That picture up there. I remember everything about that picture. The way the warm cement felt on my body. The dry, thin air. The comfortable squeeze of my recovery tights on my tired legs. A feeling of relief and excitement - and the feeling that I didn't want to move for a very long time. That picture, taken shortly after stage one of the Tour of the Gila, feels like it was taken in a different life, but it was only a year ago. Today I am feeling nostalgia as my social media

Far from the magical bustle of my home-away-from-home in the medina of Rabat lies a land that has a magic of its own. Here mountains made of sand replace the colorful shops. Unlike in Rabat, you don't hear the prayer call at sunset in this place. In fact, if you trudge to the top of one of these mountains you might be faced with nothing but the sound of the wind and the sight of one of the most spectacular sunsets of your life. The Sahara Desert holds a unique kind of beauty,

Morocco, this mystical country full of color. The incense is sweet, the olives are cheap, and the spices are pungent. The mix of old and new clash like the green against red of the country's flag. I did not pack the right clothing for this conservative country. Luckily we live deep inside the Medina, the market with high walls that create a maze. A family's livelihood depends on the shops here. During the night they pack everything inside and latch wooden doors closed. But du

The biggest surprise to me about Bogotá was the weather. The temperature here is warmer than it was when I left Portland, but much like Portland, you rarely see the sun. After a couple of weeks in Bogotá (and a few months in Portland), I was ready for some vitamin D. When a friend decided to visit from Portland, I thought it would be the perfect time to get away. The trip was one of the most pleasant airport experiences I've ever had. It was a quick 1 hour flight and the plan

The markets in Bogotá are filled with exotic fruits. I love to bring them home and try to imagine what's going to be inside. It's always unexpected as well as the taste and texture. Here are some of the exotic fruits I tried while in Colombia.