Fun with friends in Connecticut

     Our swimming escapade in August 2014 was the celebration of our new career as a flight attendant and friendship.

     Ryan invited John and me to see their place in Stamford, Connecticut. They have a lovely house in a quiet neighborhood, a big pool, and two cute dogs.

     The weather was great, and it was a good day to dip in the pool. Do you think I joined my friends in the plunge? No way! I could only pose for a photo. Yes, I do have the confidence to wear my swimsuit, but I do not have the confidence to swim.

     We have a good friendship which started during our training days. Such occasional celebrations like this are beautiful days to remember. We may not be in the same job or company in the future, but our friendship has a common denominator. And that's our goal to become a flight attendant and our passion for traveling. We may not see each other a lot, but we know that we are good friends.

     John and Ryan are not only my friends, but they are also my travel buddies. I am grateful for their friendship as well.  

 

  

 

The Valleys in West Virginia

     West Virginia is definitely one of my favorite states,,, and Shenandoah Valley is one of my favorite places. If you have a chance to see this place, you will find out why. And if you are a nature lover, I highly recommend you to visit this place. 

     According to the records, Shenandoah Valley has a nickname, the “big valley.” It has been immortalized in song, dance, film, and television. The valley stretches 200 miles across the Blue Ridge and Allegheny mountain. For me, the best time to visit is during spring and autumn and when the colors of nature enhance its beauty. 

     The skyline drive, the breathtaking and picturesque view of the mountains, and great outdoor activities are why this is a favorite of many, including myself.

     My visit in 2008 was one of my favorite trips. It was an unforgettable experience of a great road trip on a lovely spring weather.

      I plan to see more of this beautiful state and historical places in West Virginia in the future. And I would love to revisit Shenandoah valley and be charmed again with its magnificent beauty! 

     I invite you, too.

Friends and crabs in Maryland

     Maryland is one of the first few states that I've visited. With friends who live there, I've always been invited. 

     Ocean City is a top attraction in Maryland and my favorite place there. If you are looking for adventure and relaxation, Maryland's waterways have many things to offer.

     Even though Maryland is a gateway to DC and Virginia, Maryland has a beauty and history of its own. 

    They are famous for seafood, especially crabs. You don't leave this state without a taste of their fresh crabs. 

Hotel tours in Nevada

     When we hear about Las Vegas, we think about hotels and casinos. 

     As of this writing, I've visited Las Vegas three times, and all I have done was walk on the strip and see those gorgeous hotels. I don't play on slot machines. The truth is, I don't even know how to use them. So it's not one of the things that I do when I go there. 

     My first visit to Vegas in the '90s was memorable. Here's the story: I left my purse in a store and realized that I didn't have it until I left. I immediately went back, worried, praying hard, hoping to find it. I was lucky to get it back! Someone had found it and gave it to the cashier. I was relieved and thankful for the nice person who found my wallet. One thing is for sure; I learned from that experience.

     The second visit was with my kids when they were young. From California, we took the bus to visit a family friend. We did the same thing; we did the hotel hopping and walked on the strip.  

     My recent visit was on July 4^th with my daughter, Mary. It was her lucky day. She attempted to play, and viola – she played it right. She won $50! And that winning money was used to pay for our taxi and dinner. That's fantastic!

     It's always nice to reconnect with good old friends. I met two embassy friends, Cecil and Mar. After many years of not seeing them, meeting both of them was a good part of this trip.

     We didn't get to see the July 4^th fireworks celebration. Vegas is always packed with tourists, especially during the holidays. However, the firing heat and humidity didn't stop people from traveling to Vegas. The heat we experienced (110 degrees) was the hottest day I've experienced so far. I felt like I was in the oven!

     Mary's goal to revisit Vegas was fulfilled, and I am happy we got to travel together. I am a city person, but I don't enjoy playing on those machines. I am not a party person as well. Don't get me wrong. I enjoy seeing those fancy hotels, and I love drinking my coffee in the hotel lobby. But I should have a good reason to revisit Vegas. And that is to see my friends.

Visiting a friend in Washington

     Many years ago, I visited Seattle and stayed with a relative.  Some good memories of that visit included a ride on the famous Space Needle, a ferry ride to Bremerton Island, a Starbucks coffee at the original store in Pike Place Market, and a drive to Vancouver, Canada. 

     I appreciated the day visit in Vancouver because it was my first visit to Canada. I love Bremerton Island as well.  Unfortunately, unexpected things happened. Due to some uncomfortable situation, I had to cut short my visit and headed to California.

      My recent visit was in June.  I went to Portland, Oregon, and  because I had time before I go back to New York, I decided to fly to Seattle to visit my embassy friend, Flor. I took a bus from the airport to her place in Tacoma. It was a good one hour ride. 

     She and her sister served me lunch with my favorite adobo. That was a treat! After lunch, they took me to Lakewold Gardens in Lakewood. The place was so peaceful and relaxing. The hot weather needed a cold drink, so we went to Starbucks for a drink. Then we drove to American Lake and to Don Bosco church.

      It was a short visit, but it’s worth my trip. We haven’t seen each other in five years, so it was a great time catching up stories about our embassy days.
   
      There is always a reason to revisit Washington. One is to see friends like Flor. 

 

I Smelled Roses in Portland, Oregon

     To reward yourself for your accomplishment creates more accomplishment. To celebrate those occasions and small victories. You deserve that. 

     

     After my flight attendant recurrent training in July, I headed to Portland, Oregon, to reward myself for my first anniversary as a Flight Attendant. That's a milestone to celebrate!

     My train ride from the airport to the hotel was an hour away. It was far but convenient. I enjoyed the view outside the train until the sun set on the horizon. I had to get off at the Sunset station, and my hotel was located at sunset boulevard. What a coincidence! 

      As usual, I struggled with directions to the hotel, and I had to ask some people on the train. People were friendly to show me the way. Unfortunately, the hotel was on the other side of the highway from the train station. So I had to cross a bridge and walk on a road with no people around while dragging my luggage. It was such an experience ... a walking experience!

      My first agenda the following morning was the International Rose Garden. I was happy that I decided to see this place. This garden is one of the best gardens I've seen and the highlight of my trip. I can spend a day here and just relax. Thanks to another Filipina tourist who took a favorite photo of me on the grass surrounded by a bed of roses!

     At Shakespeare Garden, Shakespeare says, "Of all flowers, I think a rose is the best." Who doesn't love a rose? Who doesn't want to receive roses? It is a symbol of love, not only for lovers but for any kind of relationship. 

     The garden shop sells flowers with inspiring notes. One bouquet says, "The world is a rose, smell it and pass it to your friends." Isn't that a nice message?

       Later that afternoon, I explored downtown and other parts of the city via train. One thing I appreciated on this trip was the convenience of the commute. I didn't spend much on transportation. The train was inexpensive. 

      A couple of events were happening in Portland, including some concerts and games. It was a busy weekend despite the hot weather. First, I went to Old Town Saturday World Market and had a little shopping and a lot of window shopping. Then, I enjoyed a Vietnamese lunch and handmade ice cream. Then, I sat at the park and watched people around. That was a fun day!

     I could have seen more beautiful places in Portland, but I thought that the International Rose Garden was already a wonderful place and experience. I was satisfied and happy with what I saw. 

      Any garden is a place of beauty and tranquility. It is an excellent place to meditate and read a book, at least for me. I encourage you sometimes to slow down and appreciate the beauty around you. As the old saying goes, "Stop and smell the roses." 

The Arch in Saint Louis, Missouri

     My trip to Saint Louis in June was a unique experience. It was funny at the same time, a creepy anecdote.

     Saint Louis is known for its Gateway Arch. It is 630 ft. tall and the tallest man-made monument in the US. Unfortunately, it was under construction when I visited. Hence, I didn't experience the journey to the top. Nevertheless, I had a glance at this monument and was able to photograph with different angles and distances. It's amazing architecture you would want to see as well. 

     I meet friendly people on my travels. While eating lunch at an Italian restaurant, I chatted with this lovely couple from Saint Louis, and they offered to give me a ride to downtown. We first headed to the Gateway Arch then later went to the wine and concert festival. They were nice, so I needed to compensate for their hospitality. I bought them drinks and snacks at a fancy bar.

     I decided to save a little money on this trip and thought of staying at a hostel. This unforgettable experience was with Huckleberry Finn Youth Hostel and this was my story. . .  

     The owner was nice, the place was clean, but for me, it was creepy. The building looks haunted (I am sorry to say this.) My aborted stay could have been different if there were other guests in the room. But nobody was booked that night in the women's quarter. The physical appearance of the house was very uncomfortable. I didn't want to wake up in the middle of the night seeing other creatures around me or in front of the mirror. More so, I didn't want to stay awake the whole night if I had decided to stay there overnight. After having these scary thoughts, I decided to leave and book another hotel. When I was about to do that, my former boss, Rick, who lives in a nearby town in Chicago, found out that I was there and wanted to see me. He offered me to stay in their house that night, picked me up, and paid my hostel bill. He even drove me to the airport the following day. Was our meet-up a coincidence? I think it was a blessing!

     Saint Louis is another quaint city. There are lots of brick old buildings similar to New Orleans. But Saint Louis has its own character. I love visiting churches and taking photos, and I took pictures of the grotesque St. Peter and Paul Church. 

     Even though I had a creepy experience, I wouldn't mind coming back to Saint Louis. I will make sure to go up to the Gateway Arch and see it beautifully lighted at night.

Huckleberry Finn Youth Hostel