April's adventures
Well, in an attempt to keep everything in order, I'm back dating a few entries. Yes, I know I've been lazy with the writing, and yes, I realize this is cheating, but at least I can fill in the gaps in my life a bit. :)
In April, I took a big trip back to the US, specifically to San Francisco and Arizona. One of my good friends asked me to be a groom's maid in his commitment ceremony, which happened to coincide with the dates of my spring break. So after the excitement of purchasing a gown and shoes via friends and the internet, I headed to San Fran to spend a few days with my Beth.
Beth hadn't explored the Bay city yet, so we did all the favorite tourist activities: Fisherman's Wharf, Union Square, Napa Valley, and the Redwoods. In Napa we tasted some incredible wines, and purchased a few. (Trefethen has an incredible Chardonnay if you are looking for one!) It's hard to come by good wine in Korea, so the tasting was a real treat for me. Believe it or not, I actually smuggled a few bottles back home with me to treat my friends as well.
The Redwoods are bigger than I thought. I knew they were supposed to be massive, and I've seen plenty of pictures, but I was still amazed. They are also beautiful and abundant. Maybe that was the most impressive part. Not one massive tree, but a forest full.
I left SanFran on a 6am flight in an attempt to maximize my days in Arizona. My original plan was to visit my uncle in PineTop, head over to see the Grand Canyon, and then drive down to Sedona for the ceremony. ha. I arrived in Phoenix where I picked up a rental car and headed for PineTop. My uncle recommended a scenic drive through the Salt River Canyon. He said it might take a little longer, but would be more pleasant...and he was right. It definitely took longer, but possibly because I kept stopping the car to take pictures....and a nap. :) It was gorgeous! It's hard to believe there could be so many scenic views packed into one state.
Once in PineTop, Biff and I made a big vat of chili and had dinner with a bunch of his friends. My uncle is quite a character, so no surprise that his friends were pretty entertaining too.
The next day, I decided that my plans were a little too ambitious for such a short time, so I decided to skip the Grand Canyon, and I headed back down to Phoenix to join my friends in a little pre-ceremony celebration. Then we all headed out the next day for Sedona. Sedona is slightly fantastic....looking a little more like a sci-fi set than real life. There are crazy red rocks jutting up randomly in the landscape, with more red cliffs in the background. Definitely a surreal beauty. The ceremony was held at a cute little bed and breakfast set along a creek with most of the close friends and family. I only cried a little bit during the service, and I actually made it all the way through my toast! It was so much fun to hang out with Adam, Vance, and my Texas friends. Those sly dogs even managed to set me up with my escort. :)
In April, I took a big trip back to the US, specifically to San Francisco and Arizona. One of my good friends asked me to be a groom's maid in his commitment ceremony, which happened to coincide with the dates of my spring break. So after the excitement of purchasing a gown and shoes via friends and the internet, I headed to San Fran to spend a few days with my Beth.
Beth hadn't explored the Bay city yet, so we did all the favorite tourist activities: Fisherman's Wharf, Union Square, Napa Valley, and the Redwoods. In Napa we tasted some incredible wines, and purchased a few. (Trefethen has an incredible Chardonnay if you are looking for one!) It's hard to come by good wine in Korea, so the tasting was a real treat for me. Believe it or not, I actually smuggled a few bottles back home with me to treat my friends as well.
The Redwoods are bigger than I thought. I knew they were supposed to be massive, and I've seen plenty of pictures, but I was still amazed. They are also beautiful and abundant. Maybe that was the most impressive part. Not one massive tree, but a forest full.
I left SanFran on a 6am flight in an attempt to maximize my days in Arizona. My original plan was to visit my uncle in PineTop, head over to see the Grand Canyon, and then drive down to Sedona for the ceremony. ha. I arrived in Phoenix where I picked up a rental car and headed for PineTop. My uncle recommended a scenic drive through the Salt River Canyon. He said it might take a little longer, but would be more pleasant...and he was right. It definitely took longer, but possibly because I kept stopping the car to take pictures....and a nap. :) It was gorgeous! It's hard to believe there could be so many scenic views packed into one state.
Once in PineTop, Biff and I made a big vat of chili and had dinner with a bunch of his friends. My uncle is quite a character, so no surprise that his friends were pretty entertaining too.
The next day, I decided that my plans were a little too ambitious for such a short time, so I decided to skip the Grand Canyon, and I headed back down to Phoenix to join my friends in a little pre-ceremony celebration. Then we all headed out the next day for Sedona. Sedona is slightly fantastic....looking a little more like a sci-fi set than real life. There are crazy red rocks jutting up randomly in the landscape, with more red cliffs in the background. Definitely a surreal beauty. The ceremony was held at a cute little bed and breakfast set along a creek with most of the close friends and family. I only cried a little bit during the service, and I actually made it all the way through my toast! It was so much fun to hang out with Adam, Vance, and my Texas friends. Those sly dogs even managed to set me up with my escort. :)
posted by Claire | 6:34 AM
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