#this local shop just opened up and they have such delish stuff on offer

[lewisinho]

it is raining, my head hurts and the only things saving me are my matcha latte and a double portion of ube ice cream

[sarakuper]

Filandia; a gem in the coffee region

Stop #12, February 19-22

Oh Filandia, we came to love you so fast! 

Filandia is a beautiful and quaint coffee town smack in the middle of the coffee region. The buildings are colorful and kept in wonderful condition. The town is surrounded by rolling lush green hills with magnificent mountains in the distance! We’ve enjoyed so much coffee here and are starting to understand that the coffee we drink at home is not as great as we thought! Even though the best coffee in Colombia gets exported, and we definitely drink it in the states, its not even just about the beans, it’s also about how it’s prepared! Many local coffee shops are starting to sell the best stuff right here in town, and they offer several ways to prepared your coffee. Sean and I have stuck with the traditional way and have yet to get so fancy with it, but we will soon :)

We arrived on Wednesday and walked around the quaint town. It immediately reminded us of Jardin, except smaller and with fewer people and tourists. On our way to the hostel we walked through a bunch of elementary and middle school students leaving school in their uniforms. It was so cute and made me a bit nostalgic! We enjoyed coffee and a snack at the edge of town overlooking the mountains. We walked around the town some more, wandered into their very many and very cute shops, and finished the night with dinner and a very, very highly rated restaurant that is mentioned every single time someone talks of Filandia. The hype got me very excited for this place, especially because a vegan blogger raved about it too (suggesting its vegan!). I was so disappointed in this restaurant :(. The yucca croquettes with their spicy jam was delish, and Sean said he loved the Colombian hot dog he ordered (which looked more like sushi). But when my falafel dish arrived and I want to put some on my fork, the falafel ball was so hard that my fork didn’t pierce it, and it went flying onto my lap with the thick layer of hummus. I’ve surprisingly eaten so much falafel in Colombia that has been the best I’ve ever had, and at this famous restaurant it was so over fried, it was difficult to get on your fork. 

(did you know bananas grew upwards!?)

On Thursday we went Barbas Bremen Natural Reserve to see the howler monkeys. We got picked up in a Willy’s Jeep from our hostel to head to the finca. After a brief introduction of the area and some coffee, our guide Alejandro led us into the jungle. We heard the monkeys from afar, and before we knew it we spotted 5 of them. If fact, we even saw two of them mating! These monkeys howl so loudly, its unbelievable! We were able to stand and watch them for quite some time before continuing the beautiful hike.

The rest of the day was spent at Cafe Cultivar, a cafe that quickly became our favorite hangout in Colombia. The views on their patio overlooked the lush fincas and hills surrounding town, and the few foods we tasted were absolutely delicious. I brought my laptop, and Sean and I spent a few hours there eating, sipping coffee, and working. I spend a lot of time on job applications and getting other stuff in order while Sean worked on stuff for the business he’s starting when he returns to the states! At night we went out for tacos, but within 30 minutes after eating the taco I had a very strong craving for pasta, and so we went out for a second dinner. To be fair, the tacos we had were small and more like appetizers….  :)

On Friday we planned on hiking to a double water fall that many people speak of, sharing that the walk there is very beautiful. But honestly, we loved our time just sitting at coffee shops, walking around, and enjoying the view. It rained most of the day, so instead of the hike we just hung out. Just before sunset we walked to The Mirador for a 360 degree view of town and all the fincas, and at night we went to TukTuk, a Vietnamese restaurant. I essentially ordered a plate of veggies, but they were seasoned to perfection! Also it was an absolute HUGE portion, I’m surprised I even finished half. I love when restaurants have delish veg options!! 

Our last day in Filandia was one for the books. After yet another delicious and healthy breakfast we sipped our coffee and took in the beautiful dining room in this hostel. It feels like you’re outside in a very lush garden. Then we packed up our bags (which always takes me 3x longer than Sean) and began our 10k (5 mile) walk to the well-known Aprisco La Espanola. I had read about this place in a few blogs, the few that explored Filandia, and the reviews of this place sounded amazing. It’s a goat farm in the foothills outside town, and they cook up a huge meal (upon request/reservation) with everything fresh from their farm. A priest lives there and cooks there, but I don’t know how or why that’s relevant. We walked for almost 2 hours, but then hopped into a jeep driving by to help us get there a little quicker. The driver was Colombian but actually grew up and graduated from high school in New York! Anyway, he dropped us off 2k from the finca and we continued to walk. 

Upon arrival we walked around the finca and enjoyed the absolutely beautiful surroundings. Not only were the views gorgeous, but everything about the farm was too- the architecture in the buildings, the kitchen, the dogs-chickens-goats-peacocks-and birds, just everything! Of course Sean went straight to all the puppers to give them love and head scratches. The male peacock was running around with the goats and shortly after opened up his feathers. We were confused as to why, because the males only do this when trying to impress a female, but we eventually saw the female he was after in the distance.. and she was clearly not interested! 

Another group showed up and we were seated for lunch by 3pm. WOW, the food, just wow. The soup, which reminded me of the soup my mom makes on thanksgiving, was absolutely out of this world! It was the best soup I’ve ever had (sorry mamma!). I later learned it was made of pumpkin, carrots, celery.. and other fresh ingredients I cannot remember. Everything was truly delish. 

We rode back in another Willy’s Jeep with the people we shared lunch with. An American guy from Michigan just married his wife who is from Colombia, and they live together in Bogota. They married only a week ago, and so they were traveling around with their parents (who where also there) and a friend. They were super lovely people and we enjoyed our time with them. 

Next we are headed to Salento to visit the famous Cocora Valley!

Thanks for reading fam! I think my posts have gotten pretty boring because I haven’t kept them up to date like I’d like to- please don’t feel pressured to read. But definitely check out the photos :)

Love you all! 

[expatabroad]

Italy trip - Day 5 (Sept 17th 2017)

(Pt2...)

We essentially dumped our stuff, freshened up, and left to find Brewdog again for a pint (as is tradition). 

I’m not sure any words or photos of Il Duomo could ever do it justice. I could look at it for ages and still find it remarkable. It didn’t matter how many times I walked away and and came back to it, it was stunning every time. it just became more beautiful and impressive with every pass. 

.

.

(Side shot of Il Duomo. It is just enormous.)

(Frontal view.)

.

.

After sipping the remainder of my Trashy Blonde (fitting, yeah?), we thought we’d cover the area on the other side of the river as best as we could before it got too late, ending with watching the sunset at the Piazzale Michelangelo (just after 7).

.

.

(We’ve arrived!)

(Ordered a Vagabond each for Rik and Bas and a Trashy Blonde per mio....just seemed fitting, what can I say!)

(YUP)

(Annnnnnnnnd they’re gone.)

 .

.

First point of interest we set as our target was the Ponte Vecchio. It was close to 5PM by the time we arrived there and I was pleasantly surprised with how much was still open for a Sunday evening in regards to the shops. If this was the UK, there’d be nearly no point of going out as nothing would be open! There was literally so much to take in just on our walk to the Ponte Vecchio that I’m certain I could visit again and see all new points of interest, easily - from statues to busts and designs just on the sides of random wall. 

.

.

(View from the start of the Ponte Vecchio. Slowly losing daylight.)

(Those arches tho....)

(Obligatory “couple” shot.)

.

.

One thing that’s clear is that there is such an amazing blend of old and new together in both Rome and Florence and the buildings are just honest to god works of art. Every little alleyway seems to have some old piece of art to check out so you can never really make a “wrong” turn, just a less direct one.

.

.

(If you don’t think this building is a work of art, there is something seriously wrong with you!)

(Loved the carousel in the middle of the crowded plaza)

.

.

Unlike Rome, I didn’t ever really feel the need to be on my guard in Florence. Maybe that’s down to the sheer size difference or the fact that we only stayed in the main bits, but I could’ve happily walked around alone without intimidation. In Rome, I felt constantly on the defence everywhere we went but the second we arrived in Florence, I was much more at ease and relaxed. It was like a gigantic weight was lifted off my shoulders in that respect. There were a few beggars/gypsies, but they more or less kept to themselves. One did ask for change and then had the cheek to complain that it wasn’t enough when Ryan gave her a few coins. She literally threw it back and walked off. That was the only real incident we had, however.

We did see a Games shop where Rik bought us the Carcassonne Big Box 6th Edition. It was cool to have it, but it unfortunately was a massive box that we then had to carry around all evening with us and we panicked that it might not actually fit in our carry-on to take home...but that was a problem for future us to worry about.

Once leaving the Ponte Vecchio area, we stopped outside the Santo Spirito but didn’t go inside as a service was happening. We did, however, look around the market stalls out in front. The church was far less impressive externally than the others but there was something nice about its simplicity. It did seem like it belonged somewhere like Spain or Mexico, I must say, due solely to its aesthetic.

.

.

(Simplicity of the Santo Spirito actually helps it stand out in a place where there is so much “over-the-top” architecture)

(Taste for the local flair at the local market)

.

.

We made an attempt to go see the garden at the Piazzo Pitti but we arrived pretty much bang-on closing time so took some pictures out front and moved on. By this point, the sun was getting fairly low anyways and the walk to our sunset viewing point was 20+ minutes so we hauled ass.

.

.

(Outside the Museum)

(Even their streetlights looked magical)

(Fountain or bath?)

.

.

We severely underestimated how uphill this walk was. Like it was NO JOKE. I’ve never felt so out of shape in my life. I honestly feel like hiking Mt Snowdon was less physically draining...BUT it was more than worth the payoff to see the view over all of Florence. Sunset was a bit crap because the clouds seemed to hover along the horizon but the view was spectacular and the atmosphere up there more than made up for it. Again, it’s something photos cannot even begin to do justice  to its beauty, but I’ll try. It looks so much smaller and less impressive in every photo I took compared to how grandiose it was in person. 

.

.

(Just a piece of art I saw that drew me in to it at the start of our hike up to the Piazzale)

(Getting higher...)

(And higher...)

(...and finally at the top!)

(Where we attempt and fail at a group selfie. We all fit in but we’re missing the background...Methinks we should’ve bought one of those scammer’s selfie-stick.)

.

.

We lingered for a bit to rest up, take photos, and enjoy some beers before we descended down the hilltop and back home to make dinner. Ryan kindly offered to make us dinner to save some money (it felt posh, like I had my own personal chef ^.^) and it was delish. 

.

.

(Beers in the open air...it’s the Italian way. I mean, they are Peronis)

(Again, this photo will never do this view justice. Get out there yourself and see it!)

(Should have done a pano....)

(The man himself in the bronze)

(Can’t get enough of the Italian street lamps. Feels very “old Hollywood”)

(Starters at the ready...)

(And pasta/veg main)

.

.

We hit the sack relatively early as we had an 8AM leave time to get to the vineyard for wine tour/tasting.

TBC w/ day 6....

[keijay-blog]

New Post has been published on https://cookingtipsandreviews.com/we-cozied-up-with-the-best-hot-chocolate-is-it-yo/

We Cozied Up with the Best Hot Chocolate. Is It Yo...

amzn_assoc_placement = "adunit0"; amzn_assoc_tracking_id = "makemoneyq-20"; amzn_assoc_ad_mode = "search"; amzn_assoc_ad_type = "smart"; amzn_assoc_marketplace = "amazon"; amzn_assoc_region = "US"; amzn_assoc_title = "Shop Related Products"; amzn_assoc_default_search_phrase = "cooking"; amzn_assoc_default_category = "Kitchen"; amzn_assoc_linkid = "51fe4d035c7af8dc5928e6f5e5b79c4e"; amzn_assoc_default_browse_node = "284507"; amzn_assoc_rows = "4"; amzn_assoc_design = "text_links";

As soon as the temperatures start to drop, I crave one thing more than any other on a cold night: hot chocolate. A cup of the good stuff made with real cocoa and milk is pure holiday magic. Lucky for me, my husband is always game to stir up a cup from scratch on a chilly night—he always adds a dash of cinnamon to really make it feel like home, but these mix-ins are tasty, too. I’ll admit, though, on a chilly night when I want cocoa quick, I’m very much OK with using a package of hot chocolate mix—especially if it has those mini marshmallows.

However, I’m not always sure if that marshmallow-packed brand is really the best hot chocolate—it is pretty darn sweet. Maybe there’s a richer, more chocolatey variety out there better suited for evenings watching Christmas movies. That’s why I wrangled together 11—yes, 11!—brands of hot chocolate in a blind taste test to see which tastes best. Here’s what I tried along with a team of cocoa-fans. And, yep, we made sure to use real milk (not just water) in this test. Anyone who knows hot chocolate knows that milk always makes it better.

Cocomama

Ghirardelli

Great Value

Kroger

Land O’Lakes

Nestlé

Private Selection, a Kroger-exclusive brand

Silly Cow

Starbucks

Swiss Miss

Tim Hortons

Competition for this test was steep. See which brands were our favorites.

Honorable Mention: Cocomama

Taste of Home

Score: 7.5/10

When it comes to hot cocoas, some folks prefer a richer, darker chocolate flavor. Those were the people that gave Cocomama’s semisweet hot cocoa mix the highest marks. This fair trade, non-GMO, kosher hot chocolate was a favorite among those that enjoyed dark chocolate. That’s because in addition to hot chocolate’s standard ingredients—sugar and cocoa powder—Cocomama’s mix contained a good helping of dark chocolate chips. Testers loved that the melted chips gave this mix a really decadent flavor and cut down a bit on the sweetness. Sound like something you’d like? You’ll love these rich dark chocolate recipes.

$5.99 for a 7.5-oz. box; available at select stores and Amazon.

Runner-Up: Great Value

Taste of Home

Score: 8.3/10

Testers also really enjoyed Walmart’s Great Value hot chocolate. Great Value offered a much sweeter flavor than Cocomama, but that satisfied the kid in all of us. We’d equate it to the style of cocoa that Mom would make after you came in from sledding—sweet but so so easy to sip. While we made all our hot chocolates in our test with milk, we did like that Great Value’s hot chocolate mix could be made with water if you didn’t have milk on hand. There’s definitely a convenience factor to a mix like that. Plus, it came with itty-bitty marshmallows. Who can resist?

$4.88 for a 40-oz. canister; available exclusively at Walmart.

Best in Show: Tim Hortons

Taste of Home

Score: 9/10

The mix we loved the most, though, seemed to combine the best qualities of our honorable mention and runner-up. Tim Hortons hot chocolate mix gave us that bit of sweetness that we craved while also offering rich chocolate flavor, though we’d say that Tim Hortons had more of a milk chocolate flavor than semisweet. Overall, we decided that this was the best hot chocolate mix because the components—chocolate, sugar and milk—were all in perfect balance. This was the only brand we tried that had people coming back for seconds later in the day. It really is that irresistible.

$8.99 for a 14-oz. canister; available at select stores and online.

Bottom Line

Taste of Home

Milk is always better

After testing hot cocoa made with 2% milk for this test and then with water to just to compare later, I can assure you that no matter than brand, hot chocolate mix always tastes better made with milk. It has a much fuller and more satisfying flavor. Also, watch out for some hot chocolate brands like Cocomama (one of our favorites); they aren’t made with milk powder so they need to be blended with milk in order to taste right. And if milk isn’t your thing, you can always use a nondairy option—these are our favorites.

Never underestimate an unknown or store brand

Let me say that I was just plain shocked when Swiss Miss and Starbucks didn’t place in the top three for this test! As the bigger names in hot drinks, I assumed these two would have this competition locked up. But just like in so many other taste tests—like chocolate chip cookies and salted butter—generic and less common brands took the top spots. It just goes to show you that you never know until you try! Now grab a box of our favorite hot chocolates and get comfy! Those Hallmark Christmas movies are waiting!

Make your own hot chocolate from scratch with these recipes.

Rich Hot Chocolate

Each winter in early February my friends and I gather for an outdoor show called Mittenfest. We skip the bloody mary’s and fill our thermoses with these hot cocoas instead.

Get Recipe

Dulce de Leche Hot Chocolate Pods

Who doesn’t love a steamy mug of hot chocolate on a snowy day? Now you can give friends, neighbors, co-workers or anyone who deserves a treat the pleasure of this indulgent drink with these giftable hot chocolate pods. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Get Recipe

Nutella Hot Chocolate

Vanilla beans and Frangelico liquor lend to the sophisticated flavor of this hot chocolate. With such rich taste, it could be served as a dessert.—Michael Compean, West Los Angeles, California

Get Recipe

Pumpkin-Spiced Hot Chocolate

As soon as there is a hint of fall in the air, I think of pumpkins and my mother. She served pumpkin pie with real hot chocolate. This recipe brings those two amazing scents, and her, back to life for me. To turn your hot chocolate into creamy pumpkin mocha, stir 2 teaspoons of instant coffee into the hot chocolate before adding whipped cream. It’s a great way to warm up after some chilly trick-or-treating! —J. Morand, Maitland, ON

Get Recipe

Crackling Hot Cocoa

This hot chocolate recipe is more than a warm-you-up—it’s rich and thick decadence in a mug.—Cyndi Nistico, Palm Island, Florida

Get Recipe

Spiked Hot Chocolate

My husband and I like to enjoy this grown-up version of hot chocolate on a cold winter evening. It’s even better made with honey-flavored bourbon if you can find that in your local store. —Andrea Harvath, Duncannon, Pennsylvania

Get Recipe

Cozy Hot Chocolate

Steaming mugs of these smooth beverages are a nice anytime treat with my husband, Ken.—Marie Hattrup, Sonoma, California

Get Recipe

Dairy-Free Hot Chocolate

Change up ordinary hot cocoa by stirring some dark baking cocoa into vanilla almond milk. Fluffy marshmallow creme and bright sprinkles make irresistible toppings. —Cindy Reams, Philipsburg, PA

Get Recipe

Fluffy Hot Chocolate

This is our daughter’s favorite hot chocolate recipe. It may look like ordinary cocoa, but a touch of vanilla sets it apart from the rest. And the melted marshmallows give it a frothy body you won’t get from a cocoa packet. —Jo Ann Schimcek, Weimar, Texas

Get Recipe

Holiday Peppermint Mocha

Make spirits bright with a minty mocha to share under the mistletoe or around the piano. I’ve also stirred in coffee liqueur instead of peppermint. —Lauren Brien-Wooster, South Lake Tahoe, California

Get Recipe

Candy Cane Hot Cocoa Mix

We make batches of this minty, malted milk-flavored hot chocolate to give as gifts. Be prepared—friends will return the jars for refills! —Sara Tatham, Plymouth, New Hampshire

Get Recipe

Peppermint White Hot Chocolate

My soothing white hot chocolate is a great warm-up after a wintry day spent sledding or ice skating. Or include it as a festive addition to brunch or an afternoon tea party. —Darlene Brenden, Salem, Oregon

Get Recipe

Pumpkin Spice Hot Chocolate

My mom makes this hot chocolate with pumpkin, spices and white chocolate. We usually drink it on Halloween, but it’s delish at Christmas too. —Sasha King, Westlake Village, California

Get Recipe

Kahlua Hot Chocolate

When we want a cup of hot chocolate, we prefer homemade over store mixes. A splash of Kahlúa adds a touch of fabulous. —Chung-Ah Rhee, Hollywood, California

Get Recipe

Favorite Hot Chocolate

You need just a few basic ingredients to stir up this spirit-warming sipper. It’s smooth and not too sweet, making it just right for cozy winter days. —Flo Snodderly, North Vernon, IN

Get Recipe

  Gingerbread Hot Cocoa

Are you in the Christmas spirit yet? If not, this special cocoa will do the trick. It’s like drinking a chocolate gingerbread cookie! —Erika Monroe-Williams, Scottsdale, AZ

Get Recipe

Landmark Hot Chocolate

With or without a nip of rum, my hot chocolate recipe has been a Wisconsin winter warmer for years. When the toboggan hills are calling, I skip the whipped cream and take a thermos to go. It’s always a hit and it ensures nobody is left out in the cold! —Mark Phillips, Bayfield, Wisconsin

Get Recipe

Vanilla Almond Hot Cocoa

Treat your family to this comforting, homemade cocoa as you decorate the tree or open holiday gifts. Vanilla and almond extracts make it taste even more special. —Vicki Holloway, Joelton, Tennessee

Get Recipe

Mexican Hot Chocolate

This delicious, not-too-sweet hot chocolate is richly flavored with cocoa and delicately seasoned with spices. The whole-stick cinnamon stirrers come in handy, as the old-fashioned chocolate mixture settles if not stirred before drinking. The blend of cinnamon and chocolate flavors is wonderful! —Kathy Young, Weatherford, Texas

Get Recipe

Double Chocolate Hot Cocoa Mix

I gave this away at our neighborhood Christmas party in cutie-patootie gift bags and was thrilled that I was able to give something to everyone. But the next week I started getting calls from the neighbors who’d made it and was blown away at the response. Everyone loves this! The white chocolate is what makes it extra creamy and chocolaty!—Mandy Rivers, Lexington, South Carolina

Get Recipe

amzn_assoc_placement = "adunit0"; amzn_assoc_search_bar = "true"; amzn_assoc_search_bar_position = "bottom"; amzn_assoc_tracking_id = "makemoneyq-20"; amzn_assoc_ad_mode = "search"; amzn_assoc_ad_type = "smart"; amzn_assoc_marketplace = "amazon"; amzn_assoc_region = "US"; amzn_assoc_title = "Shop Related Products"; amzn_assoc_default_search_phrase = "cookware"; amzn_assoc_default_category = "All"; amzn_assoc_linkid = "b45319dac495d29e17b5eff312392025"; Source link

[vacationsoup]

New Post has been published on https://vacationsoup.com/experience-bridge-street-bradenton-beach-florida/

EXPERIENCE BRIDGE STREET — BRADENTON BEACH, FLORIDA

While you are enjoying your vacation with Anna Maria Island Condo Rentals – 601 Gulf Dr. N. Anna Maria Island, Florida 34217  enjoy a few hours, the day or an evening on Bridge Street. Any day is a great day to visit Bridge Street and being only a five minute walk from your vacation rental you will probably visit more than once! From our condo you can walk south along Gulf Drive to the roundabout or, enjoy a beautiful stroll on the white sand beach of the Gulf of Mexico; when you reach the bright blue building “The Moose Lodge” you will know you have come to Bridge Street. Anna Maria Island is known for its laid back Florida charm and as you walk along Bridge Street you will experience that feeling first hand.

A little bit about Bridge Street …. Bridge Street is a walkable community with spectacular water views from the both the pier and the gulf beach. To the East at the end of Bridge Street, is the Pier which at one time was a wooden bridge and the only way on or off Anna Maria Island from the mainland. Now there is a beautiful fishing pier in place of the bridge with wonderful views of Sarasota Bay and Cortez. Historic Bridge Street is an active, beautifully landscaped street spanning from beach to bay where you will find minutes turn into hours, Shopping – Dining- or Playing. With no high-rise condos or shopping malls on Bradenton Beach, here on Bridge Street you will find quaint buildings with a mix of boutique style shops, restaurants and bars.

The Pier is always a place we make a point to go. This pier is free and is nice to walk, to fish or watch others fish. You can rent fishing equipment and there is a fish cleaning stations with places for multiple rods. For those not wanting to fish there are places to sit in the shade with some old fashioned wooden swings at the end inviting you to sit and stay awhile. You will see lots of fish, we have often seen dolphin and there are pelicans and cormorants and many other types of birds as well. Just watching the boats pass by while the Cortez bridge goes up is so relaxing.

Fish Hole Adventure Golf is home to our annual family golf outing. This unique miniature golf course is an old Florida fishing village themed course on Bridge Street. They have a ‘fish fact’ plaque at each hole and it is neat to read about the different type of fish. It has misters, which are really nice on a hot day. It is fairly priced and at the end you have a chance to win a free game which we have been lucky enough to do.

Bridge Street Interiors – I absolutely love this store. This shop is deceiving, looks small from the outside, but once inside you will be surprised how much stuff is packed in. The store has lots of beautiful handcrafted jewelry, the best mermaid jewelry, home accessories, original prints, incredible wall art, scents, candles and tropical apparel.

They offer interior design services and are happy to help you with your decorating needs. Find a piece that won’t fit it in your luggage? That’s okay, they ship!I have been visiting this store for more than 25 years and purchased many treasures here. It is actually one of my favourite stores not just on Bridge Street, but in the whole Bradenton/Sarasota area.

Bridge Street Jewellers – a hidden treasure on Bridge this shop is definitely worth going into. The selection of jewelry is wonderful. It has some exquisite one-of-a-kind pieces, as well as sea life and other fine jewelry. You will see some amazing custom make pieces here. Every time we visit we find the staff to be very helpful, always taking their time with us and eager to answer any questions we have.

Bridge Street Bazaar is such a cute shop with lots of beachy things, summer shoes, hats, t-shirts, sweatshirts, purses and those delish coconut patties you can only get in Florida!

Back Alley Treasures is funky little spot. It’s like walking into a treasure chest full of original little treasures you won’t find at home. The Back Alley is home to several local artists’ work, unique jewelry, handmade gifts, great coffee and tasty treats. They don’t just sell home brewed coffee, they also serve espresso creations either hot or cold, island smoothies, frozen lemonade, as well as craft beer & fabulous wine.Live music on popular Bridge Street happens nightly and often in the afternoon as well. On any given day you might hear rock, blues, country, steel drum, and even Irish music. With a lot of great local talent on Anna Maria Island there is always a spot on Bridge Street to sit back and relax or get up and dance. The great thing about Bridge Street is if you don’t care from one s few minute walk will take you to another that’s more suited to your taste.

Restaurants are plentiful on Bridge Street. A few of our favourites are: Bridge Tender Inn – Indoor or outdoor dining with live entertainment. Great food and entertainment too! Right on the water overlooking Sarasota Bay with awesome views, great tropical drinks and good service.

​-​Island Creperie – We love this restaurant. Great food and service. Serve breakfast and early lunch and only open for dinner Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

​-​Island Time – Right across from the beach this is a fun place to grab some food, drinks and listen to music. Nice indoor or outside seating. Always good live entertainment.

​-​Bridge Street Bistro – We have always had excellent meals here. The food is awesome with good drinks and a nice wine menu. Nice dining room with white table clothes. Located on the second floor offers a great view, a perfect place to watch the sunset.

Parking is limited on Bridge Street, so we recommend leaving your car at the condo and walking or using the FREE island trolley (there is a stop right in front of our condo).

For the latest up to date news, things to do, special offers, travel tips and more continue to follow our blog @ Anna Maria Island Condo Rentals/Blog

*Please note — Anna Maria Island Condo Rentals offer the above company names and affiliated links as suggestions only. We are not receiving commissions from any and are listing them only as an aid for our guests. We recommend services that we or close friends and family have experienced so we know you will be taken care of.*The content of this blog is not to be copied, adapted or shared without the written consent of Anna Maria Condo Rentals.

[anamchohan]

The Japan Adventure

Hey everybody, upon some of your requests, I decided to do a basic write-up of our trip to Japan which may help you get excited and eventually packing for your own holiday there! I’m keeping this simple and more informative, and a more topical blog of the things I fell in love with there might be in the pipeline for a little later.  I’ve organized this blog into: ‘Getting there’, ‘Accommodation’, ‘Food’, and the juicy ‘Itinerary’. I’ve given links right at the bottom.

My husband, my almost 3 year old daughter, and I visited Japan for 12 days and spent them ALL in TOKYO. Our flights were direct, from Dubai to Haneda airport and took about 9.5 hours. A 40 minute high speed train ride got us into the city. The flight back to Dubai was longer at 11.5 hours from Narita airport with a 1.5 hour train ride. So it’s unfeasible to pop in there for a weekend holiday. But anything longer than 5 days, and you should definitely put Japan on your list. Commuting inside Tokyo is a breeze which looks like a storm from the outside. Everything is accessible by trains, which are ever frequent and ever punctual, signed in English and closed from midnight till 5am, so stay out too late and you might be left stranded with nothing to do except kill time at 24 hour gaming arcades, karaoke parlors, tax-free shopping centers, bathing facilities and so on. EL O EL. Two Important commuting tips: Buy a little plastic passcard (named Suica or Pasmo) from one of the train stations, load it up with at least 1500 yen and you can swipe in and out of station gates like a baws like everyone around you. No buying a paper ticket for every journey. The cards can be used for up to 10 years, so save them for your next trip. *Wink* Also, once you’re off the train, keep your google maps handy and use the walking routes on the map app and make sure your gyroscope or the thing in your phone that pinpoints your phone’s exact location on the phone map is not broken by repeatedly being dropped on the floor. Husband’s well protected Android sensed even the turn on the spot he did, while my sleek Apple wasn’t sure if we had to go forward or backward. I blame the broken gyroscope.

Accommodation

Differently from our last trip to Japan which was before daughter was born, this time we decided to book our stay through Airbnb. We needed a studio, as opposed to a hotel room, for basic laundry/washing machine, I mean we were going for 12 days with a kid, and an attached kitchen, because I mean 12 days with a kid! Even if you’re not traveling with a bacha and are going for a longer trip, then there is something homey about waking up whisking up some eggs and tea yourself, and then starting the day’s processions without worrying about what to eat right away. You can simply do the hotel stay too. We booked two different locations for the two weeks there, to mix things up. Each location offered a different street life as we stepped down for the day. 

Our first 6 days were in Akihabara, and the next 6 were in Shinjuku, both pretty happening places. When finding a place, look for the distance to the nearest train station. A 5-8 minute walk from station to home is ideal, or even up to 10 minutes, as there is much to take in as you walk down. The list of places to stay in, in order of priority based on my preferences of what truly captures the essence of Tokyo:

Akihabara

Shibuya

Omotesando

Shinjuku

Ueno

Ginza

All the above districts are on the main Yamanote Line, and this green line stops at all the major sights and sounds.

Every street and lane has either a 7/11 or Lawson’s or Family Mart that are open 24 hrs for anything you might need. Even prepacked sushi, which btw was pretty delish. A moment of appreciation for the high-quality milk there, so creamy and rich! Our late nights saw lots of milk and cookies with some anime or weird stage show on TV. Oh yea! Be sure to tune in to some interestingly weird stuff on the local Japanese channels!

A word of caution: Make sure you read Airbnb reviews by other travelers for your particular place and ask the host any questions and read up their terms and conditions before paying. In Japan, Airbnb is big business, and rooms are well maintained and serviced but you may still come across some unsavory surprises since it’s not a hotel stay, but an apartment building. However the great thing about how Airbnb works is that they keep your payment until you as the guest checks out on the last day and confirm everything was as advertised. Similarly, the host is guaranteed payment and won’t risk guests bailing out on them. They charge a small service fees for their troubles.

Food

So after the day’s processions would be coming to a close, the second part of our day would begin: the food hunting! The food joints in Tokyo are predominantly non-halal, which actually means more pork-in-everything worry, rather than more non-halal-chicken worry. Your options are asking for vegetarian food, but for them it just means yes it ALSO has vegetables. You could go to more hippy places and ask for vegan food, but harder on the pocket to do daily. You could also go to purely seafood places, and they’d be pretty much safe but they could include alcohol based soya sauce (aka ‘mirin’ a word they recognize). Your ultimate solution however, is to download the Halal Gourmet and Halal Navi apps on your phone. The apps have a list of values the restaurant could have such as ‘Halal Certified’, Muslim Chef’, ‘Halal Meat’, ‘Vegetarian Meal’, ‘Alcohol Free’, etc. Not all restaurants check all the boxes, for example, the place could simply be a buddhist vegetarian place and hence halal by extension.

Sadly, most of the results that showed up halal were Shawarma hole in the wall/ take-away kind of places, or Indian Pakistani cuisine. Finding LEGIT halal Japanese cuisine like Ramen and Sushi and Shabu Shabu was hard to locate, far and few in between, and strangely quite over priced. I wish we could have had loads more accessible street food type of halal experience, but hey things were way better this time than three years ago and they’re only getting better. I think I am off Shawarmas and Butter Chicken thalis for a while. In their defense, some of the best Afghani Nans I have had were in Tokyo!!! So don’t worry about being left desi khana-less in Japan. In fact, that’ll be the least of your worries!

The 24 hour convenience stores store a variety of rice cakes wrapped in nori (seaweed paper, so good for health), sushi rolls, tuna cakes, some seriously yummy chocolate crepe wraps, and tons of other snacks. HOWEVER. If you are absolutely particular about avoiding non-halal food (as we tried our best to do), then stay away from any and all cup noodles, instant noodles etc. They will most definitely contain pork or other meat broth, even if the flavor is vegetarian. Take some Maggi noodles with you from UAE/Pakistan, it’ll be a familiar lifesaver in the face of a late night grumbly tummy. Also take Snicker bars, because that’s a meal in itself in case you didn’t know. Also some of your favorite chocolate chip cookies, and umm, I took rainbow milk and Lipton tea bags. I was set.

Itinerary

Here comes the fun part! The places to visit and what not to miss. Do tons of research before you leave, and make a list of places to visit FOR SURE. Below are all the places we visited.

Akihabara

This is called the Electric town and has loads to see in terms of anime, manga electronics, video games, arcades, karaoke, etc. Even if you’re not a fan, walking about these blocks is like seeing Time Square on drugs and way more sprawling. In Akihabara, what you must not miss, especially for your shopping needs and even without them, is Yodobashi-Akhiba Camera, a 7 story department store that carries SO MANY PRODUCTS. And a 100 of one kind of that product. It’s a fun place to spend indoors in case of rainy weather, and must visit for buying tax-free cosmetics, skin care, souvenirs, Japanese made knives/blades, Zojirushi (the ultimate must have thermos or mug or lunch box. It will keep shit hot/cold for up to 3 days, tried and tested), camera and photography equipment, Japanese high tech watches, Kimonos, famous character merchandise like Hello Kitty, Pokemon, Star Wars, Disney, Marvel, Minecraft, Mario, like anything you can imagine, would most likely be here and it will be cool. Yodobashi Akhiba also has a floor full of restaurants, here you’ll find Cobara Hetta, a cozy Indian place that serves Halal chicken dishes and vegetarian thalis with proper roti or Afghani nans or cheese or chocolate nans! 

Interestingly for us, Halloween was around the corner so we got to see loads of activities around town leading up to 31st October. This part of our trip was easily the highlight of our trip and I highly recommend a Japan visit during this time! I got waking nightmares seeing the horrifying oozing mutated costumes walk right up to me, constructed so professionally and thoroughly. Everything crazy and scary to see in Japan was out on the streets walking alongside us! It was the best time to be in Tokyo! (Take it from someone who has also visited at the tail-end of Cherry Blossom season and then it is just a different kind of country altogether, full of romance and beauty and exquisite Cherry Blossom flowers surrounding you and filling your vision). Similarly, if you’re planning a trip and can afford to be flexible with your days, then Halloween, Christmas, New Year, Cherry Blossom (March-April) and specific summer festivals are the times you’ll see the city in it’s dressed up charming full blown lights and sights form, and it’s just WAY more value added to your regular travels. 

Another thing you have to do in Akihabara is visit one of those mega 7 story Sega gaming arcades. Even if you’re not into games, there guaranteed WILL be something quirky and awesome game that you’ll find. You will go in unsuspecting and come out pockets empty of all 100 yen coins and a big smile on your face! Or you’ll find high school kids making world records on the latest arcade games just casually everywhere, and it’s a TREAT to watch them doing that! Must visit. 

And just generally go inside the various shops and up the lifts, you’ll find hidden gems EVERYWHERE. There are these crazy well-stocked adult toy shops as well, from where you’ll come out giggling, flushed red, and slightly happy-confused    ? :D ? Finally, at the corners of these blocks you’ll find cutesy girls in English maid costumes inviting you to their maid cafes which is a whole bizarre sub-culture you’ll find plenty of literature on!

Harajuku

The must visit district, and within it the Takeshita Street. If there’s nothing else you visit in Tokyo, visit this street for a wild ride and a slice of Tokyo’s crazy! It’s the mecca for cosplayers, and you’re bound to run into whacky, cute, sexy, gothic or royal cosplayers, bringing their A game every weekend. They’re mostly school kids, so catch them before the zombie furries and the emo princes head back home and retire for bed. Pick up some blue hair color and purple eye contacts while here.

Shibuya

Here you’ll find the very very famous Shibuya crossing. It’s a 4-way junction with a 5-way pedestrian crossing and an infinite fun thing to do in the evening when you’re as packed as jam and important questions like why did the chicken not cross the Shibuya Crossing come to your mind! All those 4 lanes have tons of strange and fascinating sights.

We visited KiddyLand to show our daughter, it’s a store filled to the brim with toys stationery bags lunch boxes magnets keychains everything to do with….Hello Kitty! That’s just one floor though, there are 7 floors of goodies and I guarantee it’s not just for kids. Classy Minnie Mouse eyeglasses box anyone? You will for sure buy some beautiful looking junk you won’t really need but you’ll thank me later. 

While we’re talking stores, just like Yodobashi-Akhiba mentioned earlier, Tokyu Hands is another awesome store filled with stories and sub-stories of organized Made in Japan products that will fascinate you. I ended up buying a VG-10 blade kitchen knife upon the husband’s fascination and insistence, and I am really looking forward to some serious onion chopping ladies and gentlemen. 

One of my most favorite areas to walk around was in Omotesando, another area in Shibuya. Look for the back streets and the hidden inner fashion boulevard, it’s a small tree covered winding lane and makes for such a lovely stroll in the late afternoon with some really chic cafes and stores to just look at. It’s the hub of trends, much more local and homegrown than some of the more upscale parts of town like Ginza.

Hidden Gem: If you’re a fan of Ghibli Studio and Miyazaki films like Spirited Away or Howl’s Moving Castle, or if you just love the idea of a quirky mechanical clock that comes to life, you’ll love the Giant Ghibli Clock in Shiodome (pictured below with some vital travel beanie babies!). It’s a bit of a hunt, but reach 4-5 minutes before the clock strikes especially on the weekends with a little extra show. The whole show only lasts for 3-4 minutes so be on time! Check the website for the schedule.

Ueno

We visited the Ueno Park and within in the Ueno Zoo. So one park, any ONE for sure must be on your travel list, they’re BEAUTIFUL. When in Ueno Park, keep the evening slot free for walking about Ameyoko Shopping Street, where you’ll experience the vibe of the street markets and find fun things to eat like chocolate covered fresh bananas with sprinkles. Yummy! Visit the Yoyogi Park on Saturdays and Sundays to see the city’s artsy teens do impromptu skill practice. We caught some fascinating cultural shows while there. Look up other parks online for more charming foliage and flowers, there are many many gardens around Tokyo. If you’re into animals, you’ll find a great variety at the Ueno Zoo: Panda, tigers, gorillas, elephants, giraffes, zebras, penguins, flamingos, hippopotamus, bats, polar bears. Yea, pretty much everything. The star of the show is the Panda, except when he went he was sleeping with his butt to us :D

If you’re into the coolest science museums, then you cannot BE in a better country. Ueno Science Museum and the Odaiba Science Museum with its planetarium are going to satiate those geeky hungers.

Odaiba

This is a good 30 minute train ride away from central parts of Tokyo, it’s a man-made island with a mix of things to do. For us there were two highlights of the place. First, the Palette Town Ferris Wheel ride, especially in the see-through box so you’re suspended at the top of the wheel with nothing but glass under you! It’s perfect for viewing the city’s famous and outright mesmerizing skyline. Only thing is it’s a little short at 16 minutes.

For more views, the Odaiba observation point gives the best view of the sunset and night lights that follow, across the Tokyo Bay and Rainbow Bridge overlooking the entire skyline of Tokyo. It’s extra windy and chilly here. Second cool thing about the trip out to Odaiba is seeing the towering life size Gundam robot, which puts up a lazer fighting show periodically. Check the schedule.

I think I am done with this not-so-basic-anymore blog! Ask me any questions you may have, I know I know, I have left out a few vital aspects like budget and traveling with a child! 

Remember kids! Japan is not your run of the mill holiday destination like the picturesque South Asian countries like Thailand or the historical architecturally rich European countries. And you will still find incredible Edo history and surprisingly beautiful excursions in Japan. Rather, Japan is a place to experience a really well-preserved exotic culture with people who are simply fascinating with their sophistication and politeness, a country that is eons ahead of others in technology and innovation, with food which is exciting, and the whole city is alive with passion of a spectrum of interests. 

All them Links:

Must Dos

Gaming arcades like Sega. Linking one of them: 

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g1066443-d10094610-Reviews-Club_Sega_Akihabara_1gokan-Chiyoda_Tokyo_Tokyo_Prefecture_Kanto.html

Takeshita Street, the cosplayers’ street in Harajuku

https://taiken.co/single/things-to-do-on-takeshita-street-harajuku/

Tokyo Government Observatory Buildings. Yes I didn’t talk about them but they’re free observation sites and must visit. 

http://www.gotokyo.org/en/tourists/info/observatory.html

Places We Ate

Traditional Japanese Rice and Curry from Coco Ichibanya - Halal green color branch

https://www.halalgourmet.jp/restaurant/202472

Cobara Hetta, Indian joint with thalis in Yodobashi

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g1066443-d1678589-Reviews-Cobara_Hetta_Yodobashi_Akibaten-Chiyoda_Tokyo_Tokyo_Prefecture_Kanto.html

Shinjuku Gyoen Ramen Ouka - Such a gem of a find! Run by cute Malay girls in scarves. Serious traditional ramen with a side chicken dumpling to die for! They have long waiting queues! 

https://www.halalgourmet.jp/restaurant/344742

Genki Sushi, Shibuya. Conveyor belt sushi, you get 45 minutes to be in and out of the place, it is always packed! 

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g1066456-d4234509-Reviews-Genki_Sushi_Shibuya-Shibuya_Tokyo_Tokyo_Prefecture_Kanto.html

Some cool stores 

Yodobashi Akhiba

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g1066457-d3460595-Reviews-or30-Yodobashi_Camera_Shinjuku_Nishiguchi-Shinjuku_Tokyo_Tokyo_Prefecture_Kanto.html

Tokyu Hands, bigger branches at Shibuya

https://www.tokyu-hands.co.jp/en/list/

https://matcha-jp.com/en/328

KiddyLand, visit the bigger branches

http://japanlover.me/kawaii/kawaii-travel-guide/kiddyland-toy-paradise-in-harajuku-tokyo/

Uniqlo.  All the essential basic wear in great prices and even better quality! We stocked up.

https://tokyocheapo.com/shopping-2/fashion/uniqlo-the-best-things-in-life-are-cheap/

Visit DAISO! Everything is 100 yen :D Find other 100 yen stores too, like Can Do. 

Other interesting stores are Loft, Muji and Don Quijote.  

[thegrassisaalwaysgreener]

NYC 2016

              I have a VERY long bucket  list (as most people do I am sure)! One of the more easily attainable list items was to see New York City at Christmas time. I had a friend who had gone years ago around the holidays and I was so jealous of all the amazing photos. Being a shift worker with many shift worker friends, it is often hard to decide on dates especially with those who can be non-committal with plans. I decided to book the trip and go on my own, which ended up being an awesome decision!

Friday December 2nd, 2016:             I decided to go at the beginning on December when the weather wasn’t too cold yet, but the Christmas festivities would be in full swing. I booked a cheap flight from Buffalo ($170 return) and flew down on a Friday night. After a few delays, I made it to JFK airport in the evening and followed the well-labeled signs to the Sky Train. The sky train is very easy to use (much like most of NYCs transit) and fast. I made it to the subway station in about 25 minutes and hopped off at Jamaica Station. From there I knew what line I needed to take and easily found it. The subway was super clean (way cleaner than the TTC) and an enjoyable ride. There were many performers on the subway- a dancing duo and a singing duo that serenaded the cabin with Neyo. The dancers were very impressive flipping all around the bars of the subway. I was floored by how fun and entertaining the subway could be.  I had booked a hostel close to the subway for this trip and was pleasantly surprised at how clean and cool it was. It was called the Local and was found in Queens, about 5 minutes away from the subway station. The room was very small but clean with its own shower and toilet. There was a bar/small restaurant at the front of the hostel and then lots of lounge areas and computers to use. The best part about the hostel was the view from the rooftop patio. It overlooked the NYC skyline, the Brooklyn Bridge and was just magical. I ran over to the 24-hour grocery store for some dinner and to get snacks for the next couple days. I enjoyed my dinner while people watching at the hostel before bed

Saturday December 3rd, 2016:             After a quick breaky at the hostel, I headed into the city (about 4- 6 subway stops to downtown Manhattan, depending on where you wanted to go) to wander around and to get my hop on hop off pass for the day.  I had been to NYC once before with my family and loved the hop on hop off pass more so for its ideas of what to do and all of the information. It also helps that its “free” transportation if you use it wisely. Before grabbing my pass, I did stop by Times Square and take some great photos of the billboards and lights as well as my first taste of the Macy’s display.  I grabbed my pass and jumped on the bus that headed downtown to reacquaint myself with the city. I had tons of stuff planned but had also left some wiggle room to see other things that may have come up or that were suggested to me. I took the bus around pass the FlatIron Building, Soho, Canal street and the Financial district where I go off just around the 911 Memorial. I wandered around there for a while and checked out the City Hall Park along with the Brooklyn Bridge (tons of vendors on the side and tourists taking selfies like me) before getting in line for the One World Trade Observatory. This is the tallest building in the North American at 541 m. It was build in 2014 and goes up 107 floors in 60 seconds. It is also one of the most secure buildings in all of the city with many security check points. While it was a pricy admission and long line ups- it was worth the wait. While you waited inside, there were many videos, photos and diagrams to capture your interest and teach you about the building, how it was constructed and the area. Just before the top, there was a neat 3-D video that showed the building of the Tower and at the end the screen opened up to the amazing view. The view from the top was truly magical! I loved being able to see the whole city from so high up (without having to be in a plane of course) as well as all of the great landmarks they had set out to see. After wandering around the 911 area and paying respect at the Tower Pools, I walked over to Battery park and meandered around there for a while before grabbing a Philly cheesesteak (wrong city, I know) and hoping on my bus to the guided tour of the Statue of Liberty.             I was so excited to see Lady Liberty up close and personal! Unfortunately, it was rather cold and we had to wait over an hour to board our boat. While it was freezing, it ended up working in our favour as the sights were so much better as the sun was setting.  The city was all lit up and looked extra magical. We learned some history about Battery Park, the Statue of Liberty and Staten Island. We all took tons and tons of photos before heading back to the port and getting the bus back into the city. After warming up on the bus, I wandered around Time square and took in some of the amazing holiday displays. They truly are stunning! There were tons of people still skating at Rockefeller Centre. All of the lights and festivities were super fun and got me into the Christmas Spirit! I grabbed a yummy treat from the original Magnolia Bakery (think Sex and the City) before heading back to Queens (with my wind burned face) for a good nights sleep.

Sunday December 4th, 2016:          I had read about a ton of cool holiday markets that I would’ve loved to check out, but I really want to spend the morning in Chelsea. I hopped on the Subway for the 15 or so minute ride over to Chelsea where I stopped in at the Chelsea Market. I am a huge fan of all types of markets (food and shopping- sign me up!) so I was pretty excited to see what this one had to offer. There were tons of great little boutique-y shops with great eclectic stuff and great coffee!! After the market, I headed over to the highline and I couldn’t have been more pleased with the weather! The highline is a linear park built on a raised section of an old New York Central Railroad (called the West Side Line). The views of the Hudson and the city are great! There are some small market type booths sets up but it is mostly just a great place to get out, get some exercise and just be. Once I had successfully walked the full highline, I walked back up the city to check out the Holiday windows in better detail. I checked out the amazing story at the Macy’s display before heading down to Eataly to enjoy an amazing lunch. The various ares of Eataly were awesome! You could get just about anything that was remotely Italian there (except for goodlooking men… kidding). I grabbed myself a fresh mozzarella and prosciutto sandwich and had lunch outside in front of the Flatiron building with the Empire State building behind me. I wandered around Madison Square park before heading uptown once again to enjoy some more holiday windows and of course Bryant Park. Everyone always suggests skating at Rockefeller but I think the view at Bryant Park is just as good and there are way more things to do and see. There was an amazing outdoor Christmas market set up on the outsides of the skating rink with various shops and treats. I spent some time browsing (and taking photos in front of the amazing tree) before heading over to Central Park.

           The iconic Central Park- you could spend days wandering around this place. I managed to check out the places I really wanted to see on this quick visit through. I also attempted to go inside the Plaza hotel (which you cannot go into sadly), but instead checked out the Market place beneath the hotel. As a side note- the FAO Schwartz Toy store is no longer beside Apple across from Central park- so sad and disappointed I couldn’t go play with the toys and the magical keyboard. Anyways, I digress, back to Central Park. I got the classic photos of the amazing park but missed the Pigeon lady! She wasn’t where she normally hangs out which was upsetting. I wandered around, checked out the skating rink and of course rode the Carousel (yes I am a child at heart). I slowly made my way around the park – stopping by the closed Sheep Meadow (All the GG Fans, you know what I am talking about) en route to the Lincoln Centre for my evening showing of the Nutcracker.

             While I am not the biggest ballet fan, I knew I just had to see the iconic Nutcracker by the NYC Ballet. I had great, centre seats and had a delish glass of red before settling into my seat beside a chatty, adorable Aussie boy. The choreography and the actual performance was amazing but the Nutcracker is a bit confusing as a story line… or maybe it was just me! In any case, I really enjoyed the show but I think I am nutcrackered out for a few years! After a walk around Columbus Circle, I had planned to go to a well-known Italian restaurant for dinner (Patsy’s). I should’ve known that it would’ve been packed- even on a Sunday! I ended up walking down the street and finding a great little spot called Joe Gs that had great food, great service and an awesome happy hour deal. I made friends with a few middle aged couples over some wine and then chatted with some Americans about politics and baseball (two subjects I really shouldn’t be discussing with any confidence haha). After biding adieu to my new friends, I stopped to take even more photos of the amazing holiday windows and displays before heading over to Penn station (without even realizing it was Penn Station) where everyone was out and about getting snacks and drinks before heading back to Queens via the E train!

Monday December 5th, 2016:            Today was a mishmash sort of day! I was excited to do a bunch of random things. I started the day off by taking the train to Grand Central and wandering around with a coffee. It was so fun to people watch- and see how stressed people can be when they are rushing about in a busy train station (we all know the pain). Grand Central doesn’t get enough credit in my opinion- it is so beautifully detailed with amazing old school touches. I could’ve sat in there for hours people watching but I knew there were so many other things that I wanted to see. I made my way to the Upper East Side to get into my Blair Waldorf zone and sit and have breakfast on the steps of the Met. I am a HUGE Gossip Girl Fan so many landmarks from my trip were taken from the books/show. I enjoyed my breaky on the steps (people watching of course) before heading inside to take a look around. I really wanted to go into the museum but knew I couldn’t spent enough time in there to really appreciate all of the exhibits. I left with a magnet (of course to add to the collection) and wandered into Central Park. Central park (as I already mentioned) is really huge and amazing. There is tons to do! I just wandered around and enjoyed the beautiful day while checking out the views around the Resevoir, the Pool and Turtle Pond near Belevedere Castle.  I circled back to the Upper West Side where I checked out the Museum of Natural history (which again I didn’t have enough time to truly appreciate so will put that on the list of next time) en route to Macy’s. The last time I was in NYC, we spent forever in the 11 level flagship store. This time, I had one goal- to meet Santa! It is tradition for us to get our picture taken with Santa and mom would not let me back in the house if I did not see the original “Miracle of 34th Street” Santa. I looked real funny in line waiting to see santa for about 40 minutes with a slew of toddlers. In any case, it was worth it! Santa’s workshop was pretty magical! The way they have it set up is that you walk through the various scenes and parts of the workshop and winter displays. I ended up chatting up some parents and getting my photo taken with the big old Jolly Fella. 

            By the time I made my way out of Macy’s, it was quite dark so I figured it was a good time to check out the Empire State Building Observation deck. I thought since I had seen the city from the tallest building in the city during the day, I should enjoy it at night as well. Similar to the One World Trade Observatory, the line ups and security were insane! It really is like FortKnox trying to get into those places. While you wait, they do have information cards and various audio visual scenes for you to learn about the Empire State building and its production. The wait was definitely worth it! I took so many photos!! I also just spent time outside enjoying the view, people watching as I do. The city is so busy, bright and vibrant- probably why it’s called the city that never sleeps.  I tried to use the view finder thing like Kevin did in Home Alone 2 but it was too dark! Ah well! Next time. After my lovely time at the top of the Empire state building (which I sang Empire State of Mind in my head the whole time), I meandered over the Radio City Music Hall for the Rockets show! I was sooooo excited about this show! I had heard such great things and read great reviews on it. The dancing, the singing, the audio/visuals, the atmosphere was just amazing! I was on the edge of my seat, totally entertained the whole time. It is definitely worth seeing if you are able to! I knew that I was going to have an early morning, so I headed back towards Queens from the 5th Ave station!

Tuesday December 6th, 2016:           Sigh! It was my last day in the Big Apple! I was excited about all of the amazing stuff had done (and still had to do!) but was sad that my solo trip was coming to an end. Thanks to some girls at work, they suggested I try and get tickets to a viewing of one of the morning talk shows. I ended up getting tickets to the View (which I never watch but do love Whoopi so…). They have very specific rules and regulations about going in, where to sit, what to wear etc. I made my way to the ABC studios on the Upper West Side for 8 am or so. We waited in line and then went through a serious security check (almost as crazy as the airport) before taking our assigned seats. We were briefed on how the show would work, when to stand, when to clap, etc and then brought into the studio. We weren’t allowed to take photos (sadly) but it was still a super cool experience. The guest stars were Queen Latifah (so so so good) and Andy Cohen (so so so funny!) It was super odd experience but really made me want to be a talk show host! I think I would do a darn good job of sitting around, chatting about current events with hilarious celebrities and drinking coffee. Alas, if only it was that easy haha. The whole thing was about 3 hours long and we ended up getting a copy of Andy Cohen’s book (which I started reading in Mexico and got slightly distracted and haven’t finished it). We were lead out of the studios out a random back door, which again, was super odd but all added to the experience! I only had a few more hours before I needed to head back to the airport but I really wanted to check out the largest Crossfit gym in the World (obvs). I headed over there after the View but sadly, didn’t have enough time for a WOD. I did get a tour of the place (which is actually massive and two levels). I will for sure hit up a class the next time I am there. There were a few other random things I wanted to check out before leaving, such as Kleinfeld and one of the popular pokeh restaurants (obviously). After grabbing lunch and wandering around Midtown, I mad my way back to the hostel to pick up my carry-on (and a last minute festive cocktail) and head to the airport for the short flight back home.          

          I have to say (and I probably already did), this was one of my fave trips in a very long time. I have done quite a bit of travelling (not as much as I would like but, I mean, the bills have to get paid) but for some reason this trip was extra special. I am not sure if it was because I did it by myself, or if it was because it was a trip I had wanted to take for a long time. Regardless, I had the best time enjoying the city, experiencing things I may not have had I been with others and just spending time with my number one- me. I was also able to do a lot of self reflection which I personally don’t do often enough. I hope to head back to NYC –with or without some fun friends in the spring/summertime to have another amazing experience!