris is north of Perpignan, it just fit better that way :)

Jeddah --> Arusha, Tanzania via Ethiopia

Who knew that Ethiopia was so green, and so cold?  Turns out it is at the Addis Ababa international airport in August.  We were pretty shocked when we departed the plane and were hit with a cold moist breeze.  If you ever find yourself stranded at the Addis Ababa airport, I highly recommend that you stop at the single transit cafe for what might be the worlds best Waffle.  The mysterious Ethiopian woman hand pours them and they go so nicely with a warm coffee and a healthy dose of people watching.  

I would also give two thumbs up to Ethiopian Air.  The flights were more or less on time and using some of the older model planes, there was actually enough space to stretch out the legs!  

arrival: Santorini

After another awesome departure from Jeddah International at 3am, I spent a 10 hour layover in the beautiful Cairo airport.  Note to the World: if you find yourself with a long layover in Cairo (which you shouldn't because you should never ever ever fly with Egyptair), pay the 35 euros to get into the executive lounge.  Best 35 euros ever spent.  After a nap in the comfy oversized lounge chairs, a cappuccino, and a pain au chocolate, I headed to my gate and departed for ATHENS!  Several hours later, and a couple of This American Life episodes listened to, I was in Athens.  I waited another couple of hours for my connection to Santorini and one diet coke and a 30 minute flight later, I touched down and found myself in paradise.

I quickly grabbed a taxi to my hotel where my mom, sister, a bottle of wine, fresh fruit, and the caldera awaited me....