Water and The Soul.


I’ve got the travel bug again, and I’ve got it bad. Spain is on the brain. Have you been? I think I may need to go.

Spain may be next.

So while I’m dreaming of tapas and architecture, my mini travels to weddings this summer will have to suffice.

And suffice they  have.

Bayfield, Wisconsin may have stolen my heart a few weeks ago. Who knew this charming place was a mere 4 hours away?

Not me.

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A town that claims to be where the water meets the soul. I’d very much have to agree.

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Waking early to the sun over the water, the town slowly creeping to life. the early birds sailing through the calm waters.. buying the ferry tickets to Madeline Island.. and taking in the calm around you.

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I could totally spend another weekend on the shores of Lake Superior.

Renting mopeds and exploring the island.

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Eating white fish cakes and hearing about the island’s late night shenanigans.

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I’ll take another order please.

I’m ready to plan my next weekend here. Have you been?

Bayfield, you’ve kept my travel bug at bay.

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Lets Break a Rule

A little fun fact about me.  I don’t break the rules. I cannot handle the enormous guilt I experience when doing so.

I follow the rules and I most likely annoying others about them.

Perhaps this explains my career choice?

You know, the law and such.

Perhaps this holds me back from having a bit more fun? Perhaps I miss out on fully experiencing things because of that little angel of good on my shoulder, poking me, shaking its head and laying out every almost impossible negligence scenario in my head.

I blame my Torts Professor.

With all of this in mind, imagine my reaction to the “Trail Closed” sign while hiking last weekend. My frozen pause, my we shouldn’t do this look.  My ok, lets turn back now attitude. Turn back we did.  No amount of convincing was going to get me to change my mind.

No, none at all.  And as we walked back down the trail, other hikers were headed past us. Brazenly moving the sign away and traipsing up that hill (bluff).

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I’m quite convinced my thought process could be overheard, as that little angel of good kept poking my shoulder, shaking its head and my desire to try the new and explore arguing back.

It took a mere four people nonchalantly passing the sign to convince me to break the rules.  All the while every ridiculous tragedy scenario running through my head. ( It never goes away. never)

Break the rules we did.

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Rule breaking required shopping and pizza.  But of course.

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Have you been to Red Wing, MN? It is a town that calls for exploring. A day trip, a weekend, just go. I could spend hours in and out of the shops, sampling the beers and O! The St. James Hotel, I would love to spend a night there. Who is in for a weekend trip with me to Red Wing?

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I promise to consider breaking a few more rules, key word, consider 🙂

The Doing and The Donut

I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again.

Saturday mornings are meant for exploring.

There is an Olive to walk and new to me places calling my name. With morning temps now at a range where Olive struggles to poop outside, (yes we are working on this issue), donuts are totally called for.

And I just used poop and donuts in the same sentence. If you can get past that sentence and keep reading, we can totally be friends 🙂

I have been hearing of this place since they recently opened.  Jen and I had to wake with the sunrise and scoot ourselves in line.

Hello Bogart’s Doughnut Co.

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Though not on the agenda, a stop into a new to me coffee shop was necessary.

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Sometimes the thrill is all in the exploration, the path, the idea, the doing.

HOW WAS YOUR WEEKEND?

Lost in an Irish Field….

One of my biggest joys in life is to explore the new.

To try new things. To say why not.

To get lost in a new to me city.

Like that one time, outside of Dublin, Ireland. We hopped on a train, on a whim and recommendation from a taxi driver. And all of a sudden, found ourselves lost in an Irish field and traipsing through a breathtaking ruin of a castle.

But for taking that taxi, the magically Irish castle would have never happened.

Our picturesque lunch by the water and afternoon Guinness would have remained a dream. A wish, even possibly a regret.

While I am no longer traipsing through the rolling greens and damp cold of that field, I still apply the same why not attitude to life. Try the new.  Explore. Meet new people.

So when Jen, over at Apartment Wife, reached out to meet, I was ecstatic. Her writing and creativity is inspiring to me. Head here to see what I’m talking about 🙂

New friends must check out a new restaurant, right?

We decided Libertine, the newly replaced Cafeteria, was a must.

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The smoked salmon was my favorite.

Heres to many more meetings, new places and new friends.

Happy Weekend! What are your plans?

Take Me Back: Vail

Vail was like living in a picture.

A picturesque European painting.

I truly felt as though I was back in Europe.

My pictures can never do it justice.  Vail was jaw dropping, amazing, stunning, not even describable.

We stayed at The Tivoli, which you must stay at during your next trip to Vail 🙂 The staff was amazing, the breakfast spread delicious, and I was even treated to a spotting of the celebrity dog, Speedy (Speed). I may or may not have fed him a few strips of bacon….

Stopping at Loaded Joe’s for coffee every morning is a must. And the best post bike ride sandwich has to be at Big Bear Bistro.

Me on a bike, for the first time in like 10 years, at over 8,000 Ft above sea level…. pure comedy 🙂

I’m already dreaming of planning a trip back to experience this wondrous place in the winter 🙂

Have you been to Vail?

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Lets Go Already: Bucket List

The proverbial bucket list. I have one running in my mind and one on my phone.

Actually the one on my phone is purely a restaurant bucket list…

My travel list; now that one is ever present in my mind. Father joked last weekend that my wanderlust is too strong.. I’ll explore one place and instantly crave another. So of course I informed him that my travel obsession  was all his fault…

Right, blame dad?

There is one place for years I’ve wanted to go.

Devoured articles on it. Watched travel and food shows.. poured over pictures.

Read fiction and nonfiction about it.

Then finally two weeks ago, I decided it was time. Less thinking, more doing.

Lets go already!

photo (270)The doing (planning) has begun. See you in February 2015 Vietnam!!

Have you been? If so, any tips/recommendations?

What places are on your travel bucket list?