Thursday, September 13, 2007

Here are the remainder of my pictures from California. For a complete set, go visit my album of Facebook - I've posted them all there. I cannot believe that two weeks ago, I was sitting on a beach in California. It seems surreal now, how relaxed I was, how much time I had. Now, not even two weeks into the semester, I'm running around again, like a maniac, trying to get everything done at once.


The cliffs of La Jolla. In some guidebook they described these cliffs as one of North America's great wonders or something but they aren't. They're very beautiful, granted, but not a natural wonder. In my opinion. Who knows, maybe I'm missing out on something.



Mexican Cafe in Old Town where I had lunch one day. The Mexican food was amazing, given that the place was a short 15 minute drive away from the Mexican border and the Cafe was located a few blocks away from the trolley station that provides transportation into and out of Tijuana every day. The tacos were real, 100%. I never knew I was eating fake until I have the real stuff and now, I can't eat Mexican food in Canada anymore. It just doesn't do justice.


At a port in Coronado. My friend had to take a picture of me with the big boat. Aircraft carrier or something. He was a guy, he knew what it was. I had no idea, I just stood there and smiled at the camera.


Us having fun at Coronado, San Diego skyline in the background. It was a beautiful day, as always.

On the beautiful Coronado beach with gold-speckled sand. Coronado, next to La Jolla, was the most touristy beach around. I like this picture because it wasn't taken very well and we were all unaware that the picture was being taken at all. It captures us on the beach in California that day.


My last breakfast on Pacific Beach before I went to the airport later that morning. The place was called Jordan and served very good eggs benedict. We sat and watched the joggers with their dogs go by, and the bikers in groups of two or three, or the surfer dudes with the tousled hair and the average Joe people who just enjoyed walking along the beach on a Sunday morning. I remember sitting at the table, just drinking in the sights and smells and feeling and wishing that I could stay.



It's been a long summer. Quite eventful. I started in Calgary visiting old friends and spending time with people I hadn't seen in years. I continued to Edmonton to do an internship at the Royal Alexandra hospital, meeting new friends at South Edmonton Alliance Church and getting a feel for a small Albertan city. Wandered the streets of New York, tasting all the delights that New York had to offer and had a few eye-opening experiences. Finished in California, finding rest on the sunny beaches and good conversations with an old mentor.
I wish I could say that the summer was perfect. It wasn't. Many things went wrong. There is nothing like traveling alone that makes you realize your own inadequacies. I realized all of mine and more. I started off the summer confident in myself, feeling like I could conquer the world and completed the summer humbled and a little bit wiser, but unfortunately also a little more jaded. I learned more than I could ever describe in this blog and I'm so thankful I had the opportunity to travel for the past three months. If I may, I'm going to leave a few of my "lessons learned" for you guys.
1) Take risks. Usually, it's worth it - the reward outweighs the risk and the fun outweighs both. Life is for living, not for sitting and twiddling thumbs.
2) Acts of friendship and hospitality are the greatest gifts you can give someone. Having been received warmly by both old friends and strangers and feeling welcome in every city I visited, I can say that I am indescribably grateful to everyone I passed along the way.
3) Always wear sunscreen. No kidding. My back is three different colors of burnt to prove it.

Thus concludes my summer blogging. As the semester rolls on, I will blog seldom, if ever. See you again in November or December...