#there's some cocktail bars and antique shops i want to visit
Text
thinking about trying to book a tattoo in vancouver while i'm there for the ecology conference 🫣 so many of my fave artists are out that way... i haven't been back to van since i left in 2018 (and i cant justify traveling out that way on a student budget for a tattoo vacation) so i gotta make the most of it
#I MISS HER!!!! (expensive unliveable coastal city i spent ~5 very formative years living in during my early 20s)#there's some cocktail bars and antique shops i want to visit#... feeling unexpectedly really emotional about going back as a 'real adult'. weirdly healing i think#i got my first tattoo and my septum piercing at a little shop around the corner from the game art school i was going to at the time#🥺
3 notes
·
View notes
Note
travelling 2 london for a bit this summer, do you have any recommendations about neighborhoods to stay in/ things to go see etc? xx
unfortunately I didn’t see this and I’m several months too late BUT for anyone else planning a london trip or just needing to explore
Definitely worth hitting the design museum! There’s usually some interesting exhibits and you can continue your day by walking through Holland Park after! The Dutch garden and especially the Kyoto garden are so so beautiful
Classic Londoner day out is a walk along soutbank too. There’s enough tourists that there are things to do but not a major tourist trap. Along there you have the royal festival halls, BFI, London eye, OXO tower, Tate Modern, Globe theatre. The river waves are relaxing as well. By the time you reach the end cross over tower bridge and go to the Tower of London for some grim history. Then have dinner 5 mins away along st. Katherine’s docks - lovely peaceful spot with great restaurants and sparkling lights over the canals. Bit if a hidden gem for sure
Neighbourhoods to hit:
In the west there’s Richmond! Definitely cute but a bit snobby. Richmond park is huge and you can see wild deer! On the side of town closer to the Thames you have Kew Gardens which is an absolute must and needs a dedicated day.
In the East the typical spot to hit is Shoreditch. Great for record stores, vintage shops, underground gigs, 24hr Beigels, quirky fun bars, and not too much further in Bethnal Green there’s the Last Tuesdays Society; a very macabre little collection and some strange cocktails. They even have an absinthe range.
In the North everyone wants to go to Camden which is fine, lots to see and do but the alternative side to the town has become so commercialised in the past few decades. Still worth hitting but imo Bloomsbury is nicer with lots of niche little museums hidden away and one big one ! The Wellcome Collection! They always have some really great free exhibition on. There’s some controversy about the collection but there always will be in this country. Also 2 great bookshops - Gay’s the Word and Houseman’s <3
South London, my beloved forever. I say it all the time but I love Crystal Palace. It’s just a nice little neighbourhood with a lot of history. The triangle is great for little boutiques of all kinds, really good food around, there’s a 4 floor antique store where you can find all sorts of trinkets even affordable ones. The park is huge and wonderful! There’s a boating lake, a petting zoo, an athletics centre, dinosaurs! A maze! And at various times of the year there are fireworks shows, lights shows, a series of concerts in summer, frequent funfairs and other events. Don’t forget the south london Eiffel Tower (it’s just a radio tower but most kids who grew up here thought the same). Not far on in Sydenham is the Horniman Museum and Gardens which is well worth a visit but is too often disregarded for being a little out the way. Special mention to SE London. Greenwich has a few museums, a great little theatre, the cutty sark ship and the observatory! Also within a big beautiful park.
My love to everyone who comes here 🫶 please just remember to stand on the right of the escalators
#answered#for a girl who chats so much shit abt living in London i do have a lot of love for this city actually#id love it a lot more if I got to do this stuff regularly#sorry i didn’t see this ask#but if anyone has London questions I’m always happy to answer!#ive visited many a spot and worked in areas alllll over#london
8 notes
·
View notes
Text
Ideas for Lots to Fill a Hood
I made a list like this before, and there’s already tons of other ones around the internet just like it. Buuut I can’t stop myself from making useless lists :P
I’m probably just bad at remembering this simple rule, but a hood can become much more realistic if you split up businesses/industry across multiple singularly dedicated lots rather than a single tiny one-stop place (which is how I usually do it).
So I wanted to make a list to remind myself that not only can there be a lot just for clothes, but there can be multiple clothing shops themed in more than one way, like costumes versus lingerie.
Then there’s buildings I listed just for the possible realism they add, like industrial buildings. Some of those may only be possible through hood deco instead of visitable lots, which personally I might overlook without having a list to remind me of the concept. Sooo maybe you’ll find it similarly useful idk
Food
Diner
Fast Food Burgers
Hot Dog Stand
Fast Food Chicken
Donuts/Coffee
Italian Restaurant
Delicatessen
Pizzaria
Bar & Grill
Bistro
Tacos
Noodle Restaurant
Cafe
Internet Cafe
Coffeehouse
Bar
Beer Garden
Cocktail Bar
Juice / Smoothie Bar
Tavern
Pub
Pool Hall
Clubs
Gun Club
Lounge
Boxing Club
Comedy Club
Country Club
Gentlemen's Club
Nightclub
Theatre
Cinema
Drive-In
Drama Society
Film Production
Venues / Entertainment
Art Gallery
Arcade
Science Museum
Recreation Center
Stadium / Arena
Bowling Alley
Casino
Beach
Lodging
Hotel & Spa
Campground
Lodge
Resort
Shopping Center
Mall
Plaza
Supermarket
Deli
Butcher
Groceries
Cornerstore
Farmer's Market
Bakery
Produce
Snack Shop
Stores
Discount Store
General Store
Mini-Mart
Liquor Store
Pawn Shop
Antiques
Boutique
Thrifted Clothing
Hippie Shop
Designer Clothing
Lingerie Shop
Costume Shop
Alternative Clothing (Goth/Emo)
Tattoo & Piercing Parlor
Plastic Surgery
Beauty Supply
Jewelry
Wedding
Pets / Pet Grooming
Sports
Books
Toys
Record Store
Video Store
Comic Store
Florist
Electronics
Arts & Crafts
Beach Gift Shop
Tourist Trap Gift Shop
Furniture Store
Paint Shop
Hardware Store
Appliance Store
Carpet Store
Garden Center
Barber / Salon
Salon Supplies
Nails
Car Dealers
Luxury
Budget / Discount
Showroom
RVs
Motorcycles
Banks
National Bank
Savings Bank
Headquarters
Recording Studio
Radio Station
TV Studio
News
Office Building
Services
Hospital
Travel Agency
Pharmacy
Gas Station
Car Wash
Mechanic
Package / Mail Delivery
Self Storage
Transportation
Parking Garage
Taxi Firm
Tour Guide
Bus & Coach Line
Goods Suppliers / Teamsters
Railroad
Car Rentals
Airport
Maintenance
Electrician
Sanitation Department
Department of Nuclear Power
Water Power Department
Wind Power Department
Factories / Industry
Fish Processing (Docks)
Shipyard
Lighthouse
Sawmill
Meat Factory
Chemical Factory
Industrial Manufacturing
Textile Factory
Storage Warehouse
Mines / Caves
Construction
Development
Demolition
Scrapyard
Auto Parts
Machine Supplies
Salvage & Scrap
Junkyard
242 notes
·
View notes
Text
Fox Mulder’s Guide to Building a Pool: part 1
A/N This is in answer to an anon prompt: Mulder builds a pool in the yard. It ran away from me so I’ll post it in two parts.
This is set post IWTB and assumes Season 10 didn’t happen. Because it shouldn’t have, am I right? Angsty to start with.
Summer
He started one night, when the moon hung low and the stars were pegged out haphazardly in the midnight sky. His mind and his heart hadn’t stopped racing for hours, as though he were filled with cosmic energy. Outside, in flannel and old jeans, scuffed and muddied boots, he picked up the old shovel propped against the side of the rickety shed and dug until his fingers froze around the splintered handle, until the blisters on his palms burst, until the disquiet in his gut diffused.
It was supposed to be a vegetable patch but by the time the dawn broke through, he realised it was in the wrong spot – shaded by the house and in the area of the land where the ground was rubbly and dry. The fertile patch was on the other side of the property, where the trees shed their leaves and mulched the earth naturally.
If there was anything Mulder was known for, it was his tenacity. Scully once told him he’d use a backhoe to dig for the truth. Well now he’d dug a ditch with a shovel and he was going to make something of it. As he massaged the pain from each knuckle he surveyed his night’s work. The sun’s rays hit the turned earth like laser beams, and he had an epiphany. A swimming pool. He was building a swimming pool. A white whale, the truth or a swimming pool. What did it matter as long as it was something he believed in? And just for a moment, in that warm spotlight, the dried out flower of hope bloomed in his chest.
The summer was long, dry and hot. So hot the tarmac melted on the roads, his tomato plants frizzled to brown and he lost his appetite for everything bar an ice-cold beer on the verandah after a day of digging. His routine was solid, despite the meteorological obstructions. He rose early, napped during the day, and worked through mosquito-filled twilights. In his downtime, he googled construction methods, materials, liners, water collection, filtration. On most days, he imagined himself ploughing through the water on warm evenings and chilly mornings, muscles burning, lungs protesting, body thrumming. On good days, he imagined Scully sitting under a shade umbrella sipping lemonade and reluctantly agreeing to take a dip with him, her lithe body pressed against his as they waltzed through the water together. On really good days, he imagined William paddling about in water wings, and squealing as daddy jumped in too close and made a big splish-splosh.
Scully arrived one afternoon, late. She hadn’t visited in a while, he hadn’t made his customary Sunday night call for…he couldn’t actually remember and when he saw the thunderous look on her face, he realised he hadn’t charged his phone for days.
“Didn’t you check your messages, Mulder? I lost count of how many I left. Your machine probably reached its limit.”
Rubbing the back of his neck with a towel, he looked over at the flashing red light and a pang of guilt twinged under his ribs. “I’ve been busy, Scully.”
He thought she’d be pleased. That’s what she wanted, wasn’t it? To get him out of his office and back into the real world. Whatever that meant. They’d both seen the real world with its edges peeled back and its slimy, slithering insides exposed. He wasn’t sure he wanted to prod that beast anymore. She’d already turned away from that darkness and found her shining light under the fluorescent gaze of God in Our Lady of Sorrows.
She looked him up and down with doctor’s eyes. The cold blue gaze causing a shiver to creep down his spine and he had to look away. Her ability to see right through him, past his calloused skin and into the sinewy mass of his body always unsteadied him. She was appraising his physical health and his mental wellbeing. He straightened his shoulders, brushed a clump of mud from his sleeve and offered her a drink.
“Chilled water will be fine,” she said. “I’m driving.”
Well, he knew that. How else would she get here? But more importantly, where else did she have to be. She was dressed sharply, not for the hospital. Something about the lower neckline and the softer palette made his brain wander places he didn’t want to go.
“I’m sorry if I’ve put you out,” he said, emptying ice into the glass and wondering where he put that lemon.
“It’s no bother, Mulder, to come here. You should know that. It’s just that I get…”
“You don’t need to worry about me,” he said, and not so long ago he would have laid a hand over her shoulder or collected her hand in his. Instead, he looked at her and smiled, trying to soften that cool scrutiny. “I’m doing okay.” He didn’t add despite you leaving.
She looked down at her shoes – shiny beige courts with a high heel. He could see her reflection in them. The mouth closing in relief, or maybe irritation. She chuffed. “If you’re going to tell me you’re a big boy, Mulder…”
Palms up in surrender, he shook his head, cracked open a soda.
“Mulder, you shouldn’t drink…”
“I know about the dangers of too much sugar, Scully, I’m a big boy.”
He showed her his work. She trod carefully over the dry earth, held her cross as she surveyed. He had a sudden longing to see her in a white vest dampened with sweat, cuffed denim shorts, heavy work boots, digging alongside him.
“And this is going to be a pool?”
“Can’t you see it? Long lazy evenings dipping our toes, sipping gin cocktails as we swat away bugs, brisk morning swims to shuck off those pains au chocolat?” He saw her then, zinc strips over her cheeks and shoulders, straw hat pulled over a lazy ponytail, sunglasses perched on her nose, lowering herself in.
“Mulder, I don’t…”
His chest burnt, like his lungs had crumpled in the storm of a wildfire. He took the handle of the shovel and chopped at the edge of the hole.
“It’s a nice spot,” she said, after a moment gazing out to the horizon. “It’ll be quite something.”
“When I finish,” he added.
Fall
Amber leaves danced on a shimmying breeze, some floating to the ground in theatrical zig-zags. On the other side of the house, the digging was complete. He’d hired an excavator in the end, his knees and back creaking for weeks to remind him of his advancing years and his inability to do everything alone. He’d hired a contractor to remove the dirt and ordered the steel bars for the frame. Scully came by more of
en, intrigued, as she put it, to see how the pool project was coming along.
She called to say she was coming Sunday afternoon and would he mind if she stayed a bit longer? He spent all Friday in a mania of dusting and filing and wiping down surfaces. Nesting, they called it. He patted his belly and shook his head. He was becoming quite ridiculous; DIYing and getting giddy when his ex promised to drop by.
In the cupboard next to the stove, he found a stack of old cookbooks, dogeared pages and horrific images of antiquated dishes like jellied salads and ham and banana hollandaise that viewed more like one of Scully’s X-Files autopsies. Amongst them was a treasured find. Betty Crocker’s New Picture Cookbook – a book his mother had used religiously. Grease marks and flour crusted over the pages of cakes. He zipped out to the supermarket and picked up the ingredients he would need and set about baking.
His cake was a simple vanilla sponge but he enjoyed the science of the task, the weights and measures, the timing, the temperature control – the very precision of it all. As he watched it rise, he recalled childhood birthdays, where his mother toiled away for hours icing, sculpting edges, piping, creating dreams. There were castles and race-cars and trains and poodles. Parties were ended with the ceremonial cutting and handing out of slices to guests. He had always felt special those days. But after Samantha’s abduction, she stopped the tradition. She bought shop-baked cakes, refused him parties, spent his birthday barely tolerating the day and Samantha’s sipping brandy.
By the time Scully arrived, tea was steeping, the table was set with tea-cups and saucers, side plates, and the iced cake stood on an elegant glass platter that held it above the timber surface.
“What’s all this?” she asked, hanging her bag off the back of the chair. “Is the Queen coming over?”
He poured her tea. The colour of it in the white porcelain cup reminded him of her hair against the pillow slip of their bed. “I hope not. She only likes Black Forest Gateau and you didn’t leave any jars of maraschinos.” She laughed softly, just like she would laugh with him during cosy evenings on the couch, rolling her fingers over his bicep, planting sweet kisses along his jawline. Back when it was just them against the world. Not them against the world and then each other.
“The colour is like those Caribbean island beaches,” she said, dotting her finger into the icing on her slice. “Azure.”
Her tongue licked at the sweet blue paste and he wanted to say he chose it because it was like her eyes, that that was what he missed so hard, so deeply, he wanted to say that he was sorry. He couldn’t tear his gaze from her, this simple act of eating that had him enthralled. God, he loved having her over from him, setting her plate just right, pouring the exact amount of granola, spooning whatever yoghurt she was into over the cereal, slicing banana while reading the newspaper. He couldn’t say anything though. All the best words lumped in his throat, as though they were overbeaten and curdled.
Instead, he said, “When Samantha was six, mom made her this cake with blue jello on the top that was supposed to be a swimming pool. I don’t know, I just had this mad rush of nostalgia, finding all those cookbooks and remembering how good it used to be.” He looked up and she was staring at him. “Back then, back home.”
“How’s it going?” she replied, changing the mood in three words. “The pool?”
It was windy again and leaves tumbled across the yard, collected in the gutter, in the drains, against the fences.
“It’s protected from the wind on that side, so I won’t have to keep cleaning out the foliage. The pump should be in soon. Then I’ll organise for the concrete pour, before the weather really turns.”
Her hands were stuffed in her jacket pockets, and she’d hunched her shoulders against the chill. He should phone the concreters tomorrow. Get it done. The tip of her nose turned pink.
“Let’s go back inside,” he said.
“Why concrete, Mulder? Why not fibre glass or a vinyl liner?”
He shrugged as she walked past him and his eyes settled on her hair, falling down her back, unkempt from the wind. She smoothed it down, rubbed her hands together, sat back at her seat and took another slice of cake.
“With a more solid foundation,” he said, “it should last longer.”
79 notes
·
View notes
Text
Lizzington Week // Day 1// One-shot Ao3
~Spark ~
“You asked a very important question that night in Montreal. You could ask me again.”
He swallows and replays their conversation in his mind, not for the first time since they shared a cocktail and he found himself falling.
“Why would I do that?”
“Lizzy! This is a…”
“Surprise?” she asks in amusement and takes a seat next to him on the bench. “Or are you wondering how I knew where to find you?”
His smile at seeing her had quickly turned to confusion, realizing there was no earthly reason for her showing up out of the blue. Especially since Dembe is still at the safehouse and has no idea of his ramblings this morning.
“It has suddenly crossed my mind.”
“I’m a profiler, Raymond.”
He watches her a moment as she turns her face up and closes her eyes to the sound of the wind rustling through the trees overhead.
“Care to expand on that?”
“Today is the day.”
For what he has no idea, but he could conjure a thousand of them in his mind that include her next to him. Something he has vast experience with after all this time. The days of exploring new landscapes or visiting old haunts without imagining her there, wanting her there, are long over.
“You didn’t slip a tracking device into my pocket did you?”
“Not this time,” which earns her a chuckle and she turns back smiling. “Don’t you feel it?”
He feels everything at once, which is always the way with her, and can only shake his head. “You really will have to be more specific.”
“It finally feels like fall. There’s a bite in the air today.”
“Yes, there is,” he says quietly. Watching. Waiting.
“And I know it’s your favorite season and that you always roam about on that first day of autumn.”
But how would she know? He’s always alone on these crisp mornings when he gets a little lost, enjoying the freedom before winter sets in.
“Contrary to what you may think,” she continues, seeing the question in his eyes. “I do listen to your stories and saw the pattern emerge.”
There is no recollection of it, the clues that led her to this park on this day, but she somehow collected them and chose this morning to test her theory. And judging by the satisfied smile lighting up her face, she is quite pleased with herself. As she should be.
“But that doesn’t explain why you’re here.”
It’s almost like the wind is waiting for her answer, as well. Suddenly it is impossibly quiet while he waits, tilting his head ever so slightly to study her.
“Because I didn’t want to be cooped up in the Post Office when I could be walking along the river with you.”
And that’s all the answer he will get as she stands rather abruptly and makes a point to zip her jacket for longer than necessary.
He will wonder about it, of course, but not right now. Now they will continue on his course toward the water, a route he hadn’t really been aware of until she mentioned it. But he is more than aware of other things. There is the pressure of her hand that eventually slips through his arm and the flush that occasionally rises in her face…..that must be from the chill in the air and the wind that has returned to whip about them as they walk.
….
“I hope you like popcorn.”
“Lizzy, what….”
“...am I doing here?” she asks when he stops, eyes narrowing, as she plops down in the seat beside him. “I came for the movie. Here, hold my stuff.”
The popcorn is handed over, and a drink along with candy and more candy, until her hands are free to remove her jacked and get comfortable.
“Dare I ask how you knew where I’d be at this particular moment?”
“Raymond, we’ve already been through this routine. You see, I’m a profiler.”
“You could humor me this once.”
It makes her laugh and she explains, while reclaiming her purchases from the snack bar. “Well, you are appallingly clueless about current television or film, but have an affinity for the classics. Would you like some of my M&M’s?”
“Perhaps later. Go on.”
“There’s not much to tell. You were reading the paper and something made you smile, which turned out to be the announcement for this theater’s classic movie day. However, knowing you wouldn’t want to come at the regular showing, I figured you’d make a deal with the manager and here we are, nine in the morning on a Tuesday, ready to watch North By Northwest.”
There it is. A clue within the story. What she left out, but what he sees so clearly. She wanted to know what caught his attention, made him smile. She must have found the paper, the exact page, and searched it out until she came across the notice. She was curious and so is he. More than curious. He is fascinated.
He is also a little speechless to say the least, actually he’s thoroughly speechless which causes her to hesitate and the furrow on her brow is there before he can reassure her.
“Perhaps I should have-”
“Did you get butter on the popcorn?” he asks quickly, by way of reassurance.
Her worry goes as quickly as it came and she relaxes back with a grin. “What kind of question is that?”
“I take it back.”
“Hey, you know there’s a mysterious Mr. Kaplan in this movie. That’s a curious coincidence don’t you think?”
“Is it?” he asks with a mysterious smile of his own. “You’ll have to ask Mr. Kaplan about that some time.”
“I just might if I ever get the nerve up,” she mutters, making him chuckle at her honesty.
She leans into him long enough for him to know it’s not by accident just as the lights dim and Hitchcock’s classic springs to life. They’ve seen it before, but never like this. Alone and closed off from the world, even for a short while. Together. It’s difficult to ignore the charge running between them that sparks their awareness of the other. The nearness of their hands and if only one of them would reach out....
But not yet.
Not with their nervous energy as they wonder at these strange turning of events. Ones that she has turned to her liking. And his. Where it will lead them, they can’t possibly know. The answer remains elusive, especially when they are distracted by the two improbable lovers on screen, hiding amidst the monuments of granite, searching for any mode of escape.
Not unlike themselves.
…..
It’s becoming a habit.
Quite unexpected in a way that he now anticipates, looks forward to that sudden thrill when she materializes at his side or endures the disappointment when his solitude goes uninterrupted. There are times he forgets to ask the how or why of it until much later, for it is so natural, so incredibly easy to share these small nothings with her that now seem anything but small.
It is also easy to reciprocate.
“It’s getting late, Agent Keen, and the case, as they say, is closed.”
She sits up with a jolt at her desk and flinches as the muscles in her neck complain at the sudden movement.
“What are you doing here?”
“I ask myself that question on a regular basis and I assure you the answer is always the same.” He walks the rest of the way inside her office and drops into a chair, his fedora coming to rest on a knee. “You.”
The scowl is gone, replaced by something in her eyes he would not dare to name, something he wants to hold close for fear of losing it.
“I’m okay.”
That may be, but it was a disturbing case, the kind that will linger and rob them of sleep. The kind that makes this most difficult of jobs worth doing.
“I know you are, LIzzy,” he murmurs. “But I find myself a little out of sorts tonight and could use the company.
“And Dembe isn’t company?”
The trace of teasing in her voice makes him smile and he returns it in kind. “He’s gone off to BINGO with Mr. Brimley.”
She rolls her eyes and closes the file she has been reading, setting it firmly aside. At least for tonight. This is what they need, the solace they always seem able to find when it is only them. It is later, after dinner, when they are strolling about the neighborhood that she takes his arm and gives him a little pull.
“Where are you taking me?”
“There’s an ice cream place up ahead. If we hurry, we can get a scoop before they close.”
He makes no argument at either the prospect of ice cream or the pleasure of her company for awhile longer. Perhaps that is the reason for her suggestion, not wanting the evening to draw to a close.
But there goes his mind again, running away with him as his thoughts tangle in a knot. That is, until they enter the shop and he stops in his tracks, looking around and then back to where she is watching him.
“Remind you of anything?” she asks with a smile.
“Yes, I’d say so.”
If he didn’t know better he’d swear they were in the little bistro in Montreal. From the tiled walls and checkered pattern on the floor, antique mirrors and even the golden hue of the lighting.
“How long have you known about this place?”
“A few months. I was waiting for the right time to bring you here.”
God the way she can make his head spin and he says nothing more until they have their scoops in hand and take a seat at one of the small tables.
“You could ask me again, Raymond.”
The spoon stops halfway to his mouth and slowly makes a return trip to his bowl. “I don’t understand.”
“You asked a very important question that night in Montreal. You could ask me again.”
He swallows and replays their conversation in his mind, not for the first time since they shared a cocktail and he found himself falling.
“Why would I do that?”
Her words from that long ago night that he borrows, whispering them as she did then, and sees her smile ever so briefly.
“Ask me.”
“Tell me my profile, Elizabeth.”
As complicated as their lives have become, how treacherous the path that has led them here, but how simple it is to tell him.
“You’re a loner. You keep your distance,” she says, drawing from her first impressions of him, only now there is infinitely more. “Except with those you hold dear. Except with me.”
“Lizzy….”
“Even now, you long to hear it, but are afraid of the words you can’t possibly make yourself believe are real.”
He will never be able to ask what they are. He will never have to.
“I love you. That’s what I want you to know.”
Words that would have been impossible to believe in Montreal, but settle in his soul in an ice cream shop in DC. There are words of his own that he has held onto so tightly until this very moment.
“I-”
“I’m sorry to interrupt, but the shop is closing.”
The kid behind the counter gives them an apologetic shrug and Raymond laughs out loud. “That is excellent news.”
With a flurry, he drops a rather large tip on the table and takes her hand, leading her back onto the quiet sidewalk.
“Things do seem to have a way of interrupting us,” she comments rather dryly.
“Not this time.”
Not ever again if they have anything to say about it, but they will think about that later. It is all a blur when his hands cup her face and he kisses her as he has wanted for a very long time. As they have both wanted, time and again, but it took a little turn and twist of fate to close the circle.
“I love you,” he whispers, when they finally pull back.
“I know,” as her arms reach up to link behind his neck, waiting for his hands to drop to the small of her back, drawing her in closer. Just as she knew they would. “I’m a profiler, after all.”
#lizzingtonweek#Lizzington#the episode or scene that made you start shipping#the freelancer of course and the whispering and the profiling and on and on#aka that life ruining moment#one shot#fic#mine#a little late but finally a smidge of inspiration struck#Mr Kaplan meet Mr Kaplan from whence you were named#do me a solid and ignore all the mistakes#thanks and carry on
98 notes
·
View notes
Note
Hello!! :D It would be really nice to hear your thoughts about places and food and things to do that aren't very touristy in London, do you have a list of things to do or try that you suggest?
what a wonderful thing to ask!! thank you! :D i do have a long list of favourite places - mind you i lived waaay south from central london, so i’ll go through places in central london first & a short list of my favourite things in the south second.
for food & drink:
the café in the crypt is a classic if you’re looking for a nice quiet spot; it’s the kind of place that hides in plain sight and is nearly never busy.
if you go to the japan centre in panton street late in the day, they’ll almost definitely have discounted some mochi by 30% or 50%.
golden gate cake shop = happiness.
fifth view bar at the top floor of waterstones piccadilly is quiet, beautiful, and has good cocktails & a ridiculously long two-for-one happy hour.
london cocktail club has super delicious drinks and a really fun aesthetic. i like the one by monument.
also - even though this isn’t exactly a hidden gem - shoryu ramen has the best vegan noodle soup i’ve ever had. their buns are good, too.
if you’re in south kensington for the museums and are getting hungry, don’t overpay for food just because it’s something of a posh area; go here instead and have amazing chinese for like, five pounds.
things to do:
guildhall art gallery is nicely tucked away, free, & not too busy. beautiful victorian art, and the atmosphere is usually quite peaceful.
same for the wallace collection: it’s free, it’s absolutely beautiful, and they have a gorgeous (if expensive) gift shop.
kind of touristy and known by everyone, but the tate britain is still my favourite london museum. calmer and more strollable than the tate modern, too. go there on a weekday morning, sit in the 1840s room, stare at hot shelley. their blake and turner collections are amazing, and their museum café’s very good as well.
goldsmith vintage is responsible for most of my wardrobe - only shop there while they’re doing their bargain basement where every piece is 10 quid, their prices can otherwise be a bit unreasonable for 2nd hand items.
if you want to see a play or show the same day, stay away from the more garish ticket booths around theatreland & go to the tkts booth instead. they won’t rip you off & have incredible discounts.
if you can get the student discount, dennis severs’ house is worth doing. it’s magical and fascinating and strange.
the house of minalima is free & well worth a visit if you’re into hp.
not central, but for reasons of loyalty and because it’s my favourite place on earth, i have to tell you to go to keats house. it has a very unique and calm atmosphere and everyone who works there is an angel. also, they do historical re-enactments now and then!
while you’re there, walk the heath. it’s good for the soul.
mishmash of south & south-east london places to stop by if you’re in the area, but which probably aren’t worth taking a train south for:
magi gifts in brockley is my favourite independent shop in existence.
le delice in ladywell has incredible sandwiches that i miss every day, an amazing breakfast, wonderful breads (!), and really good sweet bakes. if they have macarons on the day, get them.
the fox & firkin has amazing live music, a stunning outdoor space, and very good food.
hilly fields park has incredible views & a bunch of good reading spots.
most people either don’t know or ignore the fact that greenwich park continues beyond the observatory: their rose garden is gorgeous & a nice quiet spot to read.
the gardens at horniman museum are gorgeous, especially in the summer.
blackheath’s bookshop on the heath is the quintessential cosy old bookshop, but it also carries antique prints, maps, post cards, and so on. i’ve found a few treasures there, especially for my uni reading.
since you were asking me specifically, i probably don’t have to add that this is a very personalised list, and i’m far from a proficient london guide. hopefully this gives you some ideas nonetheless 🧡
#i cooked an entire pot of risotto while typing this response & the question absorbed me so much that i forgot to put in any vegetables#like not even peas#my dinner was therefore rice butter shallots and cheese and i love you for that anon#anyway. go to keats house! a lot of love goes into the curation! they need your money! also they're decorating for christmas rn!#and definitely go to the crypt if you're near trafalgar no one will bat an eye if you just get tea & sit there reading & writing for 6 hours#also the food's really good? i had dinner there all the time while i was renting without a kitchen#it's just got a nice homey feeling#asks#anon#ghost capital#long post#rec post
29 notes
·
View notes
Text
Celebrate Local: New Orleans Hosts The Scout Guide Editor Conference
May was a big month for The Scout Guide New Orleans! The Scout Guide hosted its annual editor conference in New Orleans. Sixty TSG Editors from across the country traveled to the Crescent City in search of endless inspiration...and of course, a good time. Mission accomplished thanks to the incredible small business owners who make New Orleans the most exciting place to live and visit.
Christy Ford and Susie Matheson, Co-Founders of The Scout Guide and TSG Charlottesville Editors with Jane Scott Hodges, Founder of Leontine Linens and Taylor Morgan, Editor/Owner, The Scout Guide New Orleans
In true New Orleans fashion, we experienced a feast for all of the senses at the home of Jane Scott and Philip Hodges. Discussed the state of our brand and what makes a beautiful book at our NOLA Headquarters, Windsor Court. Engaged with business owners while shopping local on Magazine Street. And celebrated local at three of my favorite eateries, Arnaud’s, Cavan, and Brennan’s.
Tablescape designs by Jane Scott Hodges featuring Leontine Linens and a collection of tabletop goods including fabulous flower vases from Malachite Home
Leontine cocktail napkins pair beautifully with Patti Constantin, Designs in Catering, hand blown glasses.
Fried oysters and Cajun Caviar by Patti Constantin
Laura Kocher, TSG Headquarters, Stacey Leuliette, TSG Palm Beach and Nantucket, and Jen Stolp of TSG Wilmington
Black Magic Drum Line surprise editors courtesy of Jane Scott and Philip Hodges
New Orleans wasn’t just selected because its a fun place to be — I was one of the very first franchise owners to establish The Scout Guide outside of home base in Charlottesville, Virginia. For our first road show, co-founders Susie Matheson and Christy Ford wanted to share with our young Editors the experience of what The Scout Guide can be in a community.
Building a brand doesn’t happen over night, but it sure does seem like ours did. Since 2010, TSG has grown to a network of 60 city guides dedicated to celebrating and supporting over 3,000 small business owners who keep communities unique. TSG combines print, online and a national network making it a pretty powerful platform for local businesses to shine.
Eight years ago when I first brought The Scout Guide to New Orleans, I had this one little blue book, The Scout Guide Charlottesville. There was no Instagram, barely a website or blog, definitely no searchable directory, or a network of 60 Editors to support local. I was selling my passion for New Orleans and desire to create a visual for our city to shine on a national platform (at a time when we were still convincing people we were open for business.)
A collection of city guides - The Scout Guide book bar on display at Perch
From top to bottom: TSG Cleveland, TSG Northwest Arkansas, TSG Park City, TSG Little Rock, TSG Omaha, TSG Cincinnati, TSG Cleveland, TSG Fort Worth and TSG Wilmington
I had big dreams for my small business, but I am not sure I visualized a union of our powerful network in my own backyard. So when I looked around in a room and saw all the people gathered based off of something that I built, it was a pretty moving experience.
Ralph Brennan shares the history of Brennan’s along with some lessons in business with our group of young entrepreneurs
Autumn Allen, TSG Washington, DC, Sarah Phillips, TSG Alexandria, Nelina Loiselle, TSG Hunt Country
Jane Scott Hodges, Patti Constantin, and Ralph Brennan were not only instrumental in the success of the Conference, but they have been crucial to the success of our brand. These uniquely New Orleans business owners, along with Ashley Longshore, Melissa Rufty and Adrienne Casbarian, Neal Alford, Roy Dunn and Stephen Sonnier, Alexis Walter, Lynn Morgan, Mia and Justin Devillier, and the Windsor Court team answered the call in my first year, trusted me to represent their brand in places near and far, and remain with me on the journey today. They have become our very own TSG celebrities so it was fun to finally introduce them to their fan club in real life.
Adrienne Casbarian, owner of Malachite Home, Susie Matheson and Christy Ford, Co-Founders of The Scout Guide and Taylor Morgan, Editor/Owner of The Scout Guide New Orleans
Mariah Walton, owner of West London Boutique, signs her page in The Scout Guide New Orleans
The Scout Guide is about people. We love connecting businesses to businesses, so I hosted a happy hour at Cavan to introduce New Orleans business owners to Editors in other cities. Kathy Slater who showcases her work in Dallas, Houston and Atlanta had the opportunity to meet the respective Editors. Susan Zackin who plans parties in New Orleans and Palm Beach (and everywhere in between) met her champion on the ground in any port of call. Interior Designer Shaun Smith and Restaurant Owner Robert Leblanc shared with Editors how The Scout Guide has supported the growth of his business.
TSG Naples, TSG Edmond, TSG Jackson, TSG Plano & Frisco, TSG Mobile Bay, TSG Dallas
Rebecca Vizard carved time in her schedule to share her story with TSG before darting to Baton Rouge to receive the Louisiana Legend award later in the evening
Today I have represented over 200 small business owners in New Orleans. I adore being their champion and I do experience some pretty cool things. But let me let you in on a little secret: you, too, can continue to peel back the layers in our city just by walking in the front door of these local businesses.
Natalie Erwin Art pairs beautifully with Leontine
Flowers, antiques and gifts all under one roof at Dunn & Sonnier
Ashley Nettleton, TSG Edmond, Suzanne Dildy, TSG Park City, Susu Stall, owner of SOSUSU Boutique, and Susie Matheson, Co-Founder of TSG and Editor of The Scout Guide Charlottesville
Cole Pratt’s Erika Olinger shares with Christy Ford her art + technology exhibit
TSG Headquarters Team with Shane Guidry of Pippen Lane
But where would we be without you, our reader? Thank you so much for supporting these small business owners. All a TSG Editor can hope for is that you find something you love here, visit the store, meet the owner, learn something new and buy local what you want (and of course, tell them scout sent you!). By doing so, you will have a profound impact on your local community.
Hopie Avery, TSG Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Leigh Ann Kalman, TSG Austin, Leigh Brown, TSG Fort Worth, Cheney Edmunds, TSG Richmond and Meredith Kallaher, TSG Miami shopping local at West London Boutique, Pilot + Powell, SOSUSU, Tasc and Villa Vici
TSG loves Ashley Longshore Art
Cozy conversations at Cavan with our newest editors TSG Phoenix and Tuscon at the head of the table
The experience of a French Quarter balcony at Arnaud’s
Champagne sabering every week day in the courtyard at Brennan’s
And just when I thought I had seen everything this city had to offer, TSG Co-Founders, Christy Ford & Susie Matheson, gifted me with a glittered field commander hat that they scouted at Peony. Certainly, there couldn’t have been a more perfect gift for the person leading the trombone parade of sixty lovers of local, and clearly, they had to stake their claim as the original scouts!
TELL THEM SCOUT SENT YOU!
—TAYLOR MORGAN, Editor/Owner, THE SCOUT GUIDE NEW ORLEANS
Most photos by Paul Morse Photo and a few by yours truly, TSG New Orleans.
Enjoy TSG Miami’s recap of The Scout Guide Editor Conference on her You Tube Channel.
Interested in becoming a member of The Scout Guide? Find more information here.
#Visit#New Orleans#The Scout Guide#Local#Recommendation#Editor#Conference#Leontine#Windsor Court#BViz#Design#Restaurant#Brennans#Cavan#Small Business#Jane Scott Hodges#Ralph Brennan#Ashley Longshore#Patti Constantin#Melissa Rufty#Shaun Smith#Adrienne Casbarian#French Quarter#Magazine Street#Shopping#Dining#Taylor Morgan#Susie Matheson#Christy Ford#TSG
2 notes
·
View notes
Photo
Another Interview with Leonnaux Altoix
1. What is the name you go by?
“Leonnaux, though most of Alizarine refers to me as ‘Leon.’ I don’t mind it, really; it certainly has a ring to it. Funnily enough, my girlfriend actually refers to me fully as ‘Leonnaux,’ barring any pet names! At the end of the day, it comes down to preference and how willing one is to navigate bullshite Elezen names, I suppose.”
2. What is your real name?
He hesitates. “Leonnaux Altoix.”
*OOC Note: Lie detected. His real name is Leonnaux Declurais. He uses an assumed surname to distance himself from his family back in Gridania, and make himself feel closer to his long-missing father.
3. Do you know why you are named that?
“Why is anyone named anything? I suppose my mother just liked the name, I suppose. As for Altoix... I’m not sure where it comes from.”
4. Are you single or taken?
“I’m in a relationship, aye. Her name is Edda Vincents. We’ve not been without our difficulties, particularly erm... Recently, but that comes with the territory, I think. I do my best to support her, when she’ll let me, and I’ll love her always.” Mushy as it is, a big grin breaks across his lips and he gives a stern nod.
5. Have any abilities or powers?
“I’m versed in magic, if that’s what you’re asking. Namely, I practice arcanima, and would consider myself reasonably skilled at it, although I struggle with the, erm... Putting the theory into practice occasionally. Other than that, I’m skilled with arcanima, and... Well... I don’t think that qualifies as a power, really...” He trails off in a huff.
*OOC Note: Leon has the Echo (visions only), but he doesn’t know what it is. These visions are also liable to make him very, very sick, and he has no idea what causes them, so as far as he’s concerned at the moment they’re just an unfortunate medical condition.
6. What is your favorite food?
“Um! That’s actually pretty tough. I would wager... Uh... Well. At the moment, I really like these pastries that they sell in the lobby of the Sultana’s Breath...”
7. What’s your eye color?
“Blue.”
8. How about your hair color?
“Black.”
9. Have you any family members?
“... None that I’m on speaking terms with.”
10. What about pets?
“I have a cat, uh... Though I guess she doesn’t really belong to me so much as I plucked her out of an antique shop and now she kind of wanders around The Goblet and visits me whenever she either finds something interesting or wants attention or food. She has a cute little hat--oh. I also have a copperfish. But that’s not interesting.”
11. Now tell me about something you don’t like?
“At length? I think I’ll spare you the trouble... I despise people who put their bloodthirst before anything else. They ought to know better than anyone that lives have weight; to believe otherwise is to paint yourself as a psychopath. I’m also not particularly fond of tribal people, oh—But Edda would get onto me if she knew I said that out loud. And before you say anything: yes, I’m a Duskwight. No, you don’t understand the intricacies of why we are regarded as we are.”
12. Do you have any hobbies/activities you like?
“I enjoy... Studying. Gambling, from time to time. Reading drama. And drinking. Spending time with Edda... Chewing the fat with my coworkers... I’ll listen to a good bard from time to time. That shite takes me back; had things been different, maybe I could have been the one up on stage...!”
13. Ever hurt anyone before?
“Physically? Emotionally? Physically, I struggle to think I could hurt anyone. I’m hardly a grisled warrior like Ben or Jin. Some harm to body may have resulted, a few times, from spells I’ve cast, but I try to keep my spells benign. Emotionally? ... Certainly.”
14. Ever killed anyone?
“No, and I refuse to allow myself to be responsible for taking a life, even by proxy.””
15. What kind of animal are you?
“Caw?” He does a remarkable impression of a crow.
16. Name your worst habits.
“I have been told racism. Drinking, occasionally to excess. But I will not have it said that I’m not principled.”
17. Do you look up to anyone at all?
“Not many, being an Elezen.” He pauses. “What? Fine. I suppose I look up to a few people; Edda chief among them, but of course I’d admire her. Beyond that, I suppose Madison most times and Khada some others. I haven’t been in a position to be mentored or otherwise subservient to another in a very long time. That is not to say I’m not open to being taught a few things, but it makes coming up with people I look up to difficult... Considering the kinds of crowds I tend to run with. Of all my endeavors, Alizarine is the only one that is clean.”
18. Gay, straight, or bisexual?
“You’re asking about my sexual preferences, right? I’m happily taken. But if I weren’t, I think I could see myself as easily with a man as I could a woman.”
19. Do you go to school?
“I never went to school. I was taught how to read and do basic maths by a family friend, and then everything else I know, I taught myself.”
20. Do you ever want to marry and have kids one day?
“Uh... The idea of getting married is... Not altogether unappealing, but I don’t think I’m ready for such a major step. As for children... I would make a shite father. So no.”
21. Do you have fanboys/fangirls?
“Do I have any what?”
22. What are you most afraid of?
“... Being alone again, I suppose. Before Edda, and way before Alizarine, I was pretty much... A shut-in? A recluse? I didn’t mind that life at the time, but I feel so much... Better now that I’m not. Edda pulled me out of some dark places. I don’t want to go back to them.”
23. What do you usually wear?
“Things so marvellously stylish that you will wonder how I afforded them! The boots are Fen-Yll.”
24. Do you love someone?
“As we’ve been over a few times: yes.”
25. When was the last time you wet yourself?
“What the fuck kind of question is that? I’m an adult! The last time I would have wet myself would be as a wee bab.”
26. What do you think is the worst act someone can commit?
“That’s a toss-up between murder and sex crimes. Selling off people as if they were livestock is also horrid. I have my hands in a few untoward things, but you will never see me with a finger in any of those pies.”
27. What class are you? (high class, middle class, low class)
“... Upper-middle? I’m no member of the Syndicate, but I’m hardly poor. I own property. I run a research company. I’m comfortable.”
28. How many friends do you have?
“... Uh...” He starts counting on his fingers, then seems to reconsider. “A few.”
29. What are your thoughts on pie? Cake?
“Both are excellent, especially apple pie and apple cake, which I promise exists. My mother used to make it for us all the time as kids using faerie applies she’s pick from these trees on the—Oh, I made myself sad.”
30. Favorite drink?
“Alcoholic? I fancy myself a bit of a mixologist these days, so I’ve come up with a few interesting combinations that I enjoy. Chief among them are Gold Court cocktails, on sale frequently at The Cloak & Dagger. I also like the restaurant’s titular cocktail... As for non-alcoholic, lassi is good. Fruit juices. Water. I don’t sit down and drink milk, really, but sometimes I get... Cravings?”
31. What’s your favorite place?
“Home. Or The Brimming Heart, in the Goblet.”
32. Are you interested in someone?
“I’m in a relationship! Of course I’m interested in her!”
33. What’s your bra cup size and/or how big is your willy?
“Ask Edda.”
34. Would you rather swim in a lake or the ocean?
“A lake... Because the water is calmer, and I’m not a strong swimmer...”
35. What’s your type?
“I’m not sure that I have one, honestly. I’m in a relationship, but I think anyone who was kind and willing to tolerate my bullshite for more than five minutes would have had a chance.” He laughs. “If—and this is a big if—I ever have to find out if I do, indeed have a type that I’m habitually attracted to... You’ll be the first to know. But for now, my type is Edda Vincents.”
36. Any fetishes?
He turns bright red considering the question, then shakes his head.
37. Seme or uke? Dominant or submissive?
“I don’t know what the former two are... Is it a Hingan thing...? Uh... As for the latter...” He’s still bright red. “It depends on the mood?”
38. Camping or indoors?
“Indoors.”
39. You are trapped on a desert island. What 5 items do you take with you if you can?
“I would avoid being trapped on the desert island in the first place! Other than that... My linkpearls, my grimoire, a quill, a map of the realm, and...? Ugh! This is hard.”
40. You have found a genie! What are your three wishes, not counting getting more wishes.
“I would wish for the power to bring those who have wronged the people I care about to justice. Uh... Wow, that sounds deep but it’s really not. Let’s go money, happiness, food. that works just as well. Right?”
Tagged by: @solennelagarde
Tagging: @celestial-benediction, @celesiel (for vio!), @khadamoks, @oroniri (for either Dali or Kubo you pick!!) @larhaya (for Irha), @rashkgeilt, @lazarusffxiv, @streetgardener, actually all of INK and any members of Ebonguard who haven’t done this interview meme and/or have a Tumblr. :>
7 notes
·
View notes
Text
Illegitemus non carborundum est
Also known as The Chef!AU cat has posted about occasionally. I elt like shit all day and yesterday and somehow words happened. Idk how much of this will be finished but at the very least, have the first chapter or some amusement.
James is a Chef/pub owner, John’s a freelance author and novelist
eventual silverflinthamiltons
__
Chapter 1
Over the years, the one thing that John Silver had come to appreciate most about London was the multitude of cafes, coffee shops, and pubs that populated the city. Without fail, he had managed to find a little hole in the wall best suited to very possible situation, dates, business lunches, catching up with old friends, the awkward break up.
Sometimes a cafe was better, the calmer, at times more elegant tone of the place adding to the scolding his sister might be giving him, or making him appear more put together when meeting with a publisher. Other times a coffee shop with old wooden booths and simple menus were best, when the only thing needed was caffeine and quiet. And on nights when writers block and insomnia decided to team up on him, well there was always a pub or ten within walking distance of the tube station.
The only trouble was, out of all the spots he’d been, a regular haunt had eluded him. Nothing felt quite right, nothing offered the right balance of all three, at least on the list of fifty or so places he tried. And often he and Jack, and their little circle of friends, stuck to their usual routine of places, rotating through them now and then to give the illusion of something fresh and different. But genuine change, a true meander off the beaten path was rare.
So when Jack recommended they meet at a new place for lunch, John was curious. Jack had always preferred The Scarlet Brewhouse on the other side of the river, or The Wolfhound near Covent Garden when he had a bit more change in his pocket. John couldn’t remember if they’d explored the pubs and shops near Boroughs Market before, or at least not consciously- he’d been one one to many pub crawls with Jack and Charles, of which his memory was foggy and limited. Perhaps that had been when Jack had found this new spot, The Walrus.
Who’d name a pub after so random an animal John had no idea, likely an inside joke of the owners. But then in a city with a few dozen public houses referencing cocks and princes, he supposed it was no more nor less suited than any other.
The corporate lunch crowd of the two o’clock hour had thankfully moved along, leaving the entrance to the Market far less crowded than the last time John had visited. It was an easy thing to spot Jack in his violet bomber jacket waiting on the curb with a cigarette in hand. John laughed at the sight of Charles next to him, three butterfly closures on his bruised forehead and a plaster splint on his nose.
“What the fuck happened to you?”
Charles grumbled and rolled his eyes. “Nothing-”
“He’s the reason we didn’t go to Scarlet’s I’m afraid,” Jack said with a put upon sigh.
“Did you get banned?”
“No he knows better than that. He started a fight down in whitechapel last night, with the pair of fellows who run this walrus place.”
Charles sneered, but it was a weak thing, with the bandage on his nose. “They started it.”
“Technically you threw the first punch, and in an effort to avoid them pressing any kind of charges, we are escorting Charles to go and apologize, while you and I enjoy our lunch, john. If that’s alright with you.”
“As if I’d say no to lunch and free entertainment. You realize it’s just as likely that charles will just start round two while we’re there, don’t you?” John asked as they turned down the side street and headed for the bank of the river.
“If he wants to get laid in the next month he damned well better not.”
“I take it Ellie is equally as mad about this?”
The sheepish look on Charles’ face made it clear he hadn’t yet told his occasional girlfriend about it. “She’s busy with exams. Didn’t wanna bother her.”
“No so I’m just left to deal with you.” Jack finished his cigarette and tossed it. “It’s a good thing you’re a good lay, charles.”
John rolled his eyes, it was an old nonsensical performance the two carried on, that they only enjoyed each other’s company for sex. Even a complete and utter stranger could take one look at them and realize they were effectively joined at the hip till the grave, them and Anne of course, Jack’s sometimes girlfriend but always partner he’d known since childhood.
“Anne not partaking in your humiliation?”
“She’s got a photoshoot scheduled up in Cambridge today, won’t be back till after dinner. Otherwise she’d be front row with her camera ready to catch this idiot having to apologize for once in his life.”
“I still say they started it.” Charles insisted.
“What was it even about?” John asked.
“Haven’t got a clue.”
Having been present for more than one of Charles’ notorious bar fights, John could easily believe that the whole point of the argument had been lost in the fray. All it took was a couple extra shots and a poorly timed joke in bad taste and charles was ready and willing to answer it with a right hook.
“Here we are, now behave charles or so help me-”
The Walrus looked, at face value, like every other hundred year old pub in the city, with the worn and re-painted wood framed windows and moulding around the door, a few iron tables and chairs sat outside to look across the street at the river and the opposing bank.
“Did you actually bother reading up on this place before dragging us out here jack?”
Jack huffed indignantly. “Yes I read up on it, I’d not pick a place without at least skimming the reviews. They’ve got nearly four stars on every possible review and the staff is gorgeous.”
“I’d care more about the food.”
“Well they said the food was good too.” Jack nudged Charles inside and waved John in after him.
It was a cozy setting, dark wood and white washed walls, old nautical art pieces hung here and there on the wall amidst old trophies and antiques, like many of the pubs along the river. It had the benefit of large front windows that made the place feel airy, instead of the cave like atmosphere of so many other places. Twenty tables or so were scattered about the room, the large oak bar extended to offer both kitchen side seating and barside.
The man at the bar looked up when they entered to greet them, but the moment he caught sight of Charles his put upon smile faded.
“Uh-”
“Hi we’re looking for a man named Flint?” Jack asked, as John settled into one of the empty tables in the window.
“What for?”
“My friend here caused him a bit of trouble last night and wanted to apologise.”
The bartender seemed to doubt that very much but nodded and turned to the kitchen. “Hey flint! You’ve got a visitor!”
“I’m not here.” came the gruff and uninterested reply.
“I think its the guy who decked you last night.”
John startled when a mountain of a man leaned against the kitchen door frame, apron slung around his hips and a healing split lip turned up with a smile. “Yeah it's him, flint. What do you want then?”
Charles glared at him until Jack sighed and shoved him forward to the bar.
“To apologise, and make sure there’s no hard feelings.” He said, ignoring the sour look Charles gave him.
The mountain blinked in surprise, and looked back over his shoulder, no doubt to where this Flint was debating whether or not to accept. Apparently he was willing to hear the apology, after a muttered reply, the mountain huffed and waved charles behind the counter.
“Flint’s got his hands a bit tied up, c’mon back.” He said and Charles followed after Jack again pushed him forward.
“I swear to god if he starts another fight I’m going to scream,” Jack said on a sigh, dropping into the seat across from john.
“If he does, at least the place’s is pretty quiet.” Aside from them, only two regulars sat at the bar, and half a dozen patrons at the tables further away. Hardy enough to cause a frenzy if a fight broke out.
“No need to worry, Flint won’t start a fight in his own house,” The bartender said, coming over with a trio of water glasses and menus. “If I’m honest I was surprised he got in a fight at all last night.”
“Is he not normally a hotheaded man then?” Jack asked.
“Oh he is, just the type more likely to jump you outside the pub rather than in. Wasn’t there so I dunno what was said but it must’ve been something.”
“I’m normally there but I had a deadline last night, couldn’t go out, thought Charles might be capable of coming home in one piece but here we are.”
“Ah well, we can only do our best with em can’t we? I’m Muldoon, lemme know when you want to order or if you want any drinks.” He was a short, genial looking man, with clever eyes and a well trimmed beard. The heavy brogue in his accent made John smile.
“We’ll take two of whatever cocktails you make best,” jack told him. “I’m going to need a few once this affair is over.”
“give me five minutes, they’ll be right up.”
“Did your deadline not go as well as you hoped?” John asked, when the bartender was back at work.
Jack waved a hand. “Who the hell knows, its submitted and the publication can decide whether or not its fit to run. With my luck I’ll have it sent back to me drowning in red ink and chunks of black out.”
“Maybe you shouldn’t write so many pieces on back door deals the whitehall bastards make, or how fucked the cops are, maybe then you’ll get more work published.” John pointed out, even though he knew the answer he’d receive. Jack was as invested in his journalism as John was in his novels, and the day Jack gave up his life of ruining rich and powerful people’s lives, would likely be the day they buried him.
“Ah but then, what kinda man am I, to ignore truth in exchange for a fat paycheck?” Jack chuckled. “Besides they’ve enough useless reporters amongst the london press, and when have I ever been one of the flock?”
“Never. They’re still giving you a few articles to work on outside of your pet projects aren’t they?”
“Yeah some nonsense about the men’s fashion expected at the next royal wedding or some shit. This is what happens when you’re the only fucker in the building who knows how to dress properly, they stick you with all the fashion editorials.”
John laughed at the disgusted look on Jack’s face. “To be fair, you have kind of brought it on yourself. How many times have you lectured your coworkers on their lack of fashion sense?”
“Look if these straight men want to get fucked then they need to dress better than a fucking-”
“Drinks, gents. On the house.” Muldoon set the glasses down with practiced ease, timing his interruption well.
“On the house?” John asked.
“To commemorate both Flint’s getting his face broken and your man getting his face broken, and yet being civil enough to apologize.” Muldoon said. “Or because you’re the most interesting part of my day thus far.”
“I may fall in love with you sir.” Jack smiled up at him.
“Sorry love, gonna have to take that up with Billy.”
Jack tilted his head and looked to where Muldoon nodded- The hulking blonde still leaning against the doorframe, his back to them. “Ha! In that case my dear it will be a chivalrous love from afar.”
Muldoon laughed, a bright burst of sound that caught the attention of the blonde, Billy. He glanced over his shoulder, at first with a curious frown, but one that easily melted into a fond smile as he watched them. He glanced back at the kitchen and seemed satisfied that hell wasn’t going to break out, so he turned and round the bar, coming to join muldoon beside their table.
“You’ll be glad to know your man’s behaving himself,” Billy said with that same wry smile he wore earlier.
“Thank fuck.” Jack groaned softly. “You were the other one weren’t you, last night?”
“I was yeah, though to be fair it was just a misunderstanding. Neither of us hold any ill will towards- charles was it?”
“Vane yes, charles vane. I was honestly worried you might press charges.”
Billy scoffed. “Flint would rather fight him ten times over then get the cops involved, don’t worry.”
“What happened, if you don’t mind me asking?”
“A few guys was bothering a couple of kids in the pub, being general shits. Flint had already started getting involved, before I could really stop him. Your man escalated it to a fight, or tried to, Flint tried to stop him, the guys who originally started the fight got a couple shots in and bailed by the time the three of us and finished causing trouble.” billy shrugs. “Like I said, a misunderstanding.”
John laughed softly. “Yeah sounds like charles.”
“Hes otherwise a great drinking mate though, I’d happily end up in a brawl with him again-” Billy looked up at the ding of a bell, the kitchen calling him back. “Sorry, duty calls.”
“Well at least it wasn’t something genuinely awful, I feel a tad bad about being so cross with him.” Jack mused, after muldoon had taken their orders.
“Nah, I’m sure he half expects it these days.”
They swapped stories of the work week, little things they’d forgotten to share via text while they waited for their food. As neighbors and close friends, John was always surprised how much they had to talk about, as he and Jack saw each other nearly every other day, unless work ran them down. Of course it helped that Anne’s girlfriend was John’s sister.
Charles rejoined them just after their food had been set out, looking dazed and uneasy.
“What happened?”
“I… think I got a job?” Charles said after a moment, as if he wasn’t sure.
Jack choked on his drink. “What?”
“He… he said he needed help at the bar, and was willing to teach me kitchen shit if I was willing to learn. And I just… said yeah why not?” Charles currently worked for his so-called father figure, as part of the security detail the company employed after hours. It didn’t take a genius to sort out how unhappy Charles was there. “Teach cut my hours a good bit recently, I’ve got the time, and the pay’s better, actually.”
The two stared at him a moment, before John started to laugh. “Only you could fucking deck a dude and get a job out of it, jesus christ.”
“I- I can’t even begin to process this but- that’s good? I think? Or at least a much better outcome than I’d expected…” Jack shook his head. “Whatever am I going to do with you…”
Charles smiled as brightly as he could with the plaster on his face and snatched the pickle off Jack’s plate. “No doubt you’ll think of something.”
They saw nothing of this Flint during their lunch, though they did get to chat a bit more with Muldoon and Billy before leaving. All John saw was a flash of red hair through the kitchen doorway as the man passed, red hair pulled up in a high messy bun and freckled arms.
But that, and his reception of Charles, was enough to pique his and Jack’s curiosity.
It had seemed they’d found a new haunt after all.
17 notes
·
View notes
Text
FLORIDA
2021 Feb 23 (Tue) – We went out for lunch today to Micanopy. It was a small, historic town with lots of antique shops. We wanted to eat at a restaurant but it was closed so we went next door to Coffee & Cream where we enjoyed chicken salad sandwiches with rice and beans. After lunch, we walked up and down the main street wandering in some of the shops and reading the historic plaques describing the history of the town.
On the way back to the campground, we stopped at the post office to mail off some items and at a convenience store to pick up wine and get some lottery tickets. Then we stopped at the Antique Emporium. It was a large warehouse with 55 vendor shops inside. There were so many items we used to use for sale. There is no faster way to feel old than to walk through an antique shop and see your life’s belongings laid out and considered to be “old stuff.”
2021 Feb 22 (Mon) – We took our time closing up this morning. Bonnie and Sheba got to play outside and we chatted with Rich and Margaret for a while. Then we packed up and left Hernando at 11:35 a.m. The campground was just 40 miles away and we were here within an hour. Ocala North RV Park is a very nice, very clean facility. It is large and there were workers putting in new lights, a shuffle board, and a bocce ball court. They are getting ready for a luau in two days. The clerk who checked us in said the owner bought the rundown campground two years ago and has been working on renovating it. He’s done an excellent job.
2021 Feb 21 (Sun) – We all drove over to Matt & Michele’s today. They were hosting a drone speed course event for their local club. It was amazing to watch these little things zip around the yard, sounding like a bunch of angry bees. We could watch the drones fly around the course and watch the TV screens to see what the pilots were seeing in their headsets.
When we got back to the house, Margaret made roast beef sandwiches for us. For dinner, she cooked baked clams and steaks. We visited for a bit after dinner then returned to the rig to get ready for tomorrow’s move.
2021 Feb 20 (Sat) – I did some laundry today. Margaret was kind enough to let me use her washer and dryer. Matt & Michele came over for dinner and Margaret outdid herself, as usual. I think she loves to cook and is glad to have people visit. She not only made lots to eat, but packed us a take-home box.
2021 Feb 19 (Fri) – It started out cloudy, rained, then got really cool. We had to switch to long sleeve shirts and pants as the day wore on.
We drove to WalMart at 8 a.m. to get an oil change on the truck. There was a line of six cars in front of us waiting for service. We checked in then went shopping where we spent almost $200 on items in the store. The damn oil change should be free considering we shopped while waiting and spent so much we would not have spent other wise. Lol.
We got back around 10:30 a.m. and Margaret & Rich took us to Matt & Michele’s house. Paul and Margaret used to work with Matt at NYSDOT. They were building their home and a drone speed course when we were here last January. It is all finished now and everything is very nice. The drone control center and speed course are quite the thing to see.
We returned to the house and finished off Margaret’s egg salad. Later, we went to dinner at Crump’s Landing in Homasossa. It had a large grass covered roof over a seated patio area. There were plastic panels pinned in around the sides to keep it warm along with large gas heaters. It was very nice and the food was good. After dinner, Rich drove us over to Monkey Island. It is a small island in the middle of the Homosassa River where a troupe of monkeys lives. It was too dark to see anything but there is a house and a replica lighthouse on the island that is little more than a mound of dirt in the middle of the river. Guess the monkeys were asleep because we didn’t see any. It was too dark anyway.
2021 Feb 18 (Thu) – We packed up and left Tampa at 10:30 a.m. It was a little more than two hours to Hernando where we are staying in the driveway of friends, Margaret & Rich. We were here last January where we celebrated the New Year with them. Margaret was waiting for our arrival with egg salad sandwiches. We visited for a couple of hours. Later, she made sausage and peppers heroes for dinner.
2021 Feb 17 (Wed) – I went back to ENT doctor today. First I had a hearing test with the audiologist then a follow-up with the ENT doctor. I was told I have hearing loss in both ears and should go back to the VA for a re-evaluation on the hearing aids. The doctor prescribed prednisone for 6 days and a Flonase. Both are intended to reduce swelling and allow the fluid behind my ear to be reabsorbed.
After the doctor, we dropped the prescription off to CVS then went to lunch at a Mexican restaurant. After a stop at U-Haul for propane, we went back to CVS to pick up my prescriptions.
2021 Feb 16 (Tue) – Johnny & Linda and Rick & Brenda came over for a barbecue. It was chilly with an overcast sky and cool wind blowing. At least it didn’t rain. We had burgers, baked beans, potato salad, tossed salad and a chocolate cake to celebrate Brenda’s birthday. We visited for almost 4 hours. It was very enjoyable. After they left, we took down the town and cleaned up.
2021 Feb 15 (Mon) – I went to the ENT doctor today. He wanted to follow up and see how my ear was doing after using the drops. While the pain is gone, my ear still feels stuffed up. The doctor believes that I have fluid behind my ear. He asked me to come back for a hearing test.
After the doctor, we stopped at Bonefish Grill for lunch. The Bang Bang Shrimp is good every time! Then we stopped at Publix to pick up some groceries. When we got back to the campground, Paul set up the covered tent for tomorrow’s barbecue.
2021 Feb 14 (Sun – Valentine’s Day) – We went to the Hard Rock Café & Casino for lunch. Thought we’d enjoy a meal and a little gambling. What an UNenjoyable experience! The place is huge with several parking garages surrounding the main casino. We walked deep into the building before we found the café. The food was OK but very expensive - $101! After lunch, we went up to the second floor to the non-smoking lounge. We searched for 10 and 25 cent machines. That didn’t make any difference. When you found a 25 cent machine, you had to bet a minimum of 30 credits – each credit being equal to 25 cents. We both put $20 in a machine and after just 3 or 4 pushes of the button, we were broke. It is nice when you can find a machine to play that will last a little while. After all, you look for entertainment for a while. I don’t mind losing my money if the machine lets me play for an hour or so.
So, we went back down to the first floor and stopped in at a lounge for a cocktail and just enjoy the ambiance of the place. We walked up to the plastic shield and waited for service. Two bartenders were making drinks and even though they came by us to get bottles off the shelf, no one said anything to us. The bar was oval shaped and they were waiting on people on the other side of the bar. After about ten minutes, we spotted a waitress. Paul asked if we could get service at a table. She said yes so we sat at a small table and ordered our drinks. I asked for a double shot of Bailey’s Irish Cream and Paul had a shot of 43. My drink wasn’t more than an ounce. In fact, I questioned her as to whether it was even a double as it looked like so little. The charge for my drink was $22. We left the casino feeling ripped off and very unsatisfied with our experience. Sad.
2021 Feb 13 (Sat) – A fierce thunderstorm rolled through last night. The campground is full of puddles and squishy grass. It rained off and on all day today. There are more thunderstorms on the way over the next two or three days.
At 11:30, we wandered over to the livestock barn to see what was going on with the little piggies. They were having some kind of contest. A group of ten kids with pigs entered the ring. Each one had a long, thin switch that they used to continuously smack the pig on the right side of the face. Apparently, that is how they control the pig; with the switch and a stiff brush in their other hand. It looked like a confusing melee to me. The pigs walked all over the place and the kids followed, switching them in the face while trying to maintain eye contact with the judge. A judge watched and selected two or three contestants. They left the arena and entered cages on the side. The rest of the contestants were dismissed and the selectees came back out, fist bumped the judge, then left, too. Then, the next group of ten entered the ring. We watched for about a half hour. The animals were beautiful – strong, healthy looking beasts with ears that stood straight up and an energy to their trot. Some pigs were pink but more were other colors – chocolate brown, black with a pink band around their center, black with pink spots or pink with black splotches. It must be more difficult than it looks.
2021 Feb 12 (Fri) – We met Brenda & Rick for lunch at Portillo’s. The restaurant is famous in Chicago for its hot dogs and chocolate cake. We sat outside and visited for almost two hours. It was fun.
Next door was a Walgreens. After lunch, Paul and I went to find cards for our grandsons. We addressed them, put in a few candy hearts, and mailed them off.
2021 Feb 11 (Thu) – We went to Cracker Barrel for lunch. We were appalled to see many tables with the dishes still sitting on them after diners have left. The service was very slow. We watched the hostess come in, haphazardly wipe off a table and then seat a couple there. She definitely is not COVID protective.
After lunch, we went to Lazydays which was right next door to the restaurant. After buying a few supplies, we met with a salesman who took us to look at several rigs. We found two we liked and when we returned to the office, he worked hard to get us to buy one of the RVs. He even brought in the boss to talk to us. Fortunately, he saw we weren’t looking to buy right now so he just chatted amiably with us then left. Good. I didn’t feel like going through a high pressure sales pitch. They offered to give us a trade in of $32,000 on our current rig.
Campers are starting to come into the campground. There will be a Swine Festival this weekend for the local kids club.
2021 Feb 10 (Wed) – Paul tested the charge on several stanchions and found high voltage running through the line. I called the office and they sent an electrician over. He said they have a fair coming up and run a higher voltage over the line. With lots of people drawing power, it causes the voltage to drop. Since we are the only camper here, the voltage is too high and they can’t reduce it. It should be running around 128 but it’s over 133 and tripping the surge protector (which we thought was broken but was really doing its job). So, we packed up and moved to the other side of the campground where they are not setting up for the fair. The voltage seems to be OK over here. There’s one other camper in this area.
After the set up, we drove to MacDill Air Force Base. We have tried to get reservations on that base a couple of times but they were always full. They have over 400 spaces in their campground. It was full and the sites were very close to each other. We were just as glad we didn’t get in.
We then stopped at the commissary and picked up some groceries, then walked next door to the Class VI Package Store and picked up some wine.
2021 Feb 9 (Tue) – We drove to a laundromat to do some wash. They had a value card system in place. You have to put money on a card and put that into the washer and dryer. It is a confusing system but we managed. For two washers and two dryers, we spent $12.70. That was high.
While the clothes were doing their thing, we went to WalMart and picked up oil and DEF for the truck. Paul asked about having an oil change done but the clerk said they didn’t have a lift big enough to fit the truck. He told us to go to the WalMart in Valrico.
We had lunch at Duke’s Brewhouse. It was a relatively new place (as an evaluator said on Trip Advisor) but was not crowded. The walls were covered with big screen TVs playing every kind of sports. The Tamp Bay Buccaneers are big news after their win at the Superbowl this past weekend. I had a Greek flatbread and Paul had a Caesar wrap. The food was OK.
The electric breaker kicked off twice. Our surge protector usually takes two minutes to bring the electric back on. It did it the first time but not the second. Paul thinks the surge protector has bit the dust. It is almost four years old. That’s an awful short life. Add to that the Jetpack that keeps giving us problems in accessing the Internet. Ugh.
2021 Feb 8 (Mon) – I found an ENT doctor and went to see him this morning. He said I have a bacterial infection in my ear and prescribed ear drops. He said to stop the Amoxicillin that the urgent care doctor prescribed. I am supposed to go back to see the ENT doctor in a week.
We then went to Smokey Bones for lunch. The ribs were delicious! Then I ran into CVS (which happened to be in a Target store) to get the ear drops. I spent a good part of the day cancelling reservations and appointments back in New York. I was supposed to fly out today.
2021 Feb 7 (Sun) – We packed up and left Sarasota at 10 a.m. It was an hour and a half drive to the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa. Sometimes I have to wonder about our timing. The Superbowl is being played in Tampa tonight. We always seem to arrive somewhere where something amazing or very big is going on – like a presidential rally or a big concert.
When we arrived, we discovered we didn’t have an assigned site. The saleslady had acknowledged our reservation and promised to send us information before we arrived. She didn’t do that. The guard called someone who told them to just point us to the camping area and to pick a spot. That’s what we did. There are two RVs camped along the fence next to the interstate. Having camped near the interstate before, we knew it would be too loud with the 24/7 traffic. So we found a site on the other side of the field as far away from the road as we could get.
After set up, we went out to get some lunch. We were also going to do some laundry but my ear was hurting very badly. I got a message from Southwest that I had to have a negative COVID test within 72 hours of arriving in NY. On top of that, New York is getting another snowstorm today and another is scheduled for Thursday, all on top of a snowstorm they had a few days ago. I decided to cancel my trip until I could get my ear repaired. Maybe the COVID test will not be a requirement in another month with the vaccine out there. We’ll see.
My sister gave me a homeopathic treatment for my ear so we went to Sprouts Market where I picked up some ear drops. It did help to alleviate some of the pressure in my ear.
2021 Feb 6 (Sat) – We stayed in the trailer all day except to walk the dog. The wind was blowing briskly but it was more balmy than cold. Paul dumped the tanks this evening in readiness for our move tomorrow.
2021 Feb 5 (Fri) – It was cool today. Had to wear long pants, socks, and a jacket in the morning. We ran several errands around town. We went to Millie’s Restaurant for lunch. It was a delightful little café decorated with a French motif. I told Paul that I would like that wallpaper in our next house, wherever we settle down. Next stop was at Petco to pick up dry food for Bonnie. In the same shopping center was a Total Wine where we picked up some wine, a cordial, and a margarita mix. We stopped in a mall to look for sweat pants and jeans for me. It was about 3/4s empty. I guess COVID killed most of the stores. There was a JC Penney’s where I found a pair of soft slacks, not sweats nor jeans. We looked at cruise wear but decided to wait before buying any.
After we got home and dropped off our purchases, we ran back out to a medical clinic. My ear has been painful for a couple of days and I am getting some blood on a Q-tip. The doctor thinks I might have ruptured the ear drum and recommended that I see an ENT doctor. She prescribed an antibiotic. I think she should have cleaned the ear out with a topical antiseptic but she refused to do it. I called back home to my cancer doctor to be sure there was no problem with an interaction with my chemo medication. I stopped taking it yesterday. A nurse called back and said there would be no problem with the two medications.
When we got back, we fed the animals then went into the lodge for dinner and drinks. I still had my free drink to claim from the Queen of Hearts drawing. The bar was full and service was very slow but we finally got our meal. The Exalted Ruler came over to chat with us and Paul met a couple of people who were from4rrrr our hometown. One man came over to sit with us and reminisce about the old town.
2021 Feb 4 (Thu) – I called my brother, Gregory, and made arrangements for dinner. We met them at Longhorn Restaurant. The meal was delicious! Afterward, we went to Greg’s house to visit with him and Potsy for a while. He had us laughing with his stories of doctors, nail guns, and children. I love his sense of humor.
2021 Feb 3 (Wed) – We pulled up stakes and drove 120 miles northwest to Sarasota. We are camped on the side of an Elks Lodge. There are 3 campers hooked up. We got the only 50 amp site. We parked so another camper can fit between us and the motorcoach next to us. The RV is due to come in tomorrow.
We went out to pick up groceries and dog food, drop off postcards for mailing, and refuel. We stopped at the Bayan Tree Chocolate & Café for lunch. They had a display case with specialty chocolates right when you walked in. We sat and ordered off the menu. I got a quiche and Paul had a sandwich. We took home chocolate chili for dinner. It did not taste as good as it sounded.
At 5 p.m. we went to the outdoor Tiki Bar behind our trailer for a drink. Several people were in there with heaters and a fireplace all blazing away. It was cold and everyone was in jackets. We then went into the lodge to pay for our site. We sat at the bar and had a drink. It was Queen of Hearts night so we bought tickets for that as well as the 50-50 drawing. I won a free drink. We paid the bartender for our 4-night stay.
2021 Feb 2 (Tue) – We drove the Loop Road this morning. It was pretty cool. It is a 40 mile road that loops through the Big Cypress National Preserve. About 12 miles of it is hard packed gravel (unpaved). It was in pretty good condition with few potholes. It was a narrow, 2-lane road that wound through the Everglades. There were cypress trees and bushes lining both sides of the road and lots of water on either side. We spotted 3 alligators and several egrets.
When we came out on the main road, we drove to Everglades City to take an airboat ride. We were an hour early, so we stopped at a deli on the Miccosukee Indian Reservation for lunch. We bought a meatball hero, a bag of chips, and an iced tea. We sat in the car and split the meal between us. At 1 p.m. we drove to the meeting spot. It was an entrance into the canal with no office building. Two airboats were sitting there, waiting for customers. Our guide came over, introduced himself (CPT Ryan), and gave us paperwork to sign absolving them of all liability if we got hurt. It was only the guide and the two of us on the boat. We wore headsets so we could hear him speaking over the drone of the engine. He drove us through the Everglades for better than an hour and a half regaling us with stories of his childhood and descriptions of the area with its wildlife, fauna, and flora. We saw gators, great blue herons, egrets, vultures, and turtles. It seemed like we went deep into the wild and untamed wilderness. The water was so clean and pure looking. Not at all what you would expect a swamp to be like. We saw a couple of alligators and many kinds of birds and even a turtle. I was hoping to catch sight of a python but our guide said they were hard to spot – usually only when a bird or gator has caught one. What a great experience!
2021 Feb 1 (Mon) – We packed up and headed out at 9:30 a.m. It was 110 miles to the Big Cypress National Preserve where we are camped in the Midway Campground. There are 32 campsites arranged around the perimeter of a large pond. We have electric hookup only. We dumped our tanks and filled the fresh water tank before pulling into our assigned site. The camp host met us at the entrance, ran through a litany of rules, and wished us well. He warned us to beware of the wildlife. When I asked him what kind of wildlife they have here in the park, he said “Everything!” Does he think they have a zoo in here?
After set up and a quick lunch, we headed out to the visitor center. It was very small. We watched a video about the ecosystem but it failed to explain how it all works together. Outside the center was a wooden walkway that ran along a canal. There were many alligators in the water as well as different kinds of fish. It was quite thrilling.
We then drove to Everglades City. It looked like it has been pretty much beat up over the years. Almost all of the buildings were raised 10 or more feet off the ground. Is that for storm surge or wildlife avoidance? The city is laid out in a large grid. The houses have large yards; they might each be on one or two acres apiece. The local museum was closed. We stopped in a very old store-turned-museum and wandered around all the old stuff. They had interesting signs up describing how various equipment/furniture/ appliances were used. The Smallwood Store was built in 1906 on Chokoloskee Island.
My hair is going through another kind of metamorphosis. It seems to be losing its curl and is more coarse. I guess the change in chemo strength is doing something. I made reservations for a flight back home next month for a PET Scan and checkup. I am not looking forward to going back to New York in February. It’s cold! And with the damn virus, they might make me take a COVID test. Keep your fingers crossed I don’t have to do that. I won’t go back then if they try to make me take that thing. It is too painful.
2021 Jan 31 (Sun) – We went into the Elks lodge for brunch at 11:30 a.m. The food was very good. At 5:30 p.m. we drove to Marathon to meet Tim at the Sunset Grill. We had dinner and watched the sun set. There were clouds in the sky so we did not get much color. A gentleman sitting next to me got a very interesting looking appetizer. I asked him what it was and he said it was cheesecake spring rolls. I asked him many questions about it. What was that name again? Did the waiter recommend it? It is sweet or tart? Is it supposed to be a dessert? He said it was delicious and he couldn’t taste any cream cheese at all. We finally got our hands on a menu and looked up the appetizer, hoping to find out what ingredients could be put into a cheesecake spring roll that would erase all taste of cream cheese. What a laugh we had!!! There was a cheesesteak spring roll on the menu. The bar was crowded, he had misheard the waiter, and he never bothered to check it out on the menu. We had quite a chuckle all night long as we ordered and ate our “cheesecake” spring rolls.
There are the nastiest gnats around here. Their bites sting and just keep itching. Our legs and arms are covered with these small red blotches that won’t stop itching. Ugh. Well, we have checked off the Florida Keys from our bucket list. Time to move on.
2021 Jan 30 (Sat) – We had planned to take a glass bottom boat tour in Key Largo with Tim today. He called to say that the weather for the day was bad for boat rides. The wind is blowing pretty hard which would give us a rough ride. So we cancelled that plan and arranged to meet Tim at Robbie’s Marina in Islamorada. Every time we drive down the road, the marina is packed. Apparently, they have lots of activities going on there and we wanted to see what they have.
We got there at 11:30 a.m. There was a storyboard that told the story of Scarface. The owner found a tarpon with its jaw badly torn and hanging. He called a friend who sewed the jaw back in place. The owner nursed the fish back to health and after six months, released it back into the wild. Apparently, it liked the treatment because it continued to hang around the marina. In addition, it brought friends back for handouts, too. Today, you can pay $2.25 to walk out on the dock to look at the tarpons gathered around and you can buy a bucket of food for $4.00 to feed them. The dock was crowded with people and pelicans looking to sample the food. We skipped the melee and had lunch on the patio. The margarita was terrible. We told the waitress that and she brought another drink. It was a little better but still not good. The food was not that good either.
Tim’s friend, Jimmy, joined us. He and Tim met back up in New York working on the casino boat that went out of Freeport. They have both moved down here to Florida. Jimmy works for a pool company. He was pretty funny. Interestingly, Tim is talking about getting an RV.
It was cloudy, windy, and cool all day long. We went on to the patio at the Elks lodge at 6 p.m. to watch the sunset. We were sure that with all the clouds, the sunset would be fantastic. Unfortunately, the clouds were too thick and too low on the horizon. There were no beautiful colors to see. A couple sitting at a nearby table live next door to the lodge and came over to watch the sunset, too. They peppered us with questions about RVs. They were dressed in winter jackets, gloves and hats. Guess they thought it was cold.
2021 Jan 29 (Fri) – We met Tim at the Florida Keys History & Discovery Center. It is located on the property of the Islander Resort in their convention center. It was small but interesting. Tim and I got in free because we were veterans. Paul got the senior rate.
After the center, we went across the street to Lorelei for lunch. We found a table in the sun out on the patio and enjoyed a delightful meal together. After lunch, Paul and I stopped at Publix to pick up a few things. We also stopped at the post office where I mailed off our passport renewals. Let’s see how long it takes to get the new passports.
Our mail arrived this afternoon. I asked to have our mail forwarded 2 days ago. UPS marked it as a 3 day shipment but it arrived in 2 days. Unfortunately, the package was marked as one of two packages. The tracking number for the second package says it is scheduled to arrive here at the Elks Lodge on Tuesday. We leave on Monday. The UPS driver said they could forward it to us. Just leave the forwarding address with the camp host here.
A cold front came in today. The temperature dropped to a low of 59 degrees. Lol. The Floridians brought out their parkas, gloves, scarves, and hats.
2021 Jan 28 (Thu) – We went to the laundromat this morning to wash clothes. We sat in the truck while the clothes washed, then drove to a Mexican restaurant for lunch while they were in the dryer.
I spent an hour putting together an annual report on finances for the SMART Nomads. Later in the day at 4 p.m. there was a Zoom meeting with National Muster committee (I volunteered to chair the Administrative Team). The meeting went on for about an hour.
2021 Jan 27 (Wed) – We drove to Marathon and met Tim at his boat at 9:30 a.m. Before we got there, we stopped at a nearby Walgreens to have passport pictures taken. He took us out on the dinghy to his dive boat then we rode out to the Sombrero Reef, the third largest reef in the world. The water was such a beautiful green-blue color. Tim said the water was not cold but I thought it was so I did not go in. Paul put on a weight belt and a belt to hold the breathing regulator in place. Right after he jumped into the water with just his bathing suit, Tim promptly donned a wetsuit. So much for the water not being cold! Paul and Tim spent about an hour diving on the reef hookah style (as Tim calls it). The 50’ hoses were attached to the oxygen tanks that stayed on the boat while they swam around the boat. I looked over the sides and watched the colorful fish go crazy for crackers I threw in the water.
After we got back, we transferred to the dinghy and rode to the Dockside Grill where we enjoyed a refreshing drink. Then we returned to the dock and came back to the campground, stopping at Walgreens to pick up our pictures then at Winn Dixie to pick up a few groceries.
At 6:45 p.m. we went into the Elks lodge for dinner and to play the Queen of Hearts. The woman whose name was drawn did not choose the $900 Teaser. She drew a card but it was not the Queen of Hearts. So she won nothing. Next week’s drawing will have a prize over $32,000.
2021 Jan 26 (Tue) – We drove to the post office to make application to renew our passports. The clerk told us to go online. Turns out that all renewals have to be done by mail. That means we have to go get our pictures taken somewhere. Ugh.
We went for breakfast at the Bitton Bistro. Turned out to be a French café. The owner, Michel, is from Morocco. He was the only person working in the café and there were 3 tables taken and several people coming and going to buy pastries. The food was good and we even bought pastries for tomorrow’s breakfast.
We met Tim at the Crane Point Museum. It is a 63 acre hammock. A hammock in Florida is used in the southeastern United States for stands of trees, usually hardwood, that form an ecological island in a contrasting ecosystem. Hammocks grow on elevated areas, often just a few inches high, surrounded by wetlands that are too wet to support them. There were birds in a cage being cared for by rehabbers. The group included pelicans, cormorants, owls, kestrels, egrets, herons, and an eagle. A little further on was a pedicure pool. People could take their shoes off and put their feet in the water. Little fish nibbled on the bottom of their feet. Four people were sitting on the dock with their feet in the water. They said it tickled. We wandered through thick foliage with lots of roots sticking up in the pathway. It was a rough hike through the trees.
After the tour, we drove to the Overseas Pub & Grill and had lunch outside on the patio. It had an Irish menu and I enjoyed shepherd’s pie. Tim had corned beef stew and Paul just had a burger.
2021 Jan 25 (Mon) – What an illuminating day it was! We drove to Key West today. It was 90 miles one way. The road (US 1) passed over one island after another. Each island is called a key and there are many keys (also called a cay). The houses and buildings are painted in lovely pastel shades of pink, green, blue, peach, yellow and dove gray. Some islands are very built up and others are sparse. There are many boats and marinas along the way. Key West was incredibly crowded. The streets are narrow and the houses are tightly packed. The entire place was so built up! We had to wait on a long line just to get our picture taken at the 0 mile marker for the southernmost point in the Continental U.S. There were so many people in town and no parking that we couldn’t even tour the Truman Little White House or Hemingway’s Home. It was very disappointing.
We did stop in at a Butterfly Conservancy. That was delightful. There were butterflies flying everywhere! The docent told us they buy 300 egg sacks a week and release 15-30 new butterflies into the screen area every day. There were also very colorful little birds flying around.
We drove over to the Naval Air Station to check out the Sigsbee Campground. Although they have almost 100 hookups, there were not many RVs camped there at all. We guess that only servicemen who are stationed at the base are allowed to camp there. It was nice but the sites were tight. We are just as glad that we never got in there.
2021 Jan 24 (Sun) – We drove to the Florida Keys History and Discovery Center in Islamorada but it was closed. It is located in the Islander Resort and a guard at the gate told us they are only open Wednesday to Saturday. That was disappointing.
We drove down the road to the Island Grill and had a meal outside on the beach. Out table was a long table with two trees growing up through the table. After lunch, we drove further south to Bud ‘n Mary’s Marina. A friend of ours told us to go see the fish there. There were loads of pelicans begging scraps from a fisherman cleaning the day’s catch. In the water was a manatee, several very long fish (we think they were mackerel), and lots of minnows. The water was a beautiful color.
We stopped at the Hurricane Monument. A carved granite marker stands on the side of the road in tribute to the people who lost their lives in a hurricane in 1935. Next, we stopped at the History of Diving Museum. It was a very informative place. There were displays of deep sea diving gear, SCUBA gear, and underwater equipment. Lots of storyboards told about the personalities that made breakthroughs in diving and contributed to the sport. We enjoyed the museum very much.
2021 Jan 23 (Sat) – We drove to the post office this morning to get pictures and submit paperwork to renew our passports. We will be taking a cruise to Australia and New Zealand next year. Following the cruise, we are planning to take a camper around Australia for 2 or 3 months. That’s when our current passports will expire. We are renewing them now in order to avoid the possibility that our passports might expire before we get back home. Unfortunately, the post office was closed. So we went next door to the Made 2 Order café and had a late breakfast.
After our meal, we drove to Islamorada to the Theater of the Sea. It was fun. We got on a tour that went to several stations. First was the fish display. There were sting rays, parrot fish, and nurse sharks in shallow pools. The guide described the fish and showed how they train the sharks. Next to the display area was a wading pool where people could wade in the water with some of the fish.
Next stop was at a glass enclosure that held two alligators; one female and one male. We learned the females grow to about 6-8 feet and the males can grow up to 14 feet. Another enclosure held a crocodile where the guide explained the difference between the crocodilians.
After that was a stop at the turtle pools. They had leatherbacks, loggerheads, and green sea turtles. One turtle floated around the pool with a life vest on. There was something wrong with its shell that prevented it from surfacing. The vest helps it to be able to take a breath. These critters were so big!
Then we went to 3 shows. The first was where they had several parrots and macaws. The emcee described the different types of exotic birds and where they come from. Then we all went to a large pool where two dolphins performed tricks for the audience. Beside the pool were two small pools where people were swimming with the dolphins. The place offered the opportunity to swim with dolphins, sting rays, and sharks, all for an additional fee. The admission fee was pretty steep - $87 for the two of us and that was with a 10% discount! After the dolphins, we went to another pool where they had sea lions perform tricks, too. And, again, there were people swimming with the sea lions in small pools near the main pool.
The tour ended with a ride on a bottomless boat. The boat had benches on the four sides of the boat with an opening in the center. The two dolphins from the show came swimming by and popped up in the center of the boat and did tricks inside and on the side of the boat while we rode out and back on the lake. The guide said the entire park is landlocked so they pump in over 11 million gallons of water every day.
After the park, we drove to the “world famous” Lorelei Restaurant. It is a bar with a very large patio on three sides that sits right on the bay shore. We found a table where Tim joined us. He was meeting a friend who is in Florida on vacation. The friend didn’t want to come to the table so he sat up in the walkway in his wheelchair watching the women go by. Joey was also there, sitting up on the walkway with a friend.
2021 Jan 22 (Fri) – We drove to Marathon today to see Tim and take a ride on his boat. He actually has two boats. One he lives on and the other is his dive boat. He can take out groups of up to six people to dive on a nearby reef. His son, Joey, was also there.
We parked the truck and got on the dive boat. Tim drove from the dock to a nearby restaurant where we docked at the pier and had lunch on the patio. After a couple of margaritas, we got back on the boat and rode out into the ocean. We parked (can you park a boat?) out near the 7 mile bridge and watched the sunset. Sadly, there were no clouds in the sky so the sunset was pretty bland. You have to have clouds in the sky in order to have a beautiful sunset or sunrise.
We returned to the marina where Tim anchored his dive boat and we transferred to a little dinghy for a ride back to the dock. It was tight and a little nerve racking but we did it without incident. It was a good day.
When we got back to the lodge, I went in and asked if they had any leftovers. It was prime rib night and I thought I could get some of the leftover food. It turned out they had plenty left and we wound up sitting down to dinner at 8:30 p.m. Ugh. That is SO late to eat a heavy meal. We brought most of the meal back to the RV.
2021 Jan 21 (Thu) – After the motorhome next to us left, we readjusted our position in the campsite. We fit much better now. We have no TV stations over the air. Paul had to put the satellite dish up on the roof but it is working fine.
My brother, Tim, came over this morning. We were stuck in the campground because I was waiting for UPS to deliver my medicine (I have to sign for it). At 1 p.m. I called UPS and asked to pick up the package at their office tomorrow. The clerk I spoke with (sounding like she was in India) arranged it. We then went out to lunch at Tower of Pizza. Tim said it is the closest thing to New York pizza outside of New York. It was OK.
We returned to the campground and sat down by the water. A truck pulled up with a 100 gallon tank on the back. The driver put a hose in the water, turned on a generator, and began pumping water into the tank. It turns out that he sells salt water to aquariums for their collections. Who would have thought you could make a career out of that? A UPS truck pulled up and, low and behold, my medication and our forwarded mail were both on the truck. Luckily, we were here so I could sign for my medicine.
There was a beautiful sunset tonight. Tim, who lives on his boat in Marathon (an island further south in the Keys), says the sunsets seem to go on for hours down here. The water is incredibly clear. We walked out on a pier they have here at the lodge. There are little needle nose gars swimming in the water. They blend in with the water and algae so much that it is difficult to see them. I could not spot any dolphins or manatees.
2021 Jan 20 (Wed) – We are in The Keys! We packed up and left South Bay at 9 a.m. and drove 3 hours to Tavernier. We are camped at an Elks Lodge on Overseas Highway. The lodge is right on the water. The Keys is on a narrow strip of land flanked by the Gulf of Mexico on one side and the Atlantic Ocean on the other. The sites are very tight. We got into our assigned site (# 13) but we could adjust a little. The motor home next to us will be leaving tomorrow and we will readjust our position after they leave and before the next RV gets here.
We went into the lodge at 6 p.m. for dinner. They had a Queens of Hearts drawing at 7:30 p.m. That was a hoot. The prize is over $31,000. The reason the prize has grown so big is that they have a Teaser. Tonight’s Teaser is $900. If your ticket gets drawn, you get to turn a card over. If you turn a Queen of Hearts, you win the entire pot (+$31,000). You can opt to take the Teaser ($900) and they still turn a card over. If it’s the Queen of Hearts, you win nothing and they start a new game. Twenty-seven cards have been turned over so far. The winner took the Teaser and the card that was turned over was a Queen of Diamonds. The game is still on. The next drawing will be next Wednesday.
I got a series of reservations from the Newburgh KOA for our caravan this summer. The costs were all above our budgeted amount. I called and spoke with the manager of the campground. She explained that she had to just get something into the system to hold our sites. The price adjustments will come later and not to worry.
2021 Jan 19 (Tue) – We drove into West Palm Beach today. After a quick lunch at Zaxby’s, we took a ride on the Diva Duck boat. There were just 8 adults and 2 children on the boat. It was a weird sensation to go from the road into the water. The woman narrating the tour was very good and had lots of tongue-in-cheek jokes about ducks.
After our pleasant afternoon, we stopped at PetSmart to get some dog food then Publix for a few groceries. Paul filled up the truck and I bought lottery tickets hoping to hit the more than $800 million jackpot.
2021 Jan 16-18 (Sat, Sun, Mon) – We stayed in the campground. This was a holiday weekend and we were staying away from the crowds. The folks with the chicken on a leash left today. I wanted to get a picture of it but I missed out. Oh, well. The weather has been cool; lows in the 40s and highs in the 60s. Hopefully, it will be warmer down in the Keys.
2021 Jan 15 (Fri) – We drove to Palm Beach today. Palm Beach was named for the coconut groves that were once common along Lake Worth. The only remaining coconut grove in Palm Beach is on the Flagler estate.
First stop was at the Henry Morrison Flagler Museum. What an amazing place! Another example of the opulence of the nouveau rich of the 1800s. Flagler’s family immigrated from Germany to New York. Flagler left home at 14 to look for his fortune. He found it when he joined up with John D. Rockefeller and Samuel Andrews to form Standard Oil Co. He made millions (billions in today’s money). In 1902, he built Whitehall as a winter retreat and visited there for 12 years until he died. His wife died 4 years later and left their estate to a niece. She then turned it over to private investors when it became too expensive to keep and they turned the mansion into a grand hotel. In 1959, the investors had gone broke and the building was going to be torn down. A great granddaughter bought the property and turned it into a museum in 1960.
There were more than 75 rooms in the home. Much of the original furniture, as well as furniture from the period, are in the rooms. Each room is grander than the next. It was amazing! In the back of the home was another building housing Flagler’s personal rail car. He built a rail line that connected Jacksonville to the Keys. Flagler is credited with building up Florida and making it a major attraction for tourism and agriculture.
Across the water behind the estate was a marina that housed several yachts. One of them was a small ocean liner with beautiful lines. Ah, what the money people spend their dollars on.
After the museum, we drove into town and had lunch at Almond. It turned out they also have a restaurant in Manhattan and Bridgehampton back in New York. We sat on the patio and watched all the rich cars drive by. I’ve never seen so many high end vehicles – Tesla, Mercedes, Bentley, Ducati, etc. – in one place. Parking is restricted to two hours and while we were eating, two of the wait staff ran out to move their cars so they wouldn’t be ticketed. Our lunch was excellent but we paid for it. It was almost $100 (tip included). Whew!
Next was a drive around town. We wound up on Ocean Drive and drove past Mar-a-lago, President Trump’s Florida home. It’s a strange arrangement. The road cuts through the middle of the estate with the club on one side and the pool on the other side next to the ocean. There was a very large American flag standing on the lawn in front of the club. We couldn’t see the entire building as there was a 6’ hedge in front of the place. Most of them have 15-20 foot high hedges in front of their properties. I guess that’s more attractive than fences and certainly more private. Each home we drove past was more opulent than the next. This is definitely the place to come if you want to ogle the rich and famous.
When we got back to the campground, we could see that most campsites have been filled up. It’s the weekend. The folks next to us have a chicken. They tie a rope to its foot and the rooster just hangs around. He likes to be high so they put him on the handlebars of their bicycle or up on a 6’ ladder. I’ve seen some crazy things during our travels but a chicken on a leash is a new one for me. Lol.
2021 Jan 14 (Thu) – We stayed in the campground all day. I did work on the Nomads newsletter as well as the New York Caravan. Paul worked on finding us campgrounds to stay in. After he found a site in Tampa, I called Southwest and made a reservation to fly to New York next month.
2021 Jan 13 (Wed) – We asked the office to move to a site further away from the road. It must be a main truck route as it was noisy all night long. We got moved from 85 to 151. It’s marked as a handicapped site but the picnic table is located on the wrong side of the rig. Regardless, it is much quieter over here.
After our move, we drove into town to get propane and fuel. We drove through Clewiston and stopped at the Chamber of Commerce & Museum. It was small and not well laid out. The CoC offers a Sugarland Tour which we very much wanted to take. It is four hours learning about all the sugar cane farms in the area. Unfortunately, tours are suspended until September because of the coronavirus.
We drove through South Bay. There were many slum areas, dilapidated houses, and closed stores. This town is suffering greatly. Trip Advisor listed only one restaurant in the entire town – Subway.
2021 Jan 12 (Tue) – We packed up and left Cocoa at 9:50 a.m. and arrived at the South Bay RV Campground at 1:30 p.m. We ran into traffic going through the Palm Beach area. The campground is owned by the county. It is neat, clean, and well laid out. Unfortunately, it is right by a major truck route and quite noisy. We only got a 30-amp site while there are 50-amp sites open. The campground is about 90% full. It sits at the base of a levee. There is a lake and creek on the property with signs warning of alligators. Check-in was online as they are keeping everything contactless. There is nothing to do in South Bay. This is the kind of campground you come to when you want to get away from it all.
2021 Jan 11 (Mon) – We went to the Brevard Zoo today. Paul thought it was very nice. Not too big and all the animals were out and visible. We had to make a reservation online as they are limiting the number of people in the zoo at any one time. There were lots of animals from Australia and Africa. It was about a two hour tour.
We stopped at the Melbourne Seafood Grill for lunch. I had a crab cake and Paul enjoyed clams. Then we got some fuel in preparation for tomorrow’s move. When we got back to the campground, we did some wash. Sheba brought some hairballs last night while laying on our bed so we had to wash the sheets and bedspread. It’s time to take the flannel sheets off the bed anyway. We are headed into southern Florida where the weather is sure to be warmer (we sure hope so!).
2021 Jan 10 (Sun) – We did laundry today. It seemed like Sunday was wash day for a lot of people in the campground and we got the last two machines.
We met George & Linda at El Leoncita for dinner. The food, margaritas, and company were all good.
2021 Jan 9 (Sat) – We drove back to Merritt Island and picked up Denise with her dog, Levi, then drove to Cocoa to George & Linda’s. George made dough balls to go fishing with his grandson, Ryan. Their son, Neil, came over and we all went down to the lake. Ryan, Neil, George, and Paul fished while Linda, Denise, and I went for a drive around the neighborhood. It was cool with a brisk breeze blowing.
No fish caught, we returned to the house and George grilled up some burgers and hot dogs. After visiting, we returned to Merritt Island to drop off Denise, then back to the campground. Sheba ran out of the door when we got back at 8 p.m. and it took a bit of effort to get her back inside because it was dark and we couldn’t see.
2021 Jan 8 (Fri) – We went out to pick up food for Bonnie. The vet recommended that we only give her one protein source. Rather than mixing up beef and chicken, we should only feed her chicken. We also have to make sure her dry food is chicken as well as her treats.
Next door was a WalMart. We ran in to pick up a few things. While at George & Linda’s the other day, I noted she was cooking with a Blue Diamond pan. We got to talking about different kinds of pans. I have been thinking about getting rid of my Teflon pans for a while. So while we were at WalMart today, I picked up 3 new fry pans and a Dutch oven. I also picked up a roasting pan and a small baking pan with rack. After we came home, I spent time rearranging the cabinet and getting rid of the old pots and pans in favor of the new ones.
The day was very windy today. Sheba didn’t spend more than a few minutes outside before looking to come back in. It was just too breezy. She sure loves her new toy.
2021 Jan 7 (Thu) – We stayed around the campground for the day. Paul ran out briefly to pick up some hardware to fix the silverware drawer. It was not working smoothly and he had to replace the hardware slide. The drawer works very nicely now.
At 8:30 p.m., we went out to watch the Space-X launch. It was delayed for a little bit but the rocket finally took off at 9:15 p.m. It was so quiet but very bright. The launch was successful and they were able to capture the booster rocket.
2021 Jan 6 (Wed) – We went over to George & Linda’s for dinner tonight. They grilled chicken and Brussel sprouts. We enjoyed the food with margaritas.
I pulled out the NY Caravan file today to see what actions I have to take. I contacted one campground to confirm our arrival. After some discussion, the owner decided that they could not support our caravan. We have too many large rigs. It was with some disappointment I found another campground. The next one is $11 more per night. That will certainly put a dent in our budget.
2021 Jan 5 (Tue) – We packed up and left KARS RV Park at 10:30 a.m. Since the drive was only 27 miles, we waited until near checkout time before leaving. We had to stop and dump the tanks first. It was a good day to leave as a bunch of Fish & Wildlife trucks pulled up in the field across from us this morning. It looked like a manhunt was underway. I called the office only to find out they are doing a controlled burn around the property today.
It was 50 minutes to Patrick Space Force Base in Cocoa. We checked in with the camp host. She said we were lucky. That someone just left a very nice spot (they have a first-come, first served policy for campsites). The site looks out at the river without a camper in front of our site. It’s OK. The camp host told us this is a historic stay. They just changed the name from Patrick Air Force Base to Patrick Space Force Base last month. It’s a nice campground but a little tight. We have full hookups with 50 amp service.
We went out for dinner to Grill’s Seafood Restaurant. It was right on the water and we sat out on the deck. It was enclosed in glass so it felt like the inside but with all the view of the outside.
2021 Jan 4 (Mon) – We took Bonnie to the vet this morning. We might have inadvertently solved the problem on our own though. Bonnie has been doing a lot of barking and appeared to be very hungry. She has been suffering urine infections off and on for two years now. She’s been through a variety of antibiotics but the UTI always returned. We remembered a friend who used the same pro-digest we give Bonnie. She said she stopped giving it to her dogs because they had renal issues. We stopped giving all extra stuff to Bonnie – the pro-digest, multivitamin, glucosamine, and fish oil. We’ve just been giving her the liver medicine and regular food. She’s also been getting lots of extra treats. Interestingly, Bonnie has calmed down. She’s not doing the excessive barking or restless moving around. Maybe the antibiotic she was on and the pro-digest disagreed with each other.
At any rate, the vet’s office only allowed one of us in so Paul sat out in the car. After hearing of Bonnie’s story, the vet recommended that we give her only one protein source. We feed her Hill’s Science Diet (approved by the vet association) but mix it up between beef and chicken. The vet said that a dog’s system has to do a reset every time the protein source changes. Her long standing issue with diarrhea could be related to the changes in protein. She suggested we give her only one protein for three weeks and see how her system reacts.
The vet took some blood and found that Bonnie’s thyroid level is low. So now she is on a thyroid medication. She needs to go back for a recheck in two weeks. We’ll see about that.
When we got back to the campground, we did the laundry. There were two washers and two dryers in the laundry building when I looked in last week. Today, there was only one washing machine. We only did the whites.
A Falcon 9 Space-X launch was planned to take place between 8:30 and 12:30 tonight. We rode down to the waterfront, set out our chairs, and waited to see the launch. The sky was clear and the stars were so bright with no moon to fade out the stars. It was so cold; in the 40s. We waited 20 minutes, trying to find out online if the launch was going to be live streamed. People finally started posting on Facebook that the launch was rescheduled for January 7. That was disappointing. We are in such a perfect place to watch a launch, right across the river from the NASA launch site.
2021 Jan 3 (Sun) – We drove over George & Linda’s this morning. She made hash with the leftover corn beef. That and eggs with toast was scrumptious. The mimosas were a nice touch. Denise (George’s sister) and her little dog, Levi, joined us. After our meal, we sat out on the patio around their fire pit and had a nice visit.
On the way back to the campground, we stopped for lunch at Kelsey’s Pizzeria. We’ve seen a number of them around and wanted to try them. We couldn’t eat in their store. They instructed us to go next door to Harry & Jack’s, a bar and grill. They had indoor and outdoor seating. None of the wait staff wore masks. There were 3 tables occupied near us when we sat next to the bar. The first group left and the waitress haphazardly wiped the table but didn’t touch the seats. The other two tables vacated and neither of them was wiped down at all. We got our pizza. It wasn’t New York.
After lunch, I stopped in at Supercuts next door and got my hair cut. The woman did a terrible job. The good thing about it is that my hair will grow back in.
2021 Jan 2 (Sat) – Another day in the campground. The weather has turned cold. We went over George & Linda’s for dinner. She made reubens with corned beef and sauerkraut on rye bread. It was so good. We are invited over for breakfast tomorrow where Linda will make corned beef hash with the leftovers. After dinner, we watched a movie with Liam Neeson. It was awful. It certainly wasn’t his usual genre as a kick-ass fighter. I think the name of the movie was “The Other Man.” Don’t watch it!
2021 Jan 1 (Fri-New Year’s Day) - We stayed in the campground all day. Our church had a Zoom meeting at 1 p.m. We would normally have a potluck meal on New Year’s Day but no one’s getting together in groups this year. There were about 20 of us online. It was confusing to me with everyone talking over each other. But it was good to see all our friends. The call lasted about an hour.
2020 Dec 31 (Thu-New Year’s Eve) – We met George & Linda at the pier by Doc’s Bait House near their old condo. We were going for a boat ride on the Banana River and lunch down river. Unfortunately, as soon as we got past the bridge, the wind was whipping up the water and waves were splashing over the boat, getting us all wet. It was too rough to go boating so we returned to the dock and pulled the boat out of the water then followed George back to his shop. We met their dog and checked out their new Renegade Class C RV. They bought it in July and it still smells new. After putting away the boat, we went to Fishlips for lunch down by Port Canaveral. The meal was good but pretty expensive.
After lunch, Paul and I drove to Patrick Air Force base to check out the campground. Most of the gates into the base are closed and you have to drive a couple of miles around the runway to get to the campground. They are also pretty full but there are still a few empty spaces. We will look to move there next week.
We returned to the campground and spent a quiet night watching TV. We turned in at 9 p.m. How’s that for celebrating the new year? I think we are officially “old fogies.”
2020 Dec 30 (Wed) – We ran some errands today – picked up groceries and got some propane. George & Linda drove over to the campground and we chatted for about an hour then drove to Denise’s house. We picked her up and drove to Carrabba’s for an early dinner. We all sat out on the patio and enjoyed margaritas and a good meal.
2020 Dec 29 (Tue) – We packed up and left Mayport Naval Station at 9:30 a.m. It was 160 miles south to Merritt Island where we are camped at the NASA owned property KARS RV Park. We have been here twice before. It is pretty full now; almost every campsite is occupied. We have a site way in back behind the storage area nowhere near the water. They continue to improve the campground.
2020 Dec 28 (Mon) – We drove into St. Augustine for lunch. Our meal was at the Florida Cracker in the old historic town. St. Augustine was settled in 1565 and is said to be the oldest city in the United States. It has been under six flags over the years – Spain, Italy, France, England, Colonial America, and the U.S. (I think). It is an interesting tour. There were many people out and about, too many without masks. Traffic coming into town was all backed up. We walked around for a while then left. We stopped at the post office on the way back to mail off a package and got fuel for tomorrow’s move.
2020 Dec 27 (Sun) – We dialed into the virtual service at our church this morning. It appears that the minister contracted the coronavirus and was quarantined for two weeks. That must be why they stopped having in-person services last week.
We took down our Christmas decorations today. I thought we were leaving tomorrow, Monday, but we are leaving on December 29. That’s actually on Tuesday.
2020 Dec 26 (Sat) – We drove into town and had lunch at North Beach Fish Camp. It was a seafood place. I had a cod dish and Paul enjoyed crab claws. On the way back to the campground, we stopped at Publix to pick up a few groceries.
The weather is pretty cold today. The temperatures have dropped into the thirties and there is a freeze warning for the area tonight. We’ll have to remember to disconnect the hose before going to bed. At least the wind has died down.
The vet called to say that Bonnie’s urine sample had come back normal. The antibiotic has done its job.
2020 Dec 25 (Fri – Christmas Day) – It was very cold this morning but warmed quickly to the 50s. The wind was blowing strongly. Last night’s storm left many homes without electric and the news showed streets and homes where trees fell onto them. It was a very destructive storm.
We went to the Oasis Galley on base at 3 p.m. for a holiday meal. It was supposed to be $9.20 per person but the guy just waved us through when we arrived. I don’t know if it was because he was having problems with the register or that it was almost time to close the mess hall (dinner was being served from 1 to 4 p.m. At any rate, we got a great meal for free. There was salad, shrimp cocktail, turkey, dressing, steak, mac & cheese, cranberry sauce, corn, kale, green beans, biscuits, eggnog, coffee, tea, and a variety of pies. We brought our pumpkin pie back to the trailer and had it later with coffee.
2020 Dec 24 (Thu) – We dropped a urine sample from Bonnie off at the vet’s office this morning. Then we went to breakfast at Another Broken Egg. They have such good and unusual selections. We both enjoyed our meal very much. We sat out on the patio with a lot of other people.
After breakfast (more like brunch), we drove to General RV to pick up our new loungers. The shipment never came in so we bought the floor sample. The saleslady we dealt with was out today. The person we dealt with today must have thought we were really stupid. She said they never had new furniture to order and we were always going to get the floor sample. Then she said the saleslady we first dealt with (Brandi) tried to order it but it wasn’t available. I then asked for a discount on the cost of the furniture since we had to take used furniture rather than get it new. She tried to tell us that the sample was only on the floor for 4 days. We sat in it over a week ago so that wasn’t true. Brandi had told us it was out for several weeks. In addition, the floor sample was still sitting on the floor. It was not sanitized and packed up for us. The woman tried to mumble that she couldn’t have sanitized it earlier because people would have still sat on it. Paul told her no one could sit on it if it was disassembled and she tried to tell him they would have. It was one of the most aggravating hours we have ever spent. The woman was either incompetent or an out-and-out liar. At any rate, we waited while they sanitized and took the furniture apart (2 chairs with a center console). She refused to give us any plastic to wrap up the furniture so it wouldn’t get dirty in back of the truck. We did get a refund of almost $200.
the old furniture
the new furniture
Paul then drove into downtown Jacksonville. Since it was Christmas eve, he figured a lot of the stores and offices would be closed. He was right. It reminded me of when we went to Phoenix and arrived on a weekend. It was like a ghost town. We stopped at the St. Johns River Riverwalk and strolled along the waterfront. There were a few people out but not many.
The day started out very nice but turned nasty late in the afternoon. Severe thunderstorms rolled through and there were warnings of tornadoes in the county. The temperatures dropped drastically and the prediction was for iguanas falling out of trees tomorrow (lol. Temps are supposed to be freezing)
2020 Dec 23 (Wed) – We did some laundry today. Since the machines are free, we are taking advantage of the benefit. Someone got annoyed we weren’t right there when our wash finished and they took our laundry out. They put it on top of the dryers. We put our stuff in the dryers and made sure to come back before it was done.
We went out for lunch at Cracker Barrel today. The food was good and they were doing a brisk business. It’s hard to believe there’s a pandemic out there. After lunch, we stopped at a liquor store to pick up some Bailey’s Irish Cream. It’s for Christmas day.
2020 Dec 22 (Tue) – The day was cold and blustery. We stayed in all day.
2020 Dec 21 (Mon) – We ran some errands today. Went food shopping at WalMart, picked up dog food at PetCo, got some fuel at a very sloooooooow pump (took a half hour to fill the gas tank), and dropped off an envelope at the post office.
At sunset, we drove over to the southeast side of the base to see the Christmas Star. Not since 1600 (400 years ago) has Saturn and Jupiter been aligned next to each other. They are so close that they look like a big star in the sky. This great conjunction is referred to as the Christmas Star. I think it’s because it’s happening during Christmas week. We saw nothing. Maybe it was hidden behind some low clouds on the horizon. We’ll try again tomorrow night.
I volunteered to put together a cookbook for SMART as a fundraiser. Paul was looking through our church cookbook one day and brought up the suggestion that we should do it for our travel club. I pitched the suggestion, went through lots of questions and hesitations, and finally got the go ahead today. Hope I don’t regret the offer.
2020 Dec 19&20 (Sat & Sun) – We stayed in the campground this weekend. We dialed into the church for a virtual service on Sunday morning. We had some initial trouble getting the live broadcast but it turned out to be a problem at their end, not ours.
2020 Dec 18 (Fri) – We ran out to get propane this morning. The weather has been cold (it was 37 degrees this morning) and the heat has been running almost constantly. We ran out of propane two nights ago (luckily, we have a second tank to switch to when one goes empty). The place we first stopped at was out of order and we struggled to find another place. The refill was finally achieved.
Karen called today. She is a travel agent and we are working with to arrange a cruise to Australia in 2022. We have tentatively decided on a Holland America 15-day cruise to Australia/New Zealand in January 2022. We also spoke with her about arranging a campervan trip around Australia following the cruise. We plan to take two months to travel around Australia after the cruise. She’s looking into it.
We returned to the campground and hunkered down for the day. I sure hope it gets warmer soon. This is Florida!!!!
2020 Dec 17 (Thu) – We drove into St. Augustine this afternoon. It took us over a half hour to find a parking space. We finally wound up parking in a church parking lot for $10. Then we walked into town and came upon the Lightner Museum. It is in the former Alcazar Hotel which was built from Henry Flagler in 1888. One half of the 5-story building houses government offices and the other half features the museum collection. The building was stunning and the hotel must have been amazing! The collections were from the 1800 and 1900s. There were pottery, crystal, and glass artifacts; furniture; paintings; sculptures; and more. A stuffed lion was on display that was a gift to Winston Churchill. The lion was placed in the London Zoo and sired over 40 cubs before being stuffed. I don’t know how it wound up in a museum in Florida.
At 5 p.m. we went to dinner at Harry’s Seafood Grill. It was a New Orleans style restaurant. The waiter was very animated and made the meal enjoyable. He said he was originally from Queens and worked in Melville. I had rice and beans with sausage and Paul had a scampi dish.
We walked down to the marina and took the Night of Lights boat tour. It was a boring ride back and forth in front of lighted store fronts in the freezing cold. The captain was absolutely silent. Most tours of this kind would have had a dialogue about the area. He should have described some of the landmarks or talked about the history of the marina or told the story about St. Augustine. Aside from his mandatory safety briefing (which was 75% unintelligible), he said nothing during the entire ride. We were supposed to get complimentary coffee or tea but they didn’t have that either. We didn’t think the boat tour was worth the expense.
2020 Dec 16 (Wed) – It rained for most of the day today. It was cool and miserable. I called the office today and was able to extend here at Mayport for another 3 nights until January 1st. Hopefully, that will be all we need to take care of Bonnie’s issue.
2020 Dec 15 (Tue) – We went food shopping at Winn Dixie to get groceries for the week. Then we went to Bono’s Pit BBQ. We bought a rack of ribs and brought it back for dinner. Yesterday and today have been blustery and the temperatures have been in the low 50s in the morning. The wind was blowing so hard today that you had to be sure to hold the door when you got out of the car or the RV. There were white caps and big splashing waves out in the river. We swear that the winds were gusting to 50 mph.
2020 Dec 14 (Mon) – We went furniture shopping today. After wandering through several stores, we finally arrived at General RV and paid for two lounge chairs. The clerk said she thought she could get it in by Friday, Monday at the latest. If it doesn’t come in, then they will give us the floor sample. We have to call on Friday so they’ll have time to sanitize the floor sample if it doesn’t look like the new chairs will come in on time.
After paying for the chairs, we stopped at Taco Bell for lunch. Yuck! They no longer have the taco salad. Now it’s bowls. I got a chicken quesadilla and Paul got chalupas. My meal was very skimpy and too spicy. I won’t get that again!
The vet called to say that Bonnie has a bacterial infection and needs to go on antibiotics. We turned around and drove to his office to get the medication. After ten days, we have to give another urine sample. The time period will be close to when we are scheduled to leave. Since we don’t have a reservation for the next campground, I called the office at Mayport to see if we could extend for a few days. The clerk said they have no vacancies. We have to call back every day to check on availability. Ugh.
2020 Dec 13 (Sun) – We went to lunch at Seaglass, a restaurant on base. We were the only two diners in the place. It looks like it would be really nice on a Friday night with folks gathered around the bar and socializing. That won’t happen for a while, if ever again. I had avocado toast and Paul had chorizo hash. It was good. We returned to the campground and let the animals play outside. Sheba is fascinated with the geckos crawling on the palm trees.
2020 Dec 12 (Sat) – The day was rainy and overcast. We just hung around the campground all day.
2020 Dec 11 (Fri) – We went out for lunch today at Colhane’s Irish Pub. The food was very good. I had my usual – shepherd pie and Paul enjoyed potato soup and a salad. He’s down to 208 lbs. His goal is in sight and he’s very focused. We came back and let the fur babies have time outside.
The vet called today. Aside from slightly elevated liver enzymes, he really doesn’t see anything in Bonnie’s bloodwork to indicate a problem. He is going to do a culture on the urine sample we left. He’ll call back in a couple of days.
2020 Dec 10 (Thu) – Paul offered to take me out for breakfast this morning. That’s very funny since he lost his credit card and we had to invalidate it. Now, I’m the only one with a credit card. After the breakfast that he treated me to (that I paid for), we went to Winn Dixie for groceries (I splurged on a lottery ticket), then to PetCo for dog food, and last to the post office to mail off a letter.
On the way back, we drove into the Village of Mayport. It is a small fishing village with a ferry port. There weren’t many businesses at all. When we got back on base, we drove around the docks looking at all the big Navy ships. There were about a dozen ships tied up to the piers.
We took Bonnie to the vet this afternoon. In the last two or three months, she has started this kind of barking routine. She gives a bark, waits about ten seconds, then barks again. She keeps this up until we are moved to do something. It’s either feed her, walk her, or pet her. She goes out for a walk about every 1-1/2 to 2 hours and has a bowel movement almost time. That’s many more than she used to have (which was two – one following breakfast and one following dinner). The doc took blood and promised to call us tomorrow.
2020 Dec 9 (Wed) – We stayed in today and spent the time putting up and decorating our Christmas tree. The season is here!
2020 Dec 8 (Tue) – We went to the post office to mail off the claim form to New York. It will be interesting to see how much is due to my mother (who passed away in 2009). My sister, Susan, had filled out a claim in 2010 for money due to my mother. The five of us each wound up getting $20 (she was due $100). This time around will probably be $2.50 each. Mom didn’t have much to her name when she died. I can’t imagine what this money is from.
We stopped for lunch at the Hangar Bay Café. It was a small place run by an African American retired Navy guy with an Asian wife. The menu had a lot of ramen on it. Paul got pork ramen and I ordered fried chicken. The food was good. The gentleman didn’t want to talk about his service. Even though there was an 11x13 picture of him in dress uniform on the wall, he kept avoiding my questions about his time in the Navy.
The commissary and PX are both off-post. We stopped in there to get a few things. You have to show ID at the register at the commissary and at the entrance at the PX to ensure you are military. When we got back to the base, we drove around the housing area. There is a second campground (called Osprey Cove) on base. It is not on the water but cloistered among spreading trees with lots of Spanish moss. It is very lovely and intended for long-term stays.
2020 Dec 7 (Mon) – We packed up and left Kings Bay Subbase at 11 a.m. It was much later than we normally move out but the drive was only an hour to the next campground. We ran out to the post office before we left so I could mail another registered letter to a lawyer used to sell Travis & Sam’s house. We’ve had serious issues with him and have had to make a formal complaint to the Judicial Review Board.
We arrived at Mayport Naval Station, Pelican Roost RV Park a little after noon. They gave us the option of choosing one of several sites. We elected to take a space at the end of the aisle on a curve. We can get a somewhat obscure look at the ocean. We stayed here last December. The ships sail right past the campground on their way out of and into the port. They blow their horns to say hello and goodbye.
We went out to the bank to get a paper notarized. I was cruising around the internet and put in Unclaimed Funds in New York State. Surprise, surprise! My mother’s name came up. The website doesn’t tell how much is owed, just there is some money due. I printed out the form and filled in the required information. I will mail it out tomorrow.
0 notes
Text
The Netherlands: Week Two
We packed up the cars and our friends drove George, Saskia and myself to the local train station where we hopped on the next train departing to Amsterdam. We got off at Amsterdam Central station and caught the tram to Leidseplein, the location of our hotel and where Saskia would be collected by her friend who she would be staying with for the next week. We said our goodbyes and made our way to the ‘King Hotel’ to check in.
Not the most attractive of hotels but in the best location for tourists! We were right on the canal (with a canal view room), a mere 60 seconds from the centre of Leidseplein and the tram stop. Everything we needed was on our doorstep, including Vondel Park, the Bulldog, the Heineken museum and much more.
I’ve left this part of my blog way too long to remember everything clearly but i will tell you the highlights and what i would recommend. First of all the hotel is perfect for travelers on a budget and the location is perfect for both food and drinks and also for quick travel around the city.
Leidseplein has a wide range of eateries all within walking distance. My favourite for general cuisine was ‘In De Buurt’, a very modern and classy restaurant with complete wine list and bar also available. They served fantastic rustic food for a reasonable price. The other restaurant i cannot forget is about 20 minutes walk from Leidseplein square or 10 minutes on the tram and goes by the name ‘De Bekeerde Suster’. This one is great for people who love beer and BBQ ribs as much as i do! They have a generously sized menu consisting of honest, hearty meals and a huge range of beers, ales and lagers on both draught and by the bottle.
When it comes to drinking, the famous spot to be is ‘The Bulldog’. Once you go you will understand why. This place is jam-packed full every night of the week and open till late. They have many around the city but the biggest is in Leidseplein square. It’s a place you can go for live music, cocktails, sports and beers on the ground level or the place you can go to smoke your favourite seed alongside freshly squeezed juice, closely followed by a mountain of pancakes in the lower level. They also have cafe’s under their brand name where you can go for special brewed tea and space cakes. The best night we had in there might even have been on a supposedly ‘quiet’ Monday night (even though to our virgin eyes it seemed full) to listen to a live Jazz band. Fantastic atmosphere! If your style is a little different to mine then fear not as Leidseplein square has something for everyone, from comedy clubs, to dive bars, to live rock music, to swanky cocktail bars playing lounge music. The majority of these places also have outside seating with overhead heating, perfect for a romantic glass of wine and people watching.
As for museums, site seeing and excursions, here are my top 10;
1. ‘Anne Frank’s Huis’ is of course a must. People all over the world, when they think of Amsterdam, connect it to Anne Frank (give or take a few other attractions!) and are eager to feel the history behind it. When i say ‘feel’ i mean feel... the aura inside is enough to make your hairs stand on end. The building now, due to the influx of tourists is remarkably big as far as Amsterdam houses go but only because it’s been extended to fit in a reception, cafe and gift shop. However, the house itself is preserved and is the absolute original. We paid a mere €9 each for a full tour plus the extra optional costs in the cafe and gift shop.
2. A canal cruise was also one of the best things we did in the city. It’s called ‘100 Highlights Cruise’, costs €15pp and lasts 60 minutes. The description is in the title but i’ll tell you anyway! It takes you on a guided tour along some of the canals, explaining what you are seeing along the way through headphones. (These headphones are included in the ticket price and give you the option to select which language you desire). We were lucky enough a witness an unusual and rather funny occurrence on our trip, as half way along one of the canals we narrowly had to squeeze past a water skip. It was obviously supplied by the council to do some canal cleaning, much like a road-sweeper but the range and peculiarity of the objects they were retrieving from the bottom of these canals were incredible. I’m sure there are more bicycles 6ft under water than there are in the Tour De France! The local joke when tourists ask ‘How deep are the canals?’ is for the locals to answer 'Three meters; one meter of water, one meter of mud and one meter of bikes’. Only in Holland.
3. Vondel Park! This was such a beautiful part of the city, full of lakes and grassy pastures and is again only about 10 minutes walk from the ‘King Hotel’. It became clear that this must be the place-to-be in the summer months, as scattered around the park where huge stages and remnants of concerts and festivals. However, even in February the park was beautiful and full of life, both wildlife and human life. Many people jogging, walking the dogs, busking, feeding the ducks, taking photographs. It really is a hub of life all year round. Take a stroll with your morning coffee and breathe in the fresh air, i assure you it won’t be a waste of time.
4. I am not a massive fan of museums in the true sense of the word as i tend to enjoy other attractions a lot more but having said that the ‘Rijks Museum’ might have been an exception for me. This place was truly stunning inside and out. Even at first glance it is a treat for the eyes because of it’s enormous size, regal design and the big ‘I AMsterdam’ letters outside it’s front door. The entrance fee is €17.50pp for a one day ticket allowing you to stay as long as you wish and includes a floor plan.
5. The Sex Museum was possibly the most entertaining. I’ll leave this to your imagination but it is definitely worth a visit and cheap entrance fee. It’s located in ‘Damrak’ the area exactly where the central station is.
6. The Heineken was also one of the few museums i enjoy, one where it is 100% acceptable to drink whilst inside the building. It is actually a distillery turned into an interactive tour in the heart of the city. It’s an 8 minute tram ride from Leidseplein and costs €16pp entrance and tour, if booked online.
7. The Red Light District is a real eye-opener and a 100% must see! The district is located between Nieuw Market and Dam Square and very close to the central station (15 minute by tram from Leidseplein). We visited here in the night time, purely because we thought it was the logical thing to do so i cannot tell you what there has to offer in the daytime. However, in the night time, the long street with the canal running through the middle, is lit up exactly how you would imagine in neon lights and offers you everything you could want. There you can wander through the side streets and admire the gorgeous women behind the red doors, peruse the sex shops, attend a live sex show or one of the countless strip clubs. The hidden gem is the VIP area on one of the side streets. Inside here are again beautiful prostitutes behind red doors but the most expensive and elite ones. Spoiler: 75% of these ones are actual men and i swear they are more stunning than the regular women!
8. A flower market may sound boring to most people but I personally adored the famous one they have in Koningsplein! The edge of the canal is laced with floating stalls selling thousands of different types of flowers and seeds, whilst on the other side of the walkway you have many tourist and souvenirs shops, so taking a walk down there will definitely keep you entertained for a few hours. This is only a short 10 minute walk from Leidseplein and is open everyday, normal working hours, even on Sunday.
9. Dam Square lies in the historical district of Amsterdam and is a lovely day out to take in the sites of the heart of the city. It’s a short walk from central station to Dam Square, a place filled with beautiful architecture, a combination of highstreet and designer shops, cafes and restaurants. Here is the perfect place to do all your shopping at once, souvenirs, gifts for the family and a quick stop in H&M or Zara along the way, interspersed with pit stops at quaint cafes within easy reach. Here the buildings are magnificent and include structures such as, the Royal Palace, the National Monument, Madame Tussaud’s and many more. The square is never quiet and always has some kind of event going on. Whether it be a fun fair, a market or just full of some of the many street performers. We saw an incredible magician the day we passed through!
10. The Albert Cuyp Market! This for me was one of my favourites! It’s located in De Pijp, a 12 minute tram journey from Leidseplein and is open every Monday - Saturday. This place is incredible, doused in stalls selling everything from antiques to clothes and serving up street food. Here you can buy local fish from the mongers, real Dutch cheese or watch them make traditional baby pancakes or stroopwafles in front of your eyes.
That sums up our busy week in the city! We stayed for 7 days and for us it was the perfect length of time but if you are organised (people who wake up early!) or on a budget I would say you can easily do Amsterdam in 3 or 4 days and manage to squeeze in the highlights. It’s a fabulous city and has something to offer for all walks of life.
One other important tip i should mention is to purchase a travel card. You can get these from the kiosks or at central station and you choose how many days you want the pass for. The prices change depending on which deal you select. This card includes trams and buses and you just swipe the card at the available machines once on board your form of transportation.
One day i hope to return and see it familiar, not with flustered eyes. I would do it all again in a heartbeat. Here are my personal favourite photos of the city break...
2 notes
·
View notes
Text
10 Best Hotels To Stay In Phoenicia New York State – Top Hotel Reviews
Phoenicia New York State is beautiful and has lots of hotels. Ofcourse we are only looking for the best hotels in Phoenicia New York State. It’s important to compare them because there are so many places to stay in Phoenicia New York State. You’re probably wondering where to stay in Phoenicia New York State. To see which hotel sounds better than the other, we created a top 10 list. The list will make it a lot easier for you to make a great decision. We know you only want the best hotel and preferably something with a reasonable price.
Our list contains 10 hotels of which we think are the best hotels in Phoenicia New York State right now. Still, some of you are more interested in the most popular hotels in Phoenicia New York State with the best reviews, and that’s completely normal! You can check out the link below.
Skip to the most popular hotels in Phoenicia New York State.
10 Best Hotels In Phoenicia New York State:
Phoenicia Lodge
Description:
Phoenicia Lodge offers pet-friendly accommodations in Phoenicia. Free private parking is available on site.Some rooms have a sitting area where you can relax. A flat-screen TV is provided.Liberty is 29 miles from Phoenicia Lodge, and New Paltz is 26 miles away. The nearest airport is Albany International Airport, 53 miles from Phoenicia Lodge.
Reviews:
No reviews yet.
For more info click here.
The Graham & Co.
Description:
Showcasing a seasonal outdoor pool and a ski pass sales point, The Graham & Co. Is located in Phoenicia in the region of New York State. Free private parking is available on site.Certain accommodations include a sitting area for your convenience. Certain rooms feature views of the mountains or pool.There is a shared lounge and gift shop at the property.There are lots of activities in the area, such as skiing and biking. The hotel also provides free use of bicycles. Liberty is 30 miles from The Graham & Co., and New Paltz is 26 miles from the property. The nearest airport is Albany International Airport, 53 miles from The Graham & Co..
Reviews:
No reviews yet.
For more info click here.
Colonial Inn
Description:
Featuring free WiFi, Colonial Inn offers accommodations in Pine Hill, just 27 miles from Liberty. Guests can enjoy the on-site bar. Free private parking is available on site.You will find a 24-hour front desk at the property.You can play pool at the hotel. Kingston is 28 miles from Colonial Inn, and Woodstock is 20 miles from the property. The nearest airport is Albany International Airport, 55 miles from Colonial Inn.
Reviews:
The Inn had a very charming character and great common space to hang out in. It was great to be able to hang out and not just stay in our rooms. Overall, we were very happy with our experience there.
The Colonial Inn has one of the most welcoming hosts I have ever met. Add this to the wonderful ambiance and fascinating decor and you have a destination worth a visit just for itself. And the bed was so very comfortable too!
I liked very much the authenticity of the place and the kindness of the owner and his friends!
This Place was out of this world and we will be going back for sure. There is something magical about the Inn. So much history, it was a GREAT time!
Steve, the host and owner is a most wonderful and sweet guy !
The property is simply too charming with knick knacks and antiques dating back over a century – having been built by a cousin of the second president of the United States.
Do not expect hotel like service, but go with a ‘soak in the place & let me lend a hand’ attitude, to spend time with Steve and friends on the property.
The surrounding areas make for wonderful walks, with a lake and an abandoned rail road that you shouldn’t miss.
As for Isabel, Ella and a Bear story, go there yourself and ask Steve
For more info click here.
Hunter Inn
Description:
Featuring free WiFi, Hunter Inn offers accommodations in Hunter, just 21 miles from Kingston. Free private parking is available on site.Certain units include a private bathroom with a spa tub, and others have free toiletries and a hairdryer. Some accommodations feature a sitting area where you can relax. A balcony or patio are featured in certain rooms. A flat-screen TV is provided.You will find a 24-hour front desk at the property.You can play ping-pong and pool at this hotel, and the area is popular for skiing. Woodstock is 12 miles from Hunter Inn, and Windham is 8 miles away. Albany International Airport is 43 miles from the property.
Reviews:
The staff was great! It was such a cute and cozy place to stay. Definitely would come again!
It was very close to the mountain which is a bonus the rooms are very Spacious breakfast included
people, food fireplace, entertainer, proxmity to mountain.
Location is great, within 5 minutes from Hunter Mountain. Large and spacious rooms. Great choice of fresh breakfast buffet .
Everything was great.Everyone was great..Owners were friendly!!!
For more info click here.
Cuomo’s Cove
Description:
In the Catskill Mountains, this property features accommodations with a full kitchen and dining area. There is an on-site sauna. Windham Mountain is a 5-minute drive away.Cuomo’s Cove includes suite with a private bathroom. Some have a fireplace, private hot tub, or a terrace with scenic mountain views. Sofa beds are available in some suites.Visitors can use the on-site barbecue facilities at the Windham Cuomo’s Cave. Free Wi-Fi is available in public areas.Hunter Mountain is 13 miles from the property. Catskill Park is 11 miles away.
Reviews:
I’m a purveyor of the finer things in life and i must say for this price I was impressed. The Cabin was Roomy, Clean and we’ll heated. The beds were the comfiest beds I’ve ever slept on in a traveling setting. A full kitchen, grill, hot tub, electronic fireplace, and two extra sofa beds were amazing extras. I could actually live in that cabin. Great place I’ll be back
I just adore this place. This was my 5th visit and first time staying in one of the upstairs 2 bedroom suites. It’s super comfy and well maintained and feels like home. The view of the sunrise from our deck was unbelievable. Also, the family that runs the place are lovely and super helpful. My family had a special request for our stay and Nichole went above and beyond to accommodate us. The location is great – Windham is adorable and there’s lots to do nearby, although we’re usually too busy enjoying the suites to go out much. I highly recommend staying here
Beautiful view from large deck with private hot tub. Adequately equipped kitchen, fireplace with fire log provided. Old fashion charm. very comfortable.
All the comforts of home! And sunset hot tub deck was amazing!
Size of apartment. Hot tub ready to be used. Towels available. Dishwasher. Active fireplace. Comfortable beds in bedroom. No extra cleaning fee. Friendly reception.
For more info click here.
Villa Vosilla
Description:
Just 3 miles from Hunter Mountain skiing, this hotel features panoramic views, a restaurant, and indoor and outdoor pools. It also has on-site tennis courts and a sauna.Rooms at the Villa Vosilla feature cable TV, a private bathroom, and a work desk. They are styled in bright colors and have a sitting area.Guests can visit the game room with ping-pong for entertainment. A fitness center and a hot tub are also provided at the Catskills Villa Vosilla. Yoga and dance classes are available during select seasons.Ladoria Ristorante has home-style Italian comfort food served al fresco or in the casual dining room. Full bar service is available in the cocktail lounge.Kaaterskill Falls is 7 miles from the hotel. Swimming at North-South Lake is a 15 minute drive away.
Reviews:
Really fun activity area for the kids/adults too. (indoor pool, big room full of things to do).
The restaurant was delicious — they made yummy vegetarian lasagna! Great service — We arrived hours after we had planned (thought we’d arrive by 11) and the night staff was off — he left a note inside to call him, and he rushed in (came over at 2 am) to check us in. It is a fun, classic style hotel, so much more homey than the crowded resort.
We had a great time staying there. I traveled there with my two children and we shared a room with two queen beds. The staff were extremely helpful and greeted us when we arrived at 1am and helped us with the luggage to the room. The beds were comfortable and we had a great breakfast at the dining room onsite. My son loved the pool even though I thought it was too cold to be swimming outside.
Staff was excellent, restaurant on site was very good, price was good for location/amenities, pool & game room are very nice & located within 5 minutes of Hunter Mountain.
I like the location, it is close to the Hunter ski area
Thw outdated rooms of the 70s make it also fun when you walk in (glitter in the ceiling and interesting bathrooms.. We knew this before we arrived so we’re ok with it. Good place to stay with kids, not really a place if you expect high quality rooms. The restaurant was high quality, really great Italian food and also the bar is nice and has a big TV screen.
For more info click here.
Catskill Seasons Inn
Description:
Catskill Seasons Inn offers accommodations in Shandaken. Free WiFi is featured throughout the property and free private parking is available on site.Certain rooms include a private bathroom with a spa tub, and others have free toiletries and a hairdryer. A TV with cable channels is available.There are lots of activities in the area, such as fishing and hiking. Liberty is 29 miles from Catskill Seasons Inn, and New Paltz is 31 miles away. The nearest airport is Albany International Airport, 53 miles from Catskill Seasons Inn.
Reviews:
Super friendly staff, fast check in, drop key check out. We stay in spa bath room with wood burning fireplace , balcony overlooking the mountain and kitchenette. Nice recently renovated clean room . You can sip champagne in spa bath bobbles on the middle of the room and enjoy the fireplace sound after day of skiing or hiking in this Snow Republic! We got 4 foot of snow. Also it is bar and restaurant on property where you can eat dinner or breakfast.
I dropped 100$, and went in expecting some red roof inn ass place. But we got there and owner greeted us and checked us right in, offered us a discount on a ski lift near by. We got to the room and we’re amazed at how clean it was.
We also at dinner and breakfast there, both were amazing. (Get the sasauge egg and cheese, it’s great)
This place just opened up this past year and is killing It.
Go you!
Overall the Inn exceeded my expectations. Frequently these Catskills Inns or motel’s are very dated and cramped. We paid for a single room with two queen size beds. We got that plus the room was large, clean with a small kitchen and dinning area. We stayed in the separate Chalet building which is more motel like with exterior doors but everything was clean and the room was warm when we go there, it was a mind numbing -3 degrees when we got there but the room was good.
We were met on arrival by the owner who was very friendly and helpful. Our room was clean, comfortable and quiet. Dinner and breakfast in the restaurant were excellent, the staff were lovely.
The Inn and staff were very nice and very helpful, willing to go the extra mile to satisfy our needs or answer our questions.
For more info click here.
The Wheelhouse Inn
Description:
The Wheelhouse Inn provides accommodation in Pine Hill. This inn offers free WiFi. Guests can enjoy mountain views.At the inn, all rooms are fitted with a private bathroom with free toiletries and a hairdryer. Some guest rooms will provide guests with a fridge and a desk.Guests at The Wheelhouse Inn will be able to enjoy activities in and around Pine Hill, like skiing. Discounted lift tickets to Belleayre Mountain, free access to a local fitness centre and pool are also offered during the winter months.Liberty is 26.7 miles from the accommodation, while Kingston is 28 miles away. The nearest airport is Albany International Airport, 54.7 miles from the property.
Reviews:
No reviews yet.
For more info click here.
The White Dove Rockotel
Description:
Showcasing a terrace and a ski pass sales point, The White Dove Rockotel is located in Woodstock, just 20 miles from New Paltz. Free WiFi is provided throughout the property and free private parking is available on site.Each room is fitted with a flat-screen TV. Certain rooms include a sitting area to relax in after a busy day. A terrace or patio are featured in certain rooms. The rooms include a private bathroom.You will find ticket service at the property.This hotel has ski storage and free use of bicycles is available. A number of activities are available in the area, such as skiing, biking and hiking. Poughkeepsie is 25 miles from The White Dove Rockotel, and Kingston is 10 miles from the property. Albany International Airport is 52 miles away.
Reviews:
Convenient location, comfortable room with full kitchen, record player and albums, great heating, spotless.
The room was comfortable, clean, unique, easy check-in and check-out, the owners were friendly. Ill definitely be back.
The room was like a perfect little retro studio apartment!
Clean and adorable rooms, very helpful staff, easy access – enjoyed the stay and plan on going back
The wifi was good and the location to the town’s activities very good.
For more info click here.
Hotel Dylan
Description:
Showcasing a seasonal outdoor pool and a ski pass sales point, Hotel Dylan is located in Woodstock. Guests can enjoy the on-site restaurant. Free WiFi is featured throughout the property and free private parking is available on site.Every room at this hotel is air conditioned and is equipped with a flat-screen TV with cable channels. Certain units have a sitting area where you can relax. Every room comes with a private bathroom fitted with a shower. For your comfort, you will find free toiletries and a hairdryer.You will find a shops at the property.You can play ping-pong at this hotel, and the area is popular for skiing. New Paltz is 18 miles from Hotel Dylan, and Poughkeepsie is 23 miles away. The nearest airport is Albany International Airport, 54 miles from the property.
Reviews:
No reviews yet.
For more info click here.
Top Hotels In Phoenicia New York State Conclusion:
The above is a top selection of the best hotels to stay in Phoenicia New York State to help you with your search. We know it’s not that easy to find the best hotel because there are just so many places to stay in Phoenicia New York State but we hope that the above-mentioned tips have helped you make a good decision.
We also hope that you enjoyed our top ten list of the best hotels in Phoenicia New York State. And we wish you all the best with your future stay!
Related links:
https://www.noplacecalledhome.com/top-10-best-baby-dishes-bamboo-top-reviews/
https://www.noplacecalledhome.com/top-10-best-baby-utensils-with-case-top-reviews/
The post 10 Best Hotels To Stay In Phoenicia New York State – Top Hotel Reviews appeared first on The Seversons.
from WordPress http://ift.tt/2tGbvVl
via IFTTT
1 note
·
View note
Text
Five Unconventional Knowledge About Wine Glass Canvas Painting Ideas That You Can’t Learn From Books | Wine Glass Canvas Painting Ideas
Don’t apperceive what to do this weekend? Well, you’ve appear to the appropriate place. Pull up a bench to the counter, and I’ll acquaint you about aggregate that’s hot and happening.
Pin en b – wine glass canvas painting ideas | wine glass canvas painting ideas
Do you accept an crawling to amplitude your aesthetic anatomy and accomplish some art for the home? Well, you’re in luck. This weekend, bounded art flat Ready, Paint, Fire will host the anniversary Canvas Uncorked accident Saturday, Feb. 29. Held at Warren Station Center for the Arts, 164 Ida Belle Drive, Keystone, the black will advise you the basics of acrylic painting while you adore a bottle of wine or beer.
It is a accidental painting party, so it doesn’t amount if you don’t accede yourself artistic. No acquaintance is all-important and advisers will beforehand you through a step-by-step action to accomplish things easier. As you acrylic the face of a bright owl, you ability additionally acquisition advice in aqueous courage. Access to the bar — forth with canvas, acrylic and food — is included in the entry.
SUNSET WINE GLASS” painting at THE BRASS TAP on Panama City Beach .. | wine glass canvas painting ideas
Tickets are $40 in beforehand or $45 the day of the accident for adults. It includes one adulatory bottle of wine or beer, and there are cocktail specials accessible for acquirement as well. Tickets for accouchement ages 12 and earlier who are accompanied by an developed are $30 in beforehand and $35 the day of the event. Doors accessible and drinks are served at 6 p.m. Painting begins at 7. Appointment WarrenStation.com to purchase.
If you appetite added handmade works to accord the painting some company, pencil in Breckenridge Aesthetic Arts’ date night event. This month, adviser Chris Simoni will advise singles and couples how to actualize their own candle with the Breckenridge Candle Co.
Paintbar Locations – The Premier Art and Wine Experience | Wine .. | wine glass canvas painting ideas
Date night begins at 7 p.m. Friday, March 13, at Old Masonic Hall, 136 S. Main St., Breckenridge. Tickets are $20 for nonmembers or $15 for Breckenridge Aesthetic Arts members.
Included in the admission amount is one adulatory beer or wine with added drinks accessible for purchase. Participants charge be 21 or earlier to attend. Visit BreckCreate.org to purchase.
√ 11+ Best Easy Painting Ideas For Wall Beginners and Canvas .. | wine glass canvas painting ideas
Then the afterward day, Saturday, March 14, appointment the Arts District campus already afresh for a arranged beat of exploring one’s aesthetic ancillary during Breckenridge Aesthetic Arts’ Second Saturday. The Old Masonic Hall will accept balmy beverages as you analyze the gallery’s exhibitions while the Quandary Antiques Cabin will accept crafts for kids and the Hot Shop will accept crafts for adults. Meanwhile, the Fuqua Livery Stable, Tin Shop, Robert Whyte House, Ceramic Flat and Randall Barn will accept some aggregate of a address artist, bounded artisan or visiting artists in abode for accessible houses.
All ages are welcome, but parents charge appear with children. Second Saturday begins at 10 a.m. and lasts
Wine Glass. | wine glass canvas painting ideas
Five Unconventional Knowledge About Wine Glass Canvas Painting Ideas That You Can’t Learn From Books | Wine Glass Canvas Painting Ideas – wine glass canvas painting ideas
| Encouraged in order to the blog site, in this time period I will provide you with in relation to keyword. And after this, this is actually the initial image:
En una copa de vino” (In a wine glass) Óleo sobre tela (Oil on .. | wine glass canvas painting ideas
Why don’t you consider picture earlier mentioned? is actually that will wonderful???. if you think maybe therefore, I’l l demonstrate many photograph once again down below:
So, if you wish to obtain the wonderful shots regarding (Five Unconventional Knowledge About Wine Glass Canvas Painting Ideas That You Can’t Learn From Books | Wine Glass Canvas Painting Ideas), click save button to store the pictures in your pc. They’re ready for save, if you love and want to have it, click save symbol on the web page, and it’ll be directly saved to your computer.} Lastly if you wish to secure new and the latest image related to (Five Unconventional Knowledge About Wine Glass Canvas Painting Ideas That You Can’t Learn From Books | Wine Glass Canvas Painting Ideas), please follow us on google plus or book mark this page, we try our best to give you daily up grade with fresh and new photos. We do hope you love staying right here. For many upgrades and latest information about (Five Unconventional Knowledge About Wine Glass Canvas Painting Ideas That You Can’t Learn From Books | Wine Glass Canvas Painting Ideas) images, please kindly follow us on tweets, path, Instagram and google plus, or you mark this page on bookmark section, We attempt to give you update periodically with all new and fresh photos, love your browsing, and find the best for you.
Here you are at our site, articleabove (Five Unconventional Knowledge About Wine Glass Canvas Painting Ideas That You Can’t Learn From Books | Wine Glass Canvas Painting Ideas) published . At this time we are excited to declare we have discovered an extremelyinteresting nicheto be reviewed, namely (Five Unconventional Knowledge About Wine Glass Canvas Painting Ideas That You Can’t Learn From Books | Wine Glass Canvas Painting Ideas) Lots of people searching for info about(Five Unconventional Knowledge About Wine Glass Canvas Painting Ideas That You Can’t Learn From Books | Wine Glass Canvas Painting Ideas) and certainly one of these is you, is not it?
Pin de Ivonne Ynestroza en felicidades | Paletas de pintura, Arte .. | wine glass canvas painting ideas
Canvas Oil Paintings For Sale | Wine wall art, Wine and canvas .. | wine glass canvas painting ideas
Wine glass art | Pintura del vino, Pintura de verano y Pinturas – wine glass canvas painting ideas | wine glass canvas painting ideas
Wine bottle and wine glass painting on canvas (With images) | Wine .. | wine glass canvas painting ideas
easy wine glass painting on canvas ideas – Google Search | Pintura .. | wine glass canvas painting ideas
The post Five Unconventional Knowledge About Wine Glass Canvas Painting Ideas That You Can’t Learn From Books | Wine Glass Canvas Painting Ideas appeared first on Painter Legend.
Painter Legend https://www.painterlegend.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/pin-en-b-wine-glass-canvas-painting-ideas.jpg
0 notes
Text
Puffins and Muffins: A Journey to Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island
‘Puffins and Muffins’ was the slogan for our 13 hour road trip to the North. The name originated from our goal to seek out the stocky birds and our car breakfasts of muffins along the trek. We took our long road trip up the East Coast from Rhode Island to Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia in 2016. With the current exchange rate between the USD and CAD, there’s no better time to visit Canada!
West Quoddy Head
West Quoddy Head, Lubec, Maine
Our journey began in Rhode Island and our first leg took us to the halfway mark. Seven hours traveling north brought us all the way to Lubec, Maine. We arrived after dark and barely slept as we wanted to be up early to get out to West Quoddy Head which is the easternmost point in the United States….and home of the first sunrise in the continental US. We arrived a little before 5 am to wait in the dark as the first hints of light illuminated the famous red and white striped lighthouse. The iconic lighthouse now operates with an automated light instead of a lighthouse keeper and it’s absolutely worth the trip. You feel at the edge of the world gazing off into the Atlantic. Few tourists make it out this early so you’ll have the park mostly to yourself. We didn’t stay long enough for the museum to open, but they reportedly also sell certificates so you can boast that you’ve been to the easternmost point. We kept it moving to stick to our travel schedule but made a quick stroll through the charming town of Lubec. They have a few smaller bed and breakfasts, gift shops, art galleries and restaurants. We popped into the Sunrise Cafe to grab some beverages to accompany our muffins!
The Bay of Fundy
Next we rambled up the coast of Maine and then continued onto New Brunswick. In New Brunswick, we drove through Fundy National Park which sits on Goose Bay, the northwestern branch of the Bay of Fundy. The Bay of Fundy has the highest tides in the world which can rise and fall an incredible 50 feet in one twelve hour expanse. We made our first stop at the eastern entrance to Fundy National Park at Cape Enrage. There is a large reef that extends south from the Cape which causes the water to become turbulent when the reef is exposed at lower tides and the water is moving rapidly over the reef. It’s a pretty stop with a picturesque lighthouse (built in 1838) and a staircase to walk down to the water where you can literally see the water coming in from the rapidly moving tide. You won’t need to spend much time here unless you stop for lunch at the onsite restaurant, but the views from their towering cliffs are spectacular. Our final New Brunswick stop was the famous Hopewell Rocks, also known as the Flowerpot Rocks. Located on the upper reaches of the Bay of Fundy. These sandstone formations have been geologically carved over time. At low tide, you can walk among the formations and explore tidal pools and coves and at high tide; they appear as tall islands topped by trees. The Canadians have named many of them based on their appearance (Lover’s Arch, Dinosaur Rock, ET, etc). They have well kept trails and it’s a super easy walk to get to the formations…a nice leg stretch on our journey! We skipped the tourist filled restaurant there and headed 10 minutes away to the Cinnamon Soul Cafe which had some terrific sandwiches. It will take about 4 hours to get from Quoddy Head to Hopewell Rocks without stops…but I would factor in 3 hours for all your photo stops. If you’ve followed our itinerary though, you were up at sunrise!
Prince Edward Island
Cavendish, PEI
Our final driving leg took us the last 3 hours to Prince Edward Island. You’ll take the Confederation Bridge, an 8 mile long expanse that spans the narrowest part of the Northumberland Strait, separating the island from the mainland. Prince Edward Island is Canada’s smallest province though the most densely populated. It only takes 3 hours to drive from tip to tip but it’s unspoiled scenery, rolling farmlands, and rocky red shores pack a punch over the 139 miles. Of course, PEI is well known to many of us through the eyes of Anne of Green Gables, the fictional spirited redheaded heroine of Lucy Maud Montgomery’s classic book. I confess I read all of her tales repeatedly as a child and her presence is definitely felt in many facets of PEI life.
After our long day of driving, we checked into The Great George Hotel in PEI’s capital of Charlottetown. It’s a boutique hotel made of 54 suites spread across 17 restored heritage buildings dating back to the mid 1840’s. Charlottetown itself is modern, safe, and charming…we used it as our base to explore PEI. You’ll definitely want to spend a few hours rambling through the cobblestone streets. Victoria Row (The Row) is lined with red brick buildings and in the summer, it’s closed to traffic so you can grab a table outside or head to a rooftop bar for views of the city. It’s known for being a culinary powerhouse and especially so for seafood.
Anne of Green Gables
Anne of Green Gables Heritage Place
You could easily spend a week or more exploring the relaxing PEI, or even just Charlottetown, but we did a little over a day of highlights as Nova Scotia beckoned. However, we couldn’t miss a stop at Anne of Green Gables’s famed home. Located in Cavendish, PEI, Green Gables Heritage Place is visited by thousands of tourists each year who come to find the green gabled farmhouse and surrounding woodlands. There’s an Anne onsite marvelously in character who dutifully posed for a curtsy photo with my husband. From the farmhouse, we meandered along Prince Edward Island National Park Drive which encompasses the island’s rocky northern coastline. We drove the segment from Cavendish to North Rustico admiring the red towering cliffs along the sandy beaches. Everyone recommended Blue Mussell Cafe to dine in North Rustico and we would also highly recommend a stop there! They don’t take reservations but it’s a fine view of North Rustico Harbor to wait a bit for your table. Our other dining recommendation is the Point Prim Chowderhouse at sunset. This one definitely needs a reservation! They are located at the end of the road near the Point Prim Lighthouse, Canada’s oldest lighthouse, about a 45 minute drive from Charlottetown. They offer spectacular views of the tidal pools surrounding Point Prim and you can enjoy fresh seafood on their outdoor deck. We loved sipping a cocktail and watching the sun dip into the ocean. Our time in PEI was much too short. If able, I’d advise up to a week there in the summer as it is beautiful and filled with quintessential summer activities.
Burntcoat Head Park
We left Charlottetown and finally crossed in Nova Scotia! We traveled 3 hours from PEI to Burntcoat Head Park. This park boasts the highest tides in the world and it’s backed up by a Guinness World Record! It’s average tide is 47.5 feet with an extreme range of 53.6 feet. Twice daily, the Bay of Fundy fills and recedes 160 billion tons of water. We arrived here at low tide and explored the ocean floor and tidal pools taking many pictures of the area that would be flooded with 50 feet of water a mere 6 hours later. We would recommend that you see the Park at both low and high tide. After our low tide exploration, we drove to Avondale Sky Winery (about an hour away) to fill some of the gap. It was an enjoyable few hours with a little wine tasting, vineyard wandering and delicious lunch. On the way to the winery, we also popped into the Frieze and Roy General Store, which is Canada’s oldest continually run general store. Some interesting antiques to view but the lunch they had here at their small counter was pretty terrible. We rarely write bad reviews but the customer service and food was our worst experience of the year. We threw it out and were fortunately rewarded for this decision by having a great experience at the winery in an idyllic outdoor setting. As our 6 hours drew to a close, we headed back to the park and it was pretty amazing to see how rapidly the tide had covered the very ocean floor we’d explored hours earlier. We took some photos in the same spot as before and afters and the tide change is dramatic! To note, there are several locations in the area that offer river rafting on the tidal bore…this definitely looked intriguing but given our limited clothing for our week long trip and the mud covered photos we saw, we took a pass. Might be a fun adventure though!
Cape Breton
Our next destination brought us further into Nova Scotia with a goal of driving the coast of Cape Breton along the Cabot Trail. We set up a base at Cabot Shores. I’ll confess this lodging choice was not a great one and we would not recommend it. We stumbled upon it on Airbnb and the adorable appearing yurts seemed unique. However, the reality was that they were MUCH smaller than they appeared in the photos, had a bit of a musty smell, and the lodging tried to overcharge for everything. A ‘free’ pitcher of warm tap water was provided, but they wouldn’t give ice, firewood, or refill the pitcher without charging you. The communal bathroom facilities were also pretty lackluster. Our main complaint though was that the yurt had no way to lock so we essentially repacked and locked our belongings in our trunk each day. In retrospect, instead of choosing one base accommodation, we would recommend a couple lodging options along Cape Breton so you aren’t backtracking each day as you meander along. While we didn’t stay at the Keltic Lodge at the Highlands, we did drive through on our way along the Cabot Trail and it looked well maintained with breathtaking views…we definitely thought about abandoning that yurt and making a move! There isn’t much to eat nearby but we did enjoy a little homey place called “Simply Pizza” which unsurprisingly served no frills pizza which was very good and much better than eating at the yurt.
The tiny yurt
Puffins!
Before we set out for the Cabot Trail in earnest, we aimed to fulfill our mission of seeing puffins. We opted for the Bird Island Puffin Tour. This tour runs from May to mid September. Puffins are migratory sea birds and spend the majority of the year at sea feeding. In the spring and summer, they gather in colonies on the coasts of the North Atlantic to breed. During this time, their beaks turn a flashy orange color which is great for your puffin pics! However, many companies we researched stopped their tours at the end of August…we should have payed a little closer attention to that. We visited in early September, but by that time, the puffins had mostly moved on. There were only 2 mating pairs left which fortunately we did see from a distance. In the peak season though, hundreds of birds fill the island. This short tour (about an hour and a half) was still worthwhile though at $50.
Skyline Trail
Our next endeavor was the Cabot Trail. This is a 185 mile loop around the northern tip of Nova Scotia. The western and eastern portions have scenic views of the rocky coastline and ocean. The northern section passes through Cape Breton Highlands National Park with the famed Skyline Trail. Finally, the Southern section passes through the Margaree River valley and Bras d’Or Lake. It’s a gorgeous drive and you could do it in one day though as I mentioned above, a lodging stop along the way would likely be better. Though there are numerous hikes along the route, if you are going to do only one, I’d go for the Skyline Trail. This is a relatively easy 2 hour hike on French Mountain and at the halfway point of the trail, there are viewing platforms that afford sweeping views of the famous Cabot Trail roadway and the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Moose sighting are common and we spied a sleeping moose at a close distance. Who knew moose slept lying down? We also tried our luck whale watching with Dixon’s Zodiac Seafari where you board a smaller 12 passenger zodiac and whip along the shores of Cape Breton. We spotted 2 minke whales at a distance but it was still exhilarating zipping along the coast on a sun filled day.
Halifax
Our final leg of our whirlwind Nova Scotia tour was Halifax. Halifax combines historic charm with plenty of modern flourishes. It’s a harbor front city that I think is best explored on foot as you can wander the streets and harborfront stumbling upon numerous and shops. The dining scene is plentiful. We tried our luck at the Bicycle Thief with an amazing patio steps from the water with delicious food they describe as “North American food with Italian soul.” We also has a nightcap at the livelier Split Crow Pub, Nova Scotia’s Original Tavern with some great live music. Besides enjoying some great dining and browsing the harborfront, we also hiked up to the Halifax Citadel set on a prominent hill overlooking the city. It consists of a series of forts that protected the harbor and the views are worth a quick stop.
Peggy's Cove
Our farewell to Nova Scotia was at the famous Peggy’s Cove, a quaint fishing village located approximately an hour from Halifax. This very small village houses the famous Peggy’s Cove Lighthouse which may be the most photographed lighthouse in all of Canada. Many artists call this cove home and there are various local galleries and giftshops. It does get a little crowded on a summer day, so I’d arrive early to escape the tour buses and enjoy the peaceful views of the lighthouse and the mighty Atlantic. On your way to or from Peggy’s Cove, I’d advise a cookie stop at the White Sails Bakery!
This weeklong trip involved our usual bustle from location to location and we did get a preview of stunning PEI and Nova Scotia. Though, this trip might be a better place to hunker down for a few days in one spot and just soak in the abundant views and relax!
Champagne Splurge
This trip was decidedly one of our more frugal trips. No pricey airfare, no luxurious accommodations and with the exchange rate, our dining was a pretty great bargain as well. If we had to do it again, we’d splurge for the Keltic Lodge or another place with gorgeous views along Cape Breton!
Champagne "Buzz"worthy
The CAT ferry operates between Bar Harbor, Maine and Nova Scotia. I think the drive is spectacular but you only need one way to experience it. It might be nice to take the ferry back home to shave a little time off your drive.
Insider Tips
Instead of picking lodging at the start of the Cabot Trail, we advise a slower pace along the trail and choosing an accommodating or two as you go. We could have avoided a lot of backtracking and done more hiking instead.Get to Peggy’s Cove early to beat the crowds. The small village splendor isn’t as majestic when a tour bus rolls up. Do make a stop at West Quoddy if you are driving up from the States; that first sunrise is pretty magical!
Read the full article
0 notes
Text
Gdansk, Sopot and Gdynia, Poland
Gdansk, Sopot and Gdynia are known as Poland’s Tricity and are located in the north of the country. My cousin and I took a very nice, comfortable train from the Polish capital Warsaw, up to Gdansk. This city was our main base for 3 1/2 days, whilst we spent half a day each at Sopot and Gdynia.
Where I stayed: Hostel Universus
It took about 10 minutes to walk to this hostel from the main train station, Gdansk Glowny. Its location is quite perfect as it’s right at the beginning of the Old Town and we therefore spent a lot of time walking around the quant Old Town area of Gdansk. We stayed in a 5 bed dormitory. It’s an old renovated stable and it was very spacious. Each bed had a table, chair and small locker. Each floor had 3 showers and 3 toilets. There was also a small kitchen/sofa area for everyone to use. Towels were included in the price and the staff were helpful. Rating 5/5
Gdansk
There are plenty of little streets, the main harbour, endless places to eat, a beautiful Town Hall, the St. Mary’s Basilica (church) and so on. The Saint Dominic’s Fair was also happening whilst we were there, so there were market stalls everywhere selling everything from food to jewellery. We bought a few meals and things during our wanderings. In between the Old Town and the main train station, there’s a small shopping centre called Madison and if you really want to shop, there’s a bigger shopping centre called Galleria Baltycka just outside of the city. It’s located next to the first train stop (Gdansk Wrzeszcz) from the main station towards Sopot.
Besides the market stalls, there were plenty of restaurants, cafes and bars and we visited a few:
Cafe Libertas: This little cafe is slightly out of the way a bit behind the St. Mary’s church. It had a good variation of cold and hot drinks as well as food to choose from. I had the Elephant Chai Latte, which was very creamy with a nice flavour. It was okay priced (I payed 12 Zloty for the Chai Latte).
Maraska Cafe and shop- This place is on the main street in the Old Town, Dluga Street. It has plenty of cakes and drinks to choose from. We enjoyed our drinks outside with a nice view of the street and town hall. I had a very lovely hot chocolate with cream. The drink itself was made from a darker chocolate and it had a slightly thick consistency. I payed around 13 Zloty for it and it’s a tiny bit pricier than Cafe Libertas.
Pyra Bar- This place was right in front of our hostel and offers all forms of potato. You could buy potato pancake, potato cake, chips, jacket potatoes, casserolls and more. You order at the counter and then they bring you the food. It was quite cheap (about 15-26 Zloty) and we went for the casserolls. Mine had potatoes, cheese sause, bacon and onion and it was very nice.
Original Burger- Located on the main Dluga street just below the Town Hall, is this burger restaurant. There are an array of burgers and sides to choose from and our burgers tasted very nice. The prices are okay ranging from 19-28 Zloty.
Red Light Bar- In the side street Kaletnicza you’ll find the Red Light Bar. We came here twice for cocktails and it was very popular. The prices are reasonable (from 16-28 Zloty) and the interior is really cool. The whole place is full of heritage furniture and antique style decoration. It has two floors, an outside area at the back and a few tables on the street by the entrance. It’s a great place to go for a drink with friends.
Sopot
All you need is 20 minutes on a train from Gdansk to get to the seaside. Sopot has a main street and square full of places to eat and a few shops. All this leads down to hotels, a long pier (that you have to pay to go on) and miles of beach. We sat on the beach for a while and had a swim in the sea before we went back to the main street for lunch. There we found a really good restaurant called Green Way. It gave you plenty of food for your money and the price range was around 18-28 Zloty. It was probably one of the best meals we had on our holiday. We then wandered back down to the beach for a while longer and bought an ice-cream or Lody as they call it in Poland. The best thing about Gdansk and Sopot is that you can have both a city and beach holiday.
Gdynia
If you keep going past Sopot you’ll reach Gdynia. It took about 40 minutes on the train. It’s a more modern and industrial city than Gdansk. If you walk all the way down to the waterfront there’s a modern pier, massive ships and a ship mast sculpture. It’s also possible to take a ferry out to the island Hel. We were only here for a short while as it didn’t take long to look at these things and we didn’t go out to the island. We ended up combining it with some shopping, as when we took the train back we stopped at the Galleria Baltycka shopping centre.
General tips and info:
Tickets for public transport- You can buy tickets from machines close to most stops and in train stations. There are also ticket booths in the larger train station. It is also possible to pay for tickets on busses, but you need to have the exact amount in cash.
Bus to the airport- It takes about 40 minutes to get to the airport by bus. During the day time it’s bus number 210 and during the night it’s N3. The bus stops for airport busses are marked quite well with a picture of a plane and the bus number on the back of the stop.
-Emma
#poland#summer#gdansk#sopot#gdynia#beach#shopping#travel#explore#food#drink#oldtown#market#fair#hostel#cafe#architecture
1 note
·
View note
Text
Yelp adds personalized search results to its iPhone app
For good or ill, it's common for internet services to track what you do and offer "personalized" suggestions. But Yelp, that stalwart of internet reviews, is for the first time letting its users build a profile of their tastes which will be used to make better recommendations. Those preferences will be weaved throughout the Yelp experience going forward, starting with the iPhone app. It's rather surprising that Yelp's results weren't more customized yet, but now the company says two users in the same location conducting the same search will see different results for the first time. Recommendations that pop on the home screen will also reflect your personal preferences, as well.
youtube
In the first part of the personalization setup, you'll be prompted to choose some dietary, lifestyle and accessibility preferences. This isn't the same as getting in deep and telling the app you love korean food or cocktail bars, though. It gives some high-level options to tell the app that you prefer gluten-free, kosher, vegetarian or vegan restaurants, for example. Yelp will then take these preferences into account across the service, highlighting restaurants that it knows have a good amount of vegan options, if that's what you need.
"Lifestyle" lets you tell the app whether you're a homeowner, auto owner, parent or pet owner -- this would be used to highlight locations that are pet-friendly, if you want a restaurant that'll let you bring your dog. Finally, accessibility encompasses places that are wheelchair-friendly as well as spots that offer gender-neutral restrooms.
After those preferences, Yelp asks you to select your favorites from a host of food and drink categories. The labeling is a little odd; you pick from "cuisine" (Chinese, American, Mexican, etc.), "food" (BBQ, burgers, pizza) and "snacks and drinks" (coffee, bakeries, donuts, ice cream). After filling out your food preferences, you do the same for a "things to do" section, which encompasses nightlife, activities (like arcades, beaches and hiking) and shopping and culture. Finally, the "lifestyle" section includes things like hair salons, spas, antiques, home decor and a few others.
It's a lot of things to consider, and some of the sub-categories seem a little unnecessary. Yelp says these lists will keep being updated and tweaked over time, so we'll see what the categories look like a year from now. The good news is that it's a simple process to swipe down the grid of icons and tap the ones you're interested in. Once that's done, you'll see those preferences reflected across your Yelp experience.
On the home screen, Yelp's "nearby and open now" area highlighted Thai, Middle Eastern and Mexican restaurants, all categories I checked off when setting up my profile. Search results for restaurants also highlighted my preferences. For example, one of the top restaurants in the search results had a tag noting it was the most-visited Italian spot in the neighborhood, with Yelp's new personalization heart reflecting that this was a category I'm interested in.
Yelp
At the top of search results is a grid of icons that lets you filter down those results by characteristics like delivery, takes reservations and so on. Yelp has also added some of your favorite categories to that set of filters so that you can easily tap on a cuisine that you've previously saved in your preferences to get to it quicker. And if you want to update all the things you picked during the onboarding process, you can tweak those preferences and favorites in your profile.
For starters, Yelp is rolling this out to about 60 percent of iOS app users today, with it hitting all iOS users in the fall. Android will get a "subset" of these features as well, but the full set of personalization features won't roll out until sometime next year. This isn't the only update Yelp has planned, too -- the company says that in the next year it'll launch a totally redesigned app. But for now, personalization is one of the bigger changes to Yelp's service we've seen in a long time.
Source: Yelp
- Repost from: engadget Post
0 notes
Last Seen Blogs
eddie-freak-king-munson
Your Local Freak
calebdoerksen2
Caleb Doerksen
dog-in-disguise
Bear
littlemajusyyy
the little maju !
biconclarkegriffin
i want to spend eons with you.