The Dream of Getting Lost in Paris

Why I have yet to make the journey to Paris is a mystery to me. A combination of reasons -- timing, expenses, fear, and the fact that if/when I go, I may never return -- have contributed to today's travel resolution. The dream of getting "lost in Paris" still thrives deep within my wanderlusting soul.

I started taking ballet lessons at age three in a dance studio run by an old school French-style ballet genius, a difficult find in smalltown suburb, Ohio. She was in her late 60s when I knew her best, blonde gentle curls, shoulder pads, gold bangling bracelets, cigarette in hand, poodle at foot, propped in her short white director's chair. The piano player pounded away at the keys while we trained at the barre. I was physically there, but mentally, I was in France.

From age three, French positions and terminology were engrained into my daily routine -- plie, rond de jambe, frappe, tour jete! I was destined to study the language in highschool. And I did.

The language entrigued me, almost felt like a part of me I had yet to discover. The more I learned, then more I yearned to see The Louvre, The Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, and stroll down the Champs-Elysees. But even more than visiting the many tourist attractions you simply must see, my ultimate dream would be to get caught up in everyday life in Paris.

To sip wine and people-watch from a cafe on a bustling avenue and graze on freshly made baguettes, croissants and croque monsieurs would be the perfect day. Follow that up with a walk through the city at night, hand-in-hand with the man I love, gazing at the moonlit City of Lights, and I would be one happy lady. Might as well even throw some rain in the mix. Fine with me. We'd get lost in the beauty of Paris, just reveling in the history, lifestyle and emotion that is undoubtedly French.

Someday.

Until then, I'll watch and rewatch Amelie, Sabrina and Midnight in Paris to get my fix. I'll listen to my Edith Piaf radio station on Pandora, read travel posts, and Google images for Paris.

Oh, to get "lost in Paris" ... I'm sure I'd find another missing piece of myself.

This article (among other things) in NY Times inspired this post.

French bottled water comercial, must see!

FranceGuide

First Trimester Road Trips - DC & Nashville

It's official.  I'm pregnant!  We're ecstatic!  Of course, constantly having the baby on my mind doesn't bode well for travel blog writing or traveling in general.  Nonetheless, we've braved some road trips, lived to tell about them, and even have a couple more planned for this summer!

If you've ever been with child, or traveled with a woman who was, you know it can sometimes be tricky depending on morning sickness and her oversion to odors.  We road-tripped to Washington, DC to visit family for the Easter holiday when I was only 8 weeks in.  I was just getting used to the idea of this living, peanut-sized person swimming around in my belly, let alone constant nausea and waxing fatigue.  "What's happening to my body!?" "Can people tell?" "Should I tell people yet? or wait it out a little longer?"  My usual I-can't-wait-to-get-there giddiness was replaced with "will I have time for a nap?" 

Some Tips for travel during your first trimester:

1. Bring plenty of bland snacks -- saltines, pretzels, granola bars, etc.  We've been told that you're better off with something in your belly, and it turns out it's true. 
2. Lots of water!  -- which results in a pit stop about every hour or so.  It's good for you though, so drink it.
3. Pack your prenatal vitamins -- You don't want to forget those, especially since we all tend to veer off course (as far as diet and nutrition is concerned) while traveling.
4. A fluffy pillow and room to stretch your legs. -- Try to share the driving with a pal so you can stretch out in the back seat.  Keeping your feet elevated will also help decrease ankle swelling and back soreness.
5. Get out and stretch your legs, walk around and get the blood flowing every chance you get.

Once you arrive, eat mini meals like you do at home, rest when you can, plan on hitting the sack early and rising frequently to use the restroom.  Bring super comfy shoes and loose-fitting clothes for walking around, and drink plenty of water during the day too!  If you're comfortable telling your news to those you're traveling with, they might be more understanding when you need to stop and rest more often than usual.  I chose to tell the family members we were with and chatting about it made it even more fun!

Next, we headed to Nashville, TN for the Rock 'n Roll Marathon and Half Marathon.  We went with a large group of friends, mostly from OU so it was difficult to hide my non-alcoholic ways in the bars.  I ended up spilling the secret to the group to make things a little easier. 

Lucky for me, after running a half marathon, the rest of the group was just as tired as I was, often leading to early bedtimes and afternoon naps. I fit right in! 

Nashville was pretty cool, but I can't help but think it's a million times better when you're able to party sans nausea and fatigue.  Maybe we'll go back someday. 

Just remember, you're still yourself while traveling pregnant, you just need to be patient, give yourself plenty of extra time for pit stops, frequent meals and naptime.  The advice people keep giving me is "get out and do stuff while you can before the baby comes."  So, that's what I intend to do!

Trips on deck :: a relaxing trip to East Hampton, NY to play on the beach; and a long weekend on a houseboat on Lake Cumberland, KY.  Stay tuned for second trimester trips!

The Vacation Argument: An Oxymoron?

You never know where your vacation will lead.

It’s like complaining about a free lunch or having too much fun. Who does it and what’s the point? The other day a friend of mine mentioned the fact that she and her man keep arguing every time they discuss their vacation options for this summer. Which part of Mexico should we go to? How long should we stay? What should we do there? Let’s do something else instead, etc.

One of them has too many vacation days to use up this year. Sucks to be you, right? Must be nice! The other one can’t seem to convince him that she can only afford one big trip this year. Here lies the issue. If they plan on vacationing together, they must make a choice. The quarrel ensues.



My advice? Just pick one. All options are lovely. There’s no sense in making your vacation (or vacation plans) stressful. The point of a vacation is to escape your everyday stresses in the first place. I know, it sounds much simpler than it is.

Decide on your ultimate “goal” for the trip. Whether it be adventure, to see a particular show, concert or attend an event, pure relaxation, good food, sightseeing or just plain old togetherness, you can surely narrow down your options by agreeing on a common goal.

Family vacations always sound like a good idea, until the planning actually starts. He wants to be active on vacation, but she wants to relax. They want to be pampered and eat at fancy restaurants every night, but they want to cook their own food and lounge in comfy clothes and bathing suits all week. Is it really worth the fight?

It never fails. Every year my extended family tends to have big ideas about a vacation we can take together, and then after a few months of debate and juggling everyone’s calendar conflicts, we never actually go. Someday I hope to remedy this vicious cycle of vacation arguing so we can simply enjoy each other’s company in beautiful place we can all afford at a time that works for everyone. But I digress …

Make yourself available. Compromise is key. Chances are you’ll have a great time no matter which vacation you choose. Check your calendar and offer plenty of options for weeks you’d be available to skip town. Plan ahead for requesting vacation days from work and add to your vacation fund whenever possible.

Take a risk. Never been out of the country and afraid to make the trip? Don’t be. Sure, getting a passport can be a frustrating (albeit expensive) task. Just do it. Get one, so you’re able to cross the border at a whim the next time your best friend wins a free trip to Mexico or your husband wants to take you to Niagara Falls for the weekend. I’m not talking about risking your life in North Korea or something … just easy international travel that millions of Americans do everyday (The Caribbean, Greek Isles, Western Europe, Australia, even Beijing or Tokyo). Book it and then fill in the details.

Just say “yes”. Say “no” less, and say “yes” more. Don’t be a stick in the mud, and be sure to keep an open mind. This is possibly the most important rule. OK, maybe even I wouldn’t jump at the chance to bungee jump off a bridge or go ice fishing for a week. No, no, I mean say “yes” to trying sushi at a great seafood restaurant at resort. Say “yes” to snorkeling in Mexico and don’t be afraid to be called up on stage to sing karaoke at a live show. Vacations are an opportunity for you to let loose and try new things in front of close family and friends (and 100s of people you’ll never see again). What better way to make a memory?

Everyone needs a vacation now and then. Speaking of which, I’d like one right now!

SniqueAway, yes please!

I love me a great deal, don't you? Here's a *Hot* new site to check out if you're planning a spontaneous getaway.  SniqueAway :: http://www.sniqueaway.com/ 

A sister site of TripAdvisor, if you sign up for a free membership, you'll be sent updates for stunning escapes at a fraction of the price -- up to 50% off!  If you act quickly (you have to since the deals only last up to a week unless they sell out quicker!), you can find some pretty wicked deals at some pretty awesome places. 

Destinations like the British Virgin Islands, NYC, Playa Mujeres, Arizona, Chicago and England to name a few, top the list this week.

These resorts are breathtaking! 
Check it out!

While you're exploring, follow me on Twitter too!

Travel 2.0

Prior to my recent jet-sets from Cleveland to Hawaii (9 hours) and Beijing (13 hours) I had only travelled relatively short domestic distances by plane. For a flight lasting longer than the average person's workday, I couldn't imagine the lengths passengers would go to avoid muscle pains, trapped-in-an-aircraft-for-a-day-with-a-bunch-of-strangers-aphobia and, perhaps worst of all, boredom. 

Thanks to a new generation of journey-friendly products and services I refer to as Travel 2.0, and a few calisthenics exercises, a long flight in coach can turn out to be a surprisingly positive experience.

In-flight Entertainment

My under the seat carry-on bag contained the usual self-entertainment items -- a book, magazine, iPod, headphones, cards, snacks, etc. -- but I barely read a page.   Thanks to the mini TV screen mounted directly in front of my face, I was thoroughly entertained by movies (I Love You, Man; Marley and Me; Eclipse; Wizard of Oz; 40-Year-Old Virgin; Cars; The Proposal), TV shows (The Office; Curb Your Enthusiasm; Project Runway; History Channel selections), music (a dozen channels of different genres) and games on demand.  Time flew by (no pun intended) just as quickly as if I were sprawled on out my own comfy couch watching TV on a Sunday afternoon ... except, I was sitting upright, surrounded by 100s of strangers in a dimly lit cabin of a Boeing 747.  Just like home!

Bonus: Regular headphones with a standard connector work just fine in the arm rest plug -- no need to purchase the flight-specific set like the old days. 

If you book a flight with touch screen options, you can easily select music, videos and flight info channels; and the trivia games allow you to play against fellow travelers on board.  You're goin down, lady in 28B! 

When you're ready for a snooze, set your screen to the map of your flight route.  It was surreal to wake up and realize that we were directly over the North Pole on our way to the opposite end of the world.  High-fives to Santa and all the penguins!

iPads

I was amazed to see how many iPads were popping out of the overhead bins.  Mostly surprised by the fact they didn't belong to adults -- kids ages 4-12 were the ones with the $499 toy!  Parents smartly loaded them up with kids' games, coloring apps, videos and Dora eposides before making the trip.  I found myself wishing I had one of my own, and also relieved that the kids were being so calm and quiet while we were in the air. 

Muscle Stretches & Seating Tips
On both of my flights there were people who stood up most of the trip.  Parents walked up and down the aisles with their babies, older couples stood together and chatted in small groups and many passengers did ankle lifts and lunges to keep the blood flowing.  When I wasn't sleeping, I made it a point to get up at least once an hour (try to get an end seat if you can, for easy exiting), to stretch my neck, legs and back. 

For extra back support in your seat try using the blanket or pillow provided by the airline for a lumbar roll.  Wear comfortable, breathable shoes, and layer up for better temperature control.  The air tends to get stale, so even if you're getting chilly, you might want to switch on your air vent for some circulation.  Bring your own blanket and neck pillow if you're able, and an eye mask and ear plugs are helpful for a more comfortable sleep.

Food Service vs. No Food Service

My flight to Beijing was 4 hours longer than my flight to Hawaii, but felt much shorter.  How could that be?  Food service makes all the difference.  Try to find a flight that serves a meal and/or snack every few hours.  Eating makes the time go by much faster by breaking up the trip into smaller chunks.  If no food is provided, make sure to bring substantial snacks for yourself and eat every 3-4 hours.  Drink plenty of water and avoid concentrated sugar drinks (like cranberry and tomato juice) toward the middle and end of the flight. 

Many International flights offer complimentary beer and wine, which can help you sleep and calm your nerves. 

What are your long flight travel tips? 

Plans on the Horizon

Do you have a vacation on the horizon?  I mean, other than visiting your family and friends for the holidays ...

I've found that just by planning to plan a vacation in the next year or so, gives me a sunnier outlook on life.  By giving yourself something to look forward to, you reduce your risk of ending up in a "rutt", or bored with the status quo.  Try saving a few dollars here and there and starting a fund for your next journey.  Getting away is a great way to remind yourself what's important in life.  Recharge.  Reset.  Explore!

On your lunch break or while you're doing the dishes tonite, decide what type of vacation you need next.  It might be exotic, relaxing, touristy, adventurous, entertaining, peaceful, etc ... you decide!  Maybe you crave just hitting the road with a light bag, your GPS and some snacks for a short jaunt to a nearby state.  It's completely up to you ... it's your vacation ... that's the beauty of it. 

Once you've narrowed down your type, decide what you'd like to accomplish while you're there.  Is this a place you've been before?  If so, you might just want to take it easy and go with the flow.  Things will be familiar ... maybe plan to hit up just one new place while you're there to keep it interesting.  You never know -- you just might find a new favorite restaurant or scenic view!

Perhaps your goal is to read that great novel you haven't had time for, or even to start writing your own!  Maybe you want to indulge yourself with great food and wine, or be entertained by live music, shows or nightlife.  Or maybe your goal is to accomplish nothing. Just relax.  That's a beautiful thing too!

If you're stepping outside your comfort zone and going somewhere exotic (maybe a different country or a place with a culture or language different than you're used to), plan to leave in a few months (at least) to give yourself plenty of time to do your research.  If you're a person who likes a structured vacation, look into guided tours, local entertainment, amusement parks, museums, shows and restaurants before you jet set to a new land.  There's nothing more difficult than arriving in a foreign country with no clear plans, or at least a familiarity with the layout on a map.  If you're a member of AAA, they have great maps and knowledgable travel agents who've been to most of the common vacation spots around the world.

Need a break?  Maybe you've decided that since your last couple trips have been packed with touristy plans and busy schedules, that you're ready for an all-inclusive paradise resort vacay -- a true "I'm gonna do what I want to, when I want to" escape from reality, where you can just unwind and recharge your battery.  If you're feeling even lower-maintenance, how about just driving to a beach, renting a condo, preparing your own meals, reading books and laying on the beach with a cold drink in your hand?  Sounds lovely to me :)

After our trip to Beijing -- filled with anxiety, fear of the unknown and overstimulation -- my husband and I are in need of a little pampering and relaxation.  Next stop :: all-inclusive paradise!  Not quite sure where yet ... but the research has officially begun for our big trip of 2011! 

Happy travels!

Aloha! ... Hawaii part 1

Aloha friends!  We've been back in the continental U.S. for less than a week, and I'm seriously reconsidering our decision to buy round trip tickets.  Beach withdrawl has officially set in, and my Hawaiian suntan is peeling and fading away little by little ...

It was the vacation of a lifetime ... truly a week I will remember fondly for the rest of my days.  Brimming with natural beauty, exciting adventures, awe-inspiring views and life-changing experiences, Maui is a magical place.



It's really something when you can return from a vacation full of adventure and activities and say you are "refreshed".  It's not that my body felt rested and relaxed after a week on the islands ... no, no, no, that's not what I mean.  I'm talkin' "refreshed" in the sense that my will to live, explore and appreciate the world has been completely rejuvenated.  It's as though Hawaii gradually unplugged my old life over the course of a week and jump-started a new one ... another beginning ... a reawakened version of my former self.

I'm not sure if it's the fruit, the sea, the flowers or a combination of all three that make the air literally smell sweet on Maui.  I know they have less pollution, but sweetness!?  Plumeria were blooming right outside our condo and birds of paradise greet you on the walk toward Kama'ole Beach III ... the gentle waves crash in the distance as you stroll past lawn loungers in the beach park, just laying, belly-up, engulfing themselves in the sea breeze and sunshine.  You wonder how long they've been lying there ... a couple minutes, an hour, four days ... and suddenly it doesn't matter.  They become a part of the landscape ... the truly unique landscape that encompasses the natural spirit of aloha. 

Trip Details:

Duration: 1 week in May 2010

Location: Kihei, Maui, HI

Airline: American Airlines & Hawaiian Airlines

Condo: Maui Kama'ole - Hawaiian Condo Rentals via Expedia

Car: Jeep Rubicon via Dollar Car Rentals

I could probably write an entire book about everything we did in our Hawaiian paradise, so this trip will most definitely be a poly-part extravaganza. Stay tuned for more posts about Sunrises & Sunsets, the Road to Hana, Maui Winery & Brewery, Beaches, Upcountry, Resort vs. Condo, How to plan/pack, etc.

Until then, aloha & mahalo!

Bikini Found .. x2!

I thought it was hopeless.  Would I never find a bikini I love as much as my little black bandeau?  Was I doomed to roam the beach forever in a morbid shade of noir?  OK ... a little dramatic, but still!  My time left before taking to the skies for Maui were dwindling, along with my motivation and optimistic shopping attitude, when I found myself in the sale racks at none-other than my bff, Target.

There they were -- bright, bold colors and funky bikini styles calling out my name.  "Try me! Try me!"  I couldn't resist.  Since they actually had all the right sizes, I felt the need to proceed to the dressing room. 

Aloha good fit!  I found myself actually enjoying the image staring back at me.  Green happens to pull just the right hue from my sunkissed skin to make me look even tanner.  I was in luck!  Struggling to choose between a plain aqua blue/green twist bandeau and a slightly dimmer shade of green with gold sparkle designed bandeau, I chose to splurge and get both, for a grand total off ... drumroll please ... $60! 

I'm not kidding.  After months of searching the racks ... Yesssss!  Two perfect new bikinis called out to me and I answered ... "Yes, you may accompany me to Hawaii, thank ya very much!"

Sin City, USA

The Lights. Casinos. Porn-slappers. Resorts. Drinks. Shows. Food. Crowds. Shopping.  Add those together and you've got the recipe for stimulation overload.  "Paiiiii GOW!"

As it turns out, four days seems to be the perfect amount of time in fabulous Las Vegas.

After a layover in NYC, we time traveled via Delta Airlines and arrived at The Flamingo Las Vegas around 1pm PT on Monday.  Starving and super excited to start our vacation, we headed straight for Margaritaville, which was conveniently connected to our hotel lobby.  Our fruity frozen Margaritas were precisely what the doctor ordered after 8 hours of flight time.  The island-style Jimmy Buffet themed decor and music were the perfect way to ease ourselves into vacation mode, and the service there was fantastic! 

It was just about dusk as we headed outdoors to the Strip.  We headed north -- hitting up Paris, Bellagio and Caesar's Palace first. 

Paris is a favorite.  Just walking through the doors under the gigantic replica of the Eiffel Tower is enough to set this all-things-French-loving-gal's heart all a flutter.  It's by far the most romantic setting under a starry-lit sky on Las Vegas Boulevard.  If you think it's impressive during the day, you have to see it at night.  Someday, I hope to see the real thing in person.  For now, the replica will have to be enough.

Stepping into the casino was no disappointment either.  The ceiling is decorated and lit to look like you're walking through Paris, France in the evening.  The chandeliers, fountains, statues and music take you back in time and overseas as you walk past the dinging penny slots and poker tables galore.  One thing we noticed -- the ratio of bilingual speakers goes up considerably when you step foot into a foreign-themed casino.

Venturing across the busy street, we headed for the Bellagio.  It's daunting from afar, but even more impressive up close.  The pathways around the famous Bellagio fountains are just high enough above street level to offer a beautiful backdrop view of the Strip.  You must pause for a pic or 2, or 8!

It's truly awe-inspiring how much detail and workmanship goes into creating a hotel such as this.  While we were there, the atrium was filled with a gorgeous botanical exhibit that makes you feel like a kid again.  Giant ants, bees, lady bugs and animals made of flowers hang from the ceilings and crawl up from the ground.  Truly great.

While we were there we just had to stay for the Bellagio fountain show.  This time the choreographed water dance was to Frank Sinatra's Fly Me to the Moon.  It never fails.  I always get teary-eyed.  The next night we stopped to watch again -- standing side-by-side with an Elvis impersonator -- this time the show was to Chicago's All That Jazz.  It's a larger than life experience that sucks you in.  I would stand there all night and watch the fountains pretending to be Brad Pitt in Ocean's Eleven, if there weren't millions of other things to see and do. 

The pool at the Flamingo was a nice getaway during the day.  Just make sure you get there early to claim a good spot!  It was a little windy while we were there in April, but the sun was still plenty hot.  The only complaint we had about the pool was the trees -- too much shade.  We were sunseekers who kept having to pick up and switch chairs multiple times as the palm shadows crept over us.  The pool was a fun atmosphere -- top 40ish music hits were loud enough to cover-up the screams of kids playing in the waterfalls.

Day 2, we decided to try someplace new for dinner.  After scouring the Vegas Restaurant guide, we chose Oyster Bay Seafood & Wine Bar (located in Planet Hollywood).  Prices range between $15-30 per entree, but as long as you stick to the specials, it's a pretty good deal.  The Jambalaya was my favorite of all the pastas -- perfectly spicy and a good portion.  And the smoked salmon was flakey and tender -- lots of flavor!  We called ahead, so there was no waiting, and the service was great.  Definitely recommended. 

After dinner we headed back to the Flamingo to meet our relatives who were also in Vegas for some gambling.  Tonight was the night I was determined to play Pai Gow!  The search for a mostly-open table was on.  Flamingo was full.  Paris was full. Finally, Bill's Gamblin' Hall & Saloon came to the rescue.  We sat at a 1/2 open $10 minimum table and placed our bets.  Immediately, we were served double drinks and the excitement began.  I was up, then down, then even, then down, then even, then down, down, down ... that's just the way Pai Gow usually goes.   I lost my $50, but the rest of us left just about even (with some free drinks and the memories, of course!) 

The next morning, we hit the breakfast buffet at The Flamingo.  Apparently if you go right at the end of breakfast, they start putting out the lunch food as well (crab legs, shrimp cocktail, roast beef!), so you can sit for a little while and have both meals for the price of the cheaper.  Niiice.  Plus, they serve cotton candy and chocolate fondue during all meals ... pie and cheesecake for breakfast?  No complaints here!

After a late night of pai gow, the pool was calling our names again.  It's tough to fall alseep with all the commotion, but we managed to get a few Zs anyway.

We gussied up and set out in the opposite direction on the Strip that evening - hitting up the Venetian, Plazzo, Wynn and Encore.  OK -- So this is the point when we realized a few things:  1) All of things resorts are amazing; 2) They all consist of the most incredible malls you've ever seen, filled with things we cannot afford to buy; 3) If I had to walk through 1 more gigantic mall in my new sandals my feet just might fall off.  

Venice was my favorite of these hotels.  I've never been to the real Venice, Italy, so I'm always overwhelmed by the gondola rides through the inside of the resort.  It's unbelievable!  The drivers (boaters?) serenade the riders as they wind through the twists and turns of the river.  The designer shops, Italian restaurants, music and street performers all play a role in setting the romantic mood of the hotel. 

After a few hours of sight-seeing, we headed back to our hotel to pack up our suitcases and spend the rest of the night gambling!  We took our seats at our favorite penny machines -- Goldfish and Mermaid -- where we sat and played, drank for free and laughed.  Ultimately losing the small amounts of money we were betting, we decided to call it quits. 

Sometimes I swear I can still hear the ringing bells of the penny slots or the ridiculously exciting "bonus" music they play when you get lucky.  They're so entertaining, you never want to stop!  But I digress...

It was time to head back to Ohio.  Thanks for a fun time, Vegas!   We had a blast, but next time I think we'll opt for the beach!

Pineapple in the Capitol

There were pineapples everywhere we went in DC and I'm not even mad about it!!!

Against all of my former grumblings and self-promises, I did it again.  I drove on the Pennsylvania turnpike.  This time it was dark, my contacts were fuzzy, one headlight was out (probably) and I was sleepy.  A whopping $15 worth of toll booth fees later, we made it to DC, and standing at the door at 1am to greet us was our lovely sister-in-law, Elisa.   

Friday morning, our hosts had to work (like normal people), but Adam and I were free to roam the District.  He decided to take a morning run to the White House (about a 1.5-mile jaunt up 16th street from Adams Morgan) and back, while I readied myself for a day of fun in the sun.  It was the perfect weather for site-seeing on foot -- about 50 degrees with sunny, clear skies. 

Armed with my leather bomber jacket and aviators, we headed out.  Our first stop was the Masonic House of the Temple described in Dan Brown's novel, The Lost Symbol.  It was on our way, so it wasn't much of a stop actually -- more of a point to it, snap a photo and keep on movin' kinda stop.

There's just something about being able to walk to the White House that just makes the United States government feel real to me.  Do you know what I mean??  I mean, you see things on TV, you read the paper, you try to stay updated with political happenings, but it's tough to do remotely.  Actually being there in the hub where it all takes place -- seeing the security officers, feeling awestruck in sight of American architecture and knowing that you are physically surrounded by International embassies, U.S. treasures in museums and the people who write and sign bills into law -- is one of the more overwhelming and humbling notions I've experienced.

It's just a house right?  Well ... not quite.  This thing is gigantic (photos just don't do it justice).  There's security everywhere and you can't get too close.  This is me reaching my hand through the bars:

There we were standing in front of Obama's house.  "OK, now what?" I asked.  Time for lunch!  We made our way down Pennsylvania Ave. and took a left at 19th.  We saw Stella Artois umbrellas in the distance and decided that's exactly where we wanted to be at 2pm on at Friday.  Elephant & Castle was calling out to us!  At this point in the day, we were starving and my Chuck Taylors weren't quite as comfortable as I thought they were.  My pub onion soup and ceasar salad were good and Adam's fish sandwich was great.  The sweet potato fries were the best thing we tried here by far -- besides the beers of course ;) 

The Smithsonian National Museum of American History was next on the list (It's free to get in!  Who knew?!).  We met E there after work, and got to see Julia Child's kitchen, the ruby slippers, Kermit, Fonzie's jacket, C3PO, part of the First Lady's exhibit (which was under construction), and lots of other fun stuff.

That night we headed to some bars ... finally ending up at Cashion's Eat Place for some "after dark" menu items - bison burger, ribeye sandwich and some hand cut fries.  The atmosphere was fun, the bartender, Krishna, was a self-proclaimed genius (knowing everything there was to know about pinneapples ... yet completely incorrect) and very entertaining, but the food was just mediocre for me.  I'd give it a 8 out of 10 for creativity.  

After a few more nightcaps, we cuddled up on our air mattress for a cozy night's sleep.  We woke up and ate what?  You guessed it, pineapples(!) and eggs.  Mike is apparently "good with a pineapple".  I'm still not quite sure I know what that means, but we sure did say it a lot.  ha.

We headed to the Capitol building -- Mike works there for a Senator and it turns out that he used to give tours when he first moved to DC.  Sooo we got a private tour of some of the "non-public" parts of the Capitol.  Pretty amazing.  The Capitol Rotunda was my favorite point of interest, mostly because it's just so damn awesome.  Just thinking about the artist, Brumidi, who hand-painted every detail and devoted the last years of his career on such an historical piece (my fave is the Apotheosis of George Washington) was freakin awesome.  Here are some pics that, once again, don't do it justice.  You have to see it for yourself!:

Hallway in the Senate Chambers -- also painted by Brumidi:

We walked through the Old Supreme Court Chamber, which was also really cool to see:

Other than the Captiol Dome itself, my second favorite part of the tour was walking down the inaugural steps.  Yep ... the actual steps the President walks down to give the inaugural speech, overlooking a crowd of thousands who are gathered in the mall:

This is a shot I took looking back up at the Capitol.  It's unbelievable when you're standing in front of it.  The detail, the precise meaning of every carving, column and opening.  This is priceless American history people! So cool.

Our next stop was Capitol City Brewing Co. where we had some lovely appetizers (soft pretzels with Jalapeno dip were great!), and some local brews.  We decided to hurry straight to the newly refurbished W Hotel for some drinks on the rooftop at POV.  It was twilight at this point, so the skyline views were breathtakingly picturesque (sorry no pics! ... camera doesn't take great photos at night through glass). 

All in all, it was a fabulous weekend in DC.  Kiiiiinda makes me want to move there, right Waskes!? 

Rivera Maya, Mexico

The day after our wedding we relaxed, packed and contemplated anxiously the adventures in store for us in the Mayan Riviera. Not leaving the morning after our wedding day was one of the best decisions we've ever made. It gave us a chance to re-group and prepare for the 6AM flight out of Cleveland.

Once we landed in Cancun, I could already sense a new vibe. A foreign vibe. The first stamp on my passport was stamped and I was off to explore! But first, we'd have to make our way through the swarms of cab drivers and excursion sellers. We found our pre-arranged van ride and headed to our hotel - El Dorado Royale.

After driving our way through the lush winding road toward our hotel, I could feel my palms getting sweaty with nerves. Would the hotel prove to deserve all the hype?

My husband's cousin had recommended the resort to us after having a fabulous time there only a few months before. Their advice: Don't drink the water on excursions. They learned the hard way. Nevertheless, the resort itself was perfect, per their recommendations of course.

There it was, I could see it in the distance. Finally. We're here!

Just as the name presumed, the El Dorado Royale was grand.

We were greeted at the lobby with 2 glasses of champagne -- just what the doctor ordered after a long flight. We checked in and headed outside. We had no idea what pampering meant until just then. indeed. Lush landscapes, flowers, beautiful buildings.

With only a step out the door, I was instantly overtaken by sunshine, excitement and heat. My jeans were no longer a smart choice. We were in Mexico!

From the back door of the lobby balcony the landscape expanded in all directions until there were palm trees, winding paved walkways, fountains, bridges, villas and the ocean

for as far as the eye could see. It was breathtaking. I took a sip of my champagne, breathed in the humid air and welcomed the heat.

We were shuttled to our room via golf cart, learning the grounds along the way thanks to our driver/resort guide. He was inviting, cheerful and above all, accommodating. We arrived at our suite, which happened to be a swim-up jacuzzi room on the first level. It was perfect.

We woke up every morning at our leisure. We'd lay by our private swim-up pool and be served drinks from our mobile bartender, until we'd decide to hit the "fun" pool. In the afternoon, games are arranged by the entertainment staff, the "K" team. We quickly made friends with other couples and the staff, playing water & beach volleyball, water polo, aqua aerobics, name that tune,

and of course, just sitting up at the swim-up bar. The vibe was a good one. Everyone just wanted to have a good time.

People were from all over -- Chicago, California, Ireland, Scotland, Texas -- which made for some interesting conversation and a hella good time late night at the guacamaya bar!

The live shows were great, the music was fun, the drinks were strong and the food was absolutely top notch! Every single restaurant the resort offered was a gourmet experience ... always with at least 4 courses. Always dessert. We couldn't have been more pleased!

With all there was to do and see, some of my favorite memories at El Dorado were simply taking a nap in a cabana by the pool or on the ocean. The gentle warm breeze accompanied by an occasional rain sprinkle were the perfect ingredients I needed to sleep off a few drinks from the pool bar. Perfect.

If you're ever searching for the perfect couple's getaway, El Dorado Royale is it. Period. Couples only, fabulous food, amazing service, all-inclusive, gorgeous beachfront, live shows, planned activities by the hour, a wonderful spa, relaxing atmosphere and a youthful vibe were the perfect combo for us. We can't wait to go back!