TourTonio

Samana Dominican Republic

2010-03-08T08:11:00.000-05:00

Madison Wisconsin Capitol Building

2008-01-14T00:26:00.001-05:00

DSC_1187.JPG, originally uploaded by maggiephoto.

The most beautiful Capitol building I have ever seen. Nicest Capitol city too.

Culvers Butter Burger, Wisconsin

2008-01-14T00:25:00.001-05:00

DSC_1151.JPG, originally uploaded by maggiephoto.

Culvers in Beloit Wisconsin. Thats my butter burger. It is a nice tasty way to have a cheeseburger. and accompanying cheese curds!!
Go Wisconsin!

Reno, NV the Peppermill Casino

2008-01-09T08:39:00.001-05:00

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Adam and Eve and Jesus in Salt Lake City

2008-01-08T20:37:00.000-05:00

Adam and eve in the Garden of Eden and Christ statue. The places a non mormon can see visiting temple square in Salt Lake City. The Adam and Eve cracked me up, they look like televangelists from the 80's.

Salt Lake City

2008-01-08T20:18:00.000-05:00

I visited the Mormon Tabernacle and the Christus statue. Pretty terrific tour. I really liked the girls who lead it, they were it seemed always on the verge of tears talking about how thankful they are for their prophets. I did not know that the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints were Mormons. I also didn't know that the new Zion (the new Jerusalem) is being built in America. There is a town north of Salt Lake City called Bountiful, I wonder if that is it?

In the meantime SLC here i come

2008-01-05T08:44:00.000-05:00

My schedule this week
SLC Monday
Reno Tuesday
Madison and Beloit Wisconsin Wednesday
Birmingham and Cullman Alabama Thursday
Home Thursday night

Bolivia/Peru getting ready

2007-12-30T12:36:00.000-05:00

Tonio and I decided after much back and forth about how I wanted to go to Ecuador/Colombia and he wanted Machu Picchu, Peru, and Bolivia. We decided on Peru and Bolivia! Hmm. But I am so excited. La Paz is the highest altitude city in the world. The salt flats (salar de Uyuni) in Bolivia around Uyuni are a one of a kind lanscape. Lake Titicaca is the highest navigable lake in the world. We plan on visiting the floating villages of Uros. And of course Machu Picchu and Cusco, Peru.
But, On December 24th Tonio and I decided we would buy our tickets to La Paz, Bolivia and return from Lima, Peru for our annual winter trek. We hadn't noticed the that less than a year ago Bolivia began requiring visas for Americans ($100) but a visa can only be granted if the applicant has a Yellow Fever vaccination ($110). Problem with the Yellow Fever vaccination is that you must have the shot 11 days before entering Bolivia. We leave in 15 days and as we called around no one had the vaccine and wouldn't have it till the end of November. (Other offices were closed till Jan. 3 because of holidays). Seems the vaccine manufacturer stopped making single doses and now only make 5 dose vials and the vial expires with-in one hour of first administering it which means they need 5 people at the same time! Tonio feared we were going to loose our tickets.
We called so many offices on the CDC yellow fever website. no one had it. I gave up, I figured I could call Monday and have better luck. Tonio did not give up, and half an hour later found a doctor in Prospect Heights Brooklyn. He was such a nice Doc, Dr. Boah from Ghana. He was so hilarious, got us in so quick! He cracked jokes about how next time Ghana would beat Italy at football. Both Tonio and I are so scared of needles but he was terrific!

Dyker Heights Christmas Lights, Brooklyn NY

2007-12-17T12:37:00.000-05:00

Dyker Heights is an Italian American neighborhood in Brooklyn, NY near the Verrazano Bridge. It is famous for its Christmas light displays and over-the-top decorations. Tonio and I drove several blocks. The best being 83rd and 84th streets between 11th and 13th avenues.
Map: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=83rd+and+12th+dyker+heights+brooklyn&ie=UTF8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&ll=40.62037,-74.011931&spn=0.017786,0.037637&z=15&iwloc=addr&om=1

Pretty funny and very festive. Made us feel a little lame for out lack of festiveness. I got over it later when I thought about the amount of electricity used to make it possible. We have left it up to our neighbors across the street, they have enough for the whole block.

Welcome to Montana

2007-12-02T13:55:00.000-05:00

From Sheridan, Wyoming to Billings, Montana

14 degrees F i think.

"Toyose" Korean Food in Sunset District of San Francisco

2007-11-30T09:39:00.000-05:00

This dinner I just shared with my friend Victoria was amazing.

In the Sunset neighborhood of San Francisco is a restaurant called Toyose on Noriega pretty close to the ocean and only a few blocks from my friend Paula's apartment. Because Paula is a vegetarian we left her at home to eat broccoli and beets. Victoria and I had kimchi fried rice with beef with an egg on top, seafood pancake, and fried chicken. We shared a very large OB beer and a bottle of shoju. Everything was perfect. So delicious. The bill came to about $70 for two people and it was plenty of food.

Toyose is in the garage of a house which gave it a speakeasy feel. Very cool! its open late but i hear it gets packed. Victoria (who is Taiwanese) is pictured here making her own sultry OB beer poster Girl try!

Ferry Terminal Building Market in San Francisco

2007-11-29T14:11:00.000-05:00

A day at the Ferry Terminal Market in San Francisco with Jason and Jessie also visiting Paula in SF and also from NYC.

Chocolates, oysters, artichoke, California pinto grigio i think (i can't remember what the wine was. Jessie ordered it i'll have to ask again)

It was also the week before the annual Fungi Festival. This place made me wish i was wealthy.

hoh rainforest tree

2007-11-18T22:46:00.003-05:00

DSC_5692.JPG, originally uploaded by maggiephoto.

tiny little mushrooms

2007-11-18T22:46:00.001-05:00

DSC_5644.JPG, originally uploaded by maggiephoto.

Mushroom March

2007-11-18T22:41:00.001-05:00

DSC_5698.JPG, originally uploaded by maggiephoto.

I was in the Hoh rainforest for two days this week. It is one of the only temperate rainforest in the world! Absolutely enchanting, and wet and cold and wet. This day we had to move several trees out of the road to get through after a wild storm that knocked out all of the power to Forks, Washington.

Halloween in yonkers

2007-11-02T07:48:00.001-04:00

DSC_5101.JPG, originally uploaded by maggiephoto.

Elizabethton, Tennessee

2007-10-04T14:29:00.000-04:00

I was in a small town in Eastern Tennessee yesterday. The oldest covered bridge in Tennesee is here. The town closed it to traffic 2 years ago. Now it is a teenager's hang-out...

Pulled BBQ Pork Platter

2007-10-04T13:41:00.001-04:00

DSC_4195.JPG, originally uploaded by maggiephoto.

Pulled Pork BBQ with coleslaw and beans and totally amazing cornbread. I want to cry- i would die for more right now.
Dixie's BBQ in Johnson City Tennessee Wednesday night.

Dixie's BBQ

2007-10-04T13:39:00.001-04:00

DSC_4188.JPG, originally uploaded by maggiephoto.

Mayberry on the TV and bbq pulled pork platter on the way......

Shake Shack Burger today

2007-08-29T20:13:00.001-04:00

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Sprucewold Lodge Log Cabin in Boothbay Harbor Maine

2007-08-28T11:53:00.001-04:00

DSC_0033.JPG, originally uploaded by maggiephoto.

once the largest log cabin in the world. it is now only a fraction of the original size because of a very suspicious fire a lil while back

bowling shoes in Maine

2007-08-24T00:02:00.003-04:00

bowling shoes_0009.jpg, originally uploaded by maggiephoto.

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2007-08-24T00:02:00.001-04:00

bowling_0082.jpg, originally uploaded by maggiephoto.

Candlepin Bowling is Fun!

Sailors Raffi and Jake go Candlepin Bowling in Maine

2007-08-24T00:01:00.001-04:00

bowling_0112.jpg, originally uploaded by maggiephoto.

This is Jake the 90 year old sailor I met at the candlepin bowling alley in Boothbay Harbor Maine. I stayed and watched Jake kick his buddy Raffi's butt. Raffi is 45! Half Jake's age, total blast.

Lobster Dock Restaurant Boothbay Maine

2007-08-23T23:59:00.001-04:00

dock clamstrips_8773.jpg, originally uploaded by maggiephoto.

mmmmm fried clamstrip sandwich

dock lobster dock_8757.jpg

2007-08-23T23:58:00.001-04:00

dock lobster dock_8757.jpg, originally uploaded by maggiephoto.

This is the famous Lobster Dock. Beautiful location

dock lobster roll_0182.jpg

2007-08-23T23:57:00.001-04:00

dock lobster roll_0182.jpg, originally uploaded by maggiephoto.

I was so excited to have a lobster roll I thought about it the whole trip up. I was alone so no one was there to tell me- eat cold lobster rolls, the hot lobster rolls aren't as tasty. hmm expensive mistake!

My bed at Sprucewold Lodge in Maine

2007-08-23T23:56:00.001-04:00

sprucewold 2 beds_0001.jpg, originally uploaded by maggiephoto.

Stayed at Sprucewold Lodge in Boothbay Maine In July. I was up there to shoot a wedding. Stayed at this great lodge, once the worlds largest log cabin! Both beds were saggy, the room near the ice machine and close to the loud screen door. But it didn't prevent me from sleeping really well out there in the foggy woods. Loved it. Everyone staying in lodge were so nice. Shared a beer with a nice man who helped carry my camera gear up the stairs.

Puerto Rico- La Mina Falls, El Junque

2007-02-28T11:50:00.003-05:00

DSC_5266.JPG, originally uploaded by maggiephoto.

This waterfall is a very popular destination. The trail is paved, fun, easy. Accessable off 191 from the north side where all of the visitors centers are located.
We went early in the morning and were here alone. It didn't last long. by the time we were ready to hike back 3 groups had arrived. Tour buses from cruise ships at port in Old San Juan and resorts in San Juan and Rio Mar bring hundreds of people here each day. Glad we got there when we did. I think 9:30 or 10 am.

evening leaving El Junque

2007-02-28T11:44:00.001-05:00

DSC_4973.JPG, originally uploaded by maggiephoto.

on the way back from our 4 hour hike. The fog rolled in. This is the landslide portion of old rd 191.

El Junque trail

2007-02-28T11:42:00.001-05:00

DSC_4931.JPG, originally uploaded by maggiephoto.

Tonio looking small

Prieta Falls

2007-02-27T14:08:00.001-05:00

DSC_4885.JPG, originally uploaded by maggiephoto.

tonio under the back massage jet. Prieta falls El Yunque Puerto Rico

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2007-02-27T14:06:00.001-05:00

DSC_4905.JPG, originally uploaded by maggiephoto.

sheer face we had to scale to get to the pool at Prieta Falls

El Yunque Rain Forest, Puerto Rico

2007-02-27T11:18:00.000-05:00

This pool and falls are accesable from a great trail near the south entrance to the park off 191.
a lovely 1.5 hour walk along a good trail, easily identified because of the aquaduct running almost the whole way.

We crossed several falls and a dam to the point where we climbed a rusty ladder and a 100 foot scramble up a slippery rock face at 75 degrees slant next to the second falls . One of the scarrier things we attempted because neither of us had good rock scrambling shoes on.

Ponce, Rincon, San Juan, Puerto Rico

2007-02-22T13:40:00.000-05:00

Food in Puerto Rico

2007-02-18T10:28:00.000-05:00

Food was so expensive on Vieques (and Puerto Rico in general- expensive!). On Sunday (1 week ago) we were desperate for some real food. After days of crappy sandwiches..... we chose a restaurant called Bili in Esperanza. We each had a square of food. Tonio a rice casserole with chicken, I had a plantain and bbq pulled beef, both a square the size of a lasagna serving. $8 and $10 each with no sides! We ordered a side of Yuca and 1 orange juice and our total was suddenly $26. Absolutely ridiculous. We met several 50+ years old american couples- they all ate at the Wind Chimes Inn on the strip in Esperanza. They loved it but it was out of our budget for sure. Our first night we ate at Bananas. The first place opened by a gringo years ago. Bugers, homeade fried potatoe chips and fries. I had a jerk chicken sandwhich. Tonio a burger. Not the caribean food we hoped for the whole trip.

Next time I go to Vieques I am buying groceries in Fajardo or on Route 3 on the way. I wish we had an apartment and not a hotel room so we could cook. Actually having a kitchen is a good thing for the whole of PR.
The national foods of Puerto Rico are: McDonald's, Burger King, Chester's Fried Chicken, and Church's Fried Chicken. We drove around the whole island of PR which only took 400 miles total. And all we saw were these fast food restaurants! There is local food. The local food is Criollas criollas criollas! Fried stuff. Fried balls, fried patties, fried. All foods we try not eating. Every town has a chinese place and several pizza places and non chain hamburgers and hot dogs. UGH! Hot dogs everywhere. Done- thats it! I am seriously concerned for the health of the people. I hope they eat better at home. We were starving for rice and beans, grilled meats, anything healthy. In the Parking lot in Esperanza there are 1-3 setups for grilled, outdoor bbq, sausage, and chicken. But we missed the opportunity to eat there because we went too late. They close up shop around 8pm. But there was a criolla van and for dinner we were stuck eating delicious but seriously unhealthy fried stuff but a really good side of boiled yuca with a tart sauce that was the best thing i had.
We did have very good pastries and coffee at a bakery called La Dulce Panderia. next to a grocery near the baseball field. A real gathering in the morning of locals. We got sandwhiches and guava pastries here. Yum. here is a link i wish i had checked out before we left
http://www.isla-vieques.com/puerto-rico/groceries.html

We stayed at Posada Vistamar $65 a night. Cute, clean.

Blue Beach Vieques Puerto Rico

2007-02-17T15:37:00.000-05:00

The nicest beach we found on Vieques! Known as Chiva or Blue Beach. Accessible at the end of a rough dirt road off 997 at the Camp Garcia gate. Other cool spots we visited off that road were Caracas Beach and Garcia Beach (to get to Garcia follow the big wooden blue sign to Caracas and go right at the end of the road before Caracas. Both lovely spots. Caracas has the most shade, Blue beach the least shade. But our favorite spot.
Follow this link for Vieques photos on my flickr page: http://www.flickr.com/photos/maggiephoto/sets/72157594539306242/

Here is a shot of Caracas Beach.........

2007-02-16T19:13:00.000-05:00

Our first day on Vieques- no tans or sunburns yet.

for rental car agencies
http://www.viequestravelguide.com/vieques-puerto-rico-rental-cars.html
Its no joke reserve a car. We had a scooter that cost $55 A DAY!! SHOCKING but if we had planned better a jeep would have been useful. You need a vehicle!

Puerto Rico February 2007

2007-02-16T18:51:00.000-05:00

Tonio and I just returned from Puerto Rico where we travelled for 8 days. The following entries will be organized by location. Then we will play catch up and tell you about other trips!
- maggie