Since we’ve been on “lock down” as we await the outcome of this whole Coronavirus / COVID-19 pandemic, I decided to start taking some travels back in time through some previous adventures. Over the years I’ve been fortunate to have had the opportunity to experience some amazing places, and for this first “Quarantine Journey” I’m heading back to Iceland 2015.
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Recollections, reviews, discoveries, and future plans.
QUARANTINE JOURNEYS | Iceland 2015
EXPLORE | Spain > Platja Coll Baix
I was fortunate enough to be told about this hidden beach and I'm really hesitant to share the location out of fear of people overcrowding and ruining it. At the same time it's an amazing place and people should have the opportunity to appreciate it. It's called Platja Coll Baix and is located on the northern side of Mallorca near Alcúdia. It's only accessible by hiking 2-3km or by boat. When I arrived there were only 3 other people on the beach and a single boat anchored in the cove, while I was the only person actually in the water. The visibilty was amazing and the water temp was perfect. I highly recommend bringing fins because even though the water may look calm, you never know what kind of currents are coming through these places. I actually lost a friend down in Mexico a few weeks ago after he was caught in a riptide. He was a strong swimmer, but didn't have fins on. Anyway, fins (I was using Churchills) and a quality mask (I was using a Riffe) will make the experience much more enjoyable. After hiking and climbing over some rocks to get to the beach, jumping in the water was a refreshing reward. Up to this point this beach is definitely one of my favorite spots I've been to.
EATS | Spain > Manacor > Factoría Restaurant
Tonight I had one of the best meals of my life. I was sitting at my home in the countryside of Mallorca and was feeling bored and hungry when I decided to venture out to another town in search of something to eat. I drove about 30 minutes to Manacor, which is Mallorca's second largest city and the birthplace of tennis player Rafael Nadal. Once I arrived in Manacor I found a place called Factoria Restaurant. I was greeted by Juan the bartender and he set me up with a table. I was flying solo tonight and may have actually enjoyed the essence of my meal more because of it. I can't remember ever having a dining experience that had me savoring every bite from beginning to end. I was fully immersed in the flavors interacting with my tastebuds, and no joke, I was smiling after each bite because everything tasted so good.
I had the black yucca bread appetizer and highly recommend it because it's f--cking delicious. I followed that up with the grilled pork dish and there are no words to explain how tasty that was. I almost drowned in flavor ecstasy and was enjoying my meal so much that chef and owner Tomeu Bauzá, actually came out to thank me for my appreciation of the culinary art he was creating in the kitchen. We chatted for a bit and then it was time for dessert. He walked me through each option, but in the end I still couldn't decide so he brought me both, again more flavor ecstasy.
I thoroughly enjoyed my solo date with food tonight. Chef Tomeu is a super cool guy creating flavorful masterpieces and is grateful to have the opportunity to share his art with others.
Thank you chef Tomeu, Vanesa, and Juan for an amazing dining experience. I'll definitely be back!
FACTORIA RESTAURANT
Plaça Weyler, 1
07500 Manacor, Illes Balears
Spain
+34 654602 769
www.factoriagastrobar.com
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TRAVEL | Spain > Mallorca > Montuïri
View from my walk into Montuïri from my house in the countryside.
For the past 6 weeks I've been living on a finca (country estate) 2.5 miles outside a small town called Montuïri on the Spanish island of Mallorca (also called Majorca) in the Mediterranean Sea. Mallorca is part of the Balearic Islands located off the east coast of Spain which includes Menorca, Cabrera, Ibiza, and Formentera. Over the past 8,000 years the archipelago has changed hands and has been occupied by the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, Vandals, and Moors. You can see the historical influence from each of these civilizations as well as the religious influence from times of Christian and Muslim occupation.
Everywhere you go on the island you hear a mix of Spanish, German, Swedish, Russian, Swiss, Italian and English being spoken. Even though Mallorca is part of Spain, Catalan is the preferred language of choice by the real locals. Street signs tend to be in Catalan or Spanish, but not both.
So far my experience here has been pretty cool and I'll have more specific posts focusing on each experience. I was supposed to fly back to San Diego on May 18, but decided to stay longer so I'll probably be adding quite a bit of content over the next month. Here are some photos of the area I've been living in.
EATS | Spain > Palma de Mallorca > El Aquanauta
I arrived in Mallorca on April 19 and prior to getting here, I was craving some good Mexican food, which I had neglected to take advantage of before leaving San Diego. I've been living in the countryside near a village called Montuïri and there really aren't too many food options nearby, definitely no Mexican food because this is Spain after all. Anyway, after a couple of weeks in the countryside, I decided to spend a weekend checking out Palma. After arriving by bus I was walking to my hotel, still craving Mexican food. As I stopped to check some directions I looked up and saw that I was standing in front of a place called El Aquanauta and saw the word "tacos." I went in, had a seat and ordered 3 different tacos off the menu. Each one was great and I was wishing I had a larger appetite and more accommodating belly that would allow me to try more from the menu. These tacos were easily on par with anything in southern California.
I've been back a few times, not only because of the great food, but also because the staff is super cool and very welcoming. The chef Raúl is from Mexico so he knows his shit and is a great guy to shoot the shit with. He's lived and worked all over the world so we've had plenty of good conversations across a wide spectrum of subjects. The owner Andres actually spent time in San Diego researching taco spots to get inspiration for El Aquanauta, which makes this a very appealing place to hang out when I want a taste of home.
If you find yourself in Palma you should definitely make a point of having a meal here, whether you're looking for Mexican food or just looking for good food, in a cool environment, with a staff that enjoys their job. This place is a great hang out or meeting spot to get the night started.
El Aquanauta
Avenida Argentina, 27
Palma De Mallorca, Spain
+34 871 80 49 30
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RHINO 911 > Anti-Poaching in South Africa
I'm part of a nonprofit anti-poaching team called RHINO 911, we focus on ensuring species survival in South Africa. This is a compilation of footage I shot between January and March of 2017. During this time, was fortunate to work with some amazing people from a number of different organizations, all coming together to help save the rhino.
For more info or to make donations:
www.rhino911.com
www.paypal.me/rhino911
Music:
"This is the Walk" by David O'Dowda www.facebook.com/davidodowda
https://soundcloud.com/davidodowda
https://twitter.com/DavidODowda
https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/david-odowda/id530348216
Elephant Roadblock
I've been busy working on a nonprofit rhino anti-poaching team in South Africa called RHINO 911. I had a few days of downtime 2 weeks ago so I stayed in Marakele National Park for a few nights. As my buddy and I were leaving, this elephant decided to block the road and forced us to go in reverse for about a kilometer.
South African Sunset
Last night's sunset.
Build Your Legacy
Add to your legacy everyday by setting and accomplishing your goals. We're all writing our own autobiographies whether it be on paper or through conversations and activities. The question is . . . will your tale be exciting or mundane when it's told?
Thank you Gage Golightly for the notebook, it accompanies me on all my travels.
Good Times at the Grand Canyon
Over the weekend Gage and I went on a spur of the moment road trip to the Grand Canyon, Sedona, and Jerome in Arizona. We packed in a lot of activity over 2 days and even stayed in a haunted hotel, always a great time!
