Morro Bay's Iconic Morro Rock

 

Morro Rock is a 576-foot volcanic monolith that marks the harbor entrance. With Morro Rock anchored on one side of the channel entrance, and the long sandspit on the other, this port town makes an ideal protected port along the central coast.

California's Classic Pismo Beach

First things first, the Pismo clam. Found between Monterey Bay and Baja, the clams generally live for about 15-20 years and have been known to live to nearly 50 years. Lots of the prized clams on the surface this trip, uncovered and ready to dig themselves soon back into the sand. The clam is hefty, and the California native clam is prized for its sweet, clean flavor.


 

Jalama Beach and Point Conception, California

This area feels like the edge of a map. The hike from Jalama Beach to Point Conception exposes this area as a true wilderness of empty bluffs and big surf. You know you are walking a section of coastline very few people reach. Point Conception, known as the Cape Horn of the Pacific Coast, is where the California coastline abruptly turns from north-south to east-west. This creates colliding wind patterns, strong upwelling and rough seas that have wrecked ships for centuries. This is the area where the Pacific's cold northern waters meet the warm southern waters. To the Chumash, Point Conception is Humqaq, the “Western Gate”. It is believed to be the departure point where souls leave this world and a boundary between physical and spiritual realms.

 

The sun washed, culinary city of Oaxaca, Mexico

Oaxaca City is a walkable, sun‑washed colonial city where Indigenous traditions and contemporary creativity meet in everyday life. Its historic center—anchored by the Santo Domingo complex and streets paved in green cantera stone—buzzes with markets, mezcalerías, galleries, and street food stalls serving memelas, tamales, and moles that define the region’s cuisine. The city is both relaxed and intensely alive: artisans selling textiles and pottery, musicians in the zócalo, and festivals that seem to erupt without warning. Surrounded by mountains and close to archaeological sites like Monte Albán, Oaxaca City feels intimate yet culturally immense, a place where history and craft are woven into the rhythm of daily life.

Mexico City Architecture and Arts

 

Mexico City’s architecture and arts are inseparable, creating a city where every block feels like a dialogue between eras. Pre‑Hispanic foundations sit beside colonial cathedrals, while modernist landmarks like the Museo de Antropología and the Torre Latinoamericana push the city’s identity forward. Artistic expression is built directly into the landscape, from the Art Nouveau–Art Deco fusion of the Palacio de Bellas Artes to the intimate, purpose‑designed murals and paintings of Rivera and Kahlo. Contemporary spaces such as Museo Jumex and the city’s vibrant design make Mexico City a living gallery shaped by centuries of creative experimentation. We based our stay in the Roma Norte neighborhood and averaged walking 10 miles/day to get to know the city. 

Teotihuacán and the Path along the Avenue of the Dead

The Pyramids of the Sun, Moon, and Feathered Serpent (Quetzalcoatl) at Teotihuacán were built by the Teotihuacanos between roughly 100 and 450 CE, forming the ceremonial heart of one of the largest ancient cities in the Americas. Standing among them today feels expansive and atmospheric. The wide valley, steady wind, and massive stone structures create a sense of awe, mystery, and connection to the people who engineered this landscape nearly two millennia ago. Linking the monuments is the Avenue of the Dead with and its steep volcanic‑stone terraces. The high‑altitude light is sharp and clear, and the site feels vast and intentional. Standing high on the Pyramid of the Moon, you sense the precision and ambition of the ancient city’s builders, and the atmosphere blends awe, mystery, and a quiet connection to the people who shaped this landscape.

Devils Tower and my search for aliens

I believe I may have finally found those elusive aliens after circling Devils Tower in the dark of night. Beneath the Milky Way and those glorious night stars, I happened to catch the glimpse of lights emanating from the tower walls. Could it have been aliens? Maybe, and I have lived to tell the tale just like Richard Dryfus. To the Native Americans, Devils Tower is known as Bear Lodge and has long been a sacred place for over 20 American Indian tribes. The trees around Devils Tower are filled with hanging prayer bundles, and with each knot tightened, prayers are released into the wind.