Oh, Britha...

  I was looking back at some of the pictures I took in Australia and found these.

Oh, Britha...

 

She comes home from New Zealand April 8th. So Excited!

I hope these made you smile like they make me smile!

Thanks for reading!

It's Never Lonely In The City

Sometimes the amazing things in life come to you!

I found this guy on our porch today- he was scaring all the little birds from the feeder.

 

Thanks for reading!

Portland (In A Day & A Half)

Hello all! 

I mentioned in a previous post that my friend J-bunny knew the drummer from a band called Atlas Genius, and that she could get us into a show for free. 

Well- that happened! 

 On Friday I hopped on a train bound for Portland, Oregon, and arrived in time to have a late lunch with Jen. 

Afterwards we drove to our hotel, which was splendidly hipster, unpacked our stuff, took some stupid pictures and headed back out- I had a city to see and J-bunny was going to show me! 

Union Station 

Ace Hotel

Hipster hotel=hipster elevator

Intrigue

I found the shower quite comfortable

Bath robes

We re-parked the car (city parking- am I right?) and after a little window shopping decided to go into Jen's favorite chocolate shop, Cacao. Here they had a large variety of gourmet chocolate bars, beautiful decorated truffles and candies as well as "drink chocolate". 

Espresso shots? No... shots of melted chocolate, milk and cream? 

Duh. 

We explored for a little while after that and ate some amazing Sea-food at a restaurant down the street from us called Jake's. After getting ready at our hotel we left for the concert around 7 and walked to the Roseland Theatre, which was just a few blocks away. We got in because Jen's name was on the list (her and one other person!). Unfortunately the seats that were reserved for us were in the 21 and over section, so I couldn't go. Instead we stood with the other under age people, who all looked about 14, and rocked out anyway.

Three bands played that night: Nico Vega (a band I had never heard of previously-they were good!), Atlas Genius, and Imagine Dragons.

Jen and I both swooned when Mike and Keith came on stage and enjoyed their set thoroughly. A reminder- Mike is the guy J-bunny is friends with. Keith is his brother.

Unfortunately the band was recovering form the flu as well as getting ready for their flight to San Fransisco (that night!) so we didn't get the chance to talk to them.

I met their mom though, so that was interesting.

The last band, obviously, was Imagine Dragons. Their set was amazing- easily the best. I love their music and to hear it live just added to my appreciation.  

Have you ever listen to a band sing live and suddenly understand what their lyrics mean? I felt that way when, at the end of the show, they played It's Time.

Radioactive, Demons, On top of the world, Tiptoe and of course It's Time are my favorites; Radioactive was definitely the best song of the night, though. The last two pictures are of them playing Radioactive (photo credit Jen!).

The next morning Jen and I went out to breakfast at Zeus Cafe, which is right under the Crystal Hotel, down the street from where we were staying. This is a picture of the stain glass windows there.

We were really sleepy after that, so we decided to drive around and look for a nice, cozy place to sit and relax. We ended up at The Dragonfly- a little cafe full of plush chairs and bright colors. It was busy, but comfortable.

We then drove around looking for a cafe I ate at the last time I was in Portland this past summer- nothing like an adventure after breakfast! We found it (I forgot what it's called!) but didn't go in.

This is at the Irving Street Kitchen. Probably my favorite atmosphere-wise. It was technically closed when we got there since they were preparing for dinner, but they gave us what we came for anyway- Butterscotch pudding!

One layer butterscotch pudding, one layer chocolate pudding and topped with a drizzly caramel. Yum!

All gone!

After Irving Street we headed to Jen's work since she started her shift at 4:30. I waited there for a while and had some awesome Pho, and then left for the train station.

The train ride home was a bit noisy, but peaceful none the less.

I love Portland!

Cool light fixture at Irving Street

Thanks for reading!

Hello: I Am Madison Rose

Hello.

For the first time since starting this blog, I am writing a post at home. I have to say- it's a bit strange!

All of the posts from before were about life in foreign places- but now I suppose I have the chance to reveal where I come from, what I do, and thus, who I am.

For those who do not already know me, I am Madison Rose.

And for those whom I've already met, lived with or loved in some manner, I will always be Maddy-rosebud, time after time and adventure after adventure.

Anywho!

It's time to analyze me being home.

Probably the biggest and hardest change for me is being away from all my new friends. After spending ten weeks with the same group of people, you really form a bond.

Being back home, my new family is scattered all over Washington and, in J-bunny's case, in Oregon.

This sucks!

I will fight valiantly to keep in touch with as many people as possible, but I have a fear that some will slip through my grasp and I will lose them completely.

I don't want that.

This may be the dependency talking- because I did depend on these people throughout my trip. I depended on them for company, and advice. Entertainment and support. Love, loyalty and laughter. And presence. Just having all of these faces present kept me sane in a place so foreign and unfamiliar.

Now I am back home, with my lovely family and friends who've missed me dearly. They'll listen to me tell stories about Bar Open, and when I describe it they'll try to imagine the sky that night in Thames.

But there are only a few who share in the adventures I've had- only a few who know the terror of those bus rides to and from Sydney, only a few who can share my enthusiasm for a simple Tim-Tam.

Places are places. Some places are wonderful. But it's the people that make the place. And it'll always be the people that I miss.

But I am glad to be home. And I've missed the people here very much.

Thank you for reading,
       There will be more soon-

                                                          Maddyrose

Homeward Bound

Home, where my thought's escaping
Home, where my music's playing
Home, where my love lies waiting
Silently for me

This song by Simon and Garfunkel has been bouncing around my head for a while now, just as "Going Places" by the Paperboys occupied my mind for some time before I left....

Here I am. It's March 7th, 4:17 PM. I have two more days until I get on the plane and begin my journey home.

Have you ever noticed while walking a dog or riding a horse, that the moment you turn back, homeward bound, everything, their bodies, their energy, changes. They know that the faster the walk, the sooner they'll be in the place they know best. There's a new enthusiasm in their stride and you don't even have to lead them in any direction or tell them where to turn- they know where they're going.

I hope this plane ride is like that for me. Everyone has told me the flight back home is worse, but won't it go by faster? I have dreams where I'm sitting at home with my family, telling them about my trip, and I pause and realize that I'm dreaming, because I know I still have that awful (12 hour?) flight ahead of me.

Can you tell I'm dreading it?!

I just got back from Coromandel yesterday- I did end up going, but not with the people I originally thought. Jen booked a cabin and rented a car for the two of us, and then our friend Jordan decided to go last minute as well. Jordan and I left early, only staying for three nights, while Jen stayed behind. She'll be coming back to Auckland today.

Looking back on it, Coromandel was the flood gate opening my eyes to all of the change I've been through. There were beaches there, and long conversations among friends, and stars, and sunshine, and admittedly some alcohol.

It was the perfect reflective ending to a very long trip.

Parts of me are still a bit confused, and parts of me after Coromandel are even more confused than when I began.

But that's life. Wouldn't it be boring if we had everything all figured out?

I think so.

Here are a few pictures: I've been lackadaisical lately and have barely taken any photos at all. Don't fret, there are thirty people on this trip that have pictures of every waking moment, so nothing will be missed or forgotten.

The day we left for Coromandel- It was rainy; a good day to say a sad goodbye

My room. I miss it

Our cabin in Coromandel. I had the bottom bunk

Front of cabin

Kitchen

We were in a trailer park right next to Hahei beach

The car we rented

This will most likely be my last post from New Zealand. I'll post soon about my life back home in the states.

We'll see how it goes!

Wish me luck,

And thank you so much for reading!