rooftop bike!

So cool.

for the 'rents

My mom used to give me sunshine time outs when I was a kid because I got really tan really easily-- something about not being able to recognize me. Mom, you'd be proud. I gave myself time outs all trip!

la montaña de fuego

Leave nothing but bootprints

Take nothing but pictures

Kill nothing but time

We stayed less than 2 miles from one of the world's top ten most active volcanoes (better active than dormant).  Compared to the rest of the trip, this was fine living even if it did include a 10-minute, 45-degree, uphill trek along the side of a mountain every time we wanted to get to civilization. Our calves have never burned so much. We have never been so sweaty at breakfast in our lives. Although worthwhile, we were so happy to never have to do it again when we left.

More pictures to come in time. I shot RAW so it'll take time to convert because my laptop is a nincompoop.

cansadísima

I'm waiting for the T and there is someone singing "I'm going to let it shine." There's also a woman pacing and yelling profanities at no one I can see. Woo orange line. It's also cold outside and I'm very unhappy about it. Oh, we made it back from the jungle in one piece. Good news.

we're doing it!

Costa ricaaa. Also: the only thing that makes me not airsick ever is a sausage mcmuffin. Gross, but fact.

we miss your small tupperware

Dahlia and I just saw this on the fridge. We also, at separate times, spent part of the day smelling the clothes you left behind. We miss you. Deutschland is so lucky.

for julia

bye rye

She's leaving us. Devastating. ROADTRIP!!

new york addendum

Ryan is a lifesaver. She also reads my blog (yes!) so now we have the picture I lost of Andrew. Baller. He said he'd hate my blog if I posted this. It was probably his way of saying he hated himself.

ingenuity

Basket's pretty clever. I think I'm ready to overcome my fear of bikes-- I flew over the handrails in Amsterdam. No, I wasn't trashed. Just thought it would be faster to stop with my feet than the brakes. Fail.

no son las flores

sensory overload / walking into strangers a lot

Julia and I missed the first Boston - NYC bus and we ended up running late (surprise, surprise) for the second bus and had to take a cab. On the cab ride there, she said she would probably be late to her own funeral. But, we both dropped the ball on the 5am wake-up and it was actually me that made us almost late for the second bus.

I wish I had taken a picture of the cab driver. He was sweet little man and we definitely bonded while Julia was getting cash out of the ATM at South Station. I was collateral.

Becky was awake and waiting since 5am. Thanks to her 5:30am text, we made it to New York. We also couldn't have found our way around without her iPhone either. She really was the saving grace. Her and the nice man walking his dog near W. 4th Street who told us how to get to Broadway.

Two last things: in the early a.m. scramble, I forgot to bring my cameras. It would have been a nice day for BW-- or just pictures in general-- but I guess it just wasn't meant to be. I also lost the photo of Andrew I took on my phone. But, no worries, I picked up a disposable camera at Duane Reade (lady at the register was really awesome) and those pictures and Andrew are coming soon. Problem solved. Crisis averted.

hello new york!

We've just arrived. I forgot how great this city is and I'm not even off the bus yet.

the boots that will get you in the water

This was a fantastic day. It would have only been made better if it were warm and appropriate enough to swim.

scrabble nights

Scrabble nights for when it was beyond cold outside. Thank god that's over-- the cold, not scrabble. I'm actually not a big fan of scrabble. I like crossword puzzles better... antisocial, much? One pointer that's been passed down to me: keep it simple. Don't try to use your expansive vocabulary; it will backfire; you will lose.