Christina’s Journey Journal

Author: Christina Ritchie

  • Who knew? Well…everyone but me, evidently! (Exploring my home town of St. Louis, Missouri)

    Who knew? Well…everyone but me, evidently! (Exploring my home town of St. Louis, Missouri)

    How did I not know that the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis, aka St. Louis Cathedral, which sits in the Central West end of the city, rivals churches I have seen to-date?

    I always knew this cathedral was there; however, I’ve never taken the time to visit. What a terrible miss on my part. It took a visitor from another country, who is spending Thanksgiving with us, to request a visit for me to finally discover this gem. Let’s just say that I was BLOWN AWAY! Completed in 1914, named for Saint Louis, and designated a basilica by Pope John Paul II in 1997, it’s an astonishing collection of mosaic art work.

    My head swirled as I entered and looked up and around. There was a man from North Carolina admiring the details next to me. He commented that he’s been all over the world and this is one of the best cathedrals he has visited. I told him that I’ve never seen so many mosaic tiles outside of Church of the Savior on Blood in St. Petersburg, Russia (Russian: Церковь Спаса на Крови, Tserkovʹ Spasa na Krovi). He agreed.

    I had to look it up because I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. According to Wikipedia, the basilica contains 41.5 million glass tesserae (tile) pieces in 7,000+ colors. The tiles cover 83,000 square feet and it is, indeed, the largest mosaic collection in the world outside Russia. Holy moly—right in my home town!

    The mosaic work was done by several people/companies including a father/son team who dedicated their lives to the art.

    It is #6 on TripAdvisor’s things to do in St Louis, following the Arch, the Zoo, Missouri Botanical Gardens, the City Museum, and Busch Stadium. While I don’t disagree those are must see attractions, THIS BASICILA is a treasure of epic proportions—and I, too, have seen a ton of churches around the world. I may not be Catholic, but gosh, was this a spiritual moment!

    There is a crypt with the former Cardinals of the St Louis Archdiocese, an organ with a story too long to tell here, and a museum to learn more about the mosaic art work. We didn’t have time to explore these 3 in detail (as we had reservations to go up #1 on the list—the Gateway Arch), but I will take a guided tour next time.

    Look at that all the mosaic tiles plus marble and brick on the inside and granite on the outside. The Cathedral seats 5,000 people (including the galleries) and has 3 impressive domes, two spires, and a Tintinnabulum, a small bell that designates the church as a minor basilica.
  • Celebrating Fall in Chicago

    Celebrating Fall in Chicago

    Do I really need to add words to these pictures?

    These were taken at sunset on a really cold October day aboard Chicago’s First Lady. The 90 minute tour partners with the Chicago Architecture Center (CAC). The view! The history! The buildings!

    Navy Pier in the background.
    Family💕
    Informational and visually amazing tour with a volunteer architect as our guide.
    Chicago at night is stunning from the Chicago River.
  • Exploring North, South, East and West Kaua’i

    Exploring North, South, East and West Kaua’i

    We met our good friends and stayed the remainder of our time at Lae Nani—a beautiful condo complex with the most breathtaking landscape on the east side of Kaua’i in a town called Kapa’a. This part of the island, where you can watch spectacular sunrises, is called the Royal Coconut Coast. It is considered a holy area where the Hawaiian royalty used to live. We explored waterfalls, chased rainbows, and went to a luau. Of the 5 previous luaus I have been to, this one was my favorite so I will post the details below.

    Here are some of our unforgettable adventures in pictures.

    The Royal Coconut Coast – East Kaua’i

    Lae Nani Condos in Kapa’a on
    Kaua’i’s Royal Coconut Coast.
    Starfish 411 is simply the best condo we have stayed in. Look at the grounds and the view! The grounds were destroyed by past hurricanes, and a master gardener redesigned everything. It’s stunning.
    Waterfall hunting. First stop – Wailua Falls
    Next – ʻŌpaekaʻa Falls
    Fresh coconut water by the Falls.
    I bought a beautiful lei from a beautiful lady who had a mobile shop set up in the parking lot. Her father was friends with Elvis!

    Heading West – the Na Pali Coast

    Sailing on the 55’ catamaran along the Na Pali Coast with Capt Andy’s!
    I am all smiles here but the trip back was rough. My motion sickness medication did not help with the white caps and the swirling sea!
    Lots of waterfalls, caves, and breathtaking cliffs!
    And Dolphins!! So many dolphins with their babies🐬
    Sunny skies (calm before the rough seas)

    Back on the Royal Coconut Coast (East Kaua’i) for the Smith Family Garden Luau

    The conch shells signal the start of the luau and the Imu Ceremony begins! Imu is an underground oven and a traditional Hawaiian method of cooking the kalua pig and rice pudding for the luau. According to Kamika Smith (general manager), they used to get the pigs right on Kauai, but since Covid the pigs now come from Oahu.
    Before our feast, we took a tour of the gardens, which have been in the Smith Family for over 50 years. This Wailua River Valley is a truly special place for a luau.
    A tour of the gardens, the Imu ceremony, dinner with entertainment, and then the “show”, complete with music from the different cultures that tell the Hawaiian history. The evening was filled with stars on the stage, and in the sky.

    Exploring the North Shore

    Opened in 1913, The Daniel K. Inouye Kīlauea Point Lighthouse, is situated on Kīlauea Point. It stands 52 feet tall on a rocky cliff that’s 180 feet above the ocean.
    Hanalei Bay on the North Shore of Kaua’i, which has served as the backdrop for Hollywood movies such as South Pacific and The Descendants.

    South for some Sunshine, Sea Turtles, and Seals!

    Poipu Beach
    I am zoomed in—the turtles were roped off and we stayed 15 feet away.
    So many turtles catching some rays. We heard that many more come out at night to rest on the beach. Also, while nesting season is between May-September, we saw at least 10 during our October visit to Poipu Beach.
    This Hawaiian monk seal was having a lazy day.
    Gotta have a Puka Dog! The sauces are amazing 🔥

    Other Notable Adventures

    The others in our group did a helicopter tour of the island and one couple went to Oahu for the day. We have done these below before, so we skipped them this time.

    Good morning! The sunrise by our condo.
    Yoga to start the day next door at the Kaua’i Shores Hotel. The restaurant, Lava Lava Beach Club is on site and it’s really a fun atmosphere with
    live music every night.
  • Kaua’i Adventures – What does tubing have to do with sugar cane?

    Kaua’i Adventures – What does tubing have to do with sugar cane?

    Besides Waimea Canyon, Kauai is an island where you can explore to your heart’s content and learn about the Hawaiian culture, Whether you want to put your toes in the sand in Hanalei Bay or float in a tube down a mountain, the options are abundant.

    Let’s start with the tubing adventure. This is the second time we have joined Kaua’i Backcountry Adventures on their tubing excursion where we travel via open canals and tunnels that were once used to carry water down the mountain for sugar cane irrigation. After, there’s a lunch with the chickens, roosters, and cats close to where you get out of the water.

    It’s a fascinating lesson in the history and fun to travel the same path as the sugar cane, dating back to when the tunnels were hand dug around 1870. In fact, sugar cane was big business in the Hawaiian Islands, including Kauai. And it wasn’t all sweet. There are lots of articles about the history of sugar cane in the Hawaiian Islands. Here’s a link to a chronicle from the University of Hawaii’s library that provides a historical timeline and more details from Wikipedia. A couple of interesting facts—the American Civil War gave a boost to Hawaiian sugar cane production when supplies were halted from the south. C&H in C&H Sugar stands for California and Hawaii, and here’s an interesting article from NPR when the last sugar cane mill in Hawaii was closed in 2016.

    Starting out in our adventure as we drive up the mountain and learn more about the 17,000 acre plantation, which is now owned by Steve Case, former CEO of AOL
    Mt. Wai’ali’ali is the summit of Kaua’i with average annual rainfall of 400+ inches

    We wore hard hats with head lamps for the tunnels. While most of the trip is similar to a lazy river, there are times where you pick up speed, float in the dark, and bumper car with your neighbors. It’s “butts up” or “ankles crossed” to ensure safety in the “refreshing” water—which you acclimate to quickly. It helps to wear long sleeve swim gear! At one point they encourage you to swipe some clay from the canal walls for a nutrient rich facial.

    The bamboo! The ground are breathtaking and we wouldn’t have seen them if not for this tour.

    A glimpse of our adventure
    Spinning in the tunnel

    Our group of 6 had a really fun and unique experience. There were kids in our broader group and you could tell they did as well. Mahalo to Kauai Background Adventures. You can tell they pride themselves on eco tourism, education, and protecting the environment. The guides were outstanding again this second time around. (FYI, tips are appreciated).

  • Waimea Canyon on the Hawaiian Island of Kaua’i

    Waimea Canyon on the Hawaiian Island of Kaua’i

    Also known as the Grand Canyon of the Pacific, Waimea Canyon is 14 miles long, 1 mile wide, and greater than 3,600 feet deep. The panoramic views are jaw dropping!

    In addition to the scenic overlooks stops, we did a couple of hikes while in the park. The best was our 3 mile hike starting on the Canyon Trail and ending at Waipo’o Falls. FYI the Canyon Trail is a 12.9-mile out-and-back trail—we only walked a small part of it.

    At times it felt like we were on Mars!
    At the bottom of Waipo’o Falls
    The famous (scrumptious) pancakes at the Koke’e Lodge after our hiking adventure.
    Back to the chickens —
    This was a sign at The Shops at Kukui‘ula. 🤣
  • Aloha Kaua’i – Poipu (Anniversary Trip)

    Aloha Kaua’i – Poipu (Anniversary Trip)

    Kaua’i in October is as beautiful as it gets. Who needs changing leaves and pumpkin spice when you have swaying palm trees, tropical sunsets, and Lava Flows?

    Hawaii is a special place for me. I grew up going to the islands from about the age of 13. My heart has been broken for the people of Maui with the Lahaina fire and I continue to pray for healing, strength, hope, and love (please join me in continuing to support the various local community organizations on the island)

    To kick off our 30 year wedding anniversary vacation, my husband, Mike, and I splurged and did a bucket list item by spending 5 nights at the Grand Hyatt in Poipu, Kaua’i. Talk about a resort for memory making! We were greeted with orchid leis, informative bellmen, front desk staff with the Aloha spirit, and the most amazing lobby view of the ocean. There wasn’t one thing about this hotel I didn’t love, and I have been wanting to stay here for years so the hype kept building! In fact, we had plans to visit in September 2020 but Covid cancelled them.

    Some will say it’s a ton of walking within the lush landscaped property (over 1000 steps from the pool to our room) but if you like to get in your steps, it’s the place for you. There’s the 2 mile Maha’ulepu Heritage Trail that starts right at the hotel and goes along the coast if you want more exercise. They have a phenomenal spa and fitness center (which you pay for in your resort fee) and I did some type of class each morning—HIIT, yoga, etc. I had a wonderful massage with Deanna. We drank $18 foo foo drinks at the pool (ouch! But try the lilikoi margarita—it’s worth it once). We bought a room package where the yummy breakfast buffet at Ilima Terrace was included (otherwise it’s $100 for two people without the tip), and found that would tide us over until dinner.

    The room was spacious with plenty of drawers, a mini refrigerator, and their own coconut mango bath products, which smell like paradise. Hyatt is reducing plastic pollution so they give their guests an aluminum water bottle upon check in and had plenty of filtered water stations to refill on the property. One evening we ate at Tide Pools—a tropical oasis in the middle of a koi pond. Very romantic! 🥰

    The pools were abundant, with an adults only pool, a lazy river, a sandy beach lagoon pool, a slide, hot tubs, and plenty of nooks and crannies to hang out in the water. We always found chairs with an umbrella, although they do have more exclusive chairs/tents to rent. We were fine in the “free seats”.

    Room with a view and champagne
    to enjoy an early anniversary celebration🥂
    Grand Hyatt, Poipu, Kauai
    This is what to see when you walk into the lobby.
    Kind of takes your breath away, doesn’t it?
    Dinner at the amazing Tidepools with the koi!💙🤍🩷
    Lava Flow, Lilikoi Margarita and the Hyatt’s aluminum water bottle in the background
    Rooster 🐓 enjoying a coconut. 🥥
    Kaua’i has a lot of chickens. A lot. The story is that during two large hurricanes (Iwa in 1982 and Iniki in 1992), many of the domestic coops were destroyed and “free range” took on a whole new meaning in Kauai!
  • A St. Louis view from 3,500 feet at sunset

    A St. Louis view from 3,500 feet at sunset

    This summer my son, Logan (https://instagram.com/pilot_logan?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==), became a private pilot. I was the lucky mom that got the opportunity to fly with him on Friday evening, August 18th. I crossed my fingers and did a little bit of meditation to calm the nerves while he was doing his pre flight checklist, but then I enjoyed every minute of our one hour and 15 minute flight: 3 take offs; 3 landings; and a tour over the St. Louis, Missouri area that concluded with an amazing sunset! It was surreal to sit beside the kid that was once afraid of heights, and watch him pilot a four passenger Cessna 172s. I have taken some pretty cool trips—this was, by far, the coolest! ✈️

    Getting ready to take my seat as the co-pilot.
    Definitely the smallest plane I have been in!
    Take off!
    Focus and concentration
    Besides great views of the Missouri River, we flew over Six Flags and Washington areas
    Sunset over the Missouri River
    Smooth as butter 🧈 on the landing
    Safely back on the ground,
    filled with sunset memories🧡
  • Zion National Park Wrap Up🇺🇸

    Zion National Park Wrap Up🇺🇸

    This was the best week with my youngest son, Logan, exploring two national parks, hiking, and spending time together before he heads off for his senior year of college in August. Today is Memorial Day and I am not only reflecting on the trip but also on the sacrifices made by our service men and women — sacrifices that allow us the privilege of spending time freely in this beautiful country.

    Location: Springdale, UT is the perfect base camp. It’s right outside Zion and it has everything you could possibly want—small town feel, really yummy restaurants, convenience / grocery stores, gear stores, ice cream (who doesn’t like ice cream every night on vacation??), and even spas. I walked into one of those spas yesterday after hiking and was able to get a massage. The Spa at Cable Mountain Lodge is fantastic—jacuzzi, steam room, and a relaxing massage (thanks, Scott!). Highly recommend this place to soothe those tired hiking muscles. I feel like a new person today!

    Sitting on the patio and listening to the Virgin River

    Also, fellow Birkenstock fans—Simply Birkenstocks has Birks I didn’t even know existed and they ship too (don’t ask me how I know that). Also, they carry other shoe brands (Teva, Chacos, Naot, etc) and gear/clothing that you may have forgotten to pack—like Vuori and Kuhl.

    We stayed at the Desert Pearl Inn. I will write a Trip Advisor review shortly and link it here. It was everything we thought it would be and more. The pool and hot tub were nice after a long day of hiking. Our room was clean and modern. We backed to the Virgin River—the river was right out our back door. It was so darned relaxing to sit on the patio (we were ground level) and watch/listen to the water every morning/evening. That river moves fast! We had one small issue with a smell in the bathroom but they were quick to fix it for us.

    The weather couldn’t have been better—sunny, 70s/80s and no humidity. In the morning it was actually chilly and when the sun sets, it’s extremely pleasant. I could get used to weather like this!

    Yesterday was another full day of hiking. During this trip we did every major hike in Zion we could, other than 3 that were closed due to rock slides/high water. Unfortunately, The Narrows was the one closed due to high water. Oh well…gives us another reason to come back! We enjoyed the Riverside Walk Trail that follows the Virgin River and took us to the start of The Narrows. We also hiked the Pa’rus and Weeping Rock Trails. We walked from Canyon Junction to the Court of the Patriarchs where we took the shuttle to the Zion Lodge and ate lunch. Good lunch but not as good as the Lodge at Bryce Canyon.

    Riverside Walk Trail – a 2.2 mile (out and back) paved trail that leads to the start of The Narrows
    A waterfall along the Riverside Walk Trail on another beautiful cloudless day ☀️
    The Weeping Rock — a little oasis in the middle of the desert! It starts with melting snow and rain as the water travels down the Navajo sandstone. At some point, the water cannot pass through the rock so it starts to come out the side of the cliff, forming a spring!
    The Weeping Rock as we hiked up to it

    Last evening I had THE BEST spaghetti squash enchiladas at Whiptale Grill. In fact, it’s the only time I have ever had spaghetti squash enchiladas but I know I will crave them from here on out. Logan and I agreed that this restaurant and Oscar’s Cafe were our favorites. Check out Oscar’s Pork Chili Verde Tamales and the Salmon Filet.

    Goodbye Zion. We loved every minute with you. We felt your truly awesome creativity and force with all of our senses. Thank you for the experiences and memories. 🧡💚
  • Bryce Canyon National Park☀️

    Bryce Canyon National Park☀️

    We struggled with making a decision. Do we drive two hours to go to Bryce Canyon National Park today or do we stay in Zion? We had many recommendations to go and so we thought, let’s do it! BEST DECISION!! Bryce Canyon, or BC (which I will affectionally call it), was beyond our wildest imagination. It’s something right out of fantasyland. They even have a Canyon named Fairyland! Whether you see chess pieces ♟️ or other mythical creatures, BC was like a sugar craving. You know when you open a candy bar and say, “I am just going to have 1 square and save the rest for later”? Then next thing you know, the entire bar is gone. That was how we felt about these rocks. We couldn’t just see 1 — we wanted to see them all! I have over 500 pictures and videos from today…I know, it’s over the top but so worth it.

    The “rocks” are actually called Hoodoos and BC has the greatest Hoodoo collection in the world. And, the perfect climate, too, with the right balance of freezing and thawing to create them.

    So many pictures and not one can do this justice

    We started our drive through Zion National Park (Hwy 9) at 6:30 am, going through the historic 1.1 mile long Zion-Mount Carmel tunnel, which provides direct access for travel between Bryce Canyon, Grand Canyon, and Zion National Parks. In about 1 hour 50 minutes, we arrived at BC and started hiking at the Bryce Point trailhead (Elevation 8,300). We walked the Rim Trail, stopping at various points, including Inspiration Point, Sunset Point, and Sunrise Point. This led us to the Navajo Loop, taking us down to the Amphitheater (the floor) where we could hike amongst the Hoodoos. We joined up with the Queen’s Garden Trail, which brought us back to the top. I find it much more difficult to hike canyons—what goes down, has to come back up! I’d rather do the hardest part first.

    Hiking with the Hoodoos

    We then ate a really delicious lunch at the rustic Bryce Canyon Lodge. It’s been in operation since 1925 and designed by the famous architect, Gilbert Stanley Underwood. I had a Reuben on a GF bun—one of the best Reubens! We shared some garlic parmesan fries, which were also yummy. Maybe I was just really hungry from the hikes?

    After lunch we hiked back along the Rim Trail, saw some deer that didn’t seem fazed by us, and made a quick stop by Fairyland Canyon on our way out.

    Next time I would add another day for BC. Night time star gazing is supposed to be amazing. Also, there are a couple of other hikes we didn’t have time for in one day. I would love to see the shifting colors of the Hoodoos with sunrise and sunset.

    Naming all the Hoodoos
    (although some of the more famous ones have names – Thor’s Hammer, The Hunter, Queen Victoria)

    Let’s talk a little more about the Hoodoos, because they are fascinating. They don’t grow out of the ground. Rather, they are eroded out of cliffs. Rows of narrow walls form calls fins. Then cracks occur and holes appear. The fins now have windows. As the windows get bigger, the tops eventually collapse and ta da—a baby hoodoo is born. Rain/snow act like a sculptors and make the hoodoo look like you see in the pictures—a bulbous spire. They have their lifespan and eventually break down into lumps of clay while new Hoodoos are born.

    Picture perfect day with temperatures in the low 60s (Fahrenheit).
  • Day 2 on the Trail in Zion National Park – Angels Landing😇

    Day 2 on the Trail in Zion National Park – Angels Landing😇

    We did it! Well…I did it. Not sure there was ever any question my son couldn’t do it🤣

    “It” means hiking Angels Landing, a 1,488-foot tall rock formation in Zion National Park. It stands 5,790 feet tall and provides the most amazing, surreal views of the canyon. It literally took my breath away!

    This was by far the HARDEST 4 hour hike (5 miles out and back) I have ever done. 21 switch backs called Walter’s Wiggles, 1,500 foot elevation gain, and then we got on (what I call) “the chains course” for the longest last 1/2 mile of my life. You now need a permit to hike Angels Landing and we were the lucky lottery winners for today. I highly recommend this hike for adventure seekers but not for anyone fearful of heights or with two left feet! You can hear my out-of-breathe narration below if you want to add to your hiking bucket list.

    ☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️
    At the top!
    The weather was perfect—sunny and high 70s (Fahrenheit)

    We found out it’s called Angel’s Landing because a Methodist minister, Frederick Vining Fisher, once said that because it’s so massive that only angels might land on it. It’s indeed tall at 5,770 feet with rock from the Jurassic period. The trail is rated as one of the most dangerous hikes in the USA. There are no guard rails and 14 people have died due to falls. We played it safe in all ways – sunscreen + light weight clothing, plenty of water and snacks, took our time, used the chains, stayed away from the edges, and followed the rules of the park. Also, I didn’t take any photos/videos unless I was on a plateau or at a safe stopping point. Call me cautious but I wanted to write this post!

    Angels Landing used to be a very congested trail, thus the reason for the lottery, which designated our date and start time. Make sure you check the park’s website for details – they have a season lottery (which we did) or a day before lottery.

    Logan using the chains to descend.
  • Zion National Park – On the trails today 🥾

    Zion National Park – On the trails today 🥾

    As I write this I can barely stand. That’s what happens when I try to keep up with my athlete son who is 23! Almost 12 miles. Almost 28,000 steps. 60 flights climbed. My legs are screaming!

    Here’s me and my legs before they were screaming

    We started our day at about 8:00 am with the Watchman Trail. Elevation gain was around 650 feet and the sun wasn’t too bad since it was early and partly shaded. The wildflowers were abundant and added that little something extra to the hike.

    At the end of Watchman Trail

    Right now you cannot drive your car into Zion National Park. They have a well-oiled bus system that makes 9 stops throughout the park, starting at the visitors center and ending at the Temple of Sinowava (The Narrows, Riverside Walk). And there’s another bus line that makes 9 steps in Springdale, UT and takes you into the park at Zion Canyon Village so that you don’t have to drive at all. It’s an outstanding free perk! Stop 4 is right outside our hotel. That said, it’s only .9 miles to the visitor’s center so we walked there this morning, and then walked home.

    After completing the Watchman Trail, we hopped on the bus and then took The Grotto to Kayenta Trail and then on to the Emerald Pools Trails (lower, middle and upper). Another elevation gain of about 650 feet. Gorgeous waterfalls and hanging gardens. And the rocks! I said to my son, “gosh, these rocks never get old” and that smartie says “But they are old, Mom—they’re 270 million years old!” Ba-dum-bump.

    The Virgin River may not look like much, but it’s mighty enough to continue to erode through this canyon, shaping and carving what you see here!
    The lower Emerald Pool
    Cooling off from the waterfall spray
    The upper Emerald Pool
    Another view of the gorgeous upper Emerald Pool
    Lots of sand in the shoes in this hike

    We ate lunch after hiking at Cafe Soleil, a cute little breakfast, lunch and coffee shop that caters to hikers with smoothies and fresh food. Lots of gluten free options, including bread. For gluten free folks, it’s always a nice surprise when we can have a sandwich! Dinner was MeMe’s Cafe where we sat outside and enjoyed delicious homemade crepes (also had gluten free batter for the crepes).

    Now it’s time for bed because tomorrow is a hike we’re been waiting to do for years!

  • Springdale, UT – on the doorstep of Zion National Park🇺🇸

    Springdale, UT – on the doorstep of Zion National Park🇺🇸

    After landing in Las Vegas, we rented a car for the 3 hour drive to Southwest Utah. We arrived at a breathtaking place called Zion National Park, found at the junction of the Colorado Plateau, Great Basin, and Mojave Desert regions. We’ve here for the long Memorial Day weekend, filled with hiking, hiking, and more hiking. Oh and lots of people. Last year during this same weekend Zion saw 82,000 people! I guess you can say it’s the calm before the swarm (of people).

    I was curious as to what “Zion” means — and I found many answers: “highest point”, “utopia”, “holy place”, “Israel”, “heaven”.
    Our view just walking down the street!
    My son is with me on this trip because we are both hiking aficionados
    The honeysuckle! One of my favorite smells.💛
    Springdale, UT is charming, the resort is comfortable, and the Virgin River is out our back door. We had some really yummy rotisserie chicken for dinner from Camp Outpost (along with sweet potato hummus)

    Let the hiking begin!

  • NOLA didn’t disappoint!🇺🇸

    NOLA didn’t disappoint!🇺🇸

    First time in New Orleans last week and what a beautiful city. Here are a few pictures from a quick afternoon walk. I will need to return as there is so much to see! The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival is this weekend so I’m sure the city isn’t sleeping🎉

    St. Louis Cathedral – the oldest, continual use cathedral in the U.S.
    The heart of NOLA
    Jackson Square
    Fritzels – European Jazz Pub
    Making music since 1969
  • Iceland Instagram Reel 🇮🇸

    Iceland Instagram Reel 🇮🇸

    Instagram Reel with some of our favorites from our 10 day adventure to the land of Fire 🔥 and Ice 🧊

  • That’s a wrap. Bless bless, Iceland!🇮🇸

    That’s a wrap. Bless bless, Iceland!🇮🇸

    Yesterday we had an unbelievable experience at Sky Lagoon—a 7 step ritual that soothed tired muscles and left us feeling 10 years younger! Why can’t we have one of these in St. Louis??

    Steps 1 and 7 in the lagoon.
    We spent a lot of time participating in these two steps!
    Passion fruit martinis, sunshine, and a geothermal lagoon with the North Atlantic as our backdrop.
    The view from Step 3!
    Eating amongst the whales for our final evening at
    The Whales of Iceland Museum. 🐳 🐋
    Rooftop bar – what a view!💙
    The view from the rooftop at The Edition Hotel. The harbor lights lit up the night.
  • With these amazing people in Iceland! 🇮🇸

    With these amazing people in Iceland! 🇮🇸

    A hodgepodge of photos from the last couple of days.

    Getting ready to do some whale watching! 🐋
    🩵Blue Lagoon’in’ it🩵
    Matching braids at the Geysir

    Outside Tapas Barinn getting ready to moooove inside! 🐄 🇪🇸

    Passionfruit Sangria at Tapas Barinn🍷

    Cheers to us and beautiful Iceland 🇮🇸

    We tried to see Northern Lights today but they were shy! Therefore, we had some hot chocolate and did some stargazing. That was Mike and my 3rd attempt this trip. Next time!💚

  • Golden Circle continues with our afternoon adventures

    Golden Circle continues with our afternoon adventures

    Gullfoss – Golden Falls

    This multi tiered waterfall is in the canyon of the Hvita River and it’s overwhelming! We viewed it from above and then walked down to view it from the top. 💦

    Walking alongside Gullfoss

    Then we headed to the Geysir Hot Spring in the Haukadalur Valley and saw the ground steam and boil! I also captured the Strokkur Geyser blowing boiling water 30 meters high (98 feet). The Great Geysir is here, too, but it lays dormant these days (after blowing up to 558 feet high at one point). The Great Geysir is what all other hot springs are named after (such as the Old Faithful Geyser) as it was the first to be described in a printed source. It’s like the Kleenex of geysers!

    Can you hear the water boiling?
    Smoldering fields
    There she blows! Every few minutes, Strokkur (the Churn) lives up to its name of being a geyser.
    The now dormant Great Geysir

    Then we headed for an afternoon treat at a 7 generation dairy farm, Efstidalur, complete with ice cream and farm animals.

    Chocolate, White Chocolate and Stracciatella
    Eating our ice cream and watching the cows in the barn! Two scoops to these amazing creatures who gave us the milk for the incredible ice cream!
  • Our morning in the Golden Circle🇮🇸

    Our morning in the Golden Circle🇮🇸

    First day of Icelandic Summer🌼

    First stop: The Lava Tunnel, also known as The Raufarhólshellir Lava Tube. Wow wow wow wow wow! Like I mentioned in a prior post, this lava tube sits on private property and they only give guided tours. Many years ago there was an incident where 3 girls got trapped. They were hiking to the end of the tunnel when their cell phone batteries wore out. You see, light is critical because once you get deep within the cave, it’s pitch black. Any extended amount of time in pitch blackness can cause Cave Blindness! These girls forgot an extra light source and had to be rescued. During the tour, the guide turned off all the lights and it was indeed dark! Other senses were heightened and we could hear the drip drip drip of the melting ice.

    Lava tube tour – we will end up 100 feet under ground
    We wore our helmets with lights. Crampons and hiking poles were options but since it’s no longer “winter” the ice is melting.
    The ice is slowly melting for the summer months.
    It’s never the same cave!
    About 5200 years ago, this cave was formed as a lava tube during the Leitahraun eruption 🌋
    These are natural skylights (holes in the cave) and typically are how the tubes are found—someone or an animal falls in!
    So many different types of rocks and minerals—lava, iron, sulphur and even a living thing which is white bacteria. It’s called Cave Bacteria and it isn’t found elsewhere. They believe that the Cave Bacteria may be found on Mars so scientists have been studying it.

    The tunnel is 4,500 feet long (900 meters) and up to 30 meters wide. We did the walking tour but you can also do the more strenuous tour where you go beyond where we stopped, and climb your way to the end.

    There are no echoes in lava tunnels because it’s a porous rock that absorbs the sound. Our guide told us that people have weddings here. In addition, there was a movie premiere for Descent—a horror flick that took place in a cave. 🫣
  • April 19th, 2023 – a day of watching and pampering🇮🇸

    April 19th, 2023 – a day of watching and pampering🇮🇸

    The day started off with some whale watching and we saw a few humpbacks off Reykjavik. We were on a larger boat so I feel like the sound probably frightened them off, although humpbacks are curious.

    Then we went to The Blue Lagoon for dinner and a dip in the pool! A-Maze-ing! There has been a lot written about why you should go and why you should not. I say definitely GO! It was quite the experience and I would go again.

    The Blue Lagoon is a geothermal spa outside of Reykjavik. It’s in a lava field in front of Mount Þorbjörn where the water comes from the nearby Svartsengi geothermal power station. The water is high in minerals and white silica mud. Both are said to have healing properties. In fact, a guide told us that people with psoriasis are healed with repeated use. It tends to leave your hair stiff and dry so we ensured not to get that wet! (And I lathered on hair conditioner as a preventive measure).

    When you’re in the lagoon, the steam rises up and at times, it’s difficult to even see in front of you. This simply adds to the mystique of the lagoon.
    Time to soak and relax!
    Icelanders know how to do it right.
    Silicon mud masks for all! I did 3 other masks after this one – the clay scrub, the anti-aging algae, and the mineral. The water was a very comfortable 98-104 degree Fahrenheit (37-40 Celsius) and there’s a swim up bar. What a relaxing evening at the lagoon. 💙🤍🩵

    While it’s technically man-made, the Blue Lagoon was formed from the runoff water of the nearby geothermal power plant. That said, the water is as natural as can be as it comes from deep underground where it is heated by geothermal energy. Speaking of water, we DO NOT need to buy bottled water in Iceland. I saw something funny about how to drink the water—1. Turn on the faucet; 2. Put your cup under to fill it; 3. Drink it. It’s as cold and fresh as can be!

    Want to go? Book your experience here, stay overnight if you wish, and eat at their gourmet restaurant: https://www.bluelagoon.com

  • Around the town of Reykjavik🇮🇸

    Around the town of Reykjavik🇮🇸

    The last couple of days have been about exploring Reykjavík. Here are some of my favorites!

    Hallgrímskirkja Lutheran Church stands 74.5 meters tall (244 feet tall). Construction started in 1945 and it was consecrated in 1986. The outside of this Expressionist church is made of concrete to resemble Icelandic nature, especially the basalt columns around the Svartifoss waterfall. I read that it also was designed to resemble Thor’s hammer, with the handle facing up.
    The church was named after the Icelandic poet and cleric, Hallgrimur Petursson (1614–1674), who was the author of the Passion Hymns.
    The pipe organ was designed and constructed by Johannes Klais of Bonn and weighs over 25 tons and is 15 meters tall. It has four manuals and a pedal, 102 ranks, 72 stops and 5275 pipes.
    The statute of Leifur Eiríksson (Leif Erikson) was done by American sculptor, Alexander Stirling Calder, and a gift from the US to Iceland in 1930 to commemorate the millennial anniversary of Iceland’s legislative body, the Althing. Founded in Thingvellir in 930 AD, this was the world’s first democratically elected parliament. Leif was a Norse explorer who was thought to have stepped foot on North America 500 years prior to Columbus.
    1300 hours (1:00 pm). Up in the bell tower with an outstanding view of Reykjavík from all sides.

    Famous Icelandic Hotdogs from the hot dog stand called Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur. I had the Bill Clinton (mustard only) and Mike had the Kardashian (ketchup only). Yes, these people actually had hot dogs here!

    Tjornin Pond, a small lagoon next to a barrier beach and home to 40+ water birds. In the winter this pond becomes an ice skating rink.
    A kitty cozies up on an Icelandic wool blanket in one of the local shops

    We have switched to The Edition. Both hotels are comfortable, conveniently located, and have unique amenities.