tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35671547626037046622024-02-19T04:36:26.810-08:00Travel Foodie at HeartA collection of recipies, photographs, art projects, and travel diaries.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3567154762603704662.post-9022763604254419732011-01-23T17:07:00.000-08:002011-01-23T17:11:11.071-08:00Whole Wheat Nutty Banana BreadMost of my blog entries have been about travel, but the real reason I began this blog was to keep a collection of all my recipes. I LOVE to cook, eat, and do all things food related. So...here is my first recipe blog entry. There will be more to come...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_R0NoiZsZ9AAs92WO4naQYX11awAVnHv6NGHZgVoZFv0BPAeaJ7sz6f5x4OgrU3Ea2SXoeoCKHFvaIUnSw9PSv03muWFm4xs13_UMuS-T9kzRJZ4WePdguAmKTquM5QjwFKrxtIPRthY/s1600/Banana+Bread+Ingredients.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_R0NoiZsZ9AAs92WO4naQYX11awAVnHv6NGHZgVoZFv0BPAeaJ7sz6f5x4OgrU3Ea2SXoeoCKHFvaIUnSw9PSv03muWFm4xs13_UMuS-T9kzRJZ4WePdguAmKTquM5QjwFKrxtIPRthY/s320/Banana+Bread+Ingredients.jpg" width="201" /></a></td></tr>
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</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><strong> What you need:</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;">1 stick of softened unsalted butter</div><div style="text-align: center;">1/2 cup of golden brown sugar (packed)</div><div style="text-align: center;">1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon</div><div style="text-align: center;">1/2 teaspoon of salt</div><div style="text-align: center;">3/4teaspon baking soda</div><div style="text-align: center;">1 teaspon vanilla extract</div><div style="text-align: center;">2 cups of mashed ripe bananas (with brown skins)</div><div style="text-align: center;">1/8 cup of honey</div><div style="text-align: center;">2 eggs</div><div style="text-align: center;">2 cups whole wheat flour</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>What to do:</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;">Preheat oven to 350 degrees.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Blend together butter, sugar, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and vanilla until smooth. Then add the wet ingredients: bananas, eggs, and honey. Again, blend together until smooth. Add the flour 1 cup at a time and blend until smooth. At this time, add nuts, raisins, cranberries, etc. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Pour batter into a greased 9x5 loaf pan and bake for 55 minutes.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Pull bread out of the oven and let cool in loaf pan for at least 15 minutes. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Once cool to the touch, let rest and cool down on baking rack.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Slice and ENJOY!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Final Product</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3567154762603704662.post-37869808684554544002011-01-15T23:50:00.000-08:002011-01-15T23:50:31.837-08:00Los Angeles ZooIn an effort to work on my photography skills and practice more with my camera, I decided to spend my "Furlough Friday" at the LA Zoo. I haven't visited the zoo since I was much younger (even though my sister worked there all throughout her high school years). I expected that this would be a great place to take pictures. Admission at the zoo is currently $14 for adults.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXgnKza-SYl69z-fCWWwfgUbF_4NUug2lCZd4ykrEJA2NdRUuwjIu88k0DLznDTyDdNvDKmrdTitFaJJVXfYLDtywYfOPGoC9ixL6UPFd-b39esdfPe2eZCIedSb63UsWuxRcZmSdfVCM/s1600/DSC_0425.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXgnKza-SYl69z-fCWWwfgUbF_4NUug2lCZd4ykrEJA2NdRUuwjIu88k0DLznDTyDdNvDKmrdTitFaJJVXfYLDtywYfOPGoC9ixL6UPFd-b39esdfPe2eZCIedSb63UsWuxRcZmSdfVCM/s320/DSC_0425.JPG" width="212" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3567154762603704662.post-86880460882148657132011-01-07T19:17:00.000-08:002011-01-07T19:17:26.573-08:00Travel Plans for 2011!It's only January and the travel plans have already begun!<br />
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1) Europe - London and Paris for sure, maybe Rome too! I'm going with one of my oldest and dearest friends from high school! I'm so excited for this trip!<br />
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2) Washington State - I read a blog about a girl who took a solocation to Washington and fell in love with her adventure, so this may or may not be a solocation for me. My sister also wants to visit Washington and the door is open for her to join me.<br />
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3) Georgia - Going for a childhood friend's wedding and taking in some of the sights as well!<br />
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4) Tahiti (or Australia) - Timeshare with my honey! Our annual vacation! <br />
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5) Las Vegas - Ok so Vegas is not really a vacation for me because I live in California and its only a few hours drive away, but this year's trip is special. It's to celebrate graduation with my friend from college! We started our journey together 4 years ago, and whenever asked "What are you going to do when you graduate," we always said, "GO TO VEGAS!" <br />
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Sounds like a lot of places to visit and at this rate, I should be around the world in no time!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3567154762603704662.post-54065825040728837212011-01-01T18:23:00.000-08:002011-01-01T18:25:06.235-08:00Year End Solocation - Day 3<strong>DAY 3: 17 Mile Scenic Drive: Monterey, CA</strong><br />
Our Yosemite National Park trip had been cancelled due to dangerous conditions. Our tour bus replaced the Yosemite trip with a trip through the 17 Mile Scenic Drive in Monterey, CA. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look Closely...SEA LIONS!</td></tr>
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This ended our trip. I have to say that the 17 mile was beautiful, but I was still very disappointed that we did not get to go to Yosemite, but overall was satisfied by my entire experience.<br />
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<strong>Afterthoughts:</strong><br />
I must agree with all the people who told me that taking a solocation was a liberating experience. Although I was not really alone, but with a giant bus full of other tourists. I did learn a lot about myself and set some great goals for the following year. I also discovered that I am okay to do things alone and self-consciousness should not be a real issue...the only issue is whether or not I am happy doing what it is that I am doing. It's going to take some time to get the solo travel part down, but here is what I learned:<br />
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1) Bring a map! or a GPS with charger!<br />
2) Plan ahead... Planning the tours, places to eat, and things to do is very important! I learned that without planning (for me at least), I would have walked aimlessly around town and getting lost. Write down and schedule your own itinerary.<br />
3) Do your research...places to go, safest routes, background, times that places open and close, etc.<br />
4) Although one may be enjoying the city, always keep your eyes and ears open. Walk with you head held high and with confidence. <br />
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I will definitely be doing another solo vacation, but next time without an actual tour group. I want to challenge myself to see if I can really handle being out in a new town by myself. I plan to end up in Washington State this summer. <br />
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Lastly, I found through this solocation that I want to take myself out on a fancy date. At least every few months, I want to take myself out to dinner at an expensive steakhouse and a movie after, practice being ble to say "table for one please."Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3567154762603704662.post-31468749757821401362011-01-01T17:16:00.000-08:002011-01-01T17:20:33.354-08:00Year End Solocation - Day 2 (Part 2)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><strong>DAY 2 - extended city tour</strong>: First Stop: <strong>Saint Mary's Cathedral, San Francisco</strong><br />
Known for it's architecture and beautifully decorated interior, Saint Mary's Cathedral is one of the stops on the tour. Unfortunately, a wedding ceremony was going on, therefore we could not actually enter the cathedral.<br />
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<strong>DAY 2 - extended city tour</strong>: Second Stop: <strong>The Painted Ladies, San Francisco</strong><br />
Another famous landmark in SF is The Painted Ladies. The six houses on Steiner street survived the 1906 earthquake and is sometimes known as "Postcard Row". The architectural style is Victorian and was very popular for it's time. These 6 houses were seen on the opening credits of the TV show Full House.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong>DAY 2 - extended city tour</strong>: Third Stop: <strong>The Castro</strong><strong>, San Francisco</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The Castro District is America's largest and most well known gay neighborhood. "The Castro remains a symbol and source of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lesbian" title="Lesbian"><span style="color: #0645ad;">lesbian</span></a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gay" title="Gay"><span style="color: #0645ad;">gay</span></a>, <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bisexual" title="Bisexual"><span style="color: #0645ad;">bisexual</span></a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transgender" title="Transgender"><span style="color: #0645ad;">transgender</span></a> (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT" title="LGBT"><span style="color: #0645ad;">LGBT</span></a>) activism and events." (Wiki). We only passed by this location, but did not get to stop.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong>DAY 2 - extended city tour</strong>: Fourth Stop: <strong>Twin Peaks,</strong><strong> San Francisco</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The highest location in SF, it is the perfect spot to view the entire city (from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Bay Bridge)! We only had 15 minutes to stop and take pictures. Oh how I wish that we could have visited this place at night...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEMdAIDx4Iy7c0XMIFh6XBxAgblQqPLGZdOuSap4d0EzkOr5D0B0YN38mwnj0zOp2dK7H2kCj54h8cTz0cv4QkLnQpyIiMw5L_RxH-ntNkmuOBb_Wvgdt-N5JHVaaQcQDsMrT8xxPrWMo/s1600/DSC_0099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEMdAIDx4Iy7c0XMIFh6XBxAgblQqPLGZdOuSap4d0EzkOr5D0B0YN38mwnj0zOp2dK7H2kCj54h8cTz0cv4QkLnQpyIiMw5L_RxH-ntNkmuOBb_Wvgdt-N5JHVaaQcQDsMrT8xxPrWMo/s320/DSC_0099.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<strong>DAY 2 - extended city tour</strong>: Fifth Stop: <strong>SF Capitol Builing</strong><strong>, San Francisco</strong><br />
This spot on the tour was quite interesting. The Capitol Building in SF looks like a miniature version of the US Capitol Building and The White House combined. It is said that the top of the building is made of real gold. In addition, there is a giant sculpture in front of the building titled "Three Heads Six Arms" which was donated from China.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQz4YTzHxNxUOE7Szsqh0MurZacwjagGDJUUErMrf3gSG0jL8rMGEHEtgNu44WfvIw3HBE2LnVh4d_fqouVUOyUVH1EjCw-uPwFIq-6l2dMYBwEoEclY6vcglTItzoGecfkVcRZ9pKYoI/s1600/DSC_0129.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQz4YTzHxNxUOE7Szsqh0MurZacwjagGDJUUErMrf3gSG0jL8rMGEHEtgNu44WfvIw3HBE2LnVh4d_fqouVUOyUVH1EjCw-uPwFIq-6l2dMYBwEoEclY6vcglTItzoGecfkVcRZ9pKYoI/s320/DSC_0129.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio7QZbg0m8Z59A9BMjgwc4HSQrWxX2DnoZGeH5GroAjFj_MpFpnL9YV49BY3RhM6TWyGbtTHnH4kBQXPU12vSAEWafCrvoxECqxoSAeQtHpGj0rGvPFQ4JTJnv0EX1_sWLHmiejPn2gto/s1600/DSC_0128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="209" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio7QZbg0m8Z59A9BMjgwc4HSQrWxX2DnoZGeH5GroAjFj_MpFpnL9YV49BY3RhM6TWyGbtTHnH4kBQXPU12vSAEWafCrvoxECqxoSAeQtHpGj0rGvPFQ4JTJnv0EX1_sWLHmiejPn2gto/s320/DSC_0128.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong>DAY 2 - extended city tour</strong>: Sixth Stop: <strong>Treasure Island</strong><strong>, San Francisco</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">No not in Las Vegas and not an actual island, Treasure Island is the best view of the city at night. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2lo0ZYmpWyY/TR_JMHD3TtI/AAAAAAAAAWo/feonGpIrIpE/s1600/DSC_0144.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="51" n4="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2lo0ZYmpWyY/TR_JMHD3TtI/AAAAAAAAAWo/feonGpIrIpE/s320/DSC_0144.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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This was our final stop on the tour and we headed back to the hotel. After this day of running around the city, I was exhausted. I got a quick bite to eat at a small thai restaurant and ended the day. Our following day was originally scheduled to head out to Yosemite National Park. I was pretty excited about this location because I had never been and always wanted to go. We got the bad news at the end of the night that our trip was cancelled due to dangerous conditions. Our tour company went to plan B and would take us to the 17 Mile Scenic Drive in Monterey, CA. It was off to bed as we had to be packed and ready to leave the next morning at 6:30 am. <br />
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3567154762603704662.post-55854254425955981892011-01-01T16:30:00.000-08:002011-01-01T16:30:46.447-08:00Year End Solocation - Day 2 (Part 1)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> Wake up call at 6:20 am and on the road by 7:00 am. The Courtyard Marriott in Newark, CA is about 40 minutes outside of San Francisco ("SF"). I took a nap on the bus and we arrived at our first location...<br />
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<strong>DAY 2</strong>: First Stop: <strong>Chinatown, San Francisco</strong><br />
This particular Chinatown is one of the largest in the United States. Because I have been to SF many times before, I remembered that there was one main street with all the shops, hanging lanterns, and dragon entrances. However, we did not get to see that part of Chinatown. Rather, the tour bus stopped only for breakfast. I had a craving for an American breakfast (eggs, bacon, sausage, hash browns, etc.) rather than the dim sum style Chinese breakfast that the tour group was going to have. I ventured off from the group and found a small Chinese restaurant that served American breakfast for under $5! What a steal! We only had an hour to eat and take a look around Chinatown, which was hardly enough time to truly explore. So I ate my breakfast, took a few photos, and went on my way with the group...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSZLJFakpwdwGb6E1rJA33iSctCRSPwDxZZSxSot8LV3FxFazxJ9w-twch4ECLEZYP1oSFtt6fBB-jEf0zuLWMRdgMHs7XEjW_rWUjMYfn8ET-u0TfbG4_xgz3iRoGYRywCp9riQLsNrI/s1600/DSC_1023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSZLJFakpwdwGb6E1rJA33iSctCRSPwDxZZSxSot8LV3FxFazxJ9w-twch4ECLEZYP1oSFtt6fBB-jEf0zuLWMRdgMHs7XEjW_rWUjMYfn8ET-u0TfbG4_xgz3iRoGYRywCp9riQLsNrI/s320/DSC_1023.JPG" width="212" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong>DAY 2</strong>: Second Stop: <strong>The Palace of Fine Arts, San Francisco</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In all the times I have visited SF, I have never visited The Palace of Fine Arts. I don't really know the story or history behind it, but you can find more info at <a href="http://www.palaceoffinearts.org/">http://www.palaceoffinearts.org/</a>. The bus only stopped here for about 10 minutes so that we could take a few pictures outside, and then we were on our way.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2lo0ZYmpWyY/TR-5t27yusI/AAAAAAAAAVo/yBeCcId2MZs/s1600/DSC_1053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" n4="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2lo0ZYmpWyY/TR-5t27yusI/AAAAAAAAAVo/yBeCcId2MZs/s320/DSC_1053.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<strong>DAY 2</strong>: Third Stop: <strong>Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco</strong><br />
Probably the most famous landmark in SF, our next stop was at the Golden Gate Bridge. We got off the bus at the viewpoint at the start of the bridge. The piece of trivia that I learned from our tour guide is that the color of the bridge is actually "international orange" and it was painted this bright so that it could be seen even in the very foggy days in the bay area. The bus gave us an hour and I made it under the first column before I had to walk back to make it to the bus on time.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2lo0ZYmpWyY/TR-51V4goNI/AAAAAAAAAVs/Jtb-f_Yhvks/s1600/DSC_1060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2lo0ZYmpWyY/TR-51V4goNI/AAAAAAAAAVs/Jtb-f_Yhvks/s320/DSC_1060.JPG" width="212" /></a></div><br />
<strong>DAY 2</strong>: Fourth Stop: <strong>Lombard Street, San Francisco</strong><br />
This is the curviest street in the world. The story is that the hill was so steep that there were numerous car accidents every day. The government wanted to shut down the street itself in order to eliminate the problem. The citizens of SF did not want to close the street, so the government came up with the idea to incorporate curves in the road in order to slow down the drivers. This street is lined with houses and a walkway for tourists to walk along. A great test for anyone's driving skills.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2lo0ZYmpWyY/TR--DMFE_iI/AAAAAAAAAVw/4VwmZCquFTk/s1600/DSC_1098.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2lo0ZYmpWyY/TR--DMFE_iI/AAAAAAAAAVw/4VwmZCquFTk/s320/DSC_1098.JPG" width="212" /></a></div><br />
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</div>Another thing unique to SF is their moving landmark...cable cars. Although our tour bus did not have time for us to actually ride one, we saw one passing by...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2lo0ZYmpWyY/TR--qmra_PI/AAAAAAAAAV4/FdvkvOOz8d8/s1600/DSC_1093.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" n4="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2lo0ZYmpWyY/TR--qmra_PI/AAAAAAAAAV4/FdvkvOOz8d8/s320/DSC_1093.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<strong>DAY 2</strong>: Fifth Stop: <strong>Fisherman's Wharf and Pier 39, San Francisco</strong><br />
The tour bus gave us a few hours to roam around Fisherman's Wharf and Pier 39. Home of the famous clam chowder bowl. We were also given the option of the bay tour by boat. I opted for the boat tour and did not have much time to roam around and explore. We only had about 45 minutes to eat lunch and get in line for the boat. I stopped to have only a corn dog so I would have time to take some pictures before the boat ride.<br />
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The boat tour was about an hour long. The lines to get on the boat wrapped around the pier, but luckily as part of the tour, we got in a much shorter line which guaranteed that we would be on the boat. We passed underneath the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz Island. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGb-Dt6kGyWh-olfmsUIkOPYqlZKHV1j3MZ5whY7Xw1nFLlWNIZowtiLhTsQY2ONEZ6l9WCEcS5MmEd0mdIHmmJ7OfWXZk40hzxcBZUbbNkmMyqEEeyqGfBOtxlu0blzdjFcQXFCdzf0M/s1600/DSC_1161.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGb-Dt6kGyWh-olfmsUIkOPYqlZKHV1j3MZ5whY7Xw1nFLlWNIZowtiLhTsQY2ONEZ6l9WCEcS5MmEd0mdIHmmJ7OfWXZk40hzxcBZUbbNkmMyqEEeyqGfBOtxlu0blzdjFcQXFCdzf0M/s320/DSC_1161.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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Once we were done with the bay area boat tour, our tour bus gave us the option to be dropped off in Chinatown to do some solo exploration or to go on the extended city tour. I opted for the extended city tour to see some things that I haven't yet experienced in all my previous visits to SF.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3567154762603704662.post-32683558242824272342011-01-01T01:00:00.000-08:002011-01-01T01:13:00.146-08:00Year End Solocation - Day 1For the longest time, I've toyed with the idea of traveling solo. And for the longest time, I've come up with excuses why I should not or cannot do it. To name a few: self consciousness, fear of getting lost, my relationship, and the idea that traveling alone would be boring. This past year, I've been doing tons of soul searching and self discovery. I decided that the best way to reflect on 2010 would be to do a solocation. It was a last minute decision so I booked a tour (<a href="http://www.gotobus.com/">http://www.gotobus.com/</a>) rather than doing a 100% solo trip.<br />
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The tour I chose was from Los Angeles, to Solvang, to Hearst Castle, to San Francisco, and Yosemite National Park. We departed from Chinatown at 6:45 am on December 29, 2010. We did bus transfer in Monterey Park and were on our way.<br />
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On a side note, let me do a little review on the bus company. They are on time and the staff is friendly. The tour buses themselves are clean, have a bathroom, TV monitors, and overhead storage. It's sort of like the inside of an airplane. What I didn't realize was that most of the tour patrons were Chinese. It was cute (for a lack of better words), the tour guide would say the tour details in English first, then translate everything into Chinese. The people on the bus were very friendly and opted to help take photos of me cause all my self-portraits didn't look too great. Now on to day 1.<br />
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<strong>DAY 1: </strong>First Stop: <strong>SOLVANG, CA</strong><br />
Solvang is a small town located close to Santa Barbara, CA. What makes this a unique stop on the tour is that the architecture is Dutch. Windmills and all. The story is that many, many years ago, Dutch settlers had a dream to make this untouched land in California like their home. They wanted to incorporate the styles of architecture, language, food, and culture into the land. Today, it's a tourist spot worth a few hours of roaming the streets, having lunch, and checking out the shops. The bus dropped us off and gave us about 2 hours to tour.<br />
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This is where I also had my first solo meal. I stopped for breakfast at The Belgian Cafe. I felt a little awkward as a said to the hostess, "table for one please." I ordered a Belgian waffle and thoroughly savored my meal.<br />
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<strong>DAY 1: </strong>Second Stop: <strong>Hearst Castle, CA</strong><br />
Hearst Castle sits high atop a mountain. It was owned and built by newspaper tycoon Randolph Hearst. After Mr. Hearst passed away, the Hearst estate donated the castle to the government and it is now a State park. (Find More info at <a href="http://www.hearstcastle.org/">http://www.hearstcastle.org/</a>). I opted to do the tour offered by the bus company. My personal feelings are that it is not actually what I had imagined a castle to be. It is more of an extravagant mansion filled with marble sculptures and ornate decorations and pieces of art. Hearst Castle was about 2 hours away from Solvang.<br />
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After Hearst Castle, the tour bus headed off for their dinner location. Dinner was also about 2 hours away. They stopped off at a Chinese Buffet located in a plaza like structure. The plaza also had a deli and Pho/Noodle restaurant. I went for the hot and warm Pho on a such a cold night. Again, I asked the host, still a bit self-conscious - "table for one."<br />
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After dinner, we headed off to the hotel. The hotel we stayed at was the Courtyard Marriott in Newark, CA. It was a nice and clean hotel located amongst several shops and plazas. Once alone in the privacy of my very own room, I jumped up and down on the beds like a 5 year old. I checked out all the amenities and then just sat in silence, amazed the I was doing this trip solo! I was simply ecstatic in my heart and mind. I felt amazingly liberated and free from everything.<br />
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We started off our next morning into San Francisco at 7:00 am. Another adventure awaited...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3567154762603704662.post-83559467215997483972010-12-27T13:11:00.000-08:002010-12-27T13:38:33.481-08:00Christmas 2010 in San Diego, CAChristmas time is one that I love spending time with my family. San Diego, CA has always been a favorite place to visit for my family. I have very many fond memories of the city from when I was a child. So this Christmas, my mother, sister, our dog stitch, and I headed down for our family vacation!<br />
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We stayed at the Sheraton Hotel, which was pet friendly (free of charge)! It's the very first vacation our dog has ever gone with us. We were only in town for one night and when we arrived, we took some time to check out the grounds of our hotel.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After the exploration of the hotel was done, we headed off to dinner. Most places were closed on Christmas day, but we went into Downtown San Diego and found many places open along 5th avenue. We chose a fancy steakhouse that offered 21 day dry aged filet mignon! Yummm.... But it wasn't that easy. The waiter we had was super friendly. We ordered our food and when it came out on the table...a ROACH crawled out of one of the side dishes! Well...we walked out on the meal and the bill! I've listed my full review on yelp.com. Well, after the steakhouse fiasco, we opted for room service at the hotel. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Our next day was spent at Seaport Village. We spent the day eating, visiting all the cute shops, walking the dog around the area, and taking lots of pictures!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3567154762603704662.post-67813251651406128902010-12-26T21:39:00.000-08:002010-12-26T21:53:40.097-08:00Downtown Los AngelesIn going through my camera, I found this great picture...no story, just thought I'd share!<br />
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</div>We arrived at a giant warehouse in the heart of Los Angeles. It was pouring rain in the early hours of the morning, but regardless of the weather, over 50+ volunteers showed up to donate their time. This was the first time I had ever worked with this organization and was a bit excited to see what they had in store for us. We watched a video that showed us where the food comes from and who it helps out. It was interesting to know that the bulk of the donations come from large organizations. The food that get sorted by the volunteers gets delivered to senior citizens, children whose families cannot afford to eat on a regular basis, and many more.<br />
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We were assigned the duty of "Juice". As you can see, it meant placing 2 large bottles of apple juice into the plastic bags that were inside the bins. This was our job for the next three hours. It was amazingto see the rows of people setting up the bins and bags, then to go down the row and see one volunteer after another placing their specific item into each bag. By the end of the day, we were tired, yet happy knowing that our dirty hands and aching shoulders would help someone else have a meal for the day or even week. <br />
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It was quite a sight to see all the bins stacked up high for just a few hours of work. Definetly worthwhile!<br />
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(Note: These pictures were taken from my iphone rather than my D40)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3567154762603704662.post-30721990666639970622010-12-24T01:59:00.000-08:002010-12-24T02:34:44.771-08:00Cancun, Mexico 2010 - November 2010<strong>Day 6: Coba Ruins</strong><br />
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We had met some fellow travelers on our trip to Cancun. They had been gracious throughout our trip and offered to take us to go visit the Mayan Ruins. There are many different ruin sites in Cancun, but our new friends said that this one was the most beautiful and interactive!<br />
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It was a little more than 2 hours away from hotel row. We arrived and again, decided that exploration on our own was better than doing the guided tour. We rented bicycles and went on our way...<br />
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We saw some of the most beautiful ruins beneath some of the most tropical trees!<br />
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This final photo was the "interactive" part of the ruins! It is one of the tallest Mayan Ruins and we were about to climb to the top! I took a deep breath and started my climb!...Needless to say, I am very afraid of heights and there was nothing to hold on to but a rope!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiisK8gJnp04RUkdtYfcuXlSUzi24RBu_tTLGPfdhz9HPQgMLlOJ1B7wT3Itswhdlf694813Sn_tkx2sx4Ieq99-D9bUR3RR7BSq-pn6nXmjqgn5XipxBUPfK2ozgN93B331e2sjOVk5g8/s1600/DSC_0585.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiisK8gJnp04RUkdtYfcuXlSUzi24RBu_tTLGPfdhz9HPQgMLlOJ1B7wT3Itswhdlf694813Sn_tkx2sx4Ieq99-D9bUR3RR7BSq-pn6nXmjqgn5XipxBUPfK2ozgN93B331e2sjOVk5g8/s320/DSC_0585.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The view from the top made the climb all worth it!</div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">At the end of the day, we found a small restaurant next to the ruins. These meals were cheap and delicious! I ordered the Mexican Spaghetti...(i now regret not taking a picture of it first, but i was starving at the time). I found out that Mexican Spaghetti is spaghetti with the tomato sauce and cubed ham, then it was covered with a mexican cheese and evaporated milk! Strange as it may sound, it had an almost mac & cheese quality to it. It's definetly a dish that I will never forget and that I may recreate one day in my own kitchen. </div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We were extremely exhausted from this day trip that we spent our evening back at the hotel having dinner with our new friends. The following day (Day 7) was our last day in Cancun. I made our last breakfast and we enjoyed it on our balcony. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYf-20XgUaVIpvt-bB6NPmJM4VMIsHC671HQRbFCe-fJCEL1VHLjRjXcIevgBfNWiklXshsbOQtM7_Sy4tzeSSqePArSBiBXXy97XBxOEX5maiUtntkl9uC0KOjH_uXHy_IqiQ0KWQEWQ/s1600/IMG_0105.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYf-20XgUaVIpvt-bB6NPmJM4VMIsHC671HQRbFCe-fJCEL1VHLjRjXcIevgBfNWiklXshsbOQtM7_Sy4tzeSSqePArSBiBXXy97XBxOEX5maiUtntkl9uC0KOjH_uXHy_IqiQ0KWQEWQ/s320/IMG_0105.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We decided to relax on this day and spend it by the pool and at the beach...On our final day here, we made one last friend...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2lo0ZYmpWyY/TRR2qEKfv5I/AAAAAAAAAT0/syKGjaYLkx0/s1600/IMG_0110.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2lo0ZYmpWyY/TRR2qEKfv5I/AAAAAAAAAT0/syKGjaYLkx0/s320/IMG_0110.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3567154762603704662.post-4374988248144164032010-12-23T23:14:00.000-08:002010-12-24T00:52:00.313-08:00Cancun, Mexico 2010 - November 2010 Part 2<strong>Day 4: Downtown Cancun</strong><br />
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Now that we had figured out our way around the town, night #4 started with a tour around the nightlife in Downtown Cancun. There are about 10 bars and nightclubs right next to one another. Every few feet there are "promoters" trying to get you into their club/bar. After a while, it's pretty annoying. Anyhow, we decided to go to an open bar for $10 per person all you can drink, and then head into the most happenin' club (at least to the locals) Coco Bongo. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2lo0ZYmpWyY/TRRHVRCuwcI/AAAAAAAAASQ/4QQRIVd6Sfk/s1600/IMG_0046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" n4="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2lo0ZYmpWyY/TRRHVRCuwcI/AAAAAAAAASQ/4QQRIVd6Sfk/s200/IMG_0046.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Barra Libre!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Coco Bongo was quite an experience! It's not like most of the nightclubs in Los Angeles. From the time they open until about 2AM, it's a live musical show. Performers come out and sing, dance, and fly through the air with ziplines. It's a small floor with a few tables and bars to stand and dance around in. Once the performances are over, it turns into a typical nightclub with dancing and loud music, and in Cancun...the party does not stop until the sun rises! <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coco Bongo</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2lo0ZYmpWyY/TRRHhJJp81I/AAAAAAAAASU/EcHC1bjPUk4/s1600/IMG_0026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2lo0ZYmpWyY/TRRHhJJp81I/AAAAAAAAASU/EcHC1bjPUk4/s320/IMG_0026.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coco Bongo</td></tr>
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">We got tired pretty early (2AM) in the morning and headed out of Coco Bongo to find us some food! Now, I am a lover of Mexican food and was craving some tacos! Hidden behind one of the bars in an alleyway is a restaurant that sells tacos, burritos, and fajitas. We tried the carne asada (steak) tacos and they were fine. But then I saw something roasting on a spit and insisted on trying it out. I found out that these were Al Pastor (pork) marinated tacos...and i fell in LOVE! Needless to say, we had these tacos almost every night for the remainder of our trip!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-KqK2nyXHFZ0GKoMDO6hQuD1Wkw7UuorbR1pN5Smn-OfdktCQK5b5zYrgkNq70YELsQT1tsbumhCXwr_F4yfB3QWmdezI4BJMQSCNNADK9gmzM6ol9keU2poOqJRVsVcenGi7E3u7J_A/s1600/IMG_0057.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-KqK2nyXHFZ0GKoMDO6hQuD1Wkw7UuorbR1pN5Smn-OfdktCQK5b5zYrgkNq70YELsQT1tsbumhCXwr_F4yfB3QWmdezI4BJMQSCNNADK9gmzM6ol9keU2poOqJRVsVcenGi7E3u7J_A/s320/IMG_0057.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
These tacos were the perfect way to end the night! We hopped back on the bus and went back to our hotel.<br />
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<strong>Day 5: Isla Mujeres</strong><br />
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We woke up the next morning and set off to take a tour of Isla Mujeres (The Woman's Island). Most hotels offered group tours to the Island that cost anywhere from $50-$100 per person! To us, this was a sort of outrageous price, so we decided to do it ourselves. We took the bus to the ferry stop, which is just about a mile past Downtown Cancun. The ferry ride was $15 per person and took about 30 minutes. The waters on the way to Isla Mujeres were amazingly blue! It looks like what you would see on a postcard. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2lo0ZYmpWyY/TRRQjEWB0dI/AAAAAAAAASk/bVeXt__OecQ/s1600/DSC_0374.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" n4="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2lo0ZYmpWyY/TRRQjEWB0dI/AAAAAAAAASk/bVeXt__OecQ/s200/DSC_0374.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitQNSTY633Gh6RI_0uTMcD2Zd2hUTYyu4jMbpuydup97hTJKqdHErOEvfhq9fhrTEuHtsbZpnfw8H_sy91xZP79kJXqY4YoHey5kNAMFPBBEuhbmps471JJ2T-EH_k4jgytxi8bmSfV8Q/s1600/DSC_0349.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitQNSTY633Gh6RI_0uTMcD2Zd2hUTYyu4jMbpuydup97hTJKqdHErOEvfhq9fhrTEuHtsbZpnfw8H_sy91xZP79kJXqY4YoHey5kNAMFPBBEuhbmps471JJ2T-EH_k4jgytxi8bmSfV8Q/s200/DSC_0349.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2lo0ZYmpWyY/TRRRHH6WJmI/AAAAAAAAASs/vqwme55O47U/s1600/DSC_0353.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" n4="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2lo0ZYmpWyY/TRRRHH6WJmI/AAAAAAAAASs/vqwme55O47U/s400/DSC_0353.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Once we got onto the island, it was time to explore! First getting off the ferry, again, you are bombarded with people trying to sell you things or come join their tour. It's pretty difficult to navigate through the number of people selling things. We chose to rent a moped for $25 for the whole day and explore on our own. There are many small hotels and small local restaurants further into the island. We found an ice cream cart on the side of the road and tasted what seemed to be the smoothest and lightest coconut ice cream! Yum! We continued on our moped ride and took several pictures of the natural beauty that surrounded us. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moped Rental</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ice Cream Cart</td></tr>
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</div>We ended our moped tour on the beach with a couple of cervezas. The waters at the beach on the island were much calmer than those in front of our hotel. We were able to swim for hours! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbPwQ0_zJphzFlQ6zcAAgNZ5Tebvqw5OC5V2zr3CSoa-pvynszIosXF3zWFnP51NjnoGJehpCOJnD7r96gao1pjcIVV9zNmWXgfieDBxX45rx2NoKmyaBXQTK_EaoJFnMlxKq3CdOFXGA/s1600/DSC_0488.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbPwQ0_zJphzFlQ6zcAAgNZ5Tebvqw5OC5V2zr3CSoa-pvynszIosXF3zWFnP51NjnoGJehpCOJnD7r96gao1pjcIVV9zNmWXgfieDBxX45rx2NoKmyaBXQTK_EaoJFnMlxKq3CdOFXGA/s320/DSC_0488.JPG" width="212" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv9T1BBmgCV2bDEDhKGZ72xBGhRpmhwavRhD2cNDnyHlRK1dzeMCknkvP7GWwVHdvQYcp46alOITPy4i57TVj3XruWKYQW4zubsKHj6hQ9f9G14tu2aMHrqO3fhBVgVFpHv0lASRLnWUE/s1600/DSC_0502.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv9T1BBmgCV2bDEDhKGZ72xBGhRpmhwavRhD2cNDnyHlRK1dzeMCknkvP7GWwVHdvQYcp46alOITPy4i57TVj3XruWKYQW4zubsKHj6hQ9f9G14tu2aMHrqO3fhBVgVFpHv0lASRLnWUE/s320/DSC_0502.JPG" width="212" /></a></div><br />
We ended our day back on the ferry with the beautiful sunset!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2lo0ZYmpWyY/TRRfA8c6VAI/AAAAAAAAATU/WqFSPzmgSpw/s1600/IMG_0076.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2lo0ZYmpWyY/TRRfA8c6VAI/AAAAAAAAATU/WqFSPzmgSpw/s320/IMG_0076.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3567154762603704662.post-85415580175527959772010-12-23T22:34:00.000-08:002010-12-23T22:39:35.743-08:00Cancun, Mexico 2010 - November 2010 Part 1Every year, I make it a point to travel to a different part of the world / United States. The past few years, I have visited places like Cabo San Lucas and Aruba. This year, I wanted to visit Cancun. I've heard for years about the beautiful beaches and amazingly blue waters and I was going to get to see it with my own eyes. <br />
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We arrived for a seven day vacation in beautiful Cancun! We stayed at the Omni Resorts as part of our timeshare excange with Interval International. I have some mixed reviews on the Omni itself. First the great part was it was beachfront and the staff was super friendly. The bad parts is that although the Omni is one of the highest rated hotels, that was just it...its a HOTEL! When one owns a timeshare, the expectation is a place that has a fully functioning kitchen...even if it is just a studio. This is so that we save money while on the trip, but instead they are trying to convert this hotel into a timeshare property, and the rooms have some poor excuse for a makeshift kitchen. Now that all of my reviews are out of the way, lets start with the trip and some beautiful pictures. <br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2lo0ZYmpWyY/TRQ-ABGduDI/AAAAAAAAASE/Q0ec0DNpUvI/s1600/IMG_0025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2lo0ZYmpWyY/TRQ-ABGduDI/AAAAAAAAASE/Q0ec0DNpUvI/s320/IMG_0025.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Day 1-3: <br />
Most of these days were spent roaming around Cancun figuring our way around the town and enjoying the hotel amenities. We discovered the local bus, Downtown, and of course...WAL-Mart! The local bus is $0.85 per person and runs all day and night. It's actually really safe. Downtown is where all the nightlife happens. Walmart is where we did most of our grocery shopping in order to save on our food budget for the week.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2lo0ZYmpWyY/TRQ9354XFEI/AAAAAAAAASA/E1auiSSRaTQ/s1600/DSC_0337.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2lo0ZYmpWyY/TRQ9354XFEI/AAAAAAAAASA/E1auiSSRaTQ/s320/DSC_0337.JPG" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Omni Canun Beachfront</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm7i_3oBnqT6eiICzQMTK-1vqq9AIssAgiJ3ueK4jHKiwKmbLYv3wutaCotYTRuPx56V0E7Y1XMiUg7m_KRfkEZVNHt6dSLV4PA_u3_Ydq5SXyJnOtmI6lKbVCtqb1OnZG3gKUT_YE-mo/s1600/IMG_0061.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm7i_3oBnqT6eiICzQMTK-1vqq9AIssAgiJ3ueK4jHKiwKmbLYv3wutaCotYTRuPx56V0E7Y1XMiUg7m_KRfkEZVNHt6dSLV4PA_u3_Ydq5SXyJnOtmI6lKbVCtqb1OnZG3gKUT_YE-mo/s320/IMG_0061.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of the Lagoon from our Hotel</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2lo0ZYmpWyY/TRQ-PA8tBAI/AAAAAAAAASM/luUotFhxD9M/s1600/IMG_0066.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2lo0ZYmpWyY/TRQ-PA8tBAI/AAAAAAAAASM/luUotFhxD9M/s320/IMG_0066.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poolside Reading</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3567154762603704662.post-58743075916238575772010-12-23T14:42:00.000-08:002010-12-23T14:45:37.509-08:00Volunteering at the Diabetes Walk - November 2010Volunteering is really beginning to become a passion for me. It feels amazing being able to give up my time in order to help someone else that may really need it. No thank you's needed, just the warmth in my heart. I've decided that I was going to spend at least one day each month giving up my time in order to help out a worthy cause. For the month of November 2010, the diabetes walk was the best opportunity to give back.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitBLJVJMraKZtDsKgDsAI3yZDrS5KrWo59346H3727O3BBoXEXsJCbtAYO9ZzXHlEeN3rp18R_oDWIcMx1NvEXrk6Zh6a2nNSgEVuwDo-gxi96Oa6AYHSWXav7g9LatS9Nc-cr2y11ssg/s1600/Diabetes+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitBLJVJMraKZtDsKgDsAI3yZDrS5KrWo59346H3727O3BBoXEXsJCbtAYO9ZzXHlEeN3rp18R_oDWIcMx1NvEXrk6Zh6a2nNSgEVuwDo-gxi96Oa6AYHSWXav7g9LatS9Nc-cr2y11ssg/s320/Diabetes+1.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This year's Diabetes walk was held early morning in the backlot of Universal Studio's Hollywood. It was a three mile walk with two rest stations set up for the walkers. My portion of the volunteer duties was to hand out water, frutis, and snacks at rest stop #2. It was inspiring to see children, adults, grandparents, and families walking for a cause. Again, I was pretty inspired by not only the walkers, but by the countless volunteers who dedicated their Sunday morning to help a great cause!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXsS_CUAHp1TdVq1ROes2Jlt4DwJwy5J9JW_Qq4OI-PpHPm-1Q854CFou3PTXBt3WNf5XykAOwjeAy5jXKG-c-fLee_pI7QljtgrEDRWxRzpYm3VKF9CnNmtCydaqUXS_VxLEUPilHuPo/s1600/Diabetes+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXsS_CUAHp1TdVq1ROes2Jlt4DwJwy5J9JW_Qq4OI-PpHPm-1Q854CFou3PTXBt3WNf5XykAOwjeAy5jXKG-c-fLee_pI7QljtgrEDRWxRzpYm3VKF9CnNmtCydaqUXS_VxLEUPilHuPo/s320/Diabetes+2.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3567154762603704662.post-41699329837280681822010-12-15T23:05:00.000-08:002010-12-15T23:05:28.055-08:00Volunteer for the Nephcure Foundation - November 2010<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2lo0ZYmpWyY/TQmyinvlp8I/AAAAAAAAARw/Mrwi-_QgrRo/s1600/DSC_0079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" n4="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2lo0ZYmpWyY/TQmyinvlp8I/AAAAAAAAARw/Mrwi-_QgrRo/s320/DSC_0079.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="left">I decided that volunteer work would be the next step in giving back to my community and finding things that I can become more passionate about. I found this organization on volunteermatch.com. It was for the Nephcure Walk which was being held in Santa Monica, CA. This particular walk deals with persons who suffer from nephrotic syndrome which affects the kidneys. As I mentioned in an earlier post, I lost my father about four years ago to Kidney failure. With that connection, I decided that this cause would be my first volunteer opportunity.</div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left">I arrived bright and early at the Santa Monica Pier and met with the volunteer coordinator, Catherine Lepone. She was an amazing person working for a great cause. I met some wonderful people who shared their stories about the family members that suffered from nephrotic syndrome. Everyone from patients, family, and even doctors from UCLA arrieved to show their support. In addition to general help with set up, information, and breakdown of the booths, I luckily brought by D40 (which I carry everywhere!). This gave me an opportunity to volunteer by doing something I love...taking photographs!</div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left">Overall, this is a great organization, and I hope to volunteer again next year for the Nephcure walks!</div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggBuH-_1jMi3kExSX9P8jHfofX6JCpdZi7ilTi5ZkDxnu6zyuk9FqsUjLcncZ6vD9bWs6gCS94OAet1wNHzuxZYGQzBFkUd6D9In0cfJfQ7gZgN2J0GW1hZqpyEXz2MtzIoxzuErOa7QM/s1600/DSC_0080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggBuH-_1jMi3kExSX9P8jHfofX6JCpdZi7ilTi5ZkDxnu6zyuk9FqsUjLcncZ6vD9bWs6gCS94OAet1wNHzuxZYGQzBFkUd6D9In0cfJfQ7gZgN2J0GW1hZqpyEXz2MtzIoxzuErOa7QM/s320/DSC_0080.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3567154762603704662.post-19162504329020104252010-12-12T22:09:00.000-08:002010-12-12T22:09:51.633-08:00On A Double Decker Bus - October 15, 2010With my ongoing quest to discover the city I live in, a friend and I decided to take one of those super touristy double decker bus tours through Hollywood to see if we could discover anything new in our hometown. We planned our day of tourism in the city we live two weeks in advance, but just our luck...it was a rainy day.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAHq6wmouB9dyZGYYrIFhXE9MMQDJgNRw1Ooq63KRY_1tPocE7wJ_qKybjzKBuEXzCQrxyJW7GdyW_5Hb2LEHkVtPzE4NE3JFUrO05qyF1zC25-1-2pn83OTXXLViB186XYHmv9xrQwto/s1600/3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAHq6wmouB9dyZGYYrIFhXE9MMQDJgNRw1Ooq63KRY_1tPocE7wJ_qKybjzKBuEXzCQrxyJW7GdyW_5Hb2LEHkVtPzE4NE3JFUrO05qyF1zC25-1-2pn83OTXXLViB186XYHmv9xrQwto/s200/3.JPG" width="132" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2lo0ZYmpWyY/TQW0CB8wyBI/AAAAAAAAARE/SwTDttHiSU4/s1600/1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" n4="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2lo0ZYmpWyY/TQW0CB8wyBI/AAAAAAAAARE/SwTDttHiSU4/s200/1.JPG" width="132" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We hopped on the bus and started our tour. We passed by some pretty interesting things, but nothing that I didn't already know about. Below are some of the highlights from the tour. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDsBOW4uIH_o6yt3Acj3VCwWFULRhqrStOYQSTywjivqNgdxYMO8knoIHjyaoN0w_4hZQDb6bt3-AlezLg3M6Vce-UwMlKwB9_LNlbxaV9NIA7iGTtrj5mb73Qo92pcLl5QDPO6taUIWU/s1600/DSC_0974.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDsBOW4uIH_o6yt3Acj3VCwWFULRhqrStOYQSTywjivqNgdxYMO8knoIHjyaoN0w_4hZQDb6bt3-AlezLg3M6Vce-UwMlKwB9_LNlbxaV9NIA7iGTtrj5mb73Qo92pcLl5QDPO6taUIWU/s320/DSC_0974.JPG" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grauman's Chinese Theater</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcu1rfSxTN5gTG8pVhzPAyv7eqk-FkCoWh4MTz5kH9bno1c1CmYCOykwELErsZpc3fREt5qXJtPfaVyEdisZ-gsVQicj3oS3X4ZT4cBNL9INylZbp9VoIIRdnct3UEpjA9Y-VWAwnJoVA/s1600/DSC_0978.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="132" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcu1rfSxTN5gTG8pVhzPAyv7eqk-FkCoWh4MTz5kH9bno1c1CmYCOykwELErsZpc3fREt5qXJtPfaVyEdisZ-gsVQicj3oS3X4ZT4cBNL9INylZbp9VoIIRdnct3UEpjA9Y-VWAwnJoVA/s200/DSC_0978.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">House of Blues</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2lo0ZYmpWyY/TQW2UpvLPCI/AAAAAAAAARU/It09N4zhCLU/s1600/DSC_1004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2lo0ZYmpWyY/TQW2UpvLPCI/AAAAAAAAARU/It09N4zhCLU/s320/DSC_1004.JPG" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rodeo Drive!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2lo0ZYmpWyY/TQW2b2y9fKI/AAAAAAAAARY/uOHmWmjGQNE/s1600/DSC_1016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2lo0ZYmpWyY/TQW2b2y9fKI/AAAAAAAAARY/uOHmWmjGQNE/s320/DSC_1016.JPG" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paramount Pictures Studios</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2lo0ZYmpWyY/TQW2h6AVoeI/AAAAAAAAARc/QjvD2sRnYj4/s1600/DSC_1017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="132" n4="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2lo0ZYmpWyY/TQW2h6AVoeI/AAAAAAAAARc/QjvD2sRnYj4/s200/DSC_1017.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hollywood Forever Cemetary</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrhzoPgE49RnJE-WNkaeeLN-q_CTm2d64xNPkas4pxa53tfYv_aXDWsfiw0PPAMwmb_sK0HYx4B9VIKJiYbzvYtBiDRpwQOL4q7eralKXX8jiiFf49lQsI88TAKs8WjDVmO0aFxMVGmwk/s1600/DSC_1025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrhzoPgE49RnJE-WNkaeeLN-q_CTm2d64xNPkas4pxa53tfYv_aXDWsfiw0PPAMwmb_sK0HYx4B9VIKJiYbzvYtBiDRpwQOL4q7eralKXX8jiiFf49lQsI88TAKs8WjDVmO0aFxMVGmwk/s320/DSC_1025.JPG" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pantages Theater</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2lo0ZYmpWyY/TQW2w12XlgI/AAAAAAAAARk/97fpD79buTk/s1600/DSC_1022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2lo0ZYmpWyY/TQW2w12XlgI/AAAAAAAAARk/97fpD79buTk/s320/DSC_1022.JPG" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">KTLA Studios</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhww4njsGjQDuRxu59PLqIKjl20phThfI1aKqgnGCKaOYEdDaDGI4ysWbu_XwUFDbPSXY5HSjbU2dBprem4gYpxFNJmvGXqP8ngJOLbj27j89nIxI_oKoUA_Drlf9Bv-HzuE7E84F8Wps4/s1600/DSC_1042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhww4njsGjQDuRxu59PLqIKjl20phThfI1aKqgnGCKaOYEdDaDGI4ysWbu_XwUFDbPSXY5HSjbU2dBprem4gYpxFNJmvGXqP8ngJOLbj27j89nIxI_oKoUA_Drlf9Bv-HzuE7E84F8Wps4/s320/DSC_1042.JPG" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">El Capitan Theater</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2lo0ZYmpWyY/TQW3SHLONlI/AAAAAAAAARs/Qv-fovbR48U/s1600/DSC_1045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" n4="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2lo0ZYmpWyY/TQW3SHLONlI/AAAAAAAAARs/Qv-fovbR48U/s200/DSC_1045.JPG" width="132" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Strangest lookin 'elmo' I've seen<br />
entertaining the crowd <br />
on Hollywood Blvd</td></tr>
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3567154762603704662.post-77700558667034962032010-12-12T19:54:00.000-08:002010-12-12T19:54:37.238-08:00Kidney Walk 2010 - October 2010One of the other goals of the year was to get out and give back more. I didn't get started on this goal until closer to the end of the year, but I found a cause that was truly meaningful to me. I decided to join the 2010 National Kidney Foundation, Kidney Walk. The background is that when I was younger, my father was diagnosed with kidney failure. He was only given a few years to live, but he survived well past what the doctors had predicted. He underwent dialysis in order to survive, and by the time a kidney was available for transplant, his body was too weak to accept the kidney. He passed away four years ago with his long battle with kidney failure. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2lo0ZYmpWyY/TQWYqr4mOmI/AAAAAAAAAQ8/1jtnkjlW4O0/s1600/DSC_0928.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" n4="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2lo0ZYmpWyY/TQWYqr4mOmI/AAAAAAAAAQ8/1jtnkjlW4O0/s320/DSC_0928.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I found this walk online and signed up to be a walker. My mom and sister were so inspired by my efforts, they decided to join with me. Knowing how poor the economy is and that most people didn't have extra money to spare, I posted my cause on my facebook page at an attempt to receive donations. I was extremely surprised to find out that people had opened their hearts and donated to my cause! I was able to raise $300 in 10 days! If you add the money that my mom and sister raised, the grand total came to $800! From friends that I've known since childhood, to friends that I've only met once in my life, to old bosses, neighbors, family, and friends that are thousands of miles away, donations came in! Even if friends were unable to donate, they provided me with words of support! Although I've already said it at the time, I am so very thankful to have such wonderful people with big hearts in my life!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpcld0YS8qVMLyTQ2k9AwiPsTY998xaJkKrfkmlF7gj82t4xgQfr_oNRymDlDl9eMslrH988QQX-xkkADYPwnsNXR57rVdIsbtalm6Vy2TyoeY0A-DM-gwKXIr8rKmp_ocJBLDR_ixQuo/s1600/DSC_0918.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="206" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpcld0YS8qVMLyTQ2k9AwiPsTY998xaJkKrfkmlF7gj82t4xgQfr_oNRymDlDl9eMslrH988QQX-xkkADYPwnsNXR57rVdIsbtalm6Vy2TyoeY0A-DM-gwKXIr8rKmp_ocJBLDR_ixQuo/s320/DSC_0918.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The walk began at 8:00 am! It was a gloomy day with on and off sprinkles. Even with the poor weather, hundreds of people came out to participate and show their support for the Kidney Foundation...It was pretty inspiring to be a part of something larger than myself. Next year, I plan to be on the other side and volunteer for such a great cause...</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3567154762603704662.post-61639060201884039772010-12-11T14:10:00.000-08:002010-12-11T14:10:59.199-08:00Birthday Adventure... Santa Barbara to Santa Monica - September 11, 2010Birthdays are usually not a big deal for me. I don't really enjoy the loud parties and lots of drinking. I'd rather spend my days living through experiences with the people that really mean something to me. This year, I wanted to spend the day in Santa Barbara, CA. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF2X66QGLWvcwatB0JKxh6AZxm8RyBIpfSXOasXRJHQx5rMi-fO6b55LU2z0WbOOQJ-gfXjermIjvdwV0uhGI_UFOJqIcbqqt5kBjGIrdzPakMpSDiKB9w_o1M9XuX9mKskBTKlLUfFbs/s1600/DSC_0352.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF2X66QGLWvcwatB0JKxh6AZxm8RyBIpfSXOasXRJHQx5rMi-fO6b55LU2z0WbOOQJ-gfXjermIjvdwV0uhGI_UFOJqIcbqqt5kBjGIrdzPakMpSDiKB9w_o1M9XuX9mKskBTKlLUfFbs/s320/DSC_0352.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Santa Barbara Beach</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2lo0ZYmpWyY/TQP1k_HThPI/AAAAAAAAAQU/CVQCB1ZAvNA/s1600/DSC_0336.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" n4="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2lo0ZYmpWyY/TQP1k_HThPI/AAAAAAAAAQU/CVQCB1ZAvNA/s320/DSC_0336.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">September 11 Tribute on the Santa Barbara Beach</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8DNmdarLIVPr0o6fUb2Uwjf-yAwa2YKEYfPh2BqU70cIym8DI5Lx0TAL6se0r-LKAgxabcSIaOlw8NX3yf7nXNM_WKk8QtqKVCodqE24zGscoNDzB0bB4nlypkDNRduvxF1FKY8juHxA/s1600/DSC_0385.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8DNmdarLIVPr0o6fUb2Uwjf-yAwa2YKEYfPh2BqU70cIym8DI5Lx0TAL6se0r-LKAgxabcSIaOlw8NX3yf7nXNM_WKk8QtqKVCodqE24zGscoNDzB0bB4nlypkDNRduvxF1FKY8juHxA/s320/DSC_0385.JPG" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Skater's Point, Santa Barbara, CA</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2yl9LHq0W3dBsGDnwTyZ1JcuL1t2JizJ-PZPJQCq_pgRTOHa6LA6pv9pAmCHfANHOUWu6nzhnReAK3oHmSnt4saX6Cy3LBSRXoXB96jmk8F-tHhN2FxT8wlfhR3z7BlL_cON2YmXehKA/s1600/DSC_0401.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="203" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2yl9LHq0W3dBsGDnwTyZ1JcuL1t2JizJ-PZPJQCq_pgRTOHa6LA6pv9pAmCHfANHOUWu6nzhnReAK3oHmSnt4saX6Cy3LBSRXoXB96jmk8F-tHhN2FxT8wlfhR3z7BlL_cON2YmXehKA/s320/DSC_0401.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Santa Barbara Mission</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2lo0ZYmpWyY/TQP19w8Dh0I/AAAAAAAAAQg/oH_QvRzggUs/s1600/DSC_0420.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2lo0ZYmpWyY/TQP19w8Dh0I/AAAAAAAAAQg/oH_QvRzggUs/s320/DSC_0420.JPG" width="206" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Santa Barbara Mission</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUTi-w3vABBbSsjg0ZrR35bhNEjDPlCbLCpFvap8qjZfnSK1wiuK9xtidVvhbjBOFQf9wodGczYvp26Ppl_MysdBlk2-JtRQPl0911PPvnpuwZPfFNecgpO_3K4041guxqKm0M-UGMoCU/s1600/DSC_0465.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUTi-w3vABBbSsjg0ZrR35bhNEjDPlCbLCpFvap8qjZfnSK1wiuK9xtidVvhbjBOFQf9wodGczYvp26Ppl_MysdBlk2-JtRQPl0911PPvnpuwZPfFNecgpO_3K4041guxqKm0M-UGMoCU/s320/DSC_0465.JPG" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ride through the Mountains from<br />
Santa Barbara to PCH</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiood3f4kRcdRbq7oke-acN3eEAUtszKZjxXvpI09TydT0P5ZGCqABNqs_y3XS3AnBqlKSHe1HL59qKHRu-M87YXxvDuxoGaFF-hhVT7mKLOGiaeka5rhJypaG6HzEpycc6ZguP_395C_M/s1600/DSC_0502.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiood3f4kRcdRbq7oke-acN3eEAUtszKZjxXvpI09TydT0P5ZGCqABNqs_y3XS3AnBqlKSHe1HL59qKHRu-M87YXxvDuxoGaFF-hhVT7mKLOGiaeka5rhJypaG6HzEpycc6ZguP_395C_M/s320/DSC_0502.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stop by the Beach on PCH</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCzwAWytUyfz5w3deWsKNbs0uWyb_ynJaO6P2gRKIMyeQ_cY_8tpsjIwBEDupCDFHReY9UbX0_CoH6YzgjxAbPerBuUkakoKmKfQVVjP8PBJlbilwdq6CmG2ngcDZHezM1FTz3VGcEJi4/s1600/DSC_0537.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCzwAWytUyfz5w3deWsKNbs0uWyb_ynJaO6P2gRKIMyeQ_cY_8tpsjIwBEDupCDFHReY9UbX0_CoH6YzgjxAbPerBuUkakoKmKfQVVjP8PBJlbilwdq6CmG2ngcDZHezM1FTz3VGcEJi4/s320/DSC_0537.JPG" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">September 11 Tribute at <br />
Pepperdine University</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3567154762603704662.post-2224521611361720032010-12-11T11:58:00.000-08:002010-12-11T11:58:17.063-08:00Washington DC (Day 2 - Part 2) - September 5, 2010<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>The second part of day 2 started with dinner at Grillfish. <br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNPaODJKICTQHSrzCLFqaoyeV6O8Q0924jfZboKXjnO9hIMbGrSMlObF7Sk_WNhMwH7SrA0ahqTgSciwcBLYjo8YGMQtwEBHbs6l3G_SVSpDviaPtZv4oDu92MKY4iMvc8N_bKeAsok5s/s1600/267.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNPaODJKICTQHSrzCLFqaoyeV6O8Q0924jfZboKXjnO9hIMbGrSMlObF7Sk_WNhMwH7SrA0ahqTgSciwcBLYjo8YGMQtwEBHbs6l3G_SVSpDviaPtZv4oDu92MKY4iMvc8N_bKeAsok5s/s320/267.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deep Fried Artichokes</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2lo0ZYmpWyY/TQPNna7v3XI/AAAAAAAAAPA/6P1ebIMxc94/s1600/268.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2lo0ZYmpWyY/TQPNna7v3XI/AAAAAAAAAPA/6P1ebIMxc94/s320/268.JPG" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seafood Kabob</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGHVTvhS_EB5uoc2fe0imb7MgqGN3oSe0yZkWUVnYzfT1M2DOpqTziqJMOgMapiAiHyExSx2B7DqoQBrPxyVcsIMavl8wjo81B_UaOimGHqbxh6DYEOMrEWFKdB0fVF-vZnrSu2PUiXro/s1600/269.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGHVTvhS_EB5uoc2fe0imb7MgqGN3oSe0yZkWUVnYzfT1M2DOpqTziqJMOgMapiAiHyExSx2B7DqoQBrPxyVcsIMavl8wjo81B_UaOimGHqbxh6DYEOMrEWFKdB0fVF-vZnrSu2PUiXro/s320/269.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seafood Alfredo</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio2BNhyphenhyphen2wDG-RovbCfDn5X_NFCOmFKvz6E9t6q_f5ENn9Q7Dh9q9GorkB4D1c1GDqkVxQ3wid8u3oz_rrVzV_-g8ezgXWHhxlbaXjRQ9F-ClWMSA8zTV-9y5Vmet3gyYeH8jjIXhHBYBk/s1600/270.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio2BNhyphenhyphen2wDG-RovbCfDn5X_NFCOmFKvz6E9t6q_f5ENn9Q7Dh9q9GorkB4D1c1GDqkVxQ3wid8u3oz_rrVzV_-g8ezgXWHhxlbaXjRQ9F-ClWMSA8zTV-9y5Vmet3gyYeH8jjIXhHBYBk/s320/270.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swordfish with fingerling potato and fried onions</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Once dinner was done we got ready to head to the US Capitol building. It being Labor Day weekend, the US National Symphony was having a free concert on the grounds of the US Capitol. It was absolutely breathtaking to hear and see the symphony against the beautiful backdrop that is our nation's captial.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbkCIlBfQKTaI-4H4N6u7-oYv6bred-WH42XLZA1eQWMY4_6XCe1AqV6mUHN9U9Hwaw24gy0Ecj_9R3maOPgQOBAgLXUtKqv6xN0Bv3McfGIur2dTErqYbfbS33R-57a2-8JnY-xEedPs/s1600/274.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbkCIlBfQKTaI-4H4N6u7-oYv6bred-WH42XLZA1eQWMY4_6XCe1AqV6mUHN9U9Hwaw24gy0Ecj_9R3maOPgQOBAgLXUtKqv6xN0Bv3McfGIur2dTErqYbfbS33R-57a2-8JnY-xEedPs/s320/274.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhHAj0JrbuXrYBoqXAsyfsS9oflWCfNEKc-JItSLqYvxgqryBura2_ZGTAS91a8DMySoCMEScwUR6kTN_DK020sfLs0a4squPvSSaObA3DwTtHf2sL87LopbQncyASz3XTdCvh2jUlKsQ/s1600/276.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhHAj0JrbuXrYBoqXAsyfsS9oflWCfNEKc-JItSLqYvxgqryBura2_ZGTAS91a8DMySoCMEScwUR6kTN_DK020sfLs0a4squPvSSaObA3DwTtHf2sL87LopbQncyASz3XTdCvh2jUlKsQ/s320/276.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
The concert ended at around 9:00 pm and then it was off to do our 3-mile walking tour of the nation's monuments at night. Although we had seen most of the monuments during the day, I had read reviews, seen pictures, and inquired about a 'monuments by moonlight' tour. Apparently it is a totally different experience to see these monuments at night and I must agree that they were lit up beautifully. <br />
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Stop 1: US Capitol and Reflecting Pool<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitILRqIn1QB8H2IGROHRMPZ_XXX6OhtqPUMdIqx6RPbGIaUQSmSqeUAtLSKCES1AOXYv6AakV3lpFNzFM97lNU1m4cBGZZys_XgzHxQDCprFjEKrQdBhh9JQgRyO75I3pmNPyyaeOgH8Q/s1600/279.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitILRqIn1QB8H2IGROHRMPZ_XXX6OhtqPUMdIqx6RPbGIaUQSmSqeUAtLSKCES1AOXYv6AakV3lpFNzFM97lNU1m4cBGZZys_XgzHxQDCprFjEKrQdBhh9JQgRyO75I3pmNPyyaeOgH8Q/s320/279.JPG" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">US Capitol Reflecting Pool</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt84nHScjUZOkUho7KWZeTZEh7m5UrkYUlUgfvA8rttWy4-ucZLWnMlkQ2tdAT2kHz9-nljtbCEwVKTJM2Kt2ESGIdbprX0DgWf4bCtXuQ77sIWpj5YAMN7S4ZqsAkD4Fl6fgzqwUyQhk/s1600/282.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt84nHScjUZOkUho7KWZeTZEh7m5UrkYUlUgfvA8rttWy4-ucZLWnMlkQ2tdAT2kHz9-nljtbCEwVKTJM2Kt2ESGIdbprX0DgWf4bCtXuQ77sIWpj5YAMN7S4ZqsAkD4Fl6fgzqwUyQhk/s320/282.JPG" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Front of the US Capitol Building</td></tr>
</tbody></table>We then continued down the hill and walked over one mile past the Smithsonian Museums. It was quite scary being two girls walking in the dark at night in a pretty desolate street. But nevertheless, we kept our eyes and ears open and continued on walking. We ended up at the Washington Monument.<br />
<br />
Stop 2: The Washington Monument<br />
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By the time we got to the Washington Monument, there were lots of tourists and other people taking pictures. It wasn't quite as scary as our walk to get there. Our next stop was across the street at the World War II Memorial. Again, there were many people visiting this monument so we felt much more comfortable roaming the streets at night. The fountains are only lit up until about midnight, then they shut the lights and the fountains off. <br />
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Stop 3: The World War II Memorial<br />
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Stop 4: The Washington Monument Reflecting Pool<br />
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Our last and final stop on the 'monuments by moonlight' self-guided walking tour was to turn around and enjoy the Lincoln Memorial. <br />
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Stop 5: The Lincoln Memorial<br />
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After an exhausting walking tour. we headed back to our hotel to get some rest and prepare for the next morning's flight back home.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3567154762603704662.post-38848882566193095252010-12-11T00:44:00.000-08:002010-12-11T11:11:51.170-08:00Washington DC (Day 2) - September 5, 2010Washington DC Day 2 was filled with activities! After a long night out, we got up quite early and headed out for Day 2 of touring. We hopped on our trolley and headed over to the National Cathedral.<br />
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Stop 1: National Cathedral<br />
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The Washington National Cathedral is a beautifully ornate church. There are several alters and prayer rooms. The main alter is in the center of the cathedral. There are pews in the front that are specifically designated for government officials. Each of the seats are labeled, there's even one specific seat for the president!<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Stop 2: Ok, so stop 2 was not an actual stop, but a drive down embassy row and through Georgetown.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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Stop 3: The Smithsonian Museums<br />
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There are many Smithsonian Museums throughout Washington DC. It would take more than one day to truly visit and appreciate each of the museums. In the center of all these museums is the National Mall which is quite famous for the rallies and protests that happen in DC. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Smithsonian Museum of Natural History</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Hope Diamond<br />
Smithsonian Museum of Natural History</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Smithsonian Castle<br />
(actually just a visitor center)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Smithsonian Aerospace Museum</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">National Gallery of Art</td></tr>
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Visiting the Smithsonian Museums was a truly tiring event. We decided to take a cab back to the Hotel rather than walking the 2 miles back. It was now time to rest, eat, and prepare for our second night out in DC!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3567154762603704662.post-3334737937368965102010-12-10T21:27:00.000-08:002010-12-12T14:28:16.662-08:00Washington DC (Day 1) - September 4, 2010It's my first vacation of the year and my friends and I have decided to visit the nation's capital. I've never visited the eastcoast and figured that this would be a great opportunity to go. We spent three days in DC and attempted to experience everything that the city have to offer. The DC posts will be separated in to three different posts in order to cover all the places that we visited. <br />
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We arrived early Friday morning and checked into our hotel, The Saint Gregory Luxury Suites. We got there several hours before check-in time and got a free suite upgrade! How awesome! We decided that the best way to get around town was by taking the trolley tour. The trolley would take you to all the major points of interest. You can hop on and off the trolley at different locations and spend as much time as you want at each point of interest. At the time they had a buy one day and get the second day free! What a steal. Below are photos from a few of the more popular stops. We attempted to stop by all the smaller monuments and museums, but we just plain ran out of time. <br />
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Stop 1: Union Station<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Union Station</td></tr>
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Stop 2: Jefferson Memorial</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2lo0ZYmpWyY/TQMMt3XBuXI/AAAAAAAAAMo/5eRcMFQko8o/s1600/33.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="130" n4="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2lo0ZYmpWyY/TQMMt3XBuXI/AAAAAAAAAMo/5eRcMFQko8o/s200/33.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn1eDt1xxr1zi9iWXxyyPqT9gvSmKVY5IxEN4Y9vtYZxNuzHYt9Mdm4tPnp8QZOs5LSOgoRPp0FmwEQ-lAuorRYgQ6gjbaOJ14xzFA6LcRp8mmJoHteQhuTdnh2jYg58e_BnEBPs4A2RY/s1600/39.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="154" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn1eDt1xxr1zi9iWXxyyPqT9gvSmKVY5IxEN4Y9vtYZxNuzHYt9Mdm4tPnp8QZOs5LSOgoRPp0FmwEQ-lAuorRYgQ6gjbaOJ14xzFA6LcRp8mmJoHteQhuTdnh2jYg58e_BnEBPs4A2RY/s200/39.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"> Stop 3: Lincoln Memorial</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfjb7Ro9yyD5BgMIG5yfFke3XUNZ3BU3qlfcO7c77oGhZfM-okPJDUmzv6kgi8bHT-UzgrdhXCzI2PSzdgFJB6z3VQPVmQVL3JPJ3DCr6FAFk2cpMNIb5RjQ555I96rujdtiGNBWOjDcs/s1600/63.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfjb7Ro9yyD5BgMIG5yfFke3XUNZ3BU3qlfcO7c77oGhZfM-okPJDUmzv6kgi8bHT-UzgrdhXCzI2PSzdgFJB6z3VQPVmQVL3JPJ3DCr6FAFk2cpMNIb5RjQ555I96rujdtiGNBWOjDcs/s320/63.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2lo0ZYmpWyY/TQMeKZ0XXPI/AAAAAAAAANc/nDURZp2x8TE/s1600/76.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2lo0ZYmpWyY/TQMeKZ0XXPI/AAAAAAAAANc/nDURZp2x8TE/s320/76.JPG" width="211" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div align="left" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;">Stop 4: The Washington Monument</div><div align="left" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2lo0ZYmpWyY/TQMes2NHB0I/AAAAAAAAANg/_Cg7eQGKg3A/s1600/50.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2lo0ZYmpWyY/TQMe4yxleVI/AAAAAAAAANk/KW82w-r4oBo/s1600/71.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2lo0ZYmpWyY/TQMe4yxleVI/AAAAAAAAANk/KW82w-r4oBo/s320/71.JPG" width="212" /></a> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2lo0ZYmpWyY/TQMe9k6WLPI/AAAAAAAAANo/5s2JpWi792k/s1600/93.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2lo0ZYmpWyY/TQMe9k6WLPI/AAAAAAAAANo/5s2JpWi792k/s320/93.JPG" width="190" /></a> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;">Stop 5: The Arlington Cemetary</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2lo0ZYmpWyY/TQMhIvESegI/AAAAAAAAANs/iHhGoUG6a78/s1600/90.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" n4="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2lo0ZYmpWyY/TQMhIvESegI/AAAAAAAAANs/iHhGoUG6a78/s320/90.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Stop 6: The White House</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2lo0ZYmpWyY/TQMhmqvUg_I/AAAAAAAAANw/Q31FCDCPFZY/s1600/98.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2lo0ZYmpWyY/TQMhmqvUg_I/AAAAAAAAANw/Q31FCDCPFZY/s320/98.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCypJXyq9OMj2dW-VPxt4k-IOUxYX7mBJ33zRo2wER5W4xPKzZCt4iOd5qRreXSoUAcxg3vWBFhyphenhyphendkE3YJbkwHba8g-Hux2xVFQa65XjZt2mBM3X_IkG-m7aRaGJ39UJfdqrCQIk2MKxg/s1600/108.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCypJXyq9OMj2dW-VPxt4k-IOUxYX7mBJ33zRo2wER5W4xPKzZCt4iOd5qRreXSoUAcxg3vWBFhyphenhyphendkE3YJbkwHba8g-Hux2xVFQa65XjZt2mBM3X_IkG-m7aRaGJ39UJfdqrCQIk2MKxg/s320/108.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
The White House is where we ended the first part of our day. For me, it was pretty amazing to tour our nation's capital. After many years of history class from elementary through high school, it was pretty great to see everything in person. After a long and exhausting day of walking and touring...it was time to EAT! We ended up at th M Bar and Grill right next to our hotel...and what would a foodie blog be without pictures of what we ate! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF_HiVkzU3nbWMFKUGmW-OYEfd5exbrzROvvAAdW7TZ-X7EM4QQJScsPe5jOsg9Ga0XauPLvHbLMI8j-Gi7_NVJLI27SrtKsubeZ9XMr4JTa2ig1504HtVmUKzmO1yxZ4LVXHnR4cJC_8/s1600/115.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF_HiVkzU3nbWMFKUGmW-OYEfd5exbrzROvvAAdW7TZ-X7EM4QQJScsPe5jOsg9Ga0XauPLvHbLMI8j-Gi7_NVJLI27SrtKsubeZ9XMr4JTa2ig1504HtVmUKzmO1yxZ4LVXHnR4cJC_8/s320/115.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shrimp and Grits from M Bar and Grill</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgVLDUqKh2k_9GLhhrPq7vfRpceUiRUSIMtdHfuqkoQLztKdyKHE_1tQzySZHuZsleYzJz7rfYzzw5pBZYMgUthjVT3A57JC80FkZlFs4n5tAIE14eAOnS2hQ1U4UCWllfV4ILXUP2SOk/s1600/116.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgVLDUqKh2k_9GLhhrPq7vfRpceUiRUSIMtdHfuqkoQLztKdyKHE_1tQzySZHuZsleYzJz7rfYzzw5pBZYMgUthjVT3A57JC80FkZlFs4n5tAIE14eAOnS2hQ1U4UCWllfV4ILXUP2SOk/s320/116.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pepper Crusted Pork from M Bar and Grill</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2lo0ZYmpWyY/TQMjhuxLLLI/AAAAAAAAAOA/3HqGwopJTnE/s1600/117.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" n4="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2lo0ZYmpWyY/TQMjhuxLLLI/AAAAAAAAAOA/3HqGwopJTnE/s320/117.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Salmon and Green Beans from M Bar and Grill</td></tr>
</tbody></table>After eating and refueling, we headed back to the hotel to get some rest and prepare for our first night out in Dupont Circle. It's just too bad I did not bring my camera for our night out on the town. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3567154762603704662.post-3880236129662696922010-12-10T19:55:00.000-08:002010-12-10T20:17:46.220-08:00Downtown Los Angeles (Part 2) - August 29, 2010<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2lo0ZYmpWyY/TQLvjK7wL6I/AAAAAAAAAL4/9EVO46lajPo/s1600/DSC_0001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" n4="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2lo0ZYmpWyY/TQLvjK7wL6I/AAAAAAAAAL4/9EVO46lajPo/s200/DSC_0001.JPG" width="132" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grand Hope Park</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioFRNknSJS4lsCj8ytAeS5xYCuvtLYcqzkTjp6DbQBJg3vYlKkucULf2t2rRLiAUSKTh9LYQSzSUU9PnyCUddpeTrkMRutUAUtjFtGx9-Ete9O1S9BMbTRQadJkT-c6hyBTInQZPCsPAs/s1600/DSC_0300.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; height: 343px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; width: 213px;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioFRNknSJS4lsCj8ytAeS5xYCuvtLYcqzkTjp6DbQBJg3vYlKkucULf2t2rRLiAUSKTh9LYQSzSUU9PnyCUddpeTrkMRutUAUtjFtGx9-Ete9O1S9BMbTRQadJkT-c6hyBTInQZPCsPAs/s320/DSC_0300.JPG" width="212" /></a>My love for the heart of Downtown Los Angeles has grown immensely over this past year. I just used to think of it as the city I spent most of my days working in. Surrounded by sky high buildings and historic sites, I decided that this was the year to venture into the city and experience more. In my previous post, I had visited Bunker Hill. This time around, I visited the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising ('FIDM'), Grand Hope Park, and the Bradbury Building. Each of these sites are unique in their own ways, yet slightly hidden that you may not even know the architecture and history behind the exterior facades. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOGqYiFFy_zOjCC3-kxnZMrShycSmLgsCTDwzkS6J0PE5Yh9qPaCIpPXbFz0Td6OIoo-rY2I8Y7FucdbBYBJPIfnRqsZolCRjdKUvVvAVeNSuzV8a4P-ruZB9brVU5873Ob625qhx-Orc/s1600/DSC_0125.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOGqYiFFy_zOjCC3-kxnZMrShycSmLgsCTDwzkS6J0PE5Yh9qPaCIpPXbFz0Td6OIoo-rY2I8Y7FucdbBYBJPIfnRqsZolCRjdKUvVvAVeNSuzV8a4P-ruZB9brVU5873Ob625qhx-Orc/s320/DSC_0125.JPG" width="161" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5oMkhq14EOy_-RLKFxvhRi42JfQAm-2Mlt6pMpmszgcftjLPc5XG9bBSWB3XuonPx6LBavNjQIq1DBRPGP_l2OiyT4FRue5gjGBHpeyT-E6rqKvOmPouo0wDcs1cjnr6dEEptXU4F8a0/s1600/DSC_0095.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5oMkhq14EOy_-RLKFxvhRi42JfQAm-2Mlt6pMpmszgcftjLPc5XG9bBSWB3XuonPx6LBavNjQIq1DBRPGP_l2OiyT4FRue5gjGBHpeyT-E6rqKvOmPouo0wDcs1cjnr6dEEptXU4F8a0/s200/DSC_0095.JPG" width="132" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2lo0ZYmpWyY/TQLwAvDvnzI/AAAAAAAAAMI/JhL-6q9YohY/s1600/DSC_0143.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="130" n4="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2lo0ZYmpWyY/TQLwAvDvnzI/AAAAAAAAAMI/JhL-6q9YohY/s200/DSC_0143.JPG" width="200" /></a>Let's begin with FIDM. This school is dedicated to fashion. If any of you were fans of the MTV show 'The Hills', This is where LC attended school. A friend and I decided to visit their exhibit in the FIDM museum. Now, although I say museum, it's only a few rooms. And some may be thinking, why would a fashion school have a museum? Yeah, its the same thing I thought. However, it was actually quite interesting. The museum consisted of clothing and costumes from current day television shows such as Mad Men and costumes from the movie Alice in Wonderland with Johnny Depp and Anne Hathaway. It's just too bad that we were not allowed to photograph these amazing costumes!</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2lo0ZYmpWyY/TQLvqhysLnI/AAAAAAAAAL8/wFZWEC5wLZw/s1600/DSC_0038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2lo0ZYmpWyY/TQLvqhysLnI/AAAAAAAAAL8/wFZWEC5wLZw/s320/DSC_0038.JPG" width="211" /></a>Next, we visited Grand Hope Park. This is the park located right outside the doors of FIDM. For being in the middle of the city, it was quite clean and pleasant. There are many seating areas, a children's area, and a fountain. There are also a few sculputures around. I did a little more research and this park also holds activities including yoga, outdoor cinema nights, food fests, etc. Its a little gem in the middle of the big city. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5zIZhTp8lIoj2gtkMVDv14KQkdTZ1peC2mViNkKHpL7SHSPYWrfrOwxFphbpxS7ZNHpQ_mOxIEYPU0KhZfFjJ6vkdiW7kC-NSzkQJRG2IkZcrPlVErS-9zZ7yDTt5qT5OITeXJvFzHrU/s1600/DSC_0157.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5zIZhTp8lIoj2gtkMVDv14KQkdTZ1peC2mViNkKHpL7SHSPYWrfrOwxFphbpxS7ZNHpQ_mOxIEYPU0KhZfFjJ6vkdiW7kC-NSzkQJRG2IkZcrPlVErS-9zZ7yDTt5qT5OITeXJvFzHrU/s320/DSC_0157.JPG" width="208" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhp9wwtmA9GZaydk93PcGbnl0gUzw8zQNCOO0xT-d22cz7XZtItOZ3pH0x9yosVCYXtj2R9qfu6bdb9VPxv_1giW28ypqnjBzqG4ZrwdKj4JW_0ZpwYRE6RpJutnJfXf3M8AkwJJfIa30/s1600/DSC_0204.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhp9wwtmA9GZaydk93PcGbnl0gUzw8zQNCOO0xT-d22cz7XZtItOZ3pH0x9yosVCYXtj2R9qfu6bdb9VPxv_1giW28ypqnjBzqG4ZrwdKj4JW_0ZpwYRE6RpJutnJfXf3M8AkwJJfIa30/s320/DSC_0204.JPG" width="209" /></a>Lastly, we went down to the 'Bradbury Building'. From the outside, this building blends into the background. It is nothing special or fancy on the outside, but step inside and you are transformed into one of the most architecturally detailed buildings in downtown. It was built in 1893 and was then restored in 1991. The details are a combination of ornamental cast iron and hardwood. It has beautiful caged elevators and almost transports you into a different time in history. At this time, you can visit the Bradbury building, but visitors are only allowed on the first floor as the building is still home to many offices and businesses. Although I've worked in downtown for sometime now, I sought out this building because of my love of the movie '500 Days of Summer'. The final scene where he meets Autumn is in this building. Its a great place to visit if your in the area. </div></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3567154762603704662.post-4914645381060759702010-12-09T22:39:00.000-08:002010-12-09T22:46:34.447-08:00The Huntington Library - August 15, 2010<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpvrThDjnSkurXBZC3rsNcQmZYQioDOaoVw8m8c9NA6ra1aNyuScFLp8iDyqrujAQL_l_qaSbz8zAEvaLG2gEiCriQqcd5QXEjtEL4Tvmqckdp2G1bB43h-gxDPmg4hWAkR0k_-b1uv6c/s1600/DSC_0495.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpvrThDjnSkurXBZC3rsNcQmZYQioDOaoVw8m8c9NA6ra1aNyuScFLp8iDyqrujAQL_l_qaSbz8zAEvaLG2gEiCriQqcd5QXEjtEL4Tvmqckdp2G1bB43h-gxDPmg4hWAkR0k_-b1uv6c/s320/DSC_0495.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvctwkdjRJw8vcxswkIKulaUCK9-JSPMYdHNdy3Ib8ECQfYU6IRnJnDdFJuSwDixeyHkB0LTngE6mJQk6M0d4vdVoxEIN-jPt5nuMZee4pb7qJKGfLPQHrIgSc5YVlq-9GruGvYVlGVaU/s1600/DSC_0335.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvctwkdjRJw8vcxswkIKulaUCK9-JSPMYdHNdy3Ib8ECQfYU6IRnJnDdFJuSwDixeyHkB0LTngE6mJQk6M0d4vdVoxEIN-jPt5nuMZee4pb7qJKGfLPQHrIgSc5YVlq-9GruGvYVlGVaU/s200/DSC_0335.JPG" width="132" /></a>The Huntington Library in San Marino, CA is combination of a library, botanical gardens and art collections. It's a great mish mosh of many things that I love and enjoy. What a perfect place to visit! I did not actually go into the library portion, rather I enjoyed the many gardens and art exhibits.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2lo0ZYmpWyY/TQHFUBeTfNI/AAAAAAAAALA/sTzi-YXFKBU/s1600/DSC_0100.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2lo0ZYmpWyY/TQHFUBeTfNI/AAAAAAAAALA/sTzi-YXFKBU/s320/DSC_0100.JPG" width="211" /></a></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpTFLVEce0YtaP1hVGMXXqIF6Jye3OzCSGWkYF8brZ69J2vh2QxdX0jAkb0llAzxMl7KrHp4FN7TmEKkElK9olL4lVuaJPv8a2hU8jqn31hxVQK23KVrkwzyctpvLhNrIQ_xGI-Wsqa5w/s1600/DSC_0483.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpTFLVEce0YtaP1hVGMXXqIF6Jye3OzCSGWkYF8brZ69J2vh2QxdX0jAkb0llAzxMl7KrHp4FN7TmEKkElK9olL4lVuaJPv8a2hU8jqn31hxVQK23KVrkwzyctpvLhNrIQ_xGI-Wsqa5w/s320/DSC_0483.JPG" width="211" /></a>There are a variety of gardens which include the desert, tropical, rose, Japanese, Chinese, children's garden, and many more. Ea<span style="background-color: white;">ch variety of plant and flower are labeled for easy identification. Every</span> few hundred feet, and along various pathways, you are transported into a different world of beauty. There is tea house in the Chinese garden (which was pretty pricey, so I did not actually stop by). The Japanese Garden has a lovely koi pond. There are ducks throughout the gardens. Again, I think that the photographs would best describe the scenery.</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The Huntington Library also offers several art exhibits and concerts at night. The most famous paintings at the Huntington are of 'Blue Boy' and 'Pinkie'. It's definitely worth the visit. You can pay to visit for the day or purchase an annual pass to enjoy the library and its activities year round.<span style="color: black;"></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong>MORE PICTURES AFTER THE JUMP...</strong></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRu81uqe7n-K-t1yhkNmjgxJZDlAeJKry466F29OBPH9INBZ_aL7J81YQybgviX7nlC1J0Bb5SsktJzLXC_Y0yx-ctjpqg0uInxudDwL1ULq4lr5I9asG_bsR9Rb2Iy0dDch9xf2LLkCc/s1600/DSC_0354.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRu81uqe7n-K-t1yhkNmjgxJZDlAeJKry466F29OBPH9INBZ_aL7J81YQybgviX7nlC1J0Bb5SsktJzLXC_Y0yx-ctjpqg0uInxudDwL1ULq4lr5I9asG_bsR9Rb2Iy0dDch9xf2LLkCc/s320/DSC_0354.JPG" width="212" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglVIVrH9K-l3XgUMhoIVLCaafHQQOQOOiQUg8kHTb_FLlpvU8JnIz1Fh4DVJ2fqE6Jn4JGtPnyERX4RAjl28VB8RIw4GnEIAGuzk0sIBlxDlEx2mVPzMaZyz91aYFdicFfh6C16Imlm0k/s1600/DSC_0373.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglVIVrH9K-l3XgUMhoIVLCaafHQQOQOOiQUg8kHTb_FLlpvU8JnIz1Fh4DVJ2fqE6Jn4JGtPnyERX4RAjl28VB8RIw4GnEIAGuzk0sIBlxDlEx2mVPzMaZyz91aYFdicFfh6C16Imlm0k/s320/DSC_0373.JPG" width="212" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3567154762603704662.post-65459979623965273832010-12-08T23:50:00.000-08:002010-12-09T00:12:55.646-08:00Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) - July 25, 2010The Los Angeles County Museum of Art ('LACMA') is one of L.A.'s most beautiful museums. Again, this year has been more about exploring places in my hometown that I have not yet explored or have not been to in a long time. LACMA has always been a place of interest for me and when a friend said that she wanted to go...I was all in!<br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I've always loved art, whether it be sculptures, paintings, historic artifacts, etc. This place has it all! It's got many exhibit halls, but 3 of them were closed at the time of our visit. The photos below can probably best describe this experience and the art that came with it!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhIwd2SGj4lN-pW_FhkGMtRUYXrig1zVpLRTMnrQf31ZdM8Zd62jLB8r8XliMkWuvGQm88HQWejSffTihYhmQ_xjcRQlC-G_B01GYbWT7R2VBfmS8Sl2wyd83VBR5qsR2xVI9rVPmDvCw/s1600/DSC_0866.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhIwd2SGj4lN-pW_FhkGMtRUYXrig1zVpLRTMnrQf31ZdM8Zd62jLB8r8XliMkWuvGQm88HQWejSffTihYhmQ_xjcRQlC-G_B01GYbWT7R2VBfmS8Sl2wyd83VBR5qsR2xVI9rVPmDvCw/s320/DSC_0866.JPG" width="211" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loving the shapes of the walls <br />
in this exhibit!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2lo0ZYmpWyY/TQCFg2H49nI/AAAAAAAAAKY/Tyg1rZc-3G8/s1600/DSC_0807.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2lo0ZYmpWyY/TQCFg2H49nI/AAAAAAAAAKY/Tyg1rZc-3G8/s320/DSC_0807.JPG" width="211" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Japanese Exhibit Hall<br />
(beautiful architecture in this building)</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> </div> <div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a name='more'></a><img border="0" height="212" n4="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2lo0ZYmpWyY/TQCF_wSeMlI/AAAAAAAAAKk/RUjJP8d2pxo/s320/DSC_0881.JPG" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Quiet Time admiring the artwork.</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2lo0ZYmpWyY/TQCGabPWI9I/AAAAAAAAAK0/8QsK2py4xo8/s1600/DSC_0908.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="245" n4="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2lo0ZYmpWyY/TQCGabPWI9I/AAAAAAAAAK0/8QsK2py4xo8/s320/DSC_0908.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Monet.</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2lo0ZYmpWyY/TQCGWMizXwI/AAAAAAAAAKw/FqoP8jNcsWU/s1600/DSC_0903.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2lo0ZYmpWyY/TQCGWMizXwI/AAAAAAAAAKw/FqoP8jNcsWU/s320/DSC_0903.JPG" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Saint Michael</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2lo0ZYmpWyY/TQCGhKP__DI/AAAAAAAAAK4/lBO0gFktqyQ/s1600/DSC_0654.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2lo0ZYmpWyY/TQCGhKP__DI/AAAAAAAAAK4/lBO0gFktqyQ/s320/DSC_0654.JPG" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Outdoor Lightpost Sculpture</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3567154762603704662.post-29888414754428662542010-12-08T22:37:00.000-08:002010-12-08T22:37:49.313-08:00La Brea Tar Pits - July 25, 2010 <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWg9y4wASwa1r4HXtuVdcC6KChF4tVf-u92t45fZrNKGqVP9NdiYOFlUq-Sm60a6mA5j-55TmaNNq9qtEqJ_gmExam1VtIJG6BE8tl6z2nODwARApTT3ZPiki8gb885Kr-OEOKYoGOHFQ/s1600/DSC_0785.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWg9y4wASwa1r4HXtuVdcC6KChF4tVf-u92t45fZrNKGqVP9NdiYOFlUq-Sm60a6mA5j-55TmaNNq9qtEqJ_gmExam1VtIJG6BE8tl6z2nODwARApTT3ZPiki8gb885Kr-OEOKYoGOHFQ/s320/DSC_0785.JPG" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of the LACMA <br />
from the La Brea Tar Pits</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEfCGN_1GtR9T9dC_uqLZQOxdrcYVTQUn097p0BPdJq-mNX5CAyJPau0NH7VD2c52-PqeYjAhOMXJCAI9xTynmxhicm85YohgN3SnS9F76OiQ6bkDVLXYg-kV18T9gotwq_hjS__0lhkc/s1600/DSC_0783.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEfCGN_1GtR9T9dC_uqLZQOxdrcYVTQUn097p0BPdJq-mNX5CAyJPau0NH7VD2c52-PqeYjAhOMXJCAI9xTynmxhicm85YohgN3SnS9F76OiQ6bkDVLXYg-kV18T9gotwq_hjS__0lhkc/s320/DSC_0783.JPG" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">La Brea Tar Pits</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The La Brea Tar Pits are located adjacent to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art ('LACMA'). I went to spend most of my day at LACMA but ended up walking past the tar pits outside. Its a neat place to visit and focuses on prehistoric animals and fossils. I did not get a chance to visit the museum associated with the tar pits because I ran out of time for the day. It's on my to do list!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> </div> <div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0