A Bird and The Pacific

Here I was on my way to the tip of the Marina del Rey pier and I lazily strolled past a bird just gazing away across the Pacific.  Exactly what I was on my way to do.  Whipped out my iphone and off he went. The picture turned out better than if I'd gotten his mug in it.  Just a nothing but wings and a full take off to distant lands (Santa Monica pier, I'm sure).  

All that said, I'm finally back from the mess of New Jersey and life is finally straightening back out. My poor shambled, sloppy, sassy life is on the ups once again and I can't wait for the new year.  Plus, can't be happier to get back onto the Tooth and really assess what the hell is shaking down in 2010.

Salut to birds, wings, water and faraway places.

 

Jet-lag, Southern Belles: Louisville, and The Counter

Finally made it home to LA and have the most god-awful, head-pounding case of jet-lag ever.   Feelin' as wild as this cutie looks.  Hope tomorrow brings a new bout of MST energy so I can resume my posts properly.  I do so miss ranting and raving about all that inspires me on a daily basis.  Today, my inspiration came from the insane veggie burger with gobs of cheese and mayo that The Counter churns out.  As well as the Marina del Rey library, which I just wandered into.  It's got a badass Nautical wing, with every sailing book in the world right around the corner from me.  Talk about lucky-duck.

And, in the meantime, the show that I just spent 8 hysterical months of my life working on (I wrapped the day before I left for Indo) is set to premeire on SoapNet on May 21st at 10PM (EST).  It's called "Southern Belles:  Louisville", and it's fo sho an addictive little docu-drama.  Check it. 

Isla Mujeres...I Finally Made it~

You know what the scary thing about this picture is?  It's 100% real...and I was just there less than 24 hours ago.  Yep, you got it, I just returned from Isla Mujeres, Mexico...one of my new favorite places in the world.  Though I was only gone for a few days, I have a dozen stories to tell, a thousand photos to share and a million and one reasons why I wanna go back.  Starting with the snorkeling...NEVER have I been snorkeling in such crystal clear waters and within seconds had hundreds of rainbow colored fish surrounding me, enveloping me, flirting with me so close to my face...what an unbelievable experience.  For $4 bucks you can hit up Garrafon (right next door to the actual Garrafon Park) and see all sorts of little creatures.  Totally blew my mind and what a way to spend a day.  I'll follow up some more on the entire trip all this week in my ode to Isla Mujeres.  Stay tuned, por favor~

Insanely Perfect Granola at Mogan's Cafe in Pacific Palisades~

I have never seen ot tasted granola as unbelievably beautiful as the bowl that is served up at Mogan's Cafe in the Pacific Palisades. My pal Chez used to work there a long time ago and every time I was in LA, I would cruise in and grab a big bowl of the maple flavored granola with fresh berries on top.  Dousing it with ice cold soy milk, I swear I could not get the spoonfuls in my  greedy little mouth fast enough...but, I gotta say, every thing at this adorable little cafe is delish.  Tucked away on a little switchback road in the heart of the Palisades, ya gotta know what you're looking for or you'll never happen upon this place.  There is a great Italian restaurant right next door and the old owner of Mogan's used to own one of my other fave LA haunts, Misto in Santa Monica.  They also have fantastic food...and it's super cheap to boot.  There also happens to be a Misto down in Hermosa Beach that is just as lovely.  Just a little note if you plan on making it out to LA soon...
Mogan's Cafe
548 Palisades Drive

Spindrift 43'~Now I Know What Kind of Boat I Must Have

This past weekend, I was in San Diego looking at a sailboat that I'd been checking out for months online.  The second I laid eyes on her, I knew she was the one...it was that simple.  After taking a tour of her and laying in the V berth imagining myself with a rum in hand, I got CRAZY and straight up made an offer on her.  No matter that there is no chance in the near future I'll be able to enjoy her; who cares if I have no crew; what the hell if the slip fee is almost as much as my mortgage---that is what happens to you when you find a boat you love--ALL REALITY goes out the window.  After a few days of going back and forth with the broker, turns out someone swooped in and made an offer that brought me to my senses...one that took me off the market...but only for the time being.  Now that I  know what boat I want (this has to be the one)...it will making working and saving dough that much easier to manage.  This cutter rig is truly what bluewater dreams are made of and I cannot wait to continue my hunt when I have a little more MST time on my hands.  p.s. I actually full-blown broke into the marina late that night after seeing her (fueled by a few cocktails down in Baja, mind you) to just lay on the deck and imagine what it would be like if she were truly mine and I were gazing up at the stars somewhere in the tropics.  What  great memory to bring home to Chicago with me~~
Break in is such a strong word...how about "I found myself unescorted into the marina after hours"...much better!

What's Doin' at the Mexican Border?

The US/Mexico border in Tijuana is a huge cluster of pure and utter madness.  On the way out that is.  Hell, getting in is easy as pie. I was just cruising down the 5 shootin' the shit on my cell phone and within a split second, I shot across the border was was hauling ass down the coast.  No passport needed to get in, that's for sure.  Now getting out is wild. The lines to the border are easily a mile long and weaving their way around every vehicle are all sorts of vendors selling everything from nieve (amazing dairy-free ice cream) and soda pop to churros and tamales.  Guys serenade you at your car window with the guitars they're selling and some of the vendors just pop a squat on the side of the highway for  a little snack (see pic on left).  It's a pretty amazing thing to witness and you'd think that drivers would go ballistic at the people hawking their wares, especially when they just want to get across the border...but oh, no!  In essence, since you're still in Baja, you're still on Mexican time!  And, I was just asked for an ID on the way out--NOT a passport. Hmmmmm.......

LA is Great...Because Baja is So Close~

See, that's the one good thing about Los Angeles...its proximity to Mexico.  Hell if you're in LA and have wheels, you can be in Baja within 2 hours.  Which is exactly where I spent the day.  I'm actually out in LA for work, but since I had yesterday off, I woke up at the crack of dawn, headed south to San Diego to check out some sailboats and within moments after viewing my dream boat, I shot over the border into Mexico. I drove all the way down to the new marina, Puerto Salina, to check out their slips and grabbed fish tacos x 2 along the way. Of course, proper fish tacos were my first priority upon touching down on Mexican soil. My favorite--perfectly executed--fish tacos (with strawberry daiquiri chaser, of course) were at this great little restaurant called La Fonda (pix on left).  It's a long time haven for surfers, expats and day trippers and since they have a little hotel on the beach and have recently added a spa, you can swim, surf, stuff your face, nap, get a facial, have drinks, get a massage and then hit the sack without ever having to go anywhere else.  La Fonda is at KM 59 off Highway 1-D.

Take Me to the Indian Ocean...Pronto!

Only because it's about zero degrees out and I'm nurturing my addiction to Mexican hot chocolate am I posting this photo of the Indian Ocean off the coast of Zanzibar.  I spent all day today in the total doldrums (because I gave up my Red Bull and Mike and Ike addiction this morning, I'm certain) and thinking of nothing but tropical weather in faraway places.  I was researching tickets to Mexico and scouting out real estate in remote (and HOT) tropical lands and then I happened across my photo.  What a way to purely escape from the messy weather in the Midwest right now.  This hotel I stayed at (Ocean Paradise) was literally that close to the ocean and every morning (after sleeping in til a scant 9 am), I would head out to the beach, grab a lounger and plop down to take in the sights.  Fisherman in their wooden sailboats, friendly hawkers, and the occasional passerby on their way to work (chuggin down the sand) were the only people out at that hour and the later it got in the AM, the bluer the ocean became...until it was almost impossible to look at. I guess I'd love to be there right now, or at least slurping down a rum-heavy caipirinha right now...yeah...that'd do...Here's how to make one.

Entabeni Game Reserve in South Africa

There are hundreds of game reserves in South Africa...all claiming to be better than the next.  It's almost impossible to choose which one to go to, but Entabeni (Place of the Mountain) is one of the better ones.  We went there over X-mas and had the most fantastic time...scoping out all the animals, playing hectic games of Scattegories, eating like mad, trekking through the bush (of course, my favorite part was discovering and documenting all the various animal's poo), and drinking lots of wine.  I stayed in the Ravineside Lodges (picture on left)--which are these little huts on stilts looking out over the majestic ravine.  I really wanted to climb that mountain but Simon (our guide) claims there's no trail.  I was totally entranced by it and have more pictures of it than of the actual animals.  Entabeni is in malaria-free Waterberg (insanely beautiful) and about a 3-hour drive from Jo'burg.  The last 45 is spent weaving your way to the lodge on a windy dirt road--literally in the middle of nowhere~

A Bustling Little Village Called Stonetown

The only town that's really a town worth exploring on Zanzibar island is the broiling village of Stonetown, a world-famous UNESCO World Heritage site.  All you really need is one day to explore the bustling bazaars, the dusty curio shops (never have I seen so many brilliant compasses and gorgeous sextant's), the wretched fish market (I almost hurled at every turn due to the layers of flies, blood and bugs covering the fresh fish), the lovely fruit market (much better), the packed mosque's, and the striking marina.  The town is a labyrinth of tiny winding streets (no cars allowed, but a fly-by motorbike will practically kill you every few minutes) with ancient Arab details.  There are all these old brass-studded wooden doors everywhere which are just stunning.  The place is such a delight to get lost in and these tiny street vendors sell the most delicious food out of their glass encased cabinets (mini fried fish cakes, hell...fried everything!) for like .50 cents each.  Have a sundowner (a nice mojito for me) upstairs in the lounge at The Africa House (one of the nicer hotels in the heart of town) and watch all the wooden dhow's ease in with their catch of the day.  If you are staying at one of the resorts on the coast, they will want to sell you a day tour of Stonetown, but it is better to catch a ride into town or simply rent a car and see the entire thing on your own...nobody likes trolling around with crowds of tourists looking at slave quarters.  Do you??
*Also Freddy Mercury (from Queen) was born here and has a perfect little restaurant in the marina that has great food (seared tuna) and makes a killer mojito...it's called Mercury's.