Sunday, October 26, 2008

Thursday, September 4, 2008

Egypt-My Dream Trip!




For more than twenty years, I have wanted to see the Giza Pyramids and cruise the Nile. I have decided to finally take my dream trip next February.

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Playing Tourist in New York City
















Freida and I decided to play tourist for four gloriously sunny days in New York, her favorite city and my second favorite city in the world (behind Paris). We celebrated my birthday there last week. We stayed at the apartment of her out-of-town friend who lives in the Village on West 13th St. Of note, her balcony, kitchen, and bedroom have views of the Empire State Building.

We enjoyed New York and all its splendor without the distractions of television, the internet, or cell phones. Daily, we moved around from early morning till past midnight visiting a broad swath of The Big Apple from Brooklyn, to Harlem, to Ground Zero, to Mid Town, to the South Street Seaport, to the Upper East Side.

In all, we experienced the following:

§ Two guided tours at museums
--The Met-we took Highlights Tour from a New Jersey judge, who volunteers as a docent on weekends. At tour end, we went up to the rooftop garden that has magnificent city views and gargantuan, whimsical Jeff Koons sculptures.
--The Studio Museum in Harlem-Target is sponsoring free Sundays and featured a kickoff party today. The director conducted the guided tour of current exhibits. There was also music, food, and tote bag decorating etc.

§ Two Plays/Musicals
--Passing Strange—brilliant! One of the most unique plays we had ever seen. It was the final weekend, and Spike Lee filmed it twice
--The Altar Boys--- entertaining and upbeat!

§ Three bus tours from atop the double-decker buses. We purchased 48 hour passes on the double-decker sightseeing buses. These buses run all day long. Each tour guide brought a different style and personality
--Night Tour NYC is stunning at night!
--Downtown (we took this twice)
--Brooklyn
We learned a lot on each tour where we saw Chinatown, Little Italy, the Bowery, Mid-Town, the Empire State building, the Chrysler building, Rockefeller Center, St. Paul's Cathedral, the flatiron building, Greenwich Village, SOHO, NOHO, and Brooklyn Heights. We also learned about DUMBO (down under the Manhattan Bridge overpass), one of the newest trendy as upscale sections of Brooklyn; and RAMBO (right after the Manhattan Bridge overpass)

§ Circle Line Cruise of the harbor-- We saw the new waterfalls exhibits and of course, breathtaking skyline views, and the Piece de resistance: the Statue of Liberty, up close and personal!!!!!!!!!!!! I just love her!

§ Outside Ballet at South Street Seaport
Dance 360°

§ Contortionist act

§ Long walks
---The Village.
---Midtown
---Times Square-- we strolled the newly transformed Times Square every night. I still marvel at how they replaced the former seedy Times Square area with what looks like a combination of a suburban mall and Las Vegas. The sights, sounds, signs, and crowds were an exhilarating and a feast for the eyes.
---Ground Zero.—sobering. St Paul's Chappel s a must-see
---South Street Seaport

§ Shopping.

§ Japanese, Thai, French, and Café meals.

§ St. Paul's Chapel at Ground Zero-- very, very moving tour

§ Lots of intimate conversation

We took public transportation the entire time.

There are still many other items on the itinerary that we will save for our next visit, including walking across the Brooklyn Bridge, the Transit Museum, Chelsea galleries and much, much more…………………………

Sunday, July 20, 2008

New York City for my Birthday

I came to spend the 21st Anniversary of meeting my birth mom, here in NYC, where we first met. We are staying at Ruth's apartment, just as we did 21 years ago.

So far, we have gone from the Village to Harlem, seen two plays, dined in Thai and Japanese restaurants, toured the Met and the Studio Museum, and shared fond memories over coffee!

I cannot believe how they have transformed Times Square!

More details later.

Monday, June 30, 2008

I will take a 5-country Panama Canal Cruise

I am really excited to take a Panama Canal Cruise in November

Importantly:

  • It will visit five countries: Columbia, Panama, Costa Rica, Aruba and Ecuador and 7 ports of call including the San Blas Islands.
  • It leaves from Ft Lauderdale--NO AIRPORTS outbound-just a 30-minute drive to depart
  • It stays in this hemisphere-NO JET LAG
  • I got the price with NO SINGLE SUPPLEMENT-$2095 (+fess) for 12 days on Royal Princess (importantly, this fare is no longer available-the price for one would be double now)
  • I can pack ONCE; unpack ONCE!
  • I have an unobstructed view window stateroom
  • I will transit the Panama Canal
  • I will visit the San Blas Islands (I tried this in vain before)
  • I got a refundable one-way, non-stop, return ticket from Guayaquil for $540
  • I confirmed second seating for dinner

Places Where I Have Traveled *=more than once

  • India
  • China
  • Dubai
  • Israel
  • Russia*
  • Iceland
  • Cuba Aug 2016
  • Egypt*
  • Indonesia
  • Tahiti Feb 2016
  • Northern Ireland
  • Cook Islands Feb 2016
  • New Zealand Feb 2016
  • Australia Feb 2016
  • Belize
  • French Polynesia Jan 2016
  • Mallorca
  • Shetland Islands
  • Faroe Islands
  • Brunei
  • Morocco*
  • Brazil*
  • Philippines
  • North Borneo
  • Crete*
  • Ionian Islands*
  • Singapore
  • Hong Kong
  • Azores*
  • Norway
  • Dodecanese Islands (Rhodes)
  • Bosnia
  • Palestein
  • Croatia
  • Romania
  • Argentina
  • Ecuador
  • Tunisia
  • Corsica
  • Bulgaria
  • Columbia
  • Peru
  • Montenegro
  • Columbia
  • Chile*
  • United Arab Emirates
  • Uruguay
  • Jordan
  • Gibraltar
  • Turkey*
  • Bermuda
  • Estonia*
  • Viet Nam
  • Finland*
  • Malta*
  • Thailand
  • Guatemala
  • Crete*
  • Jamaica*
  • Panama*
  • Grand Canyon
  • Scotland
  • Niagara Falls
  • Greece*
  • France* lived there
  • Japan*
  • Bilbao, Spain*
  • Canada*
  • Costa Rica
  • Bahamas*
  • Banff Hot Springs
  • Hawaii*
  • Italy*
  • Catalina Island
  • Luxembourg*
  • St Johns
  • St Marteen/St Martin
  • St Thomas
  • South Padre Island Texas
  • Mexico*
  • Vatican City*
  • Austria*
  • Denmark*
  • Monaco
  • Portugal*
  • Belgium*
  • Holland*
  • Ireland*
  • Alaska
  • England*
  • Sweden*
  • Switzerland*
  • Spain*
  • Germany*
  • Madeira

Events/Experiences

  • Pyramids at Giza
  • Taj Mahal
  • Climbed Great Wall of China
  • Western Wall-Jerusalem
  • Transited Panama Canal 3X
  • Rode Camel in Tunisia
  • fathom Adonia--1st US cruise ship to Cuba--Aug 2016
  • Old Town in Havana
  • Burj Kalifa in Dubai
  • Saw Kangeroos, Wallabees, and Koalas in Australia
  • Kayaked in Bay of Islands, New Zealand
  • Vaparreto # 1 in Venice
  • National Museum in Brunei
  • Saw Geysers Erupt in Iceland
  • Drink at Raffles Hotel-Singapore
  • Fish Spa in Greece and Philippines
  • The Peak in Hong Kong
  • Pedicab Tour in Manilla Philippines
  • Road Amalfi Coast, Italy
  • Chewed Gum in Singapore
  • Marched in St Pat's Day Parade in Dublin
  • Sailed Kotor Bay
  • Old Bridge in Mostar, Bosnia
  • Smithsonian Museums-DC
  • Toured Ancient City of Petra, Jordan
  • Transited Suez Canal
  • Rio for Carnivale 2X
  • Cruised along Cinque Terre, Italy
  • Fish Spa in Corfu, Greece (teeny fish scrubbed my feet!)
  • Subway in Russia
  • Flash Mob (dance) on stage on several cruises
  • Visted 21 Countries on 5 long cruises in 2012
  • Ceviche in Peru
  • Cremation Service in Bali
  • Saw Lamas in Lima
  • Vasa Museum-Stockholm
  • Buddhist Monastery in Viet Nam
  • Drove Amalfi Coast
  • Queen Mary 2
  • Berlin Wall
  • Mummies In Cairo Museum
  • Jordan River; Sea of Galilee
  • Hot Air Balloon Ride Over Luxor at Sunrise
  • Transited the Pirate-Infested Gulf of Aden
  • Ski Dubai
  • Fellucca Ride on the Nile at Sunset
  • 16-day Europe/Transatlantic on Queen Victoria
  • Tahrir Square-Cairo
  • Toured Pompeii
  • In Fashion Show Aboard Queen Victoria
  • Rode Elephants in Thailand and India
  • 7-Country Baltic Cruise
  • Hermitage Museum
  • Checkpoint Charlie
  • Transatlantic Crossing on QM2
  • Climbed Tikal in Guatemala
  • Mediterranean Cruise 6 countries
  • Audience with Swami in Rishikesh, India
  • Poetry Class in France
  • Kissed Blarney Stone
  • Pike's Fish Market in Seattle
  • Photo with Snake Charmer in India
  • Dacau near Munich
  • Hitchhiked from France to Scotland
  • Climbed Washington Monument in DC
  • Oktoberfest in Bavaria
  • Toured Panama Canal
  • Wine Country in France, California and many others
  • Guest of Placido Domingo in Chicago
  • The Alamo
  • United Nations
  • San Diego Zoo
  • Helicopter over Grand Canyon
  • Club Med in Cancun
  • Eurailpassed Twice Thru Europe
  • Hollywood
  • Albuquerque Hot-Air Balloon Festival
  • Rodeo in Dallas/Ft Worth
  • NCAA Playoffs in Charlotte and New Orleans
  • Cucchi Tunnels in Viet Nam
  • Grammys in New York
  • Paella in Spain
  • Rain Forest in Costa Rica
  • Xmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on 5th Avenue
  • Niagara Falls
  • Disney Land & Disney World
  • Voodoo Museum New Orleans
  • Cancun Jazz Festival
  • Reggae Sunsplash in Jamaica
  • Las Vegas for Trade Shows
  • Key West for Hemmingway Festival
  • Art Classes in Louvre
  • Black Ski Summit in Vail and Colorado Springs
  • Texas State Fair
  • Mardi Gras in New Orleans
  • Italian Class in France
  • Nude Sunbathing in St Marteen
  • Danish Pastry in Denmark
  • Palace of Knossos Crete
  • Anne Frank House Amsterdam
  • Karaoke in Japan
  • Leaning Tower of Pisa
  • Lobster in Maine
  • Belfast Black Cab Tour
  • Dozens of Transatlantic Sailings