Silly Season.

I had the best intentions to blog once a week, not to mention wish everyone a MERRY cyber CHRISTMAS! & HAPPY 2014! Yet even though I started writing this entry between Christmas and New Years Eve (un)fortunately life got in the way. So here I lay, now 27 years old (I celebrated my birthday between blogs, went to a few wineries but didn’t taste too much as I had tasted plenty at the previous nights wedding…) thrown upon a stranger’s bed, handwriting my first blog of the New Year, needless to say 2014 has brought some changes. Allow me to rewind and recap starting with Christmas.

As usual in the Dartnell house the whole ’12 o’clock the champagne pops’ rule is thrown out the window, and we take our now traditional pancake breakfast with a side of Chandon come 10am. Naturally I love this, as I should, this particular tradition is my stroke of genius; it’s the perfect start to a stress free Christmas and it makes peeling all those goddamn vegetables far more exciting – peel all the potatoes and have another glass HOORAH! Another tradition in our household is that everyone contributes a fancy bottle of wine, and lets face it no one can deny the smile that comes with a good old pop of the cork. This year we threw Margaritas into the mix, it was that ready to go crap so I can’t say I fancied it  – I could feel it on my teeth – but I powered through and was happy to breakout my cactus margarita glasses (cheers Nan).

Like every year there was five types of meat for the boys, seafood for the ladies, and mum outdid herself by stuffing a pumpkin with quinoa and other delicious bits for me. Once again I played Santa and handed out all the gifts, to mix it up from previous years I decided to yell everyone’s name obnoxiously, my pop & dad still didn’t hear me… I LOVE CHRISTMAS! Unlike previous years I had my long-board that I'd brought back from the States and since I hadn’t used it yet I figured what better time than after a Christmas feast, so we took to the street. My first attempt at skateboarding wasn’t quite successful (aka: I was too scared to bring my other foot onto the moving board), I bailed on riding it the regular way and arse-rode that bad boy like a champ! Word to the wise, if you’re going to ride a skateboard on your bum, don’t do it in a short skirt. You will get butt-burn. Totally worth it though.

New Years Eve was the most relaxed it had been in many years, I jumped in my ‘new’ car and drove 6.5hours with my mate, well it was suppose to be 6.5hours. The idea was that we would follow our other friends’ car but traffic lights and speed limits prevented that smooth scenario, so even though it may have taken an extra hour or so – call it the scenic route – we did manage to arrive in Robe, South Australia by making our own way there. One could say it wasn’t the best start to our mini road-trip, but it wasn’t a complete loss as we managed to see one of the most amazing starry nights; I could have stared for hours, it blew my mind. We also had a few ‘exciting’ run-ins with Kangaroos, thank god Nick was driving, those bastards are either stupid or suicidal.

In the few days we were in Robe, we lay on some picturesque beaches, caught up with our lovely mate whom is lucky enough to live by all these beaches! And played an EPIC game of Scattergories, because no game is more fun than one in which you can bullshit your way to success – I did not win. On New Years Eve itself I forced myself to stay awake till midnight but fell asleep straight after, I guess laying outside and watching that one shooting star was way too much excitement for me, that and the fact that I’m 27 now – if I try and bust a move I might brake my pelvis. It was embarrassing to later hear that my grandparents were up till 1am! Eating their wieners and potato salad (it’s a German thing).

That brings us to January 2014, and my brother getting a job in Adelaide, South Australia, he started yesterday. And here’s me back from overseas with no real commitments, so I decided to pack up and move to this place I’d never been to that everyone in other states of Australia refers to Radelaide – not because they think it’s radical – yet I figure New Year, new state, why the hell not? I threw my gear in the car, even managed to squeeze my bicycle in (alongside that pesky skateboard, I WILL DEFEAT YOU!) and I followed my brother for some new adventures.

I’ve been in Adelaide a week and we’re getting close to finding a place to live, in the meantime we’re using air bnb, thus explaining me laying on a strangers bed (not so juicy an explanation). Furthermore the lady we’re staying with doesn’t have unlimited Wi-Fi access (SAY WHAT?!) so I figure why not use the old pen and paper and soak up the sun outside awhile, and with a bit of luck you’ll be able to read this in the next few days or at least by Januarys end. Meanwhile I’m going to network for a new job, meet new people, explore my new city, and soak up that beach lifestyle I hadn’t even realised I’d been craving. Until next time, y'all be good now.

Postscript: I hope everyone had a fabulous silly season, and made it into 2014 in one piece! Because it’s going to be a good year if you let it be, in fact it could even turn into a great one, because we don’t know what's going to happen and that’s what makes it such a delicious adventure. Own it.

[Please note no Kangaroos were harmed in the making of our road-trip]

&.the.bohemian.girl.xx.

The great American road trip, part deux.

Why I used French in a title for an American road trip I do not know, my limited ability to speak foreign tongues saddens me but the few words I do know I will throw out there shamelessly to seem more mysterious and well travelled. Now to the great American road trip, the thing about this is that the second instalment actually takes us to Mexico - how's that for throwing a spanner in the works - as last I left you I promised to write from there. That has officially become a lie, not a planned one, but I am currently back home in Melbourne writing this.

Destination Playa Del Carmen, Mexico. What a crazy little place it is! We didn't sleep on our last night in New Orleans, what with the early flight and travellers budget why pay for a bed for the night? Instead we hung about on the hostel couches for as long as possible before getting to the airport to check in, may I add that they say to arrive three hours before your flight when flying internationally yet the check in gate wasn't even staffed until two hours before! The nerve. Whatever I was going to Mexico to lay on a beach, I shan't complain. We arrived in Cancun around 11am and breezed through customs, jumped on an ADO and arrive in Playa Del Carmen around an hour later. After checking into Hostel Che (awesome!) we dropped our luggage, got our bikini's on, hit up Walmart for sunscreen and finally hit the beach - conveniently located five minutes from the hostel. Boom.

I won't go over ever little detail of the trip, but I will say that I ate beans and rice everyday with a side of guacamole and it never got old. We also spent a lot of time on the beach watching the sunset from fabulous hand woven seats with giant Pina Coladas in hand, a band performing behind us and the waves crashing in front. It really is paradise. The nights were crazy no matter what day of the week; dancing, shots, and walking the beach as the sun rose hand in hand with a boy named Simone...

After not making it there due to insane tropical weather back in 2008, I finally saw the Mayan Ruins of Tulum, very impressive living quarters they had for themselves with a knockout view of the pure blue shores beneath and pet lizards EVERYWHERE. From the ruins we hit up Akumal to snorkel, lucky for us it was green turtles hatching season and we didn't have to go far to find ourselves swimming with a few of the big guys - no tour necessary we paid $5 for a snorkel/goggle kit and swam out ourselves - we were overwhelmed with excitement and awe to almost be able to touch them. The next day we went to Isla Mujeres (The Island of Women) and unfortunately our luck turned as it belted down rain, so much so that the streets were flooded and it became quite the mission to get from Playa to Cancun to the ferry to the Island. Nevertheless we made it, and managed a walk about the Island before it rained again and we decided to utilise Hostel Poc Na's bar setup for the evening. Needless to say we were more than happy to get back to Playa the next morning. Bringing us to our last day in Mexico, it rained for the most of it but that didn't stop up from doing a souvenir shop and hitting the clubs for one last hoorah. I may or may not have still been drunk when going to the airport in the morning.

I've got to say it felt good to get back to New York after partying harder than I had all year in Mexico, I was ready to get to our little apartment in the East Village and sleep for about a year, or you know at least one good nights rest. The apartment we scored on air bnb was fabulous! A real artists den, we both felt inspired in the space. I can't stress enough how damn good it felt to cook a meal in the kitchen too, as much as I love Mexican food I was dying for some broccolini. Our second stint in NY consisted of shopping, eating, drinking, pinball and exploring the East Village, an area that I fell in love with dare I say more so than I did Greenpoint Brooklyn. It was the perfect end to our three week road trip, and I know that Catia & I will be back again one day because there really is something about New York City.

After Catia flew back to London I made my way to Copiague, Long Island to reunite with family friends for the next five days - which was a lovely little rest from the past three weeks madness. Come Sunday I arrived in Cincinnati Ohio for a reunion with my very good friends Jamie & Mikal. It was beyond lovely to see them again and to know that everything is going well for them since settling there just over a year ago. Cincinnati was a fun city with a lot on offer, we got rugged up and wandered around town dropping into whatever place looked good as it lightly snowed (woo! Snow!), my only regret is that I didn't have more time. Jamie & Mikal threw a pre-giving Thanksgiving allowing me to meet all their new friends which was nice, I ate way too much food though which was worrying since it wasn't technically Thanksgiving yet. It was bitter sweet leaving Ohio for LA that Wednesday morning, as it's always the best feeling reuniting with old friends yet it never gets easier to leave them behind 'until next time' whenever that may be.

I arrived back in LA to the open arms of my beautiful ex-roomy Melissa, and we had a wicked brunch together before I got passed on to the next friend. I spent Thanksgiving with Amy - an absolute sweetheart - who took me to a local FriendsGiving in Echo Park. I met a lot of lovely welcoming people and we all wrote what we were thankful for before reading them around a fire and burning the notes, it was truly beautiful. All in all I spent my last weekend in good company managing to catch up with almost everyone I know and love in Los Angeles, and it was the perfect end to an amazing six week get away. I honestly feel blessed for having so many wonderful people in my life, friends new and old, and the ones I haven't made yet. Although it was sad to say goodbye again I took comfort in knowing that my family and friends in Melbourne were only a 15 hour flight away and I know that we'll have the best summer adventures together, whatever they might be.

Big love everyone, stay safe and enjoy the small things :)

&.the.bohemian.girl.xx.

The great American road trip.

Excuse my lack of blogging of late, and allow me to give you the rundown.
I flew into Los Angeles on October 23rd and found myself quite busy catching up with my wonderful friends there, before flying destination New York City to meet up with my beautiful Catia - whom I hadn't seen in a whole year! (I have mentioned her previously, she's the one from London). We spent five nights in an apartment in Greenpoint Brooklyn such a trendy little area we both highly recommend. Note: try https://www.airbnb.com for great deals on accom. on your next trip, great way to live like a local.

We walked all the way from Brooklyn, over the bridge, through East Village, Greenwich, right up to Chelsea Piers, before heading to Central Park for a much deserved sit down. We also walked in the halloween parade in the village which was SO packed and equally as fun, we went to MoMA which was such a delight (Monet, Picasso, Van Gogh's 'starry night!!') FYI it is also free on Friday nights from 4-8pm, we followed it up with a drink at a roof top bar called 'Rare' in Chelsea which had an amazing view of the city. Time flew by as we next found ourselves flying to Nashville Tennessee.

Nashville is a great city, filled with Honky Tonks playing live Country music what felt like 24/7, Catia & I both felt like it was a city you could live in a while (although personally I feel I left my heart in NY). The people are lovely, the beer is cheap, the accent puts a smile on your face. From here we hired a car and I drove on the opposite side of the road for the first time in my life, it was a little scary/nerve wracking at first, but luckily a pretty straight route on the 65 all the way to Tuscaloosa Alabama. We spent a night here to break the driving session in two (as I was the only driver), a little motel off the freeway where the receptionist asked what language we speak in Australia. We spent the evening doing facials and all that girlie stuff that makes you feel fresh and ready to go, before making the most of a comfortable nights sleep in a queen size bed. We woke early, drank a big old coffee and jumped in the car again.

The drive that morning felt super chill/quick as I was comfortable by that point. Come midday we had driven through Mississippi before arriving in New Orleans Louisiana, Woo! Destination NOLA! And my friend's, this is where I write to you from. The hostel is called India House, it is very quirky to say the least, and I love it. We took a stroll around French Quarters yesterday, and Bourbon Street of course - it smelt funky - today is when things will get interesting though. Saint Louis Cemetery here we come! I'll write another entry when I get to Mexico to let you know what's what, plus I'll upload a couple photos to my tumblr page (accessible via the tabs above).

Lot's of love till next time.

&.the.bohemian.girl.xx.