The Big Island

Last month I took my first real vacation since I started my current job nearly two years ago.   I went to Hawaii and stayed in Kona with my wonderful roommate Franci and my dad.  It was so relaxing - we went to bed early every night and spent day after day lying on the beach and playing in the waves.  We toured the entire island, a coffee plantation, and the volcanoes.  It was a restorative week and the cherry on top was getting to night snorkel with mantarays that came mere inches from our faces! Every sunset was accompanied by a cocktail or a glass of wine, and for the first time in ages I actually hardly picked up my camera.  I was surrounded by so much beauty and it was nice to just savor it.  I spent every night giggling until I fell asleep, reading books for pleasure, and doing a whole lot of nothing - I'm so grateful for the trip.