Aloha!

The trip to Hawaii was fantastic! I got to hang out with all of my favorite people: my oldest friend from Chicago, Eileen, Kelly, Tracy, my middle sister Colleen, and my college roomate Anna (who came all the way from Geneva, Switzerland). It was great to all be in one place.

Highlights from Oahu included:

• Hiking up to Diamond Head (we walked there all the way from our hotel, which added another hour each way)


• Snorkeling on the North Shore


• Seeing turtles coming in to rest on the beach


• Surfing Waikiki beach (my new surfer buddy friend even has video of me!)


• Going on an eco-tour and learning about all of the history, flora, fauna, and folklore of the island


• Partying until the wee hours (bars stay open until 4am here!) pretty much every night

Here are some pics:

On the way to Diamond Head

Sea turtle resting

The lovely ladies

Cubs fans...we're everywhere!

Brasil v Canada futbol game

Welcome the Newest Member of the EU...ME!!!

Just recently I received my Irish Citizenship, which means I can now become a member of the European Union. This has been quite a journey for me. I first tried applying for dual citizenship back when I was studying in Ireland during college. Since then, it has been well over 10 years of gathering paperwork, working with the Chicago office of records, getting things notarized in dingy Dublin offices, obtaining letters from country priests in the west of Ireland, and submitting everything, including an ugly mug shot, to the San Francisco Consulate. I have to give credit to my younger sister, who currently lives in Galway, for helping to round up the necessary paperwork from her end.

Next stop: applying for my Irish passport. No more waiting for that last-minute, expensive Brazilian visa! :-)

Now...I can't wait to inform my boss that I'd like to be paid in Euros. Hahahahaha!

Adventure On,
Kristen

Love from Seattle

Every year on Valentine’s Day I like to send out an image of “love”, that elusive word that means so many things to so many people.

I came across this window display while walking down a street in Seattle’s Georgetown neighborhood, and I knew immediately that this would be my picture.

The poet in me loves this image of the old-fashioned type-writer. I also love the juxtaposition of the thorny stand that supports the heart of flowers, and the Pro/Con sheet that lies just below, graphically displaying the yin and yang of love.

We may not ever be able to define it, but we know that we cannot survive without it.

Adventure On…Love, and Be Loved!

Kristen

Croatian Food

Sampling the fine Croatian food was one of the highlights of my visit. The cuisine is absolutely delicious. Because of their long coastline, seafood is prominent. But, meats and cheeses are also plentiful. Fresh figs and pomegranates, ruby red ripe tomatoes, basil. I really liked this black risotto dish made with squid ink. And...I cannot say more about how divine their olives and olive oil are. If it weren't for the airline restrictions on liquids, I would have packed my carry-on full of the stuff!

Here are some of my favorites, along with some pictures to get you salivating:


prosciutto, cheese, tomatoes, olives


shrimp with olive oil and garlic


Palacinke (pronounced "pala chink eh"): pancakes filled with chocolate and walnuts


gelato

Would you like to try your hand at some Croatian cooking? Check out this site for some free recipes!

http://www.croatiatraveller.com/Recipes/Recipes.htm

Eat up, and adventure on!

Kristen

Croatia - Top 5 Essentials

Here are my top recommendations for Croatia:

* Walk the walls of the old town of Dubrovnik, getting an eagle-eye's view of the inner city, the outer islands, and the open sea


Walking the walls on a rare rainy day.

* Stop for a break at the "Hole in the Wall" where, once you literally walk through a small hole in the fortress wall, you'll find a pleasant spot to enjoy a beer and view the sailboats, nearby islands, and cliff jumpers


Look...a hole in the wall!


And the view from the other side.

* Buy fresh lavender, figs, olive oil, or handmade lace from any of the many stands selling local goods

Garlands of fresh figs and homemade brandies.

* Visit the Sponza Palace Historic Archives for a history of the city of Dubrovnik, and view photos of all the men and young boys who lost their lives while defending their hometown

* Try some of the local wines (Croatia is well-known for their wines)

* Take a dip in the cool Adriatic sea

Take a dip! Clothing optional.

* Walk the Placa-Stradun (main street) at night, from Big Onofrio's fountain at one end, to the Bell Tower at the other, stopping along the way for a slice of pizza and people-watching


Walking the centuries old stradun (main street).

Greetings from Hrvatska!

WHERE, you might ask? It's what we call Croatia. Officially known as the Republic of Croatia, it was once a part of the former Yugoslavia after WW2, declared its independence in 1991, and is currently a candidate for membership in the European Union.

Capitol: Zagreb
Official Language: Croatian
Population: 4.43 million

The majority of the population are Croats. National minorities include Serbs, Muslims, Slovenes, Italians, Hungarians, Czechs, Slovaks, and others. The majority of the population is Roman Catholic. In addition there are Orthodox, Muslims, and Christians of other denominations.

Croatia sits on a fault line that lies between Western and Eastern Europe. Because of its location, it has Venetian, Latin, Hapsburg, Hungarian, and Slavic influences. It is home to Roman ruins, cobblestone fishing villages, medieval walled cities, forested national parks with amazing waterfalls, and over 1,185 islands (more than Greece).


View of the azure Adriatic Sea.

Join me as I explore this amazing country.

Adventure On,
Kristen