Travels – Page 11

March 29 – Road trip!

We’re on our way to the Caribbean for a sailing vacay! Our flight itinerary takes us there via Puerto Rico. We’ve decided to stay 2 nights in San Juan, since we never visited there before. We won’t have (and don’t want!) internet connectivity while we’re away, so I’m drafting these blog entries as I go along, and am posting them in order, after I get back.

Saturday, March 29.

We are leaving on a beautiful day in Austin. Here’s a great shot from the plane showing Lady Bird Lake, Zilker Park, the booming downtown skyline, the 40 acres, Longhorn stadium, UT tower, Erwin Center, the Capitol, Disch-Falk field, … What else can you spot?

After arriving in San Juan and checking into the hotel, we took a walk around the neighborhood. We stopped into a pub nearby and I found one of my favorite brewskis from my ~~misspent~~ awesome youth!

Our crew, Susanne and Laura, arrive in San Juan tomorrow!

Road trip.

We’re goin’ to see the Mardi Gras!

Got my swamp-fix.

Yummmm, mudbugs for dinner!

I love a parade!

Our bead-haul from tonight’s parade.

Bazillion-th in line for takeoff.

I’m headed back home. There was a very long line of planes ahead of us waiting to takeoff. I counted over twenty.

Earlier this morning, as I was driving down the Taconic State Parkway, I saw an exit sign for the Donald J Trump State Park. It was one exit before the Franklin D Roosevelt State Park. Now, I get why FDR has one, but does it strike anyone else as odd that Trump has a state park named after him?

Coincidentally, The Donald and I were both at LGA at the same time today. Go figure.

Room with a view.

I made my way to the bottom of Manhattan for a meeting in the financial district today. The conference room we were in all day had this great view of the Hudson River. The ferry on the right is headed over to Ellis Island. And to the left is Liberty Island, graced by the Statue of Liberty. My dad and my mom’s dad both entered this country through Ellis island, which was the home for NYC immigration processing between 1892 & 1954 (according to Wikipedia). A very special landmark.

Determined 12th (wo)man.

I ended up traveling to New York today. Unfortunately, the only flight I could make work had me in the air during Monday night football – Seahawks vs Rams.

I worked the technology angle to listen to the game while I was eroute: iPhone + NFL App + NFL Audiopass + airplane mode + inflight wifi + earphones = 🙂

The streaming would drop from time to time, but I followed most of the game.

I ♥ LGA.

I’m in NY for a few days for work. I’m headed upstate but I prefer to fly into LGA and drive, as opposed to flying into one of the smaller airports up north.
I was on the wrong side of the plane to get a great cityscape shot from the air. So this one from the runway will have to serve.

I’ve always liked this ironwork/fence outside of baggage claim – get it? the big apple…

American Airlines has been a fixture at LaGuardia forever. The first airline VIP lounge debuted here in 1939 now known as the Admirals Club. What a great idea, AA! I don’t travel as much for work as I used to a few years back. It used to be that the bartender in the lounge would greet me with my “usual” when I walked in. 🙂 I’ll have to try it again on this trip home.
One more pic. This one from the gate area as we were pulling in. One of the original vintage but still in use American Airlines hangars, with one of the new logo jet paint jobs parked beside it.

Olympic sunset.

So pretty. The sun setting behind the Olympic mountains.

Taking our time going home.

I’ve already said how much I’ve enjoyed this reunion trip to Nashville. It’s been a really great visit. Today our flight leaves in the afternoon, so we have several hours to check out more of Nashville and its surrounds.

This morning we got up and checked out of the hotel and drove to Franklin. A lovely small town with Victorian homes, antique malls and really great shops. The backroad to Franklin is lined with amazing homes and homesteads.

This was one shot of a number of churches in the village – the First United Methodist. I liked the doors.

We passed the morning walking through town, shopping in several of the antique stores, and had lunch at a nice Irish pub in town. After that, we dashed over to The Hermitage – home of Andrew Jackson. But didn’t have much time to do more than a quick drive by. Sorry, no pics.

Back at Nashville International Airport, I was glad to find an Admiral’s Club on the same concourse as our Southwest flight.

This is a shot of the UT campus as we were landing, flying south towards the airport. If you can find the Erwin Center in the picture (left side, middle of frame), you’ll get your bearings. I believe the area in the foreground is the grounds of the old Mueller Airport, now a bunch of mixed use housing and retail.

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Yay, it’s good to be home! I’m headed to baggage claim carousel #4. I’m so very glad this is a 4 day week!!! 1306242

Music City, revisited.

After brunch today we said our goodbyes to everyone and dropped Gene at the airport on the way back into the city. We ended up staying an extra day, so we’ve decided to spend some of it getting more acquainted with Nashville.

We stopped by the original home of the Grand Ole’ Opry, the Ryman Auditorium.

We took the tour and got to see the stage up close:

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And a view from backstage: 1306232

It’s a beautiful venue. Amazing to think about all the stars that spent so much time here… 1306233

One more shot from the balcony: 1306234

Then we wandered off to the nearby bars on Broadway. We ended up at Jack’s BBQ for some brisket and pork shoulder – and it was delicious. 1306235

Nashville is the “Athens of the South,” and in 1897 they built an exact replica of the Parthenon for the Tennessee Centennial Exposition. So, of course, we had to see it. Unfortunately, by the time we made it to Centennial Park, the landmark was closed for tours, so we did not get a chance to see the statue of Athena. But we did get a great view of all 4 sides.

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We made it to the Bluebird Cafe, but didn’t get a photo (!)

We ended up a great day at the Pla Mor Lanes. Monte kicked my butt 2-1 … even with the badminton injury 🙂

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Looking forward to a leisurely morning tomorrow and (especially) spending the weekend on the boat. More exploring tomorrow, before heading to the airport for our flight home.

Good ‘night!

San Diego – Day 3.

We had a blast last night. Today we set out for Balboa Park in the morning, and Coronado in the afternoon.

One of my favorite places in Balboa Park is the botanical gardens:

And its lily pond:

We strolled over to the rose garden:

A great morning spent amongst the beautiful San Diego architecture:

And over to Coronado for lunch at the Sheerwater @ the Hotel del Coronado:

Then we went to a nearby art street fair, and grabbed a late dinner at the bar in the hotel.

A LOVELY day, indeed!

La Jolla!

Today we set out for La Jolla beach, rented bikes, enjoyed a picnic on the shore.

Pelicans flying overhead at La Jolla Shores:

An artist’s vantage point at La Jolla Cove:

Pelicans and seals nesting on the rocks:

Back in San Diego watching the America’s Cup boat Stars & Stripes tacking across the bay:

Safe and sound back at the Palomar lobby in time for happy hour:

Dinner tonight at Cafe Chole. Didn’t get a picture of the restaurant, but the food and the service was excellent.

Back at the penthouse, there was table dancing into the wee hours. No photos here, but what a fun time!

Girls’ trip!

Sort of spur-of-the-moment, but with just-enough planning, I left today on a girls’ weekend to San Diego with Lori, Doray, Laura, Ann and Irene. Here are some sights from today.

We flew Southwest – my first time on that airline. Ended up with a window seat. We had reservations at the Palomar Hotel in the Gaslight district. AAAWESOME!!!! No complaints on the lodging.

Dinner at Croce’s restaurant Thursday night. Good jazz, kind of loud, and very busy. BTW, they are not closing, they are moving, so check them out in their new location.

Cascades in clouds.

Thanks to Noreen for schlepping me to the airport in the wee hours of the morning. I’m not home yet, posting from ORD.
I got a window seat on the right side of the plane, on purpose, expressly for this (my favorite) view. Looking south, Mount Rainier is in the foreground. Mount Adams is to the left farther south. In between, even farther south and very hard to see, is Mount Hood. Mount St. Helens would be visible to the right of Rainier, except for the cloud deck sitting above it.

Colleen is up on Rainier this weekend. Don’t see her though. 🙂

Stormy weather…

Headed to Seattle tonight. Boarded the plane. Fell asleep. When I woke up they were asking everyone to deplane due to storms in the area. I did not know that most of the bars AND the admirals club close at 7:30. What were they thinking?! Still hoping our flight leaves after the storm passes. Here’s some of my moments…

Thank you Ray Benson’s Roadhouse Bar!!!

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