U.S. Whitewater Center

Been frequenting the U.S. Whitewater center this summer because it's AWESOME.

White water rafting, kayaking, rock climbing, zip lining, challenge courses, mountain biking, trail running, and hiking all in one place! The annual pass is only $149, which is freaking incredible. I think I paid $120 for four hours of white water rafting in California once.
Parking is $5 each time, but you can get a pass for $40 and share with friends.

White water rafting is in a man made facility and kayaking is on the Catawba river. Only 15 minutes from the city center, it's a great way to spend a summer in Charlotte.

Yeah, I know this sounds like an ad, but I really like this place.

Next post, more awesome things to do in Charlotte!

Things to eat in Charlotte

Been in the Queen City for almost 6 months now! Guess I've been having a good time since time's flying so fast.


So, I'm big into food, here are some suggestions for places to eat when you come out to Charlotte:
1) McKoy's Smokehouse for some good ol' fashioned Carolina BBQ
2) Cookout for a fancy milkshake
3) Penguin for fried pickles, a greasy burger, or best soy dog ever
4) Bojangles just for the hell of it

There are more, but I don't think your cholesterol level could handle it.

Happy Mother's Day!

Here's a little post I wrote five years ago:

	and she cried. and i cry. this mother's day she is, next she might be was. is was better than is? it might be if is is more suffering than was. we might cry that she is becoming was, but maybe it's better that she be was. i still cry though. i don't want her to become a fish.

Man, I was a weird kid with existential blog posts.

Happy Mother's Day!

New Digs in Charlotte, NC

I'm a liar. Never updated about Spain. Life got in the way. and now I'm in Charlotte, NC.
How did I become to be in the American South? Well, I guess it's not the true South, but close to it. My company offered me an opportunity and I couldn't not take it. I dislike thinking of the things I could've, should've, would've done. I'd rather do something and risk the regret that might come with the action than regret not taking action. Comprendere? So I made the leap from comfortable but not fulfilled in beautiful Southern California to challenged and cold in North Carolina. So far, I'm liking it. I may be struggling with the learning curve that comes from switching to a new line of work, but I'm enjoying the challenge. I'm also really enjoying the whole living alone thing. I don't mean to sound like a hermit, but I achieve more without all the distractions. Plus, I'm beginning to love my small, first floor apartment with washer/dryer and oversized couch.
Enough about my inner thoughts and crap, this is a pseudo-travel blog, so on to the travel!
I drove across this great nation of mine (yes, I do profess I love America, but that's a discussion for a different forum). From the mild weather of Southern California across the frozen deserts of Arizona and New Mexico, through the vast agricultural lands in the middle of the country to the dirty south (Hot-lanta!) and finally ending up in this boom town of Charlotte, NC. Took us 3.5 days, 2400 miles, countless tanks of gasoline, and plate fulls of Americana. We literally ate ourselves across America. Drove for hours at a time only to stop at a place one of us had seen on either Food Network or Travel Channel. It was wonderful and I weigh 5 pounds more than I did when in So. Cal. It's all the rich Southern food I've consumed. =_=
America is such a varied and beautiful country. It's a wonder I didn't get around to roadtrippin' through it before. Now to explore more of the South and East coast.

I promise to make a more concerted effort of keeping this thing updated. Even if no one reads it, I know I'll need the memory boost in the future.

Spain 2009 - Gone so quickly

So, I went to Spain already and it went by so quickly that I didn't get to write about it! It was amazingly fun, but very tiring. I arrived in Madrid and went to Valencia the next day. After a few days in Valencia, I went back to Madrid and set up base. From Madrid, I went to Toledo for a day trip and then Segovia for another day trip. And that was a whole week. @_@

I'll definitely update about my trip more in the coming days, I promise!

39 Days and Counting...

Spain is in 39 days!
I haven't gotten very far in my planning, but I found out that I can take the metro to Toledo! It only takes 35 minutes to get there from Madrid and I can get a 1-day unlimited ride pass for about 10,40 euros. I'm thinking I can spend a few hours in Toledo, then venture to another nearby city and end up back in Madrid for the night. Valencia will take a bus or train ride, which I don't think will be too hard to manage.
I will continue to update as my plans come together. If anyone will be in Spain in early September, we should hang!

Upcoming Adventures

Will be going to Spain Aug.31-Sept. 7. So excited! Especially since roundtrip airfare from Orange County was less than $300! HECK YES.
I'm landing in Madrid and want to visit Toledo and Valencia while there. Any suggestions on other places I should visit? Or advice as to how to get around (trains/buses)? I would very much appreciate any tips anyone has.

Oh, and most importantly, any one down to come with? Currently, I'm going it alone, which I don't mind, but it's always cool to have a travel partner. :D

P.S. I know I suck with the blogging because I just realized I never blogged about Barcelona, Madrid, Paris, Amsterdam, OR Prague the last time I was in Europe. Whups, my bad, if any one has any questions regarding those places, feel free to ask!