Ah yes, I'm taking you back to San Diego today, for a visit amongst some wild specimens. At the Desert Garden at Balboa Park.
Come and smell the roses with me...
Labor Day Long Weekend: Block Island, Rhode Island
Long weekends are for ferry rides, champagne celebrations, mass production of breakfasts, petting zoos, wishing rocks, pink lemonade, outdoor showers, badminton and croquet tournaments and lots of photo ops.
August: Art to Inspiration
This month's A2I post features artist Lara Harwood's "...now imagine all the thick birdsong thick as a forest"
Harwood's watercolour paintings are sublime, the type of work that could enhance any space with their bright, vivid colours, illustrative nature and minimal subject matter.
This jungley image from Harwood's sketchbook of watercolours from India, 2009, is a piece that really took me back to my own journey through Kerala's backwaters in Feb 2010.
The composition of heavy greenery vs the simple silhouette encapsulates the very nature of Kerala's scenery.
Today, Harwood's watercolour has inspired me to reminisce...
Last month's Art to Inspiration featured my own work (thanks Sups!): July
Want to join Art to Inspiration? Just click here!
Miami: Fontainbleau Hotel
What a glorious stay at Miami's Fontainbleau Hotel.
Not only is it one of the most beautiful hotels in South Beach, it also has the best service I've ever encountered, both indoors and out, not to mention the incredible Hakkasan restaurant.
After I was stung by a jelly fish one afternoon, the Lapis Spa staff's immediate concern and quick response helped ease the pain (and who knew vinegar is the solution!) and allowed me to get back into the ocean soon after.
We're immensely thankful to the kind staff of the Fontainbleau, who generously donated the luxurious Lapis Spa products for the Nashua Soup Kitchen. We were happy to bring back a giant box of mini shampoos and lotions, that we distributed at the NSK this past weekend.
Thank you so much Fontainbleau, we'll most definitely be back!
Greece: Ferry from Santorini
Goodbye Santorini! Hello Sunset!
Greece: Santorini, Goodbye
Guys, it's finally time to say goodbye to Santorini, and Hotel Sunny Villas, easily one of the most unique hotels in the world.
Here's a last look.
Greece: Santorini, RGBY
After our hike, and surprise encounter, there was time for a last saunter through the village for souvenirs and THIS!
*RGBY = Red, Green, Blue, Yellow, the colours that summarize this post.
Greece: Santorini, Cat and...
Dog.
That was what this cute cat was intently gazing at.
Wasn't at all fazed when I went right up with my camera.
Greece: Santorini, Skaros Rock
Certainly one of the most unique places to stay would be inside a cave, wouldn't you say?
Hotel Sunny Villas, with its incredible caldera and sunset views, was one such place and with it being situated in front of the famed Skaros Rock, it was an ideal location for a morning hike.
Now, I'm not a hiker, and not an adventure seeker, either, so seeing a well-trodden path on Skaros made me feel confident about this type of hike.
Then we met a group who had just done the hike and were resting at the foot of it, amongst them was an older lady with a cane.
They told us that there's a hidden CHURCH on the other side of Skaros Rock, that is only accessible if you hike over some fallen rocks, which, when you approach them, appear to be the end of the road. However if you hike OVER these trecherous rocks (with a sheer drop on the other side) the path continues on down to the church. With an incredible view.
And a closer view of Heaven I thought, if I slipped.
BUT.
The old lady did it.
So we gave it a go, and of course at the pile of fallen rocks, the camera was put away, but you can see that they were right.
Totally worth it.
Heaven, on earth.
Greece: Santorini, Oia
Have a wonderful weekend!
Greece: Santorini, Oia's Sunset
The crowd has gathered. Everyone's settled in for the big moment.
The time has come.
Sunset over Oia.
Greece: Santorini, Dogs + Photogs
The sunset in Oia brought every tourist to it's tip, each person vying for a comfortable spot to enjoy sun down.
Then, there was this dog, like the Lassie of Oia, leading the way for tourists, and braving great heights for a photo op; finally settling down in a nook that stuck out way over the water.
Greece: Village of Oia
The other end of Santorini, is the famous Oia Village. Famous for what, you ask? Their sunsets. So after our beach day, we decided to stay on the bus until it reached Oia, to catch the sun setting.
But first, some sights along the way, and a curious dog who posed for pictures.
Seriously.
Greece: Santorini, Breakfast, Buses + Beaches
Although simple, the breakfast provided at the Hotel Sunny Villas was perfect and satiated us on our bus trip out to the black sand beaches for the day. One of the things that surprised me was seeing a Metro newspaper stand on the black sand beach! And seeing actual prickly pear plants!
Change in and out of your swim suit in here: Oh Hai!
Greece: Santorini, Night
We saw the sun setting over Santorini, now, how about when night falls?
