Mexico Road Trip... Week 1

Mud-season (snow melting and trails staying closed) is not my favorite time in the Vail Valley. Fortunately, Lise's restaurant, Juniper, and the Westin that I work at are both very slow (or closed). This year we decided to drive south to see some National Parks, visit family, and enjoy some warmth. While I haven't updated my blog in quite awhile, I hope to do so soon and document this road trip in the meantime each week. Enjoy the photos (and captions) below!

3 states, 2 countries, and roughly 6,000 miles in 31 days.. This is our route (currently at letter "K" as I write this)

The campsite our first night just outside of Mesa Verde

The Mesa Verde ruins lie about an hour west of Durango in SW Colorado. The park itself is very large and sits on a high desert plateau. The ruins are structures built into cliffs. We really enjoyed our tour of the park and I recommend a 1/2 or full day or so to anyone who is out in that area.

The Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi in Santa Fe

Our little Albuquerque tour of Breaking Bad

We opted for the more "official" Roswell UFO Museum rather than "Alien Zone"... I suppose if you have to be in Roswell you might as well stop for the photo right?

Carslbad Caverns might not be one of the 7 natural wonders of the world or even North America, but it might as well be. More than a little off the beaten path but pretty incredible and impossible to photograph. My grandmother first explored the caverns as a Junior in High School in 1947. Here is a photo of Lise in front of a small-medium sized tower.

 Had a great time introducing Lise to Ben and Trisha and spending time with them in West Texas!

Obligatory stop at ACU

Finally made it to Tyler. Nothing better than time with my family.

My favorite museum to this day (Smithsonian included) is the East Texas Oil Museum in Kilgore, TX. They also claim to be the #1 attraction in East Texas although my friend Adam seriously doubts it over the Rose Garden in Tyler.

Street scene of cars stuck in the mud in the early 1930's from the Oil Museum of East Texas

 Lise really enjoyed driving on the beach at South Padre Island National Park. It was a little windy but warm and of course still THE BEACHSunset of our final night in Texas

Our second week is already underway and we are having a great time in Oaxaca so far soaking up the culture, architecture, and food.

Thanks as always for looking!
-BP

Fall and Winter... mostly pictures

I am going to do a quick (once a week) series of posts to have sort of a life update for myself. These will mostly be photos because I don't feel like writing all that much.

September 2013 - Lise moved to Colorado with me, we moved into our new apartment, and got married. Pretty big month for us. Also, Lise's mom came to visit.

 Moving in on the top floor was interesting

Our balcony view to the left

Our balcony view to the right

 Charlie, one of the creatures marriage has brought into my life

Sonic (fish) and Arthur (cat), the two other creatures I live with

 Lise and her mom by the Eagle River in Avon, CO

October 2013 - We took a climbing/camping trip to Moab and were in Texas for a week.

We had a great time jet-skiing with Bruce George and exploring Austin

Went shooting with Zack and Kristen

 Climbing in Moab

A little fall color

First big snow of the year

 Top Gun Halloween

November 2013 - Ski season started and my parents came to visit.

December 2013 - Celebrated our 1st Christmas together and skied a lot. My sister and her boyfriend (now husband) came to visit.

 

Next week: I'll post some photos of our trip to Mexico from February