Favourite Summer Moments 2011

One thing leads to another... in this case reading a post over at Snug Harbor Bay which led me to the Outdoor Blogger Network and their Goodbye Summer photo prompt, which got me to thinking about my wonderfully busy summer this year! I was way too absent from the blog this summer thanks to / because of "real" life keeping me busy and away from my computer screen! Which resulted in a lot of photos and a lot of adventures I wanted to blog about but haven't had the time... So consider this a summertime "greatest hits" and preview to one or the other future posts. ;o)

Summer in Alicante started off as usual with the Hogueras de San Juan

"Official" Hoguera 2011 (more here)

and I got to enjoy a couple of masclet�s from real close! ;o)

Then there was the travelling...
Morocco:

crossing the Atlas mountains in July

fun with henna tattoos for a Berber wedding

keep reading!

Project 365 - 123

excitement of discovering Collioure, an old French town

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heading North on a train, such a comfortable way to travel!

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tough packing decisions... what to take?

Musical Lowcost Airline Rant

My mom came across this one, and it's fabulous! I've lost track of the number of times I've seen it today... such fun!!! (and sadly true... as anyone who's flown Ryanair will know)

What's your worst Lowcost episode? I've got two recent ones... and within 3 weeks of each other! They (Vueling) switched a flight on me (moved it up a day) without even informing me!!! I found out in time by pure luck. For the first flight (Paris -> Alicante on my way home from New Zealand) I managed to have them switch me to another flight a few days later and spent those days at a friend's in Paris (I couldn't have caught the earlier flight, was in the air!). The second was on my trip to Athens last month for a wedding. Ditto, flight advanced to the day before... the same time as the wedding!!! Since the only option was (again) being switched to a flight several days later... and they wouldn't pay for extra hotel nights, I ended up having it cancelled, reimbursed, and buying another ticket on a different airline (more expensive since a week before the trip... and resulted in an 8h layover in Barcelona instead of the original 2h. UGH!)

As they say: YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR. (but they're still bastards. grrrrrr.....)

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traditional dancing at a crazy Greek wedding!

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reflections of Ancient Greece (Parthenon carvings)

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living a childhood dream at the Acropolis

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after years of dreaming it... finally flying into Greece!

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Wintry skies over Notre Dame de Paris, France

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damage from the major Sept and Dec 2010 earthquakes in Christchurch, NZ.

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astonishing Moeraki Boulders, NZ

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Phonebooth in Dunedin, NZ.

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Waipapa Point Lighthouse, Catlins, NZ

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Weka stealing its lunch on Ulva Island, Rakiura National Park (Stewart Island), NZ.

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where the ocean meets the land... and the sky! Milford Sound, NZ.

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enjoying the sun, Lake Manapouri, NZ

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playing with shadows atop a horse in the back-country of southern Otago, NZ

Project 365 - 7

flying over the South Island, NZ.

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2011!!!

How has your year started out? I started 2011 doing the 20km Tongariro Crossing in New Zealand! Am still putting the post together for the other blog, but I wanted to take advantage of a little internet time to share this:

I set my cellphone alarm for noon, a.k.a. midnight in Europe, so New Year for most of my family and friends.

Jan 1st 2011, above Red Crater, at highest point in the Tongariro Crossing, NZ

Hope 2011 is starting out well for you! :o)