Grace Oda's Splash

Around this time every year I start to get an itch for the sun. If you're one of the lucky ones heading on a tropical vacation {such as my friend Sara who heads to the Maldives in a few days}, I'm envious! But for those of you who, like me, are going to be landlocked for the foreseeable future, photographer Grace Oda's collection of partially submerged ocean shots is almost as good as the real thing. I particularly love the photos shot during that magical time before sunset. After a day in the heat, nothing feels better than jumping into the crystal clear sea, glistening with the golden glow of late afternoon, and floating on your back while staring up at the sky. Pure serenity.

Travel :: Capri, Italy

Ever since our trip to the beautiful Amalfi Coast two years ago I have been dying to go back.  There are some places you visit, love, and check off the list...and there are others that you know you will return to for the rest of your life.  For me, one of those places is the Amalfi Coast.  We stayed in Positano for five days and one of which took a day trip to Capri.  The mythical island was even more stunning than I could have imagined, and our one takeaway from the day is that we just HAVE to go back!  Next time however, I'd like to stay in Capri for at least 3-4 days so we could enjoy it's luxurious hotels, stunning sunsets, top-notch shopping, and fine restaurants.  

Travel :: Boccadasse, Italy

Happy Monday!  I hope you had a nice weekend.  We caught up with old friends and spent Sunday relaxing and reading.  I'm sorry that it has been pretty quiet in this neck of the woods over the past couple of weeks.  Life caught up to me and I have been struggling to find time to fit it all in!  But I have committed to invest in more "me time," which means bringing Dreams in HD back to where I want it to be!  And first things first, let's talk about travel.

In September of 2013 Ryan and I took a fantastic two and a half week trip to Italy.  We flew into Genoa and decided to spend the night there to give us a day to catch up to the time change and allow us to wake rested and refreshed for our train ride to the Cinque Terre.  We didn't have high expectations for Genoa - the guide book called it "dank, dark, and dangerous" {a winning combination}, but surprisingly found it to be quite enjoyable.

Our favorite part of Genoa?  A small fisherman's village about 20 minutes outside of the city center called Boccadasse.  While asking our hotel's concierge for restaurant recommendations a fellow traveler mentioned that she spent the first 40 years of her life in Genoa and told us to take a bus to Boccadasse for dinner.  Not expecting much, we hopped out of the bus and were just able to catch the sunset over the sea.  After a five minute walk we stumbled upon the village, and we were absolutely awe-struck!  

Boccadasse is in a tiny cove surrounded by colorful little buildings built up on the rocks.  We wandered down to the beach and stopped at a little bar for happy hour and to drink a glass of wine sitting in the sand.  Afterwards we had a delicious seafood dinner under the stars.  But the best part of the night?  We were the only Americans there.  Boccadasse seemed absolutely untouched by tourism and felt totally, 100% authentic.  It reminded me of the Cinque Terre but without the crowds and the tours.  If you ever fly into Genoa I'd highly recommend staying a day to visit Boccadasse!

Travel :: Clearwater Beach, Florida

The first stop on our recent trip to Florida was Clearwater Beach.  Ryan's family rented a house near the ocean and we spent five days reading, laying by the beach, drinking tropical cocktails, and eating loads of seafood.  Unfortunately the weather was not the best, alternating between sunny but chilly and very, very rainy.  But, we made the best of it and took the opportunity to plan an impromptu trip to Disney World {more on that later} and catch up with Ryan's extended family.  If you ever find yourself in clearwater, a few of my favorite things to do, see, & eat are:

THE BEACH {obviously}: I have been to quite a few beaches in my lifetime, and while most certainly not the most scenic {I'd have to say the Amalfi Coast wins the prize for that one} I have never, ever felt softer sand.  Seriously, the only way I could describe it would be like laying in fluffy baby powder.

BOB HEILMAN'S BEACHCOMBER: Out of all the restaurants we visited this was by far my favorite.  It has a decidedly upscale, old-school vibe with wool paneling, big windows, and an extensive menu of fresh seafood and steaks {the mussels and oysters were unbelievable}.  That paired with music by all the classic crooners, makes for a perfect night out on the town.  

THE BAIT HOUSE: The definition of "a hole in the wall," The Bait House is a great place to go for a super relaxed beer by the marina.  

CLEAR SKY CAFE: I wish would have discovered this breakfast joint on our first day, because I would have eaten there everyday.  The menu is huge and the food was simple but delicious.  I ordered a Lobster and Brie Benedict which was as delicious as it sounds :)

EXPLORING: I felt like Clearwater Beach had a very 1980's 'Miami Vice' vibe.  There are dozens of kitschy motels {Note: I didn't stay in any so I can't tell you if they were funky or just plain seedy on the inside} that make for some amusing exploration and photos.

PALM PAVILION: The food here was only average, but it has a great vibe and is a fun place to listen to music and grab a drink by the beach.

WATCH THE SUNSET: Thanks to Clearwater Beach's westward-facing location, if the sky is clear you will be treated to some absolutely unbelievable sunsets.  Sadly, the inclement weather meant I was only able to see one...but you bet I took advantage of it!  Watching the sky, surf, and sand change from blue to gold to red to the faintest pink was a memory I will always remember.