Ray's Adventures

El Capitan - Yosemite Valley, California

Yosemite Valley in October

Posted on December 14, 2011July 21, 2015 by Raymond Esparza

I have been to Yosemite National Park many times, but never during the fall. The park is much cooler in the evening but the days can be sunny and warm, but you can never predict Mother Nature around this time of the year. However, the fall brings some welcome beauty and colors to Yosemite Valley. Also, there tends to be a lot fewer visitors in the park so the trails were less crowed which for us all, is always a welcome feature.

Arriving into Yosemite Valley through HWY 41 can be a whole lot of fun if you have a good handling vehicle and are feeling bit like Mario Andretti. The highway has some of the best curves along the → Continue Reading

Castel Del Monte – Amazing World Heritage Site

Posted on September 6, 2011August 5, 2023 by Miguel Gutierrez

Castel Del Monte is a really great historic monument located in the Apulia region of Italy. The combination of Gothic and Islamic architecture makes the castle amazing and huge. It is declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO and annually is visited by thousands of tourist ready for adventure.

Castel Del Monte is a wonderful example of well-maintained medieval fortress-castle at the crossroad of Byzantine, Arab and Western influences. It was built in 1240 and the castle is one of the most impressive buildings of its kind in Italy. The castle is located on top of a 540 m high hill whence its name of Castle Hill.

The castle was built by the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire Frederick → Continue Reading

Guam Island – Beautiful as Never Before

Posted on July 14, 2011July 21, 2015 by Miguel Gutierrez

The territory of Guam Island is located in the western Pacific Ocean, in the region called Micronesia. The island is an organized, unincorporated part of United States and so the inhabitants of the island do not have the right to vote in national elections. Actually, the population of the island is really small. About 170,000 people live on the island, which is the largest island of the Mariana Archipelago. The island was first discovered by Magellan, ruled by the Spaniards, and today, it is important military base of USA.

Interesting fact about the island is that the southern part of the island has volcanic origins and the north part of the island was formed out of coral. Not far from → Continue Reading

Morocco: Legends, Spices and Beautiful Desert

Posted on April 21, 2011August 5, 2023 by Miguel Gutierrez

The first things you will notice while in Morocco are the warm sunlight, the spicy scents, and red houses that blend with the color of the desert sand. It is really beautiful country which can easily free your imagination. The beautiful beaches, the wonderful Atlas Mountains and the eternal Sahara Desert will make your vacation in Morocco a real adventure.

Morocco is very multicultural, multilingual and multi-religious country. That is because of the rich ancient history of the country, dotted with many major events and significant changes. There are many ancient monuments and attractions which are great evidence for the glorious past and bright future of the country.

The first signs of civilization in the recent Morocco dated more than → Continue Reading

A few days in Barcelona

Posted on March 22, 2010August 5, 2023 by Raymond Esparza

If you are visiting Spain, Barcelona is definitely a city you need to visit. The large city is filled with plenty of artistic, cultural, and historical sites to experience. I was only able to visit Barcelona for about four days, but I was able to get a good sampling of what the city has to offer visitors. From the airport it is easy to catch a bus into Barcelona. There is a subway system in the city and plenty of buses, so getting around was easy. I found a hostal near Placa de Catalunya, which was convenient to buses and the subway. Near the Barre Gotic area, the Gothic quarter, we found the Hostal Lausanne, which was part of a → Continue Reading

Visiting Koh Samui, Thailand

Posted on August 4, 2009August 5, 2023 by Raymond Esparza

Koh Samui is located south of Bangkok in the Gulf of Thailand about 31km east of the Ang Thong National Marine Park. Koh Samui is Thailand’s third largest island and is surrounded by 80 smaller islands. About a dozen flights a day arrive from Bangkok and feed this island with a steady flow of tourist. I wanted to save money so I took the evening train to Surat Thani so I could sleep during the 11 hour trip from Bangkok. Once at the train station you will need to catch a bus for the short ride to the boat pier where you will be able to catch a boat to the Na Thon dock on Koh Samui. There are usually → Continue Reading

Tags: beaches Koh Samui Thailand

Venice, Italy October visit, Day one

Posted on May 31, 2009August 5, 2023 by Raymond Esparza

My first visit to Italy and my first stop is Venice. We arrived at Marco Polo Airport in the late afternoon and caught an Alilaguna ferry to Piazza San Marco. The Piazza was near our hotel, so I thought, and it was a good landmark to get our bearings. The day was nearing sunset when we left on the vaporetto to San Marcos Plaza.

After a 14 hour flight, the boat ride was relaxing. Venice harbor with a beautiful sunset as a backdrop can mesmerize and excite you at the same time. Boat traffic was light except for a monstrous cruise ship heading out to sea which looked out of place near this old city. The setting sun highlighted the → Continue Reading

Bearpaw Meadows Camp - Sequoia National Forest, California

Bearpaw Meadows High Sierra Camp

Posted on March 31, 2009July 21, 2015 by Raymond Esparza

Do you enjoy hiking in the Sequoia Forest? Do you want to see magnificent, pristine mountain scenery? How about having all your meals cooked for you, and not have to clean up afterwards? Well, Bearpaw Meadows High Sierra Camp in the Sequoia National Park is just the place for you. It has all of those things and more.

Bearpaw Meadows Camp is a 11.3-mile hike one-way along the High Sierra Trail heading out of the Giant Forest area of Sequoia National Park. The trail head starts in Crescent Meadows, which is approximately 10 miles south of Wuksachi Lodge. There is a parking lot there to leave you car while you are hiking into the wilderness. Don’t forget to get a → Continue Reading

Skiing Powder at Mt. Waterman

Posted on February 15, 2009July 21, 2015 by Raymond Esparza

The snow gods rewarded us with some fantastic powder up on Mount Waterman. The recent storm brought about another foot of fresh powder on top of a 3-4 foot base. It seems not too many people thought to come out and enjoy it because there was no wait at the lift lines…don’t you wish it was like that way all the time? Even later in the day when there were plenty of tracks on the slopes, the snow was so soft and forgiving you could cut right through it and make your own line.

Mount Waterman has the same three, no-frills lifts, and still has the lowest lift ticket prices in Southern California at $45.00 for an all-day pass; half-day → Continue Reading

Went skiing at Mt. Baldy today

Posted on February 11, 2009July 21, 2015 by Raymond Esparza

I went skiing on Mount Baldy today. The snow was soft, the sun was out, and there was hardly anybody out there enjoying it all. I know most people were at work but the few of us that thought skiing was a better option for today had the place to ourselves. No waiting at the lifts is always a welcome experience, and at times being the only one on a run can actually feel strange and freeing at the same time.

The recent Southern California storm system brought in a couple of feet of fresh snow to the local mountains. The Mt. Baldy ski area now has a 3-5 foot base and it has been staying cool up there to → Continue Reading

TRAVEL

CAMPING

SKIING