Lisa Niver's Blog: We Said Go Travel, page 343
December 29, 2014
One Thousand and One Travels around the world.

One Thousand and One Travels
In July 1994, “tarmac” wasn’t a word I knew. I called it “the magic carpet main station,” as every plane had to start there if it wanted to go for an air ride. I was eleven years old, on my own, and vastly excited as I walked down the jet bridge. Magic carpet would take me from Istanbul to New Jersey, with a brief break in Germany. Once in the United States, a guy I had never seen in my life was going to pick me up and take me to summer camp. I was to spend a month with American kids.
In Germany, airline crew took me to children’s playroom. After a while, I, the shy princess who had never left her palace before, calculated the time difference, checked the flight time, and realized something was wrong. I walked up to the woman in charge and told her in English that I needed to be taken to America.
“Don’t worry,” she said smiling. “You have time.” She checked my ticket and her cheerful smile left her face. She made calls, yelled in German and soon another woman grabbed me by my arm. We ran on long corridors with carpets that had nothing to do with fairy tales.
Then I was on the flying carpet again. The excitement. The giant grin. The anticipation. When the ride ended in Jersey, there was no one around to pick me up. I went to the information desk and asked to announce Jeff Summers – a name I’ll never forget. Within a minute, a tall, handsome Jeff appeared. He looked like a prince; I wished I were older.
Camp opened my eyes. I learned wall climbing. I hiked in the woods and slept in a tent. I saw it was okay for girls to be in tiny shorts and I realized it was okay for a twelve-year old, green-eyed Ethan to ask me out. I learned how to be on my own in the world and how things always turned out fine. Like in the legend, for those who trust, the wind always follows the carpet.
I’ve since been on a plane at least a hundred times. And it still is nothing short of magic. I spent years in the United States. I studied in Spain, then in Germany. I went to Costa Rica for language school. I showed up in Hawaii with no travel plans. I went to Cambodia and saw real poverty. Then I went to Singapore and saw extreme posh. I flew to Latvia, Slovakia, followed by Hungary, then Czech Republic. I went west to Belgium, Luxembourg, and Switzerland. I went to Italy. I visited many cities in Turkey, including poet Rumi’s abode. I attended nights of mystic religious chanting led by women in red veils and red lipstick.
Through many carpet rides, wonder-by-wonder, I absorbed the American zest for life’s pleasures, the Buddhist contentment, the Israeli courage, the European culturedness, the Middle Eastern hospitality, and the Latin American amor… all on the go. Like lovers Aladdin and Jasmine’s song goes: “a whole new world… through an endless diamond sky.” Traveling is personal revolution in disguise. If we want a peaceful world, if we want our hearts to be like diamonds, we must travel.
I’m my spiritually most flexible, clearest self on the tarmac. It is the main station of many tales and it makes me feel strong, hopeful and free. I’ve sat next to religious Iranian men, Orthodox Jews, young people, old people, an opera singer, an NGO person, businesspeople, devout Christians, atheists, punks, veiled women… I’ve sat next to all kinds of wonderful people on the tarmac. I’ve also sat next to my Aladdin.
In our everyday, seemingly non-magical lives, many of us turn money into a convenient excuse. If you want to go, just grab your can-do attitude and go. Work in a farm in New Zealand. Teach English in Japan. Bartend in Costa Rica. Volunteer in Africa. Live in an ashram in India. Ask your company to transfer you to a branch abroad! Just go! Every turn is a surprise.
The world is a boundless place and it is such richness that we’re all so different from one another. The tarmac is the real red carpet and we are all celebrities. Put your best spirit on and get going! What are you waiting for?
Thank you for reading and commenting. Please enter the Gratitude Travel Writing competition and tell your story.
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An unexpected home in Spain

There are many ways in which people choose to live their lives- every one of them unique. I didn’t, however, just make the choice to have a distinctive life, but also made a choice to aim to have a remarkable day, every single day.
For all of my adult life, I have been an adventure chaser. Deciding on the spur of the moment that my feet are itching for new experiences, unknown lands, new discoveries and awe- inspiring visions. Some prefer routine, or the assurance of stability that staying in one location has. For me, the passion for pastures new overwhelms me, and the everyday challenge of getting by thrills me.
Although the reasons for my spontaneity cannot be explained, neither is it necessary to have a cause. Wandering paths never walked can be the greatest adventure, and can even cause one to appreciate further the simplicities in life. From the lusciously green rice paddies and hard hitting war tunnels in Vietnam, to publicly speaking to an audience of 8000 Chinese High School students. From living in a cabin amongst nothing but mountainous nature for miles in New York state, to teaching English to those it means the most to see a smiling face; I have felt as though I have contributed towards making a small difference to others’ happiness in my short life, and for this, one can feel accomplished. Yet, through all of these life changing experiences, I have felt a small part of a puzzle missing- a base in which I could become, and feel, complete in myself.
Throughout the past 7 years, my wanderlust has thrusted me into situations beyond my imagination. More recently, my implusive desires have brought me to Europe. I arrived in Valencia, Spain, with the notion of teaching privately here and then moving on; the pattern in which my life tends to follow. This initial idea could not have been further from the truth as, ultimately, I found the haven I didn’t even know I was searching for.
This city, Valencia, has captured my heart, and every day here enthralls me and encourages me to continue along the path towards achieving my dreams. Valencia has made me realise I have chosen a life with no limitations, and the extent of what I can accomplish here has no end. Every day I step out of my door, awash with a feeling of contentment. Being here makes me feel optimistic and motivated day by day, passing through the traditionally Spanish historical centre, brushing by the intricately detailed buildings and into yet another beautifully continental cafe. I realise daily just how much this city inspires me, and how lucky I am to have travelled across many oceans and to have found peace so unexpectedly.
Valencia has a mixture of ultra- modern, futuristic style buildings, but historical architecture reigns the skylines. It is a stunning sight to see. I remember when I first arrived in Valencia almost a year ago and the first interaction I had. It began with “Welcome to Valencia, you will never want to leave”, and this couldn’t ring truer. I am very proud and thankful every single day, to call this city my new home.
Thank you for reading and commenting. Please enter the Gratitude Travel Writing competition and tell your story.
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Laguna Cliffs Marriott: Exploring #MyDanaPoint
Laguna Cliffs Marriott: Exploring #MyDanaPoint
I went to Dana Point for to experience IlluminOcean and celebrate the holidays in Dana Point with a mile stroll of Mingle & Jingle with literally thousands of lights sculpted into fantastic glowing sea-themed attractions. In this video we experience breakfast and a tour of Laguna Cliffs Marriott. The 1940s Ford Woodie was incredible. I also loved the spa and the splash pool. Every room has a view!
Enjoy Dana Point!
Lisa
VIDEO: Laguna Cliffs Marriott
Breakfast and Serenity @MarriottHotels #LagunaCliffs #MyDanaPoint
A photo posted by Lisa Niver (@wesaidgotravel) on Dec 12, 2014 at 9:52am PST
1940 #Ford #Woodie @LagunaCliffs @MarriottHotels classic car & classic location
A photo posted by Lisa Niver (@wesaidgotravel) on Dec 12, 2014 at 9:56am PST
Spanish omelet for me and lox platter & 3egg Quesadilla around the table!
A photo posted by Lisa Niver (@wesaidgotravel) on Dec 12, 2014 at 10:27am PST
Travel writing Breakfast @LagunaCliffs @Marriotthotels #MyDanaPoint
A photo posted by Lisa Niver (@wesaidgotravel) on Dec 12, 2014 at 10:35am PST
A photo posted by Lisa Niver (@wesaidgotravel) on Dec 12, 2014 at 12:22pm PST
The post Laguna Cliffs Marriott: Exploring #MyDanaPoint appeared first on We Said Go Travel.
December 28, 2014
The Quiet Hour in the UK

Student dorm room, Coventry- The United Kingdom.
The water drips, it ticks, pauses, dribbles and ticks again. The tap is now completely shut, there is no banging against the porcelain sink. Stillness arrives, fact is it never left to begin with- it was just drowned by the little noises that spring without control; the cars rushing out on the streets, the wind blowing and the overhead fan moaning. These are the bits that in time become irritating, relentless if one is calm enough to make it a point to hear them.
I lean over the wooden countertop that stretches away from my ground floor window. I pull the multicolored curtain off my field of vision. Staring at the outside world that’s going into its usual daily business is the first marker of my own silence. The scene quietly unfolds, undisturbed by the morning rush of children, or the coughs of panting dog walkers. It is a clear morning, tinted with some clouds over the horizon. The neighbor across the street moves her blue car off the doorway, the street bustles with people heading to work and students biking to class. My eyes instantly follow an old lady on her daily routine, she straps on her hood, pushes her shopping cart and walks. I watch closely as she turns the corner and disappears into the adjunct road. In a few minutes, mailmen will fill the streets – soon enough a tin click would be heard at my door too.
While the world moves into life, I quit the watcher’s seat and sit cross-legged on the soft bed. I bow to silence, seconds later footsteps bang on the stairway just left to the door of my room. Hassan and Gheetan, my housemates, converse in rapid Hindi right outside my door. Their lively intonation intrigues me to listen without comprehending. They shut the main door behind them as they leave me to my silence. The room around grows in sunshine and stillness. The pink cyclamen on the counter awaits watering. The crumpled shopping bags that carpet the floor, between the bookshelf and the desk, beg to be emptied. The clothes left to dry on the heating system near the nightstand need folding. The pictures of family members and friends on the wall next to the bed scream for me to break the silence. My book lies on the edge of the desk, eyeing me to touch its spine. In contemplation I sit back, distant from all those little triggers of movement and speech.
It is quite staggering the amount of useless voices, noises, images, information and memories the brain can rapidly recall when attempting a day in silence. Encyclopedias of songs burst into life and refuse to stop, repeating over and over the tunes. Incredibly long, inadequate words try to fill up in the brain, to compensate the lack of physical movements of the mouth. Memories are the worst, they play on the emotive nibbling away and poking the words out. Knowing when to break the quiet is crucial. The surroundings help me stay grounded, as I look at the walls around me, then at the brown carpet that stretches vertically across the floor, the view from my window distracts my attention from the trains moving in my head. It seems that this is my daily bread these days, a completion of a dream unfolding. In those quiet hours I realize that silence amplifies the senses. It is the secret sixth sense sages refused to share with the world- the one that overpowers and is driven by all the other five we take for granted.
This is how the world looks to the writer I am trying to become, engulfed in silence- waiting on the flood of words to fill page corners and old paper.
Thank you for reading and commenting. Please enter the Gratitude Travel Writing competition and tell your story.
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El Chalten, Argentina: Awesome 3 Day Hiking Route
We arrived to El Chalten after midnight tired, hungry and having to set up our tent in the dark with a strong wind. Our bus broke down twice en route and we got into town hours past when we were supposed to. Too tired to make any dinner, we crawled into our tent and slept in what is dubbed the trekking capital of Argentina. When we awoke in the morning we found we had arrived to one of the most beautiful places on earth.
Welcome to El Chalten, Argentina, a young mountain village sitting at the base of the massive Fitz Roy Mountain. The town was founded in the late 1970s – early 1980s in anticipation of land disputes with Chile.
With landscapes like this, it’s easy to see how this area earned it’s title of Argentina’s trekking capital. We came here to hike and were blown away by the incredible beauty that surrounded us. Although one could make big day hikes to most of the area we covered, we opted to route out a 3 day hike. There are countless treks all around the area. During the summer, climbers strap themselves into ropes and harnesses and spend weeks ascending climbing routes.
We started our 3 day trek on the north side of town hiking in an anti-clockwise direction going towards Fitz Roy first and then cutting over to Cerro Torre. For anyone looking to hike this loop, given the slopes of the terrain I would definitely recommend hiking the loop in that direction. For experienced hikers, it made the grades seemed so easy and if you are a beginner, then at least you will be going in the easiest direction.
This is the land of mountains, streams and glaciers. After we set up camp we hiked to Piedras Blancas Glacier. In the park, there are 47 larger glaciers and over 200 smaller glaciers.
By camping at Poincenot it is possible to wake up 1-2 hours before sunrise and hike up to watch the sun come up over Fitz Roy. Making the effort to do so is definitely worth it. The morning we were up there we were among around twenty fellow hikers and everyone had found a little spot to quietly watch the rays cast their morning light along the rock face. People were considerate of staying along the same perimeter line for the peak of the sunrise lighting so everyone could capture great photos without random people in them.
We were so lucky with the weather and the early morning rays colored the sides of the mountains. If you are going to try and catch sunrise at the Fitz, it’s a good idea to pack a small day bag the night before. Make sure you have your flash light handy (you’ll need that to see as you walk in the dark in the morning), at least 1 liter of water and snacks. Depending on the season, you may even want to carry up a backpacking stove to make hot tea and your sleeping bag at the top. It’s colder at the viewpoint and after hiking up a fairly steep ascent, you will be sweaty which will make you even colder. A dry under shirt to change into isn’t a bad idea to carry up as well.
Day two we hiked to De Agostini camp which we were again, so lucky with the weather. All that white you see was a glacier and every so often we could hear a massive boom as a piece fell off. To the left was a great example to view what climbers and hikers call the tree line. On mountains there is a point in altitude in which trees no longer grow and usually it’s a pretty straight, latitudial line. If you are climbing mountains, it’s always important to know how long it will take you to get back down to tree line so if bad weather does come in quickly, you can at least seek some shelter.
Our camp was on the left side of Lake Torre, up over the mini rock wall and by the dark green cluster of trees. A trail followed the left side of this photo so one could walk up and see Glacier Grande. Those little white specs in the water are pieces of the glacier floating around.
At 3102 meters/ 10,177 feet elevation Cerro Torre had it’s own climate happening around its rugged peaks. For hours over the course of the morning we watched clouds rolling in, out, over, under and all around these peaks. This was the clearest picture we got.
One of the things I love most about traveling is not being sure of what a destination will be like, going there anyway, and having the experience be one of the best from the trip. We had no idea how El Chalten would be, if we would have good weather or have to wait days for a storm to break, but we went anyway because that is what travelers do. When one starts off to travel or begins a trip, no one really knows what’s out there, but one thing we know is we must go. For without taking the chance, we may miss out on what may become one of the best experiences of our life. And for that reason, the traveler must keep on exploring.
* * *
If you go:
Please remember Leave No Trace camping principles. One of the reasons this hike was so awesome is because the area was so clean and people genuienly made an effort to follow low impact camping skills. Not washing your dishes in running water (carry water and wash dishes at least 200 feet from water source), using the bathrooms provided, being conscious of even the smallest bits of trash, being quiet and respectful in the mornings and night made this hike awesome.
There’s a handful of different campgrounds in town. We stayed at Camping at El Refugio, Calle 3, 49-3221 for $40ARS pp.
Los Glaciares National Park entrance and camping in the park are free. (Note for Moreno Glacier side of the park, there is an entrance fee of $180ARS pp.)
We paid to store our extra gear at Rancho Grande Hostel while we were on the trail. No reason to carry what you don’t need.
Buses come and go from the town pretty regularly now. For ~$23 pp we took a bus from El Calafate. Cal-Tur and El Chalten travel seemed to be good bus companies.
Don’t go here if you want to do a lot of internet chores – at the present time there is not fast, reliable internet. So do your important internet chores somewhere else before you get to town.
Stock up on base food staples (like pasta and rice) before you get to town if you can. There are enough little restaurants to get meals from along with teas and coffee. There is a decent grocery store that does sell dehydrated food goods and last minute items for hiking.
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December 27, 2014
The Clouds In Scotland Never Break

Legends root deep here. It’s why, while the wind keens her Gaelic lament outside, I find myself accepting tales I might otherwise not.
“And a splash of water from this ‘Well of Age”, or Tobar na h’oige ,” Allison stumbles over the Scotch language, “will wash away the years on one’s face, healing ailments and returning the faithful to the blessings of youth.”
“Preposterous,” James dismisses the information she’s read aloud to us.
The Englishman has already scoffed at the prediction that Christ’s second coming will begin on the battered shores of this Scottish isle. After hearing that Mary and her son, probably, traveled here prior to His crucifixion, James gasped. The questionable location of Macbeth’s gravesite received a sarcastic chortle
But I can easily picture these mythical stories, because I am lonely and heartbroken, in need of a little magic. Like me, this place has been waiting patiently for relief from the enveloping greyness. It seems natural that local imaginations – trapped indoors by tempestuous weather – would draw extraordinary events closer into the ordinary environments of cozy hearths.
Iona’s isolation helps. An island off an island off an island, the journey here is completed in soggy segments. A ferry from the mainland, a wind-lashed drive across the Isle of Mull, and a second bumpy boat ride from a nameless port to the isle’s sole community.
When St. Columba brought Christianity onto here in 563, did the landscape look any more despairing to him than it did to us, as we finally flopped onto solid ground?
“Let’s find this fountain up Dun I,” Allison suggests, closing the book.
“Naïve Americans.” James again, mumbling into his mug of tea.
I want to tell my boyfriend about the adventure we have planned, but the weather is wrecking the internet. And, I must remember, he is no longer my boyfriend. He’s just a person I once loved. Maybe our retreat here will help me move on; or, maybe, all these stories will prove to be as easily damaged as my last relationship.
* * *
Several yards up Dun I, the footpath disappears. It doesn’t end, so much as peter out into hoof-trodden grass – as if the powers that protect this spiritual fortress mean to distract casual climbers from the well above.
Allison picks a route that looks least muddy, pointing her worn gym shoes upwards.
But our ill-chosen footwear sinks into marshy soil, making each step part of a balancing dance. Droplets spit against our woolen jackets, as a moody wind joins in guerilla warfare.
“Crap crap crap!” Allison suddenly wails behind me.
“What is it?”
“Literally, crap crap crap!” Her pupils stare down at the landslide of sheep poop she has sunk into on hands and knees.
This, too, feels like the trickery of supernatural beings.
“Look, the top is right there.” I offer Allison a glove, noting the feces streaked across her forehead.
“This better be worth it.”
I now doubt that whatever we find will be worth the misery plastered on her face.
Still, we drag ourselves the last hundred yards. And there, in the center of Dun I, is emptiness. Rock slabs, more dung; a worn stone pillar sits off to the west. Water has pooled inside its shallow basin, but nowhere is there evidence of a Fountain of Youth.
We both sigh heavily. “I need a shower,” Allison whispers.
I am glowering at my reflection in the disappointing puddle, Allison is dabbing at her stained jacket, when a shadow lifts behind me. The blue eyes in the pool are blinded by sunlight.
What would James say, if he could see the vision below us? Miles of green grass, where raindrops glisten like jadestones. A rainbow bridge, its colored footpath carrying all of Iona’s rumors and truths up to heaven. There is such optimism in this vein of clear sky that a chuckle catches in my throat; were we fools to believe in fairytales, or is this break in the clouds a different sort of reward for our faithfulness?
Allison is a sunflower, her face tilted toward the golden light. Opening my mouth, I let the laugh out.
Maybe I’m not ready for a full smile – after all, there is no real healing well – but I can try for a grin. The start of something better.
On a rare afternoon just like this, when the world was lit as if by spotlight, the newly-converted Picts showed their gratitude to St. Columba by sharing with him their island home. Or, so I hear, the legend goes.
Thank you for reading and commenting. Please enter the Gratitude Travel Writing competition and tell your story.
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St. Regis Monarch Beach: Luxury Staycation #MyDanaPoint
St. Regis Monarch Beach: Luxury Staycation
#MyDanaPoint
I went to Dana Point for to experience IlluminOcean and celebrate the holidays in Dana Point with a mile stroll of Mingle & Jingle with literally thousands of lights sculpted into fantastic glowing sea-themed attractions. In this video we experience St. Regis Monarch Beach. I cannot wait to go back to this fantastic hotel. WOW! I loved my room and enjoyed the property! Especially Felix interviewing the snowman family!
Enjoy Dana Point!
Lisa
VIDEO: St Regis Monarch Beach Dec 2014
The stunning view @stregismb #stregis #monarchbeach #MyDanaPoint Thanks @spg! #Relax!
A photo posted by Lisa Niver (@wesaidgotravel) on Dec 12, 2014 at 8:14am PST
Ready for relaxation? #StRegis is the answer! @spg #spectacular #MyDanaPoint #MonarchBeach #LagunaNigel A photo posted by Lisa Niver (@wesaidgotravel) on Dec 12, 2014 at 8:19am PST
Good morning #hooping #stregismb #MyDanaPoint
A photo posted by Lisa Niver (@wesaidgotravel) on Dec 12, 2014 at 8:51am PST
Have a #whale of a good time: whale watch by day, holiday lights at night. Hear the whales sing! #MyDanaPoint #free viewing! A photo posted by Lisa Niver (@wesaidgotravel) on Dec 12, 2014 at 12:25pm PST
More about IlluminOcean:
40 NIGHTS OF HOLIDAY LIGHTS
The warmth of the Southern California winter season. The wonders of the deep blue sea. The dazzling spectacle of sights, sound and motion that’s electrifying our ocean views like never before. Be there when the holidays brilliantly come to light in an amazing wonderland by the sand — it’s the event premiere of Dana Point IlluminOcean.
Like Rockefeller Center in New York or Millennium Park in Chicago, Dana Point is creating waves of excitement in Southern California this holiday season by showcasing 40 nights of holiday lights. The OC Dana Point Harbor will transform into the festive village to mingle and jingle, surrounded by hundreds of thousands of lights creatively sculpted into true wonders to sea — grand creations like a towering 50-foot GlowMotion tree and Lightwave tunnels that stretch longer than a football field!
The post St. Regis Monarch Beach: Luxury Staycation #MyDanaPoint appeared first on We Said Go Travel.
December 26, 2014
Costa Rica – The Sharing of a Dream
Our last few days in Costa Rica were spent at a wonderful place. It was not a resort next to the beach; it was nowhere near civilization. As a matter of fact, we did not even have electricity for most of our time there. However, of our entire stay in Costa Rica, Jose’s farm, a far and remote place named Hacienda Rio Carara, left in me the deepest of impressions.

Jose at his farm
Jose had an adventurous life. At the age of 20, he sold everything he owned and bought a ticket to Africa. What was supposed to be a six-months trip turned into four years of traveling across multiple continents. Afterwards, Jose literally drifted around for seventeen more years, having worked his way up from crew to captain on luxury yachts. Somehow, during his years of traveling, Jose earned a degree in Agricultural Engineering and now, after two decades, he finally decided to settle down in his home country to build his idea of a sustainable farm.
Listening of Jose talk is a treat. I’ve never met anyone so knowledgeable about nature. Walking around his farm is like getting a tour around an arboretum, where all the trees bear fruits and your tour guide planted everything growing out of the ground. Like many people accustomed to city living, I have never seriously thought about the origin of my food, and seeing these fruits, herbs, and spices in their natural habitat was wholly revelatory.

A different species of cilantro in Jose’s backyard
Perhaps the most intriguing was the variety on Jose’s farm. The practice of agriculture is in many ways inherently destructive to natural biodiversity since it forces only a few species of plants to be grown on one plot of land. What’s unique about Jose’s farm is it’s more like a big agricultural experiment than a commercial farm. Instead of growing cash crops, Jose chose multiplicity. After having planted everything from turmeric to oranges to sugarcane, he’s only getting started. Nothing is neatly organized in rows, and there is no plot of land used for specific plants. The entire farm looks like a part of the rainforest surrounding it, and that’s just how Jose envisioned it.
What I found the most interesting about Jose was his ideas towards the environmental movement. To him, words like “organic” and “eco” do much more harm than good. He explained how yielding the same amount of “organic” crops sometimes takes five times the resources required, and how “fair-trade” can also cause deforestation when the farmers cut down tree to grow coffee beans. Right or wrong, Jose is a man of opinions, and his opinions are backed by his observations and his own philosophies on sustainability. To Jose, it’s not about following certain doctrines, but rather using nature to its maximum efficiency. There is no dogma, and everything can be attempted as long as it doesn’t violate his fundamental principle of letting nature do its own work. Even GMO, a touchy subject to many in the environmental movement, is not beyond discussion. On paper, his vision looks like the musing of an idealist, but in reality he is deeply practical. What I realized about Jose is that he is, at heart, an engineer and an innovator, and like all engineers, the prospect of trying something new is intoxicating.

We share a meal with Jose next to candle light
After all he’s seen and done, Jose wants to live a simple lifestyle. It’s hard to imagine such a gentle person was once a sea captain, and for the most part he just smiles and crack jokes. But, when the topic of farming and sustainability comes up, a light bulb switches on. Suddenly this mild-mannered man becomes so excited he could hardly wait to get his ideas out. Every word leads to a new id, and Jose can (and did) talk for hours on his visions.
I don’t know what Jose’s farm will be like in a few years; I don’t think he does either. That’s really what’s the most exciting, and I feel fortunate to have witnessed this beautiful dream in its infancy. After years working on yachts, Jose said the goal of the farm is to “share, not to serve”. I like that, and I look forward to what he’ll share with me the next time I visit.
Click here to check out our Million Ways to Live episode and learn more about Hacienda Rio Carara!
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A Perfect Staycation: #MyDanaPoint
Start your Staycation in Dana Point with lunch at Coffee Importers and a Dolphin and Whale watching Safari with Captain Dave
A photo posted by Lisa Niver (@wesaidgotravel) on Dec 12, 2014 at 4:23pm PST
Why Capt. Dave’s Whale Watching Safari?
Southern California has more blue whales and dolphins and the best whale watching weather of anywhere on earth.
Highest rated whale watching on TripAdvisor, Google+ and Yelp.
Go underwater without getting wet, during your whale watch, in our Eye to Eye Underwater Viewing Pods.
Have friends & family watch you LIVEon our whale watching boat!
Listen to dolphins during your whale watch with underwater Hydrophone.
Never crowded! We take 49 passengers max on our hi-speed, hi-tech, power & sail whale watching catamarans Manute’a & Lily.
Micro dolphin and whale watching museum on board.
3 Eye-Spy Dolphin Nets for a veryup-close whale watching adventure!
Capt. Dave and his team have been recognized world wide for their conservation & whale rescue efforts.
Capt. Dave produced an award-winning film, “Wild Dolphins & Whales of Southern California” andaward winning book “Lily, A Gray Whale’s Odyssey”.
The entire Dolphin Safari team loves Dolphins and Whales!
A real eco-tourism company, we have never offered fishing trips. And no whale watching on a fishing boat.
Mrs. Capt. Dave’s yummy, Triple Fudge Brownies.
Video: Dolphin & Whale watching Dana Point Dec 2014
Dine at Raya at The Ritz Carlton Laguna Nigel and enjoy the gingerbread creations!
A gingerbread spectacular ocean wave @rclagunanigel tradition! Smells like a bakery! Holiday tradition #RitzCarlton A photo posted by Lisa Niver (@wesaidgotravel) on Dec 12, 2014 at 5:33pm PST
Explore an undersea world of Holiday Lights with IlluminOcean!
VIDEO: IlluminOcean Dana Point Holiday Lights 2014
A photo posted by Lisa Niver (@wesaidgotravel) on Dec 12, 2014 at 12:35pm PST
The post A Perfect Staycation: #MyDanaPoint appeared first on We Said Go Travel.
December 25, 2014
The Teenage Girl Aesthetic, USA

The teenage girl dreamer sits by her windowsill and waits for the day when a snow-white owl will come slicing through the sky, cawing only minutely because of the parchment in its mouth, and she’ll grab the little paper with such tangible excitement that she’ll forget to pay the owl for its delivery. Only when the owl consistently pecks her on the head does she take a few gold coins from the inside of her cardigan pocket and slides them into a small compartment tied to the owl’s feet. Then the bird will take off, and she’ll accidentally rip the paper in sheer anticipation, and only then will all her skeptical beliefs and dreams of Hogwarts be confirmed.
I was that teenage girl aesthetic. No, I did not waste my nights waiting for Hedwig to appear, even if I did print a fake Hogwarts acceptance letter from the Internet. Yes, I lived in the dreams and fantasies of my so-called “dream” life, and I only emerged when reality’s constant knocking on my door forced me to grow up. That is, until I found my real-life childhood fantasy setting and had to reread the Harry Potter series surrounded by deep feelings of nostalgia.
I visited Princeton University on a cold, snowy day. Being from California, I was not prepared for the immensity of snow that stung my face, and my “winter” jacket did no good. Instead I clung to my umbrella, probably the first time I had used it in a year, as I walked on grand stoneways and under tall dome-shaped arches and past iron-gothic fences. I marveled at the high-rising towers on which little stone gargoyles and other angelic figures sat. With the snow frosting the grass in a powdery-white glaze, and the golden texture of each brick giving the place a medieval feel, I could see myself here for the next four years of my life. On a bitter winter day like this, I would take my Multivariable Calculus textbook and notes, grab a steaming cup of hot chocolate from the local coffee campus store, and settle down in a small, quaint library with the books neatly shelved and the room lit by fire and lamplight.
Yes, Princeton University had lodged itself right underneath my heart and I could do nothing about it. It had that old-fashioned and dark gothic architectural feel that I’d always been addicted to, with the baby blue sky perfectly accentuating each slate-gray castle and Roman-numeral clocks chanting a slow tune at the turn of the hour. This is where I wanted to further my education; this is where I would mature and grow up, yet still feel as if I had never left my childhood.
Maybe my view of Princeton was slightly romanticized by the magic I had believed in as a kid, but even so, Princeton captured my eyes and my heart in mere seconds of my visit. Princeton University was my adult Hogwarts. Here, I was a child again, and I was home.
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