Sage and Keo Reef

this is my friends kids who are so cute. need i say more.

Da Beach

things were slow this weekend so my friend Kari and i went to the beach to hang out and have fun. i am a wimp because i thought the water looked cold and did not go it.

Fountains of Wayne

Ron and Arlene
Fountains of Wayne

so, it was a little disappointing to see Fountains of Wayne but not see so many people at Pipeline Cafe. Out of the hundreds of tickets, only 200 people were there or so. for this type of venue and with advance notice of the number of tickets sold, it would have been nicer to have tables for people to sit at to make the space more cozy and make the band feel like there were more people there to support them. the funny part was we were upstairs in the VIP section, but after the band stopped playing we were kicked out upstairs....

However, the opening band Lynus had a couple great sets and good friends to support them.

Pics of Oahu, Maui, Lanai, Molokai

Leaving Kapalua, Maui
Sunset facing Lanai

Sunset facing Molokai
Leaving Maui
Overhead Lanai

Waikiki, Oahu
Haunama Bay, Oahu
Fishponds on Molokai
Upcountry Lahaina, Maui
Peace

Danielle and Stevie in Maui

Danielle

I met Danielle in college about 13 years ago. i not sure how but she was probably sitting the same row as me and i was walking in from a side trip down to Mexico. But, we hit it off and took quite a few classes together. Her funny husband Steve is cool, and son Alex is pretty energetic. But, they like Maui so come every year and i get to crash with them and sometimes her other family.

New York, New York

Dr. Frank Morrocco

When i stepped off the plane into the US i needed a place to crash. Thank god Frank let me crash in his Hell's Kitchen pad, which was way cool. Gotta love New York and its rent controlled apartments. If yu gotta be anywhere it shoudl be somewhere where the action was. I met Frank when I was in Mykonos, 2 years ago with Michael, Sumner, and Joseph.

Anyway, here's to the New Yorker with a warm heart. He took me in, cooked, and bought the food. we stayed up most of the night and talked early in the morning. Hope you come visit buddy !

Last Thoughts and Madrid, Spain

architecture Madrid
old street Siesta time


their version of street signs

church
church
church
looks like Zeus
Queen Isabella 2

north Spain
road trip
sunset

royal palace - looks like ours

i ended up road tripping down to Madrid from the north. the coutry side is beautiful. it went from mountain country, arroyos, rolling plains, etc. i took one of the nicest sunset pictures ever. reaching Madrid was a little tricky with the highways but in the end I reached the airport and dropped off my car. next time i am driving manual. it has been quite exhausting to drive being sick but the countryside was invigorating.

the people have been very warm and kind. the food looks freaking great. the only thing is that whatever i eat comes back out in 5 minutes. so gastronomically it would be a waste of good food and expensive euros. the good news is that i gained weight for the last weeks, because who really excercises on vacation? the great news is that i have lost it all in 2 days. not exactly the ideal diet but i am not complaining.

i am posting some of the shots that i took while walking around the old historic district of Madrid. it is beautiful here and a nice way to wind down before leaving europe. it is depressing to be sick and to not be able to adventure with the food and the culture.

so, after 12 airports, 14 planes i am coming home. i have made a shitload of good friends who are coming to Hawaii and made great friendships.

it has been a good learing experience and a good chance to broaden the mind and soul.

leaving on vacation should be about taking yourself out of your comfort zone and experiencing unique things and trying to find the high road in life. it makes you a better person because you realize how much more there is to life.

one think is that you realize how other cultures perceive you as a person as well as americanos in general. i realize how privaleged we are as a country, society, etc. Consumerism and Capitalism are the key words that people associate with americans. it was nice to see countries that aren´t quite the consumers. the flip side is people work very hard to made a decent living.

In europe people work to live, and in america we live to work. a good friend of mine noted that if you have time you don´t have money, and if you have money you don´t have time. this is apparent when you see tourists on vacation for a week and they complain about the weather, the time, the accomodations, the transportation. we are so used to getting what we want, when we want it that we are unable to see past the immediate problems.

the last thing i want to say is that i am very impressed with the international news regarding current events abroad. it is sad to see we don´get the same news standard in Hawaii or the mainland. i am also very impressed with how people view the environment here.

Mundaka, Basque Country, Northern Spain

local girls from Mundaka

waiting for the waves
some surfer being interviewed
guys from brazil and friend from Holland

Robson Machado
too much
Mundaka´s
its still early
happy b day

Local style

Local boy M. Prickett

Mundaka Harbor guys from somewhere in Brazil

not sure where but ended up hanging out with them lots

old architecture
angela
angela and Aussie matt
sorry about the room matty

We escaped to Mundaka, located near the Urdabai Forest Reserve. The Billabong contest was being held. we just went. found friends. no surf. no waves. found friends. ended up on the floor. the atmosphere was cool the people awesome. compared to the rest of spain, they were downright friendly. they are all coming to visit Hawaii. ended up hanging out with the photographers from the Billabong Tour. left. too much partying. knew i had to go when i told someone i was hacking up brown crap, and he replied his was green. at least people in greece go to sleep, the Mundaka locals don´t.

the`partying would start at 9 ish and at 5 ish people were walking around....on saturday night the premiere of Mundaka History was held. it was cool to see the love of surfing from everyone. even the Basque revolutionists came and marched down the street.