Hello dA!


I'm not new -- I've had an account for my drawings ( ) since early this year, but I wanted a separate name for the pictures I take on my trips!


I LOVE to travel and I love to share the beauty I discover wherever I go! So this account is dedicated to my travels.


WHERE I'VE BEEN:
1984-1999 __ Nevada, California, Colorado, Utah, Arizona, Oregon, Idaho, Washington, New Mexico, Yosemite
1990 __ Alaska, Edmonton Canada
1997 __ Nebraska
1999 __ Vancouver, BC
2007 __ London, England
2007 __ Missouri


WHERE I PLAN TO GO:
2008 __ Montana
2009 __ Rome, Italy
2010 __ Vancouver, BC (for the Winter Olympics baby!)
2011 __ Washington DC
2012 __ Edinburgh, Scotland


Thanks for stopping by! I hope you enjoy the pix -- feel free to comment or ask questions!


Much ,


LevisTravels

What a beautiful and interesting chapter in my life.

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I’ve never been very close with my aunt and uncle. I liked them, sure… but spending time with them wasn’t something I jumped at doing in the past. Not because I didn’t love them, but I didn’t know them well and I was intimidated by them, as children will sometimes feel.

This Thanksgiving I was given the opportunity to fly out to Missouri and spend a week with them, my grandmother, cousins and another set of aunt and uncle. As I’m approaching my mid-20’s, I’ve done a lot of work on my self-esteem, my confidence and my ability to gel well in situations involving more than just me and a novel or my sketchbook. I was excited at the chance to finally, as an adult get to know the family members I previously had only a vague relationship with.

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I arrived the night before Thanksgiving. My uncle met me at the airport with my cousin. I wasn’t nervous on the ride there, not like I would have been in the past. I was able to relax and take in the beautiful Missouri countryside. The closer we got to their house, the wider the grass fields, the bluer the sky. Their actual neighborhood used to be farmland – 6 acre lots, dogs playing fetch in the front yards, tree leaves browning and withering – it was like stepping into a dream. (For someone from a big city in the desert ). My aunt hugged me so warmly, so kindly, I thought to myself how crazy I must have been to ever be frightened of these people.

The week was filled with food, games, good conversation and laughter -- raucous, down-to-your-toes laugher as we playfully jeered each other at pool or Pictionary. I took in some of the history-laden sights – the St. Louis Arch, the Old St. Louis Courthouse and Mark Twain’s childhood home. I didn’t sleep the last night, hoping to stretch the stay as long as possible.

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I looked out the window into the midnight sky, my heart vacillating, and it hit me… how grateful I was to have such a wonderful family. And how grateful I am that I could see past my childhood and my fears, that I chose to change my perception in order to not miss out on the beautiful, beautiful present.

I wish all my deviant friends the courage to change their perception from whatever obscures the beauty of life and the delightful opportunities that present themselves to you. I wish you a wonderful holiday season and a happy new year.

LevisTravels

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I have another account for my sketches ( ), if you're so inclined, I hope you'll hop on over and have a peek!

Much love

Do you know why most Europeans are so skinny? 1: Because they have to walk a lot. 2: Because there are stairs everywhere, and very few elevators. 3: Food is really expensive. And 4: You HAVE to be. The restrooms where extraordinarily small (not much bigger than an enclosed phone booth). Most alleys, staircases, cafes and hallways were just big enough that walking through, your shoulders barely miss brushing along the walls. But all of it you get use to pretty quickly and I must admit it is rather charming.

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London is a city in a state of constant vacillation and not just because of the large amount of people. The city has had a few devastating fires throughout its history and it was attacked during a few wars as well. But after it’s destroyed, they build right over the rubble and not having a stable foundation, most of the city sways like you’re on a ship. It’s subtle and I don’t know if the Londoners themselves notice, but we definitely felt it. The first half of the week, we kept looking at each other, asking, “Did you feel that? Are we moving? Is this building moving?” And after we got ourselves educated on the history, we finally put it together.

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The architecture, the art and the gardens were staggeringly beautiful and humbling. The sheer age of the city is humbling and awe-inspiring. It’s a city I would love to get to know even better. I was in love from the moment I looked out the window and saw the edges of the island. Everyone is so laid back there. And they don’t hate us (as Americans are repeatedly told) so much as a view us with a sort of mild irritation and it seems to be because of our general uptight attitudes and national superiority complex.

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Oh but I must mention the play! Oh… what can I say? The script was phenomenal, the cast was excellent and the story was satisfyingly relevant. *sigh* I really miss theater that much more after seeing this. And yes, Mr. Radcliffe, the reason for being there at all, was awesome in this!! It was really freeing for me to be able to finally put another illusion of mine to rest. Magic is seductive and frightening in its mystery – but going to the most magical place on earth and seeing the most magical boy on earth showed me that there is no magic. Everything is real and tangible and so beautifully unromantic that I can happily let myself fall in love. If all the people I love so dearly didn’t live in the western US, I would move to London instantly. A piece of my heart has always been there and in leaving it, I could feel it break again. But... as I keep telling myself, I’ll come back… I can always come back.

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[link] 5 Apr 2007