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pulsdmedia · 2 years ago

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The Week Ahead 7/31-8/6

The sheer amount of fun things happening in the city this summer is staggering, and we’re all for it. The Creole Food Fest is coming up if you want a taste of NoLa, more sample sales than you can imagine, the chance to drink endless rosé on a yacht, and so much more. Let’s make this last month of summer unforgettable...

$39 GA & $65 VIP Tickets: Creole Food Festival

This weekend, get your appetites ready - the 4th Annual Creole Food Festival brings the best of African, Caribbean, Latin American, South American, and Southern cuisine to your palate, treating your taste buds to exceptional fare, delicious cocktails, and epic vibes at Serafina In The Sky, whose jaw-dropping indoor/outdoor scenes will serve as the perfect spot for this celebration. Tapping into their extensive experience and their heritage, top chefs will showcase scrumptious fare alongside cocktails and other lusty libations to heighten the flavor. Not to mention the sounds of live music filling the air at this sparkling scene - we're talking ample energy and festive feels sure to upgrade your weekend...

Mikael Aghal Sample Sale

A New York luxury maison for the sophisticated woman bringing functionality with elegance, confidence, & grace, the Mikael Aghal Spring/Summer Sample Sale is coming to NYC where you can get up to 80% off retail for two days! Check out the RSVP details to make sure you can book a spot to explore these stunning pieces.

$59 Tickets To Rosé Splash: A 3.5 Hour Open Bar Cruise With Food

Revel in sunshine, breezes off the water, endless rosé, cocktails, & more aboard a giant yacht on the majestic New York Harbor for The 2022 Rosé Splash Cruise. You’ll get all-inclusive access to this 3.5 Hour walk around tasting that includes a selection of 25+ Rosés & Sparkling Rosé Wines, 20+ White & Sparkling White Wines, Canned Cocktails & More. Plus, you’ll devour delectable cheeses, fresh fruit & crudité, dips, freshly baked breads from Pain D’Avignon, rum cakes from Althea’s Tropical Delights, and then some! It all takes place aboard the 4-level Spirit of New York Yacht, where the top level is completely outdoors so you can work on your tan while you drink. Plus, delight in live DJ sets, views of Lady Liberty, the Manhattan skyline, and an overall newfound love for the city...

Yard Beats & Eats

Groove and sing along to summer’s Top 40 hits with one of the Yard's own Hip Hop Closet, enjoy fun games and activities like life-sized Chess, Jenga, and Connect 4, then cool down with chilling cocktails from Rustik Tavern, and Transmitter Brewing, tastings from B. Stuyvesant Champagne and mouthwatering eats from Hungry House and Jalapajar.

$29 Open Bar Ticket To The Immersive Copacabana Disco Party

Boogie, get boozy, and have a blast at the Immersive Copacabana Party at Casa 51, where you'll get lost in epic feels as the venue brings back to life the sounds, sights, and rhythms of the iconic Copacabana. You’ll get access to a 2 Hour Open Bar with Specialty Cocktails, Seductive Entertainment, Live DJ Sets, and so much more! Toss back a complimentary Ola Tropical Welcome Shot as you enter into this blast from the past, taking a musical voyage supplied by the world-renowned Copacabana resident DJs Lucho and Elmer G. While they play the hits, you'll marvel at a midnight “Copa Girls” Samba performance sure to make you want to boogie. There’s so much more in store at this soirée...

Live DJs, Dancers, Summer Drinks & Local Food

Join the Museum of the City of New York and El Museo del Barrio for their free summer block party series celebrating East Harlem at the top of Museum Mile. Tonight, celebrate Madonna's birthday by paying homage to your favorite divas, from Madonna and Janet to Rihanna and JLo! Expect to dance to your favorite tunes from iconic divas with DJ Chauncey D, catch exciting drag performances from La Diva Ciccone and Octavia Anye, check out exhibitions after hours, and savor summer drinks and snacks that will be available for purchase from East Harlem Bottling Co. and the MCNY Bar.

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travelonlinetipsofficial · 3 years ago

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Paris Waterfront Restaurants: 10Best WatersideRestaurant Reviews

New Post has been published on https://www.travelonlinetips.com/paris-waterfront-restaurants-10best-watersiderestaurant-reviews/

Paris Waterfront Restaurants: 10Best WatersideRestaurant Reviews

While elegant dining is always a good idea, in the warmer months in Paris, sit-down, indoor restaurants are less popular than guingettes. Guingettes are a sort of tavern as we knew them back in the day. The food is served as almost an afterthought since drinking, hanging out watching a televised game and even dancing are really the ‘plat du jour’ at these venues. A couple of big, fun guinguettes have popped up recently in Paris, notably Le Grand Bleu. And while Les Maquereaux isn’t a traditional guinguette, since it’s a barge docked right on the river, alongside the Quai Hotel de Ville, it more or less serve as one, too.

A classic dining option in Paris is a dinner riverboat cruise. You just can’t imagine how breath taking the scenery along the banks of the River Seine is – the Ȋle-St.-Louis, the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Notre Dame, the yachts parked across from Jardin des Plantes, and more – until you’ve actually seen it with your own eyes from the river! Add the sparkle of sunset and twinkling stars, or the twinkling Eiffel Tower which sparkles in the evenings on the hour, to that scenic panorama and you have the makings of one unforgettable evening. For a twist on the theme, head on over to La Défense and dine “waterfront” next to the Bassin Takis at Octopus.

For a kick-off-your-heels experience, head on down towards the riverfront area just in front of the Ile St. Louis. Here you can sit, sip and watch the boats go by at the Brasserie de L’Isle Saint-Louis. Or go down below to the quay where you will find yet another stretch of casual dining options, like Mr. Pelican, Les Maquereaux, Chez Daniel and others. Always packed on weekend afternoons, the Quai Hotel de Ville even has outdoor swing dancing (not obligatory, but certainly optional). The food here at these venues is outdoor bbq style and fresh oysters, accompanied by chilled bottles of wine or cocktails like the famous Apero Spritzer. This is a group-friendly option and absolutely perfect when the weather is good and a bit of live music is the order of the day.

An elegant and haute cuisine pick on this list is Table du Flow. This restaurant offers direct views onto the Pont Alexandre III and the Grand Palais, both enhanced by the rays of the setting sun. Flow is a barge that is parked along the Seine, the fanciest one on this area just below the Alexander III Bridge. On the top floor is a bar that boasts the aforementioned views but also includes the Eiffel Tower. Below is a nightclub. And outside, along the riverbanks is their casual dining. This restaurant, however, is anything but casual so expect outstanding wine lists, superior dining and French class.

For waterfront dining in Paris, the Central Paris water views are the River Seine, Port de l’Arsenal and the Canal St. Martin. The Canal St. Martin area is the place to be for hipsters. The Port de l’Arsenal now has the refurbished Le Grand Bleu and La Seine boasts a riverfront pedestrian area that spans both sides, Rive Gauche and Rive Droite. These have been turned into kilometers-long pedestrian areas welcoming families, bicyclists, sunbathers and picnickers. This is the perfect place to stop and grab a refreshment at Faust near Invalides on the Rive Gauche side of Berges de Seine.

This isn’t where you’ll find frou-frou food. No, here is where you’ll get your traditional poulet-frites (roast chicken and fries) and your beers on tap. Brasserie, of course, is the traditional French term for ‘brewery’ and at this family-owned brasserie, you’ll find nothing but authentic French. Its location has you in the heart of Paris, right on the Western tip of the picturesque, and legendary, Ile St. Louis. People watching is as fun here as sipping something iced and diving into a big salad or a more robust dish from the basic menu. Enjoy the views here as much as the food and be sure to appreciate that you are sitting in the midst of where historical legends and the famous (Baudelaire, Marie Curie, Helena Rubinstein), from literally every walk of life, have also leisurely lolled and spent their precious time.

Recommended for Waterfront Dining because: People watching isn’t on the menu but it’s certainly a main course at this location. On either side of you is the River Seine.

Paige’s expert tip: Authentically French? It doesn’t get any more authentic than this family-owned cafe-brasserie here next to the Seine on the famous Ile St. Louis.

Read more about Brasserie de L’Isle Saint-Louis →

Waterfront dining at its best – cruising the Seine River lunch or dinner. This is one of those occasions when the rule of thumb, “you get what you pay for” doesn’t apply. The food here is all cooked fresh on board and is occasionally even prepared by a Michelin-starred chef (ask at booking for this special calendared event). For example dinner choices are salmon served with lemon and dill sauce or poultry “supreme” served with tarragon sauce and oyster mushrooms. The dinner or brunch cruise itself lasts an hour and fifteen minutes so it’s an excursion that is brief and to the point. The boat is sleek and comfortable with no comfort or luxury sacrificed. For these prices, you could get either a meal at a bistro or a cruise along the Seine, but here you get both.

Recommended for Waterfront Dining because: It’s great to have options. This is one of those quality options, offered by a smart entrepreneur, that easily fits into a tight time budget.

Paige’s expert tip: Truly one of the best deals for dinner in Paris. Never mind that you get a great cruise along the Seine, too. The meal is memorable and Michelin-starred chef quality. Bonus: you get to have that romantic cruise along the Seine just as the sky twinkles into night time.

Read more about Les Maquereaux →

Under the recently assumed reigns of André Terrail, son of the famous Tour d’Argent restaurateur, Claude Terrail, the family’s gastronomic bistro La Rotisserie d’Argent offers delightful accessibility. The sizzle of the establishment’s signature roasting duck and farm-raised chicken greets you when you enter this red-checked tablecloth icon on the Left Bank. It is literally just next door to the shrine of gourmets the world over, La Tour d’Argent, but here what is served is the bistro version of French food of the highest quality ingredients. Claude Terrail acquired this bistro in 1989 with the intention that snobbery had no place within its walls. What’s even more refreshing is that the service is quick and pleasant and the staff is welcoming and warm. Duck is the dish here, so much so that it even embodies its mascot. Other classics on the menu not to miss is the Mimosa eggs which are a crab salad filled devilled eggs appetizer, heavy on the fresh crab. The foie gras is top quality. Sides such as whipped mashed potatoes, full of cream and butter, a fresh green salad, roasted potatoes and sauteed crisp vegetables in, yes, butter come in dishes that you can share with your fellow diner. Don’t even think about skipping dessert here. If you’ve never tried the French whipped, lightly toasted egg white in a sea of creme anglaise, otherwise known as Ile Flottante, I highly recommend you do. The portion here is more than generous and its done exceptionally to perfection. Or you can always go for the tarte du jour.

Recommended for Waterfront Dining because: During the warmer months, outdoor terrace dining here means looking out over the Seine onto the Cathedral Notre Dame de Paris and the Ile Saint-Louis.

Paige’s expert tip: For your first visit to this bistro, stick with the classics and signature dishes. That means have a taste of the roast duck and the crab stuffed devilled eggs. The wine cellar at the sister ship (La Tour d’Argent) is ranked one of the best in the. So even the wines by the glass here will be excellent choices for whatever you order. Sides are fun and are meant to be shared. A simple tapenade and country style bread is your pre-appetizer for whetting the palate as you peruse the menu.

Read more about La Rotisserie d’Argent →

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supershanzykhan · 4 years ago

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9 Things you need to remember before having an outdoor wedding - Wedding - 2021

Outdoor weddings can be beautiful, no doubt - the clear blue sky, the freshly cut grass, the glamorous backdrop - but there are many important factors to consider if you are celebrating at al fresco. With that in mind, we asked NYC-based event planner Andrea Freeman, Nikki Reed’s talent behind it and Ian Somerhalder’s recent nuptials, for her pro tips to make sure your day the dream goes exactly as planned. “As a bride, your job is to enjoy the celebration - but first of all, you need to know how to make it most enjoyable for your family and friends,” she said. Here, his nine nuggets of hosting wisdom.

1. Set your budget at the beginning.

“You’re building an environment, so there are things you have to bring that you can’t consider, like china, glassware, and a place to go to the bathroom — you can’t have a party without a bathroom! Adds. "

2. Examine the weather carefully.

"No one wants rain on their wedding day, even if they say it's good luck. Either way, you have to plan it. Even if the prediction doesn't call for rain, you want a tent for in the protection of the sun.... The bright rays of the summer sun can be brutal. "

3. Attack yourself to needs.

"If your event is going on at night, you need to have whatever it takes to make sure your guests are comfortable. This means sunscreen, bug spray, and water should be easily accessible."

Respect

4. be creative with food.

"In terms of food, there are plenty of options for outdoor weddings. If you vacation in Maine every summer, you can make a lobster bake. S'mores are always a great choice."

5. be as clear as possible.

"No one was surprised. Mention the dress code on the invitation, and make sure guests know what to expect. Include a location map on the wedding website to get someone an idea of how much space is between them. one location and so on. "

6. Plan (very) sooner.

"Just because you are married on Saturday does not mean that all the preparations can be done on Friday. Either you or your planner should expect to be on site at least a week before. If you are setting up a tent, laying the dance floor, or installing a bathroom, be prepared for how long it will take. "

VIDEO: Wedding Florist Karen Oliver on How to Decorate White Roses

7. Choose flowers carefully.

"There are some flowers that are available at certain times, and you want things that can last until the heat. No one says" wedding "like roses, but you can think outside the box. Hydrangeas and ranunculus are beautiful and swearing.

8. Make sure the space is well lit.

"If you're out in the woods somewhere, you probably won't forget to light your tent, but remember to have a lit path or flashlights on hand to get out and find their cars."

9. Don't forget about parking!

"Even if you have a large field reserved, you need to determine if you want to splurge and rent a valet or let the guest’s park themselves."

Outdoor Events for summer

Because many organizations plan seminars and internal business events during the winter months, event planning for the warmer months of the May to September period offers a welcome change. of speed and the opportunity to come out.

As an event planner , you should always be prepared to suggest summer event ideas for your various corporate friendly events, customer and employee appreciation events, product launches , and even sales meetings. Here are seven of the best corporate summer event ideas to take advantage of the summer season.

· 01 - Golf Outings at Tournaments

Of the 27 million golfers in the United States, golf outings and tournaments are among the most popular corporate events each year. Planning a golf event is at the top of the list for the consideration of most executives. If you plan your own golf outing or make a day out of attending a golf event like a PGA tour tournament, don't forget to bring golf gifts for your guests!

· 02 - Baseball Games

In a history dating back to the 1800s, planning an event surrounding America’s favorite pastime remains at the top of the list for pleasing groups and crowds. Baseball teams and stadiums across the country have developed several options to entertain groups inside the ballpark, not to mention party and event options that are only available outside the park. Here are some of the historical ideas of the baseball event to consider:

§ Suites

§ Bleacher parties

§ Picnic parties

§ Field at upper deck party area

§ American League and National League Baseball Stadium and Entertainment Options

· 03 - Horse Wisdom Events

"Win, place, or show!" A day of Thoroughbred racing, manicured grounds, and amazing food is a great way to build business relationships whether it is with employees, clients, or even business partners. Hardworking racetracks can be found in most states across the country. Entertainment group package options may include the following:

§ Millionaire bedrooms and dining rooms

§ Marquee Tents

§ Box seats

§ Meeting facilities

Pro Planner Pro Tip: Make sure your program includes a picture of the winning team circle for your visitors.

· 04 - Concert at Performing Art Events

In almost every city there is an "in the park" outdoor concert series with some of the best performers in pop, folk, blues, jazz, opera, orchestra, country, and music in the world. These music festivals include a pavilion, private tents for group entertainment, and options for private catered dining. These event options, along with live music, natural park views, the night sky, and perhaps some wine and cheese will surely be a hit for the corporate event.

Pro Planner Pro Tip: In addition to music programs, many city park districts have planned an outdoor community theater in the park. If they do, consider a family BBQ night or similar outdoor event followed by play performance entertainment.

· 05 - Cruise and Sailing Events

Whether you are located near water - an ocean, a lake, or even a river - a private yacht or boat during the day or night offers incredible views and helps to deliver a successful program. Depending on your location, most cruise lines charge a minimum of three or four hours and the rates for the weekend are higher than on weekdays. The following are popular corporate event options:

§ Booze cruise (cocktails with live music)

§ Brunch o dinner cruise

§ Historical or architectural cruise

Pro Planner Pro Tip: In addition to a captain with a great personality, consider hiring a docent to serve as a guide and historian if your locale offers an interesting or historical scene.

· 06 - Motor Speedway Events

NASCAR is known for having some of the most loyal fans. If your guests are among the fans, hosting an event on one of the famous motor speedways is a surefire way to delight your guests. Similar to the horse track (number 3 above), motor speedways offer private entertainment options for business events that include suites, meeting facilities, and catering options. which really improves the track experience.

Pro Tip Planner Pro: Consider hosting your event at a speedway on race day not as an alternative to the traditional meeting with business in an atmosphere of the hotel.

· 07 - Your Own Private Hospitality or Adventure Program

In addition to taking your group to the most popular events and venues in town, there are countless other options to consider for planning a unique outdoor summer event . Consider planning a private reception at ethnic dining, music, and dance shows as a signature event company in any of the following types of venues:

§ Best patio restaurant

§ Art gallery at Hardin

§ Museum or zoo

§ Horse horse

§ Winery

§ Botanical Hardin

Or, consider taking your group one day to one of the planned group events:

§ Shrink of team building in the woods

§ Fishing Retreat

§ Pangangabayo

§ Walking city tours

§ Hiking and cycling

§ Off-road and jeep tours

Courtesy:Outdoor Event Planner in Lahore

#farmhouse farmhousestyle farmhousedecor farmhousefresh farmhousegoals eventservices eventsmanagement eventsvenue eventsdecor eventsetup

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joinleaf · 4 years ago

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Best Things To Visit In New York City

Best Things To Do In New York City

Discover the best top things to do in New York City. Our top recommendations for the Best Things To Do In NYC with pictures and travel tips. When deciding which Places To Visit In New York City, plan to tackle one must-see sight per day!

Let's explore the best things to do in NYC:

New York City Attractions

Your heart beats a little faster in New York City. Whether it’s a first visit or you’ve been here a hundred times, it’s always exciting. From Broadway theaters to the Bronx Zoo, this city packs more to see and do into one compact area than any other place on earth. All five boroughs feature must-see attractions, amazing restaurants, and cultural hotspots. Find unforgettable experiences, from high tea at the Plaza Hotel to high-flying at the Trapeze School New York.

With stunning architecture and lush parks, New York is one of the world’s most beautiful cities. Take a double-decker bus tour, stroll the Brooklyn Bridge, or see the spectacular skyline with a free ride on the Staten Island Ferry. Catch sky-high views from a rooftop bar, the Empire State Building or One World Observatory, the Western Hemisphere’s tallest building.

Things to Do in New York with Kids

Whether you're an adult, a kid, or just a kid at heart, New York is the perfect place to find adventures and new experiences that the entire family will remember for a lifetime. With the wide variety of activities New York State offers to families, even the toughest critic in your crew is sure to crack a smile. From stunning thrills on ziplines at Hunter Mountain and the mountain coaster at Holiday Valley to interactive museums like the Strong Museum of Play where kids won't even know they're learning, and weekend getaways complete with itineraries, check out these fun things to do with the family across the Empire State. Remember to take lots of pictures!

New York Events

New Yorkers and visitors are being urged to stay home and keep a safe distance from others in public to help slow the spread of coronavirus. Please check with event organizers and venues when making plans as events are being canceled and postponed as long as restrictions on large gatherings are in place.

Outdoor Adventures

Discover adventures and outdoor activities in New York! Did you know that the Adirondacks region has more than 3,000 ponds and lakes? The Thousand Islands is home to the famous St. Lawrence River, where the wreckage of five ships have made it a scuba diver's paradise. And these are just a few of the 215 state and national parks in New York. Long Island's beaches are great for relaxation and summer sports like surfing and boating.

At Hunter Mountain, experience the longest, fastest, and highest Zipline Tour in North America and the second largest in the world! Drop a hook in Lake Cayuga or cast a fly across the Lake Ontario for a winter fishing experience. New York is an adventurer's paradise, so pack a bag, grab a friend and point your compass towards the Empire State.

Food & Drink

Culinary delights abound in New York State! New York State restaurants offer food journeys like nowhere else. For starters, there's amazing variety. Culinary traditions from around the world combined with the bounty of our farms, orchards, and vineyards give you all the best ingredients for unforgettable dining! With more than 20,000 diverse restaurants and some of the world's best chefs, try regional favorites like the Dinosaur Barbecue in Syracuse and Buffalo's famous chicken wings to haute cuisine and everything in-between.

Food varieties don't stop there. Plenty of fresh farm produce is available from you-pick farms for berries and apples to pumpkins and markets selling some of the best baked goods and homemade preserves imaginable! Spirits, wineries, and craft breweries offer some of the most tasteful experiences while fresh-made yogurts and cheese samples whet your appetite for more. There are candy and chocolate creators of sugary delights to grape pie made popular in the Finger Lakes.

Tours & Excursions

New York is a wonderful state, and we're eager to show you around. There's a whole host of people ready to show you New York State so let us do the driving, flying, and steering. By plane, train, boat, or bus, we've got everything and everyone you'll need to get your adventure started. Some of the state's most popular destinations include Niagara Falls, the Adirondacks, the Catskills, and wine tours through the Hudson Valley. Experience a spine-tingling ghost tour in Thurman or whet your appetite for adventure as you cruise the waterways from the Hudson River to the Great Lakes. With 14 Adirondack Scenic Byways, there's always an option for those who enjoy cruising the open road by bicycle, motorcycle, or even unicycle. Want to take your trip to new heights? New York State even offers plane and balloon tours to see the Empire State from a new perspective.

If you're into walking around on your own, try our audio tours available on the I LOVE NEW YORK mobile app of Lake Placid, Cooperstown, Buffalo, and Seneca Falls!

#Best Things To Visit In New York City #Visit In New York City #Top Things to Do & Places to Visit in New York City #nyc #things to do in nyc #things to do in new york #things to do in nyc today #things to do in nyc this weekend #Best Things To Do In NYC

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abiteofnat · 7 years ago

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THE SUBWAY CAN’T STOP ME FROM HAVIN A GOOD TIME...

Even though my “sea legs” are a little shaky when I’m a billion feet underground and shuttling through the space-time continuum. I love public transit and rely on it to live my life, but the NYC subway is it’s own Narnia of transport. After my family left me for the rats in NYC I was to backpack between Brooklyn and the Upper East Side where two of my best and most beautiful friends recently moved to, each of them very different people and therefore providing me with a week of amazing, diverse experiences and quality #bff time. While I panicked about not having enough to do to keep us occupied I quickly realized I am naive and that NYC is definitely not lacking in things to do, anytime, ever. AND THEY DON’T LACK THINGS TO EAT!

The first couple days were spent with a dear pal Sophia, my crossfit queen and wine connoisseur, and her boyfriend in Brooklyn where the bagels were plenty and we ate a lot of them. Bagel World is where you can find the famous Rainbow Bagel which I believe is an egg bagel with some food coloring stirred in, and with a little plain cream cheese smeared on there it’s the perfect #hangoverhelper and puts a smile on your face. The best thing about NYC bagel delis is the fact they have TUBS of cream cheese for your choosing, and you better believe there are a half a dozen flavors minimum that make the salty & sweet or savory & salty or sweet & sweet conundrum all the harder to decide. I’m a fan of a salty bagel and a sweet cream cheese, i.e. sea salt bagels with strawberry cream cheese (which I tried at Pick A Bagel -pictured below- later on that week) but that rainbow bagel realllyyyy swooned me. And, being a dumbo with caffeine-free brain, I forgot to take pics and just consumed it out of pure glee. May it live on forever in my heart.

I also went to a bombfreaking.com bagel place in the Financial District while Soph was off doing important things, and lemme tell you I absolutely adore that area of Manhattan. While it does feel very “Wolf of Wall Street” and everyone is a business person rushing around under these tall, gray buildings it’s also near the water and feels like a whole new city of it’s own. There are a ton of tiny cafes and coffee shops, bars and mini patios, and a shocking amount of flower shops. I wouldn’t make it a destination area itself but if you’re checking out the One World Trade Center (which is entirely worth seeing, it’s humbling and very breathtaking) you could walk over for a snack and a think. My find of the day was Leo’s Bagels, where I got a poppyseed and chive cream cheese bagel that blew my fucking mind. This bagel was the essential NYC bagel, broiled to chewy perfection and toasted to a golden brown and then SMOTHERED WITH CHIVE CREAM CHEESE THAT I COULD EAT WITH A SPOON FOREVER. I read a book, “The Couple Next Door”, and noshed on my bagel while watching the rain fall on the brick streets crowded with people running underneath newspapers to protect their fancy hair. It was pretty damn perfect.

Outside of bagels, we checked out where to get sangria pitchers and talk about the trials of millennial living which lead us to Barraca, a picture-perfect corner spot in a bustling part of Greenwich. Their happy hour menu was poppin’ and we ordered pitchers of multiple types of sangria, garlic-marinated olives, pan con tomate, and expected menu items such as patatas bravas that were deep fried and topped with a glorious aioli, and then threw in some manchego cheese with grilled toast and jam. It was tasty little bites of tapas classes in a rustic yet modern setting, great people watching, and ideal lounge-forever-and-drink vibes.

We were quite content here and should you want a casual, 5-hour European meal this is your place! Plus Greenwich is a mecca of little bars and late night restaurants, walk a little far to the Meat Packing District to the clubs and fancy pants bars, and the world is your $15 cocktail. Voila!

The last leg of my trip was spent with my oldest and most vegan friend Lolo who went above and beyond to show me an authentic day in the life of her and her huge, beautiful friend group which led us to some pretty cool and totally veggie-friendly spots. Lolo being the wonder she is also let me stop for bagels at any moment and for that she wins an award seeing as she doesn’t even eat bagels! And I’m so indecisive with them!

One of the first places we went to was the food court in The Plaza as it’s a staple for her and I had never been. We woke up ~hella~ early with the world on a Saturday to scamper to Central Park and sit in line for 5 hours to get Shakespeare in the Park tickets for A Midsummer Night’s Dream, as it’s free Broadway theater that is packed every single night of the summer, and after scoring four beautiful tickets our eyes were glazed over and my stomach was screaming “FUCK THE ARTS I NEED FOOD”. So we headed to The Plaza, went underneath the elite hotel section to the similarly elite yet casual eatery, and I was shell shocked. I don’t know what I expected, but this food court felt like the most glorious spread of gourmet foods offered to raggedy people like us in baseball caps and tennis shoes.

Lolo led me to the coffee that to this minute of my life is still the best iced coffee I’ve ever had, and with a splash of almond milk and simple syrup I couldn’t quite believe that coffee from a French stand in a food court was changing my entire life. It’s called Epicerie Boulud, and you should go N O W.

We also stopped and got sushi from the sushi stand which would be a running trend of the weekend (little did I know). One of the things I love about my girl is she is an avid sushi fan even though it’s just veggies and rice all wrapped up because she’s meat free, and I can eat sushi for ever single meal without turning into an actual piece of tuna and be happy. It was VERY VERY good sushi, and the men making it were so happy to be rolling up some rolls for the line of people sitting along the prep station and watching. Nothing like live theater, no matter what kind it is.

After this meal we went to Central Park with some goodies from Whole Foods and picnicked until the show started, and my oh MY free Shakespeare was remarkable. The set, the costumes, alllllll of it was so extra and not to mention you’re watching it in the middle of Central Park with Manhattan lighting up all around you!

The last meal spent in NYC was at ~drum roll please~ Chelsea Market, a spot I had never gotten to and was so eager to see. IT DID NOT DISAPPOINT! Within this old, brick + steel building there are a billion little shops and curiosity stalls, one at which I bought an ancient postcard of Lady Liberty that I’m obsessed with. This was also the first trip I went out on the river to see Lady Liberty and I think I fell in love a little bit. That statue made me so damn emotional and I kind of can’t wait to go back and wander Ellis Island for a bit. Plus, the boat had a bar on board, and who doesn’t love a Blue Moon while cruising on the Hudson?

At the Chelsea Market we went to Lolo’s favorite place which is called Beyond Sushi and it’s completely vegan and grassy sushi + other sides that SHOOK ME. TO THE CORE. First off, the rice was purple. Second of all, the side of kimchi was so good that I ate it like salad all on it’s own and almost forgot to eat the other aspects of my meal. Try any and all things on the menu; it is all so fresh and delicately made that you don’t even realize there’s no fish/dairy/animal product in them. I’m the first to scoff at sushi that’s devoid of the most insane amount of tobiko/ahi tuna/octopus, but this was legitimately crunch and full of flavor and a remarkable balance of flavor.

Yep. It’s unreal. Yep. See those test tubes of sauce? The plum sauce is best on EVERYTHING. HOW HELPFUL IS THAT.

Right next door to Beyond Sushi is Pineapple Express, the glorious spot where the nicest woman in the world stayed open to make me one of the Insta-famous pineapples filled with pineapple soft serve and topped with fresh fruit, coconut shavings, and an umbrella. Also vegan, this makes the most luscious dessert to end a salty meal with and is perfect for sharing as long as you don’t mind accidental spoon wars. O.M.G. it was so good! And tip this woman well, she loves her job makin’ pretty fruits.

WOWZA AM I RIGHT? Although the Chelsea Market closes relatively early, it is so worth going for a bite to eat and a wander about. You never know what treasures you’re going to find!

Thanks for reading through my NYC adventures, I promise I also have fun Chicago spots to try and that I’m not leaving annyyy time soon. Ok? Ok.

Until next time, Happy Eating!

-Natalie

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pelagicbeast · 5 years ago

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n0resistance · 3 years ago

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South Orange

After Upper East Side, my senior year of college was approaching. I needed a roommate and decided moving to New Jersey to save money. I would be in student loan debt when I graduated and I needed to do something. I first was going to live in Hoboken. However, even back in 2011 Hoboken was so expensive! A place near the water, trains accessible, and the food is great.

My friend found a place near a train in South Orange that went to New York Penn. This was before Uber existed. It was near her university. It was a two floor apartment plus a basement. We were living with another girl. Two rooms upstairs and a bathroom. The building was older. We had a kitchen, big living room, and a basement with laundry. A laundry where you don’t have to pay, which is unheard of after living in New York for so long.

It was a big year. I missed Italy a lot, I was focused on graduating, and getting an internship. I had to bring Scrappy back to my dad’s because we weren’t allowed to have dogs and I was jumping into a year where I barely had time to take care of myself. In New York my classmates who were mainly communication majors or business majors had so many internships. I had 0 internships. The competition in New York always made you feel like you were behind.

I met a boy that year in the elevator of school who was from Italy. He lived in Williamsburg and was studying finance. I remember him freshmen year that he came from Italy, and I started speaking Italian to him. We connected because were in the same class and he invited me for a beer. We were 21 we could go to bars no problem. He played guitar and lived with artists. One of his roommates was a French girl. She was from the boarder of Spain and France. So she spoke both Spanish and French, and was a singer/actress. She was doing a play in French, in NYC. His other roommate was from Switzerland went to NYU and got an internship at Tribeca film festival.

So the house was very multi lingual. Their common language in the house was Spanish, since they all lived in Spain at some point. They were always singing and doing something creative in that little apartment. Even cleaned together. The guy I was seeing, his father owned that apartment and the other two were renting out the rooms. The Swiss guy that lived with him, asked what I was studying, I said Hotel Management. It’s a big industry in Switzerland, and he told me I’ll always have a job and make a good salary. The reality of it was I wanted to be like them. Be creative everyday in New York. So the unhappiness attached to what I was doing with my life, after studying for 4 years was in my face, as well as learning that people can survive and be artists. These foreigners were doing it, and made it look easy. My issue were these voices in my head telling me I couldn’t do it and to go for security. Many of us go through it. My musician ex boyfriend, played music but studied finance. His lack of pursuing it seriously led him down some wrong paths and he was a reflection of myself in that way.

During hotel school we had this professor who went to the navy and then went on to operate cruise ships. He gave us an assignment to go around New York and sit in hotel lobbies. Write down all the things we noticed. What we liked from the ambiance to decor, details about the brand, everything. He also taught us about Boutique hotels.

Boutique originally came from London and meant small. Which means, less than 150 rooms. This one hotelier, Bill Kimpton used to travel to Europe and loved the hospitality experience. Wine and cheese, the free breakfast and coffee, and the comfortable lobbies that would make you want to stay there all day. Going to Hotel school and exposing myself to all the hotels in New York. I really wanted and decided to work at a Boutique hotel, because I didn’t want to end up at a Marriott and be a robot. I fell in love with that concept. Which felt different from other kinds of service. What I wanted out of college, was to always have a job. I had a love for traveling and my counselor guided me into it.

What you learn in hotel school is location is everything. Location location location. Location makes money. Being desperate for an internship. I went to the front desk of a hotel on Gold St called Gild Hall. It was part of the Thompson collection. We catered to Wall Street clients. We even had a cigar floor which was attached to our second lobby upstairs. I went to the front desk and applied as an intern. I had a resume basically saying I had experience in restaurants and club promoting, was studying the field of Hotel Management and aspire to be a GM. Seeking an internship for credits.

There was no call, and I was desperate for it since I had no experience. At the time I was working as a hostess on Stone Street making 12/ hour. I know that front desk people made 25/ hr at that specific property. Had to wear heals 8 hours a day was the downfall for me, as it was luxury. I got an interview eventually with a lot of follow ups for a Hospitality internship. With some pay, since I’m learning and just an intern. It was 4 dollars less an hour than I made as a host. However, it could get me a future job, so I was determined.

It was the hardest thing to get. I got an interview, they made me wait to interview for weeks, almost a month, and we did a site tour with our class. Got a tour of the property and what it was like to be a Hotelier. The GM talked about the place, the outlets, how much rooms go for, the lounge area, the cigar floor (the only hotel that still had it in 2012), and how there’s a lot of work to be done. He asked, “do any of you guys have jobs in the industry?” I said I have an interview with you guys tomorrow. He said okay, he’ll be looking forward to it and it’s good that we were able to meet before hand. I didn’t know that an entire career of mine would start at this point as a student. It was the beginning to a career that I use to live and explore my passions.

#alltheplaces howtolove southorangeave

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topfygad · 5 years ago

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New York’s New Neighbours | Nat Geo Traveller India

The town has a love-hate relationship with its new precinct for the uber-rich, Hudson Yards. What’s it actually like?

Cities U.S.A. Prachi Joshi | POSTED ON: September 10, 2019

Thomas Heatherwick’s Vessel is a centrepiece of Hudson Yards. Its design is impressed by the stepwells of India. Photograph By: José Fuste Raga/Agefotostock/Dinodia Image Library

New York Metropolis. The Large Apple. A metropolis so passionately immortalised in creativeness by means of films, TV exhibits, and popular culture that it appears acquainted even when you have by no means been there. The long-lasting Manhattan skyline is immediately recognisable (even after being completely altered by 9/11), its museums and artwork galleries are warrens of surprise. New York is actually a sensual feast.

And now there’s Hudson Yards, a 28-acre neighbourhood playground of the ultra-rich, constructed from scratch on the West Facet. Set atop rail yards, it’s the largest non-public actual property improvement within the U.S., the place swanky residential towers glint within the solar, and workplaces, a lodge, procuring centres, eating places, and artwork installations vie for consideration. New Yorkers have a love-hate relationship with the district—‘open to all, however not for all,’ claimed Forbes earlier this yr. A neighborhood I met on a river cruise censured it as being for the vacationer (like me). It solely made me curious—what’s it that individuals do at Hudson Yards?

eight a.m.

Hudson Yards certain attracts early birds and maybe those that revere their exercise even on trip. In case you’re one in all them, join a SoulCycle ‘cardio get together’ at 35 Hudson Yards. Hop on an indoor bike and comply with the choreography of your teacher set to some critically high-energy music. However for those who’re like me, get on the Excessive Line (thehighline.org), the two.3-kilometre elevated railroad-turned-public park, from its southern entrance at Gansevoort St. and stroll all the way in which to Hudson Yards. I see artwork installations on the way in which and nice views onto the town and the Hudson River. There’s additionally The Spur, a newly opened part of the Excessive Line (feeding straight into Hudson Yards), with planted balconies, vertical gardens, and cascading wood seating steps in an open piazza. You’ll additionally discover The Plinth, a devoted area for monumental artwork installations; the inaugural paintings is Brooklyn-based sculptor Simone Leigh’s Brick Home, a 16-foot magnificent bronze bust of a African American girl. In case you want a bathe and alter after that stroll/exercise, reserve a slot at 3Den, a pay-as-you-use area which has pristine bogs, nap pods, and free espresso—properly, leisure doesn’t come low-cost at Hudson Yards (www.goto3den.com; stage 4, 20 Hudson Yards, the place all of the retailers and eating places are situated; $6/Rs430 for each 30 minutes).

Opening later this yr, the cantilevered Edge at Hudson Yards would be the highest commentary deck within the metropolis. Photograph By: Richard Levine/Agefotostock/Dinodia picture library

Movie star Chef José Andrés’ restaurant Mercado Little Spain brings the standard bustling Spanish meals market to NYC. Photograph By: Bruce yuanyue Bi/Alamy/Indiapicture

10 a.m.

All retailers nad eating places at Hudson Yards are situated at a procuring complicated referred to as The Retailers & Eating places. Because you’re staying, seize a late breakfast of artisanal pastries and savoury entrées at celeb chef Thomas Keller’s Bouchon Bakery (stage 5) then roll up at BLVD, an expensive spa inside Neiman Marcus (stage 7) for a spot of pampering. In case you’re right here to spend, start at Neiman Marcus (stage 5-7) itself, it’s the division retailer’s first foray into NYC. Drop in at Forty 5 Ten (stage 5) the place artwork meets style, and upcoming expertise and luxurious designers rub shoulders. Elsewhere (relying in your pockets measurement) you have got every thing from Chanel, Dior, and Fendi to H&M, Uniqlo, and Zara. Japanese model Muji has a big area on stage 2 alongside Batch, a classy house furnishings retailer the place the gathering adjustments each two months. There are the same old suspects in magnificence (Sephora, M.A.C, Origins, and so forth.), or pop in at Atelier Cologne (stage 2) to create your personalised fragrance.

1 p.m.

Wander all the way down to road stage into the full of life Mercado Little Spain, celeb chef José Andrés’ upscaled model of a Spanish market harking back to Barcelona’s La Boqueria. It options two sit-down eating places and an all-day diner, however the focus is on the central mercado (market). Trawl the farm stands and grocery shops for recent produce, sausages, cheese and bread. Then do an impromptu meals crawl by means of the kiosks, sampling an empanada right here, some tapas there, and churros to complete off, interspersed with Spanish wines at one of many three bars.

Three p.m.

Shake off the post-lunch languor at Snark Park (stage 2), which options immersive exhibitions designed by Snarkitecture, a New York-based design studio. The debut set up I noticed, Misplaced and Discovered, was a monochromatic maze dotted with columns, seating areas, totems adorned with mirror tiles, fake fur, and latex, and way more (https://ift.tt/2ZCLXVF). The area additionally has a retail space with restricted version merchandise like T-shirts and toys, in addition to a Kith Treats ice cream and cereal bar. Get your espresso on the California-favourite Blue Bottle Espresso (stage 2) or the Aussie-style Bluestone Lane (stage 3).

Hudson Yards has dramatically altered the skyline of Manhattan’s West Facet. Photograph By: José Fuste Raga/Agefotostock/Dinodia Photograph Library

5 p.m.

There’s no lacking the Vessel, the gleaming, copper-coloured centrepiece of Hudson Yards. Designed by the British architect Thomas Heatherwick (who drew inspiration from India’s stepwells for this set up), the 16-storey, honeycomb-like construction is a spiral staircase of types. I consider the The New Yorker calling it a “shawarma-shaped stairway to nowhere,” and lace up my trainers to climb a few of its 154 flights of stairs comprising practically 2,500 steps. I catch my breath at one of many 80 landings for sudden views onto the town. On the prime, I look again at Downtown and Midtown Manhattan after which, flip round for a sweeping view of the Hudson River. Because the solar units, the burnished copper glows eerily. A shawarma? Possibly. However I can’t assist feeling it’s spectacular too (entry free, purchase time-specific tickets at interactive kiosks on-site or reserve on-line; hudsonyardsnewyork.com/uncover/vessel).

The ultimate section of the Excessive Line opened earlier this yr, providing direct entry into Hudson Yards. Photograph By: Richard Levine/Agefotostock/Dinodia picture library

Public artwork on the Excessive Line adjustments yearly. En Plein Air runs by means of March 2020, that includes out of doors work by eight up to date artists. Photograph By: Prachi Joshi

7 p.m.

The Shed hopes to be an thrilling cease on NYC’s cultural panorama. The multi-disciplinary arts centre bodily transforms itself to accommodate every efficiency, set up, or exhibition. Its monumental shell made from translucent Teflon-based polymer might be pulled up over your complete eight-storey venue or rolled out to embody the encircling open courtyard. The area hosts theatre and music performances, and artwork exhibitions. Upcoming occasions embrace live shows by the digital music composer Arca, conceptual artist Agnes Denes’ first complete exhibition in NYC, and creative choreographic works of William Forsythe. In November, Verdi’s haunting Requiem might be staged alongside shifting pictures by the late avant-garde filmmaker Jonas Mekas (theshed.org).

9 p.m.

Wind down at Milos Wine Bar on Stage 5 and select from practically 100 styles of Greek wines. Head as much as Estiatorio Milos to style Greek and Mediterranean seafood specialties by Chef Costas Spiliadis. At road stage, strive the Spanish riff on seafood at Mar at Mercado Little Spain; don’t miss the navajas al azafrán (razor clams cured in saffron sauce), gambas al ajilo (fats purple shrimp sautéed with garlic), and the seafood paella.

Within the hood

What to see & do close to Hudson Yards

Neighbouring Chelsea is understood for its vibrant artwork scene and there’s loads of gallery hopping to be carried out. Tempo Gallery is one the most important with two areas (540 West 25th Road opens mid-September); at present ongoing is a retrospective on American sculptor Alexander Calder and an exhibition of American painter Loie Hollowell’s summary biomorphic work (pacegallery.com).

Different galleries price testing embrace Gagosian Gallery, David Zwirner, and Hauser & Wirth. Positioned in a 19th-century heritage constructing, the Chelsea Market occupies a complete road block between West 15th and 16th Streets. It homes cafés, small eating places, meals shops, and even an artisanal flea market. Have a sit-down breakfast at Sarabeth’s Bakery, or queue up for tacos at Los Tacos or for sausages at Dickson’s Farmstand. Later, get bite-size treats at Doughnuttery, and at last gas up at Ninth Road Espresso; chelseamarket.com.

South of the market is the Whitney Museum of American Artwork, which solely showcases 20th-century and up to date American artists. The Whitney Biennial displays the creative zeitgeist and is at present on till September 22; whitney.org.

Room service

The place to remain close to Hudson Yards

The 43-storey Instances Sq. EDITION opened earlier this yr providing understated luxurious and a Michelin-starred chef behind its three eating places (editionhotels.com; doubles from $509/Rs36,000). Boutique lodge lovers, verify into the dog-friendly Staypineapple situated in Midtown, with rooms carried out up in vivid colors (staypineapple.com; doubles from $198/Rs14,000).

Chook’s-eye view

Transfer over Empire State Constructing; NYC has a brand-new commentary deck opening later this yr. At 1,100 ft above the bottom, Edge at 30 Hudson Yards would be the highest out of doors deck within the Western Hemisphere. The glass-floored ‘balcony’ juts out 65 ft and is skirted by a nine-foot wall of angled glass permitting you to actually lean over Manhattan (advance reservations at hudsonyardsnewyork.com/uncover/edge).

There are direct flights between Mumbai and Delhi to New York. Hudson Yards is on Manhattan’s West Facet between 10th and 12th Avenues, from W 30th to W 34th Streets. It’s simply accessible on foot or by public transport —the No. 7 Subway connects to Instances Sq. and past (hudsonyardsnewyork.com).

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rtwlovers · 5 years ago

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Our China Crash Course

Our adventure through China was an absolute whirlwind that covered almost 3,000 miles in 10 days. To see China in that amount of time is like taking a 10 day trip to see New York, D.C., LA, and Seattle. It was absolutely insane.

But we had a good reason for the quickness—Blakely’s family came to join us and they only had a small window. We enjoyed the company (and the upgrade in accommodations!).

We started in Hong Kong, which is a great gateway into China since it is much more connected to the outside world. Reminder: the Chinese government significantly limits news flow of its citizens, and this makes them culturally cut off from the rest of society. While Hong Kong technically falls under Chinese jurisdiction, it was a British colony until 1997 when the Brits returned it to China. Hong Kong maintains a separate political and economic system from China, but the mainland significantly influences the legislation. China continues to broker more influence, and unfortunately protests don’t make much difference despite making international news.

Blakely and Ryan arrived 2 days earlier than the rest of the group, which was best as we were VERY dusty from our time in Nepal. We stayed at the Kowloon Shangri-la Hotel, which, as could be expected, were MUCH better accommodations than our norm.

We enjoyed the hotel then headed to explore the city. Of course, a highlight for us was the spectacular architecture. As city folk we really appreciate a good skyscraper, and Hong Kong has plenty of those! Hong Kong has a gorgeous skyline, with more skyscrapers than anywhere in the world, and Victoria Harbor elevates the view further. Ryan’s favorites were the HSBC Building, International Commerce Center and Bank of China Tower. Then we went to Man Mo temple, which is dedicated to the gods of literature and war. The incense and atmosphere make it a calm and gorgeous stop.

That night, we headed to the fabulous SoHo neighborhood (not to be confused with the SoHo in NYC, this stands for South of Hollywood Road) which has one of our favorite features: escalator sidewalks. First we hit a wine and cheese bar, and then one of our favorite restaurants Little Bao. So fun, so delicious, and everything we needed.

Finally, the rest of the group arrived. We didn’t pause long before taking them on a walking tour the neighborhood. Then for dinner, we headed to the world renowned Din Tai Fung restaurant for delicious dumplings and noodles. Finally, we headed to Temple Street Night Market for a bit of chaos and shopping! Unfortunately the market is MUCH more glitz than glamor, and as many things in China, focused on the shiny quantity over quality!

The next day was a big one. We started on a tram up to Victoria Peak to see the sights,. Due to the crazy fog, the view half-way up was better. Then we took a boat tour to see the floating village of Aberdeen and the temples there. Afterwards, a little tea time at the Peninsula hotel, then cocktails while watching the harbor light show.

Next, we jetted off to Guilin and immediately went to the gorgeous Reed Flute cave. In case the natural structure isn’t enough, the gorgeous light displays make the cave even more mystical and impressive (though a few thought they were tacky and preferred the natural landscape!). In Guilin, we stayed at the beautiful Guilin Shangri-la Hotel.

Next on the itinerary was a drive out to Longji, with hiking to see the gorgeous rice paddies. Absolutely worth the hike (to say nothing of needing to work off those dumplings!), this was a trip highlight for all of us.

That night we took a light cruise around the lakes of Guilin. The Chinese LOVE a light show, and we were pretty impressed ourselves!

The next day was a highlight: A boat cruise along the Li River. This site has inspired painters and artists for centuries, and it inspired the artwork on the 50 yen note today. Blakely couldn’t resist the beauty recreated by a local artist on rice paper, which is now hanging in our house!

After the day’s craziness, we took a flight to Xian and settled into the Wyndham Grand Xian hotel, another fabulous place!

Xian attracts visitors from all over the world with the incredible Terracotta Warriors. Even with all of the hype, they do NOT disappoint. Here’s the skinny:

When the first Emperor of China Qin Shi Huang died around 210 BC, he was buried with an army he commissioned to protect him in the afterlife. There are approximately 8,000 soldiers, 130 chariots, 520 horses and 150 cavalry horses. Additionally, there are officials, acrobats, strongmen and musicians. All of the statues are life sized, uniquely carved and painted, and buried in different sized pits. The largest of the pits is housed in the museum for viewing. It is INSANE to see.

Even cooler: the army is just a portion of the remains left to be discovered. Excavation is ongoing, but ground-penetrating radar detects a larger city resembling the emperor’s imperial palace and court. Next we gobbled down some delicious beef noodle soup!

The next day we had a gorgeous bike ride around Xian’s ancient city walls, which were built in the 14th Century and form one of the best-preserved fortresses in the world. After earning our treat, we had a walk through the Great Tang All Day Mall and celebrated with Popsicles and BBQ. This is a market of which we all approved!

After Xian we flew to Shanghai and got to visit the historic and beautiful Zhujiajiao village. We felt like we stepped back in time! We had a canal cruise, did a little shopping (of course) and went to see a historic mansion with traditional Chinese gardens.

Shang Hai was absolutely our favorite city in mainland China, with a gorgeous skyline and metropolitan atmosphere. As discussed, we love cities. We walked along the river and had a fabulous dinner before enjoying one of THE most bizarre and fantastic shows we’d ever seen: The Amazing Acrobats of Shanghai. We will never be able to see another acrobat show again.

The following day the boys and girls separated, and the boys took a tour of the mind blowing Shang hai port. Afterwards we all flew to our last stop (WHEW) Beijing.

The next day was a highlight and it started with Tian’anmen Square. According to our official guide it is “the largest city square in the world” (it is actually only one of the top 10) “and the spiritual heart of China, where the national flag is raised exactly at sunrise every day.” Of course, what isn’t mentioned in the paraphernalia is that this square is infamous for the horrendous massacre of protestors in 1989. Troops with automatic rifles and tanks killed hundreds of demonstrators who were trying to block the military’s advance to the square (where a student protest was happening).

Today, Tian’anmen is a heavily regulated area and indicative of Chinese policy in general. Before entry, visitors and their belongings are searched and IDs checked. Protests are strictly forbidden, and discussion of the massacre nonexistent. Furthermore, in the 70s the square held ginormous portraits of 6 dictators (including Karl Marx, Vladimir Lenin, and Joseph Stalin), but upon the death of Mao Sedong (founding father of the People’s Republic of China) the other portraits were removed and only his remains. Don’t worry, the other portraits are still brought out in a parade around the square on Labor Day and National Day.

For all its dark past, Tian’anmen Square allows entrance to one of the coolest places in China: The Forbidden City. The Forbidden City is a palace complex in Central Beijing and housed the imperial palace from 1420-1912. Now, it is a Palace Museum and provides an excellent snapshot of gorgeous Chinese architecture, artwork, and artefacts. Our personal favorite was the Hall of Clocks, a display of 200 clocks and watches from the imperial collection.

Last stop for the day, we visited the Temple of Heaven, a complex of religious buildings that was visited yearly by emperors to ensure a good harvest.

Ok. Now for the part we’ve all been waiting for. The famous symbol of China, an architectural wonder of the world, stretching 6,700 km and over 2,000 years old: The Great Wall of China.

The wall was constructed over many different dynasties to protect the ever-changing empire borders. The most extensive and modern construction occurred as recently as the 14th Century. Effectiveness of the wall varied, and our guide informed us that bribery decreased the walls success. Unfortunately, with the invention of air invasion, the wall was largely unproductive in modern era. That said, it is magnificent to see.

Though it can’t be seen from the moon (common misconception), it can be seen from space at a low orbit when the conditions are right.

Maybe one of our favorite parts was the ride down. Take a look.

To get to the wall we enjoyed the Sacred Path, which is lined with animals, mystical beasts and officials who serve the emperor in his afterlife. Sitting emperors perform rituals there for the ancestors once a year.

Our last stop in China was one of our favorites: The Summer Palace. This was an imperial summer resort of the Qing Dynasty and it has gorgeous grounds that are the recognized as the most splendid classical gardens of China. The incredible decoration on the buildings made us constantly look up, and we loved finishing our trip with such a gorgeous example of Chinese art. Our only complaint was that we visited on a holiday so we felt like all of China was there with us! One thing is for sure: China has a LOT of people!

So ended our blitz through China, and if you’re tired from reading it you can imagine how tired we were for doing it! The only answer: a blissful vacation to Bali.

#What We Did #China #Asia

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laughbreak6-blog · 5 years ago

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Friday, October 5: Harry Potter, Natural Wines, Space Cats + 65 More

Today’s Events

'Harry Potter' Exhibition Brings Rare Manuscripts & Magical Objects to NYC (Through Sunday, January 27) New-York Historical Society, Manhattan

Free Tastings of Natural Wines During Natty Wine Week 2018 (Through Sunday, October 7)

Preview New TV Shows + Q&As with Stars During PaleyFest 2018 (Through Thursday, October 18) The Paley Center for Media, Manhattan

Space Cats Intergalactic Dance Party House of Yes, Brooklyn

'Tablescapes: Designs for Dining' (Through Tuesday, April 16) Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, Manhattan

2018 New York African Restaurant Week with Menus from $20 (Through Sunday, October 21)

GZA & Gorilla Biscuits Perform Free at 2018 Thrasher x Vans Death Match (Through Saturday, October 6) NYC Knockdown Center, Queens

Free Comedy Show with Janeane Garofalo

Alex Ross & Chip Kidd

Discounted NYC Haunted House Tickets (Through Saturday, November 3)

Astronomical Observation + Where to See the Stars Online Columbia University, Manhattan

Haunted Broadway Walking Tour

'Studio 54' Doc Screenings + Q&As with Director & Studio 54 Co-Founder (Through Friday, October 6) IFC Center, Manhattan

Free Tickets to Open Bar Rooftop Party

Broadway Stars Perform Hits from 1980s

The Future of Leftist Politics in the Americas (Through Saturday, October 6)

NYC Cosplay Booze Cruise + Costume Contest

Free After Work Party Cruise

Open Bar Rooftop Parties (Fridays Through October 26)

Open Bar Painting Classes (Through Saturday, October 27)

Central Park Secrets (Through Sunday, December 2)

See free & cheap NYC events for tomorrow, Saturday, October 6.

Ending Today

Vera List Center Forum 2018: 'If Art is Politics' (Through Friday, October 5)

How Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis & Other NYers Saved Grand Central Terminal from Demolition (Through Friday, October 5) Grand Central Terminal, Manhattan

Ongoing

See more ongoing & upcoming NYC events

NYC Slavery & Underground Railroad Tours (Through Saturday, December 29)

31-Foot Chihuly 'Rose Crystal Tower' Rises in Union Square (Through October 2018) Union Square Park, Manhattan

Greenwich Village Haunted Walking Tours (Through Sunday, December 30)

'Day Drinking' Brunch Musical + 3 Drinks (Through Sunday, November 18)

Hilarious History of Drinking Paired with 3 Cocktails (Through Wednesday, November 21)

Site-Specific Kiki Smith Exhibit at Eldridge (Through Wednesday, October 10) Museum at Eldridge Street, Manhattan

'The Golden Girls Live' Parody (Through Sunday, October 28)

1/2 Price Central Park Bike Tours (Through December 2018)

Haunting Huma Bhabha Installation on the Rooftop of the Met (Through Sunday, October 28) The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Manhattan

High Line Art Installation Examines Art & Public Space (Through March 2019) The High Line, Manhattan

Save $5.75 on Movie Tickets

'Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination' (Through Monday, October 8) The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Manhattan

'Saturated: The Allure and Science of Color' (Through Sunday, January 13) Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, Manhattan

'Empire Skate: The Birthplace of Roller Disco' (Through Sunday, October 14) The City Reliquary, Brooklyn

Discounted Tickets! 'Georgia O’Keeffe: Visions of Hawai‘i' Exhibit Blooms with Rare Works at NYBG (Through Sunday, October 28)

Free Kayaking on the Hudson River (Through Sunday, October 7) Pier 96, Manhattan

'Underground Heroes: New York Transit in Comics' (Through Sunday, January 6) New York Transit Museum, Brooklyn

Nude Paintings by Klimt, Schiele & Picasso (Through Sunday, October 7) The Met Breuer, Manhattan

'Rebel Women' Who Defied Victorian Era Expectations (Through Sunday, January 6) Museum of the City of New York, Manhattan

'Me the People: The Trump America Musical' (Through Tuesday, November 6)

Favorite Verses on Parade in MTA's Free 'Poetry in Motion at 25' Exhibit (Through Sunday, October 28) Grand Central Terminal, Manhattan

Discounted Tickets to Interactive M.C. Escher Exhibit in NYC (Through Sunday, February 3)

'Pink: The History of a Punk, Pretty, Powerful Color' (Through Saturday, January 5) Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology, Manhattan

'Germ City: Microbes and the Metropolis' (Through Sunday, April 28) Museum of the City of New York, Manhattan

'Before Projection: Video Sculpture 1974–1995' (Through Monday, December 17) Sculpture Center, Queens

2-for-1 Tix During NYC Off-Broadway Week 2018 (Through Sunday, October 7)

2018 New York Film Festival (Through Sunday, October 14) Lincoln Center, Manhattan

Cheap Tickets to 'Sleepy Hollow' Musical (Through Sunday, October 14)

Free Cheese + Free Treats (Through Sunday, October 7)

Ingmar Bergman: A Tribute in Film (Through Saturday, October 13) Scandinavia House, Manhattan

Jerome Robbins ('West Side Story') & New York (Through Saturday, March 30) New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Bruno Walter Auditorium, Manhattan

2018 Pirate-Themed Halloween Harvest Celebration at Luna Park (Through Sunday, October 28)

2018 Fall for Dance Festival (Through Saturday, October 13)

2018 New York International Fringe Festival (Through Wednesday, October 31)

Free NYC Architecture Talks & Tours During Archtober 2018 (Through Wednesday, October 31)

Speaking Truth to Power 2018—Screenings & Talks (Through Saturday, December 8) Brooklyn Academy of Music, Brooklyn

Art & Design of the Women’s Movement in New York (Through Sunday, December 2) 41 Cooper Gallery, Manhattan

Cheap Indoor Ice Skating in Brooklyn (Through Monday, December 24)

'Obsessorize' Exhibit Turns Unique Accessories Into Public Art (Through Friday, October 26)

2018 Art in Odd Places Featuring Works of Female & Non-Binary Artists (Through Saturday, October 27)

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Source: http://www.niftynyc.com/2018/10/05/october-5-free-nyc-events/

#read more #see more #check it out #interesting #learn more

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multipleforks · 5 years ago

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Did you know, Montreal is continuously ranked one of the top nightlife cities in North America, again and again? If you have ever been, you can easily see why; this city is bustling! In addition to its buzzling late night scene, Montreal also has some fantastic food and tons of cool neighborhoods to check out. Sadly, I was only there for a long weekend, so I didn’t check out nearly as many places as I would have liked, but here are places I would highly recommend, as well as fun things to do.

Brunch: Jardin Nelson

Who doesn’t love live jazz, freshly squeezed mimosas, and outdoor seating underneath a cozy, warmly heated patio? That’s the brunch trifecta right there! The ambiance at this fantastic weekend spot is casual, trendy, charming, friendly, and fun. The lengthy, all day menu resembles a Charles Dickens novel, which can be slightly intimidating, but luckily, they’ve shortened brunch down to two pages, so you’re not sitting there deliberating until dinner rolls around. If you’re looking for brunch suggestions, the Shakshouka with poached duck egg is very tasty and filling. The dish comes with pan fried vegetables roasted in a delicious cheesy tomato sauce with a duck egg on top, and roasted potatoes on the side. The open-faced grilled cheese sandwich is also another suggested dish, especially if you like things on the sweeter side. The dish comes with two pieces of bread topped with aged cheddar, blue cheese, dates, walnuts and maple syrup with a delicious salad on the side finished off with a poppy seed dressing. Be forewarned, the dish is resembles more of a dessert than a hearty breakfast dish!

Moving on, as we all know, you can’t do brunch properly without delicious mimosas, so be sure to grab some while you’re here. The orange juice is freshly squeezed and as you might imagine, it comes with a nice, fresh cut strawberry slice on the rim. In addition to the delightful mimosas, the peach sangria is all the rage here. Jacked with peach schnapps, this sangria will have you singing like the high pitched jazz singer on stage when you’re done!

Bagels!

If you’re in a rush, and just looking for a quick to go bite, be sure to check out the freshly baked bagel scene in Montreal. (Here is Time Out New York’s list of the best bagels). What makes the Montreal bagel so unique compared to the NYC bagel you might be asking? Excellent question. First off, all Montreal bagels are made by hand. They are also poached in honey before being baked in a wood-fire burning oven. This unique cooking process gives the Canadian bagel its distinctive chewy characteristic, as well as its golden color and crust. Apparently, the proper way to eat this bagel is fresh out of the oven in a paper bag, and ripping scolding hot pieces off, and dipping them in cream cheese. It’s worth a trip to Canada just to give this delightful bagel a try.

Lunch: Check out the Mile End.

The Mile End which is often referred to as the Brooklyn of Montreal comes complete with the usual Brooklyn staples: brownstone buildings, hipsters, bagels, abandoned factories turned into expensive condos, and of course, fantastic food! The Mile End area is best known for tons of vegan options, signature homemade gnocchi in a to-go Chinese takeaway container at La Dhrogeria Fine, and some of the best gelato you will ever eat at the famous, Kem Coba, which is so popular, it often garners a line longer than Six Flags on a hot summer day.

If you’re unsure where to go, check out a food tour. Trust me, there are many! We did the Local Montreal Food Tours.

Happy Hour:

The rooftop deck at the Hotel William Gray is the perfect place to grab a pre-dinner cocktail. The seats at the bar are heated with overhead heat lamps, there’s gorgeous views of the river and the giant Ferris wheel, the bar staff is super friendly, and the vibe is very chill and trendy. People are dressed in everything from suits to ripped jeans and a white tee, trust me you’ll feel like you belong, whether you’re dressed in your Sunday best or a Big Bird costume.

Dinner:

Montreal has so many amazing restaurants, it’s insane! It’s truly the New York City of Canada. In any case, you must have at least one great meal before you leave (especially if the exchange rate it in your favor, then it’s well worth it)! One restaurant that came highly recommended is Garde Manger. One awesome thing about this restaurant is the fact that they change up their menu daily and they do tasting menus so you can try a variety of things! Be prepared to wait when you arrive as this place is in the heart of Old Montreal (touristy area of Montreal) and it’s quite the popular spot! The tasting menu starts at $100 dollars Canadian and includes a shared seafood tower, appetizers, entrees, and dessert. Expect a lot of food. If there are three people in your party, you will likely get: three appetizers, three entrees, and three desserts for the table. Whew. All you need to do is tell the wait staff what you won’t eat, and the chefs will create a menu around that. Please see below: chicory, beef tartare, and tuna carpaccio for starters. For entrees: halibut, lamb, and roasted broccoli. If you dine on a Thursday-Sunday and order the tasting menu, be prepared to stay a few hours as everything is made to order in a small kitchen and this place gets packed!

If you’re in town for work or pleasure and find yourself near the Golden Square mile where the Four Seasons, Loews Hotel, or Ritz Carlton are, do check out La Société at the Loews Hotel. Don’t forget to order a fantastic bottle of French white wine and their duck rillette & foie gras parfait and their Icelandic cod fillet. Although the restaurant has a clear French theme, it’s much better than most of the restaurants in Paris. Guaranteed!

Another highly recommended restaurant was Maison Boulud at the Ritz Carlton. It’s a Daniel Boulud restaurant so you can’t go wrong and again, if you are a United States citizen visiting Montreal, you feel like you get an automatic discount because of the exchange rate!

Late night cocktails:

The Coldroom is a must (assuming you like speakeasy type bars). It’s a bit of a project trying to locate this underground bar, but as a rule of thumb, if it’s a speakeasy, look for a line of people waiting outside a black door, and you’re probably at the right place. They’ll take down your information and tell you they’ll text you when they are ready for you. (Luckily for us, it didn’t take more than 30 minutes). When you arrive, you’ll walk downstairs into a dimly lit room with a small bar and dark, lounge style seating.

Bar Le Mal Necessaire is another fun, late night stop for cocktails. The cocktail bar has a tiki style theme and serves exotic drinks while playing underground house music on Friday and Saturday evening. The place isn’t too big or too crowded, so you can dance on the dance floor or sip on your drink at the bar while listening to DJ music play in the background.

If you have the time, do check out Bota Bota before you leave. It’s a spa on a boat and it’s quite delightful. You truly feel like you’re on a cruise on the water. There’s indoor and outdoor spas, pools, saunas, and steam rooms. There’s also an excellent restaurant on the first floor that allows you to dine on the water in a glass enclosed room. The food is excellent, and you can dine in your robe. What more can you ask for?

Montreal Loving Did you know, Montreal is continuously ranked one of the top nightlife cities in North America, again and again?

#brunchmontreal #diningmontreal #foodtoursmontreal #mileendmontreal #montreal #oldmontreal

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thetravelingmama · 7 years ago

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The Incredible Gift of Traveling: Memories

I’m a researcher. Since the internet was available to mankind - yes my darling Mia, I lived in a world where the internet was not available until at least my twentysomethings - I have been investigating and reading about anything I can put my eyes on. I recently read that "Core Memories” is just a marketing invention for a kids movie. We don’t have core memories. We do have lasting memories, that for some reason, we just cannot forget. This makes sense in a way.

Traveling has done that for me. It has given me lasting memories, some I remember vividly. My Grandfather, now almost ninety-something year old, is completely right: there is no better way to spend your money than by traveling. No jewelry, expensive bags, shoes, even a house can carry such impressive memories as even a day of travel.

So today, my darling Mía, I decided to write down as much incredible memories as I can about all the times I’ve been lucky to get on a plane, train or automobile. Here we go.

1) Your father and I celebrated the new year for the first time together on 2018. I will never forget that entire day. We went to the usual tourist traps during the day. We took a small break during the afternoon, and walked to the corner store of our hotel to buy some cheese, bread and wine. We walked to the Eiffel Tower at around 7pm and did not leave our spot until the new year had come. I remember your Father. He was so happy when the clock hit twelve. We kissed and hugged and I felt he was happy, for the first time in years. It was a wonderful trip.

2) I once was lost at the Venice canals when I was at least 8 to 10 years old. I was with my Grandma and Grandfather, and for some weird reason, I took a wrong turn and boom... I was alone. The fun thing about that moment? I was not afraid. My Del Valle family has a curious sound that we do when we’re trying to locate each other. I just started whistling the chord, again and again. I heard my Grandpa, far away. Whistled again, and again. In about 3 to 5 minutes, I was with them again. Something so simple, right?

3) Again, during that trip, we took a trip through the canals. The Bridge of Sighs’s bells rang, and I sprang up at the gondola and pledged eternal love to my grandma first. I remember her laugh...

4) My uncle studied at England for many years. Twice we went to see him, and I got to explore the wonderful world of Punk culture. Blue hair, pink beards, piercings, cool weird music. It was eye opening, because it showed me, at a very early age, that the world is way different when you leave your familiar surroundings.

5) Our honeymoon was literally made in storybook paradise. We started off at Venice for three or four days, walking around and just marveling at how extremely beautiful that place is... then we took a cruise to all the Greek Islands, ending up in Santorini. I can’t even explain how incredibly beautiful that place is, how much I wanted to stay just one more day, just one more hour there. We deserved such a great place to celebrate our wedding.

6) Every time we travel with you to Disney, I remember our days as a couple without kids there. The experience is completely different. First, we were always drinking and goofing around. Second, we didn’t have a agenda or a schedule to follow. With you, it’s different. We have things we are aiming to do, we want you to enjoy the experience but without the urgency of us needing to hit every single ride. Although we do take it slow and just enjoy the days, when you are older and you come to the parks with your friends or partners, you will know how different it is when you have kids. Trust me.

7) When I hit 40 years old, I told your Dad I wanted to go to Mexico and get extremely drunk on Tequila. He delivered. We went to the amazingly beautiful - at at times, expensive - Beloved Hotel, and at my 40th birthday we spent it like kings. We started the day at Chichen Itza, and the afternoon, your Mother just drank herself silly at the hotel until I could not handle one more shot. It was a lovely way to celebrate my induction into the 40′s hall of fame.

8) One night at Camden Town, we were just beat after walking what seemed like forever. On a whim, we decided to go to the movies. Again, normal travelers don’t hit the movies because, well, they figure they have sightseeing to do. Not us. Many times we have taken a break and gone to the movies. That night, we went to see Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. We loved it, and we loved that we saw it late at night there, in London. We still talk about it to this day.

9) One rainy day in Paris, the cold had won. Our jeans were extremely wet, we had walked for hours... and we were hungry. We walked into a small restaurant, expecting to have to communicate a little just to eat... but our waiter spoke perfect spanish. We ended up eating a great, hot meal, and the waiter was so amazing, he didn’t rush us at all. We stayed at least for three to four hours, just enjoying our meal, read wine and a great conversation.

10) You cannot imagine how many great moments your father and I have had at New York City. We have been bowling, taken short naps at Central Park, have gone to see loads of movies and shows, dined at lots of amazing restaurants. But our greatest moments, the ones I miss the most? Just me and your Dad walking around at night, talking while walking. You see, your Dad and I are walking travelers. We love to walk around, to explore, to see. We love and cherish every single street, corner, park. This is where we thrive.

11) Although I don’t know if it’s still possible to do this: I climbed my way up one of the Pyramids at Mexico. Sun or Moon, I really don’t remember. What I do recall is my Grandma, announcing with lots of trepidation, that she could not make it down once we were up there. WHAT THE... “Mama, we just have to do it!”, I said, looking at her deadly serious. “You cannot stay here!” It was funny as hell, but at the end, I managed to get her down. I remember that day vividly.

12) I remember ALL of the times your father and I have celebrated the New Year in great detail.

13) Again, once in Mexico, your father and I were just almost dead drunk at the beach, doing nothing. Suddenly, I heard the most sweet version, in spanish, of “I Say a Little Prayer for you”. I stood up, walked to the DJ and asked who was singing that song. To this day, I have “Vuelvo a Pensar en ti” in my iPhone, because it reminds me of a great sunny beach day of doing absolutely nothing.

14) I remember lying on some beach in Maui, alone while your father was trying to find some beach towels, while I contemplated the incredible fact that I was going to be a mother. Just two days before our trip, I had found out that I was pregnant. For a moment there we thought that our doctor was going to cancel our trip, but I strongly believe that you are here because we took a break and relaxed, even if we were far away from home. It was our last trip as a couple. It was magical.

15) Your father proposed during a very small trip to New York City. Central Park will forever be our home because it holds that memory. Also, the city is special because that’s where you were conceived!

16) Once Thanksgiving we went to NYC with our best friends. I cannot even begin to tell you how much fun we all had, specially you! You walked around Central Park during a very well deserved picnic - with Zabar’s take out, the best! You loved the zoo, and laughed every day while your Dad carried you around the city. Fun fact, EVERYONE stopped us to say how beautiful you are. In a city famous for people not caring about anyone else, it was refreshing to see and hear a lot of people gushing about your eyes, your smile and how lovely you are. It still happens to this day.

17) Your Dad and I ate Spacecakes at Amsterdam. He did not feel a thing. I ate my part and half of his, because I too didn’t experience anything. At the end of the night, I giggled for exactly a minute and a half and went to sleep. Years after that, I learned that I have a high tolerance for Cannabis, and I don’t feel anything if I try it. Alcohol seems to be king in my domain. Besides that funny memory, I do have to say that the second most beautiful place I have ever seen in my life is that place.

18) We traveled to Cuba with you last year. Although I consider that I have a lot of perspective in life, I did learn a lot about the human experience during that trip. Cuba is just like where we live, it’s just stuck in time. Compared to our Island, we are so very much alike... and so different at the same time. The memory I cherish the most? Seeing you walk with your Dad in a place we never thought we could visit.

19) Once during the change of guards at Buckingham Palace, my grandpa was with me just in front of the gates. He started explaining how the guards were not allowed to smile, or talk to anybody. At that exact moment, something incredible happened. A guard was looking at me and winked AT ME! I started screaming and giggling! “Papa, he broke the rules!”, I yelled. Yep, one brave guard did the unthinkable. It is one of those amazing moments that you never forget.

20) Last memory of the day: your Dad and I love graffiti. While people might walk around a city and say that it’s ugly or dirty, we only see art and design in almost all of them. You have to discard Tagging, which is just someone writing a name. That’s not art, that’s not graffiti in our book. So, the best place to enjoy it? Berlin. We walked almost the whole Berlin Wall, which has many amazing art. It’s a long trek, but we enjoyed it, immensely.

Bonus round! One afternoon, while walking the Senne, we were dead tired. It was almost 2pm and we had been walking since the early morning with absolutely no rush, no agenda, no items need to be checked. When we travel, we take our time. Why? Because traveling in a hurry is no fun at all. Don’t have time to see it all? Well, plan for returning again. So there we were, exhausted. We found a small, impromptu bar just near the river. Any other tourists would have walked by in a hurry. Not us. We sat there, had a couple of rounds of red wine and did what the locals do: just talk and watch the sunset. That day, the sun gave us a show.

Well, let’s close this memories post for now. I have lots of more cool stuff to tell you about. Now that you’re older, I’m so excited to finally take you beyond the parks and cities that you already know! I want to inspire you to travel and explore the world like my grandparents taught me. The best thing in life is to get out of your comfort zone and see how incredibly beautiful life outside your home is. Do you know what will be one of the best things I can hope for? That one day, when you are older like me, you can think back to all the amazing memories we had traveling together. If I inspire you to travel as I was when I was a kid... then I did something good with my life. Te amo mucho. Mamá.

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thegrassisaalwaysgreener · 7 years ago

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NYC, September 2017

I love NYC! I was very excited to hear that my boyfriend had never been to NYC and had planned to go in the fall. I decided to join him on this trip. We had been experiencing one of the hottest Septembers I could remember so I was excited to have nice weather but also a bit sad that there wouldn’t be tons of beautiful fall colours. Thursday September 21st, 2017 I decided to try the GO bus from Hamilton to the airport for the first time. It is pretty cost effective (~$12 each way) and is fairly efficient (1 hour and 15 minutes door to door). It is great when you are travelling light with just carry on. Alex and I were flying with Air Canada (he just loves them) so we met in the international side after customs before heading over to the maple leaf lounge. Since he often flies with AC, he had some extra lounge passes. I had only been in a lounge one other time and was very excited to return. Lounges make the flying experience that much better and way less stressful. They are typically way less busy than the rest of the terminal and much quieter. They have comfy seats, decent food and snacks and of course, all the booze! We each enjoyed some wine and pizza in the lounge before heading over to the gate for our short flight into NYC. We sat in the premium seats at the front of the plane, which I really enjoyed and took (so lame) our first selfie after I had had a glass or two of wine on the plane. When we landed, we made our way to the special area of the parking/transportation zone where Ubers could pick passengers up. I think it is smart for airport to do that to help with congestion however it is a bit annoying as a passenger to have to navigate the busy and somewhat confusing airport terminal to find the ride share area. In any case, we hopped in our Uber that took us to our humble abode on Knickerbocker Ave. in Brooklyn. The AirBnB that were staying in was awesome! IT was a two bedroom, two bathroom apartment with a decent size living space to share. Barry, our host, was not there at the time that arrived but would be there later on. We were both super excited to have arrived and ready for dinner. We wandered around our area for a bit, taking in the sights of the city before deciding to have dinner and drinks at Sea Wolf. It claims to be “The best of land and sea” and we were looking forward to seeing if this was true. The atmosphere was super cool- the windows were all open and there was a large garage door open as well that lead out to more seating overlooking the skyline. We enjoyed several beers along with buck a shuck oysters during happy hour. We had some wings (which were also featured in the happy hour menu and were delicious) along with a fish dip that I didn’t love and some charred octopus. After being contently satiated, we made our way back to Barry’s where we enjoyed some wine with him and getting to know him a bit better. While this was not my first Air BnB experience, it was the first one that the owners were there during our stay. I have to say, it was a bit weird but didn’t bother us all that much. We weren’t planning on spending much time in the apartment anyways. Friday September 22nd, 2017 After a slight sleep in (we were out of the apartment by 9) we grabbed coffees and pastries (Alex is a bad influence on my breakfast choices and waistline) for breakfast. We had the most decadent Nutella croissant and cannoli donut. The L train was super close and we took that over to Chelsea. Chelsea is probably one of my fave areas of NYC and since it was a beautiful day, I thought it was the perfect time to wander around and enjoy the weather. We stopped in at the Chelsea market for some souvenirs and to pick up lunch from the Davidovichbakery. Obviously, we grabbed a bagel with cream cheese and smoked salmon for our lunch. We enjoyed our coffees while walking the Highline. We took lots of photos and walked to the end of the Highline around 34th street. 34th street is a great one to wander around since it has so much to see and do. We admired Madison Square garden before heading down towards the flat iron building and Eataly. I was super excited to check out Bierria which is on top of Eataly but was disappointed by the lack of view. We split some pasta and enjoyed an exceptionally over priced Peroni while enjoying the weather and good vibe of the place. We took lots of photos of the Flat iron building (so iconic) before heading down Broadway. One of Alex’s fave youtuber/vloggers (Casey Neistat) has an office just down broadway before Madison Square Park so we checked that out before enjoying the fountain and arch in the park. We saw Canal street and all the madness that can ensue there. I was not in the shopping or haggling mood but did grab some sunglasses since I was missing mine. We came across a carnival at Grand and mulberry called “The feast of San German” which was pretty neat and seemed very busy. We wandered around both Little Italy and China town before crossing the Manhattan bridge. I didn’t realize how long the bridge was! Its almost 2 km in length and offers some great views of the city. We hopped on a bus into Williamsburg (Bedford and 11th) to visit the Wythe hotel. This hotel boasts one of the best views of the city for cocktail hour. It was $20 to get in and then about 16-30$ per drink which is pretty pricey. The view is definitely worth it though. There was a good mix of after work and Friday night crowds. We enjoyed our drinks before wandering around the rest of the area which had some really neat hotels and restaurants. We stopped at Pokeh restaurant for dinner. We both love Pokeh and were excited try a new place (Pokeh Hamilton is still my fave ;)). We hopped on the train and made it back to our airbnb in about 20 mins. We stopped in a the dollar store next door to the airbnb building to grab some necessities and found that it was super sketchy and looked ransacked. We were glad to put our feet up and enjoy some wine while watching a movie before bed.

Saturday September 23rd, 2017 Today was a nice sleep sleep in day! Alex and I both lead very busy lives normally so lazy mornings are the best! We grabbed coffee and snacks at Circos again before jumping on the J train to Fulton Street. The plan was to explore the bottom half of the island including One World Trade and surrounding area. We wandered around the World Trade area enjoying the Occulus which I had never seen before. I am not sure how I missed it during my last trip to NYC but really enjoyed it. We grabbed Joe and the Juice coffees (Alex is the biggest fan that I’ve met) and wandered around the memorials and pools. Since I loved the observatory at One World Trade and had raved about it, we made our way up. The video they play right before you get to see the view still gives me chills because it is so magical. After taking all of the touristy photos at the top, we headed back down to grab more coffees and make our way towards the New York Stock Exchange. This was another new place for me as I hadn’t checked it out on my last visit. Alex checks the stock market at least 10 times a day so this was a pretty neat stop for him. Since we were right in the Financial District, we joined the crowds taking photos at the Charging bull and wandering down Wall Street. We enjoyed our prosciutto and mozzarella sandwiches from Eataly outside of the Museum of Indian Culture (Look up actual name) before walking around Battery Park. The last time I was in Battery Park, it was a) a lot warmer out and b) had a lot more artsy things to look at. There had been many large globes of the world decorated by various artists in different neat colours and designs which I had been super excited to show to Alex but was disasppointed that they were no longer there. We saw all the kids on the Carosel before getting in the large lines for the Staten Island Ferry. The last time I was in NYC, I paid for a boat cruise that takes you on a tour of the harbour and gets you close to the Statue of Liberty. Word to the wise, just take the State Island ferry! While it is much busier, it is free and there are super cheap beers in the station. We grabbed a few 6$ tall boys for the voyage across the Hudson? And sat out side to enjoy the views. The Staten Island Ferry took about 1-1.5 hours round trip. The weather was perfect and it was a nice place to relax after a long morning of walking. After getting off the ferry, we made our way towards the Brooklyn Bridge (my fave spot in the city) but came across a super cool market. On Fulton street, there was a festival with lots of food trucks along with a self pour! IT was called the Clinton self pour and was a super neat concept. You bought a card with whatever denomination of money you wanted and you would go up to this stand in the middle of the street and put your card into the reader. You would then pour your beer and watch the amount on the card decrease the more full you made your cup. We had a few different beers (Heinkens and local Brooklyn Brewery IPA which was not my fave) at a decent price (about $40 the cards and a couple pints each). We made our way to the Brooklyn Bridge where we enjoyed an AMAZING sunset with hundreds of other tourists. I also made Alex take a ton of photos which he was super thrilled about. He did see the allure of the bridge, especially at sunset. We finally made it across the bridge (took us well over an hour) and headed to the Almar Italian restaurant in Brooklyn. We had an amazing dinner of cured meats, cheeses, burrata, meat balls and of course wine. We grabbed a few pints of Halo top (my fave ice cream because it is low cal and high protein) before grabbing an Uber back to our AirBnB and settling in for the night. Sunday September 24th,2017 Today we had a pretty decent tourist day planned. I wanted to make sure he got to see all of the best parts of NYC. We jumped on the L Train (If I recall correctly) to Union square where we wandered up to another fave part of the city- Grand Central Station. I am a huge Gossip Girl Fan and Grand Central was always featured in the show which I loved. It lived up to every expectation that I had when I first saw it. The large cavernous roof with the big windows and old school train schedule are just so fun. We hadn’t had breaky so we enjoyed chicken burgers, fries and split a decadent milk shake at the Shake Shack. Since Alex had also never had Magnolia bakery, we grabbed a treat for later on. We made our way across 42nd towards the UN which sadly didn’t have any tours on (as it was Sunday) . It was still pretty cool to see the building and all of the information outside along with the security measures outside. We chatted about definitely doing a guided tour on our next visit. After the UN, we wandered across 48th to Rockefeller to check out the area and take all the usual tourist photos (the flags, Prometheus etc.)We enjoyed a coffee and some people watching in Bryant Park which was lovely. The last time I was in Bryant Park, there was a huge Christmas market along with a massive tree and skating rink. This time, there was a cute Library along with snack stands and tons of people just out enjoying the nice weather. After stopping at Whole Foods (another one of my fancy boyfriends faves), we headed to check out Times Square and all the madness that is the area. After a bit of shopping and souvenir buying, we saw Radio City Music Hall as well as the NBC building and such around that area. We wanted to check out his fave vloggers’ wife’s store (Billy) on 5th but it wasn’t open sadly (next time for sure!). 5th Ave is such a fun place in the city filled with ritzy hotels and shops. When I last visited the city, Trump had just become president and was still residing at Trump Tower so there was police and barricades everywhere. This time, we were able to go into Trump Tower ( to see how gaudy it is) along with THE Tiffany’s. After Tiffany’s, we headed to check out all the stores in the Plaza along with the lobby of the Met before wandering around Central park for a while. We soaked up some rays in Sheeps Meadow and watched a group of people roller skate which was pretty neat. We had dinner on Madison at a great restaurant called Serafina. We enjoyed some beers and thin crusted pizza before heading to St Patrick’s to light a candle (tradition for my Catholic grandparents). We had already explored Times Square during the day but as I explained to Alex, it is something else at night. It is really special and so we hung out in Times Square for a little bit and did some people watching (and selfie taking of course). Since we had a busy travel day the next day, we headed back to the AirBnB to get packed and a good nights sleep. Monday September 25th, 2017 We were sadly leaving today☹. We had a mini sleep in before tidying up Barry’s place and heading down the street to Barcy’s for breakfast. Alex and I both love brunch so we were excited to try this place out. We wandered over and had a yummy breakfast of coffee (obviously) and chicken and waffles for myself and a breakfast sandwich for him. This restaurant had a bit of an Asian vibe to some of their menu options and the chicken I had was different than regular fried chicken. It tasted more like the chicken skewers you get at AYCE sushi restaurants and was DELICIOUS. We leisurely enjoyed our breakfast before making our way back to the AirBnB to grab our stuff and get an Uber to Laguardia. We made our way quickly through security and enjoyed another coffee and some coffee flavoured chocolate while waiting for our flight back to Toronto. We had our comfy premium seats at the front of the plane and enjoyed our last few hours together for a month or so. I think I speak for both Alex and myself when I say that we had an awesome time in NYC. We were both very surprised at the weather (it was a heat wave the ENTIRE trip with temps in the high 20s and low 30s) It felt like summer which was very nice when we weren’t in super crowded, tourist-y areas. Any trip with a new friend or partner can be challenging and a learning opportunity (which is definitely was) but, I think we had a great time regardless and I can’t wait for our next trip together ☺

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unsentfeelings · 7 years ago

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11/17/17

Dear Pauly,

I’ve decided to write about what reminds me of you and what I know about you

1. Movies, every movie we’ve seen, movies in general. Laying on your shoulder in the movie theatre, sharing popcorn

2. Car rides, driving around with you was always so calming for me, it was one of the first things we did together

3. Superheroes, your love for them turned me on to them. I can’t imagine missing a new movie now

4. Netflix, I can’t tell you how many times we ended up shirtless in your basement or in your bed watching that 70s show or HIMYM

5. Valentine’s Day, the day we had our first kiss, the first day we every hung out.

6. Musicals, where I first fell in love with you. Where our passions and love cake together. Where we fell in love.

7. Music, different songs remind me of different things. Shut up and Dance played the first time I slept over. You played You Make Lovin You Easy for me and smiled at me the whole damn time. Sunshine and whiskey, you played that for me when we went to a park in Berlin, that’s our song

8. Candy, Reese’s are your all time favorite

9. You love popcorn and coke and Arnold Palmers, you could survive off of them

10. You need scratches to survive, you’d die without back/leg scratches

11. You clean your ears with Q-tips whenever you get out of the shower, you love the feeling.

12. That being said, you love baths. You miss them when you’re away, they’re your stress reliever

13. You live, breathe and die Big Brother when it’s on in the summer

14. You are so independent, it sucks that I’m not. You hate that I’m not

15. You’re such a picky eater, you only like a few things; hamburgers (no cheese), pizza, breakfast foods, popcorn, etc.

16. If I’m being honest everything reminds me of you and I hate it

17. I love you more than you know, I hope you love me

18. Sunflowers, they remind me of legally blonde when you wanted to switch things up and remind me that “I’m your sunshine”

19. Roses, remind me of my 17th birthday when you send me roses and presents from VT, with a note telling me you loved me for the first time, “to a girl who loves clichés”

20. Back to the Future, our favorite movie. I watched all three in a row one night to see why you loved them so much. I told you and you called me drunk, we talked about them for hours. You’re the reason they became my favorite movies

21. Applebees, our go-to place. The place we’d go to 3 times a week just to go. Half price apps. Talking about anything while eating mozzarella sticks.

22. New York City, I think about Christmas, our Christmas present to each other. The train ride there, endless laughs.

23. Jimmy Fallon, your favorite person. Your man crush. Hearing your laugh while watching him is music to my ears.

24. Philly sports, we’ve been to so many games, you helped me appreciate sports in general. I loved hockey before you though.

25. Sex, I had sex with you for almost three years straight, when I think about anything sexual I think about you. I loved being about to laugh with you.

26. Golf, your favorite sport to play. My favorite sport to watch you play.

27. Starbursts, you only really love the pink ones, you just like the others.

28. Swedishfish, I don’t know why you love them so much, they’re sticky and chewy, but you love them for some reason.

29. Drawing, I somehow always see you in my drawings. You bought me so many supplies to help me kickstart my drawing career. You believed it me, and it meant so much to me.

30. Love, you helped me realize that love is selfless and heartache. Love hurts and love heals. You taught me what love is, you helped me love myself a little more.

31. Michaels, the countless times we’ve gotten you picture frames and crafts.

32. Friday’s, the last place we went to eat. It was such a normal day and I fucked it up.

33. Alcohol, I first started drinking because of you and your friends. I remember you yelling at mike because he asked me if I wanted a beer you said, “I told you not to peer pressure her!!”

34. My robe, the amount of times you took it off in the past two months, I can’t count. However, whenever I’ve been looking at it, I just keep thinking about that last day when I threw it on the bed and left it there for days.

35. Home Depot, where you worked two summers ago, where we went for supplies when I helped you paint your entire house.

36. Prom, specifically junior prom, when we slow danced and I fell even more in love with you. “When we were slow dancing it felt like it was only us in the room and I never wanted to leave.”

37. Dave & Busters, our first actual Valentine’s Day date, one year from our first kiss.

38. How I Met Your Mother, I’m the reason you’ve watched this show three times through. We watched that show in your basement the first couple months we started talking, now it’s our go-to show to watch when we’re bored, because it never gets old.

39. Painting, because as I mentioned before, we painted your entire house together. Your entire downstairs, your room, Wally’s office, the hallway, the basement etc.

40. Hamilton, watching you rap the words to My Shot is like heaven to me. I love screaming Hamilton songs with you in the car.

41. Polaroids, we’ve taken so many polaroids together. However, I especially love the ones of me in my lingerie.

42. Parks, we always used to go to parks when we hung out, I don’t know why we stopped. We had long talks at parks and we made out a lot.

43. Dogs, whenever I see dogs all I think about is Harley. I miss Harley, watching her grow in the past year has been such a blessing.

44. Disney movies, fuck you even ruined them for me. Every time I see an animation movie I think of you, how you loved them just as much as I did, how you appreciated them just as much as I did. You never thought they were little kid movies, I loved you for that.

45. Cruises, because you went on a cruise this summer, and when I said I wanted to be with you, you said “aw lex just wait we will get to experience life together”

46. September 1st, 2015, right before the start of sophomore year. You called me at 1am so drunk I could barely understand you, and you told me that you wanted me and you missed me. You tweeted about me and I messaged you on twitter and said no, then you told me you wanted me naked in your bed.

47. Philly at Christmas time, you took me to see the Macy’s light show because I’d never seen it before, and the Christmas carol walk through I wanted to see so badly.

48. Bacon, you would eat my crispy bacon and i are your soft bacon. It was like our very own Olive theory

49. Breakfast, we always had breakfast together, that’s your favorite food

50. Christmas, i always pictured us drinking wine on Christmas in our nice outfits and going to bed so happy.

51. McDonald’s, I think that anytime we drive anywhere or go to nyc we get McDonald’s. That’s what we got on our first date

52. Six flags, I think of the first time we went together, when we kissed on the Ferris wheel, when you told me your favorite color in the black tea cup.

53. West side story, my favorite musical. It’s my favorite because of you. I feel in love with that musical, while also falling in love with you.

54. New York City, at Christmas and in general. That entire city is filled with you. You are everywhere.

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acrossthemar · 7 years ago

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Portugal & Greece

A summary of our trip to Europe, mostly for my own record.

Portugal

Porto

Day 1: We arrived at 8am, dropped our things at our hotel, and walked to the port side of the city for beautiful views along the Ponte Luis Bridge. We then went to Taylor’s Port for a tour of the wine cellar, history of the Douro Valley, and a wine tasting. We then stopped for our first meal along the water for sardines and sausage and cheese. Our hotel, The Poets Inn, was finally ready for check in. Having skipped a night of sleep, we found the energy to get a drink at Base, an awesome outdoor bar with super cool seating. We then took a walk to the botanical gardens, where we climbed a tower for a gorgeous view of the city. Our first dinner was at Traca, an outdoor restaurant with a delicious Octopus.

Day 2: We started the day by walking to an outdoor market with food, produce, and arts and crafts, which attracted a mix of locals and tourists. We then took a boat cruise of the city that passed all six bridges connecting both sides of the city. We then went home to read on our patio. Next was a four mile run along the Douro Valley. As much as I love my East River Run Path in NYC, this view was nicer. Our exercise was rewarded with pastries, a drink, and dinner at Flow Restaurant for some rich but tasty risotto. And then there was Gelato. I had a flavor called Egg Yolk with Port Wine, sounds gross but was delicious!

Day 3: I started the day with a three mile run around a park near our inn. We then caught a free shuttle to the Porto Zoo. There was an animal called a "Patagonian Mara." We then took an Uber to a beach called Praia De Matosinhos (Praia means beach) which was beautiful, open, clean and uncrowded, filled with mostly locals. We stopped at a beachfront bar for a drink and a snack. We then went to 360 Terrace for cocktails, a beautiful rooftop bar overlooking the river. Lisbon tomorrow!

Some thoughts on Porto:

Not many Americans, mostly surrounded by locals or tourists from other parts of Europe

Narrow, cobblestone, hilly, windy streets that are at times scary to walk on!

Beautiful orange roof tops

A lovely city with a great culture and a beautiful old city feel.

Apparently the Yankees are an international team, which I didn’t realize. We saw Yankee hats everywhere. At first I’d get excited thinking it was an American, but it was almost always a local or European!

People smoke cigarettes everywhere. Yuck.

Lisbon

Day 1: We first walked to a famous viewpoint, took some pictures, and then stumbled upon a little hole in the wall Cafe with outdoor seating on a hill for lunch. We then ventured down to the water and had gelato overlooking the bridge and river. We then had drinks and pizza by the water and called it an early night.

Day 2: We started the day with a six mile run along the river path. We then tried to find this hole in the wall sandwich shop that our hotel receptionist recommended. We tried to find it for over 30 minutes and finally gave up. I then spotted the name in tiny print on the side of a building, but turns out it was closed for renovation until August 17th. Sigh. We settled on some pastries at a nearby bakery and then made our way to the train station to head to Sintra. Turns out because it was Sunday, trains only run hourly and we missed a train by just one minute. (In retrospect, this ended up being our largest issue on the trip, so I feel silly even mentioning it. We were incredibly fortunate to have perfect weather, on time flights, great hotels, and no big issues). We grabbed a beer to kill the hour then hopped on the train. I did not fully understand what Sintra was until we arrived and explored. Sintra is a historical resort town that includes beautiful parks, gardens, medieval castles and ancient royal structures, and cute streets and shops. Inside Sintra is a massive home and outdoor exotic area that I believe used to be the summer getaway for the royal family. After Sintra, we had dinner at a tapas place outside. (Portugal does an awesome job taking advantage of its outdoor space and areas by the water, almost every restaurant has outdoor seating!).

Day 3: We ran a quick 3 miles by the water, and then headed to Belem by train, a town near Lisbon. We paid 5 euros to climb the tower of Belem which turned out to be underwhelming, but they had a cool museum of racism and citizenship that was interesting. We then went to a famous pastry shop in Belem. I have had so many pastries in Lisbon that I need to take a pastry break. I am really missing grapes right now. We then went to CaisCais, a cute beach town nearby. We headed back to Lisbon and went to the museum of beer where we paid 5 euros to have a beer and walk through the museum. We then went to dinner at a restaurant with a really famous chef who apparently owns a lot of restaurants in Portugal. The food was incredible. Eric had a really yummy steak sandwich. I don't even like steak and it was the best bite of steak sandwich I've ever had.

Day 4: We started the day by heading to Alfama, a nearby town with a famous flea market. The market was massive, and had a unique blend of nice stands and then random people selling old crap from their garages. I bought a cork handbag (cork is famous here) and Eric bought a lovely set of artwork for his living room. We then went to a cute local deli by the water where I had fruit for the first time in a week (gasp!) and also a yummy sandwich. We started the afternoon by going to LX Factory, a mini district with shops and restaurants. We had a fabulous chocolate cake and walked through some artsy stores. We then went back to CasCais, the beach town near Lisbon. It's so adorable! It feels like such a beach resort town. We then went to a place recommended by Eric's friend that specializes in gin and mussels and I had a massive gin and tonic. We also had the best mussels I've ever had in my life cooked in basil and parmesan cheese. We headed back to Lisbon and got gelato and then a beer by the water. Greece tomorrow!

Greece

Athens

Day 1: We arrived in the evening and took an Uber from the airport to our hotel. We stayed at a nice hotel in Athens, so we were excited about the buffet breakfast and complimentary bottle of champagne they gave us! We immediately asked for some restaurant recs and headed out to a lovely Greek restaurant for a late dinner. Although it was really 8pm in Portugal and 3pm in New York so the late start felt acceptable. We had our first greek salad and the tomatoes and feta were so fresh it was unbelievable!

Day 2: We got up late since we were still on Portugal time and made it to the last minute of the included buffet breakfast. We then tried to do laundry at the hotel, as this was the half way point of our trip and we were very ready. But the hotel had a fancy pay per item system (t-shirt = 4 euros), so we found the nearest laundromat instead. Incase anyone is looking for laundry recommendations in Athens. We then made our way to Lycabettus Hill, which is a mountain that leads to the highest point in Athens. We hiked our way up, it was very steep! At the top there was a beautiful view of the city with the Acropolis far out in the distance. Eric befriended a Mets fan at the top of the hill. We already notice that there are far more Americans in Greece than in Portugal. Conversations in English surround us. We stopped at a cafe at the top of the hill for some lunch and nice views. We then set out to the Acropolis. We walked through the beautiful park and national garden by our hotel, and passed by the old Olympic Stadium and several other historic sites and ruins before getting to the Acropolis. The Acropolis was awesome! Much larger than I expected. After the Acropolis I went on a short run through the national gardens. We then went to a late dinner at a Tavern with Terrace seating. I had a stuffed Squid! I felt proud of myself for going out of my food comfort zone cause at restaurants I usually resort to the pasta or rice dish. We ended the night with Gelato and then came home to exchange gifts for our one year anniversary.

Day 3: We started the day with a short run through the garden and then made it to the end of breakfast. It's hard to make it to breakfast on time when you're jet lagged and it's already early to begin with! We then headed out for the Monastiraki Flee Market. There were cute shops and we stopped for a smoothie. Next was a beach town by Athens. When we got back, we went to ManhManh, where the highlight was the flipped Greek Salad and the complimentary dessert.

Day 4: We took a three Island cruise today, leaving our hotel at 7:15am to make the 8am departure. We went to Hydra, Poros, and Aegina, three Greek islands. Hydra was the cutest in my opinion. We had gelato, went to a viewpoint, and walked by the water. In Poros we climbed a hill to the top of a clock tower. At Aegina we had a beer and went swimming in the Mediterranean. And got a second round of gelato. We spent a lot of time on the ferry, with nice seats at the rear of the boat. We mostly read and then played some games. We got back around 8, and went to our final dinner in Athens. I had Moussaka and we had Baklava for dessert and it was delicious.

I'm already on my 4th book of the trip and have loved them all, so here are some book recommendations: Most Wanted, Orphan Train, Behind Closed Doors, Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood

Santorini

Day 1: We flew in from Athens, and the owner of our villa picked us up. We dropped our things and walked to the center of Fira, where there are incredible views. We then took a donkey ride down 600 steps from the top of Fira to the port. I went into the experience not being nervous at all, but it ended up being terrifying! I think I had a newly trained donkey. He didn't seem to understand that when he walked too close to the wall (which looked over a very high drop) or to another donkey that the side of my body would smash into it. I got scraped against the wall many times and thought I was going to get flipped over the wall. My donkey also kept smashing my legs into the donkey in front of us and one time my knee cap hit the donkeys butthole and I got really grossed out. Eric's donkey seemed well trained but very old. His hooves would slip and his knees would buckle and I thought Eric was going to get thrown off, but he somehow wasn't nervous. When we got to the bottom they tried to convince us to donkey back up the hill but I firmly declined and we took the cable car up. On the cable car a family noticed Eric's Mets hat and asked if we were from NY. It turns out the family was not only from Larchmont but the daughter attends Central School (my elementary school) and we had the same 4th grade teacher! I love things like this. That night we watched the sunset in Fira and had dinner at a local spot called Mama's that the owner of our villa recommended to us.

Day 2: Today we took a 6 hour boat tour of Santorini. We took the cable car down to the port (donkeys were out of the question at this point), got some breakfast and boarded early. Our first stop was the volcano. It's so cool! The eruption from the volcano almost 4000 years ago is what formed Santorini and broke up the original circle of Islands. We got to see and touch parts of the volcano that are still active. After the volcano we went to swim in the hot springs. It was fun and not actually that hot. Our next stop was the island of Therisa. We got lunch and had a beer on some rocks in the water. It seems like 100% of their economy must come from these boat tours docking for two hours. Our last stop was Oia. This is the northern part of Santorini. We hopped off the boat and explored, first by walking the 300 steps to the top. I was very sweaty. After some walking around, I found a bar with a pool! How cool! After the 300 steps all I wanted was to jump in a pool. Oia is beautiful, and is famous for its sunset. Dinner that night was on a rooftop with an incredible view and a phenomenal baked feta cheese appetizer. The recommended place to watch the sunset is the castle. We headed to the castle a bit before 8 and I was completely shocked by the crowds. It's literally as if the entire island comes to this one spot to watch the sunset. People were camped out there hours before to secure a good view. Nuts! When the sun finally set, everyone started clapping and people were even crying. It felt odd. Kinda like when you're on a plane that lands and everyone claps and it seems out of place. We then took a bus back to Fira and called it a night.

Day 3: Today we switched hotels. Our first two nights in Santorini were at a villa in Fira, walking distance to the center city and main port. For the last two nights of our trip we switched to a villa by Perissa beach (black sand beach), in the south east part of the Island. Our hotel was super cute and had a pool and bar with a nice view. Black sand beach actually has black sand, remnants of the volcanic eruption. We checked in and walked right to the beach (about 20 feet from our hotel) and had lunch in lounge chairs by the water. It's awesome, every restaurant has lounge chairs and umbrellas on the beach and they come out to serve you. We then rented an ATV! I've only driven an ATV twice before, once in upstate NY where I got nervous, accidentally slammed on the gas, and crashed into a tree. I was traumatized and then six years later had my second ATV experience driving up the Golan Heights in Israel. This was my third and I'm gladly reporting that it was a smooth experience with no accidents. Everyone seems to rent ATVs in Santorini. It makes a lot of sense, the island is small, and with an ATV you can get pretty much anywhere in a short amount of time. We first drove over to the historic site of Akrotiri. It's a prehistoric city from 17th century BC that is still preserved and maintained! It was abandoned after the volcanic eruption. They had multi story buildings and it's crazy to get a glimpse of life from that long ago. We then drove over to red sand beach, which was actually red! And they make you seriously work to get there. We parked the ATV and had to climb a mountain to access the beach. Santorini is really not a place for old people. After red sand beach, we headed to black sand beach and had drinks by the water and read. We had a dinner along the beach as well and ended the night with a beer at our hotel pool.

Day 4: Today is our last day of our trip. I'm very sad. Mostly because it's something I looked forward to for a long time, and it's odd when these things end. I’m also dreading the 11 hours of airplane travel and work on Friday. We decided to spend our last day relaxing. Started with a four mile run along black sand beach. It was too hot though which made it not so pleasant. We have actually managed to fit in 9 runs throughout our 15 day trip, which I think is quite impressive! Granted most of them were just 3 or 4 miles, it still felt nice to maintain some exercise routine. Especially since we have been eating so much! We then spent a few hours by our hotel pool, where we got lunch and read. We then switched over to black sand beach where we got gelato and some snacks. We came back to the pool to read and change for dinner. We went to a restaurant called the Acropolis for our last dinner and then sat by our pool for a bit.

On our last morning we squeezed in a three mile run and then read by the pool for half an hour and headed to the airport at 1030am. 4 hour flight to London then 8 hour flight to NY. We were extremely fortunate to have had five on time flights, not a drop of rain in 15 days, 5 good hotels in great locations, and a really wonderful trip.

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