Beaches Of Ko Samet

There is a reason why Thailand is famous for its beaches.

Kahve Dünyasi

Best. Coffee. Ever. Where else can you get hot chocolate with a spoon made out of chocolate to stir it?

Madrid

Madrid has fabulous architecture. I think this falls under the continuing category of 'Andrea likes pretty things'. But seriously, wouldn't you want to live in this building?

Cracks

I find the cracks in this painting far more interesting than the actual painting itself. Just like the cracks in people. They let you see the person hiding underneath. We are perfect in our imperfections.

Granada

You wish your window had this view.

Long Way Up

I don't want to say it's breaking my heart/And I don't know where to start. Old friends are falling apart.  I miss the straight, straight lines.

Path Through The Forest

Still in the middle of the forest.

The Long And Winding Road

Looks like there a long road ahead of me. Please tell me that it gets easier at some point.

Ceiling

What is my obsession with ceilings?

The Weekend

Feeling exposed? Me too.

Mangosteens

Mangosteens – the source of all fruity deliciousness. It's like a starburst filled with liquid awesome in your mouth.

Buttons

On this day two years ago, Barack Obama became the 44th President of the United States. I am so thankful that I got to be there on the National Mall when he got elected. Even though January is the worst month for standing outside for 8 hours. While waiting for the ceremony to start I took this picture. It will forever remind me of standing in the freezing cold in Washington D.C., and what it felt like to watch the newest President get sworn in with over a million other Americans. I don't consider myself terribly patriotic, but there is a feeling in a crowd that enormous. Especially when everyone is gathered in order to bear witness to one specific, joyous event.

St. James Park

St. James Park. I really love this photo. It is just so quintessentially London. I find it interesting that after visiting a place there is usually one image that you have your mind's eye that somehow embodies that place. The trick is make sure that you capture that image with a camera otherwise the only place that image will exist is in your mind. Such a fragile place, the mind.

Sunflowers

Sunflowers.

Because I need a little sunshine in my life. 

I'm Gonna Eat You

Or at least that is what I imagine this bug would say to me if it could talk.

Pride of Baltimore

Show your pride, Pride of Baltimore

Westminster

Westminster is a rather intimidating building. Feeling of day: intimidation.

The Ubiquitous Soda

I was not on top of things today. Clearly I need to drink more Coca-cola.

Trumpet Flower

The majestic trumpet flower.

If you thought that I didn't have any more pictures of flowers, then you were wrong. Oh so wrong!

How I Went To Egypt And Learned How To Deflate A Hot Air Balloon

Feeling deflated?

Ballon Landing

Sometimes after a long trip you land back on the ground and it takes a little while to get your bearings. I am finally back home after a month of mostly nomadic existence. I suppose it is good practice for this summer when I will bike across the country.

5 Pearls Of Wisdom:
1) Keep track of your clean underwear supply. Nothing sucks more than realizing that you don't have any clean underwear to wear that day and have to buy/borrow/steal some undies while you hastily wash your dirty ones for tomorrow.

2) Use a system to organize your backpack. Having a system means that you know where everything is and can a) find everything quickly, and b) know when something is missing.

3) Travel light! Nothing is more annoying than having to carry around a heavy suitcase or backpack. Carrying five different smaller bags is also annoying. Lesson learned: Consolidate whenever possible and when in doubt, leave it at home.

4) Bring a book (or my case 5 books, which I don't advise). Travel can be tedious, cramped, stressful. A book can melt away your surroundings and transport you somewhere else more interesting.

5) Always go out of your way to see old friends. Despite some problems on this trip I would not change any part of it. Seeing friends from middle school, high school, and college has shown me not only much I have grown, but also how lucky I am to have such great people in my life. I don't get to see most of you as often as I would like, but you I carry you around in my heart.

Portrait

This is my friend Tess. We lived together in Flat 24 during Grinnell in London. She used to tell the craziest stories about her internship with the Scottish National Party. This picture is from our day trip to Brighton to see the English Channel.

Hieroglyphics

Fruit basket anyone? Why yes, kind sir, I am quite famished.

At least, that is what I imagine the dialogue to be.

Squash Basket

Thought I would mix it up with some squash for a change. Tasty, tasty squash.

Pig On The Wall

Iberian pork has this flavor to it that is almost musky. The more accurate description is probably dusty. Those pig legs pick up some dust after hanging on the wall for months on end. At least I assume those pig legs have been there a while. I can only hope that no one can eat an entire leg in one sitting.

Ceiling

Spirals are everywhere.

Abu Simbel

Egypt love.

Happy Birthday

Awesome people do not just grow on trees. They must be carefully selected from the rest of the merely mediocre ones that you see everyday. When you're lucky enough to know three of them, then you have really got something. And when three of the awesomest people you know where all born on the same day? Well, it just boggles the mind.

Christine, Jess, and Ben: I hope you have a mind-bogglingly awesome birthday!

Portrait

Two girls who worked in my lab in Thailand.

Turtle

New Year's Thoughts: Much better to stay in and hang out with good friends, than to brave the hysteria of going out. Some years at least.

Also, I love this picture. A lot.

New Years Morning After

I hope your street doesn't look like this. If it does, then there is a strong possibility that you are on Bourbon Street in the French Quarter of New Orleans at 5 o'clock in the morning on New Years Day. Here's hoping that history does not repeat itself.

Happy New Year!