"The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in
its net of wonder forever."—Jacques Cousteau

Travel

I read this online and it hit me as being so true that I just had to share it. I find it's easy to tell when visiting with people who have traveled and who haven't. It was written by Gio Evan, an Italian poet and songwriter.

Try to travel, otherwise you may become racist, and you may end up believing that your skin is the only one to be right, that your language is the most romantic and that you were the first to be the first.

Travel, because if you don't travel then your thoughts won’t be strengthened or filled with ideas. Your dreams will be born with fragile legs and then you end up believing in tv-shows, and in those who invent enemies that fit perfectly with your nightmares to make you live in terror.

Travel, because travel teaches us to say good morning to everyone regardless of which sun we come from. Travel, because travel teaches us to say goodnight to everyone regardless of the darkness that we carry inside

Travel, because traveling teaches us to resist, not to depend, to accept others, not just for who they are but also for what they can never be. To know what we are capable of and to feel part of a family beyond borders, beyond traditions and culture. Traveling teaches us to go beyond.

Travel, otherwise you end up believing that you are made only to live with a single thought and instead within you there are wonderful landscapes yet to visit.

Back in Texas

"Only people who are not happy with themselves are mean to others. Remember that." —Unknown

We had a wonderful fall in Pennsylvania with perfect weather and lots of fun time with family. If we're lucky this trend will last through our winter in Rockport.

Our drive south was pretty uneventful. The only issue we ever experience is the traffic in Houston. It doesn't seem to matter when we come through...the middle of the night or rush hour...it just sucks. We took the Sam Houston toll road this time and missed some of the chaos. We stopped for dinner at one of our favorite Mexican restaurants in town before tackling the boat. 

Our dehumidifiers didn't work this year so the mildew was crazy. I had to wipe down all the walls, doors and cabinets before I could go to bed. After a few days of cleaning and doing laundry we are looking back to normal.

Our first Rockport sunset of the season.
We've been waiting since last March to have these wonderful shrimp rolls at Latitudes. We tried all summer to make them, but we couldn't even get close.
The evenings have been beautiful, but the days are still a little too warm for us.
The view from our top deck.
Our Texas home is a beautiful place...at least in the winter. These wonderful photos were taken by John Martell. Looking out into Aransas Bay toward Rockport Beach. 
Looking towards town.
Looking south.