Tijuana, Mexico

Gather some awesome company and take the trolly from San Diego to Tijuana for only a couple dollars! Such an awesome day trip and I only spent 10$. Coconuts, tacos, and exploration. Yup, this is my first taste of Mexico right across the border.

Tacos!

(Mandatory liquor store pit stop)

(some Art)

(eating mangos and drinking coconuts)

Winter Park, Colorado

Winter Park was the only place left selling ski passes for the current season. Good thing we bought them since they ended up getting the most snow!

Camp for free and snowboard every day!

If you are crazy like me you can camp in the national woods for free. All the accommodations around here are pretty expensive since Winter Park is a ski resort town. However, if you are willing to brave the cold at night, just at the end of Vasquez road the national forest starts and you can camp here for free. You will see a small sign that says national woods, anywhere after this sign you can pitch your tent. There are also free buses that will take you all around town and to the slopes that conveniently stop right at the edge of the woods. 

Denver, Colorado

Denver is more urban than Boulder with a slightly older demographic of young professionals. 

The first couple of weeks here I spent some time helping chaz furnish his apartment. Living in this apartment(Skye) was kind of like living in a resort with a swimming pool, hot tub and grills in our court yard. We also had a 24 hour gym and a common area with free coffee and a bowl of never-ending candy bars which were dangerous.

I would pass time biking/running by the river, going to the climbing gym, and of course playing Giant Jenga!

1up became our go to barcade with a chill atmosphere and things to keep you occupied while drinking

(We lived a block from the Coors Field so here we are)

I hopped on some B-cycles with thees cool cats and explored our way to the brewery

Many good breakfasts and brunches were had. This is what happens when you don't have a job and every day is like a Saturday. This is if you don't count the 2 hours a week I would drive for Lyft and end up getting drinks with my clients at the bar I would bring them to.

(Bacon every day!)

(Getting some Pupusas from the local Salvadoran joint in the hispanic neighborhood)

Boulder, Colorado

My friend Chaz and I rented an Air BNB for a month to get a feel for what it's like to live in Boulder. Boulder is a large town situated just over a mile high along side the beautiful rocky mountains. Not only do the Rockies provide a jaw dropping distraction while you're trying to drive, they also make this place a prime destination for rock climbers and snow boarders. On top of that, you always know which way is west, just look for the mountains.

Perhaps the most famous of the landmarks in Boulder are the Flatirons which are three giant rock formations that kind of look like flat irons.

(Flatiron #1)

(Flatiron #2)

Boulder has a very active community with many hiking, running, and mountain biking trails with the most popular probably being the trails that run up the different Flatirons. One stereotype for Boulderite is that they often have bicycles strapped to the roof of their car that are worth more than the car itself. I thought I was unique when I was a rock climber in New York City, but here I am just another climber. It is too common to sit at a cafe and watch people walk by with climbing shoes and chalk bags hanging off of their backpacks. This town is mostly a college town with lots of outdoor activities.

The snow comes in massive dumps, and disappears fast with the beautiful sunny days.

my adventures biking to the climbing gym in the snow below:

More fun in the snow!

(making a snowman in the Trader Joe's parking lot)

So many climbing routes are just a quick 10min drive from Boulder

(First time following a trad route!)

(like those adventure truck commercials)

Driving through the mountains for some snow boarding

Once again Enea joins the adventure!

(Top of Flatiron #1)

(gazing across Boulder)

Austin, Texas

Spent the day kayaking on Colorado River followed by some sampling of the eating/drinking scene.

The park along the river is beautiful and clean and runs directly through the city. This a great place to run or rent a kayak. The night scene is very lively and 100% worth checking out. No pictures of this quick visit but thought I would highlight would a couple days might look like here.

San Antonio, Texas

The Alamo 

Because I'm a tourist and history is interesting

San Antonio Rodeo

A visit to Texas isn't complete without checking out a rodeo

The District 

This rock climbing gym was probably my favorite little discovery in San Antonio. While this place is pretty small, they seem to have it all. On top of the bouldering walls and a weight room, they even have a ninja warrior obstacle course.

(Photos courtesy of The Districts website since I was too busy climbing to think of snapping shots: www.thedistrictsa.com)

New Orleans

New Orleans!

Up there with the greatest parties I have ever been to. Thanks to Chaz’s Hilton points we stayed in high class a block down from Bourbon Street.

My first beads rattled the side of my face as they landed in my French fries almost causing me to drop them. I threw the beads on the ground with anger only to realize that I had the wrong attitude. Those were my first beads and I should have slung it straight around my neck with joy.

The energy was high with people dressed in wild celebratory costume, massive amounts of beads often hanging from their necks, and lots of shenanigans. The crowds were concentrated near Bourbon and got more spaced out as you wandered into other streets and alleyways. Days were accompanied by drinks in hand and mass consumption of delicious Cajun food. Floats would glide by, beads would fly, and people got freaky.

The oldest bar in the U.S.

(Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop)

Food!

Crawfish Boil

(Amazing fried chicken and mac n cheese)