Spring Hike in the Balkans

Today I had the opportunity to go hiking in the Rila Mountains, about 2 hours south of Sofia, with a coworker, Milena, and her friends. So glad she invited me, it was so amazingly gorgeous! My photos do not do it justice.

First glimpse of Maljovitsa Peak (2,729 m)...

The trail was a bit more snow covered than I was expecting...

The wildflowers were blooming all over, where there wasn't snow...

Our resting point, both coming and going, at a guesthouse part way up the mountain...

But I'm not sure I'd want to stay in these...

...or camp either though...

...good thing we were just day hiking

The views were so amazing, it made Milena wanna just jump for joy! 

After climbing up this hill, we decided to turn around...

But then we had to go back down...wish I had a sled

Making shopska salad...yes, they hiked with a cucumber, tomatoes and cheese (I'll know for next time!)

The view during our picnic lunch...

There were several springs along the way so we could refill our water bottles...yes I drank the water and no I didn't get sick

Last glimpses...sigh, I want to go back already

Canada, eh?

Arrived is Vancouver yesterday to catch our cruise boat to Alaska this afternoon.  Spent the afternoon wandering around downtown.  Walked by the art museum and saw this "gum head"...yes that's gum stuck to it and you could add your own!  And then because we were up for torture, we hiked, or shall I say climbed, Grouse Grind (for those of you familiar with the infamous Grind, I'm not disclosing our time) The view was totally worth it though (my picture doesn't do it justice), and you could catch a gondala back down the mountain.  Big thanks to our friend's brother and girlfriend for letting us crash at their place!

Hawaii - Day 4 - Road to Hana

Car caravan on the road to Hana (a 3 hour long, very windy, but oh so cool, drive)

Stop #1 - Haleakala Nat'l Park (near the coast, just past Hana), we hiked to that waterfall on the left

Ginormous tree!

And a dense bamboo forest

I went a little overboard on the bamboo pics...here are a just a few of my favorites

The main attraction...I got a lot closer, but you couldn't get the whole waterfall in the picture then since it was so tall

Friends from across one of the ravines

And back at the top of the waterfall

Where the river hits the coast

Cool birds were nesting there

Stop #2 - Red Sand Beach

A few folks went swimming and snorkeling

Stop #3 - Black Sand Beach and lava tubes (it was getting late and the park ranger kicked us out of the park)

Stop #4 - Vegan dinner, after a very long day