Monday, January 28, 2013

El Mercado

We got a great travel tip from a friend we made in Indonesia who showed us around Penang in Malaysia.
He told us that every time he goes to a foreign country he heads straight to the local market, because a city's market gives a traveler great insight into the local culture. 

One morning last week Ryan and I walked over to see what Cozumel's market had to offer.  We'll be back for more tasty empanadas soon!
 

 

 
 



Friday, January 25, 2013

Celebrating 29

We celebrated Ryan all day on Sunday.

Breakfast was birthday donuts, coffee and fresh squeezed juice.  
 

The afternoon was full of sunshine, time on the slackline, and lots of delicious food at a nearby beach club.
 
 
 



It sure was a lovely day.

Sunday, January 20, 2013

Happy Birthday, Ryan!

You're 29 today.  

When we met, you were just a teenager.


We started dating.

Then we got engaged.

And married!

After that we moved across the world.

Somewhere in there we traveled around thirteen different countries.

Now ten years have passed and (dare I say it) you're almost thirty?!  
How did that happen?

Happy birthday my love.
I have no doubt that 29 will be a great year.

Friday, January 18, 2013

Rediscovering Portland

¡Hola from Cozumel!
We have been having lots of fun here meeting new people, going to yoga classes by the sea, exploring the island, and making and eating as much as Mexican food as we can. 

Today we're getting lots of clouds and wind due to a "norte" meaning wind storm from the north.  That means time inside for me to sort through lots of pictures from the last couple months.  Maybe one of these days I'll even get to those two weeks in December that we spent in Thailand...

* * * * *

When people in Korea asked us where we were from, we got similar responses.
"I love Portland!"
"Portland is so cool!"
"I've always wanted to visit Portland!"

Since I was born and grew up there, I had a hard time seeing what all the fuss was about.  It's rainy.  And dreary.  And the only season worth mentioning is summer, which lasts only two to three months.  If you're lucky... 

 With the help of Ryan though, over last few years I've been able to see Portland the way many others do, as a unique and lively city, with beautiful natural sights and a booming music, restaurant and bar scene.  Where else in the world can you find all the microbrews, fresh coffee and donuts your little heart could want?

Although I'd still love to see the sun on a much more regular basis, maybe there is some truth to the phrase, "absence makes the heart grow fonder."

* * * * *

A few days after Christmas we had one of those wintery days that was dry, sunny and cold.  Sunshine?  It's a real rarity for Portland winters, so Ryan and I embraced the morning with a long walk to a new bagel and coffee shop.




 

 And on a gloomier (and still chilly) day later that week we took a walk around a park and reservoir in my parents' neighborhood.
 
 


Later that night I met some girlfriends at one of Portland's oldest bars.  
Its house specialty is Spanish Coffee, made tableside.

Oh, Portland.  You're not too bad.