Last Day in Brazil

Saturday – November 29, 2008 – We woke up in Iguazu for the last time and ate breakfast before checking out of the hotel. We hated to leave, but all good trips must eventually come to an end. Jeff and I went down to the souvenir shops of […]

On to Amazonas!

Sunday – November 23, 2008 – This morning my brother and I woke up early in Ipanema for our transfer to Rio de Janeiro’s Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport. Our transfer picked us up bright and early at 3:45 a.m.! Upon arrival at the airport, we checked in […]

The Heart of the Carioca

Saturday – November 22, 2008 – It doesn’t matter if the weather is bad in Rio de Janeiro. There is always something entertaining to do in this vibrant city. Unfortunately, the weather didn’t cooperate this morning for the hang gliding. We were scheduled to hang glide from 1,700 […]

A Cidade Maravilhosa

Friday – November 21, 2008 – It’s impossible not to wake up excited about the day in Rio de Janeiro. There’s a reason they call this “A Cidade Maravilhosa” – the Marvelous City! After waking up, Jeff and I headed downstairs for our complimentary Brazilian breakfast. We had a tour […]

Welcome to Rio de Janeiro!

Thursday – November 20, 2008 – After falling asleep over Suriname last night, I woke up this morning over south central Brazil. I slept about five hours on my Delta flight before breakfast time. After a Brazilian breakfast, Jeff and I filled out our immigration cards and suddenly […]

First Trip to Brazil!

Wednesday – November 19, 2008 – After missing Christmas last year to travel to South America for the first time, this year Jeff and I decided to travel back to South America, but this time during Thanksgiving. This trip we had to have visas for the first time […]

On Good Ol’ Rocky Top

Friday – October 24, 2008 – It’s fall and that means football in the Deep South. I reckon instead of calling the South the Bible Belt, they should call it the College Football Belt because football is THE religion in these parts. And this wasn’t just any weekend: […]

Being a Kid Again at Disney World

Monday – May 19, 2008 – After yesterday’s lronman race, I slept well. I was sore this morning, but I felt pretty good. After eating some breakfast, we drove to Walt Disney World and decided to tour part of the Magic Kingdom. I hadn’t been to Disney World […]

Last Day in Santiago, Chile

Saturday – December 29, 2007 – Sadly, today was our last day during our first visit to South America. Chile is such a beautiful country with the warmest and friendliest people. We wanted to make our last day count by seeing as much as possible before our flight […]

On to El Calafate

Wednesday – December 26, 2007 – Instead of doing another hike today, Jeff and I decided to take it easy. We both came down with a little bit of a cold and I think all of the trekking finally caught up with us. After sleeping late, we read […]

On to Chile

Wednesday – December 19, 2007 – This morning in Ushuaia we had breakfast before going out for a morning tour of the surrounding mountains. We took a taxi up to the ski resort of Centro de Montana Glaciar Martial. We took the aerosilla, the chairlifts, up to the […]

On to Tierra del Fuego

Monday – December 17, 2007 – We skipped breakfast for a long good sleep. We then checked out of the hotel around 8 a.m. and took a taxi to the Recoleta cemetery with our big backpacks. It is considered one of the world’s most beautiful cemeteries and is […]

First Trip to Argentina

Saturday, December 15, 2007 – It has been almost a year and half since my last big vacation. It felt even longer because during much of that time, I was working two jobs. During the last half of the year, I moved to one full-time job and my […]

Last Day in Maui

Thursday, August 24, 2006 – We slept late today just because we could! Dad and I went to the pool one last time before we checked out of our hotel in Lahaina. We went shopping and had lunch at Whaler’s Village, before we stopped to buy some unique postcards to […]

Surfing School in Lahaina

Wednesday, August 23, 2006 – Today was our last full day in Hawaii. This morning, I had a reservations to learn something I have always wanted to try: surfing! And what better place to learn than Hawaii? From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., I took lessons at the […]

Haleakala Sunset in Maui

Tuesday, August 22, 2006 – We woke up at the ResortQuest Papakea and decided to do whatever we wanted during the morning. After all, we are on vacation at the beach in Maui! I went to the beach and snorkeled for a while. After lunch, Dad, Mom and […]

Beach Day in Maui

Monday, August 21, 2006 – After the long trip from eastern Maui on Sunday, we decided to have a relaxing day at the ResortQuest Papakea. Dad and I enjoyed the beach in the morning and snorkeled for a while. We came back to the condo for sandwiches. That […]

Riding the Road to Hana

Saturday, August 19, 2006 – This morning, we all had flights to catch from the airport at 12:30 p.m. Jeff had to take a flight to Honolulu, where he would leave for Atlanta on Sunday. Mom, Dad and I had a flight to Kahului, Maui on Aloha Airlines. […]

Last Day on the Big Island

Friday, August 18, 2006 – Today was our last full day on the Big Island. We enjoyed another low-key day by heading to the Kings Shops in Waikoloa to look around. We ate the food court where I had some unusual Hawaiian pork barbecue sandwich at Subway. For […]

Beach Day in Kona

Thursday, August 17, 2006 – Today we decided to have a free day. I went out to our beach on the Kona Coast to lay in a hammock between two coconut trees for a while. Then, I lounged on the beach for a little tan. Afterwards, Jeff and […]

Back to the Aloha State!

Monday, August 14, 2006 – Sometimes there is nothing like a vacation to celebrate a key milestone and close out a transitional period in life. The previous Friday I finished my final exams and Dad came to the University of Alabama to help me move the big things […]

Leaving My Heart in San Francisco

Friday, May 19, 2006 – Today was our last full day in northern California. We first visited the Monterey Bay Aquarium, which I have to say, is the best aquarium I have ever visited. Monterey was the capital of Alta California under both Spain and Mexico. Then we […]

California Dreaming Down Highway 1

Thursday, May 18, 2006 – We have had another fantastic trip to San Francisco. However, today it’s time to enjoy the beauty of the Pacific coast. Or to quote the song, “Californication” by the Red Hot Chili Peppers: “it’s the edge of the world and all of Western […]

Back to San Francisco

Tuesday, May 16, 2006 – This morning we packed up and said goodbye to the Tenaya Lodge. As we left the Yosemite area, we stopped to visit the Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad. The narrow gauge railroad was a former logging train, but today is one-hour narrated passenger […]

Hiking and Biking Yosemite

Monday, May 15, 2006 – This morning, Mom decided to take it easy at the Tenaya Lodge. Dad and I decided to go into Yosemite National Park to bike and hike. We started the day by driving to the Happy Isles trailhead in Yosemite Valley. We chose the […]