Somewhere in the Middle

Sending Love

Happy Mother's Day!

Summer is here!!

I'm almost afraid to mention the gorgeous summer days we're experiencing. The past 5-6 days have been absolutely beautiful. It's like summer arrived early. Last May the exact same thing happened. We had a good 3 weeks of sunshine & warm weather to completely spoil us and when summer actually arrived it felt more like fall. I love the summer so wearing a sweater in August is a bit depressing. If that happens again this year, I'm seriously considering escaping to a warm climate until autumn arrives. But in the mean time I'm going to take all this sunshine in & enjoy!

This photo is for you E (who just moved to Hawaii). See... I actually do own something other than turtlenecks. lol!!

Focus

For the past week and a half I've been completely consumed with learning the technical side of photography. I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed with all these terms... F stop, aperture, metering, RAW images. And don't even get me started on lenses, filters, external flashes and the other million things out there to improve the quality of your photos. I can easily get carried away. But I need to focus. Take baby steps.

For years, I've had a love/hate relationship with my digital cameras. Sometimes I'd get these amazing shots while other times I'd wind up with dark, blurry photos. Very frustrating when you don't truly understand what you're doing wrong. Of course I could try to read my manual but it always puts me to sleep and doesn't explain in what situations to use the various manual modes. Playing with these settings and getting inconsistent results is becoming a tired, old game. And now that I upgraded my camera I'm ready to learn and experiment and develop a loving relationship with my new Canon.

So... I decided to finally sign up for a photography class. I originally signed up for a class in Brussels but when it was canceled I started to research online courses. After comparing various photography sites, I decided to go with BetterPhoto. The selection of classes is amazing! It took me days to decide on a class & instructor. In the end, I decided on an 8 week Introductory Digital SLR class. The course focuses on getting a good grasp of the manual settings and it also includes weekly assignments, Q & A with the instructor and other students, and critiques on your photos. I'm excited. My class starts Wednesday.

Lemon, Lime, and Little C

Ever since Lil' C was wee little he has always preferred eating tart & sour foods. While other kids are licking sugary royal icing off of birthday cakes & cupcakes, my boy samples one bite and is done. It amazes me especially since S & I are huge sweet lovers.

Lately, I've been researching different recipes in search of the one dish that will become Lil' C's favorite dessert. You know that one dish you love so much you still ask your Mom to make even if your all grown up. Well, that's the one I'm looking for. As I searched the epicurious website, I found an interesting recipe for Lemon Ricotta Pancakes. Unfortunately, I didn't have lemons nor did I have ricotta. So I improvised and used limes and yogurt along with the classic Aunt Jemima pancake mix (yes, I'm too lazy to make home-made pancakes).

For those tart lovers out there here are some photos of our Citrus Lime pancakes...

My family always adds an egg and milk to the pancake batter. My Dad thinks it makes the pancakes healthier. I mixed the egg with yogurt before adding the pancake mix, zest, and lime juice. Look how the batter grows after its all mixed up.

And, voila... Lil' C's Lime pancakes. I wasn't quite sure what the results would be but everyone in my house loved them especially Lil' C. Despite loving maple syrup I actually thought these were better without it... ok, well maybe a little powder sugar sprinkled on top is the perfect compliment. A girls gotta have a little sugar. ;) Enjoy!

Father Ted & the Cliffs of Moher

Before we drove to the Cliffs of Moher, we walked around Dingle Town and did a little shopping. I was hoping to buy a sweater or scarf but I didn't find anything I really loved. But what I did find was pottery. Apparently, Ireland is famous for their pottery. I never knew this. Everywhere we went there was always an eclectic variety of pottery at the breakfast table. I brought home a few interesting pieces I fell in love with in. I'll share some photos of the pieces later.

As soon as it started raining, we hopped in the car and made our way to Kilirush to catch the ferry. Our GPS was pretty useless in Ireland so we had to resort to the good old map. Luckily, there aren't many main roads so we found everything pretty easily.

We arrived in Miltown Malbay, a small seaside town, in the early evening. We had dinner and headed back to our B&B to relax. That night S & I watched a little tv and we stumbled upon a sitcom called, "Father Ted"; it's focuses on three priests exiled to Craggy Island. The episode we watched was called "Cigarettes, Alcohol, and Roller blading". It was hilarious! For Lent the priests attempt to give up their worst vices and well they have a bit of a hard time doing so. Only in a country where the population of Catholics is over 88% could they show a program like this. lol! If you have a chance, definitely watch the episode. I'm hooked on the show and watched a few other episodes since we got back from Ireland. I find it interesting to watch other country's programs and see what they think is funny and acceptable on tv.

The following morning we ate an amazing breakfast as the owner of the B&B was a chef and held cooking classes during the high season. Her house was very charming and on display were various pottery pieces by some famous Irish potters. One of the things I loved about the breakfast was how each person got this mini pitcher with maple syrup. It was so cute! I wanted to take them home with me!

We started the day by driving to the Cliffs of Moher which was spectacular but WINDY!! The cliffs are 214m high at the highest point and range for 8 kilometres over the Atlantic Ocean. I was grateful they had the protective wall since the edges of the cliffs are naturally eroding and some of the sections are seriously undercut. We were told pieces of stone ledge or grassland fall into the sea regularly. And even with this information there are fearless people who go over the walls to take photos and videotape the area.

            Lil' C wasn't too happy about the high winds but he did fine as we walked towards the O'Briens Tower. But at one point Lil' C had had enough and started to whine about how he wanted to leave which was then followed by some tears. We tried to reassure him but he wasn't having any of it. So S brought him to the visitor's centre so I could walk around a little and take some photos.

I'm actually surprised my photos weren't all a blur since the wind was knocking me around. The wind was so powerful it was just crazy!! Seriously, the winds were like a natural blow dryer and it took about 10 minutes of whipping my hair all over the place to loosen my curls. lol! Instant flat iron!

You really can't grasp how windy it was that day so here is a little video clip I took. Believe it or not I talk a little during the clip but you can't even hear me.

I met  S & Lil' C at the exploratory centre where we learned more about the cliffs and Ireland in general. Very interesting. Once we left I told S & Lil' C how it wasn't very windy towards the other side of the walkway so we made our way to the area and took a few more photos before leaving.

On the way to the Ailliwee Caves we passed a house with pottery that looked similar to the pieces used to serve us breakfast. So we stopped and there were little pots & coffee cups lined up along the  house's rocky fence. When I walked into the little room attached to the house there was pottery lined up against the wall everything from bowls to tea cups. And they even had those tiny pitchers our B&B owner used for maple syrup! Unfortunately, most of them had little chips on the top (probably from being blown off the table! lol). There was a sign on the table that said something like... "I had to step out of the house for a while but if you see something you like take a look at my price list and go ahead and put the money in the tin can. Thanks!" How cool is that. You'd never see something like that in the US. I love places that work on the honor system.

Surprisingly, Lil' C loved visiting the cave and he wasn't afraid of the dark not even towards the end of the tour when our guide shut off all the lights. We were in pure darkness for about 3-4 minutes. We would have loved to have seen the Burren Bird of Prey Centre and explore the Burren area but we had reservations for the medieval dinner at the Bunratty Castle.

We arrived at the Bunratty Castle with just enough time to walk around and explore some of the homes surrounding the castle. I love the thatched roof on the traditional Irish homes.

Bunratty Castle was built in 1425 and restored in 1954 and was the location of our medieval dinner. It was definitely a very touristy thing to do but a lot of fun! I would highly recommend it. As soon as we got to the castle, they served us a delicious drink called Mead which is a fermented alcoholic drink made from honey, water, and yeast. The first known description of  Mead dates back to 1700BC s and was best known as the preferred drink of Vikings and Celts. In many parts of Europe it was a  tradition to supply a newly married couple with enough mead for a month, ensuring happiness and fertility.

Before we made our way to the dinner area we were also treated to a wonderful musical performance.

Our dinner was actually really good too. We had fun eating our dinner with our hands. The two families sitting next to us were also from the US so it was fun talking with each of them about their trip to Ireland. Lil' C really got into the show and because quite alarmed when they sent a fellow diner to the dungeon for flirting with too many woman! Lil' C kept asking me, "Why are they sending that man to the dungeon? What's going to happen to him?" The man was release once he promised to sing a song to the guests. He was actually a really good singer and with a great deal of passion sang "Dannyboy".

            Lil' C absolutely loved all the princesses but there was one that really caught his eye. When dinner was finishing he asked me if he could take a picture with the princess in the blue dress. So while the coffee was being served we found the princess in blue and Lil' C was so excited! Look at that smile and he's looking directly at the camera... that combination is almost impossible. lol!

While everyone drank coffee they had a young man playing some beautiful tunes on the bagpipe. Dinner at Bunratty was a great way to end our trip.

So far Ireland has been my favorite trip yet. The country is so beautiful and the Irish people are so warm and friendly. I will always have wonderful memories of our trip. ;)

Take me to Dingle anytime

When planning our trip to Ireland I was torn between the Ring of Kerry and the Dingle Peninsula. But based on all my reading many travelers preferred Dingle since it's smaller and not as touristy and I'm all about avoiding the crowds. It rained almost the entire way to Dingle which wasn't too bad although I would have loved to stop & play at Inch Beach. Maybe next time.

Around noon I contacted the B&B we reserved to let the owner know approximately what time we'd arrive. When I reached her she wasn't exactly pleasant and she told me there was a fire in her garage and she lost everything. She ended the conversation by reminding me that I couldn't check in before 2pm. As soon as I hung up I told S about the fire and I said, "I don't want to stay there!" I was already getting a "Nightmare B&B" vibe. So I started calling some B&B's in my travel book and luckily a few looked familiar and had received good rating on Tripadvisor. I called about 3 of them and the last B&B owner I spoke with was so friendly on the phone that I booked it right on the spot. I got a good vibe about him. Staying at a B&B with a great host is so important and makes a world of a difference. When I contacted the B&B we reserved to cancel I explained that we had a change of plans and as nicely as I could I explained that I just didn't feel comfortable staying in a place where there had been a fire especially since I had a little boy.  How could I possibly sleep well knowing there had just been a fire the previous night. And what about the smell. Well, the woman wasn't too happy but in the end it turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

The view from our B&B.

The B&B we did stay in was absolutely grand! The view was exactly what I was hoping for while in Dingle. We had our own patio with a great view of the Dingle Bay along with a big field of sheep. It was right out of a tourist photo book. And John, the owner was fabulous. He greeted us with homemade (right out of oven) scones, fresh jams, tea, coffee, and hot chocolate. John even included a cup full of mini marshmallows for Lil' C. Too sweet.

Immediately, Lil' C fell in love with John's dog, Roi. The two of them got along wonderfully. Lil' C never got tired of throwing the ball and Roi enjoyed fetching the ball for at least an hour or more.

Dingle itself is very a charming intimate town which I love. In 2005, Dingle officially became known by its Gaelic version, An Daingean (pronounced awn-DANG-in), which means The Fortress. All of the road signs are now in Gaelic. I even saw a few signs with the English word sprayed painted so only the Gaelic word was displayed. Apparently, this change was met with quite a bit of resistance from the locals who were concerned the change would effect tourism. The government refused to change and basically said that "patriotism came at a high cost". I actually think it's great that Ireland is trying to preserve its original language and is making it mandatory for future generation to learn.

Local Dingle Pub

One thing John told us that I found extremely interesting was that the original pubs were actually stores converted to pubs without changing anything inside. One of the pubs we passed truly looked like a hardware store from the outside. I love how these pubs never changed a thing so the way you see it now is how it was hundreds of years ago. So cool. Definitely a very different look from what I originally thought a traditional pub would look like.

After chatting with John, the weather improved so we took full advantage and drove around the Dingle Peninsula. Poor Lil' C was exhausted so he missed the entire drive. The scenery was just spectacular.

The Peninsula was just so beautiful I couldn't help taking dozens of photos.

As the sun played hide & seek the lighting changed making everything look so different.

Take a look at these huge waves. S was captivated with these waves.

The following morning I couldn't help feel sad that we only planned to stay one night. It was just so beautiful I didn't want to leave. Plus there were so many sites in Dingle we didn't get to see due to weather & time restraints.

Roi didn't want Lil' C to leave either. He couldn't wait for Lil' C to finish his breakfast so they could play one last time.

Let's dance & eat paella

On Saturday the Spaniards held a celebration with flamenco dancers, live music, and traditional Spanish food. It was incredibly fun. It started at noon and ended at midnight! Those Spaniards definitely know how to party.

We arrived about 1:30 to see the flamenco dance performance but later discovered the dancers were going to perform all throughout the day. Lil' C & I always made a point to get close to the stage and watch them. It's a beautiful dance. And the costumes are just beautiful... so colorful and fun! If I get the opportunity to visit Spain again I'd love to buy a dress and those pretty shawls. I love how they tie them around their waist. One of my girlfriends had a friend in the Spanish dance group and she tried to teach us a few steps. So much fun!

The food was delicious too and we were treated to a sample of Orujo, an aperitif with on average a 40% alcohol content, which is a little strong for my taste but the Sangria that flowed all day was perfect. Outside there were several Paellera used to prepare the paella and grills cooking Spanish Chorizo and sausages. They also had jamon serrano, manchego cheese and these cute crackers shaped like little baseball bats. It was an all day feast. After eating at least 3 plates of paella, nibbling on tapas and drinking sangria all day we left about 8pm.

On Sunday, I went to the movies to see "The Other Boleyn Girl" with one of my girlfriends. It was so nice going to a real theater to see a movie. It's been about 2 years since I've gone to the cinema. The movie was in English except at the end when they let you know what happen to the characters the words were all in French! lol! Luckily, my friend was able to make out some of the words.

Monday I was back in celebration mode and attended the Spanish Luncheon. The tapas included tortilla (Spanish omelet), manchego cheese, and baguettes with red peppers and tuna. Our first course was a deliciously smooth gazpacho. I was a bit disappointed when they didn't serve paella as the main dish but I quickly recovered when I had my first bite of chicken which was cooked in a traditional Spanish style. I'm getting hungry just writing about it! lol! And of course there was more Orujo, Sangria, and a drink they called a Mojito (very different from the classic Cuban drink). The women in the community put on a fantastic dance show for us.

Especially love this woman's dress. The paisley print was so pretty.

After celebrating in true Spanish style, I'm all set to plan my own version of Eat, Pray, Love and fly to Sevilla to learn flamenco and Castellano and of course enjoy their way of life.

Once the luncheon ended, I went home and met my girlfriend K and we drove to Antwerp to see the ballet "Giselle". The first time I saw "Giselle" was at the Kennedy Center in DC and it left such an impression on me. Everything about the performance was outstanding from the choreography & music to the realistic theatre design. I remember being so emotionally involved especially at the end when the prince is weeping at Giselle's grave. You felt his despair and guilt. And when Giselle finds out the prince is already engaged she is so bewitched & distraught she pulls out her bun and wildly shakes her hair and dances in a crazy fashion but that emotion was missing this time around. There just wasn't that connection between Giselle and the prince. Perhaps if this was my first time seeing "Giselle" I wouldn't have been disappointed yet I wouldn't have left with that overwhelming feeling like I had to see this ballet again & again.

What to do on a rainy day?

The weather in Ireland is completely unpredictable. In fact, one night I saw a commercial encouraging locals to go out and have fun regardless of the weather because "no one ever knows what the weather will be like." Not knowing if the morning rain would continue throughout the day we decided to skip the gardens and go to the Muckross House. At least we'd be indoors during the tour. The house was well preserved and the grounds were simply beautiful with a rock garden and great trails.

Afterwards we went hiking at the Killarney National Park.

We came across several waterfalls on our trail. So peaceful.

Incredible how almost everything was covered in moss. So beautiful.

Room with a View

While making our way to Kenmare, another picturesque little town, we stopped at the  Bantry House. It's a beautiful home. Imagine what it must have been like to live here in the 17th century and wake up to this view.

 

The grounds looked beautiful with the tulips in bloom.

I'm sure it's even more amazing in the summer with all the flowers blooming.

Even Lil' C enjoyed touring the house. One of the guides challenged him to find 5 things in the house. The challenge was a great idea! I've never seen him so excited to explore a historical home before! lol! Every time he found an object he ran back to the guide and told her which object he'd found.

Love the color of this china.

And the cobalt blue in this room is very eye catching. Love it!

The Photograph

Capturing life through photographs is what I love to do. I have a handful of photos that are truly special to me. Out of the thousands of photos I take though why are these photos special? Sometimes it's as simple as a smile or beautiful lighting while other times it's the story behind the photo that makes it priceless to me. These photos are like time capsules documenting my life.

This photo here is particularly special to me. It's the first time it made me think about photography as more than a hobby.

This photo put a little seed in my head that just maybe I could become a professional photographer. Don't we hear it all the time how you should do something you love? Why not me. This is what I love. I have a lot to learn but I'm excited and scared about the possibilities. Since I arrived in Belgium I've been thinking about this a lot. And I think I'm finally ready to take some serious steps forward and see where my love for capturing life will take me. Wish me luck. ;)