tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21825030890640023722024-03-12T17:59:56.847-07:00Child On The GoEnjoying an active lifestyle with children - gear, destinations, & tipsA. Jollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01830577101142551098noreply@blogger.comBlogger145125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2182503089064002372.post-91600627394842021782023-08-25T17:41:00.005-07:002023-08-25T18:02:44.714-07:00Paris .... Slowing It Down<p>We slept in on Monday and enjoyed our mediocre breakfast at the hostel. Andy spent the morning geting the <a href="https://citymapper.com/">City Mapper</a> app set-up on my phone, so Ally and I could navigate our morning without him. You see I've always been the driver and Andy the navigator. Even on trips I plan the destinations whether a hotel, restaurant, or other and Andy figures out how to get us there. City Mapper was awesome. You set your city and then put in where you want to go and it gives you ALL of your options. I mean all from walking to scooter rental to moped rental to bike to cab to buses to the metro. The part I was most frightened about was getting on the metro going to wrong direction, but it even told you that.</p><p><strike style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimAiuvcvClj-aQwinc0A5P0lGoDNLRs37N-uT8whqKw-XostdxrHq6FsNJM9MmpoG0IPygppxGV8ZU43Rom0gXY5o0_nIsQKHqoaluGY0bpXgTtT1uU6Fikc-F4-U9XvkiM705xJfKlQfp_xvriTAzHSPLyZc-Ig_7tcUcOJOBi6YoD9fBdm6NQCs7cNc/w150-h200/20230807_102022.jpg" width="150" /></strike>So with that about 9:30AM we were off and actually got to ride the first train together and the boys got off a couple of stops in front of us as they were headed to <a href="https://www.musee-armee.fr/en/english-version.html">Musée de l'Armée</a> while we girls were headed to the shopping district with our first stop being the iconic <a href="https://haussmann.galerieslafayette.com/en/galeries-lafayette-the-best-shopping-mall-in-paris/">Galeries Lafayette</a>.</p><p>The boys gave the Museum high marks and totally wished they had more time. But loved what they saw, but really wanted to make it around the back to Napoleon's Tomb. The exhibits range from arms and armor of the 13th century all the way up to modern day and the World Wars. It's definitely a place they want to return as their 2.5hours only scratched the surface.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strike style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBXzfbYUXVXRfIc58Fu70Tc763a7rQ7WDL-E_kux2F-b9D3jJxqCU3qwi2sMEMLKGx2dI-iHFWqQGqFYBmirOxEEa1yZP4DAM1ZXQezSjK69F_n1ft3pKgGMd47QuHxoY3qGrPeLnB4CztR3ECWZfVby3AdC9Z0YxZRFJ9JCTbXiyd7Nyu-3u0w5a-GiY/s320/20230807_105143.jpg" width="320" /></strike></div><p></p><p>Ally and I explored the floors of the Galeries with most being way to expensive for us. There was an entire floor with major designers that the pieces did not even have price tags and there were salons for you to view things with your personal shopper. We opted for the more affordable floor and even found a top on sale in orange (GO BEAVS) in the Diesel section. Then we scooted across the street to <a href="https://www2.hm.com/en_gb/customer-service/shopping-at-hm/local-store.FR0147.html">H&M</a>, which mind you this is H&M Paris. So this Mom was very happy to see the more classy looks versus ripped jeans. Ally found a "going out" top as well as two pairs of pants for school. Then we agreed it was caffeine time, but there were not any traditional cafes in the area so yes, we went to Starbucks, but they had tables outside set-up like a normal cafe so we could watch the passers-by and even more important....a bathroom.</p><p>We were both pretty tired so we opted to walk to meet the boys at the <a href="https://www.louvre.fr/en">Louvre</a> for our 1PM entry. We got a little nervous as the boys metro'ed in and got lost in the labrynth that is a shopping mall and food court under the Louvre. But they made their way out and we approched the lines which wrapped and wrapped themselves around the glass pyramid entrance. After we found out which line we were to be in I almost threw in the towel, but we agreed we would give it 15 minutes to see how fast it moved. And it flew...and we were in quickly. We had a reservation and pre-bought tickets. Most of the scarey lines were people who were trying their luck at getting in without a reservation. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1F43ZPcx_sUCSvNEfplUmucVI19ZMYxT3TOHZl9LjI8np7U9SA-V2hXm0jrO_ecPDGTnOrHhQJe88g0lmHelmdh1dxQGevzD2PZiMzHgrVyovilqXIEzXVH511OcTpJQQyNfREfH-XvzYJ6IvESa0sAiOf0gTan6GfrZg-LlxoD1ui2Ayvh3FdwLGNTM/s3337/20230807_134635.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="3337" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1F43ZPcx_sUCSvNEfplUmucVI19ZMYxT3TOHZl9LjI8np7U9SA-V2hXm0jrO_ecPDGTnOrHhQJe88g0lmHelmdh1dxQGevzD2PZiMzHgrVyovilqXIEzXVH511OcTpJQQyNfREfH-XvzYJ6IvESa0sAiOf0gTan6GfrZg-LlxoD1ui2Ayvh3FdwLGNTM/s320/20230807_134635.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>Once in though it was still packed and today the temps outside had finally increased to more summer-like and the a/c was struggling to keep up with the throngs of people packed inside. So we went on a mission...in 2 hours we would see the majors...Venus de Milo, Winged Mercury, and the Mona Lisa, and whatever else we happened upon while taking this path. And we did it...at the end of our two hours we followed the hundred of people to the room with the Mona Lisa. Andy more wanted the kids to see the craziness around it...this massive room and hung on a massive wall with tons of traffic control for the masses of people hung a painting that is only 30inches x 20 inches. Yep, that's it!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyD22kdBtG898pJvjW6d9dbcKnSJpsdSxD20V7WuMlRrEI3cokUcVeK9eIuOmOi52KaDOa1U6jLK2GTpWOiCg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Do_6DGfcYuJ1nW6ZjKEq3WYC3818F3CZFc3O5AMMWklRGGx9cFSyfMC2vkKfbeCpRmt_94s2-8t-nNx1EIrzdymoXXyDjg_46yfzwvlHyrl4pq7QWPVBn-hc92TRYotZR8t8jrlTMcv0ZKQqBUJz2FMUobU7CFcLochhh1WeSXxHqQ87TkglnQa1w1M/s4000/20230807_135534.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Do_6DGfcYuJ1nW6ZjKEq3WYC3818F3CZFc3O5AMMWklRGGx9cFSyfMC2vkKfbeCpRmt_94s2-8t-nNx1EIrzdymoXXyDjg_46yfzwvlHyrl4pq7QWPVBn-hc92TRYotZR8t8jrlTMcv0ZKQqBUJz2FMUobU7CFcLochhh1WeSXxHqQ87TkglnQa1w1M/s320/20230807_135534.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>We wound our way out of the Louvre and back underground for Alec to secure his McRoyal with Cheese from McDonalds so he could send a pic to his friends. This is something to only be done once...our order took 45minutes. Ouch! But it gave us time to relax and discuss our evening.</p><p>Back to the hostel the kids were done! So we ordered pizza to be delivered to the hotel along with soda and they could chillax, take showers, and pack for our early morning flight. Andy would research and find us a wonderful French resturant close-by to go have a couple's dinner and we would bring the kids macaroons for dessert.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Mhm9Gl9jD0VvjKdOlryq1U1IDfGQcHSyQrn3rQknKBNLcGBfNevMgrqnUXouzNxotbakR85ShO_GPHVklVqKBOl9DQRXZY9LCJfv3NQwGz8CVZCvTKKDu88ZopFHRi5pSVOGrQYWLmNowEPLK7lSdxAxnk62-Hvor3kpLODz2-NEvHSZ-Mk2mU_nA8s/s2926/20230807_205708.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2926" data-original-width="2133" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Mhm9Gl9jD0VvjKdOlryq1U1IDfGQcHSyQrn3rQknKBNLcGBfNevMgrqnUXouzNxotbakR85ShO_GPHVklVqKBOl9DQRXZY9LCJfv3NQwGz8CVZCvTKKDu88ZopFHRi5pSVOGrQYWLmNowEPLK7lSdxAxnk62-Hvor3kpLODz2-NEvHSZ-Mk2mU_nA8s/w146-h200/20230807_205708.jpg" width="146" /></a></div><p>I love all the walking in Paris. We ventured down to the area of our first dinner and settled into outside seats and went all in on a French cuisine at <a href="https://lavilladesabbesses.fr/en">La villa des abbesses</a>. Andy started with French Onion Soup and I had mussels in escagot butter (I had escargot the previous night) for starters. For an entree I had duck and Andy had a pork loin. We both had traditional french wines with Andy having a Bourdeux and myself a Chablis (we had visited the Chablis region on our <a href="http://www.childonthego.com/2014/07/last-days-in-paris-french-alps.html">last trip</a>). A couple of hours later and we were stuffed and ready for that walk and re-visited <a href="https://goo.gl/maps/fKTEgQkgrHpY4vnb7">Dolce Pepone</a> from our first night as they also had macaroons. </p><p>We now knew our flight was already a couple of hours delayed the next day, so we would get to sleep in, so after getting videos of our view we all settled in for a pleasant last night snooze in Paris. Tomorrow we were headed home and another amazing trip would come to an end.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzQKrVED8dXtM2PZlnMg6WpiTF6MgKtFt_KoTlHDi5igBFIV_doadDtzVj0SPWjV9SkVrkBykDxa8HeUVaKTw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwIE37PGGDW6C11hVT4X0IVTmI5mmJ7IB14bDvoIF__HEYLwPoXaEECtVwwuWcz35eUowTT9Xmk8hC48ASfQA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>A. Jollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01830577101142551098noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2182503089064002372.post-75044524557924297462023-08-24T07:39:00.001-07:002023-08-24T07:56:55.618-07:00Paris at Warp Speed<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicdh5NqH_aEDfrXl-1ygGXQHsGmt2Gt0zH3K9TXfeDA3jWoPT5xKFg6LsEdfK-uHU9K1yBzYOuKTcFfgpzMSi7TQgmjnoXCAyq3LyGNCRcbyqJRXj5CDvd-9uf6awXt0BUVXbrFS9gvkzsmUyOtT37L1WSOw7VCd1SKPkHQ2dOPVNNNqeUooiqwOlAoaY/s4000/20230806_111705.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicdh5NqH_aEDfrXl-1ygGXQHsGmt2Gt0zH3K9TXfeDA3jWoPT5xKFg6LsEdfK-uHU9K1yBzYOuKTcFfgpzMSi7TQgmjnoXCAyq3LyGNCRcbyqJRXj5CDvd-9uf6awXt0BUVXbrFS9gvkzsmUyOtT37L1WSOw7VCd1SKPkHQ2dOPVNNNqeUooiqwOlAoaY/s320/20230806_111705.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p>Our travel companions, the Jarnac, family had not been to Paris where this was our family's second visit and Andy and my third visit. So we opted to spend the day hitting the highlights and making sure they got a taste to return.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dznqyaxv27AfhFHEjZi8sK64ka7-CGsZ2f1nhqMVoWLDq3k-ZIHl9JtdVWm2R2iA_fLMBZgrrAXLYjJo80khQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><p>They started their morning with a tour of the Eiffel. They booked early which was smart and ubered down to the site and we slept in a bit. We would metro down to the Place de Concord and then get on our major source of transportation for the day, <a href="https://www.bigbustours.com/en/paris/paris-bus-tours" target="_blank">The Big Bus Tour</a>, a hop on hop off bus, and we took it around to the Eiffel Tower to meet them when they came down.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgb4py67jbLHK37iP2oXgq1RP5H1tfIKNhf38wv9dIT5J4-Ig6hSAkoyirQGHS5_gGirxWSv8e_va_d6FPjxI0eDkwJ87vbtLEgw7TZww9r7gz3e5xmRWtfkGanUBxfXP0Aq-inynP9SROusI5pwxFL7HnLD5Vwvi1Abf3OGF5Q5PNYDYBvk71kRH30co/s4000/20230806_123545.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja3y9pYPZ5ekKqszkfLwUCAcnVoHr5kkBqmoNyeU9Z66EKdjYIxl0qY3L4U0oQIsXNkLlzrarhnb7E6WK4HgEP4UN0zXZA0xfZuh3npucPYLRLxWqkUINcmla1TW8HJBgi3ew2sqY7eSSrs6vrueEVqI07nrQvDPKHW3-muzvbu1-d1KE95Jv8o4Vye20/s3648/20230806_122311.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja3y9pYPZ5ekKqszkfLwUCAcnVoHr5kkBqmoNyeU9Z66EKdjYIxl0qY3L4U0oQIsXNkLlzrarhnb7E6WK4HgEP4UN0zXZA0xfZuh3npucPYLRLxWqkUINcmla1TW8HJBgi3ew2sqY7eSSrs6vrueEVqI07nrQvDPKHW3-muzvbu1-d1KE95Jv8o4Vye20/w200-h150/20230806_122311.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>One of my bucket list items was seeing the city from the Seine, so this time we added that with <a href="https://www.bateauxparisiens.com/english.html">Beataux Parisiens</a> to our ticket and after grabbing expensive snacks we made our way to the terminal and were one of the first in line for seats for the 12:30. Most opted to be outside on the upper deck. Ally and I opted for inside. This boat uses a app which recognizes your location and plays audio accordningly. It was a beautiful vantage point plus we got to see all the wonderful boat homes as well as folks lounging and just enjoying the river. The most shocking moment for us was seeing Notre Dame. We had watched it burn on TV while visiting my Dad in Ohio in 2019. We were all so sad. It was incredible to see the scaffolding and the work going into reconstructing it.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ5EFPiURJBD-irTEuK-cvaCP6ICXh_o1N13ub8kN4F4R0Y_qA6q9AbMza0tWKCqwuD0X5Wv09BgMDfxAdexmhJlAL76d0YqeFr9CGUsePR-XLVUwTG-hvpdV0UokzVJL6odqRIe01QrqyP6mlggftqTYT5nYcZ4wZAL1v_XBdO3tO5dKECk3gnxZ2mL0/s4000/20230806_130249.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2252" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ5EFPiURJBD-irTEuK-cvaCP6ICXh_o1N13ub8kN4F4R0Y_qA6q9AbMza0tWKCqwuD0X5Wv09BgMDfxAdexmhJlAL76d0YqeFr9CGUsePR-XLVUwTG-hvpdV0UokzVJL6odqRIe01QrqyP6mlggftqTYT5nYcZ4wZAL1v_XBdO3tO5dKECk3gnxZ2mL0/w113-h200/20230806_130249.jpg" width="113" /></a></div><br /><div><br /><p></p><p>After our tour, time to snack again. All the eating in Greece had definitely caused our stomachs to grow and require more food. So we sat and the kids ordered all kinds of stuff - pizza, crepes, slushies...and the adults... a bottle of wine. We were hanging out and awaiting a neat moment for Ally. One of her sorority sisters from OSU was in the city and close by and she and her family were going to stop and say hello. It was a fun moment.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dx1wIjgcP4QEk9_oWbKerSQaSd7_r0vUQv2srbJTUkImZL6aop3YuldwXbuVeAVmVTK8xFThvAbeoBe5ttG2w' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh94kZFHLmheuoK3vbsQXh6ZzpXeUjgcwVOORu0VW3KDShpkq9YzwIu6SUUrg6WkaoWbU6aCYAEW_HoKpnGJTyL3NVGNDHiyQ2AA8MvjnaBfAQn3ZLdkDd9ul0LnoDpMqNGLuclKR-bINxrkknayGcrsJT_l-1ig7s5xC8yDkVonZ1Cd-MJSS-si5Ji3zg/s2678/20230806_171210.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2678" data-original-width="1859" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh94kZFHLmheuoK3vbsQXh6ZzpXeUjgcwVOORu0VW3KDShpkq9YzwIu6SUUrg6WkaoWbU6aCYAEW_HoKpnGJTyL3NVGNDHiyQ2AA8MvjnaBfAQn3ZLdkDd9ul0LnoDpMqNGLuclKR-bINxrkknayGcrsJT_l-1ig7s5xC8yDkVonZ1Cd-MJSS-si5Ji3zg/w139-h200/20230806_171210.jpg" width="139" /></a></div>Then we hit the bus and decided to stop at some of the larger stops...Notre Dame, Louvre, and finally we thought the Champs. However, the city has taken to closing it off on Sundays to pedestrian traffic which is cool, but it meant the bus dropped you off pretty far away..actually back where we started our morning. So the Jollys opted to head back to the hotel to rest and the Jarnacs would stay out.<p></p><p>Then we would all meet up at 8:30 for dinner at the same place we had taken our kids 8 years earlier. <a href="https://cafedutrocadero.com/" target="_blank">Cafe De Trocadero</a>. We remembered it as a bit of a tourist trap, but we were there for the location and they took reservations. We could see the sparkle without the crush of the crowds. Dinner was actually very good and our waiter was amazing. We totally remember having a very rude waiter last time, but we were younger with kids definitely on a budget and probably picky. Timing was perfect. The lights went off at 10PM and I would hold down the table while everyone else ran to the grass round in the middle of the street and had an unobstructed view without the crowds (See the other side of the street? There are probably a couple thousand people there.) and during the 5 minutes dinner arrived. It was such a nice evening.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoNyDGcMjtiNFQfyNykJL9RL2_Y0sl28uPF9QgRhMiZXVaVIUPyrqr8aDlZHjpRS0fVqvF_CEjAVp_ZL2-Mp1o5RoosMo5Ozx9ImeZ0eiCT0FxrX1SvpjmS_6eR-SYkRZIAT-GLdZ8fLJEIWrwtr3ULmjnKQJHnEmZ4bT3pOjEFAt2-J0UGN2QSudz_fk/s4000/20230806_215938.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoNyDGcMjtiNFQfyNykJL9RL2_Y0sl28uPF9QgRhMiZXVaVIUPyrqr8aDlZHjpRS0fVqvF_CEjAVp_ZL2-Mp1o5RoosMo5Ozx9ImeZ0eiCT0FxrX1SvpjmS_6eR-SYkRZIAT-GLdZ8fLJEIWrwtr3ULmjnKQJHnEmZ4bT3pOjEFAt2-J0UGN2QSudz_fk/s320/20230806_215938.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>After dinner we parted way...the Jarnacs off to find one of the <a href="https://www.officeescapeartist.com/travel-blog/best-hot-chocolate-paris/" target="_blank">best hot choloate places in Paris</a> and we were off to sleep as we had one more day and they would be flying back to Cali in the morning.</p></div>A. Jollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01830577101142551098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2182503089064002372.post-29093374414218698602023-08-22T14:55:00.004-07:002023-08-22T14:55:54.047-07:00Evening 1 Paris: Walking the Montemarte<p>Last time we were in Paris we stayed at a <a href="http://www.cross-pollinate.com/" target="_blank">Cross Pollinate</a> property in the Montemarte but out at the Jules Joffrin Metro station. This time we wanted to be walking distance to more, so we did <a href="https://caulaincourt.com/" target="_blank">Caulincourt Hotel & Hostel</a>. We've stayed at a hostel in San Francisco now a couple of times and we like the extra exposure it gives the kids to other people and cultures. Where hotels in Paris go for $500+ US a night this was less than $200 and included breakfast...albeit meager it was something. It was the only real downside we read in the reviews. It still included coffee, juice, tea, a basket with one criossant and one small bread loaf, jam, butter, cereal, and milk. It was an easy walk to the Lamark-Caulicourt Metro station.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVjr0UwmgH0FQT1vMcFCjqA5V6L1MuCI-bWGvrU-JQbIX2RvLfMR0LN0GuLQfolyB7nSVXDssITMCh4WWLJoP5J_-dOVEETughg4G4QKaO2owPfT_GJVftBqKqzj_E_nCOzABbYvJ09Xomfk5DPy7V-R_SEYGjoxdegOkWOFbez-SXRw8H8G-fEu6vot4/s4000/20230805_173017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2252" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVjr0UwmgH0FQT1vMcFCjqA5V6L1MuCI-bWGvrU-JQbIX2RvLfMR0LN0GuLQfolyB7nSVXDssITMCh4WWLJoP5J_-dOVEETughg4G4QKaO2owPfT_GJVftBqKqzj_E_nCOzABbYvJ09Xomfk5DPy7V-R_SEYGjoxdegOkWOFbez-SXRw8H8G-fEu6vot4/w113-h200/20230805_173017.jpg" width="113" /></a></div>We opted to Uber into town from the airport versus the train to the Metro and were there in half the time which gave us time to clean up before meeting our guide at the Abesses Station for a walking tour I had secured through <a href="https://www.getyourguide.com/paris-l16/paris-iconic-neighborhoods-guided-walking-tour-t396700?date_from=2023-08-05&_pc=1,4&_pc=2,5">Get Your Guide</a>. The weather was a shock. We had prepared a bit with rain coats, but given the heatwave that was gripping the majority of the world we expected a warm rain. Paris was CHILLY...in the mid 60's with rain, wind, and just brrrr.... But we made a quick pit stop at our first Boulangerie, <a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g187147-d2201626-Reviews-Boulangerie_Alexine-Paris_Ile_de_France.html">Alexine</a>, in route for a little sugar/pastry pick us up. Our guide, Hannah, was this cute short lady who's English was quite good, and with her energy and our sugar and carbs we were off. She showed us everything I had on my list...the <a href="https://www.travelfranceonline.com/wall-of-love-mur-des-je-taime-montmartre/">Wall of Love</a>, the <a href="https://montmartrefootsteps.com/montmartre-vineyard/">vineyard</a>, the places Picasso, Van Gough, and others frequented, <a href="http://jetaimemeneither.com/historic-cabarets-of-montmartre-paris/" target="_blank">oldest operational cabaret (Au Lapine Agile)</a>, the <a href="https://www.travelfranceonline.com/le-passe-muraille-montmartre-paris/">running man in a wall (stuck there supposedly busted escaping the house of his mistress)</a>...and yes Alec touched the <a href="https://visitingparisbyyourself.com/listing/dalida-bust-and-square-dalida-a-montmartre-tribute-to-the-singer-who-lived-there-25-years/">bust of Dalida</a> a famous singer who lived and is buried here and touching her bust supposedly gives you luck with females. And much more. She would leave us after 90 minutes at the <a href="https://www.sacre-coeur-montmartre.com/english/">Basilica/Sacre Couer,</a> the famed monument of the neighborhood.<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXwTTlLKDGcCpZk9siV3U_MVXBbIrHoDdIECONL_fkKwFBUE_GVY-jF8ltl9YSU7iibveR5jhrlR0Yc215gstseESgWXuqMcxdYHKQDuNoEWRjq85rypVDMuhrgoFsHu2O0u9wRhuQcFXTkR5T-fv5kIEqW0s4Vpc0itrrmWtNw7ffIH3DAOopfRF70XM/s2736/20230805_154203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="2165" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXwTTlLKDGcCpZk9siV3U_MVXBbIrHoDdIECONL_fkKwFBUE_GVY-jF8ltl9YSU7iibveR5jhrlR0Yc215gstseESgWXuqMcxdYHKQDuNoEWRjq85rypVDMuhrgoFsHu2O0u9wRhuQcFXTkR5T-fv5kIEqW0s4Vpc0itrrmWtNw7ffIH3DAOopfRF70XM/w158-h200/20230805_154203.jpg" width="158" /></a></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmqHyYdznhnT31VpWc9DfcqwF12bJwIE1G3JVUkNeHXDQjH88B0PBKkhbBXplK7VpMeTTHBTzPEP0mQb1fFpn54tCQ7ZvoDyvKQLWSXxZ5aBKlhBuF_3S8xs2pv1GmM-s-KVa0puc3c1Zt8i86ZLB9f8HX1PCv75MnBcRNb51suYAGbG0p5ncY_IROA2o/s2987/20230805_165658.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="2987" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmqHyYdznhnT31VpWc9DfcqwF12bJwIE1G3JVUkNeHXDQjH88B0PBKkhbBXplK7VpMeTTHBTzPEP0mQb1fFpn54tCQ7ZvoDyvKQLWSXxZ5aBKlhBuF_3S8xs2pv1GmM-s-KVa0puc3c1Zt8i86ZLB9f8HX1PCv75MnBcRNb51suYAGbG0p5ncY_IROA2o/w200-h151/20230805_165658.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo0KK8ClONViWN89Zn4g0yzFShokMD00Cw-MKO6z097A4e5L_WkfwegCb_OVPPFNE1j9nijRCmYomW9sTCefTm3TyV6BCCFmuMrTkGjdVnIZKPg2tu6sDP5RFCs4SPSDyLNKmcl2l7EeZ3O1x5IBzejXZUKEAM1fo-R80u99M0FkfkJtDPSO1bvc6d5Z4/s3515/20230805_183938.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3515" data-original-width="2511" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo0KK8ClONViWN89Zn4g0yzFShokMD00Cw-MKO6z097A4e5L_WkfwegCb_OVPPFNE1j9nijRCmYomW9sTCefTm3TyV6BCCFmuMrTkGjdVnIZKPg2tu6sDP5RFCs4SPSDyLNKmcl2l7EeZ3O1x5IBzejXZUKEAM1fo-R80u99M0FkfkJtDPSO1bvc6d5Z4/s320/20230805_183938.jpg" width="229" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0MzbzFglcNLsnYT8CnAXnhUoTPw_-a4kVrhr5pvOBnsNSEOQqZtU6P764NHJBaoKCgQTQmytQW0f5oAJWUsGjo2YtJCkOhSnKO1Jr1UjSRzedZEEGbvDH6q9X_2qxZWzooOXuT6Zhpx6dvVeVFv1BbzTorJJKfIU5NuDN0JwXcLfay8l9ckZvKqU6E2g/s3187/20230807_205658.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1606" data-original-width="3187" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0MzbzFglcNLsnYT8CnAXnhUoTPw_-a4kVrhr5pvOBnsNSEOQqZtU6P764NHJBaoKCgQTQmytQW0f5oAJWUsGjo2YtJCkOhSnKO1Jr1UjSRzedZEEGbvDH6q9X_2qxZWzooOXuT6Zhpx6dvVeVFv1BbzTorJJKfIU5NuDN0JwXcLfay8l9ckZvKqU6E2g/s320/20230807_205658.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I had first tried for a reservation at a famous French restaurant, but couldn't get a table for our group of 9. So I went for <a href="https://alcaratello.com/?fbclid=IwAR3wAmIOeOUl6NqqzpY09sMjoA0MvFnRKVkmWpHjXdUIT9HiGoq9kyIZook">Al Caratello</a>, an Italian restaurant within 10 minutes from the hotel. It was in the top 150 of over 14K resteraunts (according to Trip Advisor) in the city, so we figured it has to be good. A charming place off a little side street we entered the place at 7PM and there were only two other tables. By the time we left it was packed and people were waiting and locals were getting take-out. It was scrumptious with massive portions. I would leave a little early with several of the kids to get gelato at <a href="https://goo.gl/maps/fKTEgQkgrHpY4vnb7">Dolce Pepone</a> while others stayed behind to finish wine and enjoy the company of some friends who happen to also be in Paris and joined us.<p></p><p>Time for rest because the next day was getting the Jarnac family as much of Paris as we could cram in a day before they would head home because this was their first visit.</p><p><br /></p>A. Jollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01830577101142551098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2182503089064002372.post-44470903477805082472023-08-20T21:15:00.002-07:002023-08-21T07:58:02.716-07:00Interested in our Greece Trip/Ship<p>Nearly everyone we have shared the Greece trip with has asked how I found it. I honestly am not really sure. I know I wanted a cruise, after getting Andy to abandon the notion of a chartered sailboat trip with a captain and cook. And then I know I wanted a small ship as we are spoiled on other low ratio trips where we get to know staff and staff us. I wanted some inclusive aspects, again me not cooking was part of my argument for not doing the charter. I think I just Googled and Goggled and stumbled across ....</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://unforgettabletravel.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="148" data-original-width="373" height="127" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgORCKvVexADHPPXXkcjZzpahV18BSZqyiiyPEEBC_1CDxyV2WKeWtv96BKoi-Wn35oaIPblJUBVw3lRkl3kB0ivaAI2LdoswAMkikO7Tdv6oGcEm2e4pSexa6sSPzgf_utlanmECJ8hvUmG-tCQyrMzJlvTWOIRIHRGzBydeW9VvALbhKXWmflugKHUcg/s320/Unforgettable.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>We flipped through their trips. And wound up reaching out to them regarding three:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://unforgettabletravel.com/best-of-bali">Best of Bali</a></li><li><a href="https://unforgettabletravel.com/signature-greece-cruise">Signature Greece Small Ship Cruise</a></li><li>And another Greek Cruise I don't currently see on their list currently, but it was a large double masted sailboat with about 20 rooms if I recall correctly.</li></ul><div>The kids and we quickly dismissed Bali after having spent the last sabbatical in <a href="http://www.childonthego.com/2017/07/">Thailand, Cambobia, & Vietnam</a>. And after speaking with the agents we decided the second Greek cruise fellow passenger demographics might pose to too large of an age gap to our kids. So we settled on the Signature Greece Cruise.</div><div><br /></div><div>We were nervous as we didn't know much about the company, so we read reviews, read through all their policies, and placed our deposit. We felt a little better when we received a big glossy magazine filled with all their trips and I was able to reach out several times to Nora, who is the travel specialist for this trip to work through cabin selections and ask other questions about amenities.</div><div><br /></div><div>The trip would include wonderfully appointed rooms (ok they could be a little more generous on the bath shampoo and conditioner, but that is truly our only "even better if")), 2 meals a day on board (generally buffet, except the special ones), lots of free on-board amenities (samba lessons, pilates, cooking lessons as well as hot tub, kayaks, snorkel gear, and more), and transfers. Additional out of pocket included of course the bar (pricing published upfront), spa (yes there were services on board), guided excusions (but our activities crew was always ready to recommend do it ourself instructions), and gratuity (also recommendations made upfront and really quite affordable). We added an additional transfer and hotel on for when we landed in Greece before boarding the ship that they booked as well.</div><div><br /></div><div>We would spend the months ahead researching photos of the ship, passenger reviews, and down right getting excited. We would find later that Unforgettable Travel was a middle man for <a href="https://www.elixir.cruises/elysium/" target="_blank">The Elysium, the Ship of Elixir Luxury Cruises</a> The pictures are pretty spot on of the ship. Here's their <a href="https://www.facebook.com/elixircruises" target="_blank">Facebook</a> too with videos and more. The only thing perhaps slightly askew of all their claims was the gym....was very tiny and minimally appointed (notice there are not pictures of it), but Alec still used it a few times and didn't complain.</div><div><br /></div><div>In regards to service again everything was pretty spot on. Only two things to note... 1) GMT (Greece Mean Time) means things may or may not happen per the schedule. Be flexible. And us being used to "Island Time" in Jamaica this was no problem. And 2) was the beach party beverages. We really should have known they were not included, but there were two meals where a cocktail or two were included that were more special set-ups, so we thought this was the same. Our bartender was usually very diligent about getting our charges right, but on this day our 6 beers became 11 on our tab, but really in the grand scheme of things it wasn't a big deal.</div><div><br /></div><div>We loved the vibe and energy on the ship. Our fellow shipmates were a big part of this and this is not always the case as the staff remarked time and time again how we were the best energy all year. With 6 teens on board and a total of 8 nearly life-long fraternity friends and wives (our two from Purdue and the other 6 from ASU) well we brought the party for sure. And the staff was incredibly friendly, on it, and always, I mean always, making sure we were taken care of...</div><div><br /></div><div>We were super happy with this trip. It was a chunk of change, but felt very much worth it. Would we recommend it to others - YES! We might suggest you look into booking straight with Elixir as it appears they give discounts for your 3rd and 4th persons. I haven't done the math exactly, but it appears at first glance it would save some money.</div><div><br /></div><div>Here's links to two videos we did of a "ship tour."</div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OVnZngDkV8" target="_blank">Our Floor and Our Room</a></li><li><a href="https://youtu.be/LWmq69HeaIM">Main Deck of Ship</a></li></ul><div>And after our 7AM pick-up including the same driver we had when we arrived we were off with the Jarnac family to the Athens Airport and our next adventure - a couple day layover in Paris</div></div><p></p>A. Jollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01830577101142551098noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2182503089064002372.post-84118571467787722282023-08-10T09:46:00.006-07:002023-08-10T09:58:22.189-07:00Sifnos & Farewell Party<p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Last day…it started slow, but the last days had flown. This morning we pulled into <a href="https://www.greeka.com/cyclades/sifnos/">Sifnos</a> as the sun was rising. This morning the humidity was fully on, and
it was hot. Alec slept straight through
several wake ups after the long day yesterday, so he opted to stay on board and
sleep. The rest of us headed on land and
decided it was our last day so time to take a Greek bus. 2 euros for the bus versus a 25-euro taxi
ride we reminded Ally this was the way to go for a traveling college
student. It was easy and clean, and the
AC was even working well. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzmBNChNOKji7HymPxjK9rtszKC4PH65BMFtvyt2_kWI2iKbn90lvctvbKx-U3g9Kn36tBLSIXRRI-u55k4Tg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixn5hpEpLKHcMuFJzHX-RJFgMjZaQ99HZ197bIfuG3zjnQTM7q_o8JuZaPCuOKvdcyRHiYQfGLAd32SmevJHayJquSM4P4z6LoZZKdnEt1qLHUiIKgx5Pl0t2E3LZBz6XfWhWlcnkoQuDWJffsx-zszkbXC8rGnLSHxob2Z9W7o46v92NPLaBtJYd0Srk/s3931/20230804_115105.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3931" data-original-width="2213" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixn5hpEpLKHcMuFJzHX-RJFgMjZaQ99HZ197bIfuG3zjnQTM7q_o8JuZaPCuOKvdcyRHiYQfGLAd32SmevJHayJquSM4P4z6LoZZKdnEt1qLHUiIKgx5Pl0t2E3LZBz6XfWhWlcnkoQuDWJffsx-zszkbXC8rGnLSHxob2Z9W7o46v92NPLaBtJYd0Srk/w113-h200/20230804_115105.jpg" width="113" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Chora was
beautiful 25 minutes up on a hill overlooking the harbor. Lovely little shops, beautiful buildings, but
the heat got to us and we popped into a local café where the owner did not speak
English and had our first freddo (cold) cappuccinos. Back on the bus and back to the harbor we
settled into <a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g635609-d3337509-Reviews-Takis-Serifos_Cyclades_South_Aegean.html">Takis</a>
for lunch right on the water again.
Something for everyone it worked out well. We have been eating so much I have converted
over to salads on land the last few days. </span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLGBUzBQ_nzuf4IyA6pGehcglBg_pQ_OvtenWOyw19eSKvKmFRMhe98_JkxsBD-n649cMqQxeRT4Oh9StKwY1gBWqQM3HcSDHHNOcWomKE28dILbUu22_ZVvgka8CNqoUdLGizcACy3uye-e8iAv3PNRJLEizg51dJ73qWw8OUocKEEt-NcJakgDSGoMk/s4000/20230804_114647.jpg" style="clear: left; display: inline; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2252" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLGBUzBQ_nzuf4IyA6pGehcglBg_pQ_OvtenWOyw19eSKvKmFRMhe98_JkxsBD-n649cMqQxeRT4Oh9StKwY1gBWqQM3HcSDHHNOcWomKE28dILbUu22_ZVvgka8CNqoUdLGizcACy3uye-e8iAv3PNRJLEizg51dJ73qWw8OUocKEEt-NcJakgDSGoMk/w113-h200/20230804_114647.jpg" width="113" /></a></div><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ally still having a few more items to look for for friends we stayed on
land and Andy returned to the ship to Alec who we had gotten his massage
rescheduled and was relaxing after. We thought
we had a tender back at 2:15pm but walking there it pulled away 5 minutes early
as they had staff who needed to get back ASAP for preparations for the night. Mikel felt bad so he invited Ally and I to
sit with him at a café and got me another freddo coffee while Ally enjoyed
gelato. It was wonderful to sit and talk
with him. 38 years old with a bachelors
and masters in Spanish from Cuba, the oldest of 4, he’s been working for a few
years saving money for a home and is returning home this fall. He misses his family and talks to them and his
friends there almost daily. He talked to
Ally a lot about life and family. The
nicest guy!</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH74Snx9wxamys1oWlkKnh73oaUaDLU1u9L5oM5MpcLH5yGF1XVW8t-rpxZobtbK0O203oMgNQSylqGsc3Si2OrpchSCZFQCH1LhfAfe9FgV_N_5YuVhX9sTKhE4oldDzUAPfBitiEvJyv-TTvgx3ProqWkE2UReB8iQwNUfQJiKY44qAZllQ0fsqsY2w/s4000/20230804_210953.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH74Snx9wxamys1oWlkKnh73oaUaDLU1u9L5oM5MpcLH5yGF1XVW8t-rpxZobtbK0O203oMgNQSylqGsc3Si2OrpchSCZFQCH1LhfAfe9FgV_N_5YuVhX9sTKhE4oldDzUAPfBitiEvJyv-TTvgx3ProqWkE2UReB8iQwNUfQJiKY44qAZllQ0fsqsY2w/s320/20230804_210953.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">B</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">ack on board we decided to wear all our new Greek clothes
for our farewell dinner.</span><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">A beautiful
evening that started with group photos on the back deck and drinks.</span><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Then course upon course upon course of Greek
food.</span><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">We heard there was a surprise and noticed staff gathering on the lower back deck in dress uniform. A</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">fter dessert Mark took the wireless microphone,
he’s been using all week and we finally got to see and meet ALL the staff.</span><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">The captain, chief engineer, engineering
team, housekeeping, and then of course everyone we had seen day in and day out
all week wait staff, tender trio, activities, and of course the bartender. There are about 25 crew and when the boat is full capacity, 50, that means a 1:2 ratio. And we definitely felt the personal attention and care. So nice to know nearly everyone by name.</span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dz08A5kR7c5P8NfRdSkcLfDL0WG2Y-pD2ggr7UgNLXEN2AbWjPRf8rUF_qCyyydqXdgL2kmk2HjNeL0m8hBdA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Next thing we knew confetti guns went off showering the entire
back deck in color and we would dance for the next hour plus, including the limbo
and Greek dance we had been taught.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
best part was the staff danced too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact,
someone won a bet with the activities director to take $50 off their bar bill
because they got the captain to dance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Mikel, also our Samba teacher, got his moves on too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So much fun under a beautiful night sky.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can’t believe it was coming to an end…an
overnight trek back to the mainland and we were off the ship at 7AM to the
airport and the next adventure.</span></p>A. Jollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01830577101142551098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2182503089064002372.post-48789770998219329852023-08-09T07:33:00.000-07:002023-08-09T07:33:03.119-07:00Delos, Secluded Beach #2 PARTY, & Mykonos<p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_x7pmraPFo_EQpriT-3CKQvr6g-Y385MoNbmoLdrDl3UHAfNNM32n839bOx4owf4rMEVqpeAcMGHxq5nHtH5KNN514AT8rzzroZraQxAFlHk-v3w6ZEuslpvEpIvgnGlkYzIyFf4fVNacZc6lbZGbG5MmnouwY2fj02qzGQj2O2V2j_yvPE9J1WdRQfQ/s3648/20230803_094217.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_x7pmraPFo_EQpriT-3CKQvr6g-Y385MoNbmoLdrDl3UHAfNNM32n839bOx4owf4rMEVqpeAcMGHxq5nHtH5KNN514AT8rzzroZraQxAFlHk-v3w6ZEuslpvEpIvgnGlkYzIyFf4fVNacZc6lbZGbG5MmnouwY2fj02qzGQj2O2V2j_yvPE9J1WdRQfQ/s320/20230803_094217.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzjE3qk93MMI_q3aVLTkIh2svMqQQhnJDbUgjirT-KKWpg-rdRJ89tDhyMSjUd1_xwDjBjdd0Z5wZMS_P_MntbTyGL4fJ7uwQWkeKKt8PLLAyKtLnPOFoFG4bgms1Xf_ZeBN1xGRo99izv3EIb-OPwD0IYNF4og7y9A9vMLNelqpIkWC-i0OopQz7X3Ao/s4000/20230803_092511.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzjE3qk93MMI_q3aVLTkIh2svMqQQhnJDbUgjirT-KKWpg-rdRJ89tDhyMSjUd1_xwDjBjdd0Z5wZMS_P_MntbTyGL4fJ7uwQWkeKKt8PLLAyKtLnPOFoFG4bgms1Xf_ZeBN1xGRo99izv3EIb-OPwD0IYNF4og7y9A9vMLNelqpIkWC-i0OopQz7X3Ao/w150-h200/20230803_092511.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>This morning we arrived at <a href="https://www.worldhistory.org/delos/">Delos</a>. This island is completed uninhabited, but
instead has archeological park. Andy and Alec took the tender very early into the
island…partially to beat the crowds, but also the heat. Completely exposed with pretty much no
greenery it was going to getting scorching hot fast. In Greek mythology, this is precisely why Leto, escaping the
wrath of Hera, was able to find sanctuary here in order to give birth to Apollo
and Artemis. In some versions of the myth, Zeus (Leto's lover) called on his
brother Poseidon to create the island with a thrust o</span>f his trident, hence the
name Delos, which signifies 'appearance' or 'apparent' in ancient Greek. <span style="font-family: inherit;">The boys found the site very good.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ally and I opted not to do it as, and this
will sound a bit snobbish, but through our living in Israel, we have seen a lot
of ruins.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">But they saw a lot of pieces
still with amazing mosaic tile work and an entire row of lions.<br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We knew we had a swim stop in the afternoon before heading
to Mykonos, so I scheduled massages for Ally, myself, and Alec.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ally went first and while she was in getting a
very good Balinese massage, they moved the boat to a secluded beach and proceeded
to load the tenders with umbrellas, pillows, and large grass mats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The boys arrived back I sent them and
Ally to the beach and it was my turn for some relaxation/massage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After getting out I found one of our
activities directors and told him I needed to get Alec back from the beach for
his massage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He said food was being sent
over to the beach for lunch and I could go over and swap with him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once on land, Mark, the lead activities
coordinator said Alec is having too much fun. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can get a massage any day, but you can’t
have a party on a secluded beach in Greece any day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, he sent word back to the ship he would be staying.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And we proceeded to have one of the best
afternoons of our trip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Food, beverages,
music, dancing, snorkeling, and that beautiful Cycladic blue water. Amazing!!!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZjm6KwNsoEbsA9pEN8mmYA6rdFB7yudcsS5C2T82AMQFsMtl3UhWaYnETtelRUsZzfRjYoteiVlamaaAl5ZjP1RYP1kc_iAKLuDh23gvnxVVR6xdUp6HUGfeV75HJWNUZgrENFp3B7jPB7x2q5HODE34PjM82FsnbNJ4Q3r3l0yRy2NGtCUnS9N-_gcw/s4000/20230803_174812.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZjm6KwNsoEbsA9pEN8mmYA6rdFB7yudcsS5C2T82AMQFsMtl3UhWaYnETtelRUsZzfRjYoteiVlamaaAl5ZjP1RYP1kc_iAKLuDh23gvnxVVR6xdUp6HUGfeV75HJWNUZgrENFp3B7jPB7x2q5HODE34PjM82FsnbNJ4Q3r3l0yRy2NGtCUnS9N-_gcw/s320/20230803_174812.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAsP_D932AEiIWKY5YqKGWZskScOGf5-_JE6gd8snVJn9Y3Ah_mVP_tCpzGDBAUll68QoJdDOV2nd4DR-FcBEuG3gFMRLcl9RhEb4JH5mBpcjThlX0GhH6Xa_duUFj9mJqflFVZlwiaDP2kPWqCMLp5DnqszznxJq8BrhNJAFOS8d9KYVU_ZYMnIZTY6c/s4000/20230803_195817.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2252" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAsP_D932AEiIWKY5YqKGWZskScOGf5-_JE6gd8snVJn9Y3Ah_mVP_tCpzGDBAUll68QoJdDOV2nd4DR-FcBEuG3gFMRLcl9RhEb4JH5mBpcjThlX0GhH6Xa_duUFj9mJqflFVZlwiaDP2kPWqCMLp5DnqszznxJq8BrhNJAFOS8d9KYVU_ZYMnIZTY6c/w113-h200/20230803_195817.jpg" width="113" /></a></div>Back on board we all cleaned up for </span><a href="https://www.greeka.com/cyclades/mykonos/" style="font-family: inherit;">Mykonos</a><span style="font-family: inherit;">.</span><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">As we pulled in the only “big box” was leaving,
and our ship was the only one anchored in the harbor.</span><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">We tendered in and had about 45 minutes until
our dinner reservation, so after dragging the boys through the insanity of
shopping in Santorini (and all other islands) we decided to split up.</span><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Scared of the labyrinth of streets we opted
to go straight up the first alley and back down.</span><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">We would return here later in the night as it
had some great shops and was the most affordable…well except the $2K, on sale for
$500, skin care regimen I got sucked in for.</span><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Let’s just say it was only a cream and it really did work removing all
the lines under my eyes, but it was the most unnatural crazy feeling sensation.</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">After escaping the eye cream trap by throwing Andy under the
bus - “I can’t spend that kind of money without his permission” – we headed
back to the waterfront for our reservation at </span><a href="https://www.vegera-mykonos.com/" style="font-family: inherit;">Vegera</a><span style="font-family: inherit;">.</span><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I had picked this restaurant because they had
online reservations, a great view, fresh seafood, and burgers, fries, and pasta
for the kids. Turned out another great choice as we met the boys who were
already at the bar being offered welcome shots.</span><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Another amazing meal that ended with another freebie of beautiful platters
of Greek yogurt topped with a cherry sauce.</span><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Light, refreshing, and delicious.</span><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyS9QVeIOjzcrndOczMwE62Px6euuDM02ZD10GpRcPqtOuSYzyjHDHntM-AnQh4HMVVG12WtUAhVrkBNl41dA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0wKoAUZXdcxBwfswOWVMqp5GhdcbwSLr4PMTeGNTafzbpLDI7V_5l_N9RT2vnCcRq7i1nipGl4_FR12vLuaZ4EK20mKFS6B4fv5fuyaDbY_aD9mt6qz8_WrEyvBf3x1eLBGxZnVI6C2HRXuZxUQjVvgSk6opOskb3NfWUZOzPkWFhAVS3vVox7kjWrC0/s4000/20230803_224103.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2252" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0wKoAUZXdcxBwfswOWVMqp5GhdcbwSLr4PMTeGNTafzbpLDI7V_5l_N9RT2vnCcRq7i1nipGl4_FR12vLuaZ4EK20mKFS6B4fv5fuyaDbY_aD9mt6qz8_WrEyvBf3x1eLBGxZnVI6C2HRXuZxUQjVvgSk6opOskb3NfWUZOzPkWFhAVS3vVox7kjWrC0/w113-h200/20230803_224103.jpg" width="113" /></a></div>After dinner we opted to try to walk to the iconic windmills
along the water like our crew had told us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We tried but didn’t have a lot of luck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So instead, we ducked into stores again and even a bar with all the kids
playing ABBA.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We even danced in the
street.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ally really wanted to shop, so
we split up again and headed back to the harbor and started up into the
alleys.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were right…it was insane…and
expensive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Chanel, Gucci, and other
labels where no piece, even a little tube top, was less than 225 euros.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now hopelessly lost I turned the navigation
over to Ally and she got us out and even walked us right by the windmills.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We made it safely back to the first alley and
did our shopping.<o:p></o:p></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We all met at the tender pick-up spot and I was done, but
Ally wanted to try the Mykonos nightlife.</span><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">So Andy, Alec, and she stayed on land…along with the rest of the Jarnac crew and they went to a
couple of bars and got taste she was looking for.</span><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I think they rolled back on the boat after
1AM and we would move through the night arriving for our last day, a full day,
at Sifnos.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><o:p></o:p></p>A. Jollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01830577101142551098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2182503089064002372.post-1938276166366298292023-08-08T00:30:00.003-07:002023-08-09T07:35:47.512-07:00Naxos<p>Today we awoke at <a href="https://www.greeka.com/cyclades/naxos/">Naxos</a> anchored off Agios Prokopios, apparently the most popular beach of the island. We looked out and saw a long beach with rows and rows of sunbeds. After a family conference we decided we would stay on the boat and rest and relax as we had a lot for our afternoon and evening planned when we made it to the Chora. So we donned swimsuits and grabbed our books and headed to the upper deck for reading and even a snooze.</p><p>After lunch aboard we would be docking at this port and have the ability to walk on and walk off. We had a nice laugh after we docked because a few nights prior we docked and were right next to a yacht that rents for $900K-$1.2M for 12 days and they put out a carpet on the dock. Tonight our crew put out a logo'ed carpet as well and a flag, like you would see at a soccer game...all logo'ed as well. After a few minutes a mini-bus appeared as we had booked tour because Naxos is the largest of the Cyclades islands with a lot going on in the interior.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Gj0vcZaiPt-oE8OfoXyH_LPyOGWqtHrgRwNMVubGrZRh6XrGAVGNz4qadN5bHWGGpLybaqwIpcFZ_I2noxxTp8Tk0gKMHly3NLWOixZ1ma2jtlJEwWLim0678GVlVE-Rz1pqsPPjWE5xgRPOw0QB9NxdVu8-PfP9uV692_fW8w_wNAoHumoSfjeaSPA/s3080/20230802_164431(0).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2464" data-original-width="3080" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Gj0vcZaiPt-oE8OfoXyH_LPyOGWqtHrgRwNMVubGrZRh6XrGAVGNz4qadN5bHWGGpLybaqwIpcFZ_I2noxxTp8Tk0gKMHly3NLWOixZ1ma2jtlJEwWLim0678GVlVE-Rz1pqsPPjWE5xgRPOw0QB9NxdVu8-PfP9uV692_fW8w_wNAoHumoSfjeaSPA/s320/20230802_164431(0).jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Our first stop was a the <a href="https://www.olivemuseum.com/">Eggares Olive Press</a> which had a museum with all the ways they have extracted oil. The mill dates back to the 1800's and is the oldest remaining of all the mills. Many of the Lianos family was manning the store where we tried all kinds of oils, including infused as well as jams and olive oil cake. I was able to get one of the items I had planned on purchasing which was salads spoons made from olive tree wood. </p><p>Next we stopped at the statue of of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kouroi_of_Flerio">Kouros in Melanes</a> which lies at the exact position that
the archaeologists found it. It is six meters long and dates to the 7th
century. It was a little walk in from the bus, but as it was a low lying area it was cool due to natural springs.</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY4vpc1Aj_CsQUIPRauLDCE3rBQYJV-9Yl3ZurdbO0ih3Natxu1V_6VKkDPBDyLs6rqCP3k4M57baAogC8505PcfRyU8M5Kh21D4iuS_DeoFfmdrcwm047JVHaqdg3jgWEGyilYyn2-2aJZzKk7Tak5fC-GqpZVurtIGA4RLpJhxfhmB5dsLZ-kQ8gxlQ/s4000/20230802_174615.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY4vpc1Aj_CsQUIPRauLDCE3rBQYJV-9Yl3ZurdbO0ih3Natxu1V_6VKkDPBDyLs6rqCP3k4M57baAogC8505PcfRyU8M5Kh21D4iuS_DeoFfmdrcwm047JVHaqdg3jgWEGyilYyn2-2aJZzKk7Tak5fC-GqpZVurtIGA4RLpJhxfhmB5dsLZ-kQ8gxlQ/w150-h200/20230802_174615.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>Next we stopped in the village o<span style="font-family: inherit;">f<span style="background-color: #274e13;"><span style="color: white;"> <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 107%;">Chalki</span> </span></span></span>and the <a href="https://www.naxos.gr/vallindras-distillery/?lang=en">Vallindras distillery</a>, which has
pioneered Naxos’ renowned citron (kitron) liqueur –one of three Greek aperitifs marketed
with a Protected Designation of Origin. It
all began in the second half of the 19th century, when Grigorios Vallindras
founded a workshop for producing the traditionally local citron-flavored spirit
(kitrorako) –already in common use. In
1896, his son, Markos, decided to develop the business, creating a new
distillate with alcohol and citron leaves –the citron liqueur of today. It was a super cute village. Unfortunately the distillery was closed but we had eyed a Kitron Bar down at the wharf...we assume an outlet of sorts. As we drove the hills we also saw lots of marble quaries and learned the marble for JFK's bust in DC is from this island.<o:p></o:p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Then we stopped at the <a href="https://www.greeka.com/cyclades/naxos/sightseeing/drosiani-church-naxos/">Church of Panagia Drossiani</a> is the
oldest Christian church of Naxos and our tour guide claimed the oldest Byzantine in all the Cyclades. Located near Moni, it is considered one of
the most important Byzantine churches and, therefore, is of immense historical
significance. Unfortunately this was
also our rudest encounter in Greece. What
we can only imagine was a nun of sorts was livid with our group despite
following the rules of donating a few euros for photos, etc.. She literally yelled at us as we departed and
this experience would become a running joke the rest of the trip.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCnYKRcSaUtW50yo3xrH-FTvTwmOex9Gkj-vqlRYeJ53eDjNCD9GO6gzgthp1ccg7OYrCJI0rCeGHb96SdwTzWrm-8lAEVQ6YhTBojVArTC9lsHPmSasMelEw-I5sipRMK8ZFNJs14ZZIEKhx1RIWMCCyX37QlAASBvCgMi3AyOH426GHKV8jt4Ose5dc/s1977/20230802_190457.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1977" data-original-width="1532" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCnYKRcSaUtW50yo3xrH-FTvTwmOex9Gkj-vqlRYeJ53eDjNCD9GO6gzgthp1ccg7OYrCJI0rCeGHb96SdwTzWrm-8lAEVQ6YhTBojVArTC9lsHPmSasMelEw-I5sipRMK8ZFNJs14ZZIEKhx1RIWMCCyX37QlAASBvCgMi3AyOH426GHKV8jt4Ose5dc/w155-h200/20230802_190457.jpg" width="155" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal">And lastly another hoped for stop and therefore purchase...some art from the person who created it - <a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g580192-d3219339-Reviews-Limpertas_Manolis_Pottery-Naxos_Town_Naxos_Cyclades_South_Aegean.html">Limpertas Manolis Pottery</a>. The gentleman we saw at the potter's wheel was 3rd generation and he literally worked by feel. Never looking at the piece on the wheel. Amazing and beautiful works. They showed us several traditional pieces used for common purposes.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQIoCZtmeLAd6Q49JDF1vrb5U6_EfxD2olCK1srHOAgU6fbta9BE9O69KwJcBhp6B7rHOq6L1PEFwWihhbvMu-yn5C_zOLiPA73pCYnbGhd_tiZU5XH8UFQbMT4jtbrW0FvBHfBYSqU-vyhUd20v-5bK9kcSicoU_st5pszL716E6E8HrYyGX78_pIoAw/s1440/IMG_20230803_175604_735.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQIoCZtmeLAd6Q49JDF1vrb5U6_EfxD2olCK1srHOAgU6fbta9BE9O69KwJcBhp6B7rHOq6L1PEFwWihhbvMu-yn5C_zOLiPA73pCYnbGhd_tiZU5XH8UFQbMT4jtbrW0FvBHfBYSqU-vyhUd20v-5bK9kcSicoU_st5pszL716E6E8HrYyGX78_pIoAw/s320/IMG_20230803_175604_735.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">We then proceeded to drop our guide off at his village. So full disclosure. This guy LOVED his island and loved what he was talking about, but he was completely memorized and recited his information with little emmotion or impromptu effort, so while information filled it was often monotone and hard to stay interested. Our driver however busted loose after the drop-off and cranked the music and our group was singing and clapping again.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Next we were off for our dinner reservation I had had to reschedule twice due to our changing schedule due to the winds, but we were warmly greeted by Alekzander who I had corresponded with and ushered to a table right on the water for sunset and a spectacular meal including the ability to do butter pasta with cheese for Ally. She was in heaven. <a href="https://dalprofessorenaxos.com/">Dal Professore</a>. I had selected it to give a bit of Greek for the adults and Italian for the kids.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihyrj3qVDQadxIaDNdYcM7t0W2boomxtIq5fY5R1LeSBSny8chfACGZEpBQIwNA_UYP3m8S6RXWvCvSLBk8O1vuNmCbRQKJAvSILogMClV6MQPWKYz46LuShsUfthQrbQ8LHI6dliwWEXRamC_C_MCcRxFRk9soP2edLtTQ1YtYifPdPVb5rR5F4Bogp8/s4000/20230802_202303.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihyrj3qVDQadxIaDNdYcM7t0W2boomxtIq5fY5R1LeSBSny8chfACGZEpBQIwNA_UYP3m8S6RXWvCvSLBk8O1vuNmCbRQKJAvSILogMClV6MQPWKYz46LuShsUfthQrbQ8LHI6dliwWEXRamC_C_MCcRxFRk9soP2edLtTQ1YtYifPdPVb5rR5F4Bogp8/w200-h150/20230802_202303.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: white;">Next we were off for a few more must stops. <a href="https://www.wafflehouse.gr/">Waffle House</a> for desserts. The kids loved it getting all kinds of variations of waffles including one that looked like a hamburger. The required stop for me was <a href="https://greek-sandals.com/" target="_blank">Pagonis Sandals </a>a family run business since<span style="font-family: inherit;"> 1940<span style="background-color: white;"></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg50lTrs_Zvk1W65VNY7W_N3jPUN157yN4BOS3KD8mCR2rX4oid2e2SsUmFxZ32nmS7b_ljAgJyhS6VrdZoJF5VKnbhEGWtHXn_e5N4ExlaxRgweaEhSDdOoTK5cO4ZPIXWhArrY2kB-f3aJQAa5MRIYr3c9XYvQoZNOS_CPWUW7jzR8tKqTXKQfbLr-DM/s2347/20230802_231502.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2347" data-original-width="2113" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg50lTrs_Zvk1W65VNY7W_N3jPUN157yN4BOS3KD8mCR2rX4oid2e2SsUmFxZ32nmS7b_ljAgJyhS6VrdZoJF5VKnbhEGWtHXn_e5N4ExlaxRgweaEhSDdOoTK5cO4ZPIXWhArrY2kB-f3aJQAa5MRIYr3c9XYvQoZNOS_CPWUW7jzR8tKqTXKQfbLr-DM/w180-h200/20230802_231502.jpg" width="180" /></a></span></span></div><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">. We were greeted by a young woman who had us look for our favorite style and then helped size us. We wound up with a lot of pairs. And of course the <a href="https://restaurantguru.com/Kitron-Cafe-Naxos-Greece">Kitron Cafe</a> to try that liquor mentioned earlier. Three colors and three proofs. Green, Clear, and Yellow. Ally and I tried and likes the green. Andy went straight for the yellow. There may or may not be a few bottles coming home.</span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-color: #274e13; font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: white;">Back on board at just after midnight we needed sleep for another big day ahead, which included Delos and an evening on Mykonos.</span></span></p>A. Jollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01830577101142551098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2182503089064002372.post-75112501525650224602023-08-06T00:30:00.001-07:002023-08-06T00:30:17.912-07:00Secluded Beach #1 and Santorini Insanity<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKjGRq18J0Mx8rDt4-IdyyMU4wswZPE8_waK8949f9tl9aCfCPilDO2VG1iSq3ccpIZlUwAQ7WOptwceBHHIkzfg7xz2KdMYrir_NdKiOIfFlEGDAaG_HJRSK_q-A_0T8ZSwV9b2un63eSoM7KMGpvyCG4r35wi95PBGw9COrSmbTH6s3Lct6ePnU36ec/s1127/Kids%20on%20Boat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="845" data-original-width="1127" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKjGRq18J0Mx8rDt4-IdyyMU4wswZPE8_waK8949f9tl9aCfCPilDO2VG1iSq3ccpIZlUwAQ7WOptwceBHHIkzfg7xz2KdMYrir_NdKiOIfFlEGDAaG_HJRSK_q-A_0T8ZSwV9b2un63eSoM7KMGpvyCG4r35wi95PBGw9COrSmbTH6s3Lct6ePnU36ec/s320/Kids%20on%20Boat.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>We started our day at a very small island with a swim stop at <a href="https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g196481-d2256120-Reviews-Manganari_Beach-Ios_Cyclades_South_Aegean.html">Maganari Beach</a> on the island of Ios. Everything thus far has been small enough and we have felt safe enough with our crew we actually sent the kids in on the tender first with a few Euros to get our chaises. We spent the morning snorkeling, swimming, and sand castle building. Snorkeling continued to improve with some fish with colors. Dean made friends with the only vendor on the beach where we had buy 3 get 1 free Alpha Beers. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNOOSadE4SnWjEq12cvvePEN0uLmTzQDPMCZDiampX1DRtdFGie5mQVv-rzFSPoZtq_j4J0pUR9vMTthtx00x3NbJljAPyJwJVGg9_d_VTXMGcg1FAbKTV3v7-HMHn9zGcSo4DuhOFRxO8RLV8jKsHA0PSAwEFcF7DD7llNQ_Px2OPpgpBFGSyuhtGzh0/s3888/IMG_0803.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="2592" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNOOSadE4SnWjEq12cvvePEN0uLmTzQDPMCZDiampX1DRtdFGie5mQVv-rzFSPoZtq_j4J0pUR9vMTthtx00x3NbJljAPyJwJVGg9_d_VTXMGcg1FAbKTV3v7-HMHn9zGcSo4DuhOFRxO8RLV8jKsHA0PSAwEFcF7DD7llNQ_Px2OPpgpBFGSyuhtGzh0/w133-h200/IMG_0803.JPG" width="133" /></a></div>We would spend the afternoon getting ready to head onto the iconic island of Santorini. They said we would be arriving after most of the "big boxes" or cruise ships had left and sure enough one was leaving, but a Royal Caribbean ship was staying. They seemed to think the cable car line would be short, but it was an hour long in the very hot heat. Luckily once aloft, Mikel, one of our great activities crew hooked us up with a van for all 9 to <a href="https://www.greeka.com/cyclades/santorini/villages/oia/">Oia</a> the famed sunset area. We had the most incredible driver, Zeus. Yes you read that right. Zeus from <a href="https://www.santorinicab.com/santorini-cab-services-company">Santorini Skyline Car Service</a>. He was incredibly friendly and told us lots of interactive jokes and about his life. He came to Santorini and fell in love, had long hair twice in his life, and loved to spear fish and generally got enough during the winter to last his family all summer. He left us to return at 7PM to return us to Fira for dinner.<p></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX8JwYjNV4l-0nFiRwY1VvN1eWY1dlw8ut0HhPMVAaTVeai5q-OnPFMO_Eg61OrDuBYd5YJKbatKBQisseI3637qOSCSQ8cRCfsrLZAQebhdLsX_XYEG1sMwVOjZzQzFLz4ynFVPKYy3ifSEPAQtKSocMNE1bHUzG2uw7v_Ffbf7PAoghe3af9sMCCvhU/s3888/IMG_0808.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="3888" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX8JwYjNV4l-0nFiRwY1VvN1eWY1dlw8ut0HhPMVAaTVeai5q-OnPFMO_Eg61OrDuBYd5YJKbatKBQisseI3637qOSCSQ8cRCfsrLZAQebhdLsX_XYEG1sMwVOjZzQzFLz4ynFVPKYy3ifSEPAQtKSocMNE1bHUzG2uw7v_Ffbf7PAoghe3af9sMCCvhU/s320/IMG_0808.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfYQGWPM1BJhhD-NgDJKH7zB7so5oWrXlMcmTBlOt0m0tnONALqkmgPI718bh7PsGJm084vBNFFnGfXZz4qJLLE1YqFNaHl02JysG76m90T84QlqNsfbt8zxAr4Ird2a3saibxycXmWv1UsbCEFWFx-BanpsTzR6fvochNlh1jAmmFdoVdSXHJF67HO8A/s3888/IMG_0814.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="2592" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfYQGWPM1BJhhD-NgDJKH7zB7so5oWrXlMcmTBlOt0m0tnONALqkmgPI718bh7PsGJm084vBNFFnGfXZz4qJLLE1YqFNaHl02JysG76m90T84QlqNsfbt8zxAr4Ird2a3saibxycXmWv1UsbCEFWFx-BanpsTzR6fvochNlh1jAmmFdoVdSXHJF67HO8A/w133-h200/IMG_0814.JPG" width="133" /></a></div><p>Oia is at the north end of the island and the famous spot for the sunset. Lots of shops and meandering cliffside paths. We stopped in shops and made our way out to the castle/fort. Andy and I found the point had the view of the jigsaw puzzle I had gotten him for Christmas in preparation for the trip. As we made our way back for our pick-up we were met with a crush of crowd making their way out for the sunset. Lots of sticker-tagged people from the cruise ships. We opted to head back to Fira where I had a reservation at a cliffside restaurant for our 9 to watch the sunset.</p><p>More jokes and riddles and we were back headed for dinner. Riddles includes SHIT means Store High In Transit...for transporting feces which would release methane. FUCK means Fornication Under Consent of the King from the era of the black plague. Needless to say the teenagers really enjoyed these riddles. Even recording them in their phones to share with friends.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ4oYN5RbPDKr4cG3h0RTLu_13k6e-uxY0Sk3hpfm9-kx2ZfX1VWsRqrzPZYLn-gowvYsbfEQ2ttCtcHw3w5pjAEbQEBKRQTs5tNIpIcniBtdBOM4LdkJFaTsRraJvgN3W-5N958IC7ZNjCksdzWXfSjsSf7j-_gBig2a3KD1IF1Ks8TY4Xb-3alcLs9Q/s4000/20230801_211817.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ4oYN5RbPDKr4cG3h0RTLu_13k6e-uxY0Sk3hpfm9-kx2ZfX1VWsRqrzPZYLn-gowvYsbfEQ2ttCtcHw3w5pjAEbQEBKRQTs5tNIpIcniBtdBOM4LdkJFaTsRraJvgN3W-5N958IC7ZNjCksdzWXfSjsSf7j-_gBig2a3KD1IF1Ks8TY4Xb-3alcLs9Q/w200-h150/20230801_211817.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXmhbBvintkO7wScTSpXKeTnXDf8LGUS6NiaqkXuoqvc-qMgC-qSc9kkVhH4npjEPc7JIDqVZyRzmGFVtZaqehNOqeA1CsMAScy4ypoPBNsw1Osycj5-pd2iSC48fHPMB1X2OaJXFQ4Aqw6OfqTJ2MVhmuslIiEzjrjmwECENHIdbDmiYWcN1KfPDpbsU/s4000/20230801_213043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXmhbBvintkO7wScTSpXKeTnXDf8LGUS6NiaqkXuoqvc-qMgC-qSc9kkVhH4npjEPc7JIDqVZyRzmGFVtZaqehNOqeA1CsMAScy4ypoPBNsw1Osycj5-pd2iSC48fHPMB1X2OaJXFQ4Aqw6OfqTJ2MVhmuslIiEzjrjmwECENHIdbDmiYWcN1KfPDpbsU/w150-h200/20230801_213043.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>The different levels of Fira were tough and we made one wrong turn and had to call <a href="https://francosbar.gr/">Franco's</a>, the first bar that opened on Santorini, to find out we were literally right below it, only one level away. Franco's had good reviews, but had to admit I never found a menu with pricing. And it was worth it...the view, the food, and even the suprise of enjoying the live singer at the next door restaurant. The dinner presentation was the fanciest yet. Ally's vegetables with her entree were artfully put together in what resembled a landscape scene. We enjoyed sunset and after using the washroom carved into the hillside we were off in search of galato, Yes Cafe, before getting into line for the cable car down. They had told us it would only be about 20-25 minutes. Since there was still a cruise ship sitting out in the harbor we got in line with an hour to spare to the last cable car down and literally got our tickets purchased with 2 minutes to spare. And we knew we were OK as the group of 12 and 3 crew were in line behind us. And would not have to walk the donkey path back down. We all agreed Santorini was nice to do once, but we are OK to not return or if we ever considered it to only do so on the offseason. The crowds were just too much and on this day there was only one cruise ship on land when we were there. Normally there are 4 or more.<p></p><p>Once back on the boat we would enjoy the full moon over Santorini as we pulled away and the crew was ready for some music and a party to accompany it on the back deck as we were off to our next destination...Naxos.</p>A. Jollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01830577101142551098noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2182503089064002372.post-78158704810012237212023-08-04T23:26:00.005-07:002023-08-05T01:02:05.551-07:00From Goats to the Moon to a Taverna Take-Over<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisHRPU_3yE6dKYsjV-OJiJUYvfWARcuTOxc0IifpK1tWWEeiDbL2o_-iJRhP0HiNyKK2PgmbpAUiJGdZ4myLJKSkCj8Iv85kL5Yb9LGE8oGVTo6xP9esbPaUqcLkAhhVHT7HWAlnbYQ6UVi-HWPClAbvQZvz-RUgQYlOCjuLlHZzcrwJytPrCJrKv2HvE/s4000/20230731_122629.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisHRPU_3yE6dKYsjV-OJiJUYvfWARcuTOxc0IifpK1tWWEeiDbL2o_-iJRhP0HiNyKK2PgmbpAUiJGdZ4myLJKSkCj8Iv85kL5Yb9LGE8oGVTo6xP9esbPaUqcLkAhhVHT7HWAlnbYQ6UVi-HWPClAbvQZvz-RUgQYlOCjuLlHZzcrwJytPrCJrKv2HvE/s320/20230731_122629.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXV42txSxnl2LSGdBH9TuzMULUj0AftuYOdTr1sT15ckEl6ACxTNwMmsEBzOFHfFwexyBAcBhb-vbMsWTgDOLTRGUSF6v3s3i4KWvkRwQul3R4X6q-L-SleAPvbXyVaQ005TxMpFKxVPwO1TH75LhrS_vOqaFdqLOyJyII8ssDFcZCz4NBkRbCusApSUo/s4000/20230731_132213.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXV42txSxnl2LSGdBH9TuzMULUj0AftuYOdTr1sT15ckEl6ACxTNwMmsEBzOFHfFwexyBAcBhb-vbMsWTgDOLTRGUSF6v3s3i4KWvkRwQul3R4X6q-L-SleAPvbXyVaQ005TxMpFKxVPwO1TH75LhrS_vOqaFdqLOyJyII8ssDFcZCz4NBkRbCusApSUo/w150-h200/20230731_132213.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>Day 3 started with the most incredible swimstop at the island of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyaigos">Polyaigos</a>. The island is the largest in the Agean that is uninhabited, except for goats. In fact the Greek translation of the name is literally "many goats." The waters were pristine and we anchored the boat right off shore and the crew proceeded to drop SUPs, completely clear kayaks, and a massive inflatable unicorn off the side of the ship. We first donned our masks and snorkels to check out the underwater life. Unfortunately we are spoiled on the Caribbean and other locations with much more colorful fish, but we swam in closers to shore where there was algae gowing in the warmer waters and found lots more fish than our first island right off the beach. After a few hours we enjoyed lunch, including appetizers of grilled octopus and iced Ouzo, the anise-flavored apertif, on the boat and moved on to our next stop Milos.<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMwo-WxPySTSjkqc_mXRXK6sZNU6H3g9aum_cQIpBOuYJHE3YQFGqrR7pYMGsnY8XfQ4tz4XOMri3Mv9p5NiAgTR-p6iT5mFvtwWlApudOyhLSnsulBqyBEEPidHfWN3hasGbRW6vTZN8zynKHklxge7bGNRwJIOqdebNnbKGXnu_TVGaJQOx35K0CaCw/s4000/20230731_184118.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMwo-WxPySTSjkqc_mXRXK6sZNU6H3g9aum_cQIpBOuYJHE3YQFGqrR7pYMGsnY8XfQ4tz4XOMri3Mv9p5NiAgTR-p6iT5mFvtwWlApudOyhLSnsulBqyBEEPidHfWN3hasGbRW6vTZN8zynKHklxge7bGNRwJIOqdebNnbKGXnu_TVGaJQOx35K0CaCw/w200-h150/20230731_184118.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Our research in Milos revealed we had to go to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyaigos">Sarakinko</a>.The north winds have smoothed the white volcanic rocks into rounded surfaces appearing more lunar than earthly. We grabbed taxis over as we hoped for some cliff jumping for the kids, including one where after you finish you swim into a large bowl. The path down was obvious, but the area was vast, so the Moms hunkered down near a large mild swimming bowl and let the others venture. Not more than another 1 minute walk away they found the iconic jump spot, but the swell was insane. And the large bowl where the finish was had been turned into a washing machine set on a large, heavy load. So difficult Andy had to actually rescue two girls who were getting bashed against the rocks trying to climb out. Needless to say we did not allow the kids to jump and to be honest 4 of the 5 didn't bother to ask. We would explore, take lots of photos, wade in the mild pool, explore a cave, and near sunset pack up and climb out to ring our taxi to take us to the Chora area.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicVLjXP5vyhmxhRidWpUqBfi2PVUuqalYWlrAEOmh_sYNy4MPTJ5Gn5ySc7CWL0CtXvBRUVJudkwsqdNfVv8qkGD5fGXNXM1pWk_7uEhIQoQmyzlwxjnHUXWWWEk5OYDaON79K9wXlpe-Ibj6de4JH8aPGc6lhQGUIxbUzGeJEesUvxGZFkFqBD5s_qAY/s4000/20230731_184144.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicVLjXP5vyhmxhRidWpUqBfi2PVUuqalYWlrAEOmh_sYNy4MPTJ5Gn5ySc7CWL0CtXvBRUVJudkwsqdNfVv8qkGD5fGXNXM1pWk_7uEhIQoQmyzlwxjnHUXWWWEk5OYDaON79K9wXlpe-Ibj6de4JH8aPGc6lhQGUIxbUzGeJEesUvxGZFkFqBD5s_qAY/s320/20230731_184144.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>This island we did not have a reservation, so we were a little stressed for our party of 9. But we wandered into what seemed to be the main path and happened upon <a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g1572064-d1122542-Reviews-Archontoula-Plaka_Milos_Cyclades_South_Aegean.html">Archontoula</a>. We sent the Dads in and were quickly not only ushered in, but placed at a long table next to the other large group from the boat. The staff was amazingly friendly and everyone found something to eat, including their recommended house specialty <a href="https://www.yia-mas.com/blog/kritamo">kritamo</a> balls. Delish! But the best part of all they play a traditional Greek song at the top of each hour and it happened to be the same one the cruise crew had taught us to dance to the night before. So when the song came on we all locked arms started swaying and clapping and the atmosphere kicked up about 10 levels. The owner, we assume, who had appeared serious behind a large bar all evening busted out a large smile and started clapping. It was the best advertisement they could have received that evening. People were peering in every window phones aloft video'ing our crazy two tables of over 20 people. And when we left the line for a table stretched deep into the Chora. Definitely one of the trip highlights and the waiters even climbed into the rafters to photograph our tables.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoLSsWt3Z6uk_eX66GnBxR1QW2Qvg3U3iE65K0uo5QQIoji4Lx9s53U1tXgrN60A1-CVL90jdTZoDZEQ376re3mOidmkjLQpZ2zqSmhsAPoBkyAEcoPz8Oer7e5fE8kxrSMJWbKRet5cbGo8mZhTUV69jRyV5Kdkpjd-5dvmIkN6ad6gSbXt9wQ2CnoTw/s3648/20230731_204619.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoLSsWt3Z6uk_eX66GnBxR1QW2Qvg3U3iE65K0uo5QQIoji4Lx9s53U1tXgrN60A1-CVL90jdTZoDZEQ376re3mOidmkjLQpZ2zqSmhsAPoBkyAEcoPz8Oer7e5fE8kxrSMJWbKRet5cbGo8mZhTUV69jRyV5Kdkpjd-5dvmIkN6ad6gSbXt9wQ2CnoTw/s320/20230731_204619.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>More shopping and photos of cats and doors then exhaustion set in and we would call our taxi and return to the port for our ride back to the boat on our Zodiacs. By the way the crew took very good care of us. At each island stop one crew member stayed on land and took up residence at a local cafe to ensure we got on and off and on our way with all the info we needed. Time to rest because the next evening after a leisurely morning would bring the insanity that is Santorini.</p>A. Jollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01830577101142551098noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2182503089064002372.post-17349702215535563762023-08-03T07:27:00.002-07:002023-08-03T14:54:39.961-07:00Quaint Sifnos & KimolosEveryone adjusted to the boat. A few of the kids took non-drowsy Dramamine at dinner the first night, but everyone slept well during our first movement overnight. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0QoDvrb7Cw-_N4cPWSSdBB8ZkGOCIRlth13oj8QHgXms3-pX_PzFl5CVl1KrHEzRtHK5ZG35lGEZvQxQxLnaukfYjRCG5jMQ1JX6ANsmV0aHSrC6Z-s0S3XEXkdSDceEyOlfaqH0gKp-7dypnHGccTxMy-HxuAAVcgw5ysMmgRKBtcvbIQwfG_KSiaU4/s5728/20230730_154625.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2037" data-original-width="5728" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0QoDvrb7Cw-_N4cPWSSdBB8ZkGOCIRlth13oj8QHgXms3-pX_PzFl5CVl1KrHEzRtHK5ZG35lGEZvQxQxLnaukfYjRCG5jMQ1JX6ANsmV0aHSrC6Z-s0S3XEXkdSDceEyOlfaqH0gKp-7dypnHGccTxMy-HxuAAVcgw5ysMmgRKBtcvbIQwfG_KSiaU4/s320/20230730_154625.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>We awoke to the quaint port of <a href="https://sifnos.gr/en/villages/kamares/" target="_blank">Kamares </a>on the island of <a href="https://www.discovergreece.com/cyclades/sifnos" target="_blank">Sifnos</a>. We even managed to make it upstairs for pilates with our bartender Eva at 8:30. After a pleasant buffet breakfast with fresh fruit, meats, omlette bar, juice, coffee, and even the kids could order pancakes. The ship had already used its wench to pull our Zodiac boats off the upper deck and we were a quick 90 second trip into the dock. </div><div><br /></div><div>Our choices were to get a car, bus, or taxi to the other side of the island to the capitol of Applonia or just hunker down on chaise under umbrellas right there. We opted for easy and walked about 3 minutes to <a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g1163211-d21215542-Reviews-To_Kohyli-Kamares_Sifnos_Cyclades_South_Aegean.html">To Kohyl</a>i on the beach and scored 3 setups of a large umbrealla, two large cushioned chaise, table, and of course waiters. Cost $20eu per set-up. Unfortunately it's high season and they were not offering free with purchase. A wonderfully shallow bay with warm water we waded and watched the ferry's pour in after an hour time. The most exciting was when a massive ferry came barreling in and we seriously thought he was going to ram the beach, but they threw on the brakes and backed into the dock and offloaded hundreds of people and cars. After about an hour and a half it was packed.</div><div><br /></div><div>The kids and Moms enjoyed food right there on the beach...pizzas, ham and cheese baguette, crepes, and of course cocktails. The guys however decided to venture to the recommended <a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g1163211-d1795521-Reviews-Simos-Kamares_Sifnos_Cyclades_South_Aegean.html">O Simos</a> where they enjoyed parrot fish, chick pea soup, and mastelo (goat). We meandered the shops and made our way to the dock for an early afternoon departure to Kimolos.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMYrqYJboYOAwe0oPpST3zs7ELJrDHBad_QEro7BNNuqKtW__ohtzwpq1y311Op7e-3QO12tw7u0SBO8POUvUnqdkGSmjBqrwC9Ttpc4Cz_s6lsDVS4oa3B6DhX_3DtSf4_tBzNJat8lhuw_734rY0XlfItWDaGz_u6BGoyiwbWLEoRftd-UcUWIfkseg/s3888/IMG_0698.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="2592" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMYrqYJboYOAwe0oPpST3zs7ELJrDHBad_QEro7BNNuqKtW__ohtzwpq1y311Op7e-3QO12tw7u0SBO8POUvUnqdkGSmjBqrwC9Ttpc4Cz_s6lsDVS4oa3B6DhX_3DtSf4_tBzNJat8lhuw_734rY0XlfItWDaGz_u6BGoyiwbWLEoRftd-UcUWIfkseg/s320/IMG_0698.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>We enjoyed a Samba lesson with Mikel before arriving in <a href="https://wwwhttps://www.greeka.com/cyclades/kimolos/.greeka.com/cyclades/kimolos/" target="_blank">Kimolos</a> and having dinner on board right as we were docked right at the harbor and could walk on and off with boat. We did have to time one thing which was a bus ($5eu one way) up to the main town. We were not sure if we would go, but were lured with a music festival with free wine and appetizers. We arrrived at just after 8PM and wandered the streets, stopped in some shops, a church and finally settling into a little bar outside the church for a drink after not locating the festival. We ventured a bit more in search of it and did some more shopping, but no luck we opted to walk back down to the Harbor, about 15min, on a beautiful moonlit night.</div><div><br /></div><div>We enjoyed a beverage on board and awaited others to return and alas one of the last groups in did indeed find the festival, which was much higher up than we were looking in a schoolyard. But we had a wonderful evening and were ready to turn in as the next day would be a picturesque swimstop before heading onto Milos.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCJU025P4pmnuTRed0Mbl_sLPIRq8Vely0RP9l9S1cLgd_2QYhNqPmWQYcX002WwipTNmKlz7RrC6AnQHFj4tEm_1kjZMBGIy198P-KM1WD3QZwYAVEBNsst47lbwa-vElctZj27e5Z5tn-U0B7wg6zOV39k9EsvMYBT6L8LvEc-ZF0H8wc0CmQmiOQ6E/s3888/IMG_0715.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="3888" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCJU025P4pmnuTRed0Mbl_sLPIRq8Vely0RP9l9S1cLgd_2QYhNqPmWQYcX002WwipTNmKlz7RrC6AnQHFj4tEm_1kjZMBGIy198P-KM1WD3QZwYAVEBNsst47lbwa-vElctZj27e5Z5tn-U0B7wg6zOV39k9EsvMYBT6L8LvEc-ZF0H8wc0CmQmiOQ6E/s320/IMG_0715.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>A. Jollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01830577101142551098noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2182503089064002372.post-77243785690581281052023-08-02T00:45:00.001-07:002023-08-02T00:47:27.253-07:00All Aboard the Elysium<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgn8rlh8xVYR3tyfeeA7S4Hp5cBnnxdTfZL986GrJxxa9kGUREUWfMJlOGmBuP9CsHbLPnPndyRTQJAcFX52nwzeYrId9oS4lh0m9_BAiqsJUAneS3q9YEnFl-pkzf82_eKk3Dp_eq9kRlxiWrbr2aMGFftMzvbzc-0gfeYu962c6UNQbVNr6n_9LKP3Y/s4000/20230729_111112.jpg" style="background-color: #274e13; clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgn8rlh8xVYR3tyfeeA7S4Hp5cBnnxdTfZL986GrJxxa9kGUREUWfMJlOGmBuP9CsHbLPnPndyRTQJAcFX52nwzeYrId9oS4lh0m9_BAiqsJUAneS3q9YEnFl-pkzf82_eKk3Dp_eq9kRlxiWrbr2aMGFftMzvbzc-0gfeYu962c6UNQbVNr6n_9LKP3Y/w150-h200/20230729_111112.jpg" width="150" /><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: white;">We worked our hotel until the last possible second. We woke and went to breakfast again in our rooftop restaurant. Buffet style, European of course, with all kinds of breads, fruits, meats, fish, and your tradition American needs of cereal for the kids and other. Ally was feeling the jetlag and would go back to our room where we cranked the air and she slept for over an hour, until literally 10:45. Checkout was at 11, so I packed her bag and feeling better we stored all of our baggage and headed off the</span> </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"><span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"><span><a href="https://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=Awrhcuq1HchkyScTwARXNyoA;_ylu=Y29sbwNiZjEEcG9zAzQEdnRpZANDQVEyNTUyM0FfMQRzZWMDc3I-/RV=2/RE=1690865205/RO=10/RU=https%3a%2f%2fwww.thisisathens.org%2fneighbourhoods%2fplaka-guide/RK=2/RS=Zkmiwp2VhzD_wtADJi7eIVg15_g-">Pláka</a></span><span>.</span></span></span></div><p></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgseA0AypIS6EkdSIhb50Mm-ANxbdG4EUT4D43tjSBc6CTdK14rlZ5IicWArG4-Mtle_qHbw6ny0M5Y14HmeJ03Eh8NVoiIPQbiG65IBm7IV2Ox0bqazdhfmfgXzn7CND-KGexqsQR4wYjwwPcAwfyLx_O3DXOr4l9yRSq_I_EkRpbVNok6gQkUJKUSzek/s4000/20230729_121720.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgseA0AypIS6EkdSIhb50Mm-ANxbdG4EUT4D43tjSBc6CTdK14rlZ5IicWArG4-Mtle_qHbw6ny0M5Y14HmeJ03Eh8NVoiIPQbiG65IBm7IV2Ox0bqazdhfmfgXzn7CND-KGexqsQR4wYjwwPcAwfyLx_O3DXOr4l9yRSq_I_EkRpbVNok6gQkUJKUSzek/w150-h200/20230729_121720.jpg" width="150" /></span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><span style="background-color: #274e13;">Pláka is the old historical neighborhood of Athens, clustered around the northern and eastern slopes of the Acrop</span></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span>polis, and incorporating labyrinthine streets and neoclassical architecture. Located only a couple of minute walk from the hotel we wandered the streets popping in stores. We finally decided a bite for lunch would be smart as we would not board our boat until 1:30 and then would not have dinner until sunset. It was very hot, so we found a restaurant, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/oionoscafe">Oinos Cafe</a>, with large umbrellas, fans, and even misters. </span></span><span style="background-color: #274e13; font-family: inherit;"> Everyone found something on the menu and the adult men enjoyed their first Greek beers and myself the rage of Europe cocktails, Aperol Spritz.</span></p><p><span><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: #274e13; text-align: left;">Back to the hotel two sharp dressed drivers with 2 Mercedes vans picked us and and drove us an hour to the Port of Lavrio where our boat was one of 2. The other a Club Med boat. Greeted on the dock they tagged our bags and we were brought on board and greeted with cool towels and cold water...and a room full of Americans. Turns out another 12 passengers were fraternity brothers and their wives who graduated ASU in 1991 and live in Cali and Arizona. Sprinkle in a few more passengers...couples from New Zealand, Australia, Switzerland, and a mother and daughter from Colorado and our 50 passenger boat only had 31 people.</span></span></span></div><p></p><p><span><span style="background-color: #274e13; font-family: inherit;">And this turned out to be good fortune for us as they would upgrade all the kids from the cheapest and smallest cabins, C, to B and Andy and I to B+ from B. The rooms were much more spacious that we expected. And on each bed we found a gift bag full of goodies. We had time to unpack and then had a safety briefing at 3:30 before setting sail to Cape Sounion.</span></span></p><p><span><span style="background-color: #274e13; font-family: inherit;">At our safety briefing we were introduced to our acitivites crew as well as the bartender and our spa attendant. Yes, there is a spa on board. Everyone seemed super fun. We would get interesting news which was that the winds were going to cause some changes to our day to day island plans, which means the last 3 weeks we adults have been planning restaurants and making reservations had just been upended. But that's OK...the activities crew was ready to help us rework everything.</span></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgun_8-x8YbrJgRx3u8jiOenDgM5kIGUTdF43NdCF3t5XJlm5tFwND8-O7tcCR9D3aWr2LT2W9a6Tj5afEbZAUkGiDw0A_2E-ec-EbCHLSi0vgxlrlhMjNRJthglpjDduok_4EhthlzA7IqAq4m5I_J1v62duFlSb68RoYYDftBd9H44GI2gGLfzj_z2RI/s4000/20230729_174414.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgun_8-x8YbrJgRx3u8jiOenDgM5kIGUTdF43NdCF3t5XJlm5tFwND8-O7tcCR9D3aWr2LT2W9a6Tj5afEbZAUkGiDw0A_2E-ec-EbCHLSi0vgxlrlhMjNRJthglpjDduok_4EhthlzA7IqAq4m5I_J1v62duFlSb68RoYYDftBd9H44GI2gGLfzj_z2RI/w200-h150/20230729_174414.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div><strike style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: #274e13; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="932" data-original-width="972" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEuWsJqz0NGwha1OufUQqqN5fInpr_ZZRsEq9lAmirC2Wz7HQUOQd8XEDm9pkQ1TiGLn_paLul_v6rxVUawjf58z5cIVD2UxWVwPxaABM4Hjx0nteXCRbIH_Ih_dL-7LtUTScwiFRco9XsHJlO7GsOsHcduDbhX7GgAEWMPFpNmc5CWXQZjRU2BvEaMFQ/w200-h192/20230729_170313-1.jpg" width="200" /></span></strike><span style="background-color: #274e13; font-family: inherit;">We finished unpacking and changed into swimsuits as we would be dropping anchor early enough to swim before dinner. We all and I do mean nearly the entire boat was in the water below the another jawdropping view, <a href="https://theculturetrip.com/europe/greece/articles/a-brief-history-of-the-temple-of-poseidon-sounion/">Temple of Poseidon</a>. After swimming in the warm waters we were given enough time to clean up before going upstairs for welcome drinks and an amazing dinner on the deck outside. We enjoyed a beautiful sunset and would stay here until nealry midnight. How do we know? Ally, Andy, and I went up on the top deck and watched the waxing moon and the Starlink satelite overhead and when we went to bed at a little after 11 we heard the motors fire up and the anchor raised and we were off to our Sifnos.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS598uUnX0zNnh3UAdtK-KcEBqc2M4g10-R4EZFJZlwCWnv_LZTaiJHEUvt1fbRCQgmW2jj1425CXKpQSQ8GH4y3u0TmIcbKdq_Ewr-fSZ0xUgsOyR3BmG5kgjDklSefTnTPHGQbxHcDXKEAzW-FDsCOaN9pPrPjpzGlgwmqpvRhaLNrf-Q3YTp0X7VKA/s4000/20230729_202233.jpg" style="background-color: #38761d; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS598uUnX0zNnh3UAdtK-KcEBqc2M4g10-R4EZFJZlwCWnv_LZTaiJHEUvt1fbRCQgmW2jj1425CXKpQSQ8GH4y3u0TmIcbKdq_Ewr-fSZ0xUgsOyR3BmG5kgjDklSefTnTPHGQbxHcDXKEAzW-FDsCOaN9pPrPjpzGlgwmqpvRhaLNrf-Q3YTp0X7VKA/s320/20230729_202233.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><br /></p>A. Jollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01830577101142551098noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2182503089064002372.post-36011501846080724672023-07-31T05:23:00.004-07:002023-07-31T13:44:43.292-07:00Going Again to Greece<p>Since our last blog we did sneak in our usual addiction, a trip to Beaches Jamaica. It's easy. It's familiar. But with Andy's fourth sabbatical and the kids getting older, Allyson in college and Alec a rising junior we know our time with them is growing more and more finite, so we needed to go big. We voted as a family last summer and the kids elected for water and beaches versus lots of touring with ruins and history.</p><p>Andy has forever wanted to charter a boat and do some sailing, so initially we looked into chatering a boat with a captain in the Greek islands. But then I, Avis, said it's my vacation too and I don't want to cook. So by the time we booked a boat with 3 bedrooms, sailing vessels are too small to make the kids share, a room for a captain, and a cook, and all the provisions I found it priced out to some cases more than this <a href="https://unforgettablegreece.com/signature-greece-cruise">Unforgettable Greece Small Ship Cycladic Islands tour.</a> So we went for it booking a B & C (smallest and cheapest and second smallest and cheapest) room on the Elysium.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaL0yyKi6qrGZ3vMOd1Ude223oFBxjMhTpXW5yPLDtPt1ZOowvMkf8VlvP1PAIVIjDgPaXTYT9sZY3bnmES5c3FAk3odH9INLNAfzjPeyOAKW9RMPazSvPFE9WerApKPzMU4_dxsARcl7vN5s6vOUQHC_hf2aSbHL41089z5sTqerC8BZ8Mk-PdbtqEKM/s857/Elysium.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="570" data-original-width="857" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaL0yyKi6qrGZ3vMOd1Ude223oFBxjMhTpXW5yPLDtPt1ZOowvMkf8VlvP1PAIVIjDgPaXTYT9sZY3bnmES5c3FAk3odH9INLNAfzjPeyOAKW9RMPazSvPFE9WerApKPzMU4_dxsARcl7vN5s6vOUQHC_hf2aSbHL41089z5sTqerC8BZ8Mk-PdbtqEKM/w200-h133/Elysium.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><p>Over the next several months while we awaited time to pass and our long-time friends, the Jarnac family, decided to come along. Win-win for us allowing the kids, who arean't really kids anymore to have some friends around their age (18, 16, & 13) and us to travel with some of our best friends since college.</p>July 27 we were off having booked a round trip on United from SFO to Paris (and we might have planned a couple days at the end of the trip) and then a round trip from Paris to Athens on Agean. We recommend the slight upgrade from Economy to Premium Plus. More room, pillow, blankets, beverages, and the same meal service as First Class/Polaris.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8m16F5xtmGApJVE2Jd7KJrXUOHaFYiSd_Ho0EdApD5JYfN1G27Z4C2xQNmDHp9dYGYFu8CzQNrqVKEOgKxofu6qxOothiluRXXkfZsCzz4haDPX80nF0W48M6htJxTzbMpQDpLcqx1uXFsFy9ocQHB77MNEI73AkQ6lMAfhiw-OFWWxnFhJWFdUa4jNI/s4000/20230727_162128.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2252" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8m16F5xtmGApJVE2Jd7KJrXUOHaFYiSd_Ho0EdApD5JYfN1G27Z4C2xQNmDHp9dYGYFu8CzQNrqVKEOgKxofu6qxOothiluRXXkfZsCzz4haDPX80nF0W48M6htJxTzbMpQDpLcqx1uXFsFy9ocQHB77MNEI73AkQ6lMAfhiw-OFWWxnFhJWFdUa4jNI/w112-h200/20230727_162128.jpg" width="112" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisXyHfKTeREWskamx5ABFWpKR3mah0wkiu4RWURr9bpygGgvhPx7p90EfQQmrxPycfj1QHTLgdsH5VdpZaHd7hUALzmat4PKAGF7JvmWVtJ0cMUR9e6UEFXV2hNwZBokJXPalRQUEdLPZTmQsp3tGGXp3F-A9d_TzwDZZAyIf8fewpeLCpdum-96zeed4/s4000/20230727_162133.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2252" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisXyHfKTeREWskamx5ABFWpKR3mah0wkiu4RWURr9bpygGgvhPx7p90EfQQmrxPycfj1QHTLgdsH5VdpZaHd7hUALzmat4PKAGF7JvmWVtJ0cMUR9e6UEFXV2hNwZBokJXPalRQUEdLPZTmQsp3tGGXp3F-A9d_TzwDZZAyIf8fewpeLCpdum-96zeed4/w113-h200/20230727_162133.jpg" width="113" /></a><p></p><p>We planned a single night in Athens as we visited it in <a href="http://www.childonthego.com/search?q=athens" target="_blank">2014</a> but we wanted a little bit of experience so we utilized the the travel company and booked <a href="https://www.eliaermouhotel.com/the-hotel/">Elia Ermou</a> near the Plaka, which we did not get to visit last time. After a little delay on 2 of our 4 gate checked bags our driver, Spiros, wisked us away in our Mercedes van to the hotel where we had 45 minutes to freshen up before our rooftop dinner. This hotel was your typical European hotel with a tiny lobby and tiny elevators, but numerous of those...at least 5 luckily as each one barely fit our family of 4. 2 rooms were required as rooms are small, but they were still more spacious than others we've had in France, Switzerland, and elsewhere.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK5CBnNvi4j8MaT1ZXZyGXECvEEZ5YmjIKTnIjl_S-6CtveCdnhMfD0QBM9zIoC7Be-Y0HIZA1Q259__sdyxC-5hGCf7Fn1xXtoNvyUpaKo8uS7oI-RAMCla2exlo3RdXGxpIBJvBcVhwnPzfEoAVEK5C96A4bvsRVm5Lh4BmynD6Ha_91S7otGj-S16E/s1024/IMG-20230731-WA0000.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK5CBnNvi4j8MaT1ZXZyGXECvEEZ5YmjIKTnIjl_S-6CtveCdnhMfD0QBM9zIoC7Be-Y0HIZA1Q259__sdyxC-5hGCf7Fn1xXtoNvyUpaKo8uS7oI-RAMCla2exlo3RdXGxpIBJvBcVhwnPzfEoAVEK5C96A4bvsRVm5Lh4BmynD6Ha_91S7otGj-S16E/w400-h300/IMG-20230731-WA0000.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p>Dinner was amazing ...the portions were large and the view was jaw dropping. Every table had a view of the Acropolis with open windows and even ceiling. We would dine for 3 hours and when the kids finally called it a night we joined the bartender for a round of <a href="https://greekcitytimes.com/2018/06/08/dos-and-donts-of-drinking-ouzo/">Ouzo</a>, a anise/licorce, flavored apertif, after he had already sent another round of fruity shots to the five of us.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-5JQB4zXLuehVWrJBBq7GRK0n3mRQPgNRdW3QiZ-5va8kHIeu9yDMa729QDFRWQ2PI_dyNHd85ygqLPus_hzz7TNiCweKJg1tGKp6Ydtyw9J6op_57fSNW_AqHhPGG_BDC78-q9XF1Xy7Sne9FqE6TGkp598T9_BrMGKl1-oINCbCi1KxMCCWX5fNN-w/s3648/20230728_231415.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-5JQB4zXLuehVWrJBBq7GRK0n3mRQPgNRdW3QiZ-5va8kHIeu9yDMa729QDFRWQ2PI_dyNHd85ygqLPus_hzz7TNiCweKJg1tGKp6Ydtyw9J6op_57fSNW_AqHhPGG_BDC78-q9XF1Xy7Sne9FqE6TGkp598T9_BrMGKl1-oINCbCi1KxMCCWX5fNN-w/w200-h150/20230728_231415.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><p>Five you ask? Allyson is legal drinking age in Greece and she even joined us in judging our first bottle of Greek wine. The verdict...it tasted "dusty."</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3cdCCR7aabm6Ief85xmJnQmpAo7lucqBt-nSGOom9s6TaxfcDHj83cyVk-THXfaMAz8hlHRCppKDC6hAjIsCaTJNj_pGe8XRgWSrut_sXJNGH5syaxFKt12KKolQ488NWkBgvz3Ukyla29Gd5MwzlaaT054P6z_Gt1Ocx5IaMTmoKm5q5Jzr2dgPB3Xs/s4000/20230728_220947.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2252" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3cdCCR7aabm6Ief85xmJnQmpAo7lucqBt-nSGOom9s6TaxfcDHj83cyVk-THXfaMAz8hlHRCppKDC6hAjIsCaTJNj_pGe8XRgWSrut_sXJNGH5syaxFKt12KKolQ488NWkBgvz3Ukyla29Gd5MwzlaaT054P6z_Gt1Ocx5IaMTmoKm5q5Jzr2dgPB3Xs/w113-h200/20230728_220947.jpg" width="113" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUEbZ-1w3KFevyo--o4SqfIZLdov1HNYX8pbsLvHKRX4Dzq3qT9Um7B5t95lpztQ9QHHiqkd8F9kC68C6KEREP1MIp5REWD5bv2lCxh832AYFe21XrQK_y9_ubejpMDgYhPVmGgARNdXuSL2sPd05YpoqAmXQQ5sLwfPjKA5JB6lasMQiTsT4Tp7Ai9_s/s4000/20230728_220932.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2252" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUEbZ-1w3KFevyo--o4SqfIZLdov1HNYX8pbsLvHKRX4Dzq3qT9Um7B5t95lpztQ9QHHiqkd8F9kC68C6KEREP1MIp5REWD5bv2lCxh832AYFe21XrQK_y9_ubejpMDgYhPVmGgARNdXuSL2sPd05YpoqAmXQQ5sLwfPjKA5JB6lasMQiTsT4Tp7Ai9_s/w113-h200/20230728_220932.jpg" width="113" /></a></p><p>Finally in bed at after midnight, which was our goal to speed our transition to the time zone. We would not be rushed the next morning. Breakfast would be included with the hotel and our driver to the port would not arrive until 1:30, so plenty of time to slowly get up, dine, and explore the Plaka.</p>A. Jollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01830577101142551098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2182503089064002372.post-69591393460945963512021-04-08T03:52:00.012-07:002021-04-08T05:02:53.663-07:00Being Flexible While Traveling....<div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“The best laid schemes o’ mice an’ men. Gang aft a-gley”. Or to translate, the best laid plans of mice and men can still go wrong. </span><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">No matter how well you plan, there is no guarantee of success</span>. By the way “Gang aft-a-gley” means “goes wrong”.<span style="background-color: transparent;"> Having traveled extensively we have really tried to keep this in mind, but me of my has it really been tested during day 4 & 5. Add that to what is called "island time," which has truly lived up to its etymology of being a double entendres ....</span></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">On the one hand it refers to pace, a certain slack attitude towards the clock. But it also refers to time well spent, away, in a place that refreshes the spirit and cleanses the soul.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cF-NhAyuL6M/YG7iYLXSJaI/AAAAAAABUEU/P454uPiST14fJixFhGiwMU8Aj1yVM8JsgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210406_095514.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cF-NhAyuL6M/YG7iYLXSJaI/AAAAAAABUEU/P454uPiST14fJixFhGiwMU8Aj1yVM8JsgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20210406_095514.jpg" /></a></div>Day 4 had us up early heading for Road Town and the <a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Sensation Ferry</a> to Virgin Gorda. We were loaded down with snorkeling gear to swim around the famous <a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Baths</a>, which we had visited when last here in 2016. We had a car booked so we could move about more easily as we have learned flexibility is key and things are not what they seem during a pandemic. Meaning call ahead no matter what the website, Facebook, or Trip Advisor says about operational hours. We booked our tickets on-line and parked about a city block right on the water and found everything easily. Once sanitized we headed to the top deck for the 25 minute ride over...where the kids quickly found the wifi.<br /><br /></div><div>Upon arrival we were greeted by eager taxi drivers, but we informed them we had a rental and were headed to Virgin Gorda rentals. A short 2 block walk from the terminal we turned up the alley marked with their business sign when up behind us came one of the taxi drivers honking their horn like mad. I thought we must be in the way so I yelled to the kids ahead to get over to the side, but then he sticks his head out and yells..."hey man I am just trying to help you." We circle back to his car to find out the rental company owner tried to call Andy on the way over and he would not be able to help us today...his Mom was ill. So he had hooked us up with someone else. Hmmm.... well, we've always gone with the belief most of the people in the world are good. And right again...sure enough after several calls up drove a smiling young man who had tried to intercept us at the ferry, but different from the US you do not tell them when you will pick up the car...you simply tell them what your ferry departs your place of origin, so he thought we were on a different one. Then minutes later up pulls another guy with the car and the paperwork. Super great guys! <a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">L&S</a> was the company. And another nod to this welcoming and trusting community...just leave it in the ferry terminal unlocked with the keys inside.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwlPbLUPkENPVFk4F66lktmJfYAukH2Adh-RmmpdNtchJlz_9MVjLkbt09GWv5QR51w-Y3ZS9z7wgQNIRnsyw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div>Off to the the Baths National Park we were nervous as there was some serious waves coming in from the North. So we were hoping at least Devils Bay which was a little more west exposure might be OK. NOPE! Red flag. No one allowed in the water. So we paid our entry fee and proceeded to walk, climb and wade through the amazing rock boulders. Still an incredible experience. Then when finished we went to the <a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Top of the Baths</a>...which was a small set-up of restaurant, bar, stores, and a freshwater pool to swim in. We were the ONLY people there, but the staff happily greeted us...took our temperature and sanitized our hands, and guided us to any table of our choice. We enjoyed drinks, some snacks, and a dip in the pool. And the staff was super excited when we even did a little shopping in one of the boutiques. The initial reason by the way we stopped there was for free wifi because teachers had told Ally she could Zoom into class, but in the end with testing they canceled all of that, so the kids, especially Ally taunted friends who were in school with texts or snaps. Now for the record they are both doing their school work from here.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-miaqpjURgjk/YG5snA6G-cI/AAAAAAABUBA/b7pl6To986UP5fFESIFiMVVJjH-LOt90gCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20210406_112116.jpg" width="320" /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">So...choices...do we head back on the earlier ferry and cut our loses OR do we look for another spot to spend our day. On the dive boat a day earlier the locals had told Andy to try <a href="https://www.bvitourism.com/savannah-bay-beach">Savannah Bay</a>. This incredible bay was not one for snorkeling on this day, but the waves were perfect for a little body surfing. And again we had the entire beach to ourselves. No chairs as these are more like parks we did note some of the trees/bushes had been trained to be natural cabanas, so we threw out our blanket and used the beautifully painted tires with little messages to hold the corners and sunk in for the afternoon. We all even managed a big nap, which left Ally with some very sunburned legs. A quick bite at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheBathandTurtleChezBamboo">The Bath & Turtle/Chez Bamboo</a> where kids enjoyed pizza and Andy and I shared a Caribbean Burger and a Virgin Islands Summer Ale. CocoMaya the most famous restaurant on the island was closed on this day and our rental car guys had recommended this place.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rRPRgZWQBgQ/YG7ipn1cmlI/AAAAAAABUEc/2HWY72fvJjE-T_DQVCLUBxHKufr6-NzqACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210406_134055.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="168" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rRPRgZWQBgQ/YG7ipn1cmlI/AAAAAAABUEc/2HWY72fvJjE-T_DQVCLUBxHKufr6-NzqACLcBGAsYHQ/w299-h168/20210406_134055.jpg" width="299" /></a></div><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XggNmp5ppWs/YG7iplXI_eI/AAAAAAABUEg/IHh-FP89dNs4ua5yeUzPArNHh15-pcQdACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210406_130133.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="170" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XggNmp5ppWs/YG7iplXI_eI/AAAAAAABUEg/IHh-FP89dNs4ua5yeUzPArNHh15-pcQdACLcBGAsYHQ/w303-h170/20210406_130133.jpg" width="303" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The 4:45 ferry had us back at our house in time for Andy to do an incredible sunset SUP.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vZJQdjeEP8g/YG7i0n6LmAI/AAAAAAABUEk/h7sQ3gQ84xAIfQRmpi2_cvBkcV8RitDhwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210406_184339.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vZJQdjeEP8g/YG7i0n6LmAI/AAAAAAABUEk/h7sQ3gQ84xAIfQRmpi2_cvBkcV8RitDhwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20210406_184339.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Day 5...which is also 72 hours before our return flight meant another COVID test. There is no information on how to make this happen, other than I heard from some other Americans you go to the hospital again. So I called the COVID hotline and they took all our information and told us to show up at 10:30, so they could clean everything after the quarantined people from the early morning were done. Uhhh...that didn't work too well...there were lots of people arriving when we were there that were coming for their Day 4 test. The other thing that didn't work...paying with credit card for the $70 test. They had only one person inside the hospital doing transactions at a rate of 1 every 5-10 minutes. And after 90 minutes the lady walked out and called "Jolly" and told Andy his card did not work. So we gave her another card and when she walked out again she called for everyone's attention that the internet was down and they could only take cash. Oh me oh my...Andy was off to the ATM. 4 COVID Tests, $280, and 2 hours of our day and we were finally on our way. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sos6qNOCS-M/YG7jUiSHoMI/AAAAAAABUEw/Ti98mUzZCIsEiRk_Tqm5ZQ5fH9fpl2NjACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210407_141536.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1782" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sos6qNOCS-M/YG7jUiSHoMI/AAAAAAABUEw/Ti98mUzZCIsEiRk_Tqm5ZQ5fH9fpl2NjACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20210407_141536.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>We headed to <a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g147354-d147880-Reviews-Cane_Garden_Bay-Tortola_British_Virgin_Islands.html">Cane Garden Bay</a>...the closest to Jost on Tortola where we found one beach bar open (<a href="https://www.facebook.com/paradiseclubvi/">Paradise Club Lounge Bar & Restaurant</a>), but after that experience the word "bar" was all Andy and I needed. We settled into a picnic table with many others we spotted from the COVID testing to one of our best lunches to date...Mahi Mahi burger for Andy and chicken wraps with a sauce infused with coconut. A little beach time and we reassessed the rest of the day. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We decided to run the kids back to the house for homework and Andy and I would keep an appointment with Fedrica, the wife of <a href="http://www.aragornsstudio.com/Aragorn.htm">Aragorn</a> a well known local artist and farmer.<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Before coming down to the Virgin Islands I had simply spoken "British Virgin Islands" into our fire stick to see if anything fun came up and there was an old documentary about this guy and the metal work he does. Most notably out of old metal buoys. He uses a blowtorch and cuts intricate designs and then fills them with wood and other and basically they are gigantic</span><a href="http://www.aragornsstudio.com/fire.htm" style="font-family: inherit;"> round firepits</a><span style="font-family: inherit;">. When not a pandemic this place is famous for its full moon parties, but obviously this has all been stopped pretty much since last March.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n51GyBw-POE/YG7kH4VqEzI/AAAAAAABUE4/5E4iZeVQng0v2RLmTgANE9ShSlB6O9kJgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210407_161004.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1874" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n51GyBw-POE/YG7kH4VqEzI/AAAAAAABUE4/5E4iZeVQng0v2RLmTgANE9ShSlB6O9kJgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20210407_161004.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Fedrica, scheduled our visit for 4PM and she texted Andy at 4 and said she was running late from their luncheon. They also own an organic farm that does boxes and provisioning for chefs on the boats of the wealthy. Today would be as close as we got to celebrity for when Fedrica arrived she apologized profusely that her luncheon for the Bransons (uuhhh....yes...that one) had run over. We simply nodded and said no problem, but not surprised as the documentary actually shared that Sir Richard Branson had commissioned Aragorn to do a fireball for Necker Island and it is said to be cut outs of the island's famous guests.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">We opted for 4 shirts that are screen printed with artwork by Aragorn and based on the local environment and culture, a mug for my Mom, a hand-painted ornament, and a beautiful piece of pottery. No fireball for us...they start at several thousand dollars and that's before shipping and living in wildfire zone probably not a great idea. We had a wonderful time chatting about the islands, farms, etc...as island time struck again and the piece of pottery I wanted was not logged in the system and then for the second time today the internet was down, but this time she hand-wrote out info and sent us on our way and we had a receipt within 30 minutes after she got home.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">Not the days we planned but very nice ones none the less and met some wonderful people along the way.</span></div><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span></span>A. Jollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01830577101142551098noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2182503089064002372.post-19656934970619373062021-04-07T05:57:00.005-07:002021-04-07T07:01:24.377-07:00More Snorkeling and Diving<p>Day 2 out of quarantine we decided to stay on Tortola on a local beach with some snorkeling perhaps. We headed out to <a href="https://www.tripadvisor.in/Attraction_Review-g147354-d147983-Reviews-Smuggler_s_Cove-Tortola_British_Virgin_Islands.html">Smuggler's Cove</a> which faces Jost Van Dyke, the island we had been the day prior. We knew we were on the right track seeing signs for Nigel's Beach Bar. We pulled off the sandy road to a wide open beautiful bay bright blue in the center and darker on the edges where small reefs were. We poked our head around the corner to see about 4 people in chairs with umbrellas. Knowing most of these places charge for their use Andy headed to what we would find is a shutdown Nigel's. Surfboards, SUPS, all stacked and chained neatly. We read on <a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g147354-d8817444-Reviews-Nigel_s_Boom_Boom_Beach_Bar_Grill-Tortola_British_Virgin_Islands.html">Trip Advisor a review from January</a>, so we are guessing he is only open on the weekends, but his <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Nigelboomboom/">Facebook</a> has not been updated since before Irma.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KEyUY0lzBKU/YG2rxQ0RucI/AAAAAAABT8E/le5z8gjIlCU70PbYK6WQy9cLw-59bA7dwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_0176%2B%25283%2529.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2019" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KEyUY0lzBKU/YG2rxQ0RucI/AAAAAAABT8E/le5z8gjIlCU70PbYK6WQy9cLw-59bA7dwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_0176%2B%25283%2529.JPG" /></a></div><p>Having packed lunch and drinks (bring a cooler bag on trips) we were good to go. 4 chairs and an umbrella up we proceeded to enjoy the day of snorkeling and beach time. Lots of fish, especially if you hung to the edge of the reef. The big find for the day was 3 squid, which Andy was lucky enough to get close enough to spook and able to get them on video changing colors.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwqG67sx5SJhH-KzTMiRorwE_DlRGK15jX9yL08yvqi-V5AMov0Ax7VG2LqHObsUaVAv2BHHwAx-XfJlu_0xg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><p>Back to the house we showered, changed, and headed to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/DCoalPot-BVI-Restaurant-Bar-Grill-698893890203040">D'Coal Pot</a> for dinner. This is the place we got take out while in quarantine. Right on the beach we got to enjoy a beautiful sunset and wonderful food. Andy and I shared a seafood dishes, including conch in butter sauce, Ally was thrilled for a veggie tofu dish, and Alec pasta.</p><p>Day 3 and Andy, Alec, and Ally were up early to head to Nanny Cay for a 2 tank dive with <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Blue-Water-Divers-British-Virgin-Islands-86885613275">Blue Waters</a>. We all have our dive certifications now, with Andy and Ally both having their advanced. And Andy has his nitrox cert. Ally actually got hers during the pandemic with the local shop, <a href="https://fisheyescuba.com/">Fish Eye Scuba</a> and plans to get her rescue diver cert next. While in quarantine she's been researching colleges a lot and is bound for marine biology or science and has been most excited about any program with a coastal lab and/or diving.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwKnCJ18-vB-ckjXaOreTlVXhJsiK7FF-rtTew35e4DN0y1sgyblsrfHjiQyyNmuWQnqOAHdeJge_etSojPAg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(Ally in the yellow fins)</div><br /><p>They did both dives off Cooper Island with the first being a wreck dive and the second being more general reef. They got to see a green eel, large southern sting ray, and eagle ray...and Ally's long sought after shark...a reef shark. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxjEvqpiSuPgEDkeyRSPiCzYOgxw8gJ0rPVrT_kXgYKMUUbJ1l3ZcJDwosydg23jgVSF-J_AK0RjDiWd_BjbA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><p>We are sad to report though Alec had trouble equalizing and did not get to dive. But we're already planning another Caribbean trip next spring break and he and I can go together. I chickened out...having had a decent COVID cough and fatigue I wasn't quite ready take that plunge. So to make it up we headed to <a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g147356-d148815-Reviews-Soper_s_Hole-West_End_Tortola_British_Virgin_Islands.html">Soper's Hole</a> and the Harbor Market with a milkshake machine and enjoyed sunset.</p><p>Day 4 in tomorrow's post and our trip to Virgin Gorda will be a true test of flexibility, but also woven with the kindness of strangers and enjoying what you have.</p>A. Jollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01830577101142551098noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2182503089064002372.post-63667679072104908742021-04-04T05:18:00.009-07:002021-04-04T05:38:13.138-07:00Released and We're Off<p>Now don't mind that title too much. We haven't really felt in confinement this whole time. I mean yes we have not been able to leave our house. But it's on the beach. We can snorkel, kayak, sunbath, watch sunsets, and just be together. The kids would argue the confinement bit was the fact that Mom was rationing food because she didn't want to place another grocery delivery because the delivery fee and prices were pretty steep as it is generally used for provisioning food for week long charters of sailboats and catamarans.</p><p>Day 5 we remembered Erik, our cab driver said be patient. We likely would not hear until Noon. Noon came and went and around 2 I started to call around. The FOUR numbers they gave us for the Public Health Department went unanswered. Hello, we are still in a pandemic. So I actually found a number for the lab on our Day 0 results (which I never received mine and we figure since an army in PPE didn't descend on our house like the scene out of ET I was good). Someone answered and gave me the COVID hotline. And yay someone answered there too and went on to ask me if the lab said if yesterday's results had been released. I said I have no idea. She said...well the lab releases ALL the results at once, then the Public Health Department comes in and reviews everything, and emails everyone. So I called the lab and she said oh no...we are not even close yet and it may be tomorrow. WHAT?!?!? We had spent the last 4 days mapping out our plans and needed to get to the grocery or dinner was going to be interesting and also had made plans for a worker to come in special on Good Friday to give us our rental car.</p><p>About the time we decided to settle in and eat the last of the pasta a huge rainstorm came and then with sunset a rainbow emerged over our house (I know, I know an optical illusion as Allyson would have to say and tarnish my moment a bit), but 5 minutes later the phone started dinging and 1, 2, 3, 4 ...our releases popped into our email. Difficulty getting a cab on Good Friday our agent/owner, Bonnie, offered Andy a ride to the rental car agency and an umbrella while he waited in the rain for the worker. Back at the house we all piled in and were off to the police station. Two officers sat behind a plexiglass counter. Once sanitized we held up our passports and the results displayed on our phone one by one. Then we proceeded to fill out more paperwork and cut off our bands and turn in our GPS tracker in an overflowing box. Getting dark now we drove out to Sopher's hole, the end of the island and the marina/isthmus the direction we have been watching sun set each night.</p><p>Andy's found a new website to watch the winds on and determined we needed to change up our plans for the next day. We were headed to Virgin Gorda, but the wind direction showed it may not be nice for snorkeling, so instead we would opt for a leisurely morning with breakfast, driving around a bit, securing groceries, and cash, then the afternoon ferry to Jost Van Dyke.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9hofpy8xdsU/YGmqc5urcQI/AAAAAAABTV0/kMUz2hawpU8mTzCJObx5q5gLasc-huhIACLcBGAsYHQ/s1391/20210403_084100.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="782" data-original-width="1391" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9hofpy8xdsU/YGmqc5urcQI/AAAAAAABTV0/kMUz2hawpU8mTzCJObx5q5gLasc-huhIACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20210403_084100.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Breakfast, to Alec's pleasure was <a href="https://omarfusion.com/">Omar's Fusion</a>, which is not even 5 minutes from the house, on the water with coffees that are all the rage according to the reviews on social media and their latest post showed all you can eat pancakes for $9.99. Win-Win! Once there just as we had been told...we and every person who approached the door was met with a friendly "Please sanitize and ensure your mask is on," then we selected a table on the water. Prices ranged from $6.95 - $13.95 and YES the coffees were amazing as were the portions.<p></p><p>Next we walked the marina and checked out the <a href="https://www.bareboatsbvi.com/other-islands/harbour-market.php">Harbor Market</a>, which was pleasantly very well stocked. But decided we should head to the larger town on Nanny Cay to a Rite Way for an even bigger selection. We did a little driving, then to the Marina at Nanny Cay where the grocery was and where we found we had made a mistake...the Harbor Market was much better, so we grabbed a few staples and headed out. We also found ATMs are mostly non-functional. Not sure if it is since Irma or just since the pandemic and lack of need for them with lack of tourists. We headed back to the house with about 2 hours before we would head to the ferry terminal and our afternoon adventure. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZcjgXIN_ry8/YGmqSfNqSFI/AAAAAAABTVw/wOAA93ULjVQGzoMWZ2sVD-X7lWgMXoYkACLcBGAsYHQ/s784/new-horizon-ferry-tortola-jost-van-dyke.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="458" data-original-width="784" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZcjgXIN_ry8/YGmqSfNqSFI/AAAAAAABTVw/wOAA93ULjVQGzoMWZ2sVD-X7lWgMXoYkACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/new-horizon-ferry-tortola-jost-van-dyke.png" width="320" /></a></div>The <a href="https://www.facebook.com/NewHorizonFerryServiceLtd/?__xts__[0]=68.ARAaj4JEH_RPn5P8WuR5d9qQ5nUEm51oFONyiWuxHXQfMDwFjlXgQkIzAxM8Pqu0Z_U1jo2uvAo0NlwmO8G7v6Tlb0gNy6dUFxPRGhD1Wdf-gnZ2xkoxwySo8KzTlIgkxEl-tegazlgnTUNQnsAX3cDmcAmYq49QhDOuHTbbv9qejAZYqNEXVXFRsI7zASfX2NdpOQ1XO_y7Q8kFETaaR13CILkTTpXPQ2wx346y5eUeJEenzo3TEDyWtuXWpHa9c4QCWfQInLitdqISBWdTSPZsNHGB97wN9NhiF2GkO0VdI55cI7LKPf4ftwOgc44">New Horizon</a> ferry to Jost is only running out of our end of the island, so we thought we might see a few more people, but the 1PM only had us, one other couple, and some locals...as well as lots of provisions for someone named "Amy Jumper - Pink House - JVD." $30 a person for a 25 minutes round trip we boarded the older ferry. Not like the ones we took when in St John in 2016 this one was definitely "vintage" with a steel U shaped bench in the open air back then you climbs down some stairs to the ship's hull and there were maybe 8 rows of benches and beautiful teak wood floors (definitely vintage). Gotta love how the locals love seeing people back...and taking care of their own. Not even 3 minutes into the trip a guy had come around asking who needed a cab and had us booked $5 ea to White Bay...only a little over a 1.5mi walk, but up and down a steep hill.<p></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vyEIhKLuKYY/YGmqraNE0hI/AAAAAAABTWE/AotZ58JoVHUeZtkZLxBOJCp9lK-T5rAXgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_0148.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vyEIhKLuKYY/YGmqraNE0hI/AAAAAAABTWE/AotZ58JoVHUeZtkZLxBOJCp9lK-T5rAXgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_0148.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K27meBLTi04/YGmqrTTbDwI/AAAAAAABTWI/B4XEv_OzdHQovfJixC81z8TBS7D-s4-_wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1955/SoggyDollar.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1955" data-original-width="1099" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K27meBLTi04/YGmqrTTbDwI/AAAAAAABTWI/B4XEv_OzdHQovfJixC81z8TBS7D-s4-_wCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/SoggyDollar.jpg" /></a></div>Once in White's Bay a place we had been in 2016 we settled onto a very quiet beach. Met by staff who helped us move chairs and get settled it was the start to an amazing afternoon. This Harbor would generally be loaded with boats, charters, tours, etc...like 30-40. Today there was maybe 10. And then a handful of us who came on the ferry. All in all maybe 100 people. Last time were were here in 2016 there was probably 20X that. And much to the kids' happiness this slower pace meant the bar could easily combine tabs from their sweet snack bar with Mom and Dad's adult beverage bar at the <a href="https://www.soggydollar.com/bar">Soggy Dollar</a>, where we enjoyed the famous painkillers in several versions.<p></p><p><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Tqs0z3yoa8g/YGmqrMEjiSI/AAAAAAABTV8/0UeMTgbhcXoH4-C1rxNVMuLvwgiTVTtXgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_0154%2B%25282%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1732" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Tqs0z3yoa8g/YGmqrMEjiSI/AAAAAAABTV8/0UeMTgbhcXoH4-C1rxNVMuLvwgiTVTtXgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_0154%2B%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></p><p>The afternoon was spent chatting with a few visitors...you can just tell everyone is starved for conversation after the pandemic. Canadians, who are staying permanently to those staying at least a month due to the explosion of cases there and practical closing of the borders. To Midwest folks escaping the last gasps of winter.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tRuUj_MvLx0/YGmrEvO0h7I/AAAAAAABTWc/g4ui7B8u3nYnPMzaCEJYcH82rupZ7SIHQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_0144%2B%25282%2529.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1537" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tRuUj_MvLx0/YGmrEvO0h7I/AAAAAAABTWc/g4ui7B8u3nYnPMzaCEJYcH82rupZ7SIHQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_0144%2B%25282%2529.JPG" /></a></div><p>The thrills of the afternoon were due to the quiet on the beach sea turtles and sting rays who normally stay out closer the reef which allow this Bay to be so blue and quiet were right below us and were not phased a bit to have a person or two hanging out. Go Pros and snorkels led to some amazing experiences captured on film.</p><p>4:45 came quickly and the bar called our cab driver for the last and return ferry to Tortola. With the weekend and the holiday all beaches are closed at 5PM to discourage gatherings and prevent COVID spread. The bars helped with this by closing down food service at 3:30 and last calls. A quick ferry ride back we opted for a stop at the more stocked Harbor Market where we picked up more food, including the kids talking us into cookie dough (the last and only tube there) and a big tub of ice cream. A gorgeous sunset we had dinner and all hunkered down reliving our day through pictures and video.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='431' height='358' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzm_E73UOaYfXdb3HulUgoGpCn0CpoGzebJ10AEL-51JfrcdZcy0zYxofn03D-7kkEZwNBL-Vi41_9aNjzh0g' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>A. Jollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01830577101142551098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2182503089064002372.post-24620793585175219032021-04-01T07:53:00.007-07:002021-04-01T08:03:11.826-07:00Nearing the Quarantine Finish Line<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5PgdlMieZow/YGXbbhg2GDI/AAAAAAABTI8/lfbjHxfRhq8ouSUSNnm3AxXKCVQNeGMmACLcBGAsYHQ/s1932/166182527_480312343110460_6968352104503276912_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1327" data-original-width="1932" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5PgdlMieZow/YGXbbhg2GDI/AAAAAAABTI8/lfbjHxfRhq8ouSUSNnm3AxXKCVQNeGMmACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/166182527_480312343110460_6968352104503276912_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>This morning we were picked up at 8:10 by Erik, our government approved taxi, bound for the the hospital in Road Town for our 4th day PCR test. I am normally a pretty good planner and we had been understanding, but frustrated that all these required taxi rides come with fees that were not communicated until yesterday. Day one was $86 from the airport. Today was $96 round trip to the hospital. Erik informed us the rides were complimentary for a while, but the government realized they could no longer subsidize and started charging only recently. Understandable, but they need to get this info on their websites' updated. And thankfully for us Erik was super friendly and actually lives just above us on the hill and let us ask him TONs of questions. Tomorrow we will need our taxi driver (may just call Erik) to stop at an ATM on the way to the police station to turn in our GPS tracker and to cut off our quarantine bracelets because we are nearly out of cash. And then we pick-up our rental car, so we will be in the clear.</p><p><i>NOTE: On COVID Day 4 testing...either go for the early morning pick-up, 8AM (testing opens at 9AM) or wait until after 10AM. We were Taxi #3 in line, but before we left there were probably 20+ taxis lined up with people not only from Tortola, but all the other islands and charter boats had to come in this morning to get tested. You stay in your car and your taxi driver goes and waits in line for you outside the large white tent in the hospital's parking lot. Once it opened though...WOW a well-oiled machine. It flew! - We were back on the road by 9:11.</i></p><p>But seriously...this quarantine thing has not been bad at all. Our home is located right on the ocean, so we have snorkeled each day, do tide pooling, and tried our SUPs and kayaks...albeit the wind has been a bit much for the later. Right next door to our house there is a resort which Erik told us has recently sold. Very pretty. Their dock however was destroyed in the hurricane and is now teaming with lots of little fish and the coral is starting to come back. The only caution is we have to wear our snorkel booties or Teva/Keen like shoes because the entry is covered with tiny sea urchins tucked down in the rocks.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QhWh3Nej5LA/YGXZ5PJoKKI/AAAAAAABTIg/mZ9NNQBm9kAndf0JDjIwYE9PZkDEODJiACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210329_164709.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QhWh3Nej5LA/YGXZ5PJoKKI/AAAAAAABTIg/mZ9NNQBm9kAndf0JDjIwYE9PZkDEODJiACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20210329_164709.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IAozzL2s1FE/YGXYvZYY4sI/AAAAAAABTIA/xnaZzTI47yg_e_VMyxb3QJ4AQ2ZesQqJACPcBGAsYHg/s4032/20210331_134550.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="150" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IAozzL2s1FE/YGXYvZYY4sI/AAAAAAABTIA/xnaZzTI47yg_e_VMyxb3QJ4AQ2ZesQqJACPcBGAsYHg/w200-h150/20210331_134550.jpg" width="200" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XKotPM_U_64/YGXbitCRp6I/AAAAAAABTJA/jFdDuYHW_Wg-xWB0ImrWNktNxeAumHnggCLcBGAsYHQ/s1359/168038984_136562248408290_314980748499261334_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="797" data-original-width="1359" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XKotPM_U_64/YGXbitCRp6I/AAAAAAABTJA/jFdDuYHW_Wg-xWB0ImrWNktNxeAumHnggCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/168038984_136562248408290_314980748499261334_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lbB5c3pf-O0/YGXZkSR1FjI/AAAAAAABTIQ/tnuEI0qbgLcK6QD5M2hKU9n3CC5lVAwZgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210329_203101.jpg" style="clear: left; display: inline; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lbB5c3pf-O0/YGXZkSR1FjI/AAAAAAABTIQ/tnuEI0qbgLcK6QD5M2hKU9n3CC5lVAwZgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20210329_203101.jpg" /></a><span style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;">I stocked the house like I stocked the RV in New Zealand with a delivery from <a href="https://www.rtwbvi.com/">RiteWay Food Market</a> with lots of items to be flexible in their use. Eggs have been used for omelets, French toast, scrambled, and even a egg custard for dessert one evening. Pasta has been used for dinner as well as cold pasta salad. Lettuce has been used for salad, burgers, etc.. And lots of fruit juices have been used for the well-known <a href="https://www.islands.com/painkiller-drink-recipe/">Painkiller</a> adult beverage and smoothies for the kids. We did get delivery one evening from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/DCoalPot-BVI-Restaurant-Bar-Grill-698893890203040">D'coalPot</a>...conch fritters, coconut shrimp, and the local burrito, Roti...filled with veggies and seafood and flavored with curry. Delish! The delivery girl was so incredibly grateful for our order. Definitely a place on our list to visit when we are released.</div></span></div><p></p><p><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hdkyKfN8Tq0/YGXaIonwLKI/AAAAAAABTIo/Bz_tv_SAp64HVjbWgrJXlULR1vLdZQ9FQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210330_162647.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="232" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hdkyKfN8Tq0/YGXaIonwLKI/AAAAAAABTIo/Bz_tv_SAp64HVjbWgrJXlULR1vLdZQ9FQCLcBGAsYHQ/w174-h232/20210330_162647.jpg" width="174" /></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Uf9ilm6Sp0Q/YGXafC0t6XI/AAAAAAABTI0/VTAsrvc3tlIJI3NqXWH-IiGWM6BSw9wuwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210329_181047.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1189" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Uf9ilm6Sp0Q/YGXafC0t6XI/AAAAAAABTI0/VTAsrvc3tlIJI3NqXWH-IiGWM6BSw9wuwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20210329_181047.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><p></p><p style="text-align: left;">All those water toys by the way were rented from <a href="https://bviwatertoys.com/">Island Surf and Sail</a> where we also secured a Fender guitar. Ally got one for Christmas and it has been a welcome distraction for her, Alec, and Andy during the sunset hours. Also similar to our RV trip we packed some portable games...cards and travel Scrabble which are used every night at Happy Hour and after dinner. Rummy, BS, Village Idiot, and Solitaire have dominated the games. And our Midwest friends will be sad to learn we tried to teach the kids Euchre, but they grew frustrated very quickly. Maybe we will try again. Sunbathing and playing in the sand round out our fun daily activities. Yes, there are "not so fun" activities which include a little work for Mom and Dad, school work for both kids (since we extended to a second week), and almost fun for Ally...lots of college research. Inquiring minds and family will be happy to know UC Davis is still tops on her list and she is still leaning towards Marine Science or Biology, but wants to continue to compete in skiing at the college level, so several schools out here have <a href="https://www.uscsa.org/">USCSA</a>.</p><p style="text-align: left;">A lot of people have commented they are so sorry about our quarantine, but we have been totally fine with it. Great family time, kids (especially Ally) catching up on sleep that has been missing with the insanity of ski season, school, work, and having had COVID, and it's allowed us to do tons of research and plan our time out of captivity. We are excited once out we are allowed to move about the BVIs and have planned trips to Jost Van Dyke, Virgin Gorda, and Cooper Island.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Another 24 hours and we should be good to go!</p>A. Jollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01830577101142551098noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2182503089064002372.post-87945830323513921012021-03-31T05:47:00.002-07:002021-03-31T05:57:59.556-07:006 Hand Sani, 1 temp check, 1 nasal swab, 1 bracelet, & family GPS tracker before leaving EIS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OZX_tQh5RA8/YGRro7tHI6I/AAAAAAABTEE/gh55qHvbHAomGR_WPFa-rJCosvKrq0W9ACLcBGAsYHQ/s384/Airport.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="214" data-original-width="384" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OZX_tQh5RA8/YGRro7tHI6I/AAAAAAABTEE/gh55qHvbHAomGR_WPFa-rJCosvKrq0W9ACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Airport.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>So we have landed on Tortola in the British Virgin Islands. This is the largest of the 60 island chain that makes up this British commonwealth territory. Only a few of the islands are populated and to put the population into perspective it is about 3/4 the size of El Dorado Hills just west of our home in California at just under 30,000. Their are two economic pillars which support the BVIs. Financial services make up 60%. Basically this is wealthy persons and/or companies who park their offshore accounts here to minimize taxes as the G20 considers it a tax haven. The other 40% is tourism. Now with that other 40% you would think they would be clamoring to re-open, but yes and no. They have for the last year walked the delicate balance of their livelihoods or their lives. And the later has clearly won out with the islands being shut down to cruise ships and even tourists until in the last few months. And even now the steps required for anyone entering the country are nearly full-proof in keeping COVID out.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pNZM0HG7HVE/YGRrHtad4-I/AAAAAAABTD8/46jYpSrGvBcWUDBPuIyhRSjE6C6JmsZtQCLcBGAsYHQ/s249/COVID.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="164" data-original-width="249" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pNZM0HG7HVE/YGRrHtad4-I/AAAAAAABTD8/46jYpSrGvBcWUDBPuIyhRSjE6C6JmsZtQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/COVID.jpg" /></a></div>So remember our family has tested 5 days before our departure from the US. Mind you 3 out of 4 of us have our first vaccine AND 3 out of 4 of us had COVID in early February. None of this matters as we disembark the plane and walk in our family cohort across the tarmac to what appears to be a newly constructed building. Before entering we all sanitize our hands (#1) and immediately line up in front of a facial temperature scanner. Once the computerized voice says "Temperature Normal" we are pointed to single file, 4 feet apart, comfortable leather armchairs. Large glass windows allow us to sit and wait out our time with a spectacular view. One by one families or cohorts are called to a plexiglass window where two ladies sit behind a computer and double check all of our information. Once complete we "head through the double doors" where there are little cubicles with a metal office chair and people in full PPE running around. Andy, Allyson, and I receive a nasal swab after verifying our info on the vial is correct. And Alec at 6'1", but only 14 receives a mouth swab. Children here do not get nasal swabs and the workers shudder when we mention the fact it is given in the US. <p></p><p>Done, we exit, sanitize our hands (#3) and return to our chairs. Here we wait until they amass groups of ~10 and then we are escorted to immigration where we sanitize again (#4) before entering the building. Standing on our spacing floor markers in our cohorts we complete our paperwork and go through immigration again verifying our quarantine accommodations. We pick-up our bags and head to customs where we answer the standard questions about fruit, food, etc.. After paying a $10 per person environmental fee we exit the doors. There is a woman in a booth behind plexiglass with a sanitization station to her left (yes, #4). Here's where we misread things... We read we would be transported from the airport to our quarantine accommodations in government approved vehicles. Well, you still have to pay for these. Our cab fare was $85 for about a 45 minute ride to the other end of the island. A fair price for the distance, family, of 4, and luggage.</p><p>The taxi booker guides us outside to another woman behind plexiglass who dons gloves before maneuvering from behind the glass where she squirts sanitizer on our hands (#5) before placing bright green wristbands on each of us. Making them quite tight, so they won't be easy to slip off. You have read about the <a href="https://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=AwrJ7JP1bWRg02UA939XNyoA;_ylu=Y29sbwNiZjEEcG9zAzMEdnRpZANDMTYxNV8xBHNlYwNzcg--/RV=2/RE=1617223285/RO=10/RU=https%3a%2f%2fwww.wsav.com%2fnews%2flocal-news%2fgeorgia-news%2fgeorgia-college-student-jailed-in-cayman-islands-for-coronavirus-violation%2f/RK=2/RS=OgCqdbs_F.E2J2wa1RCBO4N71Qk-">University of Georgia woman jailed</a> for 4 months in the Cayman Islands for slipping off her bracelet to go watch a boyfriend in a competition while visiting. This is serious business people. We also were given a black box in a water proof bag with a lanyard. This is our GPS monitor which must stay charged and in our vicinity at all times.</p><p>Next we are led to our driver, Max, and his beat-up van. Maybe 1980's...but it did have a shiny new piece of plexiglass installed between the passengers and himself in the front. After loading our bags we went to open the door...and got a firm "Wait, Wait"...yep hand sani #6. Inside we would place our names on a clipboard so they know who rode with who and can contact trace if needed.</p><p>We all settle into the leather seats for the curvy, bouncy 40 minute ride to our quarantine home. We message our host we are on the way and of course on this small island our driver and our host know each other, so no GPS or directions needed. We wind our way along the islands coastline ever so often shooting in and up into the hills. Last time we were here was before Hurricane Irma in 2016 where we visited friends residing on St Johns which we can see off in the distance on our drive. This Cat 5 hit the islands in 2017 and it's toll is still obvious today. Many boats are still scattered about, half sunk in marinas to on the land itself.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AaEBeGpkR2I" width="320" youtube-src-id="AaEBeGpkR2I"></iframe></div><p>Just outside Fort Recovery we turn left onto a gravel drive and we pass a couple of bright colored bungalows which is our host, <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fdougall-luxury-bvi.com%2Fproperty%2Fwest-end-vacation-rental%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR1d4iqfmdRW_mtzpsKC3S50eRwsj7_CmXUXM1U3eIF7iRfb2bwb0vF5AVg&h=AT3DanY2kZQj5oa0D-1u-9xfqhs2KTnh7Tdp58FUQ2A1OKfkWMPjeSuXtOS0LoobUN0xtnxF2d7wj-jBwqh2QIrvawbk8BD3MT8d_iKkVaX7V69l0cOYDfiwxefJ44iGkMI">Bonnie Dougal's </a>office. Then a little round drive approached a wooden gate and in the middle of the drive lay all our pre-ordered toys (SUPs, Kayaks, etc.). Also is a auburn-haired woman, Bonnie, who greets us with a smile keeping her distance. She informs us everything is inside, including pages of instructions, our food delivery...AND welcome beverages of a couple beers, bottle of Prosecco, and bottle of sparkling cider.</p><p>We haul our bags through the gate into the bougainvillea and palm courtyard and into the house where large glass windows and our view and site right on the ocean will be the perfect backdrop as we settle in for our 4 day quarantine and one more PCR test.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qgFMUb04sak" width="320" youtube-src-id="qgFMUb04sak"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>A. Jollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01830577101142551098noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2182503089064002372.post-53481174480620636042021-03-30T05:55:00.007-07:002021-03-30T07:00:55.408-07:00Flight Cancellations + Pandemic = Stress X 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F1Bnbd92unM/YGMaZDm5Y1I/AAAAAAABS_I/yxfd18_SJCkmSybh8H2Ov2RXR45z4a6EwCPcBGAsYHg/s2845/20210327_075307.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2845" data-original-width="1502" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F1Bnbd92unM/YGMaZDm5Y1I/AAAAAAABS_I/yxfd18_SJCkmSybh8H2Ov2RXR45z4a6EwCPcBGAsYHg/s320/20210327_075307.jpg" /></a></div><p>Absolutely packed red eye flight to Miami. We have flown a lot during the pandemic and every time people ask about others' masking and did we have any trouble. At least in our experience it seems like all the anti-maskers and/or drama related to protocols are the exceptions, not the rule. Other passengers we have flown with have always followed protocols without issue. In fact I daresay everyone seems a bit more patient and a bit more kind. The only thing we did note this time was the announcements included a very matter of fact you keep your mask on or we have the right to remove you from the plane and cancel your booking. This in part is due to the new administration and the fact the FAA is a federal entity and will be as firm as other federal entities.</p><p>In Miami we noted travel has really picked up...or maybe it was spring break and Miami...have you seen the news? The airport was packed and without club access we found ourselves four chairs against a wall a bit away from our gate to grab a bit to eat. Weird that Miami was not asking for travel clearances or COVID tests before boarding the plane because even though a territory we would find out Puerto Rico our next destination requires the "within the last 3 days negative COVID test." But it felt a bit more like "their problem not ours" to be honest. I am generally one who is grounded very firmly in the fact that news is often only a sliver of the whole story, but will admit the airport's atmosphere seemed to match what we've been seeing on the news. A friend of mine said it best...it feels like a football team celebrating a touchdown while still on the 1 yard line.</p><p>Into Puerto Rico with a couple hour layover we again found a wall in the less crowded area across from our gate. We grabbed another snack including local sodas and salted plantains. Here, to our pleasure, the COVID protocols tightened again. A new change in our travels was found in the bathrooms...all hand-drying options gone. Air dryers were disabled...which we have seen elsewhere due to the circulation of air particles and hence COVID, but this time...no paper towels either. Drip dry it is...</p><p>We were to be traveling on the American Airlines partner, Seaborne. A small company that has a large fleet of Saab airplanes that run circles around the Caribbean all day. Ours was coming in from St. Croix. Again different from the US the British Virgin Islands only have one airport open, its largest, EIS on Tortola. You can only enter and exit the commonwealth country here. Where the US Virgin Islands had numerous entry and exit points. Unfortunately with no flexibility this also meant when our plane broke down we were stuck in Puerto Rico for the night.</p><p>Seaborne was rather impressive. Before they even announced it they had new boarding passes printed for our re-bookings. Andy was 2nd in line after we heard a young woman who works in the BVIs mention the cancellation and she and her co-workers scrambled for a private charter to get there for work. 3 people $1500 for the 30 minute flight is what they would get. Nice! We took our rebooking for the next morning and hotel and taxi vouchers and headed down to carousel 6 to pick-up our bags.</p><p>Our bags were taking forever so Andy took the opportunity to get the lay of the land when it came to COVID as the baggage claim was crawling with military and people in full PPE. I was frantically reading travel restrictions and noted our tests for the BVIs were 5 days in advance (due to extra time needed to process all our extra documentation...remember the insurance and proof of our quarantine lodgings)...Puerto Rico was only 3 days. Would they accept our COVID tests?</p><p>Bags secured we approached one of the military personnel and explained our situation and he pointed to a QR code on the wall for us to scan to start our travel clearance to leave the airport. After a few minutes of struggles without my reading glasses and shaky fingers he pointed us to the area with about 20 workers in full PPE to help us complete the documents on-line.</p><p>We were split into groups of 2 and placed next to each other, but 6ft apart, at tables with one person behind a laptop in full PPE and a barrier to keep us from getting too close and they started by asking for our clearances, passports, boarding passes, and more. We would explain our situation and present them with our BVI clearances as well as our negative test results from CVS. The test administered 5 days prior..not 3 as they required. Chatter commenced in Spanish between the two workers and 4 years in high school quickly made out they were discussing the 5 vs 3. They would ask us about the vaccine as well, which we presented our cards for our single dose. This seemed to satisfy them and we get the "You're Done. Welcome to Puerto Rico."</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yK1HP3m-9V8/YGMcSXPBInI/AAAAAAABTAE/xcAERFdl5s8aLLOPQmr60OgRn-_yv_7EACLcBGAsYHQ/s1080/PR3.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yK1HP3m-9V8/YGMcSXPBInI/AAAAAAABTAE/xcAERFdl5s8aLLOPQmr60OgRn-_yv_7EACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/PR3.jpg" /></a></div>Next, as always is the case with vouchers, the begging of a cab driver to accept it as it is not cash in hand and requires work on their end took a few extra minutes. But the promise of a tip got him moving and 5 minutes later we would arrive at <a href="https://www.verdanzahotel.com/">Verdanza</a> a high rise on Isla de Verde 2 blocks off the ocean.</div><p></p><p>After facial temperature scans in the lobby and guests bracelets were applied exhausted we piled into the small two double bed room. This is our first hotel stay since the pandemic and true to the stories it had been stripped down. No colorful comforters. No hotel or local literature to be touched by the room's numerous occupants. Pillow cases, a sheets, blanket, and towels - that's it.</p><div>Our hotel had a restaurant. This is the first time the kids have eaten out since the pandemic and Andy and I only twice outside so we opted for outside here. Another difference from the US...no menus. A QR code on a stand was scanned and the menu popped up on our phone. We enjoyed pasta, pizza, and Andy tried the local beers. Situated higher with a view of the street we watched everyone walking from the beaches at sunset and a small amount of nightlife spring up. Mostly loud thumping bass coming from cruising cars and a lit up party bus. All the while police patrolled keeping people from gathering and flow moving along.</div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KM3OFx678pw/YGMcbm7uwAI/AAAAAAABTAI/TnKayGBR274SJrJSbPjhHc1e8GSvTe5QgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1080/PR2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="276" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KM3OFx678pw/YGMcbm7uwAI/AAAAAAABTAI/TnKayGBR274SJrJSbPjhHc1e8GSvTe5QgCLcBGAsYHQ/w276-h276/PR2.jpg" width="276" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3nLy-aoN6q4/YGMc6OQcCSI/AAAAAAABTAU/wIzzmYxK0oAs9z1qwWmYUeP4o2x4-_ZjwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1080/PR1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="274" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3nLy-aoN6q4/YGMc6OQcCSI/AAAAAAABTAU/wIzzmYxK0oAs9z1qwWmYUeP4o2x4-_ZjwCLcBGAsYHQ/w274-h274/PR1.jpg" width="274" /></a></div><br /></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WRatFm7NNtU/YGMbLnVhdTI/AAAAAAABS_Y/2yt91u9PaAYnNVJxXhBZNTPDUH85GV2wACPcBGAsYHg/s2065/20210328_213140.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1762" data-original-width="2065" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WRatFm7NNtU/YGMbLnVhdTI/AAAAAAABS_Y/2yt91u9PaAYnNVJxXhBZNTPDUH85GV2wACPcBGAsYHg/s320/20210328_213140.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>A fairly restful night. Andy up early walked to the beach and grabbed us coffee and muffins, then we were back at the airport 2 hours before our flight to go again...and that we did. A little prop plane would take us the 30 minutes over beautiful blue water to EIS, the airport at the most eastern tip of Tortola where we would step off to a beautiful blue sky, 80+ degrees, with kite surfers and sailboats visible from the tarmac. Now begins our next set of steps to be able to leave the airport and enter the BVIs.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--pzjY-K8dP8/YGMb1GxZHqI/AAAAAAABS_o/GRZ8QR64X6EqqPyAQSbVhb1VG-RUTGU_gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1350/Flight.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--pzjY-K8dP8/YGMb1GxZHqI/AAAAAAABS_o/GRZ8QR64X6EqqPyAQSbVhb1VG-RUTGU_gCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Flight.jpg" /></a></div><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>A. Jollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01830577101142551098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2182503089064002372.post-7679176769188380322021-03-29T12:06:00.011-07:002021-03-30T04:42:24.466-07:00Going Again in a Pandemic<p>It's hard to believe it has been almost 18months since we traveled internationally. Our last trip was <a href="http://www.childonthego.com/2019/">November 2019 to New Zealand</a>. Little did we know very shortly COVID19 would bring travel and the world to a halt.</p><p>In March and April of 2020 when the world locked down we chatted with Andy's Dad, the kids' beloved Papa, who we had no idea at the time was battling terminal cancer about taking another family trip. We were weighing Hawaii where he had never been or the British Virgin Islands, a beloved destination from his younger years. Andy had grown up jealous of his parents who would take off for Tortola and leave he and his brother in Indiana for a friend's sailboat watched over by a local, named Bubba, who also had a bar on Jost Van Dyke. We were researching houses and plans for both. As COVID infections and deaths climbed we were leaning towards Tortola where the protocols were extremely strict, but it would keep us and a possible fragile PJ as well as the islands' people safe.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LsbkxACCr_A/YGIlKLHnnsI/AAAAAAABS98/dO_hDIjmRTEx-2RwEf7ohLhoZ3GOFPZPwCLcBGAsYHQ/s460/tortola.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="260" data-original-width="460" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LsbkxACCr_A/YGIlKLHnnsI/AAAAAAABS98/dO_hDIjmRTEx-2RwEf7ohLhoZ3GOFPZPwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/tortola.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Fast forward to September when Paul would pass from this earth and it pretty much sealed the deal...we would go to Tortola in memory of him and for us to rejuvenate after a rough 6 months flying back and forth to the Midwest to care for him and what we didn't see ...a rough 6 months ahead including a serious concussion for Ally, 3 out of 4 of us contracting COVID in early February after months of extreme caution, and still recovering from its effects weeks later.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I2uYQZ8FMso/YGIinyACZUI/AAAAAAABS90/kIScWRdibhM1YZ2zc4lQYkjr3Vc_o4e1gCLcBGAsYHQ/s2539/WHO.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="146" data-original-width="2539" height="51" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I2uYQZ8FMso/YGIinyACZUI/AAAAAAABS90/kIScWRdibhM1YZ2zc4lQYkjr3Vc_o4e1gCLcBGAsYHQ/w611-h51/WHO.png" width="611" /></a></div><p>With only 154 cases since January 2020 and only 1 death their protocols were strict, but effective. Our host of our rental home would help guide us through the process which would involve the following steps even before our arrival:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Negative PCR test 5 days before we traveled with our results uploaded into their Gateway App at least 2 days before we traveled to receive our "QR Codes" or travel clearance</li><li>Travel Insurance that covers COVID. This is important because if you contract COVID in-transit or while there and have to quarantine they want you financially sound to afford the costs of an extended stay (just read all the stories of people headed to laxer Mexico right now and not allowed back to the US per their plans because they've picked up COVID while there). And under the worst case scenario you contract it and require hospitalization or evacuation you as well would be covered.</li><li>Proof you are staying in a COVID quarantine approved location, house, resort, or boat. These places have strict guidelines about where you can go on-site and who you can interact with. At our home we had to have everything delivered in advance, including groceries 2 days in advance so everything can be wiped down as well as water toys, like SUPs and Kayaks.</li><ul><li>One of the best places in the world to sail you can quarantine on a chartered boat...you just have to fly a "In Quarantine" flag and stay at least 30ft away from other boats...and return to your quarantine assigned mooring each night by 6PM</li></ul></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://bvigateway.bviaa.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="362" data-original-width="771" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sSWSZpOzpNc/YGIhNBfUBgI/AAAAAAABS9s/pIv7mzGxhbkYJ9IuFmvJ9GSHU2o1fjS-gCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/BVIGateway.png" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Just like another favorite Caribbean destination, Jamaica, we quickly realized everything operates on island time which means there are no set times for anything and pace is leisurely. Everything uploaded 2 days before we let panic set in when the day before we were to leave their entry app went down and the Department of Health and Tourism Board could not access our info and approve.</div><div><br /></div><div>Panicky WhatsApp messages (the only way to communicate via phone and text effectively in the islands) flew back and forth between us, our host, and the "app" people.</div><div><br /></div><div>We loaded the car and headed to SFO (San Francisco) on a Friday night. Still no travel clearance. Our host said we would be OK, until we reached our final leg, Puerto Rico to Tortola, so we breathed a little easier. When we stopped to gas up our one way rental to SFO (much cheaper than 2 weeks of parking) we see our travel clearance had arrived in our email inbox.</div><div><br /></div><div>Thankfully so...because when we arrived in SFO they required we show it before we even were allowed to board our first leg, SFO to Miami. Close call, but we were on our way....</div><p></p>A. Jollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01830577101142551098noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2182503089064002372.post-62082090220458397602019-11-30T10:50:00.002-08:002019-11-30T10:52:04.128-08:00Good Bye RV, but What Have We Learned....<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Today was pretty boring as we got up and made a huge stack of french toast and other various breakfast items to try to clean out the RV. We did pretty good but hated tossing anything. Note to others who follow behind us, there is a drop for a local food pantry at the RV return which takes all unopened non-perishables. We wish they would have told us when we first left. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Thanks to friends who advised us on our trip we also paid for the Express Return. No need to dump anything or fill anything. Just sweep, pile your linens, and slight wipe down. We passed the inspection no problem.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Off to Christchurch Airport and onto our next short adventure in Auckland.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So...if you choose to do this trip some advice:</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Do not take big suitcases. We took a backpack each and a duffel bag each. The RV does not have room to store suitcases, and especially not hard-sided ones. Nope, not even underneath.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Do not pack fancy clothes. We took this advice from friends and boy was it true. Everyone and everywhere is casual. For men, a collared shirt and jeans are as fancy as it gets.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ladies every campsite has hairdryers, but don't bother bringing a flat iron or other styling tools. Their 230V even with a converter can possibly fry your items. But do grab plug adapters. Your RV will have USB ports, but also several electrical outlets.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Layers...and a good raincoat. The weather really changes rapidly here. But a good raincoat is good protection from the rain and a windbreak.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Speaking of weather...pack some cards or travel-size games. We brought playing cards and a travel scrabble.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Visit at Thanksgiving if you can. Everyone told us December just gets busier and busier. And WOW we saw that even today on November 30 when we returned our RV there were 3X as many people picking up. We were told you must book campsites if you are not "<a href="https://www.tourism.net.nz/new-zealand/about-new-zealand/free-camping.html">Freedom Camping</a>" well in advance for the Christmas Holiday. Thanksgiving we added nights, added locations with no problem. We were also told prices go WAY up for Christmas.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The same goes for activities. Most guides told us December should be booked in advance.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Bring waterproof pants for Milford Sound. Or just be prepared to be in wet pants for a while. Some of our tour group had bought rain ponchos from the gift store. Also a good idea.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Kind of wished we would have brought 1 compact umbrella. The good news is there are groceries in about every town within walking distance from the campgrounds, but we often ventured in the rain and it would have been nice to have an umbrella.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Have the airport shuttle at the RV rental take one of you to the grocery to shop while the other checks in at the RV. They say to plan on 1-2 hours for check-in. Ours took about an hour, but there were people today who had waited 2 hours.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Speaking of shopping...we found the RV had plenty of space to store things. Food-wise we went with pasta, bread that could double for sandwiches and french toast. Eggs allowed for french toast, scrambled, and hard-boiled. Manuka honey for toast, sandwiches, and melted for "syrup." Due to the rain, we got ramen noodles for an easy warm-up and again our bread with cheese slices became yummy grilled cheeses. The RV had a microwave, so leftovers worked well. Carrots and spinach were added to salad and soups. And there's no lack of amazing chocolates at every "petrol" station to try something new every day for a sweet. And lamb...and other fresh meats could be added to salads or eaten as an entree. All the campgrounds had gas grills in a common area to use.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"Give Way" or "Use the Bays"....use turnouts and allow people to pass. And when they honk when they pass you they are saying thank you. They are not mad.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Don't visit unless you are giving it more than a week. We were 10 days and it was still tight. And we only did the south island and even skipped the north/Nelson/wine area.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ask...if there is anything you are wondering...just ask. The people here are incredibly nice and accommodating. Other than agriculture tourism is the main source of income. We never met a cross person. Everyone was incredibly friendly.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">HUGE SHOUT OUT to the Jarnac Family for passing on their notes from their trip a few years ago. It saved us tons of headaches and we are grateful. We have saved all of our activities, websites, contacts, etc.. And if you have New Zealand on your list feel free to reach out to us. We love sharing our love of travel and our successes and failures along the road.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Always add add 10 minutes to every hour travel</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sleeping was surprisingly comfy</td></tr>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UNGPVdx1ZKk/XeIn02GQ8cI/AAAAAAAA7Nk/-mJPB5eKW7MOiwrq0nnFI4MDST0xjQDVQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20191125_083925.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UNGPVdx1ZKk/XeIn02GQ8cI/AAAAAAAA7Nk/-mJPB5eKW7MOiwrq0nnFI4MDST0xjQDVQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20191125_083925.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>A. Jollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01830577101142551098noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2182503089064002372.post-4805031420493917822019-11-29T21:11:00.000-08:002019-11-30T10:43:45.706-08:00A Long, but Interesting Drive Up the East Coast<span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We had a few stops we wanted to make up the East Coast of New Zealand, so we awoke early, ate breakfast, and started our drive in our PJs and would change at our first stop.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our first stop was the Moeraki Boulders. These are huge spherical rocks on Koekohe Beach on the Otago coast of New Zealand’s South Island. According to scientists, the formation of these concretions began approximately 60 million years ago within the muddy Paleocene marine sediments of the Moeraki Formation. Each concretion began with an organic nucleus, “such as a leaf, cone, shell, fish-bone, or other relics of plant or animal." Sedimentary particles and minerals, such as calcite, aggregated around the organic matter in concentric layers (layer upon layer). The process is similar to the way a natural pearl forms around a foreign particle within an oyster. In a complex chemical process, the minerals cemented the particles together. The process continued and the concretions grew slowly over millions of years. (Source: <a href="https://www.historicmysteries.com/moeraki-boulders-new-zealand/">https://www.historicmysteries.com/moeraki-boulders-new-zealand/</a>)</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Note, if traveling to this location...go straight to the car park, which is free, but a 3 minute walk up the beach to the boulders. Or turn left to a car park with a cafe, where they charge a "donation" to use their stairs to walk to the boulders which are right below the cafe.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #274e13;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our next stop was for the nerds in us....the </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Steampunk Headquarters, which also happened to be in the beautiful quaint town of </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Omaru, New Zealand. It is in the Victorian District and lived up to its district. This incredibly beautiful town left us yearning to come back. Cafes, distilleries, and art galleries lined the cobbled street leading us to the very cool, but very out of place Steampunk Headquarters. What a crazy place! We got in for $20NZD on the family pass. You were allowed to touch and flip switches if you saw them. Apparently, their locals are known for being passionate and quirky. We loved it and wished we had more time here. For more info click </span><a href="https://www.newzealand.com/int/oamaru/" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">here</a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">. Mom and Dad were thrilled to finally find their art piece for this trip as well in a gallery here. A canvas piece by Christchurch artist, Diana Adams will be hanging in our Kirkwood condo once it makes its trip across the Pacific.</span></span></span><br />
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c7VMFOkS_qQ/XeH14vw-yyI/AAAAAAAA7Lw/2c2ZkTL2FnsVQvR3VaCzZ8fRjqpyfBTJQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20191129_041021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: #274e13;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="778" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c7VMFOkS_qQ/XeH14vw-yyI/AAAAAAAA7Lw/2c2ZkTL2FnsVQvR3VaCzZ8fRjqpyfBTJQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20191129_041021.jpg" width="155" /></span></span></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KLrwRdMDPqA/XeHzxngK0UI/AAAAAAAA7Ks/tbpUWcnmkB8y7XQwY-jqLeBCF5TmKM4SwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20191129_035531.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="background-color: #274e13;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="979" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KLrwRdMDPqA/XeHzxngK0UI/AAAAAAAA7Ks/tbpUWcnmkB8y7XQwY-jqLeBCF5TmKM4SwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20191129_035531.jpg" width="195" /></span></span></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #274e13;"><span style="clear: left; color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Now the mad dash to Christchurch as we had a 5:15 booking for a Maori experience. And currently our "navi" (their term for GPS) had us arriving just in time, but that was not driving a huge motorhome which wasn't allowed over 90km/hr. So we drove and watched our buffer time slip away. We finally called and canceled our ride from the RV park to the location for the evening's activity. We learned schools let out about 3:30-4PM and we hit several towns which were completely stopped up. Dad got very good at maneuvering the RV through the neighborhood streets in Christchurch to get us to the <a href="http://www.kotane.co.nz/kotane/welcome_idl=2_idt=2793_id=15912_.html">Ko Tāne Maori Experienc</a>e. We made it with 20 minutes to spare, so we freshened up in the RV and the manager was worried about us and was ringing Dad's phone as we walked in.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #274e13;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Kind of the "luau" of New Zealand. We had a walk with our group and learned how tribes greeted each other, learned about their music, games, shelter, and hunting practices. From there we went into a performance tent and learned more about their fighting tools and the best was the boys learning the Haka. We had only seen it before matches of their National Rugby Team, the All Blacks, and in response to the Christchurch shooting. Some of the most powerful hakas we watched before our trip were by students in response to the shooting: <span style="height: 28px; letter-spacing: 1px; margin-top: 18px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; overflow: hidden; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; transition-duration: 0.1s; transition-property: color; transition-timing-function: cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 1, 1); white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://youtu.be/hmVjMdutQrc">https://youtu.be/hmVjMdutQrc</a></span> These ceremonial chants/dances are an expression of emotions. The most notable pieces other than the words are the shaking of hands, stamping of feet, beating on chests, enlargement of eyes, and the sticking out of the tongue, and the releasing of the breath/life. After the performance, we went on to have our traditional Hangi, meal. Another form of pit roasting we dined on lamb, chicken, pork, various salads, veggies, and the New Zealand sweet potato, kumara. For dessert more Hoky Poky ice cream aside a traditional Pavlova, which is a meringue topped with fruit and custard generally. Mom was super excited, so much so an Aussie Mom sitting across from her wrote down her recipe for pavlova that she fixes every year for Christmas. Our experience was also in a reserve with native animals, so we got to feed the deer...yep those same ones that are raised by farmers for food.</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: center;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: center;">Stuffed full and back in the RV we ventured about 10 minutes up the road to our final <a href="https://top10.co.nz/park/christchurch-top-10-holiday-park">Top 10 in Christchurch</a>. Gotta love the check-in here...drive-thru. Very modern with electric glass sliding doors to the bathrooms, this was one very busy as a lot of people start their trips here...or like us, end it. Our last night in the RV was spent talking about our favorites...favorite campgrounds, people we met, the food we ate, things we did. Tomorrow we say goodbye to our home on wheels and head for Auckland.</span><br />
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A. Jollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01830577101142551098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2182503089064002372.post-8418032972532084792019-11-28T10:00:00.000-08:002019-11-28T10:12:47.583-08:00A Change from the Norm; Ag, Chocolate, and Definitely DifferentAfter more rain, we awoke in Te Anau and had a warm breakfast of eggs, sausage, and toast with more Manuka Honey. The eggs here are incredibly fresh and the sausage is hand-made in the groceries as well. Coffee in hand it was time to cross the country again from the west and the Tasman Sea to the east and the Pacific Ocean. The drive would take us about 4 hours.<br />
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Today was a beautiful mix of agriculturally-based landscapes. Farms of animals....sheep/lamb, beef, and venison. Yes, they have deer farms here. It's spring, so kidding central. Most sheep/lamb had 1 to 2 babies close by in the fields. We noted most of the calves had been separated from the heifers already and were in separate pastures closer to the home/barn. Another huge industry in this area was timber. The trees grow really fast here, so on the hills were large groves just planted, growing, ready for harvest, or having been harvested and now they were clear-cutting and burning the stumps, preparing to re-plant. Ally did some research and found 45% of the land in New Zealand is utilized for agriculture. Impressive!<br />
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And we can tell you in all of our travels it is one of the most environmentally friendly countries. All of our takeaway (carry-out) containers have been recyclable. All our take away utensils have been bamboo. There is never a trash bin without a recycling receptacle right beside it and usually multiple (plastic, paper, glass, and aluminum/metal). And we have noticed environmentally friendly things in the US like steel straws or hydro flask type containers that are super expensive there are much more affordable here.<br />
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Today we drove to the port town of Dunedin. We arrived just before 2PM and found parking was horrendous near the city center. Luckily another kind RV'er pulled out of their spot and blocked a bunch of parked cars while they routed their next stop, so we could get a spot. The first time we've paid for parking, but only $5 for the day.<br />
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We booked a tour of <a href="https://ocho.co.nz/">Ocho</a>, a hand-crafted chocolate factory, that is exploding thanks in large to a crowd-funding that raised 2 million NZD in 48 hours after the local Cadbury plant closed. Started by a local artist/journalist, Liz Rowe, the community is quite behind it and they can hardly keep up with national demand and do not export yet. They source all their cocoa beans from farmers in the Pacific Islands. Every step of the process is done by hand, even to the wrapping of the bars and sticking of the labels. At the end of the factory tour, our guide took us through a tasting, which had us trying cocoa beans from field to finish and then we compared their chocolates against commercial chocolate. WOW! What a difference. And which lucky family members are getting this incredible treat for the holidays.<br />
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We tucked into another <a href="https://www.aaronlodgetop10.co.nz/">Top 10</a> for the evening. This one is probably our least favorite thus far. So excited to have a heated pool the kids found it locked and empty. The kitchen and amenities were a little more run down and smaller. But we have an early morning date with the east coast, so the kids played on the trampoline, while Dad and Mom fixed dinner. A quick game of Scrabble, homework, and then some <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lolly_cake">Lolly Cake</a> and off to bed.<br />
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Happy Thanksgiving to all our family and friends in the US!<br />
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<br />A. Jollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01830577101142551098noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2182503089064002372.post-40916143248012948132019-11-27T21:39:00.000-08:002019-11-27T21:39:32.195-08:00Is it a Fiord/Fjord or a Sound? - Te Anau and Milford Sound<br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This morning we awoke in another <a href="https://top10.co.nz/park/te-anau-top-10-holiday-park">Top 10 RV Park.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This time in Te Anau</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another very </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">cramped RV park in a small lake
town, but it was raining most of the time, so we were inside the RV or the
common areas on the resort most of the time.</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The kids met “Ollie” the campground cat.</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A13CQ8psKIc/Xd9aI-5zz9I/AAAAAAAA6zo/26lryvQMwr4MWWK63ISHe5f3m5hef9oEwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20191127_092546.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A13CQ8psKIc/Xd9aI-5zz9I/AAAAAAAA6zo/26lryvQMwr4MWWK63ISHe5f3m5hef9oEwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20191127_092546.jpg" width="180" /></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A quick, cold breakfast and we were picked up by our driver
with <a href="https://www.southerndiscoveries.co.nz/milford-sound/coach-and-cruise-day-trips/">Southern Discoveries</a> in a van at 8:30AM.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We were taken just up the road where we met our small coach/bus with
about 16 other people on it and our 6 from the van made 22.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We learned our driver, Reese, was the “Personality
of the Year” for the company and he was delightful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On what would be our 3-hour drive to Milford
Sound he gave us lots of facts and made several wonderful stops for photos and
15 to 20-minute walks. At one we even got to see a native New Zealand parrot. Quite mischievious we were told.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So really the driving
time was less than 2 hours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The BIG
buses which held more like 100 people did not make stops, so definitely worth
it.</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sGhlgOAAohY/Xd9aqQABMQI/AAAAAAAA60w/JenWh_J6LeIMtUwpnaOSbA9wyjJ73sN8wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_9964.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sGhlgOAAohY/Xd9aqQABMQI/AAAAAAAA60w/JenWh_J6LeIMtUwpnaOSbA9wyjJ73sN8wCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_9964.JPG" width="213" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0M70MPvrgyw/Xd9aqI4h5iI/AAAAAAAA60s/EzDcFQhSU4EoIixizEh7Im4dVp4mgp2DACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_9958.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0M70MPvrgyw/Xd9aqI4h5iI/AAAAAAAA60s/EzDcFQhSU4EoIixizEh7Im4dVp4mgp2DACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_9958.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Interesting facts:</span></div>
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<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">New Zealand is one of the only places in the world
that does not have snakes</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The only native mammal to New Zealand is a
bat.<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">All others were introduced by
settlers.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A lot of birds are flightless because there were
no predators until settlers introduced them.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Captain Cook passed Milford Sound twice because
he was circumnavigating and charting New Zealand from too far out at sea to
spot it…as well as the other sounds, so early maps of New Zealand are missing all
the Fjords.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Milford Sound is actually a FJORD.<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Fjords are actually carved by glaciers and
sounds by rivers.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Fjords are more U-shaped
and Sounds are V-shaped.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Oh, the name was
not a mistake…it was the ego of the original Welsh settler who refused to name the
area after a Norwegian-based word.</span></span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This morning when we awoke it was pouring and we were very concerned
about what our day would hold, but on our journey, we learned also that this is
one of the wettest areas on earth and that the literally thousands of
waterfalls we were seeing were all produced by the rain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the drive, there is only 1 that is naturally
occurring and on the “Sound” there are only 2.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If they do not have rain for a single day 90% of the waterfalls dry up
and if they lack rain for 3 or more days they all do, but the 3 naturally occurring
ones and they consider themselves in a drought.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Once at the “Sound” we went to the boat port and got our
picnic lunches (sandwich, 2 pieces of fruit, cheese and crackers, crisps (aka
potato chips), cookies, and a piece of chocolate…well worth the fee).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Alec was super disappointed as we were
getting on the smallest catamaran in the port…which still seated easily 50
people and we only had about 30 at this point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But we would quickly learn this was the way to go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our boat could get closer to the side of the “Sound”
and under….and I do mean UNDER massive waterfalls.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The area is nicknamed the “Shadowlands” for good reason, but
it was one of the most amazing sites we have ever seen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We got soaked to the bone from standing out
on the boat’s roof getting our “glacial facial” from the waterfalls and
enjoying the crew's comedic soundtracks blasted over the speakers like Neil Diamonds
Rain Drops Keep Falling on my Head and ACDC Thunderstruck just in time for a
true portion of the storm that included lightning and thunder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were grateful for the hot tea and coffee inside
the cabin.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We would do a stop at an Underwater Observatory where we
would also learn about Deep Water Emergence and the fact that the water that
flows down the waterfalls from the rain collects tannins from the mosses and
colors it a yellow then creates a 3-6 meter layer of fresh water on top of the
saltwater that due to it’s cold and density does not mix and instead blocks out
the light.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And below it you will find
sea creatures that generally only live in the deepest parts of the oceans as
they are tricked with the cold and lack of light to thinking this is their
natural habitat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This observatory gave us
a glimpse into this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A large ferry
picked us up and took us back to port with lots of rocking and rain as the storm was now full-on.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">An AMAZING day we slept most of the way back in the coach
and enjoyed hot showers and a dinner of soup and grill cheese in the RV.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then we hung out in the common room and
plotted our final days in NZ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Next up…we’re
bucking the traditional routes and headed to the east coast, and Dunedin.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">AND LASTLY kudos to Reese our driver…he did earn driver of
the year from us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mom left her phone in
her seat pocket and at about 7pm we found a note on our RV window asking if we
left a phone on the bus and to come to our RV Park Office.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Reese had found it, seem the kids’ photos on
the lock screen, and knew exactly who we were and where we were staying.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It helps when we are the only kids on the
tour.</span><span style="text-align: center;"> </span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QEpzgWcVUJE/Xd9aIZWEIBI/AAAAAAAA6zk/ExRQJ4zXodgl8eEh1yGRvHFKKsxCfD_jACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20191127_123903.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QEpzgWcVUJE/Xd9aIZWEIBI/AAAAAAAA6zk/ExRQJ4zXodgl8eEh1yGRvHFKKsxCfD_jACLcBGAsYHQ/s200/20191127_123903.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yJEH4OWhG8I/Xd9aJQN6GhI/AAAAAAAA6zw/iWvGBJjYIccrlhScvIb2usFF8Tsr8EbXACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20191127_124312.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1229" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yJEH4OWhG8I/Xd9aJQN6GhI/AAAAAAAA6zw/iWvGBJjYIccrlhScvIb2usFF8Tsr8EbXACLcBGAsYHQ/s200/20191127_124312.jpg" width="153" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3oUjKdZ3fOw/Xd9agrqjMjI/AAAAAAAA60U/wSQJsnoJ70AZXbL07GFadfm54z3s_jdggCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_0011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3oUjKdZ3fOw/Xd9agrqjMjI/AAAAAAAA60U/wSQJsnoJ70AZXbL07GFadfm54z3s_jdggCLcBGAsYHQ/s200/IMG_0011.JPG" width="133" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hKjWMzoZuBM/Xd9aKnYltOI/AAAAAAAA6z4/AltbzBC-rJ8iToF_W35QXM39Mmx_RzdvQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20191127_125432.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="759" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hKjWMzoZuBM/Xd9aKnYltOI/AAAAAAAA6z4/AltbzBC-rJ8iToF_W35QXM39Mmx_RzdvQCLcBGAsYHQ/s200/20191127_125432.jpg" width="94" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y_Di_KxES4Y/Xd9am12fgsI/AAAAAAAA60o/1WsC0XgC55IeEtDxfwecZXc9jhAuhorGwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_0034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y_Di_KxES4Y/Xd9am12fgsI/AAAAAAAA60o/1WsC0XgC55IeEtDxfwecZXc9jhAuhorGwCLcBGAsYHQ/s200/IMG_0034.JPG" width="133" /></a></div>
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9tBm20--Byc/Xd9arFcnxiI/AAAAAAAA600/yGIt78S5k0sWEYL3EbU9LWnQQIEuPs8KQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_9997.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9tBm20--Byc/Xd9arFcnxiI/AAAAAAAA600/yGIt78S5k0sWEYL3EbU9LWnQQIEuPs8KQCLcBGAsYHQ/s200/IMG_9997.JPG" width="133" /></a>A. Jollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01830577101142551098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2182503089064002372.post-13631818816862515702019-11-26T21:39:00.003-08:002019-11-26T23:51:42.520-08:00Queenstown: A Quick Stop and We're OK with ThatAbout a 2 hour drive and we found ourselves in beautiful Queenstown. Another lake town it was gorgeous and on our drive in saw the perfect example of how Lonely Planet gave it the title the "Adventure Capitol of the World" when we drove right past the AJ Hacket original bungy location located on the <a href="http://in%20november%201988%2C%20a.j.%20hackett%20bungy%20opened%20the%20world%E2%80%99s%20first%20commercial%20bungy%20operation%20at%20the%20kawarau%20gorge%20suspension%20bridge%2C%20near%20queenstown/">Kawarau Gorge Suspension Bridge</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lPoXKOJc6RI/Xd4LBmYe2sI/AAAAAAAA6q0/-V6YBjR_kGg4oACk194kZ-OXlDx1cAkZwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20191126_130423.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="952" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lPoXKOJc6RI/Xd4LBmYe2sI/AAAAAAAA6q0/-V6YBjR_kGg4oACk194kZ-OXlDx1cAkZwCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/20191126_130423.jpg" width="237" /></a>We made our way to the end of the esplanade and parked our RV and were met by our "extreme" sport of choice for the day, Segway Guide, Kevin from <a href="https://www.segwayonq.co.nz/">Segway on Q</a>. We got our driving lesson and were off. The first bit was tricky as we literally maneuvered our way around all the tourists and literally through restaurants in the lakefront tourist area with tables full of wine glasses and people enjoying a lovely meal. Kevin stopped numerous times and gave us lots of information. Including...many stories about how the Kiwi people got their nickname overseas, including the one about soldiers using the boot polish with the bird on the can. For more check out this article: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiwi_(people)">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiwi_(people)</a> We also learned to not offend we should always refer to the fruit...as "kiwi fruit" and not simply "kiwi." Kevin was great and we went all along the lake and even into the <a href="https://www.myguidequeenstown.com/things-to-do/queenstown-gardens">Queentown Gardens</a>, which also includes a disc golf course where we all played a hole and indoor ice skating rink. Beautiful!<br />
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HV9KJdtyKOs/Xd4Kdph_xrI/AAAAAAAA6qs/6gHRoWyf4rQ7KdT6tD03Q8nmidcv8AlIgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20191126_115223.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HV9KJdtyKOs/Xd4Kdph_xrI/AAAAAAAA6qs/6gHRoWyf4rQ7KdT6tD03Q8nmidcv8AlIgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20191126_115223.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-86DCvHTpcQY/Xd4LOAINn7I/AAAAAAAA6q4/DOGQPnxrF4AB3NlJwEmmrPl53ln_08g6gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20191126_133338.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1515" data-original-width="1600" height="189" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-86DCvHTpcQY/Xd4LOAINn7I/AAAAAAAA6q4/DOGQPnxrF4AB3NlJwEmmrPl53ln_08g6gCLcBGAsYHQ/s200/20191126_133338.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ie83XCszDcY/Xd4oByObQJI/AAAAAAAA6so/6GBJfh9OF-Ui9b_vpJ6Tzh-pkzhXsQvqwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20191126_155811.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="827" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ie83XCszDcY/Xd4oByObQJI/AAAAAAAA6so/6GBJfh9OF-Ui9b_vpJ6Tzh-pkzhXsQvqwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20191126_155811.jpg" width="165" /></a>After we safely returned our Segways after our 2-hour tour we returned to our camper and had lunch there. Then a 5-minute walk into the main town center we enjoyed <a href="https://www.patagoniachocolates.co.nz/ice-cream/">Patagonia Ice Cream</a>. Dad had the tradition NZ favorite the Hokey Pokey and the kids amazing flavors in dipped waffle cones and Mom, a Patagonia special flavor white chocolate and macadamia nut.<br />
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Queenstown was beautiful, but it was very, very busy and lots of tourists and tourist shops. So we opted just for the afternoon and then hit the road to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Te_Anau">Te Anau</a>, which would be our gateway to the Sounds...I mean Fjords....I mean Sounds. Stay tuned and we will explain.<br />
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DsFnNXprg20/Xd4oZ0qOw5I/AAAAAAAA6sw/cekLHPThj24pMwa26jbTd3DxzY-1bQwFgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20191126_161725.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="1600" height="172" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DsFnNXprg20/Xd4oZ0qOw5I/AAAAAAAA6sw/cekLHPThj24pMwa26jbTd3DxzY-1bQwFgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20191126_161725.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eJQ03PSFevk/Xd4ojQmwZdI/AAAAAAAA6s0/bR2Tx12qAg00Tj9FwopE2hGLptUiE1-RACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20191126_161823.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="867" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eJQ03PSFevk/Xd4ojQmwZdI/AAAAAAAA6s0/bR2Tx12qAg00Tj9FwopE2hGLptUiE1-RACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20191126_161823.jpg" width="173" /></a><br />
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<br />A. Jollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01830577101142551098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2182503089064002372.post-67716338455744062032019-11-26T09:51:00.001-08:002019-11-26T10:50:03.760-08:00Beautiful Day in Wanaka: Fast Boats, Beautiful Walk, and Good FriendsWe woke early in our new holiday park, <a href="https://wanakakiwiholidaypark.nz/">Wanaka Kiwi Holiday Park</a>. This one is much busier than any others we have been to thus far. And much tighter. That did not deter us from setting up our table and enjoying french toast with <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C4%81nuka_honey">Manuka Honey</a> (heated in the microwave as it is more of a paste) instead of honey. This honey is produced from the nectar of the Manua Tree. Super delish...definitely bringing home for holiday gifts.<br />
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At 9:30AM our next adventure picked us up at reception. Tracy the very friendly driver for <a href="https://www.gojetswanaka.co.nz/">Go Jets Wanaka</a>. We chatted along the way and learned they had received a lot of rain in the last few weeks. We did not know how much until we got to the river and learned it is flowing 3x more than normal and is 3 meters higher than normal. In fact, all geared up in spray jackets and life jackets we climbed in the jet boat and it immediately sucked up an invasive grass that had been set free from the bank with the heavy flow. We actually had to pull the boat out, remove it from the intake, relaunch and we were off. Oh my...our driver Pat was great. The boulders we would usually be dodging in this crazy ride were submerged, so he used the trees on the river bank to thrill us with near misses along with the crazy traditional 360s. The kids had a blast and even though we were teased initially for our spray jackets we quickly learned well worth it. The back row was without them and was soaked including we would learn a minor league Rugby player, who we were later told is good enough and should be playing for the All Blacks in a couple of years. James is all we got on the name as we didn't want to pry. Super fun! Highly recommend.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q71PJK9tTec/Xd1h1Zh5AEI/AAAAAAAA6ko/PAHzIZdxEOogROlzOotG6bqC4-IONB-EwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20191125_114547.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q71PJK9tTec/Xd1h1Zh5AEI/AAAAAAAA6ko/PAHzIZdxEOogROlzOotG6bqC4-IONB-EwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20191125_114547.jpg" width="179" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ssl-lwUBo3w/Xd1jzd94cnI/AAAAAAAA6lM/QnDzjzpWYLEaU1GTsIV-6fjWU0NefYKBgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_9950.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ssl-lwUBo3w/Xd1jzd94cnI/AAAAAAAA6lM/QnDzjzpWYLEaU1GTsIV-6fjWU0NefYKBgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_9950.JPG" width="320" /></a>Tracy gave us a ride back into town and recommended a coffee shop, <a href="https://www.urbangrind.co.nz/">Urban Grind</a>, and lunch places. We took her advice on the coffee shop and the kids enjoyed not only a beverage, but it was accompanied by a large chocolate stick. YUM! Coffee in hand we as usual for our travels found a playground right on the banks of Lake Wanaka and the kids played while we enjoyed. More walking and sightseeing than a way too big lunch at the <a href="http://www.lakebar.co.nz/">Lake Bar</a>, which is also a Monteith Brewery location. The portions in NZ we are finding are even bigger than American, so yay for more leftovers.<br />
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We went to a shop or two and then Alec wasn't feeling well, so we headed back to the RV park, ~25min walk along the lake. We all got showers, which so far have been free at all the parks. Yes, out RV has a shower, but the ones at the RV parks have been spotlessly clean, large, and for the girls...have hair dryers. We also did laundry, which was expensive....$3 NZD a wash and $4 NZD a dry. Now had we had time the park actually had communal clotheslines. After a rest, we utilized the one-way (in to town only) shuttle our RV park offers every 30 minutes.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rpYK9a66jBc/Xd1kPkA4EeI/AAAAAAAA6lY/fbx7beytThcQGAoq8MO4yn1sBWxUrk15ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20191125_185658.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rpYK9a66jBc/Xd1kPkA4EeI/AAAAAAAA6lY/fbx7beytThcQGAoq8MO4yn1sBWxUrk15ACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20191125_185658.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-48mXxsyKxaA/Xd1h1BSMUUI/AAAAAAAA6kk/GDtBsaGZv2UA_0A4mFsUs_eFeaQwVRKDgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20191125_210457.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-48mXxsyKxaA/Xd1h1BSMUUI/AAAAAAAA6kk/GDtBsaGZv2UA_0A4mFsUs_eFeaQwVRKDgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20191125_210457.jpg" width="320" /></a>We walked a few stores and realizing our time is really going quickly and we really needed to start getting gifts for family and friends. But our time was brief as we were excited to be seeing Penny Wilson and her husband John. Now we are lucky that a lot of times when we travel we take the opportunity of friends living overseas and pay them a visit. Penny's daughter married a good friend of Mom's from college. We first met her when they were traveling the US in a VW camper van and came to Tahoe in the height of a snowstorm and stayed and skied with us a few days. Then we saw them before their wedding in the Midwest. And after they were married and had one child and another on the way we joined them in Tuscany for several days and then again we paid them a visit when they loved in St John's Anywho, we always knew we had to look up Penny when we went to New Zealand and are we ever glad we did. We were spoiled with the most incredible meal and they shared their home, including all the stories behind the art pieces and John's ties to the community. All of this was with an incredible view of the lake. We only hope that we can repay their hospitality one day or at least pay it forward to all who visit us.<br />
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Tucked into bed, tummies, and hearts full, we quickly fell asleep and despite many tempting reasons to stay we decided we needed to head on down the road to Queenstown in the morning.<br />
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<br />A. Jollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01830577101142551098noreply@blogger.com2