Destination North Shore: Our first stop along the way of Lake Superior

The state of Minnesota may have some severely cold winters, yet one thing that makes up for it is the fact that we do have lakes.  Lots of them.  Recent estimates have put Minnesota’s lakes in the 11,000-13,000 range, depending … Continue reading

A springtime visit to the Bird Sanctuary and Trial Gardens

Last Friday, we finally had a sunny day!  As they love to say in Minnesota, April showers bring May flowers.  However, this year due to an extremely early arrival of Spring, things have played out a little bit differently. The … Continue reading

Spanish crash course 101: How to speak Spanish like the Guatemalans do (Part 1)

View of Xela from the school roof. I woke up to the sound of the eternally barking dog outside my window, wondering for a moment where on earth I was.  I checked my cheap plastic travel watch and it read … Continue reading

Spanish Immersion 101: Home stay in Xela, Guatemala

Author’s note: This post was originally published on March 16, 2012. For some reason, it had attracted daily spam comments for one year straight so I moved it to drafts. I’m experimenting now by republishing the post to see if … Continue reading

My Guatemalan Adventure: Day 1

I landed in Guatemala City on an excessively windy day on Sunday, March 4th.  After a fitful night’s sleep at a mediocre airport hotel I was ready to leave Houston and finally continue my way south to Guatemala.  I had … Continue reading

An afternoon snowshoeing around the frozen falls

Yesterday was a gorgeous winter day here in Minneapolis.  The sun was shining brightly, launching its powerful, magical rays across the glittering white snow-packed ground.   The birds were chirping cheerfully and it was unseasonably warm.  Almost 40 degrees F … Continue reading

Our trip to a Chinese Water Village, Part I Getting There

Who ever said that getting there is half the fun is hugely wrong.  Getting there or anywhere in China, alive, is the best part. Our young rookie cab driver testing it out.   Officially there is one death every seven … Continue reading