Love Locks

Love Locks have begun showing up in many places around the world, including the Pont Des Arts in the heart of Paris. Lovers attach a lock with their names engraved or words of love scribbled, then toss the key into the Seine to symbolize their eternal love.

The origin of this phenomenon is a mystery. It is thought it may have been started by Italian tourists enacting the plot of a sentimental novel by Federico Moccia, in which the protagonists hung a lock inscribed with their names on a lamppost near Ponte Milvio in Rome, kissed and threw the key into the Tiber.

Others think the trend started in Moscow where railings on the Luzhkov Bridge are so crowded with “locks of love” that special metal poles have been added to cope with the collection.

Similar fads have been reported on bridges in Brussels, Kiev, Vilnius, the Ponte Vecchio in Florence, in Venice and naturally, the Ponte Pietra in Verona, Romeo and Juliet’s hometown.

Last year, City Hall declared them unsightly and they must be removed because they "raise problems for the preservation of our archeological heritage". It seemed a bit ironic coming from the Guardians of the City of Love...

Stumbling across the thousands of locks adorning the footbridge was a lovely surprise for me. I love spontaneous acts of love! I have a feeling that simply removing the locks will only encourage more couples to declare their love on this romantic footbridge in Paris... especially on Valentine's Day.

London Tube

First opening in 1863, the London Underground is quite a remarkable system, now having over 260 stations and 402km of track. Although I found it a bit disconcerting being so deep underground, I was also quite taken by the mazes of tunnels and stairs, many decorated in unique tile patterns. Originally, tile was used to help reflect the light from the gas burning lamps, and in some stations, the original tile work is mimicked. In other stations, and of course the newer ones, modern conveniences of escalators and elevators have replaced the winding staircases, the walls instead decorated with Hollywood movie and Theatre posters. I was more partial to the older style stations... the novelty of it all.

Panama...

About 6 years ago I had an incredible adventure in Panama. For 2 weeks, 14 of us rented our own private island with at least half a dozen surf breaks within a 10 minute boat ride. 3 planes, 2 vans and a small boat through a mangrove swamp later... voila!

For the thrid week, we went over to Bocas Del Toro, a chain of islands on the Caribbean side. The islands were inhabited by local Indians for centuries, but most of its current population are black immigrants from the neighboring islands of Jamaica, San Andres and Providencia. Very different from the Pacific side, we enjoyed the colonial architecture, brightly painted buildings and the relaxed feel. It took 'island time' to a whole new level...

Pilgrimage | Our Baja Adventure

Each year, we pack our surfboards and make the journey down Baja. It is a special time that allows us to slow down, live healthy and just be with each other and nature. Our property is remote and the habitat is extreme. It is desolate, yet packed with so much beauty. An orange ball of fire wakes us in the morning, warming the dewy sand. The turquoise waters are rich with life, sea turtles and dolphins visiting us in the surf. And the stars... this is where they come to rest, I have never seen so many in one sky.
This time for us is about laughing and loving... and living this one life. 

My Campania...

If I were to show you a collection of photos of 'my Vancouver', I imagine it would be very different from 'your Vancouver'. Obviously then, the same holds true for when we travel. This of course, is determined by where we go, what we are drawn to... what sort of traveler we are.

You can tell a lot from people's travel photos. I wonder what you can derive about the way I travel from 'My Campania'...

Let me walk in a vineyard, let me stroll through some ancient streets. Let me nibble a local cheese, sip a homemade wine. Ultimately, I want the path less traveled... it's usually not as convenient, and sometimes you can't find all the necessities, but to me... it's where the magic is!

Europe b+w

Just a few things I adore about Europe... street side cafes, vineyards (and more importantly, incredible wines!), meandering country roads that help me get lost, and vespas (which to me are a perfect indication of the slow pace).

2010 Travel Favorites

2010 didn't hold as much travel as recent years, however it was enough to satisfy these wandering feet of mine. My trips were quite diverse. Twice I camped on the beach in Baja, waking up to orange sunrises, thousands of sea birds and crashing waves. I lived on fresh fish, tortillas, tapatio and coronas. Everyday I sat on my board, feet dangling below in crystal blue waters, waiting for the next wave. It was heaven.

On the opposite spectrum, I had two trips to Europe, both times visiting Switzerland and Italy. I experienced Venice swimming under a foot of water, which, in its emptiness was eerily mystical. I walked quaint Italian villages bordering the Alps, the streets lined with incredible shops stocked with salamis and cheeses, local fruits and vegetables, the side alleys winding back to vineyards and olive groves. I sat in the Zurich train station, watching hundreds of people walk by, their own world of where and who guiding them through their day. Here it is cobblestones, quaint coffee and chocolate shops, expensive fashion and restaurant tables lining the streets. I drove along country roads through lush green pastures, with only cows, batting their long lashes, necks laden with huge bells, to witness the massive, angular, snow-topped peaks jutting out of the land.

Of my days of travel, some were filled with only the best wines and cheeses and meats. On others I was fulfilled with only the goodness of the sun and the sea. But on each and every day, I never took for granted what a gift it was... what a luxury these experiences were, with loved ones or in solitude.