Tag: traveling

Afternoon at Mesa Verde National Park

, , , , Slice of Life, Traveling1 Comment on Afternoon at Mesa Verde National Park
Photo info: FUJIFILM X-E4, 19.6mm, f/9, 1/100 sec, ISO800
 “Spruce Tree House” Mesa Verde N.P., 2021

We arrived at Mesa Verde National Park in the late afternoon, with just enough sunlight to do the motor-tour to the Spruce Tree House and the Mesa Top Loop. There was also a storm threatening so the skies were dark, but we were still able to enjoy the history of the people who inhabited the area from about AD 550 until about AD 1200.

The cliff dwellings were amazing (we were only able to view them from a distance) and we also enjoyed seeing the pit houses and kiva up close. I wish we had more time to do some hiking, but I’m glad we were able to see what we did.

Photo info: FUJIFILM X-E4, 18mm, f/7.1, 1/100 sec, ISO800
 “Cliff Palace” Mesa Verde N.P., 2021
Photo info: FUJIFILM X-E4, 18mm, f/10, 1/950 sec, ISO640
 “Storms to the North” Mesa Verde N.P., 2021

After sunset, we hit the road again for the relatively short ride to Durango where we immediately went to the Steamworks Brewing Company for some burgers and beer. What a great way to end the day. 😀🍺🍔

Photo info: Apple iPhone 12 mini, 4.2mm, f/1.6, 1/30 sec, ISO800
 “Cold One” Durango, 2021

Morning in Santa Fe

, , , , Food, Slice of Life, Traveling2 Comments on Morning in Santa Fe
Photo info: FUJIFILM X-E4, 35mm, f/2, 1/105 sec, ISO1250
 “Christmas-Style” Santa Fe, 2021

One of the things we were looking forward to was to eat some New Mexican food in Santa Fe. Last’s night’s meal was yummy, but this morning’s breakfast was off-the-charts! Cafe Pasqual’s is in the historic part of town, so you really get that Santa Fe vibe. The interior of the restaurant is cool and fun and the menu is filled with delicious-sounding treats.

Photo info: FUJIFILM X-E4, 35mm, f/2, 1/105 sec, ISO800
 “New Mexico Decorations” Santa Fe, 2021

I ordered the Trout Hash with poached eggs. It was excellent. Mariko ordered the tofu-chorizon breakfast burrito, Christmas-style (both red and green sauces) and it was one of the best meals I’ve ever eaten. It was so good! The burrito was massive but we really cleaned up and ate everything on the plate. Definitely recommended!

After stuffing ourselves, we walked around the area and did a little shopping before hitting the road. Another long drive was in store for us as we traveled into Colorado for an afternoon visit to Mesa Verde National Park. Here are a few more photos from Santa Fe:

Photo info: FUJIFILM X-E4, 18mm, f/5.6, 1/1100 sec, ISO640
 “Cafe Pasqual’s” Santa Fe, 2021
Photo info: FUJIFILM X-E4, 18mm, f/3.6, 1/160 sec, ISO640
 “Window Shopping” Santa Fe, 2021
Photo info: FUJIFILM X-E4, 28.9mm, f/5, 1/210 sec, ISO640
 “Street Art” Santa Fe, 2021

Start of Vacation – Texas to New Mexico

, , , , , , Food, Slice of Life, Traveling3 Comments on Start of Vacation – Texas to New Mexico
Photo info: FUJIFILM X-E4, 18mm, f/6.4, 1/1500 sec, ISO200
 “New Mexico Sign” Texico, 2021

Today was the start of our road-trip vacation to New Mexico, Colorado, and Utah. The first leg of the journey took us through north Texas (not quite up to the panhandle). We saw plenty of cotton fields and had to stop and take a few photos. The cotton was so clean and soft. Amazing!

Photo info: FUJIFILM X-E4, 55mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 sec, ISO200
 “Cotton” Roscoe, 2021

After a short lunch (sushi!) in the town of Snyder, Texas, we made our way across the border and into New Mexico at the town of Texico. Of course we had to take a photo of the sign, which was not so pretty, as well as the water tower which was much more photogenic (first photo).

After that it was a long push towards Santa Fe, where we checked into our hotel and then headed to Café Castro for a yummy meal of New Mexican Steak and Carne Adovada. It was served with a side of sopapillas and honey. I asked the waiter how to eat them, and he said you can put honey on (or in) it and have as a dessert, or just eat as you would a tortilla with the meal. The sopapilla was really good and it was the first time that I had it not as a dessert. I highly recommend Café Castro. We left very satisfied.

Photo info: Apple iPhone 12 mini, 4.2mm, f/1.6, 1/40 sec, ISO400
 “Dinner in New Mexico” Santa Fe, 2021

One of the cool things about the drive was that the sky was full of cloud activity, which is heaven for a cloud enthusiast like myself. 😀

Photo info: FUJIFILM X-E4, 18mm, f/5, 1/420 sec, ISO200
 “Clouds” New Mexico, 2021
Photo info: FUJIFILM X-E4, 18mm, f/5.6, 1/600 sec, ISO200
 “Clouds” New Mexico, 2021

I even set up the GoPro to get a Timewarp “drive-lapse” video. Enjoy!

Return From Vacation

, , Slice of Life, TravelingLeave a Comment on Return From Vacation
Photo info: Apple iPhone 12 mini, 1.55mm, f/2.4, 1/4000 sec, ISO25
 “Blue Skies” Above Texas, 2021

こんばんは。How’s it going?

Well, today we returned home from our week and a half of travel in California. We were sad to leave my parents, but we had such a fun trip!

FYI, I’ll be filling in my daily posts from the trip over the next few days, so they will be out of chronological order for a week or so as I publish them alongside the current daily posts.

Today’s photos were taken with my iPhone 12 Mini, which I used quite a lot during this trip. The photos that produces look really nice when viewed on the small screen, but when I edit them in Lightroom, you can quickly see the limitations of the small sensor/lens combination. Still, it’s fast and convenient. Definitely usable!

Photo info: Apple iPhone 12 mini, 4.2mm, f/1.6, 1/3200 sec, ISO32
 “Hawaiian Air” Los Angeles, 2021

Brouwerij West Visit

, , Food, Slice of LifeLeave a Comment on Brouwerij West Visit
Photo info: Apple iPhone 12 mini, 1.55mm, f/2.4, 1/60 sec, ISO800
 “Brouwerij West” San Pedro, 2021

Today we visited Brouwerij West in San Pedro to enjoy some cold beer under the warm sun with my brother and sister-in-law and their good friend. The food trucks at the brewery were really good too! We enjoyed a huge portion of Rendang from the Malaysian food truck and traditional BBQ brisket and ribs from the bbq trailer. Mmmmmm… I’m kicking myself because I didn’t take any photos.

Photo info: FUJIFILM X-E4, 27mm, f/7.1, 1/1800 sec, ISO2000
 “Family and Friends” San Pedro, 2021
Photo info: FUJIFILM X-E4, 27mm, f/5.6, 1/240 sec, ISO2000
 “Pop Shop” San Pedro, 2021

After that, we went back to Torrance to relax a bit before picking up my auntie and bringing her to the house for a dinner of Coco Ichibanya Japanese curry, followed by several games of mahjong. I also failed to take any photos the rest of any of this! 😮

But it was a fun day, and wonderful to see my auntie who is in her late 80s. She’s still pretty sharp at mahjong, and loves good food. ❤