Bon Voyage

The time has come.  In just a few short days my sister will be heading off to travel the world.  She’s spent months and months planning and will soon be living the dream.  She quit her job.  She packed her bags.  And this past weekend she came to So Cal for a final sendoff. 

If you are prone to major travel jealousy, you may want to skip over the next part…

Laura’s Travel Itinerary

March 30 – April 25: South America (Argentina, Chile, Peru)

April 25 – May 20: Spain

May 20 – 25: Paris, France

May 25 – 31: Istanbul, Turkey

June 1 – 14: Greek Islands

June 15 – 21: Croatia

June 22 – 28: London, England

July – September: Central America (Honduras, Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama)

Because everyone wanted to say goodbye it was a family packed weekend.  On Wednesday she flew into LAX and Kyle and I got to play with her all day long.  On Thursday we went out to Hollywood to visit our cousins (and nephew Finn)Then on Friday, we headed to Newport Beach to spend some QT with G-ma and my Aunt and Uncle

Here’s some of the fun in photos…

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Dinner and dessert at Interim Cafe

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Note: It is unwise to pick out dessert(s) before you’ve eaten dinner.  There’s more to that story…another time post perhaps.

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Kyle and I both ordered vegan sammies, Laura got a vegan tamale platter.

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Chocolate face.

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Rainy day activities include marathon dessert sessions and Wii golf.

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As you can see, my Mii character couldn’t be more accurate…I promise I didn’t plan to match with the outfit.  What can I say, I like pink!

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Lunch at Huckleberry.

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We ordered the same thing.

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After lunch we braved the LA traffic and made our way to our cousin’s apartment in West Hollywood.

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Happy hour at Cabo Cantina on Sunset.  Ironically, the last time I was at this bar was with also with my cousin (over 4 years ago).  The drink on the left was a mojito that I couldn’t tolerate at ALL.  The beers on the right were my follow-up drink order that cost next to nothing (2 for 1 what whaaat) and got my pretty drunk.  However, when we left the bar, nobody was quite as bad off as Laura.

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As a nurse, I probably should have been more concerned as her skin went from pink to red and splotchy.  Whatever was in her second margarita did NOT agree with her. 

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Naturally I whipped out my Epi pen camera.  ;)  You can’t tell from the photo but she was bright red on her cheeks and chest…which slowly spread to her arm and back.  Our solution?  New bar, new drink.

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We didn’t let the rain hold us back one bit.  Off to The Den…

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Where our other cousin met up with us (Finn in tow). 

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You have a baby…in a bar. [Name that movie]

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White bean dip #2 of the day (shocked? I think not).

Friday had a hideous start with a hangover and rent-a-car issue, but eventually Laura and I made it to Newport Beach…in a sweet a$$ cargo van no less.  Even though she lives (lived?) in SF, she had some furniture being stored in my G-ma’s garage that required shlepping back to Nor Cal.  I was merely the muscle to help load the van up.

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I was rewarded with a dinner at Taco Rosa.  My Aunt and Uncle even drove down from Laguna Beach to treat us all.  Sweet!

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After dinner Kyle picked me up and I said goodbye to Laura…until I meet up with her in Spain in May.

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be? 

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Comments (43)

  1. Alicia

    Elise, when are you going to Spain? will you be visiting Madrid? I’m a long time reader and would love to meet you there! I’m from Madrid but live in Frankfurt, however I will be in Madrid the weekend 13-15th May. Let me know!

  2. Ashley

    Your sister should read The Lost Girls before/during her trip. It’s about 3 NYC girls who quit their job and traveled for 365 days. It’s a true story and just so cool!! If she needs anything or recs in London give her my email. I live in London. =)

  3. Averie (LoveVeggiesAndYoga)

    I would love to go to Fiji, France, Morocco, Spain, India..basically…anywhere 🙂

    Tell your sister to have a freakin’ ball!! What an amazing once in a lifetime thing…so happy for her!

  4. lady bug beauty

    No New Zealand on her travel plans? Boo hoo….

  5. Freya

    How exciting for your sister! My sister went travelling the world last year (lots in Africa and Uganda and Australia, lion sanctuary, slums, in the bush…we were worried :p) – it is weird when they go, but they bring back soo many phtoos and stories 🙂
    It’s great she’s coming to London! I live only an hour & a half away, so if she ever wants someone to meet up with in London, I’d be willing 🙂

  6. tea-bag

    First off: “Sweet Home Alabama” – such a good movie!

    I’ve been to Peru & Egypt & now I’m dying to go to Thailand!

  7. Klh

    Wow!! What an amazing opportunity! I know it’s a little far off but you should have her do some re-caps when she gets back!
    Movie= sweet home Alabama!
    Happy wknd!

    Katie : )

  8. rebecca lustig

    so envious of her travels.. is she doing semester at sea? or just traveling?

    Happy Saturday 🙂
    Becca
    http://fromheretothereinpurple.blogspot.com
    http://twitter.com/rlustig

  9. carly

    wow i am feeling super jealous of your sister, that’s freaking awesome!! is she going to keep a blog of her travels? i am going to berlin, germany for spring break in three weeks and can’t wait. two if the places i want to travel next are bali and new zealand.

  10. cbrady3

    Her trips sounds incredible – so once in a life time! What a dream to save up, quit, your job, and do that. I’d love to include more of Eastern Europe and Asia in my trip!

  11. Kelsey @ Unmitigated Grub

    that’s so so awesome; good for her!!! p.s. that plate of hummus and bread from Huckleberry looks perfect. simply perfect.

  12. actorsdiet

    HUCKLEBERRY!!!

    i want to go back to taiwan with my family sometime soon – i haven’t been back since i was a teenager, and i’m sure it’s changed a lot

  13. Lauren (Diary of a Vegan Girl)

    Oh my gosh I am so jealous! That sounds way too amazing!

  14. Juliette

    At this very moment, I would love to go to Zermatt, Switzerland and trek on the majestic Matterhorn or take a dip in the beautiful waters of the French Riviera.

  15. Maryann (The Balanced Bean)

    How exciting! I would love to someday do a tour of europe.

  16. zoe

    what an amazing trip!!!! is she traveling solo? or going with someone else? her trip seriously sounds like a dream. if i could travel anywhere, i’d go to india. i’m so fascinated by that country! and the food :)!

  17. elise

    I will be in Spain from the 9th through the 20th…we will be heading to Madrid after Sevilla which will be around the 15th. Let me double check and confirm because I would LOVE to meet up with you if we overlap in Madrid!!!! Do you have any veg friendly food recommendations?

  18. elise

    sadly no. she’s been to nz before (she lived in australia for 8 months and traveled all around there during that time) and i think this trip is more focused on new places.

  19. elise

    nice!

  20. elise

    tell me about it! im still BEGGING her on a daily basis for her thailand guest posts that she promised – and that trip was over a year ago!

  21. elise

    nope just traveling. planned the entire trip on her own.

  22. elise

    she says shes going to try. ill be sure and pimp out her blog if and when she does 🙂 then we can all be jealous together!

  23. elise

    solo for some, meeting up with friends and family for various other parts.

  24. elise

    lets go! i love their white bean dip…i cant NOT get it every time i go!

  25. MarathonVal

    What a lucky girl!! Tell your sis to keep track of any good vegan restaurants she finds in Spain for my trip there this summer 😉

  26. movesnmunchies

    YAY! shes coming to london!! so far we are having good weather- so hopefully it sticks while she’s here!

    hmm definitely the US!

  27. Glocal Girl

    I would travel somewhere in Asia! In 2009 I relocated from Los Angeles (your pics make me reminiscent!) to Spain and now, to the Netherlands… so anywhere in Western Europe is easily accessible. I lived in Barcelona for 1 year pursuing an international degree then wound up falling in love and moving to the Netherlands with my Dutch man. So jealous of you sister’s trip around the world. What a gutsy but fabulous idea!!

    Cheers from Amsterdam,
    Jeanelle

  28. elise

    hey Jeanelle!

    i too lived in barcelona for some time. i love it so much i consider it my second home. how cool that you found yourself living abroad – what a dream! i spent a week in amsterdam a few years ago and found it such a cute place. thanks for sharing!

  29. elise

    i will! and ill keep my eye out too (ill be in spain may 9- may 20th)

  30. Courtney

    Sweet Home Alabama 🙂

    Courtney

  31. Jenny

    Wow I am definitely envious of all your traveling. There’s nothing better than packing up and seeing everything there is to see. What a wonderful experience, enjoy every second of it 😀

  32. Christine (The Raw Project)

    Wow, what an adventure, I hope she has a blast! So many great eats in this post and love the Wii outfit.

    I think I’d start in Paris and travel around France.

  33. Evan Thomas

    you’re right; I’m so jealous of her trip. 2 weeks on the Greek islands would be my idea of paradise(well, actually I prefer the mainland, but really none of it is bad.

  34. Katie

    What an awesome sendoff…complete with pastries, bread, and drinking!

    Also, I’ve wanted to go to Sevilla my whole life – so if you go there when you’re in Spain, you MUST do a massive recap so I can live vicariously though you.

  35. Becca

    Sweet Home Alabama

    3 points 🙂

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  37. elise

    im going!! i promise i will take photos like crazy 🙂

  38. Silje Pierat

    Oooh, tell your sis that I truly recommend these places:

    Belize : Caye Caulker!
    – a small reggae island, with the best scuba-diving and totally happy people

    Nicaragua: Isla Ometepe and San Juan del Sur
    Isla Ometepe is an island with a setback in about 50 years. Stay at Finca magdalena, the ecologic coffee farm. Live among wonderful backpackers from all over the world and enjoy the ahhh-maazzzinnng nature!

    SJDS is the chillaxing surfer city where me and Ronny found total bliss. Visit Rob and kelly at El Gato negro, have a frosty Victoria at the Pier and indulge in awesome surfing!

    I’ve blogged about the places here:

    http://www.pierats.org/2010/12/hostels-or-hotels.html

    http://www.pierats.org/2010/11/tranquility-and-bliss-coffee-i-miss.html

    http://www.pierats.org/search/label/belize?updated-max=2010-05-05T08%3A40%3A00%2B02%3A00&max-results=20

    -And where I wanna go next? New Zealand and Iceland! Booyah!

    Frosty hugs from Norway

  39. elise

    thanks so much!!!! ill pass it on to her for sure 🙂

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