Living Yoga

On October 19 I was back in my little Versa again, riding solo, on to the next adventure and yet again filled with apprehension and curiosity. The next month I was going to be attending the 200 hour yoga teacher training at Kripalu Institute in the beautiful and serene Berkshire Mountains of Western Massachusetts. Little did I know of the transformations that were about to take place and the community of angels that I was going to be surrounded with for the rest of my life.

The training is a one month intensive and my days went somewhat like this: 6:30 am - 8 am yoga class, breakfast in silence, workshops from 10 - 11:30, lunch/study/nap and/or dance class, 1:30 - 4 workshops, 4:15 - 6 yoga class, dinner, 8 - 9:30 workshop, then trying to sleep in my dorm room of 22 women. Crazy, hectic schedule...and believe it or not, I LOVED it! OK, well my face did not express loving kindness when I was going to the morning yoga, but my spirit was quite happy. I sang, danced, drummed, laughed, cried, hurt, hugged, and felt fully alive. I did things during this training that pushed me way pass my comfort zone. And at the same time I was simple allowed to be me...yes, the wild, crazy, free spirit that I am was finally able to let loose with no judgement, only pure love and truth. What an awesome way to live.

I met some of the most amazing people there and will always be grateful for these angels of love and light. We constantly provided support to each other during this physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually challenging time in our lives. And we each held space for each other, with 100% love and kindness. If the whole world could live like that, wow, it would be a beautiful world.

So I am now an officially certified yoga teacher, which still seems unreal. It is amazing how we can truly make anything happen by having faith and taking a risk of letting go and adventuring into the unknown. I still don't know what is next for me on this journey, but what I do know is that I am happy to be a part of it and am grateful for it all. Namaste!

Rainbows, Reggae, and Remembering

Five and a half weeks back in the land of rainbows and reggae filled me up with a plethora of love and light. What a blessing it was to go back to Maui and leave with 100% certainty that Maui will always be my home. Whether I am there physically or not Maui will always have a place in my heart and soul, and will always be there for me. I had an amazing time, and was finally able to heal old wounds and close another chapter of my life. Maui welcomed me right back unconditionally and with forgiveness that despite the constant love and beauty she surrounded me with I still managed to complain. But she understood what I did not, and opened her arms back to me with love and grace. My Maui ohana welcomed me back into their homes and their hearts as well, and allowed me the opportunity to make some money to pay for the trip, stay in their homes, and appreciate their true friendship. How beautiful is that!

So while I was there I explored some new and old things. I did my first 108 sun salutations just to see if I could do them. Then did them again as a sacrifice to the divine in honor of my gratitude. Some of you may think that sounds funny, but if you have ever done 108 sun salutations in less than an hour you would understand how that is a sacrifice! I visited old favorite locations, like the Aquarium and Komoda's Bakery, as well as new favorite locations like the Kula Farm Stand and Whole Foods Market (which ended up being a major social meeting spot). Thankfully I got out on the water plenty of times too. On a typically beautiful, clear, and amazing Maui day I went stand up paddleboarding with old and new friends. As long as each of us has spent living in Hawaii, we were still awestruck by the majesty of it all. That never goes away, because, yes, Hawaii is magical. Also, went again on my own and then out surfing some small kine waves a couple times too. Boy did it feel nice to be back on the water and enjoying it with good company as well as braving it on my own. Every Saturday I managed to make it to my best friend and her husbands house for their weekly jam session and get together. And, believe it or not I actually played the conga drums on a few songs...and got praise...yes...can you believe it?! I may actually have a knack for playing drums...haha!

Well the list could go on about all the wonderful things I did, the amazing moments spent rekindling with friends, and the intense emotional healing that went on, but that would be a book in itself. So, in a nutshell it was an amazing experience and one that I am fully grateful for. It also made me realize that no matter what happens in life, good or bad, that I will always be thankful and accepting of what is and happy to remember what was. Aloha!

My Return Home

Unbelievably the universe provided another opportunity for healing and growth, and allowed me to return to Maui...two eventful years later. It is mid September and just over a month ago I did not know what I was going to do after Three Mile Island, until Maui called. So now, as I write, I have my back turned to the night time view of Maui's few city lights and the outlines of the West Maui mountains juxtaposed against the curvature of the ocean. I couldn't have asked for anything more. Maui will hold space for me during the next 5 weeks as I reconnect with the island's beauty, culture, majesty, and healing capabilities.

I have only been on the island for about 4 days now and have already walked the south side beach coast twice, sunbathed, napped at Kanaha beach park (where I use to be a windsurfing groupie), cruised Hookipa (another popular surf spot), walked under a double rainbow with a good friend and her beautiful baby boy, and enjoyed a Maui taco baby, yeah! Maui is pretty much the same. Same exact "Groundhog Day" weather, same big trucks blasting reggae, same windy beaches that leave me with sand in every crevice, and even the same hobos hitchin for rides. It is really a strange feeling to be back here with everything so much the same and with my life being completely different. Honestly, I can not describe in words how it feels and can only come up with "It feels weird." But, at the same time, it is a good weird. New life, old life, past, present, it is all part of the same crazy journey that I am happy to be a part of. It is a blessing to be back here in this beautiful time capsule of the world. Can't wait to see what this next month will bring...stay posted...Aloha.

Sun, Beauty and Cobwebs

The sunny warm weather is making its last appearance here in New Hampshire and I must say is going out with a bang...it is about 100 degrees out on this first day of September. Thankfully it was a beautiful New England summer and I was blessed to have spent its entirety on Lake Winnipesaukee. I lived for 10 weeks on a small island known as Three Mile Island without electricity, showers, or normal toilets. The kitchen and main houses of course had electricity, but other than that it was back to the basics! My days usually started with the sun shining its bright golden rays into my cabin about 5 in the morning and then a battle with the cobwebs as I made my short walk to work. My job was to bake fresh breads and desserts three times a day for over 100 people...lots of fun! In between working I might get the chance to sunbathe on the docks, float in the lake, or sail if there was a nice breeze. On my days off I would take advantage of warm showers and flushable toilets, and usually visit family and friends. Spent some days out on the ocean on the family boat, others up in the mountains hiking, and even one set of days in Montreal. I really enjoyed visiting Montreal and loved the fact that it felt like I was in Europe only after a four hour drive. How cool!
Three Mile Island is a place that is difficult to describe, but has this amazing quality to it that most people fall in love with. Families have been going there for generations and everyone feels the magic of the island. I am grateful to have spent another summer there, doing a job that I love, with a strong knit community, and surrounded by total beauty. And to finish the summer off I was invited to attend yoga week again this year. Yoga week consists of 3 hours of yoga postures, breathwork and meditation daily, delicious vegetarian food, and a lovely group of like minded women. The weather held out beautifully this last week and I was able to do some kayaking and stand up paddleboarding. Yoga week reminded me of the beauty and light that is within, as Three Mile Island and Lake Winnipesaukee reminded me of the beauty that is without. Thanks TMI!

Back in the US of A

The culmination of my three month European adventure began a new three month adventure in my home country of the USA. Upon arrival to the states I spent some time catching up in Florida and prepared for my next adventure...an East Coast road trip! My mom and aunt decided to accompany me on my journey from Florida to New Hampshire, which is where I will be working for the summer. We had a great trip up and made quite a few stops along the way...Savannah for the gardens, various wineries for of course the wine, Fredericksburg for the history, Amish country for observing the Amish lifestyle, Mystic for the pizza and seaport, the Cape and Nantucket for New England island culture, Plymouth for the rock, Boston for the city, and NH for the love of it. We explored, walked, laughed, ate well, drank wine, took lots of photos and had just a darn good time. What a great way to welcome me back to my home country! Now I am living on a 43 square acre island on beautiful Lake Winnipesaukee for the summer, baking delicious breads and desserts for all to enjoy. More on that later...

Chocolate Cow

After an amazing morning with the sun shining down on me, fresh sweet cherries for breakfast, and a moment of solitude on an Italian beach I hopped on the train from Italy towards Switzerland. The train ride was breathtaking as we passed through the lakes and mountains of Northern Italy...yet another place I will have to return to explore. I arrived late at night to the town of Interlaken in the Berner Oberland and followed a group of young American college kids to my hostel. Got up the next day, took a bus to the next town, picked up a train and arrived in a little town nestled in the valley of massive snow capped mountains. I took a gondola up to the top of one of the mountains, hiked across in the most beautiful weather and marveled at the intensity of this majestic landscape. It felt surreal and like I was in a pretty sweet dream. At the end of the hike I took a cable car down the hill to the valley, which I hiked across to get back to the train station. On my hikes I passed myriad barns, fields of wildflowers, waterfalls, and lots of cows. I couldn't stop chuckling at the fact that the cows in Switzerland really do wear bells around their necks. So while they are walking around the pastures munching on grass you can hear their bells dinging like a mini symphony. Too cute and too funny!
Later that night I went out with my hostel roommates and made friends with the local skydive instructors. Danced, laughed, and stayed up waaaaaayyyy too late. The next morning somehow I managed to hike a 4,000 foot mountain with two Kiwi girls. The hike was tiring but rewarding with views of the lakes and the mountains. I came back to the hostel pooped, took a quick power nap, and geared up for the next event...a chocolate workshop. Learned all about chocolate, got to make truffles, sampled everything, talked story with the really nice chocolatier and pastry chef of the restaurant, and went home with a chocolate cow complete with its little cowbell. Funny how the simple things make me so incredibly happy. I absolutely loved my chocolate cow!
Next I took off to the city of Lucerne which is famous for its beautiful lake. This was my last stop in Europe so I splurged on my own hotel room. It had a large window that opened up to reveal beautiful views of the mountains and the cute quintessential European buildings nearby. I explored the town, went up to the top of a really tall mountain to see views of the city, and basically tried to absorb as much as I possibly could of those moments, gearing up for my return to the states. Strangely I came down with an intense cold which I thought was a good thing, because if I wasn't sick then I don't think I would have wanted to go "home". I can't express how thankful I am for those three months in Europe. What an amazing and life changing adventure that was. When I arrived back in the states it seemed so weird, like the last 3 months was just a dream. It made me realize that life truly is lived in the now. Every moment is a gift that I am grateful for and that I plan on never ever taking advantage of again. To all of you I have met along this journey, it's been a pleasure.

It Always Works Out

It is funny how the old saying "it always works out" really is true. After a hurried and emotional goodbye to my friend in Maastricht, I rushed to catch the early morning bus to get to the airport on time only to find out that the bus I needed wasn't running. Thankfully though "it always works out". While I was sitting at the bus stop trying to figure out how not to miss my flight to Pisa, a man came up to me in the same predicament. We ended up sharing the cost of a taxi (which in Europe are either Mercedes, BMW, or Audi) and made it to the airport with plenty of time. Ends up that he was also going to Florence from Pisa and had lived in Florence for about four years so he guided me on the right train and gave me some travel tips. How convenient, huh! I arrived in Florence, Italy on a Sunday afternoon, settled in to my super cool hostel which even had a sauna and pool, and then went out to explore the city. My mind couldn't stop repeating the same thing..."I am in Italy, I am in Italy, I am in Italy". It felt so amazing to be there although it seemed like a dream. As I explored, I walked by apricot and gold buildings with the paint chipped off, peered up at the screen less windows decorated with rustic shutters and the occasional laundry line filled with clothes drying, heard those sensual Italian words "Ciao Bella", and passed by more gelaterias than I could possibly have imagined. I decided that my goal for Italy was to try a new flavor of gelato every day, so my first flavor was pistacchio. Oh my goodness...it was truly heaven. Yes, I still love ice cream, but this was even more delectable. And I was walking around eating it in Italy! Next, I stumbled across a completely line free entrance to the Accademia Museum, home of Michelangelo's David. I flirted with the security guys, laughed my way in and turned the first corner only to look up and have chills run through me. There was David, towering in the distance with his perfectly sculpted naked body. Wow. It truly is the most beautiful sculpture I have ever seen and I think ever will see. Words really can't describe how amazing this sculpture is in real life, but let's just say that I was in complete awe. And this was basically the state I lived in during my short but sweet time in Italy.
I spent three and a half days in Florence meeting some super cool people at the hostel and partying with them, eating gelato and every other imaginable Italian food, flirting with the Italians, and smiling. Spent an afternoon in the Tuscan hillside sampling wine and eating a family style Italian lunch in the villa of a Lord, took a day trip to the lovely little town of Siena, and splurged on a fabulous meal at a traditional Italian restaurant with one of my new friends. Interesting how I was so nervous to travel on my own, but rarely was actually on my own, because "it always works out." I was planning on visiting the Cinque Terre next but got an invite from two new friends to join them in Venice, and as I was debating whether to go to Venice I thought about going to Nice with another friend. Decisions, decisions...but I decided that this trip was all about me and I needed to continue on my own so I stuck with the original plan and headed to the Cinque Terre (close to the Italian Riviera). Upon arriving I was greeted by turquoise seas, massive sea cliffs with vineyards dotted along their sides, and a quaint typical Italian seaside village. Ahhhh, heaven. Walked and took the train between all 5 towns and was awestruck by the beauty of the place. This area is typically visited by honeymooners and couples, and there is a tale that if you close a lock on the Lovers Walk and throw away the keys then you will have everlasting love. Well since I was alone I was not a part of that tale, but as the universe likes to play interesting tricks on me it happened that I lost the keys to my luggage lock. Yep, I locked myself out of my luggage. To look at the positive side of the situation, I laughed and thought, this is symbolic of my everlasting love to the divine and ultimately myself, as that is one of the most important loves of all. Then I smiled and thought again "really, it always works out." Italy was a splurge for my senses, a treat for my mind, and total joy for my spirit. Couldn't have been more thankful for that funny little phrase and for the crazy events in my life that have lead me to where I am as "it always works out."

Last Days

My last few days in Maastricht included watching my friend get her first nose piercing, indulging in fried dough balls filled with warm apples at the local carnival, walking in solitude through fields of wildflowers, and a day trip to Brussels which ended up in an overnight adventure. My friend and I decided to do a day trip visit to an old childhood friend of hers from Colombia who is now living in Brussels, Belgium (which is only about an hour train ride away). A simple day trip turned into sampling massive quantities of Belgium beers and chocolates, a homemade Colombian dinner, salsa dancing, shots of Aguardiente, and partying until the wee hours of the night. Never thought I would get to brush up on my Spanish speaking skills in a French speaking country, dance salsa or drink Aguardiente in Belgium, or add to my list "randomly stayed overnight in a foreign country with no luggage." Haha...life never ceases to amaze me! So, nevertheless, I had a blast and got to meet some really great people. It was a nice way to end my stay in the Netherlands, although it was a bit of a rough and tiresome start to my solo backpacking adventure to Italy and Switzerland...

After a great night of Samba percussion, drinking Irish whisky, and almost setting the house on fire, I took off back to the airport in Dublin for the next adventure. First I stopped in Kilkenny town to see the castle and hear my last bits of traditional Irish music. I visited 3 pubs...first pub had no music because everyone was immersed in the futbol game of Liverpool versus Club Atletico de Madrid; second had a group of three men sitting around a table with instruments and pints in a trad session which sounded great; third pub had a more formal music session with four musicians and actual sound equipment. Both sets of musicians were playing traditional music and it sounded great, especially with my pint of Guinness in hand. Kilkenny was a nice last stop in Ireland, and I must say I miss the solitude and peacefullness of that lovely country already.
Currently I am back in Maastricht, The Netherlands revisiting friends and indulging in waffles as much as possible. I spent last weekend up in The Hague and was able to visit the Keukenhof which is like a flower theme park. We saw tulips, hyacinth, daffodils, muscari, lilies, and the list goes on. It was a beautiful display of God's artisty, and a treat for the eyes and soul. While in the Hague we also met up with a friend from Maui and partied Dutch style, meaning we sat outside in the cold weather along with everyone else talking story and drinking bier. I am amazed at how the Europeans just love sitting outside no matter what the weather is...I love it! Before we headed back to Maastricht, we stopped at Schenevenigen to walk on the beach and sit outside by the sea to drink fresh mint tea. Finally I got a glimpse of the sun again, since it has been cloudy the whole time I have been here. But, this may be the last few bits of cloud, because next stop is...Italy. Hopefully the next blog will be about pesto, pasta and wine....oh my!

Samba in Ireland

Over the past few weeks I have been honored to join in on Samba drumming and percussion sessions, which is something I never thought I would be doing in Ireland. Klaus, the owner of the house that I am staying at, is a percussion teacher specializing in Samba and West African rhythms. The inside of his van is a mother's nightmare...hoards of djembes, surdo's (bass drums), tamborims, and bells. If any child got a hold of those instruments I think momma would go insane, but for those who love to bang loudly on instruments it is like you have entered heaven!

The first session was located at a neighbors house and there were 9 of us playing. My first instrument to try was the tamborim. Not a tambourine, the little round thing with bells, but the tamborim which is a small Brazilian frame drum you hold in one hand. The main rhythms of the song are played with the tamborim and its patterns are easily distinguished over other instruments. This little instrument was fun because I could dance while playing it. Very cool! The next instrument I tried was the surdo, which is a large standing bass drum. This drum sounds so cool and just banging on it is fun. I couldn't help but just keep hitting it over and over, because it sounded so neat to my untrained ears. These drums are played with a thick fuzzy headed drumstick that I kept thinking was going to fly out of my hand every time I pulled it off the drum. So, of course, I was playing with a perma-smile and constantly laughing at myself. Then I finally moved on to the bells. I got the rhythm fine with these guys, but they have two layers and when I wasn't paying attention to my playing I sometimes would hit the wrong layer, making a different sound. Luckily, if I screwed up, every other instrument was so darn loud that no one could notice. Phew! But, overall, I think I did ok and I had an absolute blast.

Next session was held at our place in the cafe. Again, we had 9 musicians and this time I gravitated towards the djembe. I have a small djembe back in the States that I have been playing with, but these were the real ones. They are about 2 feet in height and are placed between your legs at a slight angle. This is an instrument that I want to really pursue. I love the sound it makes, the feel of my bare hands playing it, and the way it makes my spirit high. It makes me feel very connected to the earth in some strange way and it allows me to go into a sort of moving meditation. Klauss taught me a basic rhythm and we all melodiously jammed.

A few days ago in a cute little seaside town named Kinsale, there was a sustainable festival going on. Klauss generously offered to teach a free percussion workshop, so myself and another couple made the journey down there to join in the workshop. We first set up in the streets and started playing so that we could attract people, but then it started raining. We decided to move inside to a pub and the amount of attendees seemed to magically grow. It was really neat to see such an eclectic mix of people, from young to old, all eager to learn the instruments. I worked on some more djembe rhythms and then moved on to the bells for the next tune that included a beautiful song which we had to sing the intro to. The song is sung to the gods and is very powerful especially when you have a huge group of people singing it. Then we broke into the musical rhythms. It was so much fun and such a great experience. My last samba session is tomorrow night, the night before I leave. The date was decided so that I could leave Sheep's Head Peninsula, Ireland with a bang. Back in January I would have never thought that I would be where I am now. And, I definitely would not have thought I would be learning Samba/West African percussion in Ireland. It is so amazing how life just happens to move one beat at a time, sometimes it is in tune and other times it is off, but nevertheless it is still one awesome rhythm.

Guiness for Strength

I can't believe it has been almost 3 weeks since I last wrote a post. A lot has been going on and time has seemed to have flown right by. This is my last week in Ireland before I head back to the Netherlands and wherever else the wind may take me. The past few weeks, aside from my work exchange duties of helping out with the cafe, I have been doing a lot of hikes mostly with our neighbor Eric. It seems that almost daily we were walking somewhere, whether it be to the stone circle nearby, the sea loop, up the mountain, along the cliffs, through ancient villages, or making the drive to a lonesome yet lovely lake. The weather has been outstanding for the past couple of weeks which is probably why I haven't written much... too busy enjoying the outside!

Yesterday, I was able to catch a ride up to the town of Killarney in County Kerry. This town is very touristy because of the Killarney National Park and its breathtaking beauty. I walked around town early in the morning, ate a scone, then booked a "tour" to see the lakes of Killarney and the Gap of Dunloe. This was more of an adventure than a tour though. The guide drove us in a vintage car over to Ross Castle, where we took a boat across the lakes of Killarney. I thought it would be wonderful to sit in the front part of the boat, but instead was blasted by the cold wind and waves. I had to laugh as I was being splashed, thinking that I am really getting the Irish seamen experience. Little did I know what was coming next. Since the weather has been so nice and rain free, the lakes were a bit shallow in some areas. Besides myself, there was a German couple celebrating their honeymoon who were also on the tour. The guide said that we all needed to get off the boat so that he could pass under a bridge through this really shallow section. Then he told me that he might need my help. Did he ask the stocky German man? No, he asked the petite American girl. Next thing I knew I had to jump off the boat with the ropes and hold the boat from being pulled back into the current, which was very strong. We both mightily pulled the boat through the narrow passageway, against the current, in shallow water (which was definitely challenging) and finally made it. So we boated over to pick up the couple and the guide expressed to the couple how we almost needed their help. But, he said "We have a strong woman here. She must be drinking her Guinness." I laughed and thought "if you only knew"!

We continued on our journey and he dropped us off in a remote area where we were to either hike or get a pony ride back. I opted to hike the 7 miles through the mountains, while the German couple opted for the pony ride. So along I went all by my strong self, passing by fields of sheep, up the mountain, through the Gap of Dunloe, and finally ending at some pubs, of course, where the guide picked us up and brought us back into town. The hike was amazing and it felt so good to be doing it solo. I whistled, laughed at the baaing sheep, met a thoroughbred Irishman, and marveled at the beauty that I was surrounded by. I was in complete awe of majestic Mother Nature and at peace with the solitude she provided. My spirit couldn't be happier, and I felt so grateful for all the recent crazy events in my life that had lead me here to this divine place of healing. The strength may have come from my increased consumption of Guinness, but more likely it has come from my courage to keep on trekking even when times get tough.

Making Peace with the Wind

The first day of April commenced with another amazing hike. My new British friend, Will, invited me to hike to the lighthouse on the end of the Sheep's Head Peninsula. We drove on the narrow, rugged road from Ahakista all the way to the end, parked, and began our afternoon adventure. As usual, we hiked past sheep and through the mud, and ventured off the path. He took me to a spot where we lied down on the rocks and overlooked the massive cliffs plunging into the rough sea below. It was breathtaking. Then we continued on our journey to the lighthouse for 360 degree views of the ocean, mountains, and nearby peninsulas. It feels so good to be back surrounded by the ocean again. This part of Ireland reminds me of Hawaii with its intense and wild beauty. Finally we ended the afternoon hike with scones from the little cafe on the top of the hill. My first interaction with the wind again started here, with my scone crumbs blowing off onto Will, constantly, until he pretty much was covered by them. We had to laugh. Oh the wind...some of you may know how living in Hawaii I had grown to resent the wind. Well, she's back again.

Friday and Saturday I worked the cafe again for the holiday weekend. We had a decent amount of customers (repeats too!) and of course supplied some delicious vegetarian cuisine. The weekend dessert consisted of our normal yummies as well as orange cardamom sugar cookies and banana walnut raisin cake that I baked. On special for the entree was a chickpea, apricot, and saffron tagine served with wholegrain couscous. And the soup du jour... creamy nettle and potato with the nettles coming straight from the garden. How I love being surrounded by delicious, vegetarian food. Good Friday we had another dinner party, this time Italian themed complete with homemade Tiramisu. Heaven! I ate enough to put back all the calories I lost from the past 2 days of hiking, and it was well worth it! Saturday night I went out with another new friend to a nearby town to check out the local music festival. It consisted of crawling back and forth between two pubs, but we missed all the good music. Oh well...still enjoyed my Guinness, ran into some people I knew, talked story with new people, and did a lot of laughing.

Sunday Will and I drove to the peninsula south of the one I am on, called the Mizen Head. We first stopped at a secluded beach that was simply gorgeous. It looked like we were in the Caribbean, but with jackets and wool hats on. The water was really shallow and sandy so the color was of turquoise and teal. Even though I was cold, the water was seducing me with its beauty, enticing me to jump in...ok had to snap out of it, because I probably would get hypothermia. Next stop was another beautiful beach named Barley Cove. This beach reminded me of Martha's Vineyard with its dunes, shoots of straw like grasses coming out, and a wide, open, long shoreline. Pondered over the signs that read "no tunneling in the dunes," took a few photos, bounced like a 6 yr old on the floating raft that's a walking path to get across the water when the tide is high, and then took off for the next destination...Three Castle Head. Upon arriving, we walked down towards the rough, dynamic sea so Will could take some shots of the waves crashing on the rocks. I just stared off into the distance in a sort of standing meditation thinking about how grateful I was to be in that spot at that moment. Next, we walked upon private property, passing by a couple of horses, the farmhouse, and of course more sheep. I had to get a photo standing in the field of sheep. We made baa sounds to greet them, and continued on the hike up, down, and up again to see in the distance the remains of an old castle...Three Castle Head. This old castle still had three towers in tact as well as most of the walls connecting the tower and it sat in a valley next to a quiet lake. To get to the castle we had to pass through a section where the wind was blowing madly and super strong, but we made it through and then explored the castle remains. Then we continued hiking up again to the peak of the peninsula for, yet again, 360 degree views. From here we could see the Sheep's Head peninsula where we hiked a few days ago and it was also here that the wind was showing her strength again. Will sat down by a rock pile to get a break from her massive strength, while I stood there with my arms out to the side, head tilted back, and feet firmly planted on the ground. She's testing me, I thought, and I just let her strength envelope me. It felt great.

The next day I woke up and could see a giant, black ominous cloud looming overhead, as well as the trees blowing madly around and I thought...what terrible weather...I think I am going to go for a walk. Now, the old me would have looked at these nasty weather signs and said "there is no way I am going out in that!", but the new me said "why not!". So I bundled up and headed out. I made it down the hill ok, but as soon as I reached the sea the wind was ready to do her thing again. I crossed the road, stood on the rocks, and said "ok, give me your best shot!" She powered up and just about blew me over, like she was saying "ok, but can you take it." As I stumbled to hold my ground, I smiled and replied to her "yes, with total grace and humility." She blasted me again, but this time I breathed her life in, laughed and kept walking with renewed strength and vitality. Instead of resenting what is, I embraced it with my whole being. Maybe that was what she was trying to teach me all along. Too bad it took me this long to figure it out.

Dancing, hiking and eating.

Monday night was a completely new and cultural experience for me. I learned how to do Irish set dancing. Well, I am not sure if I really learned, rather I was dragged out on the dance floor and had to figure it out along the way. Basically it is like American square dancing, but a lot funner. Lots of spins, gallops, and hopping movements. I was privileged enough to partner with some excellent old Irish male dancers named Liam and Joel, who tried to teach me about the steps. Too bad I couldn't understand their thick Irish accents, so I just smiled, laughed, and tried to follow along. You wouldn't believe how much of a workout this dance is. We danced for 2 hours with no breaks. I was one of the younger people there and frickin pooped by the end of the night. I was also extremely dizzy, mainly because of two reasons...I am really light so people enjoyed twirling me so fast that I felt like I was going to lift off the ground and shoot out in to outer space, and because I drank a pint of Guinness beforehand at a local pub since we got to the dance hall too early. Must say that is was overall a darn good time and an amazing thing to have experienced.
So, today I took my first official day off and was invited by our neighbor to go hiking in Glengariff. It is on the North side of the Sheep's Head Peninsula and just as lovely. At first we were rained on, but then the sun came out to warm us up. We hiked past small rocky waterfalls, bright green carpets of moss, oddly shaped trees, and ascended upon views of the mountains and ocean. Discussed life, nature and spirituality, and just plain old enjoyed the afternoon. Later that day I ventured into the art studio and finally worked on some pastel drawings. Felt good to be creating art again. Took another walk after that down to the beach and back, and experienced three seasons in that 30 minutes... summer sun, spring rain, and winter hail. Kind of crazy.
Lastly the evening concluded with a crepe dinner prepared by the French couple. Savory crepes filled with a leek saute, butterbeans, roasted peppers, and pesto. And sweet crepes filled with melted Green & Blacks dark chocolate, sliced pear, and fresh whipped cream. Learned that the French just flip their plates over after eating the savory crepes to put the sweet crepes on. Interesting, and kind of funny. After licking the plates clean, I talked story with the young couple for awhile. One of the great things about traveling is meeting so many different people from different cultures and with different stories. What an amazing learning experience and one in which we discover that even though extrinsically we may be different, intrinsically we are all the same.

Opening Day

The first day of the Heron Gallery Cafe was officially a success. People trickled in all day long and thoroughly enjoyed the food...most of which, I am proud to say, were my recipes. Spicy lentil and spinach soup, creamy potato leek soup, quinoa tabbouleh, carrot & beetroot salad w/honey ginger dressing, pasta and bean pesto salad, organic greens, homemade falafel w/ tzatziki dressing, Irish cheeses w/brown soda bread, Irish cheddar and spinach scones, fruit scones, lemon almond polenta cake, rich chocolate cake, apple crumble w/ whipped cream, oatmeal raisin cookies, peanut butter cookies, raspberry oat squares, espressos, tea, elderflower tonic, and hot lemon ginger tea. I know I forgot a few things but that is basically our menu to start. Almost everything is either from the garden or local producers and most things are organic. Good food made with lots of love. Today I had the pleasure to meet a really nice couple from Northern Ireland who came for lunch and had my oatmeal raisin cookies (my own recipe) for dessert. They fell in love with them and told me I should start a mail order cookie business. They even came back in the afternoon for more and gave me their contact info just in case I ever came up to visit the area. The Irish are so friendly! So, overall, a successful start.

Since I last wrote, I was basically doing a lot of shopping, prepping, baking and cooking. The cafe owner and I made a special trip to Lisheen Organics to pick up some fresh greens, and passed by Jeremy Irons island castle along the way. The farm was so cool! You walked into the poly tunnels and were immediately greeted with beautiful blossoming broad beans, stalks of asparagus popping up, vibrant green parsley, myriad colors of salad greens, rainbow chard, beet greens, herbs, and the last few baby carrots. We literally hand picked the things we wanted. What a good feeling to be harvesting what you will be eating for dinner. Next day we headed to the Bantry market early in the morning for more fresh fruits and veggies, homemade bread from local bakers, gourmet olives/sun dried tomatoes/lavender/feta from Toby (talked story with him because he lived in Massachusetts for awhile), handmade falafel, and locally made Gubbeen cheeses and organic eggs. AAhhhhh.... such good food! As we were driving around to these different places I was able to enjoy more of this picturesque landscape. Simply breathtaking.

Today finally ended with a nice chat with my new hippy Irish friend who is going to give me bodran lessons (Irish drum); cake with this awesome local woman who has a French wwoofer and American wwwoofer, with whom I will be checking out Irish set dancing and music on Monday night; a dinner visit by previous wwoofers who are a young French couple bicycling around Ireland; and listening to Samba music with the owner, Klauss, who plays samba percussion. What a mix of wonderfulness. Again, I can not express how grateful I am for all these things to be happening in my life. Keeping an open mind and an open heart really does make a huge difference... along with being positive, happy, and thankful... and just letting go.

Quintessential Ireland

Today I built up soil beds for potatoes, baked scones, had tea with a friendly neighbor, and passed fields of sheep. Yes, I am in Ireland! The fields really are vibrant shades of green dotted with cows, horses, and multi-colored sheep (the owners spray paint the wool for identification or some reason); the mountains touch the rocky sea shore with ocean shades ranging from Caribbean like turquoises to rich, dark blues; the people love to share stories, of which the dialect always includes a wide range of swear words for added emphasis; and the men really do wear cable knit sweaters, flat caps a.k.a. scully caps, and wellies. The area that I am in is a vast area of unspoilt land and has a quiet and gentle beauty. A place where one can truly undergo a peaceful restitution.

Well, not so peaceful for me while I am working. Yesterday and today I have spent a lot of time in the kitchen testing and developing recipes since the cafe officially opens this Saturday. I have created some winners and some major losers. Lentil and spinach (fresh from the garden) soup, creamy potato and leek soup, and a spicy Thai butternut squash soup are what we have been eating the past few days. Luckily all turned out pretty darn delicious! After two tries I finally developed a successful cheddar and garden spinach scone recipe. Thank goodness the American girl baked a good scone otherwise I may have been stoned! Among the other baking successes were a sweet fruit scone, peanut butter cookies, and raspberry oat squares. I tried popovers for the first time ever, read the recipe wrong, and instead created divinely rich, buttery pop-unders. Put waaaaaay too much butter in them so they flopped, but then again, too much butter made them taste frickin awesome!

Other than my baking adventures and potato bed soil building, I have just been enjoying the beauty of the area. The owner's dogs took me for a nice, but speedy walk today down by the sea and back. Feasted on the visual artistry of mother nature's spring daffodils, hyacinth, and narcissus; and enjoyed the sounds of myriad birds chirping away on a crisp, sunny, blue sky spring day in Ireland. So I must say that the past couple of days were, as they say around here... lovely!

The Journey

Finally, after many requests, I am starting a blog to journal my adventures. As many of you know I left the United States on February 24, 2010 for the journey to Europe. I arrived, after a really long flight, to Brussels International airport in Belgium. Somehow I managed to get on the right trains and made my way to the University town of Maastricht in The Netherlands. Really wished I would have started this blog then, because I have way too many stories from 2.5 weeks there to re-tell. In a nutshell, I was planning on traveling a lot around that area, but fell in love with the people and the town, so I spent most of my time getting to know Maastricht. I did make a solo day trip to Brugges, Belgium for chocolate and beer tasting, a tour of the canal and lots of sightseeing. Lovely city, but no sightings of Colin Farell unfortunately. Also did an afternoon trip to a nearby town called Valkenburg where I toured a castle and underground cave system. One small problem...the tour was in Dutch so I had no clue what the heck was going on. Made it to Aachen, Germany for a quick afternoon trip to check out the handsome Germans, eat black cherry cake, and buy the most amazing bread I have ever tasted. And last, but not least, I made a day trip to Amsterdam to explore the Van Gogh museum, the city, the canals and of course the red light district. During my time in the Netherlands I ate hot Belgium waffles and frittes covered in heavy duty heart-attack sauce almost every other day, explored the cobblestone streets and cafes, rode on the back of a bicycle after a couple of beers (highly recommended), partied like a college girl, developed wonderful relationships, and truly felt joyous again. Not bad huh.
After much debate, I decided I needed to continue on my journey to my dream destination of Ireland. So I booked my flight and made it over all by my happy self! Arrived solo in Dublin on St. Patrick's Day evening and yes, it was NUTS!!! The next day I ventured off to explore the city, which of course included a trip to the Guinness factory. Oh, how Guinness tastes more sublime in Ireland. There I chatted it up with the bartenders in the skybar and got them to make me a shamrock in the head of the beer. Somehow also managed to get a free beer along with it. Gotta love being a woman! Met a German/Greek guy who was also traveling alone and accompanied me for a musical pub crawl. We drank more Guinness, sang songs (yes... we hit a bar that happened to start playing 'The Wild Rover' as soon as we arrived!) and laughed our butts off at everything! Good times! The next day I headed towards my current destination of a small seaside town named Ahakista, located on the Sheep's Head Peninsula in Cork County. I am participating in a work exchange program for the next month. In exchange for room and board, I am helping the owners of the house open a vegetarian/wholefoods cafe to supplement their art gallery and future garden path. It is so wonderful to be surrounded by good healthy food, beautiful art, and amazing views of the ocean and mountains. If Maui and New Hampshire were smashed together they would create this place. Yesterday I went for a lovely hike behind the house, and it was so quiet (except for the occasional curious cow) and spectacular. The beauty that surrounds me is exceptional and reminds me how grateful I am to be a part of this beautiful world. I am even grateful for the drastic changes that have come across my path, through what seemed to be negative experiences, to have vibrantly opened my eyes and heart to the beauty of life. Life is one big crazy journey and truly will be how you perceive it to be. Unfortunately it took some pretty gnarly experiences and emotions to figure that out, but overall, I will say that it was worth it. I am on the way to truth, joy and peace, and couldn't be more excited. Thanks to all you amazing people in my life who have supported me, listened, prayed, and just plain old loved me. You are all angels and I am truly blessed to have you in my life. I hope you enjoy this blog as I will do my best to write often in it. Peace, love, and light...Cheers!