SCUBA duba doooo!

This past week was full of great activities, but learning to SCUBA dive was the highlight! Miguel and I decided to get certified this past week because of the multiple diving sites we will be visiting in the next year. The certification process was an intense 2 day training full of multiple open water dives, 6 quizes, 1 final written exam, and 1 open water exam. Our instructor, Patrick, was wonderful and has been diving for 15 years. For those of you who dive or are interested in diving....Patrick highly recommends the Red Sea for an incredible diving experience.

The first destination we will be diving in is the Great Barrier Reef! Yesssss! We are so excited for this experience and for this opportunity. Thank you Maui Diving for opening a whole new underwater world to us!

Thank you Maui Diving and Patrick for all your efforts!

Road to Hana: The Hana Highway is world famous for its natural beauty and its unblemished landscapes, waterfalls, and flora. I will be honest, I started having second thoughts about this activity when I heard the road had over 600 turns, 46 one lane bridges, and it would take over three hours to drive 50 miles before arriving at Hana. On top of that over 2000 cars drive it every day! I did my research and looked at some amazing photos and there was just no way I was going to leave Maui before seeing this. In addition, the Ernst family had already driven the road on a previous trip and they highly recommended it as well.  Fortunately, reason prevailed over everything and we ended up driving this amazing road. Check some of our pics below!

Jaws beach

Road to Jaws beach...not a good idea in a convertible

I think the spider is missing a couple of legs

You did an awesome job driving Court!

Overview of Kaenae Peninsula

Nahiku ocean view

Volcanic sand beach

Awesome painted bark Eucalyptus tree forest

more painted bark Eucalyptus tree

6 month anniversary dinner: Last but not least, we celebrated our six month wedding anniversary on January 16th.  Morgan acted as Master Chef and Celesta as Sous Chef. We were their guests of honor and they cooked us a delicious four course dinner: 1) Salad - Mozzarella and Tomato 2) Appetizer - Croissant stuffed with Prosciutto accompanied with a delicious olive and garlic dipping sauce 3) Entree - Shrimp Scampi 4) Dessert - Assorted cheese cakes! It was all great! Thank you Celesta and Morgan for a wonderful dinner and celebration.

Celesta and Morgan

Champagne and Strawberries

The guests of honor

Whale Watching - Lahaina, Maui 1/26/2010

The period between January and March is when the North Pacific Humpback whales come to Maui to breed and give birth to their calves.  Since we have been here we have had the opportunity on multiple occasions to observe these beautiful creatures breach and swim across the Maui waters.  However, we have always watched them from the comfort of a beach chair or a scenic spot on the road.  Today, we got a chance to see them up close on a whale watching tour. Below are some of the pictures we took on our tour as well as a video.  In regards to the video we understand that it is difficult to grasp the entire experience as we see it and feel it. So please thank Courtney for adding the much needed commentary, noises, and emotional outbursts....we love you babe!

Shaka brah! (Pinky and thumb hand salute in Hawaii)

just in case you were not sure, this is a whale

Western mountains of Maui

So far, So Great!

Sorry, It has been a few days since we last updated the blog, but it is only because we have been having a bunch of fun.  Last week's weather was terrible. We experienced a few intense rain storms and parts of the island shut down due to the weather. Schools closed, businesses closed, and flooding closed numerous roads across the island. After a couple of days the rain finally ceased and thankfully the sun has been out ever since.  We have mixed up the past few days with a great balance between relaxation and activity.  Below are some of the highlights:

Haleakala: This has to be the highlight of the trip.  After reading and hearing so much about this volcano and its majestic and perfect sunrise,  I thought I was going to be disappointed since I was starting to believe it was being overhyped.  We drove for two hours to Haleakala and got there at 5:40 AM (giving us plenty of time before the sunrise).  No matter how much the guide books emphasize how cold the weather is at 10,000 FT you just have a tough time believing that you need to wear your winter gear to visit Haleakala.  We are in Hawaii! Are you kidding me!?! Below freezing temperatures and it sometimes snows. It's true, it was FREEZING!

We could not have asked for a more pristine morning for the sunrise. The sky was lit by the thousands of stars that seem to be a hand reach away. We were standing 10,000 FT above sea level and above all the clouds. As you stare into the horizon all you see are the contours of the infinite number of clouds that seem to span the entire sky below you. Then it begins. It is 6:35 AM and the horizon slowly starts to get brighter and brighter. For the next 20 minutes I am practically speechless and in awe. There is something very special and spiritual about Haleakala.  Even though you are freezing and your extremities feel like they are going fall off, you can't help but to keep staring into the horizon as the sun starts to rise.  As the sun comes up, you realize you are also standing in front of a gigantic crater and slowly the sun's rays start lighting up the entire scene.  I loved every minute of this and I highly recommend you all visit the largest dormant volcano in the world someday.

Pre sunrise

more pre sunrise...photos don't do justice

Moe, Court, and Celesta con mucho frio!

Sunrise

More sunrise

Haleakala Crater

Revisiting the engagement spot: Here is where we got engaged 19 months ago!

Cooking: Miguel and I have been the house chefs. We have tried to add more recipes to our repertoire of dishes. We are average cooks, but I like to think of us as adventurous and willing to try anything. We have cooked pork ribs, gourmet burgers (with a fried egg on top), and steak with homemade Chimichurri.  I must say, I most proud of my arepas! Arepas are a South American food that can be eaten with any meal. They are a cross between a mexican tortilla and corn meal like pancake and are incredibly delicious! We ate them for breakfast with cream cheese, avocado, and eggs. Andrea, our sister in law, taught me how to make them in San Francisco and I had to try. Andrea is a wonderful teacher and my first arepas came out beautifully!

Courtney getting her hands dirty

Arepas

Dilemma #2 - To Hedge or not to Hedge

So this has been a dilemma I have had since the budget for Europe got put together back in July of 2010. How do I contain the risks in currency fluctuations? So far, my approach has been to do nothing.  However, this can be a costly mistake, a big rise in the euro could limit the availability of funds in Europe or worse force us to trim down the itinerary.  Of all the currencies we will be using during our trip the Euro is by far the currency we will be exposed to the most, as illustrated below:

Currency            % of Budget    % of Time
Europe (EUR)      22.58                 25.59
China (CNY)        7.74                   7.06
Australia (AUD)   7.04                   5.29
Japan (YEN)         2.89                   3.24
Vietnam (VND)    2.17                   3.24

I did buy some AUD back in July and so far the bet has paid off, but the fluctuation has been minimal so my gains have not been something to get too excited about.  In regards to the other currencies, they won't make or break the trip if the currencies were to drastically appreciate against the dollar.  Going back to the Euro, the way I see it I have at least three options:

Option 1: Buy Euros
I can buy Euros now and not worry about what happens with the currency when our European segment begins.  By locking in the currency exchange rate now, I will eliminate the risk of the Euro appreciating against the Dollar.

Option 2: Shorting the Euro
There has been a lot of turmoil in the European Union recently, which has caused the Euro to fall to as low as $1.19 back in May of 2010. Things have recovered somewhat and the Euro now trades for about $1.30, but still far below its highs.  Many things can influence the value of a currency, most of which are beyond my comprehension.  What I do know is that if the Euro is expected to go down, then I might as well bet that it will.

Option 3: Do Nothing
By doing this I am only assuring myself of getting the second best result possible.  If the Euro rises, I will pay more for things when we get there, but I won't lose money by shorting the currency. If the Euro falls to the dollar, I will pay less for items in Europe, but I won't benefit from having shorting it.

I am not an expert in this territory, but it has been something I have been thinking about for a while and I think I need to take action. I'm also sure there are more options than just three.  If you have any insight as to what is going to happen to the Euro please give me a helping hand!

Aloha!

Hello from Hawaii! It has been seven days now since we arrived at Kaanapali, Maui. We will be here until January 31st and accompanying us are Celesta and Morgan, Courtney's mom and younger sister.  This is truly a magnificent place, it is amazing how sunny weather and fresh air can just make you feel better. We are staying in a two bedroom condo with a spacious kitchen and a beautiful view to the golf course.  It still feels pretty surreal that we are on the second week of our trip and we can dictate everything we do every day! So what do we decide to do the first two days we are here?....NOTHING!  We spent the days just admiring our view and chatting the day away...man time flies when you are having fun! Since then we have become more active and we have done a few fun things this week, below are some of the highlights:

Surfing with the Hernandezezezez: Our good friends from Colorado, Ryan and Melissa Hernandez were hanging out in Hawaii with their family. We decide to spend one of our mornings learning how to surf the Maui waves.  I am proud to say that we all did an excellent job!

$10 buck to the person who guesses the board I used!

It is almost go time

You can't stop the waves, but you can learn to surf! 

Plantation House Brunch: This is one of our favorite places to grab some delicious food!

bottoms up

Kapalua PGA Tournament of Champions: The PGA kicks off its season in Kapalua and we were there for the final round...I am a little bummed though, Villegas got a DQ! No es Justo!!!

Learning Italian: Yes, we are learning Italian. Our goal is that by the time we get to Italy in late April, we will be able to parlare Italiano

Arrivederci! Grazie per la lettura

Packing 101

As many of you have already asked me "What in the hell are you packing? What in the hell are you packing in and you're sure as hell bringing a pair a of heels, right?" I answered these questions by saying, "I'm taking tons of lululemon, a 22 inch suitcase, and one pair of heels." Or so I thought.

As I began packing I felt good, no, I felt great! I learned a trick from my mother years ago on how to roll every piece of clothing to maximize all space in the bag. My articles of clothing lay on the floor and I was very confident I would have room to spare in my "nice size" suitcase.  As I start to fill the suitcase I immediately begin to sweat. Oh shoot! I forgot my beach cover up, that perfect JCrew tee, my cashmere wrap, maybe now I need my puffy vest, and what about my tall flat boots, I think I have to have those.  I stare at my suitcase with total disgust as I realize what everyone realized from the beginning.....how is Courtney Tobon going to pack in a 22 inch suitcase for a year? for some reason it never dawned on me that packing would be one of my biggest problems.  After meeting my husband I had to change my excessive packing ways.  I could no longer take a second suitcase for just my shoes!  Traveling with Miguel I had to have a carry-on and full size hair products were out of the question, however I conquered these feats.  I thought I had become an efficient packer, even a light packer. Really, how was I having this problem?!?!?

As I added my forgotten pieces and continued to pack, to my surprise, I didn't have to give up many items, but I did have to sit on my bag to close it.  At this moment I have 7 t-shirts, 6 pairs of pants, 5 tank tops, 4 jackets/sweaters, 3 dresses, 3 pairs of of shoes, 2 swimsuits, 1 pair of jeggins and a partridge in a pair tree :).  To me this does not sound like much, but unfortunately it is.  We would like to have some wiggle room in the suitcase just in case we want to buy a souvenir. The question is what do I give up? Help!

San Frantastic!

The first stop of our trip has been absolutely fantastic or shall I say absolutely San Frantastic! I have LOVED every minute with our beautiful family. It has been a pleasure to spend so much time with the 4 year old twins...Tomas and Martin, Rafa (Miguel's older brother) and Andrea (our sister-in-law). The boys are precious and full of surprises. They continue to impress me with their incredible intelligence and how much they love their Tio Mique and Tia Courtney. Today Martin stopped me and said, "Tia Courtney, I love you." Honestly, could life get any better?!?!

When Miguel and I visit Rafa and Andrea we know one thing is certain...... ridiculously delicious food. We indulge in our every craving and spend our days planning our next meal. The food has been sensational! We have enjoyed tons of fresh bread, cheese, pastries, and lots of hot chocolate....but the best meals are always at home. Andrea has spoiled us with fresh blueberry yogurt, amazing barbecued pork ribs, and homemade arepas! OMG....YUM!

Thank you to our family for such a wonderful stay! We are so thankful for you
 and can't wait to see you again!! Sending you lots of love and many besos!

P.S. Tomas and Martin: Who's a genius?

After one day, the twins quickly preferred Tia Courtney to sit in the middle...sorry Tio Mique

Tony's Pizza...Best Pizza ever!

The whole family in Yountville, CA

Hola Tomas!

New Year's eve dinner

Venezuelan Arepas...delicious!!!

a little rest for Tio Mique after rough housing