15 06, 2017

Costa Rica and Panama Trip Itinerary

By |June 15th, 2017|Categories: Itinerary, Travel, Upcoming Travel|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |0 Comments

It's been almost 2 years since I went on an international trip. So I'm extremely excited to announce my next upcoming trip to Costa Rica and Panama! I've been to Costa Rica once before, so I won't spend that much time there this time. I'll be going on a bare-bones style trip, conducive to hanging out by the beach and hopefully a lot of snorkeling! Below is my projected Itinerary for my trip to Panama: Day 1 I'll head to Denver International Airport in the late hours. I was excited to try out my TSA Pre-Check, but now realize that lane will

12 06, 2017

Museum Monday: Ramses II of the Temple of Gerf Hussein

By |June 12th, 2017|Categories: Museums, Travel|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |0 Comments

One of the most impressive pieces at the Nubian Museum in Aswan is the large Ramses II statue in the main hall. It comes from the Temple of Gerf Hussein, which is now completely flooded. Some parts were saved and moved elsewhere or in museums like this one. But the main rock-hewn temple was badly deteriorated and made of sandstone so couldn't be moved like the great Ramses II temple at Abu Simbel, so instead it was left to be flooded. Its sad to think about so many tombs, temples, and villages that are now lost beneath the waters.

13 05, 2017

Souvenir Saturday: Camels vs Sand

By |May 13th, 2017|Categories: Souvenirs, Travel|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |0 Comments

I really wanted to get my friend's kids gifts from Egypt. I had spied some small stuffed camels in Cairo, and figured that would be good. But after traveling for almost 2 weeks, I still hadn't found the right ones yet. Some were too big, some were to scary (really, dancing and singing stuffed camels are weird), some were made...of real camel? I was hoping for something small, something that wouldn't be made of questionable materials, and something cheap. While in the Luxor souk I wandered into a shop that had these small camel keychains. The young seller made small

17 04, 2017

Museum Monday: Jade Museum of Costa Rica

By |April 17th, 2017|Categories: Museums, Travel|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , |0 Comments

The old Jade Museum in San Jose, Costa Rica was dark, quite, and cramped.  (It's since moved to a large 75,000 square foot museum in 2014.) I had heard from other travelers it was hard to get in as its hours would close randomly and at the whim of the guards. When I arrived, I was informed it was closed. After some back and forth they said that the staff was at lunch. I smiled and asked the guard if I could sit on the stool in front of his desk and wait. (I had nowhere else to go.) He

18 03, 2017

Souvenir Saturday: Starlight

By |March 18th, 2017|Categories: Souvenirs, Travel|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |0 Comments

I've told the story of trying to buy a lamp right as the call to prayer started, this is that lamp. I really wanted a star shaped lamp, and I loved that this one had stars and moons imprinted on it to spread the light. Although the purchasing of it was comically awkward... Souvenir Saturday is an every-other week series on the items that represent travel memories.

17 02, 2017

Temple of Music in San Jose, Costa Rica

By |February 17th, 2017|Categories: Attractions & Sights, Photography, Travel|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , |0 Comments

While wandering Parque Morazán I found a group of people playing drums and singing under this beautiful dome. I found out later it is called the Temple of Music, very fitting! Every Friday Lili shares her favorite photography & the stories behind the photos.

13 02, 2017

Travel Missteps: Walking The Unfinished Obelisk

By |February 13th, 2017|Categories: Travel, Travel Missteps|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , |0 Comments

It has been a dream of mine to see the Unfinished Obelisk in Aswan. And so I was overjoyed to be one of 6 people there that day in 2015. You can see how few people were there! But I was a bit dismayed to see that the path to walk on the obelisk was roped off. I knew you could walk on it, and could still see the stone that allowed you to gain entrance to it. So I did what I would never normally do, I went off the path! A close up of the crack that

20 01, 2017

Hathor Headed Columns at Dendera Temple

By |January 20th, 2017|Categories: Attractions & Sights, Photography, Travel|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |3 Comments

The Temple of Hathor at Dendera is one of the best preserved temples in Egypt. Even so, early christians who sheltered here defaced many parts of this Roman-Hellenistic temple.  Here you can see the face of Hathor has been partially defaced at the top of these columns in the first hypostyle hall. But even so the blue paint shines through. Every Friday Lili shares her favorite photography & the stories behind the photos.