MIA

It's been a long time since I've blogged so I thought I'd post some fun picks from the past few months...hope you enjoy!

PDX Highrise Highlife

Thursday was my last night in Portland so I tried to make the most of it. I waned a proper way to bid this wonderful city adieu. After work I went out with the ladies from work to VQ. I had the seafood stew and fries and they were both to die for. After dinner I met up with some climbing friends. We hit up my friend Ray's high rise and had some drinks at a local pub in the Alphabet district. We rode the street car (which I hadn't done yet) and strolled home through the remnants of First Thursday. Then we ended the night with some hilarious YouTube videos and a good round of laughs. It was a wonderful way to say "see ya later" to a place that has become like a second home! PDX, I'm gonna miss you!

PDX-I heart you

Oh, Portland, how I have come to love you over the past few months. You have become a home away from home. Here are just a few reasons why I love you:

1. The Ace Hotel

2. Clyde Common

3. Stumptown Coffee

4. Lumberjack hipsters

5. Carver bouldering

6. Portland Rock Gym

7. The Circuit (minus the shitty bouldering pads)

8. Food Carts

9. Serratto

10. The Portland Outdoor store

Turtle Rock

Last weekend I was sad that I couldn't take a road trip to climb so my amazing friends joined me for a quick day session at Marin's Turtle Rock. I worked on my project there (some V6-V8 traverse, not sure) and finished all the moves and I actually think I might be able to put it together in the very near future-just need a tad more endurance.

The day was a blast. We got in some good climbing, some sun, wonderful views, a whole lot of silliness and even had dinner at the Pelican Inn.

It was good fun. It felt great to be outside and be in the company of lovely friends. Yay for friends, sunshine, climbing outside, and yummy food!

Forth of July & Caydie's send off

I spent the 4th with my friend's Caydie and Alex's family in Heldsburg. We canoed the Russian River, BBQed, drank, swam, rafted, and watched fireworks. It was a truly amazing time with some of the most wonderful people I have been able to spend time with. It was a great last hurrah before my dear Caydie packed her bags and moved to LA LA land for a job.

The weekend was filled with laughs, some impromptu sing-alongs, and even a few tears. We are gonna miss you in the bay Caydie! But, way to go out with a bang, sister!

Joie de Vivre!

A 30 minute bus ride outside of Nice there is a wonderful town called Vence in the rolling hills of the South of France. This is where the remaining part of my French family lives. I took the bus to Vence with my mom and met up with my cousin, aunt, and uncle from the states. This was the soul purpose of my trip to France, to spend time with family and visit my great, great Aunt Jany who's house sits high in the hills in Vence overlooking the surrounding cities. The town is breathtaking, a nod to simpler times, with cobblestone streets, rose gardens, and a town square with a farmer's market.

We spent the day with Jany and had a wonderful lunch with a group spanning four generations of our family. Jany is 88 and a force to be reckon with. She is amazing, still feisty, witty, and elegant all at the same time. She doesn't show any sign of slowing down, still so full of life or as my mom says "joie de vivre". It was really inspiring to spend time with her and to have a piece of family that is normally so far away.

PS-I think "joie de vivre" will be my next tattoo, written in a delicate script. A reminder that life is what you make it and the happiest people are those who live for what they love.

Home away from home

The whirlwind jet set tour of my life continues as I head back to Portland this evening. All this traveling has me a little burnt out on stale airplane air and security checks, but at least I have a nice place to rest my head. Here are a few pics of my little home away from home, the Ace hotel and the local area.

The magazine library and Internet lounge at Ace.

My super comfy bed. I am dying to buy one of these moose Portland blankets but they are like $300!

Love the detail at Ace. Look at this cute vintage inspired mailbag they use for laundry.

Custom murals in the rooms. Last time I got a wilderness theme with a little story about "the Portland gentleman".

The mini bar (I mean mini box)!

More murals. This room is so me, it even matched my luggage!

Cute car I spotted in the Pearl.

The mecca of street eats, Portland's famed food carts.

Paris, Cannes, and Nice Polaroids

The Eiffel Tower in Paris, a street flower cart in Nice, a carousel in Paris, and a plane from a carousel in Cannes.

Me and mom: Night out on the Cote d' Azure.

The beatiful buildings on the beach in Nice, Me in Paris with some rental bikes, Me and cousin Jany Jr., and Me and mom on the beach in Cannes.



Here's to vacations and life outside of an office!