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Euro Trip 2015

Hopped around 4 countries in 21 days. Started in London, to Paris, Amsterdam, Dublin, Manchester, Liverpool, and Brighton. Going into this trip, I already knew it was going to be somewhat exhausting, and it was. Traveling is not the same as vacation. Traveling is being on a budget while seeing as much as you can. Traveling is staying at other people’s houses. It’s dragging around your luggage up and down train station stairs and in and out buses. Traveling is getting lost. It’s wearing the same clothes. Traveling is catching up on sleep on public transportation whenever you get the chance. It’s running towards your train/flight to make sure it doesn’t leave you. But it is also an experience that will stay with you for a lifetime. That’s what makes all of this worth it; experiences that have greater value than money, lessons that you never saw coming, strangers that become friends. It's also finding out a little more about yourself, having a broader mind and a different perspective. It’s putting skills that you may never thought you had to use. There’s more to life than your comfort zone and your daily routine. There’s a world out there to see, go!

#SoundCloud #coolrthanyou

March 17-24 Seattle/ Portland/ Vancouver

Flew into Seattle where we were welcomed with some rain, surprise surprise. Hopped in the car and headed south for a two and a half hour drive straight to Portland. Driving through Oregon in the daytime was nothing short of beautiful. Mountain ranges of pine trees were refreshing to the eyes. First stop was Multnomah Falls, which was 620 ft. top to bottom and then Oneonta Gorge where the sun shined just right between the moss walls and log jams blocked the river trail to get to the triple falls. It was a majestic botanical gem, to say the least. Stopped at a breathtaking view point of the Columbia River Gorge which made it difficult to leave. Explored their cute little Arts District and definitely had to stop by the infamous Salt n Straw for a scoop of ice cream. Headed to Downtown for Powell’s bookstore and Voodoo doughnuts. I will never forget the old man who had speakers bumpin’ on his wheelchair and stopped in the middle of the crosswalk to dance with us. People in Portland seemed very easy going, I would imagine it to be a very laid back lifestyle with nature taking a big part in it.

Made a few stops along the way to Seattle. One being Thor’s Well in Cape Perpetua which was a dangerous 20 ft. deep natural fountain powered by the Pacific Ocean. Another stop was Haystack Rock at Cannon Beach, where the sand was soft as a baby’s butt and a layer of mist hovered the shore. Continued driving on the 101 north until we came across a must-see viewpoint of the crystal blue Oregon coast. Finally made it to Seattle and spent some time at Pike’s Place. AKA ate, a lot. Seafood can never ever go wrong in that city. Not to mention Piroshky’s where the smell of the fresh baked goods reel you in from a mile away. The line at the first Starbuck’s was never ending, leaving the other Starbucks around the corner empty. Had to checkout the Gum Wall, which was actually an alley of gum. Layers and layers of it... gross yet intriguing. Took a stroll through University of Washington’s gorgeous quad filled with blooming cherry blossoms. Went to Gas Works Park (which seemed like a murder scene at first) and embraced the Seattle skyline. Definitely felt the “hip” aura around the city. Headed up to the Big Four Ice Caves on the way to Canada. Hiked in drenched clothes and numb hands, but it was well worth it. Avalanche debris formed the ice cave, making it dangerous to enter inside due to previous deaths. It was probably the most fascinating and my favorite stop of the trip. Waited about an hour and a half to get into the country of syrup and poutine. Had no idea we were staying at the party district AKA Granville, where they close down the street on fridays and saturdays. Went to checkout Lynn Canon Suspension Bridge. I was brave crossing it, up until loads of people started coming on and the thing kept shaking! Met up with a good friend and explored the city day and night, AKA had gravy fries (poutine), Tim Hortons, Canadian drinks, the most interesting Japanese food, and the best ramen ever (shoutout to Ben!). Had the chance to catch a WTM show, which is always guaranteed a good time. Spent the last day in Vancouver trying Nandos and a detoured Stanley Park. I didn’t want to leave Vancouver, it was the perfect combination of forest and city.

The Pacific Northwest is a beautiful place, so glad I finally got to see it for myself. Definitely recommend experiencing nature at its finest. I could write more, but i’ll stop here. Till the next adventure!

Some of my fave shots from the NY trip. Nostalgia at its finest.

#new york #brooklyn #manhattan

#SoundCloud #coolrthanyou

New Year, New York 12/30/14- 01/06/15

Brooklyn was home for 8 days. Hopped back and forth between Manhattan and Brooklyn basically, which wasn't a problem at all due to great public transit. I love how convenient it is to get around the city via subway, you literally don't need to own a car. I'd say we definitely stood out from the locals, coming from the 4 encounters we had. "I could tell ya'll aren't from here cause ya'll always smiling. Ya'll got that laid back LA vibe." said a man waiting for the subway next to us. That's the other thing... as I people-watched, I recognized a melancholy aura in a majority of them. People of New York are so immensely focused in their own bubble. Time doesn't stop for anyone. I presume it's so simple to meet new people, yet so easy to feel alone at the same time... if that makes sense.

My favorite areas we visited would have to be Williamsburg because it felt a lot like home (aka a condensed Silverlake), except bearded men x3. Let's not forget about the view from Top of the Rock, there really isn't anything like it. Caught myself as a deer in headlights embracing the city's beauty. I fell in love with Central Park as well, all 843 acres of it. Every spot in that park is capable of being a backdrop in a portrait. Shopping in SoHo felt like shopping in a nicer Melrose with cobblestone roads. We had some good food/dessert to satisfy our bellies. The Meatball Shop did us justice, and the damn 2 hour wait (in the cold) for Grimaldi's pizza. However, Shake Shack definitely isn't better than In N Out. Although I am jealous of Dunkin Donuts being on every corner.

I'm so grateful that I got to ring in 2015 with my best friends in the Big Apple and meet up with familiar faces. Shout out to mother nature for deciding to give us the sun, the rain, and of course the snow. Waking up to white covered cement was something else. Snowfall in NYC was such a sight to see... despite the layers of clothing. The city had me head over heels. I hope we meet again, New York.

-Steph

2015

I didn't really make any resolutions for this year, because let's face it... you stick to them for the first couple months or so then it's downhill from there. However, I've realized these past few years did have a missing factor and had me feeling like I was stuck in the gutter. It was the opportunities I didn't take to see places I haven't stepped foot on.

"Stop thinking about what you're going to do, and start doing it."

If there is something I'm going to live by, especially this year... it's that quote. We often talk about what we're going to do/ how we're going to execute our plans, etc. But talk is cheap. I guess you can say wanderlust is stronger than ever, and I don't see a problem with that. Expose yourself to the unfamiliar, step out of your comfort zone; any sort of experience is valuable. With that being said, excited would be an understatement for the adventures this year has in store for me. The world is in the palm of your hands, not someone else's.

-Steph

I took my GoPro on its first adventure and went on a spontaneous trip to the Bay Area & Muir Woods for a weekend with a friend. I love that San Francisco has such an easy going, cool vibe. The chilly weather was an exception, along with the good food. Managed to visit several places within a short amount of time, but the green bench in Sunset District overlooking the city was probably my favorite spot. Wish I got to stay longer, I'm already looking forward to going back.

P.S. Expect more videos like this. Hopefully better ones! NY maybe? ;)

#san francisco #muir woods #twin peaks #sunset district #bay area

#SoundCloud #coolrthanyou

Vegas: 10/23-10/27

Came back to Vegas for the second annual Life Is Beautiful Festival/ Michelle's birthday celebration. Went straight to Caesar's Palace for their buffet and it was everything we expected & more. Got to see artists such as Milky Chance, Arctic Monkeys, Fitz & The Tantrums, Alt-J, Ryan Hemsworth, Girl Talk, Neon Trees, Kanye West, Foo Fighters, St. Lucia, Mayer Hawthorne, Kimbra, MS MR, TV On The Radio, & Skrillex,

Early mornings, and late nights made it seem like it was the longest long weekend ever. Regardless, it was still a good time. What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas right?

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