#West Bay Beach Hotels

[arcaroatan]

West Bay Beach Hotels

Are you searching for the best hotels in the West Bay? Feel the luxury and relaxation at ARCA ROATAN hotels situated along the West Bay Beach. Confront ocean views, pristine white sands, and unparalleled hospitality in this tropical paradise. Whether you seek a  family vacation, or a solo retreat, West Bay Beach hotels offer accommodations to suit every preference. Find nearby attractions, dine on exquisite cuisine, or simply unwind by the turquoise waters – your dream vacation awaits on West Bay Beach.

[rabbitcruiser]

Sea Otter Heaven, Morro Bay (No. 6)

Although the southern sea otter's range has continuously expanded from the remnant population of about 50 individuals in Big Sur since protection in 1911, from 2007 to 2010, the otter population and its range contracted and since 2010 has made little progress. As of spring 2010, the northern boundary had moved from about Tunitas Creek to a point 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) southeast of Pigeon Point, and the southern boundary has moved along the Gaviota Coast from approximately Coal Oil Point to Gaviota State Park. A toxin called microcystin, produced by a type of cyanobacteria (Microcystis), seems to be concentrated in the shellfish the otters eat, poisoning them. Cyanobacteria are found in stagnant water enriched with nitrogen and phosphorus from septic tank and agricultural fertilizer runoff, and may be flushed into the ocean when streamflows are high in the rainy season. A record number of sea otter carcasses were found on California's coastline in 2010, with increased shark attacks an increasing component of the mortality. Great white sharks do not consume relatively fat-poor sea otters but shark-bitten carcasses have increased from 8% in the 1980s to 15% in the 1990s and to 30% in 2010 and 2011.

Source: Wikipedia

[charlott2n]

the temple of online teens to thirty somethings who listen to swans and natural snow buildings and the microphones and black midi and car seat headrest and coil and daughters and duster and godspeed you black emperor and have a nice life and neutral milk hotel and sigur ros and songs ohia and xiu xiu and animal collective and aphex twin and my bloody valentine and the velvet underground and talking heads and kate bush and joanna newsom and nick drake and captain beefheart and fishmans and the residents and les rallizes denudes and the smiths and the gerogerigegege and kero kero bonito and death grips and bjork and stereolab and radiohead and kanye west and slint and slowdive and cocteau twins and nas and a tribe called quest and elliott smith and television and pixies and sonic youth and dinosaur junior and the strokes and pharoah sanders and talk talk and black country new road and sufjan stevens and ajj and jeff buckley and sweet trip and leonard cohen and frank zappa and depeche mode and the clash and the stooges and unwound and tom waits and boards of canada and fiona apple and arcade fire and brian eno and boris and merzbow and sunn 0))) and melvins and ween and mount eerie and portishead and lcd soundsystem and wilco and big thief and pavement and kraftwerk and candy claws and yes and gang of four and sun kil moon and sun ra and burzum and death in june and current 93 and nurse with wound and psychic tv and this heat and wire and nick cave and bob dylan and the dismemberment plan and grouper and the brave little abacus and herbie hancock and beach house and patti smith and charles mingus and fugazi and minutemen and american football and yo la tengo and boredoms and wipers and the mars volta and fleet foxes and oasis and pulp and big star and sophie and flying lotus and the flaming lips and thundercat and mf doom and weezer and stars of the lid and jeff rosenstock and red house painters and tim hecker and steve reich and david bowie and lou reed and nico and jpegmafia and danny brown and husker du and misfits and r.e.m. and the replacements and soft machine and van der graaf generator and scott walker and philip glass and pj harvey and low and big black and new order and magdalena bay and steve roach and neu and can and magma and spiritualized and mort garson and henry cow and john zorn and faust and ornette coleman and xtc and the books and oneohtrix point never and nujabes and de la soul and rush and king gizzard and the lizard wizard and the cure and capn jazz and mitski and lana del rey and weyes blood and bon iver and giles corey and silver jews and the mountain goats and clipping and machine girl and deaths dynamic shroud Has just fallen into the ocean. ssorry

[amarriageoftrueminds]

If The Howlies were real...

I've been thinking about Steve's time during the war, and wondering if anyone has any headcanons about, eg. where he was stationed, how exactly the Howling Commando mission planning went, etc?

In the comics, Steve isn't assigned to the 107 but to the 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division (aka the ‘Big Red One’.)

They were part of D-Day landings, on Omaha Beach.

In deleted scenes / clips from the Smithsonian, it’s implied that Steve was also a part of D-Day: 

(That’s General Eisenhower, the Supreme Commander.)

(These landing craft 👆 were only used at D-Day. Although it’s possible this is propaganda footage of a rehearsal.)

If the Howlies had the same set up as the 26th, then Steve and the guys would’ve been stationed in Swanage, Dorset:

(Members of ‘A’ Company 26th Infantry Regiment US Army, billeted at Craigside in the High Street opposite Purbeck House Hotel, Swanage, around 1943 – 44.)

That’s 114 miles south west of Camp Griffiss in Bushy Park, Teddington, where General Eisenhower had his SHAEF HQ, starting from January 1944

(before that his HQ was at No.20 Grosvenor Square, Mayfair, in London -- aka ‘Little America’ or ‘Eisenhower Platz’ -- a couple of miles northwest of Churchill’s War Rooms, which inspired the underground bunker HQ seen in CATFA.)

Thousands of American troops, including the 26th Infantry, started arriving in Dorset in November 1943 -- which is also when Steve arrived in England after rescuing the 107!

While in Dorset, the US troops were largely engaged in rehearsing for Operation Overlord, aka D-Day. 

One such rehearsal was the disastrous Operation Smash, on the 18th April, 1944, which was a live-ammunition practice for beach landings at Normandy. (Disastrous because six men accidentally drowned when their Valentine semi-submersible tank... sank.)

Operation Smash was staged in Studland Bay (that’s 4.5 miles north of Swanage). Present to observe were: Winston Churchill, King George VI, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery, and Acting Admiral Louis Mountbatten. They did so from ‘Fort Henry,’ a 90 foot long bunker (built and named by Canadian engineers in 1943 -- so it would’ve been there by the time Steve n’ Co got there -- and it’s still there today!) overlooking the bay. 

The US troops moved on from Swanage in late April 1944, and departed England entirely (from nearby places like Weymouth, Poole Quay, Portland Harbour, etc.) on 5th June 1944. D-Day was on the 6th.

In the deleted scene from Avengers, Steve is clearly shown crossing  the Ludendorff Bridge:

...But this is impossible!

Because that bridge (at Remagen) was only captured on the 7th of March 1945:

(9th Armored Division in Remagen, Germany, recorded 9th March, 1945).

...and Steve had already crashed the Valkyrie 6 days prior!

(So unless that bridge was captured earlier, possibly because of Steve n’ Co., that footage can’t be right! 

CATFA does have a habit of putting the US Army in places they had no business being yet at that time of the war -- i.e. showing the US Army right up at the North of Italy, when in reality the Nazis still held it. 

(In fact, Mussolini’s Nazi puppet republic, the Republic of Salò, was nicknamed after a lake in Brescia... which is 200-ish miles further south than the US Army are shown in November ‘43.)

So I guess it’s possible that Steve & Co really were in Remagen, Germany, and crossing the Ludendorff Bridge before March ‘45! 

Or (perhaps more likely) we’re supposed to read it as some generic bridge in Western Europe, captured on D-Day (a la Pegasus bridge). 

.

Where exactly the Hydra factories were (and thus most Howlie missions) is not categorically stated. However, what Steve says / taking rough guesses from the map we see in Krausberg...

...it looks like the Howlies would’ve had missions in: Italy, France, (then) Czechoslovakia, Poland, and... Greece. 

(The script also mentions Belgium and Russia, which are neither shown on the map nor mentioned. However, there is a shot of them creeping through snowy forests, which looks very much like the Ardennes. That might put them in Belgium as part of the Battle of the Bulge -- which in turn gives us a date that could be the ‘difficult winter’ mentioned in the Smithsonian footage.)

If the Howlies were an active team from say 14th November 1943 -- 1st March 1945 (when Steve went down in the Valkyrie) 

That’s 473 days / or 1 year, 3 months, 15 days / or 15 months, 15 days.

If they had 9 missions total during that time...

6 Hydra factories around Europe

+ 1 winter mission to save over a 1000 men (as mentioned in Smithsonian; could be Battle of the Bulge? 🤔)

+ 1 D-Day mission (possibly including amphibious landings &/or bridge captures)

+ 1 Zola-capture mission, probably somewhere in the Alps. 

+ 1 Valkyrie mission makes 10. 

...That would give them 52.5 days (less than two months) to both plan, travel in and out, and execute each mission. That seems like a pretty tight turnaround, especially if each factory was different enough to warrant a new/fresh plan. 

(One difficulty never mentioned because their raids are relegated to a montage: the fact that Hydra factories appear to be staffed by slave labour. Means the Howlies can’t just bust in guns blazing! Or, at least, I don’t think Steve would stand for it. They’d have to free the workers first, and hopefully they’d be workers both physically capable and willing to join in the fight.)

In the film, they are never shown being back in the UK between these missions,  right up until the last Valkyrie mission in 1945, and dialogue seems to suggest there hasn’t been any personal contact between them and the HQ staff in between. 

(It does seem a bit nuts to be shipping them out and back every time, rather than just keeping them on the continent. Also nuts to be planning their most important Valkyrie mission only the day before. But anyway...) 

In order to take part in D-Day, they had to have been back to England at least once, to receive those highly classified orders and to rehearse (can’t be discussing details of D-Day over radio!) 

Also, they couldn’t have been allowed to go haring off attacking Hydra bases any old where, because it might have been inconvenient for D-Day (ie. if the Nazis increased defenses in certain places just because Captain America had been sighted there recently.)

TPTB could have used the Howlies as a diversion, sending them on dummy missions designed to make the Nazis think D-Day is going to happen somewhere else. I think Greece and Italy would be a great way to convince the Nazis that an invasion will be coming from the south, not the north! They could even have used doubles of the Howlies to throw the Nazis off the scent, as part of the Ghost Army (they did this IRL with Bernard Montgomery!) 

Maybe the SSR would be advised to keep the Howlies’ real missions as far away from Normandy as possible, earlier on, and then the reverse right before D-Day? (ie. damage Hydra’s factories that are nearest to Normandy, close to D-Day, so that they can’t supply weapons and don’t have enough time to rebuild).

Other possibilities: 

If they were not stationed in the UK between missions, and weren’t with the US Army of occupation (because it hadn’t invaded that part of Europe yet) Steve & Co. might have been living undercover in Nazi-occupied territory in the run up to missions against local Hydra bases (in, eg. France and Poland. Chance for Frenchy to get his Maquis on!) Very dangerous, very nerve-wracking, very Inglourious Basterds of them. Also potentially very dangerous for the locals, too, since there would surely be reprisals against them after any successful anti-Hydra attack by Howlies. 

IRL There was a concentration camp called Terezin in Czechoslovakia, near-ish where that one Hydra base is shown. (It’s the one that the Nazis famously filmed a propaganda movie in, after cleaning it up and deporting a bunch of people to Auschwitz to seemingly reduce overcrowded living conditions, to fool the visiting Red Cross.) So Steve and the Howlies might have gone off-mission to go and liberate that; could be that was a source of slave labour for the nearby Hydra factory.  (From a character POV, Terezin was known for having a big artistic culture among the inmates, and surely Steve would feel empathy for those used in propaganda, having been made to do that himself.)

Logically speaking, I would’ve expected that last Hydra base to be in Holland or Denmark -- not Greece -- to complete the ring of bases formed around Germany. 🤔 Maybe even more likely to be Denmark, since the Tesseract (which kicked off the whole Hydra supremacy thing) was discovered in Tønsberg, SE Norway.

[tropic-havens]

Wallilabou Bay is located on the North West coast of St Vincent.

The small bay consists of a black sand beach, a small hotel, customs office, two small boat docks and sheltered moorings. There is a beautiful natural stone arch at the entrance to the bay which is also good for snorkelling. Wallilabou Bay was the main Caribbean location for all the "Pirates of the Caribbean" movies.

[give-me-a-movie-camera]

I was watching I Love Lucy on Pluto TV last night and it completely slipped my mind that yesterday marked Desi Arnaz’s 106th birthday.

His was a classic Riches-to-Rags, Rags-to-Riches Cinderella tale. Desiderio Alberto ‘Desi’ Arnaz y de Acha III was born 2 March 1917 in Santiago de Cuba, Oriente Province, Cuba, the only son of wealthy landowner Desiderio Alberto Arnaz y de Alberni II (a prominent Cuban politician, who, to date, was the youngest mayor of Santiago de Cuba from 1923 to 1932) and his wife, Dolores ‘Lolita’ de Acha y de Socías (one of the most beautiful women in the Caribbean, the daughter of a businessman, one of three founders of Bacardi Rum Limited, the world's largest privately-owned spirits company). Desi was of the small but vastly privileged, upper-class y de Acha, the descendent of Cuban nobility of whose colonial ancestors originated from Santander, Provincia de Cantabria, Cantabria, Spain. (His grandfather, Dr Desiderio Alberto Arnaz y Alberni I, was assigned to the first United States volunteer cavalry in Cuba, the ‘Rough Riders’ under the leadership of ‘Hero of Cuba’ Theodore Roosevelt during the Spanish-American War on 1 July 1898. To legend, they sieged San Juan Hill on horseback, and though the forged conquest did not belong primarily to Roosevelt, for the conflict was an integrated effort between the white volunteer regiment and the 1,250 black Buffalo Soldiers, the famed battle gained Cuba her independence from Spain—a victory for the people, the Cuban people).

At the height of the Cuban Revolution of 1933, Desi and his family were forced to flee their Motherland, leaving their riches behind. Following a brief election, the government collapsed with the removal of President Gerardo Machado y Morales from office in August of 1933. The opposing anarchists seized all political leaders and stripped them of their power. Among them, Desi’s father, imprisoned by the regime, before his brother-in-law, Alberto de Acha, intervened on his behalf, thus making his escape to Miami, where he was to remain in exile. Having lost their holdings to the rebels who confiscated their property (their palatial home, a cattle ranch, two dairy farms, and a vacation villa on a private island in Santiago Bay), his father sent for Desi and his mother, who took refuge in Key West, Monroe, Florida in 1934. When Desi washed upon the shores of the Americas, his father had established an import-export company, where the family of three took up frugal lodgings in the company warehouse and dined on cans of cold beans. Desi came to live in New York City and Los Angeles for about one year, where he tightened his belt for survival and scrambled for employment as a struggling musician. Following an engagement as a guitar player for a Latin-American band at the Roney Plaza Hotel in Miami Beach, and a cursory stint with the Xavier Cugat Orchestra in 1937, he made his Broadway debut in the Rodgers and Hart musical Too Many Girls, where he reprised the role for RKO's major motion picture of the same name in 1940. During the course of filming, he fell head-over-heels for the Apricot Queen, Lucille Désirée Ball. The couple eloped on 30 November 1940 in Greenwich, Fairfield, Connecticut. By 1949, at the age of thirty-two, Desi established himself a renowned nightclub entertainer as conga-playing band leader for the travelling self-titled Cuban orchestra.

Most Hollywood buffs would do well to remember the Power Couple formed by Desilu Productions—a celluloid empire built on the backs of Lucy and Desi’s American Dreams, despite the public scandals and tumultuous marital woes. But at the crowning glory of their golden existence, there are those who neglect Desi's legacy and his reluctant resignation to his fate as the Man Behind the Curtain, to remain in Lucy’s shadow so long as he lived. Lucy, of whose celebrity distinction was of higher standing than her husband’s. Desi, though undoubtedly talented, who was not exempt from the unjust ostracization and societal prejudice that plagued him as a Cuban Spaniard immigrant in racially-charged Hollywood. For those who clutched their pearls at the prospect of Middle American households who might've dismissed acceptance of the world’s first interracial couple on television, Lucy and Desi defied those expectations and dissolved racial barriers in an era dominated by cultural strife. Audiences of all races, colour, and creed came together to shower the Ricardos with adoration and praise, because they came to understand the Ricardos epitomized the human experience, no matter that they didn't reflect the typical post-war domestic demographic. Against all odds, the world fell in love with the All-American Ricardos… white, Hispanic, or otherwise. Lucy and Desi, to be envied by all... America's Sweethearts.

On his 106th birthday, we remember Desi for the pioneer he was, as the Mastermind behind the nation’s most Beloved Redhead.

Behind every great woman lies a greater man.

Perhaps Desi speaks for us all when he declared his everlasting love, in his own words... ‘I Love Lucy was never just a title.’

💓 Happy Heavenly Birthday, Desi.  💓

       𓆩♡𓆪 · ・ 𓆩♡𓆪 · ・ 𓆩♡𓆪 · ・𓆩♡𓆪 · ・ 𓆩♡𓆪 · ・

[petri808]

Day 11 @flufftober “sweet tooth” TakaRitsu . Just tooth ache fluff kind of Drabble.

It’s their first vacation trip as a married couple, and Masamune wants to make it so memorable, that his husband will always remember the time they spent together. Of course, in Japan it’s not a legal marriage, but now that Ritsu is added to his family registrar, Ritsu Onodera is now legally, Ritsu Takano… Oof, just thinking about it still gives Masamune goosebumps. Everything they’ve gone through to get to this point is in the past, and now their future is looking bright. Two successful men in the publishing world, who will one day take over Onodera Publishing, but for today, all that awaits is sand, sea, and a little paddle boarding in Anaeho’omalu Bay in Waikoloa, Hawaii.

The six day, five night honeymoon trip is a collective gift from both sets of parents to give the young couple a little relaxation before starting their fresh beginning. Many tourists choose Oahu island because of it’s wider array of things to do, but considering Ritsu and Masamune come from he city, a city vacation is a the least enticing idea. Therefore, Waikoloa on the west side of the Big Island of Hawaii was chosen for it’s warm climate, and natural beauty— A place where life moves at a relaxing, slower pace that ebbs and flows like the waves on the islands sandy shores.

At the Waikoloa Marriott, Masamune and Ritsu are checked into an oceanside suite on the top floor that overlooks Anaeho’omalu Bay. It’s a pretty typical hotel with it’s pool, bar, restaurant, a salon and small gym, but what makes it special is it’s ties to the local culture. In ancient Hawaii, the local islanders would use the natural landscape of some bays to create what is referred to today as aquaculture ponds and fisheries. By adding rocks and wooden slatted gates, they would entice young fish to swim through the gate by providing abundant food sources, so by the time they try to leave, they’re too big to get through the slats anymore. The shoreline of the hotel features a renovated pond so tourists can see this amazing technique up close. It then stretches out into a mile or so long white sand beach where vendors rent out surfboards, kayaks, and paddle boards.

Around 4 pm, Masamune convinces Ritsu to go out with him on a tandem paddle board as long as he can sit while Masamune does all the paddling for them. It’s September, so the air is still fairly warm despite moving towards autumn. Plus, they didn’t plan to stay out too long.

“The sunset will look the same whether from our balcony or the beach, so I don’t understand why you want to be on a board in the middle of the bay.” Ritsu complains.

“Well,” Masamune counters, “the balcony is not really romantic and the beach has other people. This way, we can relax without distractions.”

“Guess that’s true” Ritsu relents as he sits down in the center of the board.

After kissing his husbands forehead, Masamune stands up and pushes away from the sand with the help of the vendor staff. Thankfully, the weather is on their side with very little wind to stir up the waves. For about twenty or thirty minutes, he paddles against the tide to get them past the break-point in the waves maybe two-hundred yards off-shore. It may not seem so far when you’re just looking out over the water, but when the waves are working against you, and you’re trying hard not to lose balance, it takes time to travel such a distance. But finally, they reach a point where it feels like the tide is no longer pulling too strongly and they can relax, just floating and bobbing surrounded by the deep blue sea. Masamune sits down behind with Ritsu between his stretched out legs, then passes the paddle forward to Ritsu to hold in front of them.

“What do you think?” Masamune asks Ritsu as he wraps his arms around the man. “Isn’t it so much more relaxing like this?”

Ritsu shifts back against his husbands chest. “Okay, I’ll admit it kind of is… Even the way the water is shimmering from the sunset is cool.”

Masamune sighs happily in his contented win. “Boy, the pictures of Hawaii’s sunsets don’t do it enough justice. They’re mostly red and oranges in the photos, but who knew they came with pinks and purples too!”

“I can imagine some of my clients immediately seeing these sunsets and breaking out their colored pens,” Ritsu chuckles and sighs too with a smile. “They’d look amazing with watercolors.” He turns his head so he can see Masamune better. “Thank you for bringing me out here.”

Over the gentle pitter-patter sounds of the water lapping against the fiberglass board, light whooshing of the trade winds, and occasional seabirds flying above, a sense of pure euphoria drowns out the conch shells roar in their ears. There’s a crinkling and tinge of moist shine in Masamune’s eyes as he smiles and leans in, placing a pressure-laden, long-lasting kiss on his husbands lips. “No,” his voice grows fervent, “thank you, for being here with me.”

What a perfect way to end their day.

[kikoeluademel]

Continuação pt 2

SÃO FRANCISCO

Ficámos um total de 5 dias na Golden City, San Fran, the City by the Bay, Frisco, the Paris of the West, com todas as alcunhas ao nível desta cidade bem cool.

E não só cool da vibe que transmite mas também das temperaturas, que são bastante chilly, sobretudo depois dos desertos, com um nevoeiro quase constante, tão habitual que os são franciscanos o apelidaram de Karl, the fog.

São Francisco é de facto especial, com a icónica Golden Gate Bridge (que só conseguimos ver em 2 dos 5 dias quando o Karl deu tréguas), os típicos elétricos, as casas vitorianas coloridas, as ruas com inclinação +++ (de causar síndrome de atrito do tensor da fáscia lata a qualquer um que se atreva a subi-las - momento nerd, desculpa Pe), a famosa rua aos S Lombard Street, a baía com vista para Alcatraz, a Chinatown, a Japantown, o Mission District com a prevalente comunidade hispânica e os seus fantásticos murais, o Haight com as influências hippies dos anos 60, as ruas de Castro por onde se marcharam pelos direitos civis da comunidade LGBT e o melhor de tudo, uma forte adoração pela gastronomia e dedicação à arte da restauração, aspecto ainda não encontrado em nenhum outro sítio durante a viagem.

Adorámos mesmo esta cidade eclética e gostámos muito da comidinha, o famoso clam showder e as comidas asiáticas que comemos no bairro de Japantown onde estávamos hospedados no belíssimo hotel Majestic.

O nosso quarto, só tenho pena de não ter tirado fotografia a banheira de pés da nossa casa-de-banho majestosa.

Exemplos do Kiko contente por estarmos a comer bem em San Fran.

De destacar em São Francisco:

Fomos ver a restauração em 4k do icónico filme "Thelma & Louise" no não tão menos icónico cinema Castro Theatre. Foi uma experiência deliciosa ver numa sala tão bonita como aquela e repleta de cinéfilos que reagiam entusiasticamente a todas as piadas e cenas épicas do filme.

Fomos visitar a célebre prisão na ilha Alcatraz e foi muito interessante ouvir relatado pelos próprios prisioneiros e pelos guardas da altura como era a vida naquela prisão de alta segurança. O the Rock, como lhe chamavam, para onde eram enviados os mais terríveis criminosos, incluindo os que já tinham feito tentativas de fuga noutras prisões. A experiência incluí entrar dentro das minúsculas celas individuais e ainda mais aterrorizador nas celas da solitária, onde eram mantidos às escuras por dias, semanas e meses os que desobedeciam às regras da prisão. Ficámos também a saber das histórias das tentativas de fuga daquela que era considerada a prisão impossível de fugir, apenas 3 de 27 bem sucedidas, embora o paradeiro desses 3 nunca tenha sido descoberto e seja presumido que morreram afogados no barco que construíram com casacos de chuva que roubaram da lavandaria (fica a dica para verem o filme Escape from Alcatraz que conta a história destes 3 malandros que ficaram para a história que foram os únicos que conseguiram, sem ser detectados, chegar pelo menos às águas gélidas que circundam a ilha e de como executaram a brilhante fuga).

Mudança de planos, aqui no blog e na viagem.

Tínhamos inicialmente planeado visitar a ilha de Maui, no Hawaii, a seguir a São Francisco, plano que decidimos abortar pelos terríveis wildfires da região de Lahaina.

Decidimos então alugar um carro e nos 5 dias em que lá estaríamos descemos a costa de São Francisco até LA, onde passamos por Santa Cruz, Monterey, Carmel-by-the-Sea, fizemos o Big Sur, ficamos em Santa Barbara e terminámos em Malibu e Venice Beach, novamente - trajecto que vos ia contar já hoje mas entretanto o homem já acordou e está na altura de ir visitar Oahu.

Fica aqui prometido então às 4 pessoas que estão a ler isto que voltarei para vos falar deste trecho da viagem e das duas semanas nas duas ilhas paradisíacas do Hawaii.

Obrigada por estarem desse lado,

os quase-casados-há 1 mês,

Lu e Kiko

[bikepackinguk]

Day Forty-three

It's up and at 'em today from the end of Poolewe's stretch of bay and after this many times I'm getting pretty efficient with the morning routine, though in no mood to rush!

Off we set once more - out from Poolewe it's naturally straight into the hills again this morning, with a clamber over the top of the ridges to get over to the lovely little town of Gairloch by the waterfront.

Climbing back out past the lovely beach, and with no through roads around the coast for this area, it's time for a long climb alk the way up along the River Kerry to begin a 20-something mile detour inland.

Up and up the road climbs past rocky walls until reaching Loch Bad an Sgalaig, before descending into the Slattadale Valley.

After all the climbing this is a wonderful stretch of long gradual descent straight down along to the start of Loch Maree, with gorgeous views of the mountains lining the valley.

The weather today has been pretty reasonable so far, so I take a short diversion for a little walk up to see the very lovely Victoria Falls.

It's plebty more miles riding along the lochside, and the clouds begin to thicken with the mountains turning into grey sillouettes around me. Before long the skies begin to absolutely hammer it down.

A quick duck into the shelter at Beinn Eighe National Nature Reserve finds a number of other tourists taking shekter from the heavy rain. Whilst most of them resolve to head back to their hotels, I and a motorcyclist have a chuckle, throw on our waterproofs, and get back at it!

The end if the loch is finally reached at Taagan, and the road starts heading up once more following the A' Ghairbhe river all the way up to Loch Clair. As the road continues into the valley the surrounding mountains make an amazing framing of the landscape.

The rains finally start to subside, but the winds funneling up through the valley are whistling past and even once the downhill begins it still requires a lot of pedalling to actually make any headway back down.

After a lot of work the valkey is finally exited at Upper Loch Torridon, where the route swings up into the hills above it on the south side, making for good views of the craggy mountains on the opposite side.

With a few more stiff ascents we finally get round to the very lovely little village of Shieldag, where I coast down to the waterfront to have a nice break for some dinner.

My route over the last two days has intersected with a German couple on holiday, and we've had a few nice chats and bantering as we repeatedly pass each other by. Turns out they are staying here and we share more smiles as we encounter one another yet again.

I know the Applecross Peninsula ahead is going to be a lot of hard work though, so I decide to get a bit of a start made on it whilst scouting for angood spot for the night.

Out from Shieldag, I finally turn off the A896 and head west along the very up-and-down road along the hillside above Loch Shieldag. The views across the water are stunning, and after a little more riding I spy a nice sheltered spot by some silver birches that allow me to setup the tent with a view across the water.

After all the work today, and the climbs ahead tomorrow, I think a nice lie down is in order. I might let myself have a lie in as well! West Scotland's hills continue to be merciless so best make sure the legs have a bit if time to recover.

Until the morning!

[grandmaster-anne]

Court Circular | 23rd February 2023

Buckingham Palace

The King and The Queen Consort this afternoon held a Reception at Clarence House to celebrate Literature and the Second Anniversary of Her Majesty’s “Reading Room”. The Queen Consort later re-opened Boston Manor, Boston Manor Road, Brentford, marking its Four Hundredth Anniversary, and was received by Ms. Rosemary Prescott (Deputy Lieutenant of Greater London). Her Majesty afterwards visited the Jimmy Choo Academy, Boston Manor Road, Brentford. The Prince of Wales, on behalf of The King, held an Investiture at Buckingham Palace this morning.

Kensington Palace

The Prince of Wales, Patron, the Passage, this afternoon opened Bentley House and Passage House, King’s Scholars Passage, London SW1. The Princess of Wales, Patron, All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, this morning received Mr Ian Hewitt (Chairman) at Windsor Castle. Her Royal Highness, Colonel, Irish Guards, this afternoon received Major General Christopher Ghika (Regimental Lieutenant Colonel) and Lieutenant Colonel James Aldridge (Commanding Officer).

St James’s Palace

The Earl of Wessex this morning visited Ed Gartland Youth Centre, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands. The Earl and Countess of Wessex this afternoon attended a Luncheon at the Palm Hotel, Grace Bay Beach, Princess Drive, Providenciales. The Countess of Wessex this morning visited Blue Haven Marina, Leeward Settlement, Providenciales. Her Royal Highness afterwards attended the Turks and Caicos Women’s Leadership and Empowerment Meeting at the Palm Hotel, Grace Bay Beach. The Earl and Countess of Wessex later departed Providenciales International Airport for Nassau, Bahamas. His Royal Highness, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Foundation, and Her Royal Highness, Global Ambassador, this evening attended a Reception at the Breezes Hotel, West Bay Street, Nassau, for young people who have achieved the Gold Standard in the Award. The Earl of Wessex, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Foundation, and The Countess of Wessex, Global Ambassador, afterwards attended a Dinner at Lyford Cay Club, 1 Lyford Cay Drive, New Providence.

St James’s Palace

The Princess Royal, President, The Duke of Edinburgh’s Commonwealth Study Conferences, this morning attended a Global Leadership Seminar at Coutts and Company, 440 Strand, London WC2. Her Royal Highness, Patron, Voluntary Service Overseas, this afternoon received Mr. Samuel Younger upon relinquishing his appointment as Chairman and Ms. Julia Lalla-Maharajh upon assuming the appointment. The Princess Royal, President, British Olympic Association, later attended an Executive Board Meeting at 101 New Cavendish Street, London W1.

St James’s Palace

The Duke of Kent, Fellow, the Royal Society, this evening presented the Royal Medals at the Society’s Premier Awards Reception at 6-9 Carlton House Terrace, London SW1, and was received by Mr Gareth Neame (Deputy Lieutenant of Greater London).

[clivemwilliams]

Spain 2023

We’re back with another travel blog - this time it’s Northern Spain for 10 days. Hoping it’s a good one!

2-3/7/23

Having been brought up in Plymouth I was always impressed by the rare occurrence of a large ferry entering or leaving the port area so it was actually quite exciting to board the Brittany Ferry Pont Aven for a 23 hour crossing (or let’s say cruise!) from Plymouth to Santander in Northern Spain.

I should say straight away that my one and only reservation about this trip was the fact that I have suffered terribly from sea sickness in the past and I knew that the Bay of Biscay is notorious for regular stormy seas. So with not a little trepidation we set sail in mid afternoon in what is a large ship by any standards - 2500 passengers and 650 or so vehicles. We found our inside cabin easily enough and it served its purpose and then booked a meal at the A La Carte restaurant for later that evening. This turned out to be a very good move as the meal was excellent - 3 courses including a substantial cheese board.

Sea conditions were fairly smooth and managed to get off to sleep with no problem - probably due to the sea sickness pills I had taken! Woke up in the morning, and actually thought we were becalmed! But no, we had somehow managed to find ourselves in the middle of the Bay of Biscay in completely flat seas - not even a small swell!

After breakfast we went to a talk on Orca whales and other marine life in the Bay which was really interesting and afterwards joined the speaker and others on the top deck looking out for any signs of animal life. Despite the calm conditions we only managed to see a few dolphins - but acknowledged that looking out needs a lot of patience- sadly one of the few thinks I lack!

After disembarking with our car in Santander we drove west for about 90 mins to Ribadesella where we are staying for 4 nights. Early impressions are good, we’ve got a hotel almost on the beach with a sea view from the bedroom. Quite a large bay with some huge waves breaking offshore - very popular with surfers.

Off to do some exploring tomorrow after which I shall update the blog.

[casspurrjoybell-17]

HEART'S FATE - CHAPTER 59

*Warning Adult Content*

What does it mean to come home?

In Martin Hunter's experience, it depends who's waiting for you there.

As a kid, getting out of school and going home meant relief, playing with his brothers and sisters, delicious food cooked by his mom or dad, the comforting drudgery of homework and the promised reward of video games or his favorite cartoons.

As an adult, home became a place of anxiety.

Would Elena be waiting for him?

What sort of mood would she be in?

What might she have said or done to the kids in his absence?

Martin's greatest fear, on the rare occasions when he was away for any extended amount of time, was that he would come back to find them gone.

Now, as his partner, Skylar West parks their rental car in front of their house and four small figures burst from the front door and race across the lawn to greet them, coming home is pure joy.

********

Back on the private island, Shanti had promised to visit Martin's family before returning to her own realm and let them know that all was well.

Miguel's wolf, too, had visited his father once more in a dream, in which he told him how proud he was of him and how he had saved them all.

After that, however, there had been only a few phone calls from hotel rooms, which Martin kept short to avoid ridiculous fees.

Speaking of fees, as soon as Shanti disappeared into the sea, leaving them behind on the island, reality had caught up to Martin and he had a minor panic attack over how on earth they were going to get home with no passports and no money.

Fortunately, Skylar had been wrong about himself.

He had lost his ability to transform, to swim like a fish and breathe water instead of air but he had not lost his siren's Voice.

A quick trip to the U.S. Consulate in Palermo and they had everything they needed, which was proof enough that Skylar's Voice retained it's unnaturally persuasive power.

One does not simply walk into the U.S. Consulate, announce that one has no identification of any kind, request a replacement passport and expect to be accommodated speedily.

With their papers in hand, they'd visited a few reputable dealers of antiquities and a jeweler or two and exchanged some Mer-salvaged treasures and pearls for cash.

Thus equipped, they were set to travel in style.

Skylar led Martin on a meandering tour up through Italy, across the top of Spain and into France, where they followed the western coast, keeping mostly to small towns.

Finally they struck inland for Paris and from there caught a first-class flight to San Francisco.

They rested there for a day, visiting the Museum of Modern Art and Fisherman's Wharf, before renting a comfortable car and heading for home.

They could have made the drive in a day but Skylar had one last place he wanted to visit, the beach near Bodega Bay where they'd camped with the kids, where they bonded and where Skylar first made contact with Natalis and his 'father.'

Skylar said he wanted to watch the sun set over the ocean one more time before he bid the sea goodbye for a while and to give them the closure of coming full circle through their strange ordeal.

"Will you miss it?" Martin asked, as the last gleam of the sun slipped beneath the rim of the horizon, where a thin band of lavender-hued mist separated a dark sea from the turquoise and tangerine sky.

They'd parked at an overlook atop a bluff at a place called Duncan's Landing.

Below them was the little cove in which they'd made love.

"The sea will always call to me," Skylar said.

"As a siren song in my blood. There will be times I can't ignore it, when I feel I must go mad if I cannot hear the waves and feel the salt spray in the air. Then I will answer it and come to a place such as this, to soothe my soul. But I won't stay long and I hope I will not be alone."

Martin leant against him and closed his eyes, letting the sea saturate his senses, the rhythmic roar of waves and the buffeting wind against his skin, carrying with it the occasional cool kiss of salted mist.

"Sounds a bit like being a wolf. After a while our human skin starts to feel too tight and we long for freedom and release, the simplicity of a wolf's mind, wild as the sea but devoid of human thought."

"Hmm. I wonder what would happen if you bit me," Skylar mused.

"Would I become like you or turn out a scaly mer-wolf monster? Or would I become something else entirely?"

Martin pulled away from him in surprise and Skylar laughed.

"A question for the future, maybe."

"Maybe."

Martin leant against his mate again, looping an arm around his waist and filling his lungs with sea air.

Personally, the less magic, mayhem and mystery in his life, the happier he'd be.

At least for a while.

Martin suspected that between Flora, Miguel, Nico and Rio, he had some mayhem in his future, at least and probably plenty of magic and mystery, too.

They'd spent a last night alone together, at a little bed-and-breakfast 'the rainbow flag flying from the porch of which told them they'd be welcome' before completing the last leg of their journey and arriving home.

********

"Daddy."

Smiling so hard his face hurt, Martin is tackled to the ground and buried beneath a miniature dog pile.

The kids haven't been this glad to see him in a long time and it reminds Martin how fast time flies.

When Flora and Miguel were younger, they loved to run all the way across the school's playing field to greet him at the end of each day.

They'd meet in the middle and he'd pretend to be knocked off his feet, then roll around in the grass while they smothered him in 'attack' kisses.

Pretty soon, he'll be cheering them on as they graduate high school.

First dates, first jobs, first cars, first loves, tears sting his eyes at the thought of how much he could have missed and how grateful he is to be here now.

"Why are you crying, Daddy?" Nico asks, concern pinching his little brow.

He'll be a handsome one when he grows up, a real heartbreaker, for sure.

"I'm just happy, sweetheart," Martin says, catching his breath and drawing him and Rio into a hug.

"I'm happy to be home."

At his back, Skylar kneels and rests a hand on Martin's shoulder where he sits on the ground.

"Me, too," Skylar says.

"Are you gonna stay this time, Mr. Sky?" Rio asks, tears streaking his own cheeks.

He's the most empathetic of the four and cries easily.

Martin glances at him over his shoulder and Skylar smiles at him.

"Yes, I'm here to stay."

********

"What about Papa Sky," Skylar asks later that night as they lie in bed together.

It had been a full day of catching up with the family, especially Martin's brother Noah and his partner, Ambrose, who while they offered to look after the kids again any time they needed, seemed glad enough to be rid of them after three weeks.

"They could still call me 'Mr. West' at school, if you like."

Martin laughs into his pillow, half drunk with lingering jet lag and the sheer relief of lying in his own bed.

Despite his best efforts, Skylar hadn't been able to get Nico and Rio to drop the Mr. from before his name.

"Sounds good to me," Martin says, rolling to face him.

Skylar leans in and kisses his lover .

"You taste like the sea," Martin says.

Skylar draws back.

"The 'sea' contains quite a wide variety, my dear. There's everything from the beach at low tide to the freshest zephyr on the open waves."

Martin smiles, touching the end of his nose to Skylar's.

"The latter, definitely."

"You taste like... Well, you taste like toothpaste and mouthwash," Skylar says.

"Utterly mundane, adorable and perfect."

"Better than dog breath," Martin grins.

Skylar snorts.

"Go to sleep, my beautiful, wonderful, wolf-hearted man. Tomorrow, we start anew and we have everything ahead of us."

********

It takes a while but day by day, peace returns to their lives.

For Martin, true peace comes to nest in his heart for the first time, for which he is more grateful with each passing day.

If Skylar isn't beside him when he wakes, Martin hears him in the shower or downstairs making breakfast for the kids.

And each night, they fall asleep in each other's arms, knowing that each breath they take together is a gift.

Skylar returns to work for the school but rather than art 'he confessed he couldn't remain an objective judge when it came to the children' he coaches swim team.

Meanwhile, Martin returns to my role as a stay-at-home dad, for the moment.

Not everything is roses, disappearing from the face of the known earth for several weeks comes with consequences, as his agent duly informs him.

The publisher dropped him, apparently, due to his lack of ability to meet their deadlines and the offer of an advance has been withdrawn.

For once in his life, Martin is not worried.

Money is meaningless to Skylar, he can literally scoop it from the sea... 'Or his family can, anyway'.

He is not about to rely on him for everything or stop doing his share but he's also okay with letting Skylar take care of him, at least for a little while.

Because at long last, after everything, Martin is finally willing to believe what everyone's been telling him all along.

He fucked up in the past but he doesn't have to let the past define him.

He's more than the sum of his failures and he deserves something good.

He deserves a break.

So, he embraces it.

He throws himself into long overdue home repairs, take notes for a new book inspired by their trip through Europe and shower the kids in as much attention as they'll tolerate.

Martin let the past go.

At least, until the past comes knocking, literally in the form of his ex-wife Elena, almost a month to the day since our return. 

[rabbitcruiser]

Sea Otter Heaven, Morro Bay (No. 4)

The historic population of California sea otters was estimated at 16,000 before the fur trade decimated the population, leading to their assumed extinction. Today's population of California sea otters are the descendants of a single colony of about 50 sea otters located near Bixby Creek Bridge in March 1938 by Howard G. Sharpe, owner of the nearby Rainbow Lodge on Bixby Bridge in Big Sur. Their principal range has gradually expanded and extends from Pigeon Point in San Mateo County to Santa Barbara County.

Sea otters were once numerous in San Francisco Bay. Historical records revealed the Russian-American Company snuck Aleuts into San Francisco Bay multiple times, despite the Spanish capturing or shooting them while hunting sea otters in the estuaries of San Jose, San Mateo, San Bruno and around Angel Island. The founder of Fort Ross, Ivan Kuskov, finding otters scarce on his second voyage to Bodega Bay in 1812, sent a party of Aleuts to San Francisco Bay, where they met another Russian party and an American party, and caught 1,160 sea otters in three months. By 1817, sea otters in the area were practically eliminated and the Russians sought permission from the Spanish and the Mexican governments to hunt further and further south of San Francisco. In 1833, fur trappers George Nidever and George Yount canoed "along the Petaluma side of [the] Bay, and then proceeded to the San Joaquin River", returning with sea otter, beaver, and river otter pelts. Remnant sea otter populations may have survived in the bay until 1840, when the Rancho Punta de Quentin was granted to Captain John B. R. Cooper, a sea captain from Boston, by Mexican Governor Juan Bautista Alvarado along with a license to hunt sea otters, reportedly then prevalent at the mouth of Corte Madera Creek.

Source: Wikipedia

[seabreeze2022]

2023 Bahama Cruise, Part 28. May 12 Governors Harbor, Alabaster Beach, Eleuthera.

This is the chart blow up of Governors Harbor, to give you an idea of the area. Against advice on the chart and our friends who were here a couple of days earlier. We anchored inside the harbor. Our anchor dug in well, and we recklessly never dove it.

After a quick trip to the grocery store for a dozen eggs and another bottle of Coconut Rum. We walked around the harbor shore line. We visited the old cemetery near the water. It was well kept with some very old Grave Stones. Behind the cemetery was the St. Patrick’s Anglican Church, built in 1848.

Just around the corner from the church was this beautiful building. It is the “Haynes Library” built much later in 1897. Notice the huge concrete buttresses at the corners, facing 45 degrees from the building. The ones in the back go almost all the way up the second floor. This library was built to withstand a Hurricane. Hurricane Andrew came nearby in 1992 as a Category 3 Hurricane.

Cupid’s Cay makes the outer hook of the harbor. Not sure if it was a separate Cay originally or not as the name would suggest. But today it is connected to the mainland by a substantial causeway. Cupid’s Cay was the home of the first Bahama Parliament in 1736.

On Cupid’s Cay was the first U.S. Consulate to the Bahamas in 1789.

This is a hotel rental on the Cupid’s Cay. This reminds us of old Key West. We walked back to the dinghy and then moved to the boat for the night.

The next morning we did a quick walk through the better part of town. These were well kept up old houses that you can rent. Grounds were green with landscaping and well kept. Really reminds us of Old Key West.

This walk took us over the top of the ridge about 142 ft. high. The ends up going through a carved out are to keep it from being so steep. There was an cement cistern reservoir at the top to supply water pressure to the neighborhood.

From the top we could see both coast of the island. Once we finished this short walk it was back to the boat and move anchorages. Governors Harbor left a good impression with us. Part of it was like most of the settlements. Parts were going high class rentals. Lots of history in this town.

As always the few people we met were very nice and friendly. Apparently there are no snakes on this Island. The chickens and rosters have run amuck. The crowing starts early and is continuous for hours before daybreak.

This is Alabaster Bay. It is 6 miles north of Governors Harbor.

On Monday 13th, we hike 3.7 miles round trip. First across the island to the abandoned US Navy Base. Right turn and a 1 mile plus hike down the beach. Lunch at “The Deck” then continuing clockwise out to the Queen’s Highway and home.

In 1950 this USNavy Base was started as an experimental SOSUS (Sound Surveillance System) having 6 hydrophones deployed off shore. Then in 1958 it became a missile tracking site for US missiles launched from Cape Canaveral. Typical of USNavy bases on islands, they concrete the sides of hills to catch the rain water at the bottom. See photo above, there were several of these. The base was closed in 1982. During its tenure, usually only the Base Commander was actually in the military. The other personnel worked either for Pan American Airways (Pan Am) or Radio Corporation of America (RCA).

In 1957 the base became the Eleuthera Auxiliary Air Force Base (AAFB).

Being a sailor I can’t help but drag a large clump of net and floats up to the high tide mark. It would be a nightmare if you fouled your prop in the open ocean with something like this.

This is “The Deck”. A bar and grill on the oceanside. It is owned by Mark Robert a descendent of the original settlers at Hope Town Abaco.

Bacon Cheese Burgers in Paradise. We learned a new trick. When flies are giving you a problem, light a can of sterno. Even after you put it out they stay away for several minutes.

This is all the treasure we collected on the beach. The most prized of the different sea beans, is the “Hamburger bean” (front left).

It was a slow hike back to the boat after the huge lunch. Nancy cut my hair and beard. After a short recovery time from the lunch. We pulled anchor and sailed north to Hatchet Bay. We tried to out run some storms coming up from the south. Didn’t work out so well.

Using Standard WaterTribe rules. We reefed early. If reefing even enters your mind, then you should go ahead and reef (pull in) your sails. Since we did, the gust from the storm never materialized.

This very well could be a hairy entrance., it is 80 ft. wide and has rock cliffs. Large amount of current to get in and out of this small cut. We had 2 ft. swells and 12-15 kt. winds.

We came into the bay and put out a “Security call” on VHF announcing our entry into the bay. The mailboats and car ferries never say when they are approaching or exiting the harbor. We assume they have a VHF, but they seldom ever answer.

We entered during the top of the flood tide, so no current was evident. We put our anchor down in the north end of the harbor. Only 8 cruisers here. Three left the next morning.

S/V Sea Breeze, Alabaster Bay, Eleuthera, Bahamas.

[alexracheltravel]

Island Paradise

We awoke to our first island resort. While we only had a brief stay in Koh Samui, that didn't make it any less beautiful. We enjoyed breakfast beside the beach, sipping coffee and dipping our toes into the yellow sand. Stray dogs walked beside our table. Signs told us deliberately not to feed them. We've seen a lot of wild/strays on our trip in each country we've visited.

Although we were staying in the Gulf of Thailand, our plan was not to stay on the larger island of Koh Samui, but on the more remote, secluded island of Koh Tao. The only way to get there is by ferry. We purposely checked into a hotel in Koh Samui because of its proximity to the ferry. The ferry was smooth and quick. We traversed 60km in an hour and a half, including stops. The television screens on the ferry advertised tourism in Thailand. Some of our favorites included:

-A influencer-style travelogue of a couple (westerners, possibly Australians) who spent two days in Bangkok and then in Phuket. We noticed they omitted jet-lag, getting sick, and financial concerns. We were also pretty sure they were actors. Not even a real couple.

-Some sort of "discover Thailand" series of commercials, stylized in movie commercials. The first imagined discovering Thailand as a sci-fi/horror film. It did not make us want to visit Thailand, but they were innovative.

At last, we arrived at Koh Tao, where we will ring in the new year! Our resort, Jamahkiri, is incredible. It is at the top of a hill on the south end of the island, overlooking an inlet called "Shark Bay." We have our own villa with an incredible living room with multiple couches, dining room, and full kitchen with doors that completely open onto our private deck with private infinity pool overlooking the ocean. One of the more beautiful views we could have asked for. 

We ordered an easy room service, Alex got a spicy green curry and Rachel got laarb and both got a coconut cocktail. We spent the day relaxing in our pool, reading in our covered outdoor couches, and generally relaxing. Rachel booked an in room massage for tomorrow and we both decided to call it a night early, but kept our shades open so we could see the stars from our floor to ceiling windows. 

As we reflect on 2022, which, aside from this trip, was not the best year, we decided to talk about the things we did love from this year. So, instead of our usual conversation, we decided to think about some of our favorite things from 2022. Read our rankings of our End of Year Best lists:

Movies/TV

A

1- Inu-Oh

2- Mad God

3- Cha Cha Real Smooth

4- Cyberpunk 2099

5- Neptune Frost

R

1- Severance S1

2- Heartstoppers S1

3- Sex Education S4

4- Sex Lives of College Girls S2

5- The Rings of Power S1

Books

A

1- Dilla Time

2- Life Ceremony 

3- Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands

4- Shuna's Journey 

5- It Was All a Dream: Biggie and the World that Made Him

R

1- Hook, Line, and Sinker

2- Princess Trap

3- Get a Life, Chloe Brown

4- Heart stoppers v4

5- From Blood and Ash

Albums

A

1- Kumoyo Island - Kikagaku Moyo

2- Renaissance - Beyonce

3- Hyper-Dimensional Expansion Beam - The Comet is Coming

4- Motomami - Rosalia

R

1- Renaissance - Beyonce

2- Harry's House - Harry Styles

3- Special - Lizzo

Food/Meals

Note: for fairness we're not including any meals from this trip. We'll do a final ranking of our favorite Honeytrip meals next week!

A

1- whole roasted cauliflower from Zohara in West Hartford

2- vegan burrito at Ursula 

3- pan seared soup dumplings f om Dumplings House in SF

4- An epic reast at Skewers by Miriam with Lyndsi, Alon, Leo and Vicki

5- Turkey Ramen made by Mr. Alex Moser (probably the best thing he's cooked this yr)

R

1- Pan-seared soup dumplings from Dumpling House in SF

2- whole roasted cauliflower from Zohara in West Hartford

3- turkey ramen made by Mr. Alex Moser 

4- Strawberry White Chocolate Layer Cake - Clementine

5- New Year's Charcuterie Board Upstate (might have been 12/31 but who's counting)

Honorable Mention: Dairy-free Boursin (shout out to Wine Squad for this epic discovery)

Happy new year, family and friends. Onward to year 2566 B.E.!

[ihwe08r0u328]

Best Family Beach Vacations

Looking for a vacation that will please the whole family? A beach getaway might be just what you need. Whether you want to build sandcastles, swim in calm waters, or explore fun activities, the perfect family-friendly beach is out there waiting. The US is home to some of the best family beach vacation destinations, where kids and adults alike can enjoy memorable moments together.

Why Beach Vacations Are Perfect for Families

Affordable and Accessible Fun

Beach vacations offer an affordable way to spend time together. Unlike some costly theme parks or elaborate trips, a day at the beach only requires sunscreen, towels, and a sense of adventure. Plus, many beaches are easily accessible by car, saving you on airfare.

Activities for All Ages

Whether you have toddlers who want to dig in the sand, teenagers looking for water sports, or adults who just want to relax, beach destinations offer something for everyone. Families can enjoy time together, and still find individual activities to suit their tastes.

East Coast Family Beaches

Virginia Beach, Virginia

Virginia Beach is a favorite for families, with plenty of activities and amenities that make it easy to relax and have fun.

Kid-Friendly Attractions

In addition to the long stretches of sand, families can visit the Virginia Aquarium, go dolphin watching, or enjoy fun at the Ocean Breeze Waterpark.

Safety and Convenience

Virginia Beach is known for its clean, lifeguard-patrolled beaches, and family-friendly accommodations, making it a safe and convenient option for all.

Outer Banks, North Carolina

The Outer Banks offer wide, uncrowded beaches, ideal for families who prefer a quieter vacation.

Secluded and Spacious Beaches

The beaches here stretch for miles, giving families plenty of space to spread out and enjoy a more private experience, even in the high season.

Educational and Historical Sites

Along with the beach, families can explore historical sites like the Wright Brothers Memorial or Roanoke Island, combining fun with a little bit of learning.

Hilton Head, South Carolina

Hilton Head is a great family destination known for its outdoor activities, including biking, kayaking, and exploring nature.

Outdoor Adventures for Kids

This island is famous for its bike paths, where kids can ride safely. You can also explore nature preserves, go dolphin watching, or spend the day at the beach.

Bike-Friendly Island

Hilton Head’s flat terrain and miles of bike paths make it easy for families to explore the island without needing a car.

West Coast Family Beaches

Coronado Beach, California

Located just across the bay from San Diego, Coronado Beach is known for its calm waters, making it a great destination for families with small children.

Calm Waters for Safe Swimming

With gentle waves and shallow waters, kids can splash and swim safely while parents relax on the golden sand.

Family-Oriented Attractions

Beyond the beach, families can visit the famous Hotel del Coronado, check out the local parks, or take a short drive into San Diego for the zoo and museums.

La Jolla, California

La Jolla is perfect for families who want to experience marine life up close. The beaches here offer unique opportunities to explore wildlife.

Great for Wildlife Lovers

La Jolla is home to sea lions, tide pools, and an underwater ecological reserve. Families can snorkel, kayak, or simply watch the sea life along the shores.

Tide Pools and Marine Life

Kids will love exploring the tide pools filled with sea creatures, or visiting the Birch Aquarium for an educational experience.

Santa Cruz, California

Santa Cruz offers more than just beach fun. Its famous boardwalk is filled with activities that will thrill family members of all ages.

Boardwalk Fun

The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is an old-school amusement park right by the sea, featuring rides, arcades, and carnival games.

Activities for Teens and Adults

Teens and older family members can try surfing, paddleboarding, or even ride the iconic Giant Dipper roller coaster.

Gulf Coast Family Beaches

Clearwater Beach, Florida

Clearwater Beach is a top family destination, thanks to its soft white sands, calm waters, and abundance of activities.

Soft Sands and Calm Waters

The beach’s shallow and gentle waters are perfect for young children, and the soft sand is ideal for building sandcastles.

Dolphin Watching and Boat Tours

Clearwater offers plenty of off-beach activities, like dolphin watching tours, pirate cruises, and a visit to the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, home to the famous dolphin Winter.

Galveston Island, Texas

Galveston Island offers family-friendly fun with a unique blend of beach life and entertainment.

Fun-Filled Piers

The Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier is a must-visit, offering rides, games, and delicious food right by the water.

Amusement Parks and Museums

In addition to the beach, families can visit Moody Gardens, an amusement park with aquariums, museums, and a rainforest pyramid.

Orange Beach, Alabama

Orange Beach is a lesser-known gem on the Gulf Coast, with a slower pace and plenty of family activities.

Family-Friendly Resorts

Many of the beachfront resorts here offer kid-friendly amenities like pools, game rooms, and organized activities, making it easy for families to relax and have fun.

Dolphin Cruises and Outdoor Adventures

Families can take dolphin cruises, rent kayaks, or explore the nearby nature trails, providing plenty of options beyond the beach.

Hawaii Family Beaches

Waikiki Beach, Oahu

Waikiki is a go-to destination for families looking to enjoy both beach time and island adventures.

Water Sports for Kids

Older kids can try surfing lessons, while younger ones can splash in the shallow waters or enjoy a glass-bottom boat tour.

Family-Friendly Resorts

Waikiki is home to several large resorts with family-friendly pools, kid’s clubs, and easy access to the beach.

Poipu Beach, Kauai

Poipu Beach is one of the safest beaches in Hawaii, with calm waters and lifeguards on duty, making it ideal for families with younger children.

Calm, Shallow Waters

The protected shallow areas are perfect for toddlers and small kids, while the outer reef offers gentle snorkeling opportunities.

Snorkeling for Beginners

Poipu Beach is a great place to introduce kids to snorkeling, as the waters are clear and shallow, allowing them to safely explore the underwater world.

Hapuna Beach, Big Island

Hapuna Beach is known for its wide shores and soft sand, making it a top spot for families looking for space to play.

Perfect for Building Sandcastles

The beach’s large stretches of soft sand are perfect for creating epic sandcastles and giving kids plenty of room to run around.

Wide Beach with Room to Play