#Missed my 2 hr bus to another city.... | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

sandralagunzad · 5 years ago

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MIAMI BEACH- A Place I Never Expect To Call My Second Home

It all started when I decided to have my work and training in USA. I have always wanted to work abroad; not just to earn money, but also to grow in different aspects. There’s no doubt that the USA is one of the leading countries worldwide, and I believe that I’ll get great opportunities once I step in this country.

I started my application last January of 2018. After a few months of processing necessary documents needed, I flew to the USA in June of the same year. I was so stoked of what were in store for me in that journey.

I flew straight to Atlanta, Georgia to visit my sister first. After travelling for roughly 26 hours from Manila, it was comforting to see my sister. I almost got teary eyed as I hugged her. I couldn’t blame myself, I travelled alone in a completely strange place, and will be in a new environment. She lived there for 2 years, and I honestly missed being with her. I stayed for a little over 4 days before starting my journey in Miami. I was hesitant to stop by Atlanta before reporting in the property that I’ll be having my training with. Good thing I listened to my family, my sister got me goodies that I needed to settle in my apartment. Hehe thanks, Ate!

Miami is a crazy city- one of the busiest cities in the states and top tourist destination. As soon as I knew the city I was going to, I started researching about it. I saw a lot of GREAT pictures, and I can say that those pictures did justice to the place. Yes, Miami is that beautiful.

I started my J1 journey as a restaurant hostess for the first 4 months. I met a lot of nice guests along the way. I even met the nephew of Mother Lily Montenegro! At first glance I knew that he’s a Filipino, and I wasn’t wrong. He’s so nice, and I’m glad he had a great stay at Royal Palm. Going back, we had a training plan to follow as cultural exchange visitors. For every 3 months, we had to rotate positions within the department.

The property’s executive committees were checking on us and making sure we were having a great experience in the hotel. Three months into my training at the restaurant, our HR Director approached me and asked if I would be interested in other positions such as HR coordinator or Reservations coordinator. “Yes!”, I replied, “If given an opportunity it would be a great experience for me.”. Our HR director consulted this to the rest of the executive committee, and they have decided to open the position of Catering and Sales Specialist / Banquets Captain to me, as it was still related to Food and Beverage. And without hesitation, I accepted the job opportunity.

October 10, 2018- I officially became the new Catering and Sales Specialist. This time I told myself that this will be a new experience. I knew that this will not be easy, and will require high level of professionalism and critical thinking. I was very shy and soft-spoken when I started working in the office. You’ll just hear me say ‘Yes’ whenever something was asked of me. I won’t deny, I was scared of voicing out what was in my head. I was scared of giving suggestions or observations because I was afraid to make mistakes. Well, who would want to fail? I promised myself to learn as much as I can, and give every one with utmost respect.

Let me give you an overview of what were my duties and tasks as a Catering and Sales Specialist:

Always attend the 9am meeting with all the department heads, and report if the hotel has any group meetings / events of the day, and the status of in-house groups.

ALWAYS check e-mails and voice messages.

If there are any meetings or events during the day, make sure they have everything they need and fix whatever problem they have- it may be an issue with their sleeping room, meeting room, billings, food selections, etc.

ALWAYS BE ON THE FLOOR.

ALWAYS be on top of everything. Think ahead of time all the possible challenges that the event/meeting will encounter.

Prepare reports such as Group Resumes, Banquet Event Orders, Banquets Forecasts and Banquet Checks, Final Billing and Closing Log.

Be in touch with clients in detailing their incoming meetings/events in the property i.e., food selections, schedule of their programme/meeting, total number of people attending, if they have any dietary restrictions, table set up, audio/visual needs, and even decoration.

December to March is the high season in Miami. Most people in America are trying to stay warm on winter season, and have their Holidays in the Sunshine State. Indeed, in these times, Miami is packed with different tourist around the world. The historical Ocean Drive has different city-wide events especially this season. This only means that businesses are very much alive. Hotels are fully booked, restaurants have at least 15 minutes waiting time, bars and nightclubs are packed, and the streets are never empty. I bet you cannot imagine how busy it can get during these times.

ART BASEL 2018

April to May 2019 were a little lighter. I was able to move freely as my mind was not that stressed out. During this time, I was able to go out more often, and see Miami as it is. Not like the first months, I was just focused on work and had a home-work-home routine. It took quite a long time for me to get out of my comfort zone, to be confident with what I do. Don’t get me wrong, ever since I started working in the office, I gave my all. I walked extra mile with anything that I did. I just wished I did it sooner, to believe in myself. Anyway, I really had a great experience in Royal Palm. I learned A LOT.

I admit, I got really excited to be transferred to another department and position. Little did I know, things will get pretty heavy. I got overwhelmed with how much work I had to do. Everything was new to me. I had a little experience with handling big groups and clients. To be honest, I felt like being thrown into the ocean without knowing how to swim. I’m so lucky that I was surrounded with a great team that helped me and taught me everything that I needed to know.

I had countless breakdowns, not to exaggerate but I had it almost every night. I also had panic attacks much often than it used to. One time I had a rough day at work, I started crying on my way home. I didn’t care if I was on a jam-packed bus, tears started streaming down my face. I couldn’t help it. As time goes by, I was able to cope up. One day I found myself handling all things by myself. However, things got pretty much hectic with work on the first quarter of the year 2019. I was usually off during weekends, but since January came, sometimes I only got Sunday off. That was fine. I mean, it’s included as overtime. Lol!

I remember being nominated as the Associate Star of the Month twice- for the months of February and May. I didn’t expect being nominated, as I was struggling with work during those times. But it was really comforting to know that some people appreciated my hard work when I thought no one saw it.

I got attached. Yes, deeply attached with Miami. I got to experience living away from home, being independent, paying my own bills, being responsible with the basic stuff. I had a freedom. My freedom. It felt good to decide whatever I wanted for myself, at least for a few months.

The beach was just a few steps away from my apartment. I love spending Sunday afternoons at the beach with a bottle of beer. Who would’ve thought that this lady would love the beach so much? Lol. The ocean witnessed every emotion I felt in the duration of my stay. When I was happy, I was at the beach. When I was sad, the moon and stars listened to my story. When I missed home, the wind caressed me. When I got broken, the cold breeze sympathised with me. And when I thought that I found love again, the ocean was the first to witness.

I wanted to stay, but I guess it’s not God’s plan for me. Who knows, maybe sooner or later I will be back again. I really hope so.

I had a lot of down times, not to add the homesickness I felt. But I thank my friends I made along the way. They helped me cope up, they cheered me up. I honestly wouldn’t know what to do if they were not beside me.

I am grateful to experience the Miami vibe!

’Til next time, Vice City!

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mysticsandwich · 4 years ago

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what was it, around may of 2014, I sold my truck and all of my camera equipment, probably for way less than what it was worth. I bought a bunch of random hiking and backpacking/camping gear and a bus ticket from orlando all the way across the country to spokane washington. I had decided to volunteer on a vineyard/family farm thru wwoof, worldwild organic orginzation of farmers. you basically work like 4-8hrs a day and in exchange you get some form of housing and food. I’d be staying in a tent and get 3 meals a day. I really didnt know what to expect except I was ready for some kind of adventure and was miserable where I was. I had no idea what I was doing and about $3k in my bank account. I was an emotional mess, duh. I rode the bus for 94 hours, it was insane. I barley slept, the bus stopped about every 1-2 hrs for bathroom breaks and stretch/snack stops. I remember leaving atlanta around 12am, the random girl next to me kept falling asleep on my shoulder and waking me up. I didn’t get off of the bus until Chicago. I had an 8hr layover to the next bus. I bought a pack of menthol american spirits and walked around downtown chicago for like 6-7 hours. it was great, besides the exhaustion. it was the first time I had really walked around the heart of a real big city in my adult life. I got on the next bus and endured another 45hrs or so of bus riding to spokane washington. god I was beat. I got picked up by leah, the woman who kind of ran the whole wwoofing operation her husband and her ran. She picked me up from the greyhound station in spokane around noon, her firstborn son, henry was in the back of her truck asleep, I think he was two years old or so. She is very chatty and friendly. she hugged me upon meeting me and was very welcoming. after almost 4 straight days on buses with strangers it was very nice. she chatted as we drove out of spokane northwest to the small town of hunters,wa. after an hr and a half we arrived at a small gas station, the first store in about 30 miles. her dad owned the store/small mechanics garage all the locals got their trucks and equipment fixed at. I met her mom who ran the shop part of the store and dad who ran the store and mechanics garage. then we headed to the farm. we arrived and i met john, leahs husband. john and leah were 30 and 29 at the time, respectively. they had a house on an absolutely gorgeous 45 acre piece of land overlooking the Columbia river, a huge river that flows from canada all the way to Oregon. the property was amazing, small mountains or hills overlooking a sharp 200-300 foot drop to the wide river. they showed me my tent spot, right on a cliff below their house overlooking their house. it was amazing and gorgeous. i set up my tent and unpacked my backpack. i had to be back at the house around 7pm for dinner. i arrived and john was cooking while leah cleaned up. henry was just running around the garden that was their backyard. their entire house they built themselves. it looked like a house, kind of slumped and lopsided but normal enough. but they built it from bales of hay, wrapped in chicken wire, with spackle on the wire to look like normal walls. hardly any wood, mostly built of hay. it was very cheap to build, john did all of the wiring and plumbing hisself and hay has absolutely amazing insulating capabilities, so it was never too hot in the summer and never too cold in the winter. amazing. the first night there dinner was salad hand picked from their garden, we all just chatted and got to know eachother. I slept in my tent like a baby, the first nights sleep in like 4 days not on a bus in a seat constantly being woken up, with the sound of the nature and river below. the next day was the first day of work and learning the farm. most of the work I did there wsa trimming grape vines with john. leah would go to the gas station/country store her parents own and work, so in the morning i’d scramble up the hill to the house and john would make breakfast for me him and henry then we’d head out the vineyard. most of the work we did while I was there was trim vines. you have to snip off the weakest vines and keep the strongest ones to get the most grapes. so everyday me john and henry would go out to the vineyard, it was 10 acres big, not very big but big for two guys and a baby. me and john would each get a row of vines, we’d go down a trim and leapfrog each other, trimming all the extra vines off. henry would sleep in a stroller or waddles around john, sometimes coming to me to hangout. me and john would usually work at the same pace once I go the process down, and we’d talk the whole day till about lunch or 1pm. then go back to the house, he’d make lunch and then we’d get a break for about 2hrs. I’d usually go down to the river or take a nap in my hammock. then we’d meet around 3pm and work on another farm project, maybe fixinga a drain or a fence, etc. then leah would come home and we’d all make dinner. these people were so kind and just took me in and included me in their lives and family and farm, gave me good advice, etc. they told me of their adventures from their earyl 20′s. they both went to new zealand and traveled and worked for about 2 years. leah was a white water raft guide and john worked on bikes. they did that and hiked thru new Zealand. they went bak to america and saved money, then hitchhiked down the entirety of south america for a year. then decided to return to leahs parents hometown and start eh vineyard. amazing people, very warm and kind and hardworking. i was so lost at this point in my life and they gave m a good goal of how I wanted to be or at least were very positive role models. so went about 2 months, working with john mostly, hanging with leahs family, meeting their friends, working hard, learning about growing wine grapes, learning alfalfa farming, hitchiking to town, reading a lot. then late june hit, and john and leah got 3 more WWOOFers. 3 girls from rhode island, culinary students on a summer road trip, wwoofing to see where organic food comes from. two were very pretty and all 3 were very nice. they set up thier tent and I became their tour guide, showing them how all the work was done, how the farm and house worked. they liked to drink and party, were all older than me. we had a good time, though my work ethic kind of went ot shit, distracted by a bunch of girls haha. it was nice to be the only guy around them. they were there for about 3 weeks and then were heading to another farm in northern california. they invited me to go with them. I loved the farm in spokane..but 3 college girls when you’re 19...duh. so they left and I said my sad goodbyes to john and leah and hit the road with 3 college girls. we stopped all over down the west coast of the country. we all went skinny dipping in a pool in portland, one tried to sleep with me and I was too stupid to realize it. huge regret. story for another time. we finally reached pescadaro, CA. an absolutely beautiful little coastal town. the farm was owned by an absolute lunatic who thought he could talk to aliens and grew a a LOT of illegal weed. all we did for about a week was smoke weed and hangout with crazy vagrants the farm owner brought in, the absolute opposite of john and leahs farm. I liked the 3 girls but I missed john and leah a lot then. I was supposed to go visit my bestfrind, Gabe, in texas at some point that summer and after a week at this sketchy “farm” I decided to leave. the girls, katie, becca and kristen were awesome and i was pretty much in love with katie, but it was time to go. so they drove me to san fransisco and I got on a greyhound bus around midnight around the end of july and headed for texas. before I left the farm in pescadaro the head “farmhand” there gave me about 2 ounced of weed as a parting gift. being 19 and dumb I took it. I put the damn thing in my backpack and got on the greyhound. I slept from san fran to LA and from La to around new mexico. more bus riding, yay. I got to el paso, tx.

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{2oz weed story]

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yourworldmyworldourworld-blog1 · 5 years ago

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Brazil - Just let go and enjoy

Brazil - Rio de Janeiro & Ilha Grande

So Brazil is my country of origin. So I ended up spending quite a bit of time here. I will then give you a few tips on a few things and a few cities so its not an overload. I am also yet to explore its grandeur in full. São Paulo, I will save you for later my dear one.

RIO DE JANEIRO

I spent approximately a week in Rio, not followed by collectively so I will write below a quick guide.

Day 1 - if you are arriving by plane I advise you try and get into Santos Dumont which is super close to the city centre. From there you can get the VLT which is just outside the airport to Cinelandia and at Cinelandia you can cross the tracks and get into the underground so you can head southbound to Ipanema. Make sure when you buy the ticket (which will be a card) of the VLT you put enough cash for that day (around R$20 should do). If you arrive early and are staying in Ipanema or Copacabana (which I highly recommend as these are safer areas), go for a walk on the beach.

Botanical Gardens

Day 2 - When I arrived I headed straight to the Parque Lage and Botanical Park by Uber (they also have an app called Rio cabs which also works well and its like an Uber). But that depends when you arrive in the city. This trip could take you half a day or a full day depending how easy you want to take it. The Parque Lage and the Botanical Park are beautiful and you can have a coffee and picnic over there. On your way back you can also go for a wonder around the Lagoa (Portuguese for the Lake). I took the bus back but equally you can get an Uber back. Again make sure you miss the rush hour. As for food I recommend this adorable vegetarian / vegan place near the Botanical Gardens called Prana.

Mureta da Urca

Day 3 - Wake up early and head to Pao de Acucar. It’s a bit difficult to get there by public transport as you will need to get the tube and the bus so perhaps look into getting a cab there. You can also chose to trek up Pao de Acucar. You can either book with a guide all of it or you can do half by yourself. Equally you can just get the cable car (at R$100 for an adult (you have discounts for students)) all the way up. Enjoy the view and then go for a wonder around Urca, or better yet hand around until sunset to enjoy it at the wall (which they call “mureta”). There is only one bar around there and I advise you buy a few large beers (at R$10 if I recall right) and keep the tickets to reclaim later so you don’t have to queue again. I also recommend you order a portion of pasteis (cheese and shrimp are my favourite although meat is good too).

City Centre

Day 4 - Head out early to Cinelandia and check out the library, the royal gabinet and walk around this city centre. There also should be some walking tours leaving from the square in front of the National Library around 9:30am/10am. You can either walk towards the Tomorrow Museum or you can leave this to another day. Whenever you decide to go to the Tomorrow Museum (in Portuguese: Museo do Amanha), make sure you either buy the tickets for the Museum before or you arrive around opening time (10am) so you are not stuck in the queue for too long. This museum is definitely work it and at R$20 per adult its super doable. Then go and wonder around the market to the left of the museum (in fact between the tomorrow museum and the art museum which are on the same square area) and enjoy the view of that huge wall with these worldly colourful faces. If you have time you can also head to Santa Teresa that same day and do the Ruins Park and the colourful steps (Escadaria Selaron).

Escadaria Selaron

Day 5 - Escadaria Salaron (Escadaria meaning staircase and Salaron the name of the guy who made it) is the various steps up near Lapa made of mosaic. You have a lot of people there but if you head up to a park called Santa Teresa first you have a nice view of the city and then work your way down. Take your time and enjoy the views. Also be careful as the Lapa neighbourhood near the staircase isn’t super safe. You can then go for lunch at one of the many bars in the Lapa (look up places on Avenida Mem de Sa).

A Day at the Beach

Day 6 - You can look to do go and just chill at Barra da Tijuca beach or Ipanema or Copacabana. If you chose a weekend to go and chill at the beach you will see what Rio is truly like. Make sure you buy some mate (which is a typical Rio drink, sold anywhere really but the best one is at the beach from these guys with these metal like tanks). Make sure you also buy the ‘Globo’ snacks they carry around. Only then you can truly experience the Rio spirit. Also make sure you watch the sunset at one of these beaches as its stunning. Equally head down the Ipanema beach to the Pedra do Arpoador (the Arpoador Rock) to watch the sunset.

Cristo / Christ Redeemer

Day 7 - If the weather is good I would highly recommend waking up early and heading out to the Cristo. I got an a taxi with 99 but you could also plan to get an Uber. I would recommend booking a taxi back. Perhaps speak to the driver or pre-book the Uber as its quite busy and there are less taxis on the way back.

Saturday Markets

Day 8 - If one of your days in Rio is the first Saturday of the month you can head to the Lavradio Street Market. It is a vintage market in the Lapa neighbourhood. There is also the Rio cathedral next door that is a very interesting architecture (built in a triangular manner).

SAFETY / TIPS

In terms of safely I would say you stay in Copacabana or Ipanema. The Lapa neighbourhood is dangerous although a fun night out. But know that I only went out there with locals I trusted. Rio is beautiful but please be careful because it’s not the safest place so be careful and don’t stray too far from the safe areas (Leblon, Ipanema and Copacabana) unaccompanied by locals you trust.

Other things to do:

Climb Sugar Loaf

Barra beach

Tijuca Park

Pedro da Gavea climb

ILHA GRANDE

You can take another 3-4 days or even more to head to Ilha Grande which is super close to Rio and super worth the visit.

Day 1 - All you need to do is get the 5am bus to Mangaratiba from the Rio bus station. You can buy the ticket online and get it on the day. I would recommend you arrive at the station around 4am. Once you get to Mangaratiba (a 1.5 hr drive from Rio getting you there around 6:30/7am), head to the port which is about 100m on the same side of the road that the bus will drop you off. There might already be a queue so just join. The boat costs R$17 one way. When you get to Ilha Grande you can buy the return on the day or do what we did which was to get a transfer back that included the boat and the bus back to Rio. The boat to Ilha Grande took around 1hr. When we got there around 9/10am we headed to our camping site. It was called Camping do Bicao. You can chose more expensive options but Camping do Bicao was super well equipped. When you booked with them (at R$30 per person per night for the camping space), you can ask to rent anything from the tent (R$120 per night I believe); mattresses (R$60 per night for a double); pillows and bedding (another R$30 per night I believe). They also have hostel rooms but they go quickly. Everything was clean and super well organised.

On the same day we arrived we had all our stuff up and organised by 11am. If you rent the tent they help you do it up and take it down for you so you don’t even need to worry about that. We then headed to the Poço (translated to Well but really just a pool of water) which is to the north of the island (20 minutes from the town). We then treked for an 1 hr to the Feiticeira beach and waterfall. Super worth it and doable with half a day. As we came back into town around 3pm we bought some food (I also advise you buy some food in Rio and take it with you as Ilha Grande options are limited and things are expensive). We also booked a tour for the next day called Meia Volta where you do half of the island (that’s what “meia volta” means). Most agencies do the same spots and cost about the same so just ask around and see which one you prefer.

Meia Volta tour

Day 2 - Meia Volta tour. Enjoy and take some food but the boat should have water. Also take a snorkel if you have one.

Lopes Mendez trek

Day 3 - Make sure you do not miss the trek to Lopes Mendez. Leave early in the morning - say 9/10am. Take at least 1lt of water per person and food. The trek took 2hours but its uphill then downhill. Plus its through the forest so although you don’t usually have the sun on you its pretty humid and super hot. Also make sure you buy your return ticket before you leave (the long boat at 45mins should come to R$15 and the fast boat at 30mins comes to R$25). If someone on the trek tries to sell it for more or doesn’t give you the less expensive options keep walking. Make sure you keep an eye out for anyone selling the tickets and ask how much. We bought our return tickets with a lady at the third to last beach before getting to Lopez Mendez. Normally they keep an eye out and ask people whether they have return tickets. If I were you I would buy the tickets in town for the 5pm slot so you can truly enjoy Lopes Mendez and the other beaches. We arrived at 1pm and realised that 4 hours was not long enough. On our last night we also headed into town to enjoy some music. Be warned that booze is expensive although we managed to find a tiny spot one street away from the Main Street selling stuff fairly cheap.

Day 4 - On this day we headed back to Rio early. We got the transfer (at R$110) including ferry and bus to Rio at 10am. If you decide to stay longer there are other beaches you can explore.

CRIBSHEET

In Rio Stay either in Ipanema or Copacabana. I rented an air B&B. There are also hostels in Barra da Tijuana which isn’t bad but a bit away from the city centre.

Places to eat:

- Mate and Globo biscuits at the beach

- Jockey Club by the Botanical Gardens

- Prana (address: R. Lopes Quintas, 37) by the Botanical Gardens

- Ella Pizzaria (address: Rua Pacheco Leao, 102) across from the Botanical Gardens

- Puro Restaurant (address: R. Visc. De Carandai, 43) again across from the Botanical Gardens

- Bar Pavao Azul (address: Rua Hilario de Gouveia, 71) in Copacabana. Amazing little bohemian split with amazing “pasteis” (fried pastries) and good vibes.

- Urca Grill (address: Rua Mal. Cantaría, 10). This place you got to go at the end of the day to watch the sunset sat at the wall - you will see what I mean because it will be hard to find a spot to sit. Get some beers and some “pasteis” and enjoy the view and the vibe.

- Confeitaria Colombo (address: R. Goncalves Dias, 32). This is a century-old cafe with an incredible colonial architecture, amazing traditional snacks, sweets and coffee. It’s in the city centre so perhaps go after a morning stroll / tour / museum visit.

Where to go:

- Christ Redeemer (half day)

- Mureta da Urca & Sugar Loaf (full day)

- City Centre (walking tour) (half day)

- Escadaria Selaron / Santa Teresa (full day)

#brasil #brasiltravel #riodejaneiro #ilhagrande #backpacking #travel #travelling #vision #visionworld #yourworld #myworld #ourworld

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genericdelusion · 5 years ago

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Part of the short story series “Trust No One” by GenericDelusion

Disclaimer: All persons and events are pure fiction, and bare no relation to living or deceased persons, nor to real events. This is pure fiction.

The rain was getting heavier the further south he went. What started as a light drizzle when he left the capital two hours ago, had turned into a a steady rain. Although it was only 4pm before he reached the southern city of Sparta, it was already getting dark and the rain didn't help either.

Without running into any slow traffic and with good travelling conditions, home was still about an hour away – if he headed straight south. But with the weather forecast predicting extremely heavy rain further south, and the good possibility that the southern tips of the Taygetos Mountains would be covered with snow making the roads hard to travel at normal speed, it would probably be faster and safer to go east to Kalamata, and then head south to Areopolis. Either way, he didn't expect to be home for about two hours still.

Driving, his mind wandered over the last couple of years and how he had ended up here.

Although John had live in Greece for nearly 2 years now, he still missed living in the USA. But with the sudden death of his wife, a change was needed. It didn't help with the investigations into his businesses by the FBI. He chose Greece for two main reasons. One being that his late wife was Greek Cypriot and thus his basic knowledge of the language, and secondly, because it was somewhere the FBI would not look for him. Their focus would be in the USA and maybe Cyprus, but not Greece. With a change of name thrown in, and the isolation of where he lived, he was well protected for now.

The other had to do with his personal private interests. His trip to Athens was more than just a business trip. Despite all the fun he had, and the prize he was taking home which was secured in the boot of his Mercedes Benz, he still ached for more fun. As he thought about the weekend, he absent mindedly drove through Sparta and head south instead of west towards Kalamata, which was he intended route. By the time he realised, he was already out of the ancient city and approaching the regional army base.

The rain had got heavier, a sign of things he hoped would not be the theme for the rest of the trip. Traffic heading south was light but the ferocity of the rain forced him to slow down, barely able to see more than a couple of hundred metres ahead of him. As he approached the bus stop outside the army base, he could see only one person standing there. The guy had stuck out his arm at him, attempting to hitch hike a lift home.

John slowed down and seeing the young soldier, pulled over whilst winding down his window.

The solider ran up to him. A quick assessment put the soldier in his very early 20s, around 170cm tall, athletic build, with brown eyes and hair.

“I'm heading to Areopolis. Where you heading son?” John asked.

“Gythion.” replied the soldier, with a begging look in his eyes.

“Hop in. You can put your bag in the back seat” replied John as he remotely unlocked the doors.

With his bag in the back seat, the soldier jumped into the passenger front seat, buckled up before turning to John.

I'm Christos, thanks for the lift” he said.

“John, nice to meet you” he replied in his best Greek. “been waiting long at the bus stop?”

“Yeah. The fucking bus passed early, so I missed it by 5 minutes, and the next one isn't for at least another hour.”

John looked at his watch. “Its 4.15pm, the bus normally passed through here at 4.15pm so it must have been early” he said.

“The wanker bus driver is always doing this to us. Every bloody week, he comes past 5 to 10 minutes early” Christos replied.

“Well, you're lucky I passed by and saw you, or you could be waiting a while with this weather. Anyway, I do need to go to Geraki on the way to drop off some stuff to a client of mine. Hope you don't mind” John said.

Christos shook his head indicating it wasn't an issue. A lift with a slight detour was better than hanging around at the bus stop for the next bus, especially with this rain.

Sparta to Geraki was only 39 km but with the current rain, which was getting heavier by the minute, and driving at a slow 40km/hr, it would be about an hour. The conversation between them had died down as John focused on the road.

By the time they had reached Geraki, Christos had fallen asleep in the passenger seat. John pulled up at his client's home, got the small parcel from the back seat, and ran to the door. Handing the parcel over to his client's wife, he ran back to his car, getting only slightly drenched. Once in the warmth of his car, he looked at Christos who was still sleeping, oblivious to their stop.

John looked at Christos, and realised how angelic he looked as he slept with his mouth slightly open. He could feel himself getting aroused, but this was not the time or place, especially when they were still in front of his client's home. He reached to the back seat and pulled out his thermo which was filled with coffee. He poured some into his travel cup and placed it into his car's dashboard cup holder.

He reached into his inside jacket pocket, found the two tablets that he had there, and dropped them into the thermo, before sealing it again and putting it in the back seat. With that done, he pulled away from his client's driveway, and headed towards Skala which was 25km away and the town before Gythion.

Christos finally awoke about 10km out of Skala, surveyed the area to get his bearings.

“We're about 10km from Skala” John said without prompting.

“Are we stopping there or driving right through” Christos asked.

“Straight through, so you should be home in about 40 minutes or so” Replied John as he reached for his coffee and sipped some. “If you want a coffee, there's a spare cup on the back seat along with the thermo. Help yourself”.

Christos looked at the back and saw it, and reached for them saying “thanks”. He poured some and took a tentative sip. The coffee was warm, not as hot as he normally liked it but good enough to quench his thirst.

“I've had my quota for the trip, so if you want, you can finish the rest” John said, seeing Christos down the last drop in his cup. He poured the remaining half cup of coffee and downed it pretty much in one gulp.

“Thanks. Didn't realise how thirsty I was” said Christos. John simply smiled as he swerved to avoid hitting a cat that was crossing the road. Stupid animals he thought. No one in the right minds would be out in this weather, but then he had no affinity to cats and would have had no qualms running it over had the roads not been so wet and dangerous to drive on.

Christos was quiet as they reached Skala, and by the time they had passed through the town, he was asleep again. John smiled at his passenger and with his right hand, reached out and gave him a gentle shake. Christos didn't respond and continued to sleep. The tablets had kicked in and would keep him sleeping for the new few hours.

They reach Areopolis about 30 minutes later, and the rain had eased since leaving Skala. He proceeded south of the town which he called home. When he had first moved here, he had bought one of the old abandoned Mani towers about 20 km south of the town. Isolated and accessible by a small dirt road, it was an area where no-one, even the locals, didn't venture to. The rugged mountains of Mani were inhospitable at the best of times, and in winter only those living in the region travelled there.

John parked the car as close to the front door of his second home, as was possible. With the open fireplace lit, he emptied the back seat and the boot of its contents taking his prize from Athens up to the second floor, before returning to carry Christos inside.

He lifted the young soldier and carried him into the lounge, placing him on the couch still drugged and asleep.

He looked at the young man for a few minutes, before pouring himself a scotch. Drink in hand, he locked the front door before heading up to the second floor.

The Mani tower he had bought was three levels. The ground floor he had converted into a kitchen, bathroom and lounge. The second floor was was his entertainment are, and the first floor was his sleeping quarters. The fireplace downstairs was already warming up the entire place, although it would be a couple of hours before all three floors were warm enough to walk around without a jacket on.

John changed into something more comfortable, a pair of jeans, sneakers and a hoodie, before heading down to the ground floor. Christos was still asleep on the couch. John reached over and gave him a gentle shake. Christos moved and slightly opened his eyes, still drugged. John reached out and lifted him up.

“Come on, think you need to lay down” he said, as he lifted Christos up on to his feet. With one arm over his shoulder and another around his waist, John led Christos up the flight of stairs to the first level, and laid him down on the bed. He pulled the quilt aside, before undressing Christos down to his underwear, before laying him in the bed, covering him with the quilt.

He looked at the sleeping young soldier. He would be so much fun to have around. But first, John needed a shower, to freshen up after the long trip home, and to have a bite to eat.

After a hot shower and some pasta for dinner, John locked the front door, turned off the lights and headed upstairs. He locked the door that connected the stairwell to the ground floor, and headed up to the second floor, where he switched off the light and locked the door as well. Although he knew no-one would be coming up to his place, he always felt more secure knowing every door was locked knowing anyone trying to get in – or out – would have a difficult time doing so.

With the place locked and secured, he went back down to the first floor.

Christos was still sleeping, the drugs would wear off in about an hour or so, but till then, he would sleep through practically anything.

John undressed down to his underwear, laying his clothes on the chair, neatly folded. He opened the top draw of his dressing table and pulled out his night pack, placing it on the bedside unit next to his bed. Locking the door, he turned the lights off and crawled into bed next to Christos.

Laying there, he could feel the warmth of Christos' body next to his, which despite being tired, aroused him no end.

John rolled onto his side so as to face Christos. His left hand begun caressing Christos' body, pinching his nipples and then running his hand down his naked body. He begun to massage Christos' cock slowly, and he felt Christos getting aroused as well. As he played with Christos' erection, Christos begun to moan gently. Still drugged, Christos subconsciously moved his hand down to his cock, trying to push away John's hand. John took Christos' hand, and held it down on the mattress.

Rolling over, John kneeled between Christos' legs, and with both his hands holding Christos' hands down, begun to suck Christos' erect cock. Christos continued to moan and as John continued to suck the young cock, Christos begun to struggle to break free from John's hands. The drugs were beginning to wear off.

John stopped, leaned over and opened his night pack, pulled out two sets of handcuffs and quickly handcuffed young Christos' hands to the metal framed bed-head, who by now had stopped moaning and was still sleeping although his eyes were moving under his closed eyelids. John knew he would be awake soon.

Once Christos was secured with the handcuffs, John then pulled Christos' underwear off completely and threw them on the floor

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powerbottomblake · 6 years ago

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okay now I have to ask how did you accidentally get into a strangers car

Noooo dhskddsf it’s a long story to tell since I have to give you cultural context you have been warned

under cut for people who don’t want big ramble about the Moroccan public transportation system

ok so first you need to know that in Morocco we have two types of taxis: “small” taxis with a maximum of 3 passengers, priciest thing you can ride after an Uber, and “big” taxis with a maximum capacity of 6 passengers, a little bit more expensive than the bus but way way cheaper than a small taxi. The difference is that big taxi kinda work like buses where they have set itineraries they won’t divert from; they’ll pick you up and drop you off anywhere on said itinerary.

Which brings us to what we call “snatchers” (best translation I could come up with). Snatchers are...unauthorized, unlicensed big taxis. Technically they’re illegal but they’re such a big part of the public transportation system in Morocco (bc authorized ones simply do not suffice) that they’ve become pretty normalized. They don’t have anything outwardly marking them as a means of transport, but they’re pretty easy to spot bc they’re generally old, washed out cars with an assortement of 6 people that are so obviously not related in any way and not headed anywhere together that it’s jarring. You see a 4-wheeled dumpster engine squeezing inside of it a group of people so heteroclite they’d put a Star Trek crew to shame you just know you got yourself a snatcher.

At the time I had this internship in another city; the commute by train took around 1hr. The train departed every hour so I had to be at the station on time. One fateful morning though I woke up late. Missed the bus, saw the bastard take off as I was running to the bus station. Not a single taxi, big or small, in sight, and I was running out of time (services like Uber still hadn’t reached Morocco at the time). So this is the part where I tell you I am absolutely shit at telling different brands of cars apart, like I’m just horrendous at it. I don’t know the difference between a Kia and a Renault I only have two modes: Long Car and Short Car. Ok so I’m losing my goddamn poc mind bc if I miss my train that’s more than 2 hrs of lateness for my internship when a car stops right in front of me, the window rolls down and the driver is like “where you headed to?” in a very decided tone. And I’m like YES finally a snatcher so I just vaguely register Long Car, I don’t even really check if the car fits the Snatcher Criteria, and I immediately get in.

So we set off and that’s when I realize a couple of things. First, I’m alone with the driver which is hiiiiighly unusual on that exact trajectory. Second, the car’s interior...is unsettlingly clean for a snatcher?? it smells nice and all?? and the interior has like...wood paneling?? as in this is kind of a fancy car? And then I turn to the driver and notice for the first time he kinda looks...nice. The kind of nice that doesn’t really fit the line of work of a snatcher. By now I am kinda growing uncomfortable but I’m still like maybe it’s just me! So I try to pay him and he looks at my outstretched hand and the single coin in it and he just cracks up. He goes ��You think someone with a [insert name of mildly fancy car I can’t rmb it for shit] would be a snatcher?” and I’m like oh shit my dumb ass got in a car with a total stranger so I tell him to drop me off and he laughs and goes naaah not happening now. So at this point internally I’m like this is fine :) :) gonna end up murdered somewhere :) :) *jake peralta voice* cool cool cool :) :) but then the guy is actually just...genuinely nice? He doesn’t veer off the road to the train station and he starts telling me about his job as an engineer - which was coincidental since I was studying to become one myself - giving me general life advice and the state of the job market and future prospects and he’s just. Really really nice. Doesn’t pull a single weird move and is actually kinda cute.

So he then drops me at the station and gives me his number and I end up going on a date with him the next weekend the end.

#story time #Anonymous

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haruki-ya · 6 years ago

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I had a dream my boss called me in for one last shift at work....just two hours nd I could sign my final paperwork too.

I went into the mall and had time to spare so I grabbed some coffee in the food court and ran into her there. With her bf. They were both staring at me before I approached nd after until she said “come on let’s go” and we started walking together to work. Right as we walked in the door she kinda made a noise of pain and I asked if she was ok. “Don’t talk” she said. Eyes on the floor, I said “ok”. she apologized a moment later saying “I’m sorry i lashed out I was in pain” which is more than she ever said irl in moments like that (never as direct tho). other manager was there too, she made a face when I came in. Feigned happiness to see me. Clocked out as I clocked in. The layout of the store changed tho. It was much more narrow, with ceiling length shelves and racks that stretched back into the store. Very cramped and claustrophobic Cashwrap was up front. My boss, on the floor in pain, told me to find something to do in the back. So to the back I was banished, and found something to do.

Next thing I know I’m home. Sittin at my desk watching a movie that is more or less the premise of Castlevania’s episode about finding the sleeping warrior under the city to save the day. I’m confused tho because shouldn’t I be at work? I check my phone. 5:34. January 4th. I’m at home. I check my calender. 2 hr shift at 5:30 January 4th. I sit confused. I remember being at work....how did I get back. How did I leave. Faith would be so mad. She would be so upset I missed another shift. Maybe I could rush over super quick maybe she wouldn’t notice maybe she wouldn’t hate me. I stepped out the door and was transported to another world. Another house.

Inside the house is dark. I stand in the foyer, looking up at the upstairs bannister....and what stands behind it. A ghostly specter of black and grey, with a face like that of a very sad woman. Gone in the blink of an eye. Someone comes at me from the side. Family? They usher me to safety. Into a room where a woman sleeps like a rock in a bed. Looking very reminiscent of the woman specter I saw on the stairs. That was grandma. She started taking new medication recently. Weird happenings followed closely after. We move to another room, trying to find her medication to throw it away. Trying to avoid the silent form that drifts down the hallways, tilting hanged photographs with her ghostly fingers and rattling door handles until they open. Once the medication is found, the lights start to come on. The sun comes out. Grandma wakes up. “You can’t take this medication anymore please it’s not good for you” she nods sleepily, gets up to go make food in the kitchen. Rest of the family piles outside.

There’s an old, looming Roman Catholic looking church across the street. I didn’t know initially. Now I do. There are police and spectators around the entrance. A form takes shape in the darkness of the entranceway. A whisper of “sleeping warrior” somewhere in the crowd. Slowly it starts to walk towards us. No one is worried. Until the darkness around him takes shape too, into black featureless bodies of shadow that movie inhumanly fast. Start to chase after the crowd.This isn’t the sleeping warrior. Family and I jump inside an empty school bus and take off. Shadow figures follow us. I can see the figure of the man in the distance, walking slowly. Unbothered. I yell for the driver to go faster. They’re catching up. Quickly. One breaks through the blasts of the door in the back. Grabs my ankle. Pulls.

I startle. I’m sitting at desk in a store. Not my store. A store. January 4th 5:35. I see my bosses boyfriend across the way. She walks up to him in the food court. I’m working at his store not hers. I’m very confused.

#i havent had a dream like this in a minute #god that was.....vivid #i’ve never seen my phone before jn a dream #but i saw date and time #dont mind shift in tense this is just me gettin my thoughts out #ghosthings

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brianbernardo · 4 years ago

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INTERNSHIP WEEKLY JOURNAL

WEEK 1

This week is my 1st week working at the Convention Service and all I can say is that I am learning a lot and being happy because they are always guiding me in every way they can teach me. I am anxious and scared at first but I am getting excited to work because of my colleagues. I spoke to my Supervisor in the Banquets department, Mr. Zimmer, Convention Service is under Banquets about my rotation on my December so I can prepare myself again for adjusting and adapting. I will be transferred around December 23rd. My last day of the week was very tiring but I had to stand my ground. I was left to work alone with my night shift supervisor Mr. Rob Givens, we worked separate rooms and he had to finish a room on the 14th floor named Wilson’s Plover and I had to finish the Ballroom called Audubon D,E,F for a convention event. We finished working around 3am in the morning, luckily I had to come in at 2pm the next day. I realized as I end my week I garnered 43 hours in just 5 days of work. My work in the Convention Service department will be totally different from the thought processes of my last internship in the Philippines in Crowne Plaza because this is more of a behind the scenes department, with less guest interaction.

WEEK 2

This week is my 2nd week working at the Convention Service and the only way for me is up claw my way and learn. I can say is that I am still learning a lot and happy and excited about my progress since they told me I easily adapt and a fast learner, well the reason is they are showing me the ropes. I just have to pick up my pace. I spoke to the HR Department regarding my housing if they could still extend my stay in the hotel until the 8th of November because I am waiting for my father to send my down payment and first month for the housing that I am trying to get. This week was more of learning for me than action because all we had to do is refresh all the rooms, for the reason that we were still having the same people from last week's Raymond James Investment Solution Forum. But on the last day of the week was filled with action because we had a wedding for Mr. and Mrs. Jasper , I had to set up the Foyer and Promenade alone. It was challenging since I had to do it all on my own but I felt respect, responsibility and trust. My work in the Convention Service is more of Set up, Refresh, or Clean and Clear. That's basically the structure of the cycle that I am learning so far.

WEEK 3

This week is my 3rd week working at the Convention Service and I have to say I am happy about my progress since I am getting more familiar with the techniques and rooms ,then I just have to pick up my pace .As I am approaching the week of moving into another I had to prepare myself from commuting and being more independent than just living in a hotel. This week was more busy than last week because we had to turn a meeting room to a wedding venue at 7pm on the first day of the week. But as the day went on I was busy but manageable. We only had to set a few rooms into a conference room and theatre for meetings and talks respectively. My work in the Convention Service has added another function in the cycle Set up, Refresh, Turn or Clean and Clear. Turn means you’re turning a room in the middle of a break to another type of set up or add more tables or chairs in it. Depending on the request of a guest.

WEEK 4

This week is my 4th week working at the Convention Service and I can’t believe that I am enjoying my work even if I am a people's person, since we are more behind the scene with more actions like setting up and breaking down rooms. Commuting is very troublesome if I take a bus going to work because there are no bus stops going to the property so as much as I take Uber or Lyft rides, sometimes my roommate Roy gives me a ride going to work whenever he is free. This week was not as busy as the other week because we only had a few functions, We had two new groups Bay Care Medicine Group and the Tech Data Corp, We had to set up White Ibis and Herring gull into a U-Shape Conference room with the usual pads, pens, candies and waffles. My highlight for this week was I had to turn a room named Cormorant from a theatre setup to a school room set up. My Manager Mr. Zimmer gave me the task alone to scale my abilities that I have learned so far. For the rest of the week it was more refreshing of the rooms and cleaning up. than turning them because they stayed in the hotel for almost more than a week.

WEEK 5

This week is my 5th week of working in the Conventional service. I have to say it has been hard but all we have to do is grind hard. Entering this week with that mentality was kind of disappointing because we were not busy until the 21st. We did not have much work from the17th until the 19th, the 20th we had to set up for the big day tomorrow. They were to hold a two day owners meeting in the Roseate Spoonbill room. We had to assemble new office chairs and put up a U-Shape setup with the new office chairs that we just assembled. This was a very big deal for me because if we get something wrong in the setup our manager Mr. Zimmer Hair will be in the meeting he will be able to notice it.

WEEK 6

This is my 6th week working experience under Conventional Services. This week was swamped because a College football team is coming over to stay in the hotel for 5 days. We had to set up all the meeting rooms into a sports facility on the second floor, while the Audubon Ballroom became a breakfast and lunch buffet. We had to build small massage beds for the players where they can do their stretches and massages. On the 26th we had another client in Herring gull so we had to turn the meeting room from a theatre setup to a U-Shape style set up. Then after the meeting finished we had to turn it again into a theatre style room. I was told that I was going to be moved to the morning shift so I was scared because I am not a morning person. November 26th at night I checked out a car and bought it. It was the best investment I ever put money into.

WEEK 7

This is my 7th week working under Conventional Services, a new month and a new schedule for me, they moved me to the morning shift usually 5am-2pm or 7am-4pm. It is a different setup in the morning, because at night shift you focus on setting up the meeting rooms, however in the morning shift it is more on guest assistance and refreshing the rooms. In the morning shift I noticed that they speak English which is good, I was getting a hang of the Spanish already but English is okay too. This week as well I have been introduced to the Banquets team because I will be working under them soon. I think that working in the mornings was more relaxed, because we only set up water stations and refresh rooms.

WEEK 8

This is my 8th week of working under Conventional service, working in the mornings is fun because we actually interact with more guests. This week we had two groups who came in, the Teachers Association of Tampa we had Audubon A for them, while we had the other group on the second floor for a Lunch meeting.

WEEK 9

I have not been to work this week because they gave me a time off from my job.

WEEK 10

This is my 10th and last week of working under Conventional service, for my last week I tried to give my best, we had an outdoor wedding in the Casitas, and a reception on the 14th floor.

WEEK 11

This is my 1st week working under Banquet Services, on my first week it is more on training on the basics. My first task was to shadow the Buffet runner, for the whole week I was assisting the buffet runner understanding what I have to do. Sometimes I also assist the servers to get to know my other colleagues.

WEEK 12

This is my 2nd week working under Banquet Services, on my second week. I became a buffet runner for a meeting in Audubon A for a lunch meeting from 11-2:30pm.

WEEK 13

This is my 3rd week working under Banquet Services, I have started to work as a banquet server, I am having recollection of my first internship in the 7 Corners restaurant. I am learning from Miss Anita with all the Standard operating procedures.

WEEK 14

This is my 4th week working under Banquet Services, I have started to work as a banquet server, I am having recollection of my first internship in the 7 Corners restaurant. I am learning from Miss Anita with all the Standard operating procedures.

WEEK 15

This is my 4th week working under Banquet Services, I have started to work as a banquet server, I am working on the 14th floor in Armani’s restaurant. For a week we have been serving 120 people for breakfast and lunch.

WEEK 16

This is my 5th week working under Banquet Services, we have a Super Bowl Party in the whole Audubon. So we had to set up a carving station and a buffet line per request from our clients. The following day we had a group in the casitas, they did lunch in the restaurants and for dinner they headed to Casitas for an outdoor party. We had set up a bar and a lot of cocktail tables.

WEEK 17

This is my 6th week working under Banquet Services, I have started to work as a banquet server. I am working on the 14th floor in Armani’s restaurant, with the morning crew. We usually have breakfast buffets in the restaurant. After that lunch meetings are usually in Audubon A or Outside the patio, so that the guest will enjoy the sun. February 6-9 we had two big groups coming in Audubon A, it was a group of scientists and innovators. The other group was in Audubon DEF.

WEEK 18

This is my 7th week working under Banquet Services, we have The Kansas City Chiefs staying over the hotel, once again we became busy because breakfast, lunch and dinner will be buffets. Adding to this we have a wedding at the 14th floor on the 6th of February so we were also tasked to set up a cocktail party. We serve nutritious food for the athletes, unlike the usual breakfast buffet. I noticed they love oatmeal with honey and fruits, they love biscuits and gravy which was kind of weird though that is why I am here for learning their culture.

WEEK 19

This is my 8th and last week working under Banquet Services, We big group coming called PACIRA bioscience. They held a team building event and awards night in the hotel premises. It was a very fun group because they are very accommodating, we had to set breakfast and lunch at the tent because they were a large group, for dinner they wanted it in the outdoors so we had it in the casitas. They were there for the whole week, the awards night was held in the Audubon which was pretty grand. We had an Indian wedding in the Audubon, it was a plated dinner of 300 pax. gathering in the said event. It was super fun and accommodating, they really love to dance. Sadly it is my last week working with them. I had a blast with the group because I love serving, and the environment.

WEEK 20

This is my 1st week working under 1823 Kitchen & Bar, I started as a buffet runner. I was in charge on every detail of the buffet, I had to prepare the lamps, heaters, labels, utensils and the most important food. I have to make sure that the buffet is always presentable.

WEEK 21

This is my 2nd week working under 1823 Kitchen & Bar, I started as a busboy. I was in charge on every detail of the table. Resetting the table, busing the plates and glasses, cleaning the tables and I also help the main servers with their tasks so I will learn more about the restaurant.

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kxlebcross · 5 years ago

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multiples of three, please.

oh man i cant believe ur making me do maths at 4:18 am... but here goes nothing! (it’s gonna be long so i put it under a read more)

3. Ever done any drugs? uhhhh... yeah, for a short period yrs ago i had a friend group and with them we smoked weed pretty much every weekend... they did some hard drugs too but i never dared trying those cuz im a lil bitch lmao aaaaand i don’t do that anymore, it’s an expensive hobby to have and i usually waste my drugs money on pc games and ordering food srgsdfg

6. Describe your dream home. probs somewhere in a big city, close to the center because i love being a big city kid.... a mid-sized flat with lots of plants and those neat cat playgrounds mounted on the wall because i plan on having at least 4 cats in the future asdsd and i’d love to have a bigger balcony which i could transform into a little jungle and hand a hammock there and just chill and listen to the city’s noises at night when i can’t sleep

9. Do you watch porn? you may not believe but i actually don’t sdgsdfg the horny teen phase is over for me, if i wanna interact with anything pornographic i just read fanfiction dfgsdfgsf

12. What’s one of your fantasies? i hope it’s not supposed to be an erotic one lmao but i really wanna go on a road trip through europe, just pack up my shit and drive around, also i wanna visit haunted places all around england and get into the gaming business as a game translator/tester eventually

15. Are you in a relationship? thank god not anymore... and honestly i don’t miss it anymore, all of my previous ones were disasters and ended in a really ugly manner so.. no, i’m all good with my cat

18. What tattoos do you want? i don’t have specific plans for motives - though i’d really like a kitsune mask somewhere and a moon and one song quote. i’d like to have my whole left sleeve done, maybe part of my back, a half sleeve on my right hand and something smaller on my ankle - and i’m actually open to anything the tattooists would pick out; i care more about who’s gonna create my tattoo than what’s it gonna be, as my actually existing 2 tattoos r also premade, randomly picked out ones (though they accidentally matched up in some way and look pretty neat imo)

21. Describe your best friend. that’s a hard one.... i don’t think i have one anymore. i used to have this girl in my life, M, who i was really close to, but we had a fallout in october and she never came around to fix this even though i was open to the idea... so i lost my best friend, which is kinda sad considering that she was the only person i could open up to in the last 3 yrs. but hey that happens! i moved on and have a close friend still so im all good.

24. What are three places you want to travel? i really wanna visit scotland! it has this specific atmosphere i really long to experience, and i wanna see the landmarks and grassy fields and loch ness and haunted places and just roam around there for a while. i also wanna see moscow - it’s been sort of an obsession of mine since reading glukhovsky’s metro series, and also it’s a beautiful city worth visiting. i’d also like to get on the trans-siberian express but that’s not a specific place dsfsgdf the last place would be the aokigahara forest in japan - also one of the places i feel drawn to for ages now. found out about it years ago and since it’s been sort of a plan of mine to visit one time. if i manage to graduate university my mum promised to send me on a trip to japan - so if it works out, ill be on my way there baby! (i just need to work on my language skills first sasdfgf)

27. What’s your pet peeve? loud breathing, loud chewing... generally people being loud and annoying. ppl not covering their mouths while coughing. ppl who walk super slowly and take up all of the walkway like FUCK OFF OF MY WAY GODDAMMIT. in games when the npc walks a lot slower than ur running, but walking a lot faster than ur walking so its impossible to keep up with them. ppl not using headphones in public spaces. old ppl demanding respect when they treat u like shit. ppl forcing their religion on u (im looking at u auntie). ppl slurping their drinks. couples almost f*cking each other in public places... just get a room smh

30. Tag someone you want to talk to but have been too shy to message. oh i don’t need to tag them cuz i already got over that shyness and they totes know already that i wanted to talk to them for a while! (i admitted to it in the tackiest, cheesiest, most awkward anon ask i ever sent in to anyone sdfgsdf)

33. If money was no object, what would your wardrobe be like? pretty much the same as now, all black and flannels and jeans, cuz i rly thing that major clothes shopping sprees r a waste of money sdfdf but i’d probably own a lot lot more shoes like custom made cat patterned vans and some more nikes and some creepers cuz i wanted to get some of those for like yrs now dfgdfg

36. Do you still have feelings for any of your exes? uhhhh... kind of? not romantic ones tho, i just miss the long talks and the trust and understanding between us. i never got the closure i needed to move on and it still left some bad feelings towards her so its a weird mix of resentment and sympathy, and i try to not think abt it too much.

39. Are you a virgin? hahahahahahahahah, no, really.

42. Describe the hottest person you know. the hottest person i personally know is one of the ppl i used to be on my universitys e-sport team on with dfasd i always had a weak spot for ppl taller than me and hes literally model material with nice cheekbones and the perfect jawline and the best sense of humor ever. though he’s a widowmaker main in overwatch and thats a big big minus for him :(

45. What’s the worst date you’ve ever been on? lmaooooo thats a funny one listen up... so i was fresh out of breakup and wanted to make some friends.... wait for it.... ON TINDER. i live in an university town so i was like kewl imma make some ppl my age (until then all of my friends were A LOT older than me) and have some friends and if romance happens then it happens, w/e. so i set up this bar night with this one guy, i believe his name was David? so David and i meet up for drinks, i grab a gintonic and we sit down to talk... what he never knew abt me is that i am on the adhd spectrum and i have to get my hands busy with smth so i can focus on what im saying otherwise my thoughs r all over the place. so im casually keeping my hands busy with just spinning my locked phone there and back, or just messing around with the lime slice on my glass and at a random moment David goes like “u know.... i hate when ppl cant stop messing around with their phone” and im like ????? dude im literally just spinning it, not even messaging anyone or unlocking it or shit. and he goes on this rant that he always expects ppl to pay full attention to him when talking, looking at him (i never look ppl in the eyes cuz i tend to just go into panic mode from long eye contact and also i think its creepy to just stare at someone constantly) and just not doing anything else except paying attention to him so i go on explaining to him that i need to keep myself busy and im not doing it to annoy him - but he keeps on insisting so i excuse myself to a cigarette (he also hated smokers lmao) and call the widowmaker main friend from the previous question and am like “hey man i have the worst date of my life can u be at this place in 40 minutes and then we hit the night life” and hes like fine so i go back to David and tell him “sorry mate i just remembered i have my last bus home in 30 minutes and the next one is in 1,5 hrs and i really cant stay out that late so can we wrap this up and schedule an other meeting some other time” and hes like fine... got me to the bus stop, i sat on the bus.... got off at the next bus stop, met up with widowmaker main guy and went out for drinks and decided to never go on tinder dates again sdfgsdfg

48. Describe your ideal partner. thats a hard one, hey! but i dont think i have an ideal, guess ill work with anyone whos a decent human being who wont require me to be the housemaid and cook and clean and do everything for them. oh and they totally need to know how to use a washing machine... one of my exes was incapable of this (and here i was thinking that in 2018 ppl saw a washing machine already... looks like i was wrong and im still not over that incident 2 yrs ago). oh and they gotta be fine with the idea of never having kids cuz theres no way im putting myself through raising one of those, im a man of career and money, totally not responsible enough to raise another living human being sdsdgdf

#kush speaks #ask memes #thank u for asking!!!! i had fun answering those actually #kuwentista #answered

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sandralgnzd · 5 years ago

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MIAMI BEACH- A Place I Never Expect To Call My Second Home

I flew straight to Atlanta, Georgia to visit my sister first. After travelling for roughly 26 hours from Manila, it was comforting to see my sister. I almost got teary eyed as I hugged her. I couldn’t blame myself, I traveled alone in a completely strange place, and will be in a new environment. She lived there for 2 years, and I honestly missed being with her. I stayed for a little over 4 days before starting my journey in Miami. I was hesitant to stop by Atlanta before reporting in the property that I’ll be having my training with. Good thing I listened to my family, my sister got me goodies that I needed to settle in my apartment. Hehe thanks, Ate!

South Beach Boardwalk

Key Biscayne

Let me give you an overview of what were my duties and tasks as a Catering and Sales Specialist:

Always attend the 9am meeting with all the department heads, and report if the hotel has any group meetings / events of the day, and the status of in-house groups.

ALWAYS check e-mails and voice messages.

ALWAYS BE ON THE FLOOR.

ALWAYS be on top of everything. Think ahead of time all the possible challenges that the event/meeting will encounter.

Prepare reports such as Group Resumes, Banquet Event Orders, Banquets Forecasts and Banquet Checks, Final Billing and Closing Log.

December to March is the high season in Miami. Some people in America are trying to stay warm on winter season, and have their Holidays in the Sunshine State. Indeed, in these times, Miami is packed with different tourist around the world. The historical Ocean Drive has different city-wide events especially this season. This only means that businesses are very much alive. Hotels are fully booked, restaurants have at least 15 minutes waiting time, bars and nightclubs are packed, and the streets are never empty. I bet you cannot imagine how busy it can get during these times.

ART BASEL 2018 [December]

SOBE Food and Wine Festival 2019 [February]

April to May 2019 were a little lighter. I was able to move freely as my mind was not that stressed out. During this time, I was able to go out more often, and see Miami as it is. Not like the first months when I was just focused on work and had a home-work-home routine. It took quite a long time for me to get out of my comfort zone, to be confident with what I do. Don’t get me wrong, ever since I started working in the office, I gave my all. I walked extra mile with anything that I did. I just wished I did it sooner, to believe in myself. Anyway, I really had a great experience in Royal Palm. I learned A LOT.

El Patio, Wynwood

2018 Holiday Party, Royal Palm South Beach

Royal Palm South Beach

I had countless breakdowns, not to exaggerate but I had it almost every night. I also had panic attacks much often than it used to. One time I had a rough day at work, I started crying on my way home. I didn’t care if I was in a jam-packed bus, tears started streaming down my face. I couldn’t help it. As time goes by, I was able to cope up. One day I found myself handling all things by myself. However, things got pretty much hectic with work on the first quarter of the year 2019. I was usually off during weekends, but since January came, sometimes I only got Sunday off. That was fine. I mean, it’s included as overtime. Lol!

I remember being nominated as the Associate Star of the Month for the months of February and May. I didn’t expect being nominated, as I was struggling with work during those times. But it was really comforting to know that some people appreciated my hard work even when I thought no one saw it.

The beach was just a few steps away from my apartment. I love spending Sunday afternoons at the beach with a bottle of beer. Who would’ve thought that this lady would love the beach so much? Lol. The ocean witnessed every emotion that I felt in the duration of my stay. Whenever I was happy, I’ll be at the beach. Whenever I get sad, the moon and stars listened to my story. When I missed home, the wind caressed me. When I got broken, the cold breeze sympathized with me. And when I thought that I found love again, the ocean was the first to witness.

I wanted to stay, but I guess it’s not God’s plan for me. Who knows, maybe sooner or later I will be back again. I really hope so.

I am grateful to experience the Miami vibe!

’Til next time, Vice City!

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torontotravelblog · 5 years ago

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3 DAYS IN TORONTO

We begin listening to a growing number of usually regarding Toronto, this city located in Ontario, Canada. I didn't have particular assumptions regarding my 3 days in Toronto, however I had a feeling I would certainly like it. We consistently see Toronto as one of the world's most comfortable cities in numerous rankings. Furthermore, people I understand who saw Toronto before I did mostly all informed me they suched as the city! Toronto is additionally put on the spotlight and also is regularly advertised by Drake. Undoubtedly, he typically admires his hometown. It's time to see what to do in Toronto and also begin my check out to the city.

DESCRIPTION OF TORONTO

Toronto is an English-speaking city. It's the biggest city of Canada, as well as the 4th largest city in The United States and Canada in regards to population after Mexico City, New York and also Los Angeles. We call Toronto "The Queen City", or "The 6" trigger there are six towns in the city: Old Toronto, East York, North York, York, Etobicoke as well as Scarborough. It's a vibrant city, as well as without a doubt it looks great to live there.

Toronto is additionally a cosmopolitan city. Undoubtedly, fifty percent of the people residing in Toronto weren't birthed in Canada! That's an actual fusion! The five most talked languages in Toronto are English (certainly), after that Cantonese, Mandarin, Punjabi and lastly Italian! French isn't also in the top 5, although there are various other cities in Canada like Montreal where French is the main language!

A great deal of individuals say Toronto is simply a pale duplicate of big US cities, however located in Canada. By the way, in some cases people call Toronto "The little New york city". There are additionally high-rises, an organisation center and also Dundas Square, a location reminding people of Times Square. Toronto is also a city that never ever rests, there's always something to do! A lot of motion pictures apparently happening in New york city are really shot in Toronto!

However there's still this little Canadian taste. Citizens of Toronto are big followers of sport, as well as the most popular one is ice hockey. I heard individuals pay a ticket generally 300 dollars, to see an ice hockey match! If you do not have all this money, comfort on your own and go to the Hockey Hall of Fame. It's a museum dedicated to the history of ice hockey!

The city remains in full growth. When I was checking out the city, there were building and construction sites anywhere, they were constructing brand-new skyscrapers, and so on. From what I listened to, it's been this way for several years, and also it won't stop anytime soon. I likewise heard building and construction and also realty are the two greatest industries in Toronto, and also not every person can live there! The average lease for a one-bedroom apartment is 2200 Canadian dollars (1500 euros!).

WHAT To Accomplish IN TORONTO?

THE CN TOWER

The sign of the city, among the reasons that Toronto is popular, the CN Tower certainly! It's 553 meters (1815 ft.) high, and also it was the world's highest tower for 34 years, from 1976 to 2010, when it was exceeded by Burj Khalifa in Dubai. Pay 36 bucks (25 euros) and you can rise to the 114h floor. You'll take the lift to get to the top in less than a min (58 secs precisely). From there, you'll have a terrific sight of the city. I recommend going there at the end of your stay. You'll have the possibility to identify the different places you saw in the city. It's possible to stroll on a floor made of glass as well as see what's going on in the street, listed below your feet. Some individuals were also terrified to do it ...

For your information to increase to the 147th flooring, but you'll have to pay an added 12 bucks (8 euros). The view from there is also better. For the bravest ones, you can attempt the edgewalk. It's gon na be a thrill, however you need to pay 225 bucks (150 euros)! More details right here. There's also a dining establishment on top of the tower with a 360-degrees sight! Anyway, do not fail to remember to visit the top of the CN Tower, and also preferably go there early in the morning. Otherwise you'll wait concerning one hr to arrive. Alongside the tower, you'll locate the fish tank of Canada however I really did not go, it's not my thing ... It's 35 bucks (24 euros) to enter.

THE DISTILLERY HISTORIC AREA

The distillery area is a historical area in Toronto. You almost feel like you remain in London, with its buildings made of red blocks. For a very long time, this area belonged to a distillery, yet it's now a pedestrian area. There are numerous small stores, cafés, restaurants, art galleries ... It's likewise possible to taste a number of beers of the distillery. It's truly nice to have a stroll there.

ST. LAWRENCE MARKET

A market dating back to 1803! Perfect location to eat if you're hungry! Without a doubt, it's not usual to see in the area a market with pastry shops, a cheese maker, a pork butcher, a fish shop ... However also fruits and vegetables, as well as various other neighborhood products! It's closed on Sundays and Saturdays, otherwise you have to go! FYI, the National Geographic assigned it the very best market on the planet in 2012!

KENSINGTON MARKET

It's not a market but an area, one of the most popular of Toronto. It resembles Camden Town in London, but Toronto design. It's actually a hipster, a little bit bobo as well as hippie. You'll locate pre-owned garments shops there, yet likewise many vegan dining establishments, organic food, stores offering products from around the globe ... Don't wait to visit Graffiti Street as well as Rush Lane, two slim streets. Their walls are covered with graffiti and street art!

DUNDAS SQUARE

Have you been to New york city? If so, Dundas Square will right away remind you of Times, or to a lesser extent Picadilly Circus in London. You'll see big billboards there yet likewise Eaton Facility, the biggest shopping center in Toronto. For your information, Dundas Square is alongside Yonge Road. That's the longest street worldwide, it's 1896 kilometers 1178 miles) long!

NATHAN PHILLIPS SQUARE

It's quite quick to view as well as admire Nathan Phillips Square, however it deserves the detour! You'll see the old town hall, actually stunning, yet additionally the brand-new municipal government. You'll locate on this square "TORONTO" written in large letters, as well as those letters enlighten at night. There likewise a tiny yard called Peace Yard, opened up in memory of the targets of Hiroshima. From mid-November to mid-March, the lake turns into a skating rink!

TORONTO ISLANDS

Just 10 minutes away from Toronto by ferry, you'll locate the Toronto islands! The islands are not always easily accessible wintertime since the river can be frozen. Otherwise, go to the islands! This is a peaceful place, but most significantly, you have a terrific view of the horizon of Toronto! The weather was truly wonderful when I went there, and it's actually enjoyable since there are no autos there. You can go kayaking, rent a bike, go picnic, there are a couple of beaches if you intend to take a dip ... You need to go to Queens Quay and take the ferry. It's 8 dollars (5.50 EUR), and you can use your ticket all day. There are 3 main islands: Center, Ward and also Hanlan.

TORONTO MUSEUMS

Those that personally understand me currently know I'm very little right into galleries ... That does not indicate I never ever go but I really need to be like "I have to visit this one!" in order to go. That indicates I really did not most likely to any museums in the city but if you're interested, go to the Royal Ontario Gallery, the largest gallery of Canada. It has six millions things associated with natural history and also cultures of throughout the globe, dinosaurs' skeletons ... It's 20 bucks (14EUR) to enter. There's additionally the art gallery of Ontario displaying paintings from Monet, Picasso, Rembrandt ... It's 20 dollars to get in. There's also the Casa Loma, a castle in the north of the city. It's 30 dollars (20 euros) to enter. If you have some time, you can have a stroll at High Park, or Sugar Coastline if the weather is nice.

NIAGARA FALLS

If you have some time, you require to go to the Niagara Falls, 2 hours far from Toronto by bus! It's actually worth the journey as well as everybody states it's a great deal far better to watch the Niagara Falls in Canada (instead of in the US). By the way, here's a schedule for a road trip in Ontario!

I really liked my browse through to Toronto. A vibrant and worldwide city, where there are many things to do. Three days are enough to see Toronto, include another day if you want to see the Niagara Falls. If you most likely to Canada, don't miss out on Toronto!

TORONTO TRAVEL POINTERS

Inspect the visa policy of Canada right here. Most citizens from Western countries can keep up to 6 months visa-free. Take care though. Unless you're a United States citizen, if you get here by air, you are needed to get an ETA ahead of time below. If you arrive by land from the United States, or if you're an US resident, you don't need the ETA.

Do not most likely to the United States without a travel insurance! If something happens, you'll see on your own, clinical expenses are extremely expensive there!

How to get around in Toronto? Take the metro or the metro! You'll notice their trains are long!!! The subway is far from covering the whole city, nevertheless you can go anywhere with the tramways. Buy a suddenly card as well as put money on it (5 bucks, 10, 20, 50 ...). A one-way trip is 3 bucks.

Where to stay in Toronto? There are numerous options, check below.

There are lots of points to do in Toronto. Skip-the-line tickets, go to of the city, bike rental ... Inspect right here what you can do.

3 days in Toronto are perfect, 4 days is far better if you wish to see the Niagara Falls!

The post “ 3 DAYS IN TORONTO “ was appeared first on Been Around The Globe

Vitamin Therapy Toronto - The IV Lounge

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nerdyign · 7 years ago

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92 Questions

I have procrastinated on doing this for so long because 92 questions, guys. That is A LOT! But here I am, finally doing this.

Tagged be the glorious @thestudyfeels . Thankyou for tagging me, Tay!

LAST

1) Drink: water.

2) Phone call: my best friend.

3) Text Message: a friend

4) Song you listened to: New York City by The Chainsmokers.

5) Time You Cried: I don’t remember tbh. I don’t cry all that much.

HAVE YOU ( here comes a series of bad life decisions. XD )

6) Dated someone twice: ugly story yes.

7) Kissed someone and regretted it: another ugly story yes.

8) Been cheated on: yes

9) Lost someone special: yes

10) Been depressed: yes.

11) Gotten drunk and thrown up: no and no.

This section was so bad RIP me.

LIST THREE FAVOURITE COLOURS

12) Blush Pink

13) Pale Blue

14) White ( and black and red and all pastel colours. It is difficult to choose!)

IN THE LAST YEAR HAVE YOU

15) Made new friends: yes

16) Fallen out of love: yes

17) Laughed until you cried: yes

18) Found out someone was talking about you: yes.

19) Met someone who changed you: YES!

20) Found out who your friends are: yes (it was.. ugly.)

21) Kissed someone on your Facebook List: aa yes.

GENERAL

22) How many of your Facebook friends do you know: dude, all. Why else would hey be my friends?

23) Do you have any pets: *sobbing* no.

24) Do you want to change your name: sometimes.

25) What did you do for your last birthday: a couple of my friends came over for an hour-ish. The rest forgot lol.

26) What time did you wake up: 5am

27) What were you doing at midnight last night: I was asleep.

28) Name something you can’t wait for: my exam results. I worked really hard this time and I am excited to see whether all that paid off!

29) When was the last time you saw your mom: She is sitting right in front of me.

30) What is the one thing you wish you could change in life: nothing and everything at the same time. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

31) What are you listening to right now: my mom yelling at me to stop being on the phone. #JustBrownKidThings.

32) Have you ever talked to a person named Tom: Nope.

33) Something that is getting on your nerves: people who think that people who take their education seriously are not cool. like lol bye, bro. Your expert opinions are not needed here.

34) Most visited websites: Youtube, EdX, Soundcloud.

LOST QUESTIONS

35) Mole/s: yes. 5.

36) Mark/s: do scars count? if yes then, like 10-ish.

37) Childhood dream: to be a DJ or a bus conductor. yeah, that is true. 100%

38) Hair colour: dark brown/black

39) Long or short hair: long

40) Do you have a crush on someone: a lot of celebrities and fictional characters. That counts, right?

41) What do you like about yourself: my openness to new ideas and concepts.

42) Piercings: one on each ear. (aYE WE ARE TWINS, TAY!)

43) Blood type: B+ ( I feel like I would benefit more if this was my life mantra lmao)

44) Nickname: gah there are too many tbh. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

45) Relationship status: eating. XD

46) Zodiac: LEO BABY!

47) Pronouns: she/her

48) Favourite TV Show: HIMYM, Masterchef, New Girl, Riverdale.

49) Tattoos: none.

50) Right or left hand: right.

51) Surgery: none.

52) Hair dyed in a different colour: nope.

53) Sport: Athletics sort of.

54) Hello, Number 54: what? XD

55) Vacation: Sorry, I do not speak that language. *incoherent sobbing*

56) pair of trainers: Nike Air.

MORE GENERAL

57) Eating: apples

58) drinking: nothing

59) I’m about to: do a practice test for German

60) …….There is no 60? what? let’s move on I guess.

61) Waiting for: RIVERDALE SEASON 2!!!!!!!!!!

62) Want: A week off.

63) Get married: When I find the right person.

64) Career: An HR manager.

WHICH IS BETTER

65) Hugs or kisses: hugs. fight me.

66) lips or eyes: eyes. They are intriguing.

67) shorter or taller: both tbh. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

68) older or younger: younger.

69) this one is missing too?

70) nice arms or nice stomach: both, I guess?

71) sensitive or loud- depends on the scenario. ( I told ya I’m weird)

72) Hook up or relationship: Relationship

73) Troublemaker or hesitant: hesitant about 90% of the time.

HAVE YOU EVER

74) Kissed a stranger: nope.

75) drank hard liquor: nope.

76) lost glasses/contact lenses: SO.MANY.TIMES.

77) Turned someone down: yes.

78) Sex on the first date: nope.

79) Broken someone’s heart: unfortunately, yes. THE.WORST.THING.EVER. I still feel guilty about that. :((

80) had your heart broken: yes.

81) been arrested: nope.

82) cried when someone died- yes

83) Fallen for a friend: let’s not get to that lol.

DO YOU BELIEVE IN

84) Yourself: sort of. I’ve started to.

85) miracles: maybe. idk.

86) Love at first sight: nope.

87) Santa Claus: haha no.

88) Kiss on the first date: idk man? depends on the person and the quotient we share.

89) so this one is also missing lmao.

OTHER

90) Current Best Friend’s name: Yash

91) Eye colour: dark brown

92) finally favourite movie: There’s quite a lot actually. All animation movies, all HP movies, Fantastic Beasts and Where to find them, Pitch Perfect, Mean Girls, Avengers, etc etc. lol I have a problem.

Tagging: @studyruels , @getshitdonetbh , @studytherin , @study-in-orange , and anybody else who wants to do this!

#tagged #tag games #92 questions #hiteshi was tagged #lol this took me like 45 minutes to do

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yourworldmyworldourworld-blog1 · 6 years ago

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Bolivia - The land of the Salt Flats and much more

Now onto my trip into Bolivia. A land where the people are kind yet proud. Which means issues can arise and no one wants to compromise. One of the highest places on earth. A land growing in exportation and a land of new insights.

Day 1. (16.10). From Peru, Puno we left at 8am bus to Copacabana. Arrived at the border at 11am and got to Copacabana at 13:00 (Bolívia is 1 hr ahead of Peru). I arrived and had lunch at a Coffee-Restaurant Gourmet "Ali" at Av 6 de Agosto. Order the trout lasagna; it's amazing. Then back near the white anchor for a quick singari sour - the bolivian equivalent of Pisco sour. At 2:15 pm boat to isla de sol Set off arriving at 3ish. I found the Intikala hostal (bol50) for single with bathroom but no paper, towel, soap or breakfast also no wifi (for bol80 all of the above included). I also had the option of inti pacha hostel. Off I went to walk to both viewpoints. Sunset was stunning even if overcast. I saw sunset at las velas restaurant and dinner next door to the hotel - quinoa soup for bol10. Would have loved to have walked back to last velas for some hot wine but with the thunderstorm and having to walk through a small forest alone in the dark I thought best not to. Next time. Also be aware that the north part of the island is shut for tourism due to a conflict that started 1.5 years ago between the communities in the Centre and North of the island. The Centre gets no income and the North has great tourism. Consequently the center stopped tourists crossing to the north as they don't want tourists. The North, in turn, does.

Isla del sol - south side

Day 2. (17.10). I woke up at 5 am to find that the sun was already up. It was overcast but the view from my window was stunning with peaks covered in ice. Back to bed for a 9am wake up. I checked out and off I went to see the red flag where you could not walk past due to the Northern conflict. It was a nice walk and a sad reality that tourists for a year and half now have not been allowed to go beyond this point to the Northern part of the island. Then back to the hotel and off to the other view point further south. By that point, the sun had come out and what a view. Now back at the hostel for 12. Watching the view with some muña tea and some peanuts. I will head down for the 3:30pm boat around 2:30pm. You have to pay for wifi here. So 24hrs without connection to the outside world, which was quite nice. I had lunch with an amazing view then ferry back for 3:30pm. Make sure you set off to go town (taking the left turn on the junction). It is hard to miss the way as there will probably be a few people coming up that way. On the way to the island we were dropped off at the temple and not the port (where we were picked up) as the climb up from the port is quite tough so make sure you carry as little luggage as possible. You can leave your big bags at the cafe by the big anchor (literally a large anchor in Copacabana). Just buy something there and they will keep it. Any doubts ask the Peru Hop guides if you are travelling with Peru Hop. Arriving back in Copacabana at 5pm we had 1hr. So we walked to the church which is quite beautiful with Arabic architecture then back down to get some food and our bags. Then 6pm bus to La Paz. In La Paz we stayed at Loki hostel, which, although known to be a party hostal was actually quite chill. The location is central but near some apparently dodgy streets. I had no issues and as the hostel is in a building which was formerly a hotel, being on the 3rd floor when the bar is on the 7th means you can’t hear much noise. The noise that annoyed us for two nights straight was coming from the street.

La Paz - view from Mirador Killi-Killi

Day 3. (18.10). First breakfast at Loki which was ok but not great so I would recommend going elsewhere in town although Loki is just easy. I then set off to get some money out from the ATMs right in front of the hostel. The hostel also does not do laundry but there is a laundry place across from the hostal that does laundry and delivers back at the hostel - 12bol per kilo. Today we went to see the Mercado de las Brujas which is just a collection of stalls. From there I went to get my Peru Hop top. Then calle Jaén and then the Killi-Killli mirador. I advise you get a taxi up there and back down. It cost up 10 bol up as we were half way there and 20 bol to get back to the hostel. We made it back for 11ish. We had lunch at Cafe Vida - vegan place with a delicious lunch set menu with soup and salad plus juice for 35bol. Then back at the hostel for some chill time until I went to meet Agnes for drinks at HP Bronze Coffee Bar. I had a quinoa beer which was super nice called Niebla brewed by the place. Then back at the hostel and on the way bought ceibo chocolate (Bolivian chocolate which is quite yummy).

Lunch bowl at Cafe Vida

Day 4. (19.10). Wake up at 8am to head out into La Paz to take the Teleferico. I took the orange line north (3Bol a ride) and stayed on it until the end, then bought another ticket to the White line and stayed on it until the end and lastly the Blue line (called línea celeste). On this last line you can either take it back to the centre of the city or out to the south of the city to connect with the green and yellow lines. The south of the city is the richer part of the city. The orange line is the longest and takes you up towards the mountains which is pretty awesome view. Then the white line is also quite cool as it takes you past the tall buildings. The blue line then drops you off just outside the centre, near the Wild Rover hostel. I then walked back stopping at the restaurant called Ali Pacha recommended by Agnes. The menu looked amazing, Bol100 for a set lunch menu that looked beautiful. I was just not in the mood so went back to the cheaper option: Cafe Vida. Bus at 9pm to Uyuni with Todo Turismo buses.

CRIBSHEET OF LA PAZ

Where to stay: I stayed at Loki which although known as a party hostal is like a 7 floor former hotel and I had no issues in my room. They also do individual rooms. My issues was on the street as both nights I stayed in La Paz there was a band outside playing until 11pm. The other options that other PeruHop travellers stayed at was Buckie Hostel and Adventure Brew B&B which were on Av Ismael montes but also pretty close to the centre.

For Restaurants: I went to Cafe Vida and loved it (vegan and delicious - BOL35 for lunch deal). I also ate at Loki but not the greatest food. Also gave a chance to street food which was ok. Other places I would try/ recommended: Bolivian Popular Food (Calle Murillo 826); La Casona (Av Mariscal Santa Cruz); Ali Pacha (Calle Colon No 1306); HB Bronze Caffeebar (Plaza Tomas Frías 1570).

For typical foods and drinks: empanadas (saltenas); sopa de maní (peanuts soup); plato pásenos (typical dishes); sackhta (dehydrated potatoes, chicken and salsa and pepper). Then for the drinks you have Singani sour (a Bolivian pisco sour); for beers look out for Pasena and Wari brands.

To do: city tours; the markets (La Lanza, de las Brujas; Rodriguez); teleférico with 7 lines); trekking (choro which starts at la cumbre up el chairs to come back to la Paz, taquesi until chulimani, three day trek from tiwanacota); Tiawanaco (archeological site at Bol100 entry, Chaqueltaia (5,200m mountain full day trek); vale de la Luna; Vale de las Animas (geological formations); Muele del Diablo (30 mins from la Paz and a 3 hr walk); Camino de la Muerte.

From La Paz to Uyuni: Todo Turismo buses.

Uyuni Tours: use FindLocalTours to look at the possible options. When you get to Uyuni there are lots of options but don’t opt for the cheapest as you need experienced drivers and that will cost you a bit more. I used Perla de Bolivia and had no issues (USD200 with all included plus transfer to San Pedro de Atacama).

Day 5. (20.10). Arrived in Uyuni for 8am. Some people headed straight to their salt flat tours which is definitely doable. I instead, checked in and relaxed. Watched Netflix at the hostel: Piedra Blanca. The hostel is clean and very nice only a bit outside the town but only 5/10 min walk. Went into town bought pasta and cooked it at the hostel. Relaxed day.

Day 6. (21/10). Wake up and breakfast was good. Left the hostel around 9am to get to the agency promptly. Arrived there at 9ish and waited around until 10ish when we set off to the train graveyard. From there we went to a salt making town which has souvenirs etc. I didn't buy a dragon but I should have or instead have props for the salt flats. We resorted to using a banana, which served as a boat quite well. Then lunch at the next stop at the salt flats and more photos. We stopped at another beautiful spot and took more photos. Then we stopped at a coral volcanic island for an one hour walk. We then stopped again for sunset and wine. We then carried on towards the evening hostel.

Sunset at day 1 at the Salt Flats

Day 7. (22.10). Day 2 of the sat flats. We woke up at our salt hostal at 7am and were out by 7:30am. We decided not to do the galaxies cave as it wasn't amazing and would cost us bol20. Instead we headed to the army of stones which are volcanic formations from when the volcanoes erupted and formed interesting shapes raised from the floor. We drove past the altiplano lakes and siloli desert to later stop to see the flamingos. We had lunch at a flamingo lake. We then carried on to the stone tree for 3/4pm then the red lake when we entered the national park (bol150). Almost at the hostel we passed the sol de manana geysers with boiling sulphur (volcanoes below the surface). We arrived at the hostel by the hot springs for 6pm had tea and dinner. The entrance to the hot springs was bol6. Some went some didn't as it was super cold but the stars were beautiful.

Day 8. (23.10). Wake up at 6am to leave at 7am. If you can wake up for sunrise and head to the hot springs, do. The sunrise is beautiful. At 7am we headed to the Salvador Dali desert (the paintings came first). The green lake followed with a beautiful view of the Licancabur volcano. From there we left the reserve and headed to the border. We arrived at the border at 8am and the Bolivian side was easy. At the Chilean side we took an hr or so. They stamp passports then check bags for food etc. From there into Chile.

Alicancbur - day 3 almost at the Chilean border

Thank you Bolivia.

Your world. My world. Our world.

#bolivia #copacabana #isladelsol #lapaz #uyuni #salardeuyuni #Vision #visionworld #travel #travelling #yourworld #myworld #ourworld

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thebestintoronto · 5 years ago

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12+ Easy Weekend Getaways From Toronto

Have you tired the city as well as trying to find a very easy weekend break vacation from Toronto? This guide to the best Toronto day trips details not just where to go however also points to do and also just how to get there. Let's showcase the very best Ontario and also past has to use including Niagara Falls, Hamilton as well as Blue Hill. An amazing mix of nature, society as well as obviously, a glass of wine!

Outing from Toronto

1. Toronto Island

If you have actually not taken the easy day trip to Toronto Island do it currently!

Things to do on Toronto Island

Local, as well as my friend, Maddie, advised a see to this special neighborhood during my visit to the city and the trip did not dissatisfy for 3 factors.

To start with, the surroundings. You take a fast boat ride over Lake Ontario to Toronto Island, with the skyline vanishing as the boat sails to one of the 3 stops on the island (Ward's Island, Centre Island and also Hanlan's Point).

The second factor is nature. Toronto Island is just like a big park with coastlines and attractions! You can walk at your own pace or work with a bike in Midtown and also pedal around (I cycled, really lovely thing to do).

The third factor is curiosity. Ward Island is residence to an unique community of 100 lovely old homes. The islanders claimed their residence by adding their name to a list. There was no bidding for buildings like we are normally accustomed to!

Get a bite to eat at family-owned Island Coffee shop and also admire the pier, lighthouse and also fairground on Centre Island.

Exactly how to Get to Toronto Island from Toronto

Boats leave regularly from Jack Layton Ferryboat Terminal in Toronto and the trip lasts around 20 minutes. You can buy online or at the ferry terminal.

2. Niagara Falls

By far one of the most popular day trip from Toronto needs to be Niagara Falls

Throughout your trip to Niagara Falls you are actually obtaining 3 Falls for the rate of one! From the Canada side you can get up near to the Horseshoe Falls as well as appreciate the American Falls as well as Bridal Shroud Falls over the opposite in the U.S.A.. Neat, eh?

Viewing Niagara Falls from the Canada side is cost-free as well as there is a viewing system at Table Rock Welcome Centre.

Naturally, numerous Niagara Falls visitors intend to get as near the Loss as possible and also the best method to do that is to take a boat trip. Prepare to splash!

Frequent watercrafts cruise near to the Falls which causes unpleasant hair, great deals of sound as well as free botox. Trips supply totally free ponchos but I would certainly advise wearing a waterproof jacket too.

You can still get great views yet remain dry at the Skylon Tower which is 233 meters (775 ′) high.

Linger during the night to see the Falls brightened. A preferred night task is a helicopter flight over the lit up waterfalls.

If you prepare to go into Niagara Falls by means of the American side you will certainly need your key and visa waiver.

Various other Points to do at Niagara Falls.

Although mainly concerning the Falls you can additionally dine and also consume at Niagara Falls, play games at The Terrific Canadian Midway, go to Niagara Falls History Museum and also make a dash at The Fallsview Indoor Waterpark.

Toronto to Niagara Falls: Bus, Train and also Tours

There are lots of means to reach Niagara Falls.

Both Megabus as well as Greyhound Toronto to Niagara Falls have bus courses. The journey takes under 2 hrs. Tickets can be gotten online for under $20 CAD.

By Means Of Rail Canada runs from Toronto Union Terminal to Niagara Falls Terminal. It takes simply under 3 hours and also tickets can be gotten online for under $25 CAD.

Among the fun ways to get there is to book one of the Niagara Falls tours from Toronto. This was my prefered alternative.

Why Schedule a Niagara Falls Scenic Tour?

Central pickup location.

A comfortable bus trip from Toronto.

Well-informed as well as funny tourist guide (ours was anyway).

Snack/scenery quit at the cute Niagara-on-the-Lake (get gelato!).

Ice wine sampling at one of the preferred Niagara Falls vineyards (so delicious).

Adequate time at Niagara Falls to take a boat trip and also even a helicopter ride.

3. Niagara-On-The-Lake.

Niagara-On-The-Lake is typically called the 'loveliest community in Ontario' and also truly so. This cute community has had a long past, playing home to military bases, shipbuilding industry, as well as currently a treasure of a tourist place.

Niagara-On-The-Lake.

We bought cakes as well as gelato and mooched regarding the stores nestled amongst the flowers. Niagara-On-The-Lake is a well-loved town and it shows.

Visitors can likewise enjoy Ft George as well as the Historic Society Gallery, the Shaw Celebration and also is 3 theaters, the marina and also golf course.

The community puts on many occasions during summer season such as quizzes, ghost walks and also BBQs with red wine, obviously.

If driving, head along the Niagara Parkway to Niagara Falls created "the prettiest Sunday mid-day drive in the globe" by Winston Churchill. Not driving? Think About a Niagara Falls excursion to avoid missing this breathtaking road.

Niagara-On-The-Lake Wineries.

There more than twenty wineries in Niagara-On-The-Lake, Canada's leading tourist attraction for food and drink.

Vineyards vary in size from large estates to small boutiques which adds a bit of flavour to your day trip!

First of points to try is ice red wine. This delicious sweet a glass of wine is a dessert wine produced from icy grapes.

4. Hamilton.

There might be an unlimited amount of points to do in Toronto yet the greatest aspect of Toronto arguably has to be the variety of great excursion you can take from it as well as none is far better than Hamilton.

Someday in Hamilton.

Hamilton is an up as well as coming city that offers an excellent mix of things to do. It's called the city of falls as well as with over 100 waterfalls to choose from it absolutely meets its name.

It's likewise a college community, an up and also coming foodie city and one with lots of choices for checking out the history of the location.

If you have actually just obtained a day in Hamilton you do need to dedicate part of it to nature.

Among the most prominent walkings in the area is Dundas Top. It's a 20-minute walk (each means) as much as a cliff that gives you a bird's-eye view of the location.

As it is extremely popular so you have to pay for a shuttle there now which will cost you $10/car as well as $5/person.

Right by Dundas Optimal, you'll additionally find Webster Autumn (within walking distance of each other) so make certain to inspect that out as well!

Another quick walk worth looking into is Tiffany Falls. It's a short 10-minute stroll each way from the parking lot however it is among the waterfalls you can walk right approximately which makes it a wonderful area to take some images.

When you've had your fill of nature there's a lot of other points to do in the area. The HMCS Haida National Historic Site * is a must do. It's a gigantic ship that joined World War II and the Korean War for the Canadian Navy.

You can enter the ship and also go through the various floors to see the inner functions of the ship as well as to see just how those who were posted on the ship lived. Admission to the ship is $3.90/ person.

Another must-do in Hamilton is Dundurn Castle *. It's a giant 40-room suite that's extremely well maintained and shows a fantastic point of view of what living in the mid-1800s was like. Admission to the castle will cost you $12.

Once you've had your fill of history as well as culture you must invest the remainder of the day detouring down into the backstreet for some excellent road art and standing out right into a few of the extremely unique stores the downtown core has to offer.

If you have actually obtained some added time, a walk around the McMaster school is likewise an excellent activity to check out in Hamilton!

Hamilton has seriously come to be a food lover location for those field trip there.

There are lots of choices to select from and also you truly can not go wrong. If you're going to for the day I suggest waiting till you get into community to have morning meal as well as once you enter make certain to head to the Jet Cafe.

It isn't much to look at yet the parts are gigantic and also the prices are incredibly fair. You might need to wait on a table however it's entirely worth it!

For lunch and also dinner, you've obtained a ton of choices yet I highly advise Mahal Indian for some great Indian food or The Burro for some definitely terrific tacos.

You, of course, have to ensure to leave some area in your belly for the absolutely fantastic donuts at Donut Monster.

Ensure to bring your video camera since you'll desire lots of photos and also comfortable footwear for walking throughout the day. If you're planning on treking any of the falls I 'd advise bringing a canteen also.

Just how to Reach Hamilton from Toronto.

Hamilton lies about 70km west of Toronto which will certainly take about one hr to drive.

Since a few of the very best points to do are located on the periphery of the town, having an automobile will certainly give you the liberty to explore as you desire as well as to take your time doing so.

There is lots of street parking in Hamilton and a lot of the popular waterfalls/sights will have great deals of room to park in, so that isn't the main concern when bringing your vehicle!

If your preference is to take public transportation you can either take the bus or the train from Toronto to Hamilton. GO bus * is the most convenient alternative. The return trip will set you back $27.20 (taxes included) and it runs every 30 minutes so you'll have no concerns arriving.

You can likewise take the GO Train for a comparable price which runs concerning every hour. The train with Via Rail costs concerning $30 (taxes included) for the round trip yet runs a lot less often.

All of the public transportation options will take about one hour as well as 15 minutes from Toronto to Hamilton.

By Liliane Fawzy|My Toronto, My World.

5. Buffalo.

Like a phoenix metro rising from the ashes, Buffalo is turning into something lovely, as well as you won't intend to miss it.

One Day in Buffalo.

Although a field trip is hardly enough time to obtain a feel for Buffalo, it's simply sufficient to take in both things that establish Buffalo aside from lots of other cities: an industrial waterside turned playground and also incredible century-old architecture.

Beginning your day by discovering Buffalo's history. A hundred years ago, Buffalo was just one of the richest cities in America (and also it reveals!). Art deco design is simple to find downtown, as well as site visitors can take free tours inside Municipal government or hit the streets with Explore Buffalo on an inexpensive walking tour to find out more. The Frank Lloyd Wright Martin Residence is one more prime example of life in Buffalo throughout its prime time.

Afterwards, head along the river to take a look at a wonderful example of Buffalo's physical makeover. Riverworks is an old commercial website that's now a great mid-day out. You'll find an interior ropes course, roller rink, curling/ice rink (in period), as well as brewery.

On a nice day, head outside to zipline between deserted grain elevators or rock climb up the silos. Nearby there are likewise boat as well as paddleboard rentals to hit the water.

While you're in town, ensure you taste some iconic Buffalo foods.

The hen wing is most renowned as well as can be found at virtually every bar and also restaurant in the city.

A neighborhood favorite is Gabriel's Entrance, in the Allentown night life district (they have actually also got a fantastic beef on weck sandwich you will not wish to miss out on).

Other great alternatives are Roost's month-to-month rotating food selection or the locals-only group at Smoke on the Water, which although beyond town is virtually on your drive back to Toronto. Clean every little thing down with a cool drink; you'll find craft makers and distillers in the Larkin Area, an additional historical spot transformed contemporary.

Buffalo's a friendly, laidback city; just don't forget your ticket!

Just how to Get to Buffalo from Toronto.

By far, the fastest means to obtain from Toronto to Buffalo is by car. The 100-mile (160 kilometer) trip can be covered as rapid as 90 mins at the correct time of day. To cross the border, make sure your car insurance policy is valid in both Canada as well as the U.S.A..

Megabus is your next fastest choice, at a little over 2 hrs and also $15 each way, though timetables are seldom and also not for a day trip.

Greyhound as well as Amtrak are additionally public transportation choices, though they take twice as long as driving as a result of quits and also lengthy boundary hold-ups as they refine everybody onboard.

By Becky Pokora|@sightDOING.

6. Blue Mountain, Ontario.

The year-round resort region of Blue Hill in Southern Georgian Bay is just one of the most effective day trips from Toronto when it pertains to landscapes as well as exterior activities.

Someday at Blue Hill.

Blue Mountain is Ontario's most popular ski area, yet springtime, summer season and fall are suitable for adventures off the inclines, as well as it's a growing destination for mountain biking. Whatever the period, stunning Blue Mountain Town is your go-to point for outing to the area, as well as it's where visitors must start their day.

This alpine-style resort town has a lot of restaurants, stores, resorts as well as coffee shops, and also there are constantly occasions taking place.

To enroll in outside tasks such as electrical bike tours or zip-lining, head to Task Central at the foot of the ski slope in the town.

If you're seeking adrenaline-pumping things to do in Blue Hill you'll be spoiled for choice with family-friendly choices such as the Ridge Runner Mountain Coaster, the Wind Cyclist Triple Zips or Hardwood Challenge Ropes.

As soon as you have actually tired your power, you can wander through the town and also choose from the many restaurants there. Kaytoo has a patio overlooking the breathtaking Mill Pond, while the Copper Blues normally has a great crowd. For a drink try the Northwinds Mixture Club.

There ought to still be time in the day to endeavor past the village, as well as with all this lovely nature around, it would be a pity not to.

For adults, a peaceful method to experience the richness of the surrounding woodland goes to Scandinave Medical Spa Blue Hill, a relaxing circuit of exterior swimming pools, saunas, and also relaxed lounges. ($ 65 pp.).

Just how to Get to Blue Mountain from Toronto.

The close-by Breathtaking Caves at 260 Beautiful Caves Rd is an additional special method to connect with the setting. You'll wish to spending plan a number of hrs to explore the ancient caverns, hunt areas and also 420-foot-long suspension bridge. Don't miss Ekarenniondi, a standing limestone rock that was spiritual to the Very first Nations individuals who made southern Georgian Bay their house. (Entrance from $17.50.).

Driving is the very best option to get to Blue Hill. It has to do with 2.5 hrs north of Toronto, though the roads obtain crowded on weekends and also can reduce you down. In the wintertime there is an everyday shuttle for the ski groups.

By Carol Perehudoff|WanderingCarol.com.

7. Wasaga Coastline to Toronto.

Wasaga Beach is an area where most citizens in the Greater Toronto Area choose a weekend vacation. It is most definitely worth the drive from Toronto and is the best location to invest a Sunday mid-day with close friends.

Eventually at Wasaga Beach.

Throughout the summer, there are lots of people that go for a fast dip in the waters or a tanning session by the shoreline.

Apart from the car parking cost and also some gas cost, Wasaga Beach is practically totally free.

Bring a beach towel, some sunscreen and a cooler packed with drinks and snacks if you plan on remaining the day.

Otherwise, you can head to Catch 22 for some fish and shellfish at $20/person or Maple Restaurant and also Smokehouse for a quick brunch at $10/person.

Just how to Reach Wasaga Coastline.

Public transport isn't the most effective option when trying to reach Wasaga.

You can get hold of a greyhound to Wasaga Beach East and also take a taxi to the major beaches.

The entire trip will take 3 hours as well as cost around $30.

The best alternative is to drive up as this will only take an hour and a fifty percent.

By Daisey,|Beyond My Border.

Read the rest of the article here

The post “ 12+ Easy Weekend Getaways From Toronto “ was originally seen on Two Scots Abroad

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youngartistproject · 5 years ago

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Day 6: The Blog

And now it’s my turn to give you a glimpse of the “inside.” WELL. Today, I tried my best to wake up as early as possible so I could finish the final draft of Act 1. I hit snooze more than I could count. But alas, I awoke and did the deed. Called my father for his reassuring words, a daily ritual as L.A. living is not the most comforting. I commenced my 2 hr commute on my big stuffy chariot, stopped for an iced coffee and then mentally prepared myself outside the doors of the warehouse with a listen to “Almost There” from Disney’s Princess and the Frog. Animo mi gente. We discussed final edits on Act I and finally all suggestions were satisfied, limbs still attached fortunately. As the girls completed media and music, I tackled our final version of Act II. Bless the higher powers, She wasn’t that hard to fix up. A task quickly achieved thanks to the skeleton provided by Noi and others. Suggestions were made, satisfied and I was finally free from edit mode.

The girls went hard in finding our final costume choices. So so that a very giddy Kaitlin and Gabi appeared suddenly with the PERFECT costumes!

Excitingly, I finally got to work on the choreo and music I was assigned and was able to catch up with the rest. My favorite part of today was easily working one and one with our famous prodigy Shayna. Something I’ve always wanted to do was develop an ear for harmonies so I had such a blast learning from her. Every off note or key, I’d look at her with wide puppy eyes waiting for her correction. I yearn for CRITICISM!! “Keep trucking on!” she’d say to me. I’ve never heard that before, but I appreciated the newfound motto. Hearing the harmonies being executed felt like magic. A quintet was born.There’s a section in the music where I have to drop a whole octave almost immediately, but Shayna and Emily stuck it out with me so that I could achieve the part. (Thank you Emily, you’re amazing!)

Finally, we did a whole choreography session that seemed like a black hole. The sun was out, and what felt like 30 min later (but apparently was a span of 2-3 hours) passed and it was pitch dark outside. We interviewed, ate ice cream, cleaned up, and I realized my bus was gonna pass soon. I grabbed my crap and ran out yelling “Night guys!”

I missed the bus.

Next one wouldn’t arrive for another 30 min. Fortunately, there was an AM/ PM gas station way down the street. With my hefty bag on my back and sweated through maxi dress, I happily walked my hitchhiking looking self into the store and purchased a well-earned cherry hibiscus tea. Only 110 calories. Caught the next bus, and now we’re all caught up. I’m writing this on my notes, battery on 28%, jamming to some Al Green and watching the views of the city through the dusty window pane.

Can’t get any better than this.

If it does though, tag me along?

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mashupofmylife · 7 years ago

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The good, the bad, and the ugly

AKA the last three days of my life. I started Friday on the American west coast. I’m currently on a Navy base in Western Europe. I think I crossed 9 time zones. Adjusting to the jetlag and time change should be lovely. Fun.

For the most part, travel was uneventful on Friday, except when I found out that I had never ordered a special meal for my international flight. After 25 minutes on hold, I had to hang up to get on a plane, so I emailed the customer care address. When I got home and remembered to call again, it was 23 hrs and 45 minutes before my flight. Apparently they do not make any meal changes with less than 24 hours notice. And despite the website, they do not take meal requests in email form. Luckily, I’m not my sister and am willing to eat around meat, so I didn’t miss out on too much.

I started Saturday on the complete wrong foot by showing up at the wrong airport (yes, there are so many local airports where I live that this is totally plausible). After a surprise $80 cab fare to the correct airport, I got to wait for an hour and a half as my flight was delayed and delayed and delayed, meaning I probably could have saved myself a ton of cash and just taken public transit. I had a great time on a very very long layover hanging out with my college roommate who’s in year 2 of the PhD portion of her MD/PhD. We usually only see each other once a year so that was a treat. My phone was nearly dead when I got back to the airport, so I stuck it on airplane mode to charge up before the flights. Apparently I should have used that time to set up What’sApp because I dumbly didn’t think that might be something good to have set up before you get to the foreign country.

Rang in Sunday morning with some really unique economy class sleeping positions. Made it through customs and security again, ran to make my connection, and then sat on the tarmac in a bus in 40◦C weather for 15 minutes while all the luggage was first put on the plane. Arrived in my final destination, found the airport bus line and made it to the bus station. Apparently it was the wrong bus station. Got on another bus and rode it around the city twice more before I managed to figure out where the right bus station was. Easy walk from that bus station to base.

I meet up with my preceptor at 0800 this morning to inprocess, and before that I need to check out of the hotel in the morning. I’m staying with a friend’s cousins who live in town here for the rest of the rotation. Except while they’ve reiterated how happy they are to host me multiple times and they’ve also been pretty evasive about giving me their address or letting me know when it works for me to show up. So, we’ll see where exactly I end up sleeping tomorrow.

In summary: 3 days, 10 hours at home, 9 timezones crossed, 6 airports (should have only been 5), 6 subway/light rail trains, 4 security lines, 3 busses (1 was totally extraneous, should have taken a different one at home), 3 countries, 1 cab (ultimately not necessary), and no solid idea where I’m sleeping tomorrow night in a foreign country

#I complain but I realize how lucky I am to have this opportunity #and I am really excited to be here and do all the things and see all the things and explore #its just been a lot of days with not a lot of sleep #international rotations #we're off to a great start #let's see how this goes #what could go wrong #apparently I need to travel with a Real adult #and this base has really weird access rules and I have to carry my orders with me everywhere I go #I just hope I can still sponsor my mom on when she comes to visit next month #otherwise that's going to be a little awkward

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