Mackinaw Island, Michagan

After we returned from the Lake Heron side of the state we set out on our next adventure: Mackinaw Island. Mackinaw Island is a beautiful place on the northern most tip of Michigan just before Canada. I am so glad I got to experience this place because it was such a beautiful day and such a beautiful place. We drove about 1.5 hours where we parked our car and boarded a boat that took us to this hidden beauty. The boat ride was bliss for me. It was so freeing. That may sound stupid but I have come to love being outdoors, who knew my AC needing, high maintenance, city girl would ever come to love being outdoors with messy hair and sweaty but I do. Admitted. Once on the island we ate lunch and rented bikes where we spent several hours riding around, stopping every once in a while to stick our feet in the water for a cool down.

If you have never been here and are are anywhere near here, PLEASE GO! It's worth every minute you are there. You will not regret this experience at all!!!

Thanks, Christina, for taking me here!!!

Michigan vacation continued

And just like that I had the opportunity to witness a different part of the state. Christina's boyfriend invited us to his families home on the east side of Michigan, on lake Heron, for a couple of days during the 4th of July holiday. It was beautiful! I had never seen a lake so beautiful and so large in my life. Another cure of jet lag.... beautiful views with relaxing serenity. Yes. Although, the one comment I do have to make is, talk about a culture shock! I don't think I am very shocked by different cultures anymore after traveling to many different places, but I am surprised at times when I do find myself in a bit of a shock and wondering why. Usually my shock comes upon my return to the US. hmmm. But talk about going from the fast paced city life of Paris to the slooooowwwwwww paced (no need for a watch because they don't care what time it is) paced life of a super rural town on a beautiful lake. These people could care less what time is is. THey eat when they eat, they enjoy the weather sitting around all day or working outside. It was almost too calm for me. But I definitely forced myself to enjoy the calmness as much as possible. It was an awesome experience and I am thankful for the opportunity. (But I was definitely glad to get back to civilization after a couple of days as well!)

Sail boating

Let me tell you, if you're looking for a destination spot in Michigan, let me recommend Charlevoix. It's beautiful. Its blue waters, nice people, slow moving picture-esque town. Presh!

Christina and I stumbled upon a sail boat company and decided what better way to (get over jet lag) relax the good way. So we jumped on board the boat with our packed lunch (Thanks to Christina's lovely mama) and enjoyed the rays of the sun. It was just what the jet lag doctored had ordered.

laziness

You know when you get so far behind that you just don't want to keep up anymore? Thats me. But I want to update for the sake of keeping an online diary of sorts now.

So, here we go....

rewind to the end of June, June 30 to be exact, when I left Paris in search of my newest adventure...

I left Paris June 30, where I headed to the airport with too much luggage in tow.
Nearly 24 hours later and I was in Charlevoix, Michigan with my long lost soul sista, Bridget (really known as Christina but I prefer Bridget) where I spent 7 blissful days being smitten with the Michigan mitten. And boy was it a stunning state.

Here are some pictures from our adventures:

Our reunion after one year of not seeing each other and me traveling for 20ish
hours at this point. Not a good look but definitely very happy.

And of course we have to do something very American, so when you see that
the light is turned on at a donut shop meaning there are fresh (and free) donuts,
you must stop!

The breakfast Christina cooked for me my first morning there. 

Beyond being excited to be in the US for the 4th of July, to see Christina who had I hadn't seen in a year, and to not be traveling anymore, I was beyond excited to be where the sun was as opposed to Paris where it had been cold and raining for the previous month if not longer. This vacation was just what the doctor ordered! Bliss.

....more to come (because it was 7 days long!)

its not over

Don't go thinking just because I have decided to make the move back to the US of A that my life has suddenly become bland and boring because that is the complete opposite. Ok, I'm bluffing a bit, but I still have quite a bit to write about. Like the fact that I have been traveling Europe for the past 3 weeks. And I just got off a plane today only to return to the same airport tomorrow to get on another plane (domestically this time) for another week. 

Give me a second to become de-jetlagged, sleep in my own bed for more than one night and take it all in for a second and I'll be back. 

Besides, I still haven't written about my 2 months in Houston nor my trip to Michigan. Gosh. 

Hope everyone is enjoying the cooler (somewhat) temps that Houston is offering right now. Maybe, just maybe, there might be a legit fall, and on time. 

Adios.