The best books in travel literature

Here is my short list of books that inspire me to close my eyes and point anywhere on the map.

Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer. I devoured this book in less than 2 days. A few weeks later, I was tramping solo through the South Island of New Zealand.

Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts. I'm currently in the middle of this 900 page giant, handed down to me by a Brit I met whilst backpacking across Peru.

Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. A girly read and wildly inspiring.

Getting Stoned with Savages by J. Maarten Troost. Quit job, move to Fiji, get high. This guy has it all figured out.

In Patagonia by Bruce Chatwin. Next up on my reading list. A gifted storyteller's adventure through the southern most tip of South America. It can't not be good.

Gypsy girl

Camping and mountain biking off the Central California coast

I needed to get away from it all. And by 'all' I mean my current unemployed status and the boredom that has snuck into my daily life. Living in the L.A. area, I am certainly at no shortage for concerts, clubs, eclectic eateries, and snazzy hotels but, I wanted something outside the city limits. I wanted to feel worlds away without putting in the 7 hour flight time. So, I gathered my camping gear, purchased a rad new tent from REI (the Hoodoo 2, on sale!) and ventured North. Two and a half hours up Pacific Coast Highway landed us at the sweet little spot of Montaña de Oro. Coastal camping at its best and the perfect L.A. getaway. We spent the 80° days mountain biking and hiking the coastal trails, including Point Buchon Trail, an easy trail that winds along the bluffs over the ocean for 3 miles.
Along with being easily accessible by car, Montaña de Oro, is less than 20 minutes from the nearest grocery store (a perfect spot to grab twist top bottles of red wine to pass around the campfire) and Starbuck's (Okay, so maybe I didn't want to get away from it ALL). Also not to be missed is Sunshine Health Foods and Shine Cafe in Morro Bay where we ventured for our lunch each day. Sit outside and enjoy the out of this world tempeh tacos. Not exactly 'roughin it' but......close enough!

Point Buchon Trail

Point Buchon Trail

Overlooking Point Buchon Trail

Point Buchon Trail

Hipstamatic LoVe in Montana de Oro

I recently received a brand spanking new ipod Touch as a gift and Hipstamatic was the very first app I downloaded. Having drooled for months over the retro-ness of friends' Hipsta pics, I was stoked to finally give it a proper test run this past weekend in Montaña de Oro. I'm still trying to figure out the perfect film/flash/lens combos but, thankfully it's super easy to use. Below, a few pics:

Lens: John S, Film: Ina's 1969, Flash: off

Lens: John S, Film:Ina's 1969, Flash: Standard

Lens: Jimmy, Film: Kodot XGrizzled, Flash: off

The most beautiful country you'll ever travel through

We all have that place. That place that makes you feel like your feet barely touch the ground and that anything in the world is possible from here on out. For me, that place is New Zealand. Although, most of my earth shattering experience there had to do with the fact that I was away from home, working on the biggest project of my entire life, and in the middle of ending a three year relationship, I like to think my travels there would have been equally profound, had I been in a completely normal emotional and mental state.
Alas, I found myself (literally and figuratively) tramping solo through the south island of New Zealand. It was a journey that marked the beginning of my obsession to hitting the open road at every opportunity. Because really, the best way to escape is to, well, escape.

I love these photographs from ridiculously talented photographer, Andrew Smith. They capture the heart of what I experienced in New Zealand: a serenity that balances precariously along the icy water's edge and towering mountain tops.

All photos by Andrew Smith via My Modern Met

Champagne thoughts and Eiffel Tower dreams....

Morning light of Machu Picchu

After four days of trekking the Inca Trail, Mel and I arose just before dawn with the hopes of being two of the lucky adventurers to, not only see Machu Picchu, but also climb Huayna Picchu. We were. And we did.
Here is the gorgeous light that took over Machu Picchu as the morning sun made it's way over the mountain. So worth those few extra minutes of sleep we missed.

A French Bohemian wedding

Would you ever guess that the dainty French detailing in these photos came from a wedding in Texas? Neither would I. Adore them as I did!

Photo source: Green Wedding Shoes via: Bldg 25

'Adventure is worthwhile in itself' - Amelia Earhart

A winter's day at the beach

It may be the middle of January but, you could have fooled us. We gobbled up the sunshine and 80 degree weather yesterday in Hermosa Beach. Complete with margaritas, volleyball, and bikinis!

All photos taken with the Hipstomatic app for iphone

Happy SoCal weekend!

The sun is shining in Southern California.... I couldn't be happier. Have a lovely weekend!

Photo by Cheyenne Ellis

Love letters from Paris...

Free People catalog in Paris and my daily french fix

As I am obsessed with all things Parisian right now, I was thrilled to come upon this post from Sarah Shirley's Style Diary, including images and a video shot of the new Free People (LOVE!) catalog.

Free People January from FreePeople on Vimeo.

A gypsy's map

Paris on my mind

I wouldn't mind if tomorrow went something like this.......

The end

Have a ......

X's and Oh's

Mon cheri, paris

Dear Paris,
I feel the time is near when we will finally meet.......

A Recent Trip to San Francisco.....

It was exactly the kind of trip I needed. Why? Because sometimes I need to trade the Southern California sunshine for the Northern California gloom. It was wet, it was cold, it was cloudy, and yet it was a breath of crisp fresh air.
I used to live in Nor Cal so, while I've spent quite a bit of time in San Francisco, this was a trip full of firsts. First ride on a Cable car and first time on the ferry to Tiburon. It is a truly quaint seaside town and a day trip that I highly recommend. Sam's Anchor Cafe was the perfect place for a casual oceanfront lunch. Try the crab cake sliders. Delicious! And for an intimate wine tasting experience go to Prima Palate, a charming wine showroom that boasts Italian, French, and German varieties along side the local wines.
To get there take the Blue and Gold Fleet ferry from pier 41 in San Francisco. You won't be dissapointed!

xo jahnel

On the Ferry to Tiburon

Walking through Tiburon

Prima Palate

Boats docked off the pier in San Francisco

Snowboarding in Park City, Utah

Even though the blustery conditions at Park City Mountain only allowed for one day of boarding, we did get to enjoy a few of the town's other charms.

Dinner at Chimayo on Main Street is a must! I've never had Mexican/mountain fusion and it was out of this world. (Hello, Sugarcane Elk marinated in coffee glaze.) Java Cow, also on Main has the frothiest Mocha's for your caffeine fix. I sipped mine while browsing the art galleries. Check out the Phoenix Gallery for mixed media artists, including my new fave, Denise Duong. And don't miss the Images of Nature Gallery featuring unbelievable images from Thomas Mangelsen.

Despite the disappointing weather, I loved being in Park City for the weekend. There's just something about sipping red wine in a hot tub under a dark sky and flurry of snowflakes that let's the body breathe!

xo jahnel

View from Pay Day Lift

At the top of Pay Day as it begins to snow


The lights framing Chimayo's entrance


In front of Chimayo

The Itch

Do you ever get the itch to just drop everything and go? I'm not talking about a weekend in the mountains or even two weeks at a resort in Hawaii drinking mai tais. I mean really go. Put your shit in storage, break your lease, sell your car and disappear. For some it would also include quitting your job but, I have the benefit of not worrying about such things. Well, I get that feeling a few times a week. Lately, it's been a few times a day.
Don't get me wrong. I love my life in Hermosa Beach. I'm incredibly spoiled. I have an ocean view from my living room, I ride my bike everywhere, have two amazing chocolate labs, work a few days a week when I want to, and live in a spot that people vacation to every summer. I live a very charmed life. The problem that plagues this charming life is a restlessness in my soul to be on the move. And in truth I'd prefer to be on the move on my own. All alone. Deficiency of character? No. I'm an escapist.
There is no amount of money or level of success that can compare to the feeling of tramping by ones self. All possessions in a single backpack, no computer, no cell phone, no credit card. It is incredibly freeing and it's a feeling that I am long overdue for. J. Maarten Troost says it best in his book, 'Getting Stoned with Savages'. "The escapist doesn't want to get ahead. [She] simply wants to get away."
So, while I may be taking the logical route this weekend by spending a few days snowboarding with friends, I know for certain it will in no way satiate the urge to hit the open road with my backpack and a one-way ticket to..........

xo jahnel