Highline // NYC

One of my favorite stops in NYC!
This park is built on the remains of an old railroad line. Elevated among the buildings, you have a super cool view of SoHo and all its crazy cool architecture. I love the mixing of modern + old brick buildings. Having this green space in the middle of a densely populated urban area is way cool too. I hope to come back someday during the summer (when it is even greener!) and have a picnic on the grass. It sounds like a great way to escape the hustle and bustle of the city, while admiring it from above.
So glad we missed out on the polar vortex and got to actually explore this place with blue skies and a hint of sunshine. Put this place on your New York City bucketlist asap.

More posts from our new york trip coming up pronto! And in case you missed my last NYC post, click here!

Brooklyn Bridge // NYC

I think I have an addiction... This is my second trip to NYC in six months!
I seriously love this city. Whenever I come home or return to my university in Switzerland I have to fly through JFK, so this time I just paid an extra $5 (steal of a deal!) and delayed my "layover in JFK" to four days of NYC fun! My twin wasn't able to come with last trip (but don't feel too bad for him, he was gallavanting across Europe at the time) so he, and our awesome mom, decided to accompany me to NYC this time for a final hurrah to Winter Break 2014. Last week I said my goodbyes to Utah friends/family and we caught a red eye flight from SLC---> JFK, so the morning of day one was spent napping.. but that evening we decided to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge, a first for all of us. It was only a bit chilly (luckily the polar vortex was gone by the time we arrived!) and we loved it!
Highly recommend "must do" item for anyone visiting NYC in the near future. 

// view of the city with the Manhattan skyscrapers disappering into the fog
// wooden slats on the bridge dating back to its construction in 1883
// the cutest little water tower there ever was

^^ excuse the low quality iphone photo, but it wouldn't be a "winter break" post without a twin pic! ;)

We started crossing the bridge at dusk so by the time we made it to the Brooklyn side it was already dark and the bridge was beautifully lit up! ^^

oh and tip for anyone walking the bridge: visit the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory near the waterfront on the Brooklyn side, their strawberry ice cream was DEVINE. I wish I had a pic, but that is a testament to how fast we devoured it (in spite of the cold weather!) it was that good.

last trip to NYC, click here
more NYC posts coming soon!

HOLIDAY REPORT, part one

-- Thanks to a snow storm in NYC, It took me 28 hours of travel, but I finally made it back to 'Murica and the good old Salt Lake City!

-- All TWELVE members of The Tribe are reunited for the next few weeks! #partypartyparty

-- Holiday cheer is in the air! Stockings on the mantle, presents under the christmas tree, christmas songs on repeat, and lights adorn the house.

-- Survived getting my wisdom teeth removed..

-- It hasn't stopped snowing all day, I am stoked about it.

-- Steadily eating my way through my  "America Food Bucketlist", Thai food is next.

-- currently listening to THIS and THIS

Life is good!

Concert Fever

Despite working long hours over the last two weeks as an orientation mentor for Franklin, coming back to Lugano has been a bit of a "break" for me. Being at home this summer was incredibly fun, but also incredibly busy. I feel like I packed three summer's worth of activities into one. So bear with me as I throw it back to last May and recount the beginning of my adventures with Summer 2013.

 ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫

A mere day (yes, ONE day!) after I got off the plane I was nearly front & center at the Imagine Dragons concert. I was jetlagged out of my mind but the concert was insanely fun. I was so stoked to see one of my favorite bands perform live. Sad moment: I took a few videos but we were so close to the speakers that the bass is ridiculously overwhelming. But the silver lining to the poor audio quality on the videos is that you can actually see a  few ripples of sound go through the air.. sick! The concert was definitely a jump-around-on-your-feet kind of event. A perfect way to kick off a crazy summer.

« other favorite songs: On Top of the World + Radioactive + It's Time + Demons »

◇  Concert #2: Vampire Weekend  ◇

Literally the day after Imagine Dragons (now 2 days post-Switzerland) I went to the Vampire Weekend concert! Thats right, back to back concerts for the win!! Luckily the Vampire Weekend concert was in Red Butte Gardens, a more laid-back outdoors venue where I battled jet lag just chilled as we listened to the majority of the concert on a grassy knoll. For a few of my favorite songs we made our way up front and joined the fray in front of the stage which is my favorite place to be.

« other favorite songs: Giving up the Gun + Horchata + Everlasting Arms 

◇ Concert #3: Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros ◇ 

Two weeks later we were at Red Butte Gardens again for another concert. This time, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros. Are you aware that there are SEVENTEEN people in this band? Because I had no idea and was so beyond confused when there were like 20 people on stage! It kind of was a bit of a hippie circus at times, but overall enjoyable. Like I said ^^^^ for the Vampire Weekend concert, I love this venue because of how laid back it is. For the better part of the concert I was lounging on a picnic blanket with my friends eating a baguette dipped in olive oil/basalmic, enjoying strawberries and salted dark chocolate (my favorite!) So I'd be amiss if I complained.

« other favorite songs: 40 day dream +  Janglin '»

And that concludes the concert section (aka part one) of my summer adventures in SLC!! More to follow soon, xoxo

New York City, USA

I love adventures.. especially those of the well planned out kind! But New York City was not one of those trips. I can frequently be found at my computer in the wee hours of the night searching for deals on flights, reading about far flung places and planning my next trip. So it wasn't unusual when about a week prior I figured out that I could fly to New York for $5 on my skymiles alone. But the idea was so spontaneous + far fetched I didn't believe that it would ever happen. Thankfully I have a mother who is just as adventurous as me! And a few short days later we were on a flight to JFK. I am still pinching myself! The whole trip was so surreal that words fail me. So I have decided to let the photos speak for themselves.

❖  D A Y  O N E ❖

 MANHATTAN

TIMES SQUARE + RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL

❖ D A Y   T W O ❖

THE BRONX 

A mega highlight of our trip! Seeing my good friend John whom I didn't expect to see for the next two years was such a treat!! It was well worth taking the 1 hr subway ride into "da hood". And in case you're wondering, he is so happy, loving the work and just the same old John Durham jassin around. 

then back to manhattan for this view  ⇡ of the NYC SKYLINE 

☼  &  ☽

« from the Top of the Rock (Rockefeller) »

❖ D A Y  T H R E E ❖

Early morning TRAIN CONCERT ON THE TODAY SHOW. Waking up at 6:00am was maybe worth it.. 

 ⇡ FINANCIAL DISTRICT ⇡

9/11 M E M O R I A L ⇡

The new World Trade Center (Freedom Tower) ⇣

It was a long line to get in but well worth the wait. The pools of water are aptly named "reflecting on absence".. The soft sound of falling water coupled with the hundreds of green trees lining the walkway provided an unusually peaceful space for contemplation. Seeing all the names of people who lost their lives on Sept 11, 2001 made the tragedy seem so real and so immediate. I highly recommend a visit if you are ever in NYC. I know I am planning on visiting again once the 9/11 museum opens on Ground Zero. 

AFTERNOON
⇿ View from our bike ride down along the shoreline ⇿

 BOAT RIDE ➾ STATEN ISLAND

✓ Brooklyn Bridge 

✓ Shake Shack

✓ Statue of Liberty 

MANHATTAN though.. 

Then back to the apartment for a much needed nap followed by an evening treat... 

 5th row tickets to see WICKED on Broadway!

We just may be the last two people in the world to see it.. but well worth the wait!

The city that never sleeps.. NYC you've done it again! I'm sure we will be back soon! ✌

Cecret Lake Hike

Welcome to one of my favorite places in the entire world: Alta Ski Resort. And while you're at it, welcome one of my favorite people in the world: Andre Washington! ⤵  Best friend and debate partner extraordinare.

Fun Facts about Andre:
▷ He has a small scar on his forehead right between his eyebrows, just like Harry Potter!
▷ He loves a good cheeseburger + coke + fries combo
▷ He is nearly ambidextrous
▷ He is the best editor! and often proof reads my essays.
▷ He is a netflix addict (4-seasons-of-Hell's-Kitchen-in-1-week, what?)
▷ He is attending Westminster College in the fall
▷ And best of all, he indulges most (if not all!) of my adventurous whims and over the last few years has joined me on many a hiking + crafting + photographing + party-planning expeditions, just to name a few!

But now that those introductions are out of the way, let's get back to talking about this BEAUTIFUL hike! I confess: I first fell in love with autumn at Alta. I had never seen such beautiful fall foliage and I didn't think anything could beat that view. But shortly thereafter I fell in love with winter at Alta. The swirling snow combined with the rush of wind whipping at my face as I sped down the run.. I felt unstoppable and what could beat that? But now that I am finally discovering Alta in the summer, I think I may have a new favorite Alta season.. (or at least a tie!)! The way the mountain flowers flourish in the wild there and contribute pops of color to the blue + green mountain countryside? Exquisite.  

Plus, (besides being gorgeous) the Cecret Lake trail is also one of the easiest hikes around! The trail is only 1.2 miles each way and most of it is not too steep. While hiking we saw many young children + families making their ascent to the lake as well. And I can see why.. the emerald pools + rocky terrain were well worth the hike. 

❖ C E C R E T   L A K E ❖

So why is this rambling post about hiking a trail at Alta dedicated to Andre? Well unfortunately, I had to say goodbye to this buddy of mine on Saturday and won't be seeing him again until December 15th. So that is probably why I am feeling sentimental. But let's look on the bright side, it is only a mere 146 days away + I am sure the days apart will be filled with many skypes, whats app's, and facebooks. Speaking of which, write me a postcard you jerk! And be sure to enjoy your first year of college.. or should I say " enjoy the ride".. (was that too cheesy? probably.. sorry not sorry!)

#morethanpartnerslessthanfriends

" Great things are done when men and mountains meet "

➣ William Blake 

Sailing the Great Salt Lake

A few weeks ago my family & I had the amazing opportunity to sail on a massive (36ft) sailboat on the Great Salt Lake. I had never been to the Great Salt Lake nevertheless sailing! So it was quite the experience for me! I couldn't have wished for a better afternoon. The sun was out, the sky was blue, and the breeze was steady. Perfect sailing conditions.

A few members of the "tribe" ⇡ on the marina dock. Ready to sail! 

" Adventure is out there" 

Fun facts about the Great Salt Lake: 

➾ It is the largest naturally occurring lake west of the Mississippi River. (75 miles long + 35 miles wide)

➾ Renowned naturalist John Muir called it "one of the great views on the American continent" 

➾ At 5%-25% {depending on water levels} the lake is far saltier than sea water (3.5%) and called "America's Dead Sea" for its high salinity (largest salt water lake in the western hemisphere) 

➾ The high salt levels generates so much buoyancy that you float instead of sink in the water 

➾ There is supposedly a sea monster that lives on the North Shore.. last spotted in 1877. 

➾ It is the last remnant of an Ice Age lake which spanned most of Utah 30,000+ years ago

My cute parents ⇡ and just a portion of our massive sail

Given the opportunity again, I would go sailing in an instant. Sailing is so different from the "boating" I know and am accustomed to. The slower pace of sailing allows for more conversation, more sunbathing, more adventure and less stress. I truly believe the key to life is to enjoy the ride (hence my blog title) but I also am a fan of seeking out adventure. And I love that I don't have to travel across the world to do that. Even in Salt Lake there are some pretty cool activities to be done + beautiful places to see. And I highly recommend sailing on the great salt lake as one of those activities!