(from 06.28-06.29) 3:50am. The iPhone alarm chirps us awake. An early start to an easy travel day. A puddle-jumper from Aberdeen to London, arriving in time for a late breakfast. If there are any signs that today would be an unusual travel day, I miss them.
The Dunes and Beach of Findhorn
(06.13) Morning meeting with Dürten and Paul, then lunch at the CC. I craft a proposal on my exchange with the Foundation, email it off. Ali Sun returns from a long walk; I am ready for a break and head off past houses, caravans, sheds doubling as shops, giant Scotch distillery barrels recycled as homes.
Hitting The Ground in Findhorn
(06.12) A long, uninterrupted slumber, then up by nine, have a shower. The kitchen is stocked with freshly baked bread, granola, eggs, butter, milk, soy milk, preserves and more. I grab a couple pieces of toast, head out to see Paul who’s in a meeting.
Arriving in the Land of the Scots
I awake as the plane dips below the cloud layer above Aberdeen. Rows of stone houses, housing projects and industrial buildings tuck amid green trees and greener fields. Four large shipping vessels are docked off the shore, no port or pier in sight. Low, rolling hills surround Aberdeen Airport. The air is crisp and cold as we descend the steps, …
London Emerging
Finally we sleep in, still massively jet-lagged, rousing at three in the afternoon to enjoy Covent Garden, Apple Market, Chinatown, Brick Lane and Banglitown. We take a taxi to Brick Lane, walking past a dozen Bangladeshi restaurants, then down a side street. A neon sign boasts “Chef of the Year.” As we approach, we realize we took the bait. A …
London Calling
We lock, doors, close shades, power down, say goodbye to Ojai until December. A quick lunch at Whole Foods in Venice, then evan drops us off at LAX Terminal B. The British Airways flight at the front of Coach is unremarkable, due in part to the Russian girl on the window who keeps her shade down from take-off through landing …
Great Travel Mistakes In History: The Schengen Zone
Skype chat with Chris early Sunday morning. He and Pausha moved to France two months ago, and he has discovered that he may have to work through a visa limitation ahead of his planned trip back to the States. His cloud on the horizon stems from the Schengen Zone restrictions. Schengen Zone? Shit, i haven’t looked into this at all, …
Crazy Octopus at La Picazon, Loreto, Baja Mexico
The invitation comes mid-day, do we want to drive into Loreto, charter a boat and dine at the legendary La Picazon? Accessible only by sea or five miles down a broken dirt road, La Picazon is a Mexican seafood restaurant located about five miles North of town across from Coronado Island, perched above a rocky, uneasy coast and framed by …
El Corazón – the Exceptional Coffeehouse of Loreto Bay
An exceptional coffeehouse is greater than the sum of its parts. Vibe is a potion, not altogether equal parts talented barista, downtempo music, comfy chairs, provocative art, tasty treats, healthy lunches, clean bathroom, and yes, well-brewed coffee. The exceptional coffeehouse can be a calm respite in a bustling city, a lively gathering in a dusty village, a swarm of friends …
Snorkeling in Baja Mexico
We slide the kayak into the water, careful to shuffle our feet in the sand. The shuffling warns otherwise docile sting rays, who take offense only to being stepped on their back. Jorge laughs, shakes his head in disbelief, as he tells us of the ladies who ignore the signs about sting rays and shuffling, and proceed with their high-kicking …