Estepona

I arrived in Estepona at 5:45 in the morning about 48 hours after leaving the States. It was completely dark and I passed the time reading some Isabel Allende (slowly, but in spanish--go me!) in a little cafe. Eventually I was too excited to sit still anymore and I began to haunt the boardwalk and the beach. It was lovely to wait out the sunrise by the sea.

It was amazing how many people were out enjoying the peace of the morning.

Espeto boat in the sunrise.

Our room at the hotel had a little kitchen and it was fun to cook our own food and eat it on our little terrace overlooking the vineyards, little town, and the sea. A little snack bar downstairs by the pool sold the most delicious roast chicken ever for about seven euros. Sigh.... We kept joking about how "expensive" this trip was. Who knew that vacationing doesn't have to break the bank?

It's hard to see, but there's a picture of a foot with spots all over it. Yeah. So if you have the spots, please don't swim in our pool.

A tight toe-race, though Susan is losing her cool.

The grueling walk to the beach through vineyards. We would count the number of times cars honked and hollered at us, "Oi, guapas!" Good grief. I think we got up to 10 or fifteen one trip.

Loveliness.

I love windmills.

A night on the.... terrace. We got dressed up and then walked a full fifty feet to the italian restaurant in the hotel.

This one is for Aunt Carol. It reminds me of camping and how she insists on having some Donettes for at least one breakfast. Who knew there was a gelato flavor?

They had these platforms set up on the beach with exercise instructors leading kickboxing related routines. It was hilarious to watch the children and parents stumble their way to health.

This little girl was particularly adorable. So determined!

I tried hiding in the shade a few times, but I still got more and more tan. I hadn't been this tan since childhood.

My new love: espetos. They're sardines roasted kebab style over coals that are kept in beached dory. Ridiculously tasty.

Alex is our fearless teacher.

I know a few street musicians who could use speaker pants like these.... This guy played the steel drum, saxophone, and guitar. He rocked out to some very annoying 80s tunes.

The crew on the beach. Tan guapa.

I could really use a chiringuito right now.... They're these little businesses right on the beach. They rent out deck chairs shaded by grass umbrellas and serve drinks and food. What a way to vacation: beer, wine, seafood, a novel, sunshine, floating in the sea, and friends. I highly recommend it.

Ocean, Lake, Ocean, River, Forest, Ocean, BLISS

These photos are the highlights from my eight weeks in the Pacific Northwest this summer. It was a lovely time, full of family, friends, and ocean visits. I cram-packed my days and still didn't have enough time to see everyone that I love.

I'm presenting these pictures out of chronological order. It's rather lazy of me, I know, but you'll just have to deal with it.

Pacific City, OR

Molly, Emily, Regan, and I conquered that sand dune.




My new best friend Regan (pronounced "Reegan"). This was taken after she bowled me over and got sand and slobber all over me. I love that dog! One hundred pounds of pure love.

Gabby checks out the anenomes.

Regan ate a lot of sand on the beach. I'm sure it's great for digestion.

On the road with my best friends, wiener dog in my lap. Lovely Tillamook, OR.

TILLA-mookmookmookmookmook!

Molly out on the cliff face.

Oregon coast hike with Molly, Emily, and Regan. Poor Gabby had to stay home.

Sunset at Smugglers. It was super fun to visit the Orcas Island Stolmeiers.

The ferry ride home from Orcas.

Moclips

My favorite ballerina, Greta.

My favorite Jedi, Becker.

My brothers always think up highly entertaining activities. Terry supplied us with all the toys when we went to Moclips. We knocked around volley balls, golf balls, and tennis balls with golf clubs. I also spent some time kicking the soccer ball around. Unfortunately Eric broke his toe while we were all goofing around playing soccer. That guy has bones of glass in his feet. Of course, I scraped all the skin of my toe trying to learn to juggle a soccer ball so I'm not one to talk.

Mmmm... warm sand!

Grandma Criss and Greta snuggling in the morning.

Jamie and Amy.

All American girl with a Japanese beer.

We are so related.

Ben and his Scoop.

My favorite place to be.

Sweet little Jack.

Guapos.

Lovely Nisqually.

Papa and Gannon watch the ducks at Point Defiance Park.

Gannon frolicking in the grass.

The truck fairy strikes again.

Mark's monster is slightly Egyptian.

My little studio.

My little studio was quite romantic at night.

Our very own deer family that napped in our backyard every afternoon.

A beautiful day to fly out of Washington. I could see Mt. Rainier (the big one), Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Hood, Mt. Adams, and I pretended to see the tip of Mt. Baker. A climactic ending to a perfect trip.