TRIP: Bahamas

Lunch at Dune.

Dinner at Graycliff, called by Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous one of the top 10 resturants int he world. Result: Fabulous 1700's building and gardens, food inconsistent.

I swam with these sharks. And I did not retouch this photo - I took it over the side of the boat. The water was that clear and beautiful.

Sunny and Mer diving below a plane wreck while a scuba diving photographer captures it.

Chilling at the Versailles pool at One&Only Ocean Club.

Just a few photos from my recent adventure until I can update!

TRIP: Egypt & Jordan

Solar Boat buried next to the pyramids.

Sitting on one of the 2.5 million blocks that comprise the Great Pyramid.

Holding a baby alligator...or crocodile.

Getting henna in a Nubian Village.

My mom's face is amazing here.

A botanical island in Aswan, Egypt.

The Egyptian Party on the Nile Cruise.

My heaven: Reading early in the morning along the Nile...reminds me of floating up the Irrawaddy River in Myanmar eating chocolates and reading "Burmese Days."

Real newspaper given to us on the flight to Egypt!

Breakfast along the Nile watching the sun rise!

In the middle of the Wadi Rum desert (think Lawrence of Arabia) my 11 year old camel driver whips out a cell phone...

What I would look like as a Bedouin bride.

The inspiration for Lawrence of Arabia's "Seven Pillars of Wisdom" in the Wadi Rum Desert in Jordan.

Sunset over Petra...

Petra, Jordan.

Jerash, Jordan.

I love this. America needs to see this... It was the mural inside of a Christian church in Jordan.

Walk through olive trees along the River Jordan to Christ's baptism site.

River Jordan.

Cairo souk.

Abu Simbel, Egypt

The holy of holies in an Egyptian Temple.

The Siq to get to Petra...

The Siq at night.

Petra at night under the satrs with Bedouin story telling and music...just magical.

We took a hot air ballon ride at sunrise over the Nile and the Valley of the Kings and could see the excavations. I took this from my balloon.

The Bedouin camel herders in Aswan, Egypt. I love the single camel in the distance...

Felucca over the Nile: I took a camel ride from here up to the Monastery in the background, and then on to a Nubian Village.

Temple of Artemis, Jerash, Jordan

Baptism Site of Christ on the River Jordan in Jordan: They even have the marble steps and marker! The river now runs in a different direction. Walking through the Olive trees to get was one of the most soothing and sacred places I have ever been...

Valley of the Kings: This tomb was hdiden high on the hill to prevent tomb robbery. I had to hunch down in a cave-like tomb for 3 levels! I came out as if I stepped out of a steam room. The colors in the tombs are insanely preserved and beautiful.

Island of Philae: We saw the Temple of Philae at night...with the sunset and under a blanket of stars. The original island is now under Lake Nasser -- the entire temple was re-created block by block in the current location.

Highway of the Kings, Jordan: I love animals. These were the most beautiful white and soft camels I have ever seen! We stopped on the side of the road and the baby was nursing from the mother. It made me giddy. I rode camels in both Jordan and Egypt on this trip...and through the Sahara in Morocco.

Temple of Zoser: Pyramids started as just one mastaba -- then a Pharoah wanted his mastabas stacked, then came the bent pyramid and then the Pyramids at Giza. Here I am with my mom and bff. Notice we each have these girl scout looking hankerchiefs which keep you cool!

Breakfast on the Nile at Sunrise in Luxor, Egypt.

Petra, Jordan: The Treasury seen through the Siq passage. One of the most incredible moments in my life. And not just because I had just ridden on a horse like in Indiana Jones...

I saw King Tut's loot in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, and his mummy in his tomb!

Not King Tut.

Pyramids at Giza: I went inside of the Great Pyramid of Giza, and like Petra and The Great Wall in China, it was one of the most awe-inspiring and spiritual moments of my life.

These are just a very very few from my trip...hope to share more soon!

TRIP: Girlfriends Weekend in Cabo

Snorkeling off Los Cabos...I loved swimming upside down under Sunny and attacking her like a shark!

Me and Laura chilling under a cabana all day long...una mas pina colada, por favor!

Ween, Me, and Sunny off to the marina to go on a catamaran...

Racing around dry lake beds in buggies! I won!

Me and Laura out on the town...

Clubbing with my gfs...

My 28th birthday - dinner at One&Only Palmilla!

Hiking...

I had an amazing time with my wonderful girlfriends. We are already planning Belize 2009...

Revisiting French Polynesia

I am still not through sorting my January trip photos from French Polynesia...which terrifies me considering I have Egypt and Jordan for 19 days coming up in August.

San Francisco: After Dark

An Eclectic Mix of Projects + Memories

Hello, my name is Meredith and I am an O.C.D. stationary-maker. Seriously. I took a class earlier this year and love to spread out my supplies, put on a Netflix (or 3) and go for it. I love to make envelopes from travel and glossy fashion catalogs. Above are post cards I made with collage pieces I made while studying abroad in New Zealand in 2o02. Below are cards I made out of a Japanese calendar.




Cards I made in my letterpress class.

My apartment a year after moving in. I bought my new chandelier ("Sputnik") and decided I did not need an electrician. So, I called my electrical engineer dad, got some pointers, a ladder, and took out my major tool kit. And I did it. Took down the old and put up the new light. And it felt damn good.

I used the business cards I have collected my San Francisco from the past year to make art for my wall. I like the shape because it mimics the shape of my new light above.

Some cards I made in my Gocco Printing Class.

A book I made in my Japanese Book Binding Class.

Kristian and I met up at 11:30 pm on a Thursday to go to the "Sex & The City" bash at Slide...I wore my new "Carrie" dress and he looked fab in his Mr. Big red tie. I love that we are completely sweaty here after dancing our hearts out...We are food lovers and impromptu dancers. Not bad.

My friend Steve chilling in my apartment on a visit from NYC before hitting the town.

Sailing on the Bay. My fabulous co-worker, Ingrid, invited me to go sailing with her after work for an hour beer can race. I told her I grew up with power boats but get sea sick - she assured me the weather was smooth...well it was the roughest sea in the past year that evening...

Smiling to be on land again. I love the idea of sailing. In reality, I am all about bikinis, power boats and tropical weather!
Colleen came up to the City to eat and dance in the Marina. I love her visits! Especially Sunday brunch.

My little puppy Violet with my mom in San Diego.

My little boy dog Corbin.
A beautiful day at Hotel Coronado in San Diego. I think this is one of the coolest things in California. When I was working down in San Diego, my parents and puppies came down for the day. It was the perfect day = fish tacos, warm sunshine, walking the dogs on the beach, and being with my wonderful parents.

One Year Anniversary: SF + ME

Carrie Bradshaw first dated NYC, and now San Francisco and I have fallen very much in love. The Chinese New Year Parade marked one year since I interviewed and subsequently relocated three weeks later to San Francisco. I cannot believe how quickly the year has passed and yet how it feels like I have always been rooted here. It reminds me of some favorite lyrics from Magnetic Fields: “The days go by too slowly, but the years go by too fast.” To commemorate the occasion, and in the vein of High Fidelity and my compulsive list-making nature, I compiled my San Francisco Top 10. When I moved here Laura D. gave me a Moleskin Blank San Francisco guidebook which is now filled with lists and notes and maps of treasures I have found and am eager to share from my past year’s journey…

(1) FAV SATURDAY: Ferry Building farmer’s market sampling seasonal fruit, eating breakfast from stands (Rose Pistola or Hayes Valley Grill), watching the sailboats, and wandering inside to Cowgirl Creamery’s Artisan Cheese Shop, Miette Patisserie, Scharffen Berger Chocolate Maker, Taylor’s Refresher (gourmet burgers); Spending the morning at Anji’s hoity-toity fitness club and watching movies on the giant treadmill; Wandering Fillmore, Union, Chestnut, Hayes, and Maiden Lane at some inspiring shops: Ambiance (clothing), Gump’s (housewares), Plantation (housewares), Paper Source, Candelier (housewares), Pirate Store at 826 Valencia, Piedmont Boutique (for your drag queen needs), Britex Fabrics & Pearl Fine Art Supplies (for project supplies); Wandering Historic Jackson Square’s hidden bistros and design stores while eyeing the tree-lined brick buildings that were the few that survived the 1906 fire and earthquake; Or eating at the cute cafes surrounding South Park and shopping for discounted designer duds at Jeremy’s.

(Supperclub)

(2) FAV EATS:
Foreign Cinema, Bar Tartine, Salt House, Slanted Door, A16, Armani Café, Zuni Café, Boulevard, Town Hall, Rotunda Restaurant, Perbacco, Tartine Bakery, Tommy Toy’s, Café Claude, Asia de Cuba, Out The Door, Nob Hill Café, Taylor’s Refresher, Le Coloniel, Nob Hill Café, Mama’s, Caffe DeLucchi, Pizzeria Delfina, Saigon Sandwich Shop, AXIS Café, BIX, Bacar, La Taqueria.

FAV SWEET TOOTH: Swenson’s ice cream on the corner of Union & Hyde while the cable car cruises by the tree-lined streets; 1 a.m. visits to ogle anatomically-accurate delicacies at Hot Cookie in the Castro; Anything at Tartine Bakery; Meyer lemon, passion fruit cream filled, or carrot cake cupcakes from Kara’s Cupcakes; Miette; hot chocolate from ‘wichcraft; honey lavender ice cream at Bi-rite Creamery; Trader Joe’s dark chocolate covered pretzels, raisins, and red Aussi licorice; La Boulange’s cherry macarones.

(3) FAV DRIVE:
Gun your gas down the steepest street (Filbert between Leavenworth and Hyde), drive the crookedest street Lombard (while scanning for Puck & the “Real World” House); to the Palace of Fine Arts (pit stop: watching Quinceañera girls in jewel-hued lace dress princess dresses taking photos and feeding the ducks); through the Presidio; to the Legion of Honor (pit stop: see “The Thinker”) to Land’s End (pit stop: hike along path a la “Vertigo”); through the mansions of Sea Cliff to The Cliff House, which my great-grandfather helped to build the second of three structures (pit stop: hike down to see the Camera Obscura and remains of the Sutro Baths (former huge enclosed Romanesque bath houses) and views of Ocean Beach)…then over the Golden Gate Bridge…

Tangent: My great-grandfather used to bury his toolbox in the sand after working to build the second (and grandest) Cliff House, so he did not have to carry them home on the train. His co-workers made fun of him until the great earthquake of 1906 when they lost everything and he was able to rent out his tools and survive the tragedy.

(Palace of Legion of Honor)
(4) FAV CULTURE:
“Cheeses of France” class at the SF School of Cheese; Photopolymer-plate-making and printing, Polaroid transfers and decal transfers, letterpress notecards and handmade envelopes, and Japanese Bookbinding classes at San Francisco Center for the Book; Chandelier-earring making class at Craft Gym; Gen Art Fashion Show; Vivienne Westwood exhibit, Japanese Tea Garden, and Observatory at the de Young Museum; Olafur Eliasson exhibit at SF MOMA; Winning best gingerbread decorating at work; Gregorian chants at the Gothic Grace Cathedral or walking the meditation labyrinth; Experiencing the gospel choir at Glide Memorial Church; Jazz nights at Café Claude; 80’s cover band “Tainted Love” at Bimbo 365; New Orleans-style jazz from Savoy-Tivoli and Opera at Café Trieste on Saturday afternoons; Reading in the lobby of the Fairmont Hotel on Sundays listening to the harpist or the Jazz brunch at The Palace Hotel; $20 Rush tickets to the SF Symphony; and Classical music bouncing off the buildings of the financial district buildings from a street guy’s boom box early mornings.

(Eliasson Exhibit, MOMA)
(5) FAV INDIAN SUMMER:
Picnicing under oak trees listening to jazz at Filoli House & Garden; Lounging under the stars listening to the SF symphony in a Sonoma vineyard; Driving Napa County with stops to: sample desserts at Greystone at The Culinary Institute of America, lunch at Julia’s Kitchen at COPIA (Julia Child’s restaurant in Napa) and ogle delicacies at Dean & Deluca; Dining on Italian in Mill Valley; Canoeing the Russian River; Hiking Yosemite and taking in Sonora & Columbia in Gold Country; Watching the Blue Angels jetfighters from my rooftop; Laughing, cheering, whistling, and drooling (“Yeah, you”) in unison with half the gays in Castro when “Sixteen Candles” aired for Film Night At The Park; Partying in the Panhandle as naked superheroes ran Bay to Breakers; Picnicking in Stern Grove while listening to the symphony.

(6) FAV NIGHT OUT:
Sipping drinks at the Redroom Room at The Clift Hotel (a la Ian Schrager); New Year’s Eve at Supperclub with burlesque acrobats; Bachelorette party at Asia SF with HOT female impersonators; Drinks at password-required speakeasy Bourbon & Branch; Dancing at the Starlight Room at the Sir Francis Drake Hotel on Halloween; Drinks with music from another era at French-Vietnamese inspired Le Coloniel or Top of the Mark, listening to live jazz at Shanghai 1930, or watching the faux rainstorms and band on a moving boat at Tonga Room.

(Clift Lobby)

(7) FAV EUROPE IN SF:
Grab your journal or novel and head to: Blue Bottle Coffee Co (66 Mint St), Belden Lane, Café de la Presse, Café Claude, Grand Café, chocolate-covered macaroons from Stella Pastry in North Beach; Bar Tartine (lavender-infused French toast!), Jackson Place Café (hidden in a historic brick alley and frequented by hip architects).

(Blue Bottle Coffee shown)

(8) FAV WORKOUT: Scavenger hunt during Chinese New Year Parade; Riding bikes down Embarcadero; Channeling Gwyneth during Pilates reformer class at Dharmaspace; WAKA kickball (GO Spicy Pumpkins!) in Golden Gate Park; Being one with nature at Muir Woods; Hiking the sutro baths at The Cliff House; Night Giants baseball game; Chasing dogs at Huntington Park and swinging on the swings! Thigh workouts from hanging on to motorcycles and scooters up to Twin Peaks for a view of the city;

(2nd Cliff House shown, which my great grandfather worked on; it burnt down and the 3rd Cliff House stands today)

(9) FAV NEIGHBORHOOD TREASURES: Cable car Hyde line through tree-lined Union & Hyde; Italian dinner in North Beach; Buddah Bar in Chinatown and shopping Cantonese Bazaar, Old Shangahi & Asian Renaissance. Mint & Jessie where my favorite coffee shops and lofts reside in a hidden gem of an alley. Hiking the steps to Coit Tower (listen for the parrots of Telegraph Hills) and stopping for drinks and a city view at Julius’ Castle. Hidden gardens and stairs: Macondry Lane, Filbert Steps, hidden garden off of Taylor, and rooftop gardens all over the Financial District.

(10) FAV HOME TURF: Riding elevator at Westin St Francis for a city view of the city; Union Square at Christmas: the giant Christmas tree, roasted chestnut booths, wreaths in Macy’s windows and giant snowflakes on Sak’s, and sampling Williams Sonoma’s mulled cider (this flagship store also offers cooking classes); Opera echoing through Maiden Lane on Saturdays; Take-out from Out the Door or Uncle Vito’s and watching Netflix; Hanging off the edge of the cable car on crisp mornings down Powell Street; Seeing the Bay Bridge everyday; Laying out on my rooftop with views of the whole city; Passing Vince Vaughn and Sean Penn on Powell; Watching Conan O’Brien filming in San Francisco; Following in the footsteps of “The Maltese Falcon” by eating at Historic John’s Grill and seeing the plaque from where Miles Archer was killed above the Stockton Tunnel at Burritt Alley off of Bush; Locations from “So I Married An Ax-Murderer”; Walking to the terrace garden at the Ritz; My über cool fully sustainable work building.

Thank you to the many wonderful friends and family that honored me with their presence this year!

A Tribute to The Grand Tour

Watch Out London!

The Grand Tour was an upper-class European travel itinerary that flourished from 1660 until the 1840s to intellectually, socially, ethically, politically and morally educate. The Grand Tour served as an educational rite of passage and offered exposure both to the cultural artifacts of antiquity and to the aristocratic and fashionable society of the European continent. A grand tour could last from several months to several years. To learn more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_tour

So, if Kara had a voice right now, she would groan about the above diatribe of "Professor Mer," referencing my often passionate tangents in topics that endlessly fascinate (me). But she listens, as always. I met Kara in 1999 during an English creative writing class and was instantly drawn to her slouched and frankly, "bored" stare as the professor lectured. And then I stalked her and tried to date her (her version)... I just knew, as we rarely do in life, that I had come in contact with a kindred spirit and I would never be the same.

Kara is on her Grand Tour -- she quit her job as a copyrighter for a large firm in Salt lake City and hopped a flight to visit family in Hong Kong for one month and is now is London to fulfill her dream of living (again) there and writing a young adult novel. Although I miss her daily phone calls (Tangent: My I-POD shuffle just turned to "All By Myself" by Eric Carmen - and yes, this makes me laugh and almost burst into tears!), I am so incredibly proud of her bravery, independence, and zest for life. A Grand Tour like hers is rare to occur in anyone's lifetime (there are so many excuses, no?!)-- and I know she will cover as much internal geography as she she physically has. And isn't that what vagabonding is about anyway?

So cheers to Kara's journey, our past journeys to London, Hong Kong, China, Bali and beyond, and to the unknown! P.S. Her blog is on my link under Kara the Knitting Prodigy.

San Francisco City Guide (In Training)

The Palace Hotel - Garden Court

http://www.sfcityguides.org/

I am super excited to be in training to be a San Francisco City Guide. SF City Guides is a non-profit organization sponsored by the SF Public Library and a project of the Tides Foundation with more than 300 docent volunteers who offer 30 different FREE tours every day of the year! I have 8 full-day Saturdays of training from SF historical experts from archaeologist to scientists to preservationists to decedents of prominent families activities. I will take tests, research chosen areas, and study before I am qualified to develop and act as a guide on 1.5-2 hour tour. My favorite tours thus far are Bawdy & Naughty (about prostitution on Maiden Lane) and The Palace Hotel (which I think I want to lead). The tours are amazing because the city comes alive as you learn about the hidden architectural details, culture, and people of the time. After the course, I will probably lead one tour per month to begin. Our knowledge and accuracy is peer tested and we are encouraged to continue to research and develop expertise in our area.

Last week was my first training in the Presidio and we heard from the Presidio archeologist and a botanist about the native flora and fauna in the city. The class of 50 students is mostly older folks (50 and up), who my law school friend, Leeann, who called O.W.LS. (aka Older Wiser Learners). OWLS are characterized by persons who have been so far removed from the scholastic setting as to be oblivious to common student etiquette. Typical OWL Behavior: when there is 5 minutes until the lecture is over and the teacher says he needs to quickly wrap it up, the OWL continues to obliviously raise his/her hand and ask very details non-relevant and tangential questions while other non-OWLS roll their eyes, wiggle in their seats, faint from pre-lunch hypoglycemic attacks and stare at the clock as it ticks overtime.

I am most excited to learn about Victorian times in the Haas Lilienthal Mansion next month! It is amazing to hear from all the historians and experts about the city that I love so much. Every month guides have special tours -- this month we are going behind the scenes of the Opera House, Symphony, and other Civic Center buildings. I'll keep you posted.

PS The Presidio was amazing on Saturday -- it was the perfect day -- learning about the hidden battery caves under the Park and then wandering down to Crissy Field to watch the dogs and owners frolick to getting my $19 haircut in the Marina and buying stationary-making supplies from Paper Source and getting a killer sandwich from Luca - a traditional Italian Deli. And then going home and making stationary for 6 hours and watching Netflix! The next morning I was off to San Diego for work and have photos and stories to come!

PHOTO: Underwater Moorea

A fellow-cruiser took this of me. I free dove down to lift this shell off the ocean floor. Who knew these actually existed outside of tropical markets?! : ) It had some clam-like sea organism inside that the locals called a Seven Finger (although it looks like 6 to me). I was so giddy. Definitely a trip highlight.

Photography: New Years 2008

I took these photos of my brother, Ryan, and his wife, Anji when they chilled with me on New Years. I love the low light...