MON RAN AWAY

Captivated by the city of Christchurch where seven years ago today was decimated by an earthquake. The city is still rebuilding, but with enormous respect for art and public spaces. Images: their destroyed cathedral, 185 empty chairs to represent those who were lost, a new cathedral made of cardboard, a public art installation. (at Christchurch, New Zealand)

It’s a beautiful fall here in Portland, OR, but I can’t help but think about the impending winter.  Last year’s snow and gloom still haunts many residents and the emotional recovery has been slow.  Thus I have cleared my schedule this January through March to hit the Southern Hemisphere, or at least somewhere warm.  So where should I go? A friend’s comment about her recent trip to Ireland has been sitting with me.  She said that though she speaks a little bit of many languages, traveling in an English speaking country added so much depth to her trip.  It made me realize that though I’ve been traveling intensively for the last seven years, I haven’t spent any time in English speaking countries.  So maybe it’s time? Is New Zealand the answer to the next adventure and an English speaker’s American disillusionment? 

Hellllllllo Oregon! Perfect Saturday with @endyhedman @yamarisleon @hundiwear (at Domaine Drouhin Oregon)

These two! Celebrating the #italianlovefest with the best! @linzeee & @mayor_of_putterton (at Monterosso al Mare)

Current travel adventure: stuck on a sailboat off the island of Elba with three Italian men and an incoming storm. The irony that this is the island Napoleon was banished to is not lost on me. (at Il Cotone, Marciana Marina - Isola D'elba)

Today's sweet ride. #babyonboard👶 (at Lucca, Italy)

at Valley of the Temples, Agrigento, Sicily, Italia

Bellissimo overload. #sicily #keepnaturesafe (at Zingaro Nature Reserve)

A sun-filled vacation from my vacation with the Meadows-Buckley clan. (at Lucca, Italy)

#villalife (at Lucca, Italy)

Makes napping easy. #mallorcaparadise (at S'Arracó, Islas Baleares, Spain)

#madridart (at Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza)

at Real Alcázar de Sevilla

This is 9pm in Sevilla. #longdayslatenights (at Seville, Spain)

I now know that heaven exists. Thanks for getting me here @erinbarnes #nofilter #hvarisland #croatianblues (at Cast Away - Hvar, Croatia)

Epic solo hike Criss-crossing Hvar Island. Cold wet reward. #hikehvar #solohike (at Hvar, Splitsko-Dalmatinska, Croatia)

I've spent the last 10 days in the amazing #undiscoveredmontenegro then today I literally hiked into the "other" Montenegro, cruise ships and all. (at Kotor, Montenegro)