wanton wishes

fall holiday, stop no. 4: amsterdam, netherlands

deceivingly charming

the flying pig hostel

calm before the storm

planetarium dome theatre, one of the best ideas

ma, da, and tyrannosaurus rex

our hostel's grandma's room

halloween evening with laura and ashley

sally the great

presenting homemade winners, sally and jack skellington

My travel experiences may have just blossomed, but I have a feeling that there are not many places quite like Amsterdam. In its touristic hub, streets were littered with stores beckoning at the wide-eyed stream of youths looking to get their predictable indulgent needs satiated--and I mean all needs. The constant hum of debauchery carried on through our fall holiday's remaining hours as we basked in slow strolls through the planetarium, zoo, and aquarium, delighted in the array of international dining options and sweets to follow, encountered the unreal Red Light district and its unique window displays, and bobbed and weaved to the roar of techno music on All Hallows Eve as the resurrected couple from Disney's classic Nightmare Before Christmas. I'd say it was a successful ten days.

expect nothing. live frugally on surprise.

fall holiday, stop no. 3: brussels, belgium

grand place grand'place

crowning jewels

something old, somewhere new

mannikin pis, a little boy taking a pee to us, a national hero to them

a very big deal

celebrating china

church in the night

foliage

alleys of restaurants

caught at twilight

all aglow

Ignorance may very well indeed be bliss. And ignorant old me knew nothing of Brussels, the apparent capital of the European Union as our hostel receptionist would later explain, a pretty weighty role for a city to play. Yet,fittingly so, bliss was just a block or two away. We took in the big city in a varied sampling as we wound through historical squares and modern streets, waffles in hand, finding small and tremendously stocked vintage shops, old book sellers, eyeing wonderfully intimidating stretches of lit building faces, basking in the greatness of whimsical children's stores, and even paying the huge cineplex a visit to watch a terrible Bruce Willis film (Willa would beg to differ). Nothing like surprise.

rêves d'enfants

fall holiday, stop no. 2: paris, france

view from the louvre

illuminating

crepes with the creep who made them

lovebirds i'm assuming

made it

the city, from its tower

let it shine

with one of our lovely hostesses, michelle

peachy

disneyland paris: a delicious taste of american fantasy

truthfully, more scared during the tower of terror than the interlaken canyon jump

halloween and disneyland warm the heart like you wouldn't believe

i like this more than most people my age should

decadence-saturated-air

père lachaise cemetery at the perfect time of year

endless

having a ball in a sea of the deceased

stunning sainte chapelle

and her walls of stained glass

the kids working on some homecooking

you're not allowed near the arc de triomphe at night, if you're curious. we tried.

from the sacré-coeur basilica

out for kelsie's birthday

Since I was little, I've had this consistent longing to visit Paris. It really had no basis whatsoever, but I managed to assemble my own collection of Eiffel Tower memorabilia: figurines, small dishes, pajama sets- the basics. And then it happened. With the warm welcome of our San Diego friends studying there, the girls and Willa accompanied me as I took in the city for the first time. I couldn't ask for sweeter patisseries, a more captivating cemetery, or a better Disney adventure if I tried. Meandering aimlessly through my childhood dream exceeded one of my heart's dearest desires.

treasure

fall holiday, stop no. 1: interlaken, switzerland

there are no words

good sign

balmers was a nice choice

swiss smiles

an attempt at capturing interlaken grandeur

craftsman

did the fondue

charming

we jumped into this gorgeous canyon

and survived

jumping with the instructors and trekkers, sans canyon

a free fall for eight-five meters, followed by a swing in between the immense canyon walls and above the flowing river below. simply wild.

Nothing I could think to say would justly describe such an eden. I was rendered speechless. Interlaken, Switzerland was the most beautiful place I have ever been, and I am humbled by the fact that I was fortunate enough to do so.

And also, to the most beautiful and caring woman I know, wishing you endless happiness, now and always. Happy birthday, Mama. I love you forever.