Bush walking in Tathra: Kangarutha Trail

What a walk! Loved every minute of it, even the pain in my legs as the steps steeped up into endless succession. It was just amazing how the scenery changed from tunnels of ghostly grey trees to steep descent of fluorescent green vegetation. Up above the trees swayed with the precipitous gusts of wind and the wallabies leaped away from us as we approached. The long walk and painful joints were worth the effort as we arrived at Boulder Bay. Our eyes widened in awe at the beauty of this place. Crystal clear still waters surrounded by cliffs and meeting the coast on a beach of pebbles. We sat there and just enjoyed it. I took my shoes off, put my pants up and dip my feet in the cool water just to feel that place a little closer. The indescribable beauty of this place seemed untouched, ancient and just reminded me how powerful nature is.

Que caminata! Me encanto cada minuto, incluso el dolor en mis piernas al elevarse los escalones en sucesion sin fin. Era increible como el paisaje cambiaba de tuneles de arboles grisaceos fantasmagoricos a bajadas vertiginosas de vegetacion verde fosforescente. Arriba nuesto los arboles se mecian en las rafagas precipitosas de viento y los canguritos se escapaban al sentir nuestros pasos. La larga caminata y los dolores de articulaciones valieron la pena cuando llegamos a Boulder Bay. Nuestros ojos se abrieron en asombro a la belleza de este lugar. Aguas quietas y cristalinas rodeadas de acantilados encontrando la costa en una playa de piedras redondeadas. Nos sentamos ahi y simplemente lo disfrutamos. Me saque mis zapatillas, me arremangue los pantalones y meti mis pies en el agua congelada solo para acercarme un poco mas a este lugar. La belleza indescriptible de este lugar parecia ser intocable, antigua y parecia demostrar lo poderosa que es la naturaleza.

Morning walk in Tathra

Nothing better than waking up and going for an energising walk along the beach before breakfast. During my 1 hour walk I did not come across a single soul, only mine breathing in and out, listening to the squeaky sounds of the sand under my feet and gazing into the sapphire blue ocean. Only my footsteps undid the perfectly smooth surface of the sand, the breeze was fighting against me trying to delete my footprints as I left them behind. It was another perfect moment...just me and my thoughts taking in this amazing view and being glad to be alive and well. Back in the beach hut I filled up on coffee and toast with the family before embarking on a bush-walking adventure.

Nada mejor que despertarse y salir a pegarse una caminata energizante en la playa antes de desayunar. Durante una hora no me cruce con ninguna otra alma, solo la mia inhalando y exhalando, escuchando el chillido de la arena bajo mis pies y perdiendo la vista en el agua azul zafiro. Solo mis pasos desdibujaban la superficie perfecta de la arena, la brisa peleaba contra mi tratando de borrar mis huellas mientras yo las iba dejando detras. Fue otro momento perfecto...yo en soledad con mis pensamientos absorviendo esta vista espectacular y sintiendome feliz de estar viva y bien. De vuelta en la casita con la familia, cargue energias en forma de desayuno de mate y tostadas antes de embarcarnos en una aventura de caminata por los morros.

Holidaying in Tathra, NSW

First day of the holidays took us to Tathra, NSW, around 25 km from Merimbula. It is so beautiful and peaceful. From the window of our cabin we look straight into the blue ocean and can hear the waves crushing against the shore. The desolated beach was so warm today, that I took my towel and laid down to snooze in the sunshine.

We traveled all night in and out of patches of fog that were so thick that the high beams reflected back all the light and made it even harder to see. We took a wrong turn or two, but managed to have a feeling that we were not going in the right direction and turn back quickly. We arrived safely and with a bright and yellow sunshine. We walked, drove and even shared some time with a couple of kangaroos at a very desolated beach. Finding new places at every turn and enjoying the rest. I feel finally disconnected with the world...it's a fantastic feeling. I miss my cats though.

Feliz Cumpleanos para mi

Today I woke up to a beautiful breakfast prepared by my son who set it up on the kitchen table with lit candles, birthday cards and wrapped up presents. Through the window the Winter sunshine showed me that sometimes perfect moments exist. I have always loved days like this in Winter...cold but with blue skies and warm rays of sunshine. We had a great breakfast, afternoon coffee in Camberwell, movie (Super 8), dinner at De Los Santos with flamenco music and to conclude dessert at home (apple crumble) and delicious birthday cake made by Ric.

Hoy me levante con un desayuno riquisimo preparado por mi hijito quien lo presento en la mesa de la cocina con velas encendidas, tarjetas y regalitos. Por la ventana el sol invernal me mostro que a veces existen los dias perfectos. Toda la vida me gustaron los dias asi en Invierno...frios pero con cielos azules y calidos rayos de sol. Tuvimos un desayuno perfecto, merienda en Camberwell, pelicula buenisima (Super 8), cena en De Los Santos con flamenco de fondo y para concluir postre en casa preparado por Anton y torta de cumpeanos deliciosa hecha por Ricky.

I had beautiful presents and lovely messages and phone calls from family and friends. I had cat cuddles and a whole lot of love. What a shame that perfect days have to end.

Tuve regalitos hermosos y lindos mensajes y llamados de telefono de amigos y familia. Tuve abracitos gatunos y un monton de amor....que lastima que los dias asi tienen que terminar.

Vestiges of sunshine

Like an artist using his paintbrush to colour the top of the trees orange, the remaining Sunday sunshine bathed the top third of this street in light, leaving the rest in a cold penumbra. I was driving home after a nice cafe latte and jam scones when I saw this beautiful gift of nature. I pulled over the side of the road and snapped these images. Being a good observant of nature rewards me with some simple but beautiful moments that would go unnoticed if I was a simple passerby who is only wrapped around the mundane problems of a superficial life.
This weekend I had some well deserved rest, slept in and did not worry too much about things. It is difficult to unwind though, I am finding.

Como un artista usando su pincel para colorear de naranja la punta de los arboles, lo que quedaba del sol dominguero bano la tercera parte de arriba de esta calle, dejando el resto en penumbra fria. Yo manejaba para casa despues de un cafe con leche y escones con mermelada cuando vi este paisaje hermoso. Pare a un costado y saque estas imagenes. Ser un buen observador de la naturaleza me gratifica con simples pero hermosos momentos que no serian notados si fuera un pasante enroscado en los problemas mundanos de una vida superficial. Este fin de semana apreveche a descansar merecidamente, dormi bastante y no me preocupe demasiado por nada. Es dificil desenchufarse, estoy notando.

Back in Paradise

We found ourselves in paradise once again today after one hell of a week. Listening to the Codes and Keys CD on the road was our chosen way to unwind and relax. We did a bit of shopping, bush-walking and enjoyed some coffee, beer and chips. It was cold but not colder than Melbourne in Lorne. Everyone was there, the shops were full of life, kids on scooters, skates and even people surfing. Shame that gets dark so early.

Home is a Fire (DCFC)

Codes and Keys

Finally new music from Death Cab for Cutie is out! Codes and Keys has 9 songs and at first glance seems just as beautiful as the others. I listened to it in the car on the way back from our Sunday outing. I love having new music and slowly get to know the lyrics and the melodies to discover the layers of composition. I enjoy it immensely. The only thing that would make it perfect would be to get to know this CD on the road, as so often has been for other Death Cab for Cutie's CDs. I am starting to itch for a road trip with the family to disconnect from the daily stress and to re-connect with Ric and Anton. It is being a difficult year, so busy that sometimes we don't have time to talk, but we all know that the end is near and that persistence is the key to achieve our goals. We must press on and we will soon savour the rewards, hopefully.

Finalmente salio musica nueva de Death Cab for Cutie! Codes and Keys (Codigos y Claves) es el nuevo CD, tiene 9 canciones y a primera vista (u oido) parece tan lindo como los otros. Lo puse en el auto en camino de vuelta de nuestra salida dominguera. Me encanta tener musica nueva y de a poco ir conociendo las letras y las melodias para descubrir las capas de composicion. Lo disfruto inmensamente. Lo unico que lo haria perfecto seria conocer este cd el la ruta, como tantas veces lo ha sido antes con otros cds de DCFC. Estoy empezando a sentir la picazon por un viajecito en familia para desconectarme del estress diario y para reconectar con Ric y Anton. Es un ano muy dificil este, tan enkilombado que a veces no tenemos ni tiempo de hablar, pero sabemos que la meta esta cerca y que pesistencia es la clave para alcanzar nuestros objetivos, asique hay que darle para adelante y pronto degustaremos la recompenza, esperemos.

Magical Sunday with Spanish finale

I felt like a little girl again waiting in the queue to go up the Giant Sky Wheel at the banks of the Yarra River in Melbourne city last Sunday. It was cold and from the top the ground looked bare and whitish like snow. It was a fun experience and I found myself smiling a lot, channeling the child within.

Me senti como una nenita otra vez esperando en la cola de la vuelta al mundo a orillas del Yarra en la ciudad de Melbourne. Hacia frio y desde arriba todo se veia tan invernal y vacio, parecia nevado. Fue una experiencia magica y divertida y me encontre sonriendo a mi misma mucho durante la vuelta canalizando la nina en mi.

Despues de la vuelta nos pegamos una caminata por la city sacando fotos a edificios atipicos de esta ciudad. Cruzamos el parque Fitzroy y terminamos la noche en el restaurant De Los Santos cenando al sonido de flamenco en vivo. De entrada comimos empanadas de pollo y chorizo picantisimas y riquisimas y unos hongos salteados que estaban para chuparse los dedos, todo acompanado por una sangria. YUMMY!!!! De plato principal comimos paella de pescado...wow que rica especialmente con la musica de flamenco en vivo de fondo. Gritos, aplaudidos y rasguidos le dieron un toque de espaneidad alucinante. Que lindo domingo...me hizo sentir alegre, descansada y lista para emprender mi segunda semana de rondas docentes. Es tan relajante no tener que pensar en el estudio!! En un par de semanas volvemos a De Los Santos con Anton que ayer se fue para otro lado a long-board con sus primos. Se la perdio!

After the ride we walked around the city taking photos of unusual buildings. We crossed Fitroy Gardens and ended up having dinner at De Los Santos restaurant on Brunswick Street with live flamenco music. We had spicy chicken and chorizo empanadas, sauteed mushrooms to die for all washed down by a glass of sangria. YUMMY!

We had paella marinara as a main dish. Wow! It was fresh and delicious and it tasted better with the sounds of the Spanish guitars in the background and the despaired voices of the singers who moaned their sorrows in the strings and sounds of the cajon. What a nice Sunday! I felt happy, rested and ready to start another week of teaching rounds. It is so relaxing not thinking about studying. In a couple of weeks we will be returning to De Los Santos with Anton, who yesterday decided not to come with us and go long-boarding with his cousins. His loss!