Lili on the Loose - Lili on the Loose: On Life and Getting Lost

2 05, 2016

Museum Monday: Yousuf Karsh at the Bellagio

By Lili|May 2nd, 2016|Categories: Museums, Travel|Tags: 2016, Albert Einstein, Alfred Hitchcock, Bellagio, black and white photography, Gallery of Fine Art, Gallery of Fine Art at the Bellagio, Georgia O'Keeffe, Helen Keller, Jacqueline Kennedy, JFK, Las Vegas, Nelson Mandela, Nevada, North America, Pablo Picasso, photography, USA, Vegas Checklist, Yousuf Karsh|0 Comments

I remember a scene in Ocean's 11 here Danny and Tess talk about famous impressionist painters. This is what I was thinking about when I headed to the Gallery of Fine Art at the Bellagio. I had visions of Monet, Manet, and Picasso. After I paid my $16 entry fee and picked up the audio guide I stepped inside...to find out that once again Pop Culture had incorrectly shaped my knowledge of a place. Instead of grand paintings I was greeted with monochromatic portraits. That is when I learned the Bellagio Gallery frequently changes up its exhibitions and currently they

30 04, 2016

Souvenir Saturday: Tile Art of Mexico

By Lili|April 30th, 2016|Categories: Souvenirs, Travel|Tags: 2013, art, Central America, Chichen-Itza, Latin America, Mayan Encounter 2013, Mexico, Playa Del Carmen, stormy, tile|0 Comments

The drive from Playa del Carmen to Chichén Itzá is about 3 hours one way. So it helps to stop a few times along the way. At the first rest stop, I saw a man on the side of the road painting. I like to get a piece of nice artwork when I find it, and so purchased this for $20 from him. Its quite small, but the quality seemed good. I was a bit shocked when he handed it to me and it was much heavier than I anticipated. I didn't open the back of the box until I got

29 04, 2016

Living Art at the Bellagio

By Lili|April 29th, 2016|Categories: Attractions & Sights, Photography, Travel|Tags: 2011, 2016, Bellagio, easel, Flower Art, flowers, Girl’s Weekend, Las Vegas, Nevada, North America, Photo Friday, US, USA, Vegas Checklist|0 Comments

There are so many great fun & free things to do in Las Vegas if you just know where to find them. I really enjoyed walking around the flower garden in the Bellagio Hotel. This living easel has many wonderful flowers growing from in. The above is from my 2011 trip, and below my trip last month. Every Friday Lili shares her favorite photography & the stories behind the photos.

28 04, 2016

Las Vegas Bucketlist

By Lili|April 28th, 2016|Categories: Travel, Travel Planning|Tags: 2016, bucketlist, checklist, Las Vegas, Nevada, North America, Travel Thursday, USA, Vegas Checklist|0 Comments

I recently came back from my 6th trip to Las Vegas. There is so much to do in Las Vegas and I feel like there is still so much I would like to do. As a reminder to myself, here are some of the items I'd like to try on my next trip there: See a Cirque du Soleil show Go to the top of the faux-Eiffel Tower See the Grand Canyon Spend more time in Red Rock Canyon Visit M&M / Coke World See the Flamingos at The Flamingo Helcoptor Ride Mob Museum Natural History Museum Neon Museum at Night

27 04, 2016

Recipe: Moroccan Honey-Orange Chicken with Vegetables

By Lili|April 27th, 2016|Categories: Food, Food & Drink, Recipe|Tags: chicken, garlic, honey, orange juice, parsnips, Printable, Printable Recipe Card, rainbow carrots, Ras el Hanout, Recipe, Recipe Card|0 Comments

I rarely have all the ingredients, kitchen items, or patience to follow a recipe exactly. This is usually my downfall. I had some Rainbow Carrots, Parsnips, and Chicken that I needed to cook before they went bad and I didn't feel like preparing them exactly how I had before. I decided to experiment. What came out of the slow cooker tasted like heaven. Ingredients: 2 Chicken Breasts 6 Large Rainbow Carrots 3 Parsnips 1 Cup Orange Juice 1/2 Cup Honey 2 tbsp Chicken Stock 5 tbsp Ras el Hanout 3 Cloves Garlic 1 tsp Olive Oil or Vegetable Oil 2 tbsp Butter Salt Pepper

25 04, 2016

Travel Missteps: Minutes in Pompeii

By Lili|April 25th, 2016|Categories: Photography, Travel, Travel Missteps|Tags: 2006, All in the family Italy 2005/2006, ancient city, ancient civilization, Europe, history, in a rush, Italy, museum, Photo Essay, Pompeii, ruins, rush, tour, Trafalger, UNESCO, UNESCO World Heritage Site|0 Comments

I love ancient history, and have poured over history books and documentaries since I was a child. So when my family planned a trip to Italy, I knew I HAD to see Pompeii. I had been fascinated with this town ever since I saw a carbonized baked bread in a school book. The fact that life changed so suddenly and this town was erased from history in mere hours was shocking. But unfortunately I found out we'd only have a short amount of time at Pompeii, likely less than 30 minutes. Since I had just completed a semester on Italian Art

22 04, 2016

Philae: the Temple on the Water

By Lili|April 22nd, 2016|Categories: Attractions & Sights, Photography, Travel|Tags: 2015, Africa, Agilika Island, Aswan, Dream of Egypt, Egypt, G Adventures, Gadventures, GAP, Hieroglyphics, Middle East, Philae, Philae Temple, Photo Friday, Trajan, Trajan's Kiosk, UNESCO, UNESCO World Heritage Site|0 Comments

Trajan's Kiosk seen on Agilika Island, part of the Philae Temple complex. The original Philae island (below) would frequently be flooded. But once the great dam was built, the island was going to be year-round flooded so a rescue effort to move the complex to nearby Agilika Island was done in the 1960's. Every Friday Lili shares her favorite photography & the stories behind the photos.

21 04, 2016

Horseback Riding Red Rock Canyon, Nevada

By Lili|April 21st, 2016|Categories: Activities, Travel|Tags: 2016, bbq, Colorado Springs, Flying W Ranch, horseback, horseback riding, horses, Las Vegas, marshmallows, mule, Nevada, North America, riding, smores, Travel Thursday, USA, Vegas Checklist|0 Comments

I had been to Vegas five previous times before my latest trip. As I'd be alone, I wasn't going to be gambling or drinking. Instead I wanted to try different things in Las Vegas, as well as a trip outside the Strip. I first looked at Grand Canyon trips, but realized that I didn't want to do that alone. So when I saw options for horseback riding just outside Las Vegas, I was intrigued. I looked into a variety of options, but decided on a sunset BBQ dinner ride. Mostly because it reminded me of the Flying W Ranch in

20 04, 2016

Egypt Travelogue: Day 7, Part 2 – Treasures of the Egyptian Museum

By Lili|April 20th, 2016|Categories: Travel, Travel Memories, Travelogue|Tags: 2015, Africa, Cairo, Dream of Egypt, Egypt, Egypt Travelogue, Egyptian Museum, G Adventures, Giza, Great Pyramids, Great Pyramids of Giza, Middle East, night train, Pyramid, train|2 Comments

This is my travel diary of my trip to Egypt. It contains in detail my memories of what I did and saw. Wednesday October 28, 2015 Egypt: Day 7, Part 2 – Treasures of the Egyptian Museum I napped and relaxed as we headed back to Cairo. As we got closer, you could see the Great Pyramids off in the distance. I was a bit amused by this. In Colorado we joke about the people who never go into the mountains. You can see them everywhere in the front range. They are so ever present that we do directions using them.

19 04, 2016

Egypt Travelogue: Day 7, Part 1 – Coptic Monastery at Wadi Natrun

By Lili|April 19th, 2016|Categories: Travel, Travel Memories, Travelogue|Tags: 2015, Africa, Alexandria, Coptic, Coptic Orthodox, Coptic Orthodox monastery, Dream of Egypt, Egypt, Egypt Travelogue, flood, G Adventures, Gadventures, GAP, Middle East, Monastery of Saint Pishoy, Natrun, Saint Pishoy, saints, Wadi El Natrun|0 Comments

This is my travel diary of my trip to Egypt. It contains in detail my memories of what I did and saw. Wednesday October 28, 2015 Egypt: Day 7, Part 1 – Coptic Monastery at Wadi Natrun I woke up early, at 4:30 and had breakfast. As we exited Alexandria, the roads were flooded by a night rainstorm. Apparently it was unusual, and people called for the governor to resign for failing to maintain the storm sewers properly. Mikel had stressed that we each get food the day before as we had a long drive and a lot to fit in.