In the end only kindness matters...

A few years ago, I let readers pick my travel destination for a short summer journey. The options were Wyoming or Toronto, Canada. Wyoming won, and I spent a few days there traveling solo through the Grand Teton National Park. Amazing State, in which I'd really like to spend more time. It's necessary now to go on a short journey for mental sanity, and I'm torn between two routes. One alternative is to fly to Colorado, because I'm interested in visiting a marijuana cafe or store in the first U.S. State in which recreational use became legal. I want to better understand the rules, regulations and intricacies associated with marijuana sales and use in Colorado. The second option is to go back to my beloved Maine and try to arrange a meeting with Samantha Smith's mother, who still lives there. In addition, there are many cozy beach towns and villages in New England, which also bring me a lot of inner peace.

Which story/destination is more interesting to readers? Vote in the below poll. I have never been to Colorado, so recommendations on cities or places to visit would be most appreciated! Of course, if I have readers living in either Maine or Colorado, this is also useful to know. I will be pleased to meet in person, as always. :) The poll will remain open until Monday, and I'll announce the results next week.

[Poll #2013054]

One night at a bar, a drunkard approached me and posed an intriguing question. "If you could be any animal, what would it be?" No hello - just this question. He immediately scored points for originality and for me the answer was simple. A bird! Complete freedom of flight and observation from numerous perspectives (the ground, sky, trees, buildings...). Always important to view life and people from many different angles. However, in the wide-open fields of Wyoming people aren't searching for delicate birds. They come seeking big beasts like bison and moose, and they're easily found. Throughout the Jackson area you'll see people standing with binoculars in hand, hoping to scope out wildlife. If you look closely at this photo, you'll see a pack of bison in the distance. Next, the wild side of Wyoming!( Read more... )

At the time I wrote this story in the summer of 2013, I was in a very dark place emotionally. I publish it now because you have a long break from work. Perhaps it will inspire some of you to get off the sofa and do something adventurous or new. I hope it's interesting to people who have recently discovered my blog. I like to look at old stories because this journal is not only for you, but for me also - to remember past trips and experiences long after the journey ends. Lately, I've been craving a mountain adventure and Wyoming is a perfect place for this! Enjoy!




Beauty without strength chokes out life. I don't mean strength in the physical sense, but rather mental and emotional. The ability to remain resilient when life punches you in the face, when storms continue to roll on the horizon. Recently a tempest fell upon me and I became overly emotional and irrational. So I headed to the peaceful landscapes of Wyoming to gather myself. To me, nature has developed the perfect formula to life - it shifts and adjusts as necessary. Sometimes entirely recreating itself in the wake of a disaster. As humans, we're required to do the same many times throughout our life.

I'm not a religious person, but I believe in the saving grace of nature. It reminds us we're part of something much bigger than ourselves, and it's only when we step outside the narrow focus of our own problems that we can truly thrive as a human being. Nature is a simple reminder there can be no light without dark, no harvest without rain.

On my first day in Wyoming, I drove down a secluded dirt road and stumbled upon Mormon Row, an amazing spot in the Teton Mountain Range of Jackson. It's home to this barn known as the T.A. Moulton Barn, the most photographed barn in the United States. You can search Google images and find stunning photos of sunrises over the barn and mountain range in early morning light. Sadly, on the morning I visited there wasn't a single cloud in the sky or color on the horizon.( Read more... )