Todo Santos, translating to All Saints, is an oasis of palms and orchards off the dry, desert highway on the Pacific Coast of Baja California Sur. Centuries old, this quaint Mexican town is rich in tradition and art. I opted out of the galleries, and instead walked her streets, seeing her through the lens of an SX-70...
The Eagles sang about it... and whether this is the Hotel California they sing about, it doesn't really matter, for this quaint hotel on the Tropic of Cancer in a desert oasis is absolutely stunning. Stunning. The details and colors and overall feel of the place just made you want to sit and take it all in. However, as a side-note, in my short time there, I didn't see any "mirrors on the ceiling or pink champagne on ice"...
The back courtyard and eating area were so exquisite in color and decor... the perfect place for sipping a cold cerveza or margarita.
I could hang out in this lobby all day...
This takes chilling poolside to a whole new level...
I've always been drawn to the ocean... I think all of us are, on some level. The energy of it, the ever-changing colors and currents... it becomes a dance for the eyes. The sound of the waves is a therapy for me, it calms me... it slows me down so that I am back in the present... my focus cleared... my mind and soul stilled. I sleep long and dream deep. The fresh, salted air, the heat of the sun, and the sand in my toes... after a time, even if you aren't aware how... it changes you... xoxo
For some reason, this makes me happy... xoxo
It's the little things. A smile, a laugh, the smell of freshly ground coffee, a warm fireplace on a cold day, crunchy snow under your feet, a nap in the middle of the day. It's feeling your muscles burning and lungs expanding and cold air on your cheeks. It's watching the mountains turn orange in the waning sunlight. It's reminiscing with old friends, laughing at yourself, seeing who we are through someone else's eyes. It's compassion and caring, it's seeing the innocence in a child's eyes. It's gratitude and acceptance. It's letting go and choosing joy. It's the smell of an orange as you peel it, and how a baby holds your finger. It's forgiveness, it's your favorite hoodie. It's losing yourself in the moment and loving the laugh lines around your eyes. It's tanned toes in the sand, a warm wind on your face. It's opening your eyes and your heart. It's the softness of a flower petal between your fingers, it's the ocean kissing the shore. It's being honest with yourself, and all of those around you. It's taking a chance, it's believing in ourselves and each other. It's full moons and dewy grass, it's chewy cookies and crunchy apples. It's the friends that are your family, and the family that are your friends. It's wanting to be a better person, it's inspiring those around you. It's color and passion and life and culture... it's that which makes us different... and exactly the same. It's the little things in your day... it's the little things that should be regarded as the big things, the important things... in your life.
It's watching a bird in a fountain in Tuscany... xoxo.
Once again, this selection is different each and every time I select my favorites... there are just too many wonderful moments and memories. I find I am drawn to those images that are imperfect, a spontaneous laugh or look... a moment caught off guard when you get to really feel someone. It is such an honor to spend time with someone with the intent of capturing something pure... it is a dance of sorts... one that I love and will never tire of.... xoxo.
Instead of writing about my year, the ups and downs and what I've learned, how I've grown... where I've been and where I want to go, I decided to post some of my favorite photos. This group of images is more nature and travel oriented and changes greatly every time I review the thousands of images taken over the course of the year. But for now, I choose these... mostly based on how I was feeling at the time, or how they make me feel when I look at them now. Enjoy!
...xoxo
