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Friday, May 7, 2010
Moving Out Sale!
I finally got my new website up. From now on, I'll be updating from www.erpadgett.com
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Guadalajara
Guadalajara, Mexico is quickly becoming my favorite trip (actually, I have a good idea that it has been my favorite for a while, but now I'm actually learning why). Another day in Guadalajara but this time Mom was able to join me! It's always so much more fun and enriching when someone is there with you.
Cityscape
This is the main square of Tlaquepaque: Guadalajara's art/crafts/market area. The huge tent was set up by a group from north of the city selling hand-made jewelry and trinkets.
Me and my mom!
Lunch spread: Guacamole with chips, chicken with mole sauce, and a torta ahogada (sandwich smothered in a tomato sauce) for me!
Alleyway leading to the local art museum
There was an entire walk-thru exhibition of pottery there. It showed the process of making different clays in different regions, and had pottery from all over Mexico exemplifying the different textures, techniques, and processes. It was really interesting to see how much hard labor goes into it (much more than a pottery class here...)
Pineapple!
This piece if from the Michoacan area. Every piece is individually created and attached onto the base. And it was about 3ft tall.
Later in the day we headed to downtown Guadalajara for a local Friday-night dinner. In the center of the city is the beautiful Guadalajara Cathedral.
Cityscape
This is the main square of Tlaquepaque: Guadalajara's art/crafts/market area. The huge tent was set up by a group from north of the city selling hand-made jewelry and trinkets.
Me and my mom!
Lunch spread: Guacamole with chips, chicken with mole sauce, and a torta ahogada (sandwich smothered in a tomato sauce) for me!
Alleyway leading to the local art museum
There was an entire walk-thru exhibition of pottery there. It showed the process of making different clays in different regions, and had pottery from all over Mexico exemplifying the different textures, techniques, and processes. It was really interesting to see how much hard labor goes into it (much more than a pottery class here...)
Pineapple!
This piece if from the Michoacan area. Every piece is individually created and attached onto the base. And it was about 3ft tall.
Later in the day we headed to downtown Guadalajara for a local Friday-night dinner. In the center of the city is the beautiful Guadalajara Cathedral.
Monday, April 12, 2010
Mexico x2
My first longer layovers in Mexico in quite a while! Always a great time!
First a relaxing day in Mexico City.
Bench on Reforma Avenue
The Museum of Fine Arts had an art collection on display out front. Each piece was carved from a single piece of wood!
Then a busy day in Guadalajara! The 2 pilots and another crewmember didn't do international trips very often so they were all up for exploring! We started the morning in Tonalá. It's a large market area but much more local than touristy! I was nervous that they wouldn't enjoy it (or just the extent of how authentic it is there!), but everyone had a great time! Yay!
Local chapel in Tonalá
Statue for Day of the Dead, she was at least 9ft tall!
And her boyfriend!
Lunch!
We found a restaurant that served local flare where we all had a variation of Molcajete. It's basically just a light stew of chicken, beef, or shrimp complete with tomatoes, avocados, peppers, nopal (cactus fruit), and cheese! It's cooked in a molcajete bowl made from volcanic rock - it heats quickly in the oven and stays hot during the entire meal! Divine. The molcajete bowls are a lot like iron skillets or pizza stones: never washed with harsh soap and they absorb flavors each time they're used so it's just keeps getting better!
We then returned to the downtown area where the the other girl and I went around the metro-shopping area to stock up on coffee, agave syrup, tequila, and pharmacy items (cheaper in Mexico!). Then, an even BIGger treat for dinner!
The four us met back up and went to Santo Coyote. This place is definitely one of the coolest restaurants I've ever been to. It's sprawling. There's the main (huge) outdoor patio, some inside seating under a thatched roof, the bar, an upper balcony that circles the patio below, a garden area, and cave (?!?), a night club, and who knows what else! Not to mention the food is delicious with the most fantastic presentation! Unfortunately, it's too dark on the patio for good pictures.. There was a classic mariachi band wandering through the restaurant, guacamole and salsa made fresh and customized at your table!, and so much food we were uncomfortably full! :) What a treat.
First a relaxing day in Mexico City.
Bench on Reforma Avenue
The Museum of Fine Arts had an art collection on display out front. Each piece was carved from a single piece of wood!
Then a busy day in Guadalajara! The 2 pilots and another crewmember didn't do international trips very often so they were all up for exploring! We started the morning in Tonalá. It's a large market area but much more local than touristy! I was nervous that they wouldn't enjoy it (or just the extent of how authentic it is there!), but everyone had a great time! Yay!
Local chapel in Tonalá
Statue for Day of the Dead, she was at least 9ft tall!
And her boyfriend!
Lunch!
We found a restaurant that served local flare where we all had a variation of Molcajete. It's basically just a light stew of chicken, beef, or shrimp complete with tomatoes, avocados, peppers, nopal (cactus fruit), and cheese! It's cooked in a molcajete bowl made from volcanic rock - it heats quickly in the oven and stays hot during the entire meal! Divine. The molcajete bowls are a lot like iron skillets or pizza stones: never washed with harsh soap and they absorb flavors each time they're used so it's just keeps getting better!
We then returned to the downtown area where the the other girl and I went around the metro-shopping area to stock up on coffee, agave syrup, tequila, and pharmacy items (cheaper in Mexico!). Then, an even BIGger treat for dinner!
The four us met back up and went to Santo Coyote. This place is definitely one of the coolest restaurants I've ever been to. It's sprawling. There's the main (huge) outdoor patio, some inside seating under a thatched roof, the bar, an upper balcony that circles the patio below, a garden area, and cave (?!?), a night club, and who knows what else! Not to mention the food is delicious with the most fantastic presentation! Unfortunately, it's too dark on the patio for good pictures.. There was a classic mariachi band wandering through the restaurant, guacamole and salsa made fresh and customized at your table!, and so much food we were uncomfortably full! :) What a treat.
Friday, April 2, 2010
Equatorial Ramblings
Quito, Ecuador!
A day in Quito: croissant breakfast at the local bakery, shopping around the markets, stand on the Equator, empanadas and yuca bread for lunch, hang out in the park, nap & fly (all night..) home!
local church
Triumphal Arch
The Tower at La Mitad del Mundo
Equatorial Line
In 2 Hemispheres!
@Latitude 0-0'-0"
A day in Quito: croissant breakfast at the local bakery, shopping around the markets, stand on the Equator, empanadas and yuca bread for lunch, hang out in the park, nap & fly (all night..) home!
local church
Triumphal Arch
The Tower at La Mitad del Mundo
Equatorial Line
In 2 Hemispheres!
@Latitude 0-0'-0"
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Monday, March 22, 2010
One of the Best
South Africa still remains at the top of my favorite destinations! I hate that someone had to miss her wonderful trip to Johannesburg, South Africa, but I'm so glad I got to go in her place! Thanks again, Delta scheduling!
Johannesburg looks a lot like Capetown. It has more buildings and less mountains, but still beautiful! The city itself is pretty dangerous, but we stay outside the city in one of its townships. If Johannesburg is northside Birmingham after dark, then we stay in Mountain Brook. :)
After the 14hr flight to get to there we went out to dinner at Lekgotla, a restaurant with an array of traditional African foods.
Why does food in a picture never look as amazingly delicious as it tasted? Ostrich fillet, chakalaka (vegetable stew), and garlic naan. Perfect meal.
Yeah, shamelessly stuffing my face!
Onto dessert!:
Iced Marula fruit pastry.
I don't even know how to describe Marula! Or Amarula, the liqueur made from the fruit. It tastes like Bailey's without the coffee flavor.. if that can be imagined.
The down and dirty aftermath. It was one of those times that you regret that licking your plate in public is considered heathen activity, even if you are in the Cradle of Civilization.
The restaurant also had a group playing steel drums! No one could keep themselves from moving with the beat, clapping along, and dancing with the guys. It was the funnest dinner I've had in a long time!!
Nelson Mandela Square
complete with a 15ft statue of the man himself!
Although Capetown is better (and safer), I still love South Africa and everything it has to offer. I can't wait to spend more time there! And I can't wait to share it with someone I love! I always have fun going out with the crew, and I enjoy my layovers, but it's still people you've just met and will probably never see again. It's always a blast, but it's different. I can't wait to visit South Africa in a different context! One day.
I guess the only other thing going on that's newsworthy is that the house was christened with its first official party! I think that the house enjoyed it very much. I know we did!
The rest of those pictures can be found on the almighty Facebook!
Johannesburg looks a lot like Capetown. It has more buildings and less mountains, but still beautiful! The city itself is pretty dangerous, but we stay outside the city in one of its townships. If Johannesburg is northside Birmingham after dark, then we stay in Mountain Brook. :)
After the 14hr flight to get to there we went out to dinner at Lekgotla, a restaurant with an array of traditional African foods.
Why does food in a picture never look as amazingly delicious as it tasted? Ostrich fillet, chakalaka (vegetable stew), and garlic naan. Perfect meal.
Yeah, shamelessly stuffing my face!
Onto dessert!:
Iced Marula fruit pastry.
I don't even know how to describe Marula! Or Amarula, the liqueur made from the fruit. It tastes like Bailey's without the coffee flavor.. if that can be imagined.
The down and dirty aftermath. It was one of those times that you regret that licking your plate in public is considered heathen activity, even if you are in the Cradle of Civilization.
The restaurant also had a group playing steel drums! No one could keep themselves from moving with the beat, clapping along, and dancing with the guys. It was the funnest dinner I've had in a long time!!
Nelson Mandela Square
complete with a 15ft statue of the man himself!
Although Capetown is better (and safer), I still love South Africa and everything it has to offer. I can't wait to spend more time there! And I can't wait to share it with someone I love! I always have fun going out with the crew, and I enjoy my layovers, but it's still people you've just met and will probably never see again. It's always a blast, but it's different. I can't wait to visit South Africa in a different context! One day.
I guess the only other thing going on that's newsworthy is that the house was christened with its first official party! I think that the house enjoyed it very much. I know we did!
The rest of those pictures can be found on the almighty Facebook!
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
New Locals
It's been over a month since the last update! But it actually took that long to get into the new house. There was 5 weeks of back-and-forths with the mortgage company, the FHA mortgage brokers, then a governmental audit of the entire deal. But we finally were able to sign for the house officially and start work!
There was a large closet off of the bedroom.. actually it was through the other little closet.. no matter, we ripped it up! My dad and his crew came in and fashioned an entire master bathroom in the space. It's a tight fit, but definitely worth it.
Other than the house, I haven't had much to report! I've been able to hold a "steady" schedule at work (mainly working weekends, down to Guadalajara and back) which has been a little bit of a relief. Though at the same time it's made my job seem more like a job.. And the two winter storms were a fun time for all, but at least that's over! Hopefully Spring will be arriving soon (I'm crossing my fingers for early instead of fashionably late).
An admission: The house isn't home. There's nothing inside of it that makes it feel like home every time I walk in. I can't decide if it's my work=lifestyle beginning to weigh on me or if something just isn't living up to my expectations. The house is just a place to keep my things, a place to sleep, something to work on.. it's just a place on a map. Home to me is something much less tangible.
There was a large closet off of the bedroom.. actually it was through the other little closet.. no matter, we ripped it up! My dad and his crew came in and fashioned an entire master bathroom in the space. It's a tight fit, but definitely worth it.
Other than the house, I haven't had much to report! I've been able to hold a "steady" schedule at work (mainly working weekends, down to Guadalajara and back) which has been a little bit of a relief. Though at the same time it's made my job seem more like a job.. And the two winter storms were a fun time for all, but at least that's over! Hopefully Spring will be arriving soon (I'm crossing my fingers for early instead of fashionably late).
An admission: The house isn't home. There's nothing inside of it that makes it feel like home every time I walk in. I can't decide if it's my work=lifestyle beginning to weigh on me or if something just isn't living up to my expectations. The house is just a place to keep my things, a place to sleep, something to work on.. it's just a place on a map. Home to me is something much less tangible.
The computer I'm updating from (I still don't have internet, arg) is having trouble with the audio.. I hope it works for y'all!
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Mi Casa Su Casa
Well, the update with work is nothing exciting unfortunately. We did get stuck snowed-in in Rochester for 3 days which was fun! At least we had a great crew - we went out to Dinosaur Bar-B-Que for dinner every night (pretty famous joint, though I can't say better than Jim-N-Nick's). But the other life update is that I'm getting a house!!
A real house.
My own place.
Terrifying yet way-too-exciting-to-even-think-twice-about-it!
And the mortgage payment is cheaper (by a couple hundred) than the monthly rent at the up-to-my-standards apartments I looked at. That just seems.. indecent. But I'm glad it worked out that way!
It's a one-bedroom in Birmingham. My favorite thing about it is that my next door neighbor actually grew up in this house. He came over while we were working one day to introduce himself - he knows everything about that house, and could recall some great stories. It gives the house so much more spirit! There's also a huge pecan tree in the back. Who's makin' pie?
A real house.
My own place.
Terrifying yet way-too-exciting-to-even-think-twice-about-it!
And the mortgage payment is cheaper (by a couple hundred) than the monthly rent at the up-to-my-standards apartments I looked at. That just seems.. indecent. But I'm glad it worked out that way!
It's a one-bedroom in Birmingham. My favorite thing about it is that my next door neighbor actually grew up in this house. He came over while we were working one day to introduce himself - he knows everything about that house, and could recall some great stories. It gives the house so much more spirit! There's also a huge pecan tree in the back. Who's makin' pie?
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