Around the World in 26 Letters--Zihuatanejo

Do you remember this place from The Shawshank Redemption? Ever since Tim Robbins said the name Zihuatanejo in that movie, I've wanted to go.



There's this place called the Tides there that looks pretty sweet. You get your own cabana with your own plunge pool. Ahhh, I'm going to go pretend I'm there right now...

Around the World in 26 Letters--Yellowstone

 

 

I've been there at least once as a child (don't remember) and then when my husband and I went a trip around the US in a van (I think we set a record for fastest time through Yellowstone as tourists).
My kids need to see Yellowstone. Soon they'll be old enough to explore a bit and remember going :)

Have you ever been there? What do you remember?

Oh, My Hero! Bog Hop

Check out Jaycee and Victoria's super fun blog hop!

To play along, post a picture of your hero with a character interview of at least 5 questions.  

As a favor to Finnley, Grayson is taking time out of his busy schedule to help teach Eri the basic skills of a Protector. The three of them are in the middle of a practice session when Eri starts asking questions. Grayson is in blue, Eri in purple, and Finnley is green.

Grayson

I can tell you’re thinking something, Eri. What is it? Why are you resting?

I'm trying to figure out the common qualifications of a Protector.

Ha, you've blown that out the window haven't you?

Whatever. Not my fault I'm a girl. So, if you had to describe yourself in one word, what would it be?

Protector.

No, I know that already. Pick a different one please.

Determined.

Okay. I think that probably applies to all Protectors. How would your friends describe you?

Slow! Ha ha ha!

*rolls eyes* Finnley, you're not the Protector I want to hear from. Control your big mouth if at all possible. Grayson?

Quiet.

Obviously not a quality all Protectors hold. *glares at Finnley* 

You either, blabber mouth! *laughs and nudges Eri*

Are you used to being up at night and sleeping during the day?

I've become accustomed to it.

You weren't always a night person?

No, some Protectors must become nocturnal. You know that.

Right. *tucks hair behind ears* Do you get much time to practice? Is there training required once you're a Protector?

Well, twice a week I'm with you. Sometimes Finnley and I get an extra hour in before our shifts on the watchtowers. 

Do you get any free time?

I do, but not much. Because of my hours, I'm sleeping during my time off after duties at the solar farm and guarding during harvest celebrations, or spending it helping you learn.

*blushes* What would you do if I didn't waste all your free time?

You're not wasting my free time, Eri. 

Whatever. What do you do in your time away from being a Protector?

I'm never away from being a Protector.

Do you think all Protectors feel this way?

Not Finnley. *laughs and hits him in the arm*

I'm so fast I don't have to be a Protector every second of every day, old man.

Are we done? Can we get back to practicing now?

Sure, thanks for taking me seriously.

I always take you seriously, Eri.

You forgot the best question! *nudges Eri in the ribs*

Finnley, what are you talking about? *cheeks enflame* Oh my God, shut up right now!

What?

Nothing, thanks for answering so candidly, Grayson. Now show me how to do a leg sweep.

Good try, Eri. She wants to know if you believe in love at first sight?

*stares off toward the foothills* If you asked me two years ago, I would've said no. 

And now?

*sweeps Eri's legs, pinning her to the ground, staring hard into her eyes* I shouldn’t.

Now hop over to the list at Jaycee DeLorenzo's Blog and Confessions of a Twenty Something Fiction Writer  to find out about everybody else's heroes :)

Around the World in 26 Letters--X Marks the Spot

It would be fun to go on a treasure-hunt-inspired trip, don't you think? I wonder if they have those.

Do you know of any great X destinations?

Around the World in 26 Letters--Washington DC

 

 

 

 

I'm looking forward to taking my kids here!

Have you been to Washington DC?

Around the World in 26 Letters--Venice

 

Gondola ride on the Grand Canal

St. Mark's Basilica


St. Mark's Square


Doge's Palace and the Bridge of Sighs


Ride the elevator to the top of the Campanile and see...



Burano Island--aaahhhh, those colors!


I'm ready to go! Are you?

Around the World in 26 Letters--Utah

Okay Utah, I 've been through your state a few times, three instances with bad luck. 

The first time was on my way to college in Colorado. I was driving along the freeway (Provo area I believe) in our Astro van behind my husband driving the Uhaul when he ran over a blown semi tire with the trailer carrying our Jeep, flipping a humongous strip of rubber up onto my windshield and wrapping around the front fender. Not a good start to our move.

   +     =  

The next time through Utah, from college in Colorado on my way to Vegas in a friend's car, we ran out of gas in the middle of no where. Her car's gauge told us we had 67 more miles left of fuel when we puttered to the side of the highway. Miles from anything. Without cell service. I won't say how we got out of that situation cause I would die if my children ever did that. Plenty of horror movies have had similar plot lines where the college coeds don't end up safe and sound like Emily and I did, or in one piece. We were stuck some place that looked like this...

The third time, another trip home from spring break back to college in Colorado (maybe college in Colorado was the bad luck instead of Utah and the state was just in the way), we stopped so one of the guys could take a pee break on the side of the road and some how my husband's wallet fell out of the van, never to be seen again. It's now somewhere like this...

I realize there are a ton of amazing writers living in Utah so it obviously can't be all that bad :) One day, I may have to take a trip there again and give the state a chance to redeem itself because I would really like to visit here...

  

Possibly to visit this gal I know who lives there, an FFF rendezvous...

Around the World in 26 Letters--Temples

Angkor Watt, Cambodia


Prambanan Temple, Indonesia


Borobudur Temple, Java

Chichen Itza, Mexico


Taj Mahal, India


Akshmardham temple, New Dehli India


The Temple of Heaven, China


St. Basil's Cathedral, Moscow


Temple of Karnak, Egypt

I'll stop now, but this would be a fun adventure!

What temple do you hope to see one day?

Around the World in 26 Letters--Spain

 
So many things to do in Spain! What would you do?

Run with the bulls in Pamplona?


Visit an art museum in Madrid?


Ride the Dragon Khan roller coaster in Tarragona?

  
Check out the Gaudi Cathedral or catch a 'soccer' game in Barcelona?


  
Find a castle or a sea arch in Majorka?

  
Check out Seville's castles, gardens, and towers?

 
Or take in the palace and vibrant colors of Granada?