Back Behind The Lens

(Taken through my sunroof while driving)

A few weeks ago, my mom had a roll of film (yes, good ol' fashion 35mm) to finish on her Canon Rebel and gave it to me to do the task. This camera and I have had some good times and taken great photos, from back in high school when I took every photo class I could then did an "independent study" and just continued using the darkroom, to my class in college with one of my best friends, Cassie. It had been a while since I used any camera other than the one on my iPhone, let alone one that takes film. After getting over the initial awkwardness, I was back behind the lens capturing beautiful things. I had to take the film to get developed and while I miss the darkroom, there was an exciting anticipation as I awaited to see the mystery of how it all turned out. Perhaps because it wasn't instant, the gratification was all the more significant. I'm going to keep it up-- I already loaded another roll and am nearly finished.

Barefoot in the Park

Since I've been back to New York from my South American adventures, the weather has for the most part been very welcoming. Any chance I get, I'm taking advantage of how close my apartment in Brooklyn is to Prospect Park. Or when I'm in the city, I take a break from all the running around to visit the parks at Union Square or Washington Square. The one that I do need to explore more is Central Park, but I just don't ever seem to be that far uptown (though I plan on it soon). In Lima, parks are a place specifically designated for couples so it can be quite lonely sitting in one by yourself. However, in New York City, there is no end to the kinds of people you'll see in a park: from Prospect Park's warm, welcoming families, couples, dogs, and children playing baseball, to Union Square's chess players, artists, performers, activists, business people on lunch break, and students doing homework. I love to people watch, dog watch, read, catch up with a friend, or just bite into a fresh, juicy Gala apple and soak in the sun's warmth.


I relish in taking my shoes off, sitting barefoot in the grass, and letting the sun restore the tan that winter's cold months depleted me of. There is just something about being barefoot outdoors- feeling the grass and dirt beneath your feet- that makes you feel closer to nature. Lately, this has been my happiness and my peaceful solitude. Except for one day in Prospect Park, when I accidentally acquired a new friend or two. There were a few butterflies fluttering around my patch of grass and they kept landing on me periodically, before flying off again to socialize with one another. At first one would land on my knee, leg, foot, bag and use its tongue to search for pollen, and after realizing there was none to be found, would just stay a little and look at me. Sometimes I had to shake them off because their tiny little legs would tickle me as they walked around, exploring the vast wonders of my leg.

Greetings from St. John

Since last weekend, I've been relaxing in the U.S. Virgin Islands with my mom. It's just the two of us here at the Westin time share she and my step-dad have had for quite a few years now, this being my first year since it's always in the middle of school. While the first couple days made me feel like I was truly submersed in a rain forest from the on-and-off showers, yesterday and today have been nothing but blue skies and sunshine. It's absolutely beautiful here, and I feel like I'm truly away from all the worries of life back in the states (I mean it did take a plane, taxi, and water ferry to get here). It's also one of the first times I've really been to an island that is quite mountainous (St. John was formed from a volcano) and much of it is preserved as a National Park so it remains incredibly green and uninhabited. The locals are all very friendly and laid back, on "island time" as they say, and the little towns are full of souvenir shops and local bars/restaurants.

On our first day, my mom took me for a tour of the island by taxi with our local tour-guide Richard who has lived here most his life and knows so much of the island's history. As I spent most of the ride snapping pictures and taking in all the beauty, my mom turns to me at one point and asks, "So, whatcha think?" and my initial impression of it all was: "I kind of feel like I'm in Jurassic Park." She found this hilarious as the only thing I could manage to articulate but when I thought about it, it really was an accurate assessment! The island is full of greenery and forest, has not too many people, everyone drives Jeeps around the winding roads, it's so mountainous, and full of wildlife. I was ready at any minute for our guide to say through his speakerphone "and on your left you'll see the Stegosaurus..." as we rode around in the open-air taxi. While the closest thing to a dino I've seen here are the iguanas that roam the resort grounds, there are also wild donkeys, roosters, stray cats, and mongoose among others.

Yesterday we went snorkeling at Trunk Bay-named one of the 10 most beautiful beaches in the world, and indeed it is gorgeous. Though most all the beaches here are beautiful so I'm not too hard to please. The snorkeling there was kind of lacking in aquatic life, so tomorrow we're off to one of the many other bays to explore. I can't believe tomorrow's my last day, but I guess that's how vacations go. I'll be posting more pictures when I get back and can upload from my camera. For now, these are from my handy dandy iPhone.