My husband and I recently had the pleasure of spending a few days in Europe’s 8th largest city Athens, Greece. Our journey began after a grueling 24 hour day of flying and layovers in three different airports. However, the beauty and rich history of the city made it totally worth the travel time. I was also glad we arrived in the evening and were so tired we were able to go right to sleep after a quick meal at the hotel.
We got an early start and since it was a Sunday we encountered little traffic on the road. Our first stop was the site of the first Olympics. Athens hosted the first Modern Olympic Games in 1896.
Then, we headed over to the Acropolis to get there before the crowds. I recommend getting there as early as possible because the crowds can get really dense very fast. Also, be careful because the walkways and steps are incredibly slippery. My husband and I had to escort a fellow traveler to her group because she had slipped, hit her head, and had difficulty getting to her feet. Please take your time and go slowly over the ruins. Otherwise, your vacation might end up in ruin.
It is amazing to stand before the awe-inspiring Parthenon, the temple dedicated to the goddess Athena, the Temple of Hephaestus, and the Theater of Dionysus and think they date back to the 6th century b.c.
Down the road is the entrance to Philopappos Hill. A short walk into the park on the right-hand side is a beautiful Orthodox church and a little further down on the left is the site of Socrates’ Jail. I highly recommend making the short trek up to the top of the hill because it gives a fantastic view of the Acropolis.
Church of Aeros Demetrius LoubaudiarisSocrates’ JailView from the hill
We made our way down to Makrygianni and indulged in the best pies I had the entire time we were in Greece. Their Spinach Pie was incredible! I highly recommend it! The couple that owns the restaurant were very kind and explained all of the ingredients and how everything is prepared. They really take pride in their food and it shows!
You MUST try their Spinach pie!
Next we headed over to the Acropolis Museum to learn about the statues and the history of the area. The most exciting part of the museum is the active archeological dig occurring under the museum. It was incredible to witness the layers of human activity under and above the museum.
Then, we walked to the Mitropolees Square for a coffee, continued to the Roman Forum of Athens for dinner, and finished out day one enjoying the Saronic Gulf at Bolivar Beach Bar
We finished our first day in Athens and it was incredible! Day two is sure to be just as action packed!
I was super excited to go to Belgium! In my humble opinion, there is nothing more important to happiness than beer, chocolate, waffles, and fries. Belgium is home to all of this and more! I had read a few articles about the beauty of Brussels so we started our Belgium experience there. We took the Eurostar direct to Brussels from St. Pancras in London. We paid for the upgrade to first class so it was a quick and comfortable train trip. We had the entire car to ourselves and enjoyed the view from our fully-reclined wide seats.
Before we left London, my brother-in-law mentioned we should try to get over to Bruges so we made hotel reservations at the Crowne Plaza Brugge and decided to handle the train situation when we arrived in Brussels Central Station. I’m so glad we did because we saved so much money!
We arrived at Brussels Central station and our first objective was to get our tickets to Amsterdam because that was the next leg of our trip and there was a train strike scheduled for some of the days of our trip. We went to the international ticked room and the agents were so kind. They walked us through all of the options available for us. We were originally planning on taking the Eurostar, but found out the local train is only an hour longer, but over half the cost of the Eurostar ticket even with the upgrade to the first class ticket, so we decided to buy the local train ticket to Amsterdam.
Then, we walked further down the head house and found the domestic local train ticket room. Again, we were greeted by the kindest ticket agents. Every agent we encountered acted as if we were the only people in line and took the time to answer every question, outlined all our options, and offered recommendations of places to visit. We were advised that the train to Bruges was only an hour long so paying for the first class upgrade wasn’t worth it. In hindsight, I’m not sure I’d agree. We said we were going to be leaving around noon and the agent said that train isn’t typically busy because most tourists head out at an earlier time. Our train to Bruges was packed! We spent the first leg of the trip standing shoulder to shoulder with other travelers at the end of a car next to the bathroom. Our return trip at 10 a.m. was very different, but the trip there was packed so be advised that you may have to stand for a portion of the trip.
Once in Bruges it was a quick taxi to the hotel. The Crowne Plaza Brugge is in a fantastic location and you can’t beat the price. You are throwing distance to everything you want to see in Bruges.
Bruges is the picture-perfect setting for romance! A well-preserved medieval town with gorgeous Gothic constructions, stunning canals, and delightful charm. There are plenty of inviting streets to wander around in and absorb the whimsy of the city.
There are also plenty of shops, restaurants, and bars to enjoy. I highly recommend trying a lace waffle or two! They are almost too beautiful to eat!
Make sure to add Bruges to your travel plans to Belgium. You will not regret it!
What a day! We had plans, but they fell through so we were left to improvise and it proved to be a NYE for the books!
We were told that The Brass Rail in Selfridges is a great place for pastrami sandwiches, matzo ball soup, and latkes. I grew up on Canter’s in L.A. and am a big fan of Sarge’s and Katz’s in NYC (each for very different reasons) so the prospect of trying one of my favorite meals in London was thrilling. We were staying in Westminster, so Selfridges was about two miles from our hotel. We decided to walk and spend some time in Hyde park.
I’m glad we decided to walk because the park is massive and there is so much to take in. It was a beautiful drizzly day and walking through the park in the mist was very romantic.
We arrived at Selfridges and what an experience! The frangirán es that greet you when you walk through the door are some of the finest perfumes in the world. It is quite an intoxicating experience! We found the que and waited for about ten minutes for a table. It didn’t take long for our food to arrive and to enjoy our meal. The matzo ball soup here is a chicken noodle soup with a matzo ball in it. It was delicious.
We finished our meal and explored the department store. By the time we left Selfridges the streets were packed! We had reservations at the Wahaca restaurant in Shoreditch for later, so we decided to take the tube over and find a pub to have a drink while we waited. I had a cocktail with a rhubarb and raspberry gin and it was the most delicious drink I had the entire time we were in London. If you come across this type of gin, give it a whirl, you won’t be disappointed.
We grabbed a couple of street tacos a Wahaca. I was expecting more of a Oaxacan influence in the food given the name, but I was very wrong. I love a good mole sauce and was excited to see what London’s take on it, but there was no mole sauce in this restaurant. I know that growing up in Southern California I am spoiled by the thousands of delicious Mexican restaurants which represent all the different flavors of the different states in México, so I try my best to refrain from criticizing. I did wind up having the halloumi al pastor tacos and they were the perfect combination of sweet, spicy, salty, and savory.
Then, we had the brilliant idea of walking the five miles back to our hotel. We figured we would stop at pubs along the route and have a lovely time ringing in the new year. We were sadly mistaken because our route was entirely obstructed by the fireworks show and almost all the pubs were closed for private parties. We came across an oasis in the middle of our walk. Joe Allen’s in the theatre district proved to be the most incredible place to spend NYE. The staff was incredible kind, the drinks were incredibly strong, and the piano player was incredibly talented. We spent the evening drinking in the merriment of the people around us. If you are ever in the theatre district give this place a try. I can’t speak to the food, but I can to the rest and it was wonderful
Eventually, we had to continue our walk to our hotel. We walked through Trafalgar Square and it was packed with people waiting to see the fireworks. We continued on to Buckingham Palace where we were finally able to cross and made it just in time to see the fireworks. They were gorgeous and the perfect way to bring in the new year. Happy 2023 to you London! Thank you for showing us a great time and to all a Happy New Year! See you in Belgium next!
I spent day two traversing the most fashionable markets I have ever visited! I started out taking the tube from the Victoria Station in Westminster to Piccadilly Circus and walking over to Liberty. I am a Southern California native. I have grown up going to the fashion mart and seeing high fashion, but I have never been to anything like Liberty before in my life! It is home to some incredibly beautiful pieces in a beautiful building. The entire place oozes haute couture! The building was built in the 1920’s in classic Tudor-inspired architecture and has been bringing stunning fashion ever since. The building and the fashion are a delight for all!
Then, I walked through SoHo over to Dover street Market. Talk about a place where fashion and art collide! This market is a delight for the senses! It encourages every part of you to engage with what you consider to be fashionable. The layout is inviting and forces you to consider the pieces of clothing as art. I highly recommend spending time in this space to consider the relationship between fashion and art. Not to mention the people shopping and working there all look and dress like models, so it’s delightful people watching as well!
Next, I hopped in the tube and traveled over to Brick Lane for some vintage shopping. I LOVE this area. I am always so inspired by the artists and designers that work in this area. I love the idea of re-purposing and reusing clothing to make beautiful pieces of fashion and the vendors in Brick Lane seem to agree. I have seen so many incredible pieces while visiting Brick Lane that I feel an entire site could be devoted to just the Vintage Market and never run out of material to report on. I have included a couple of my favorite looks I came across while in the Vintage Market.
I feel like anyone who knows anything is going to know that London is a fashion hub, but I had no clue! I learned so much about London fashion today and I look forward to learning more about this incredible place tomorrow.
A last second hiccup in accommodations lead to a stay in a Comfort Inn in a nice area of Westminster. I decided to visit the Tate Modern Museum and Covent Market on my first day because I read online that the building (the former Bankside Power Station) is an unlikely location to find a top-notch art museum.
Tate Modern is incredible! There are so many beautiful pieces created from modern artists from all over the world. The museum is free. There is an opportunity to donate and the recommended donation amount is 5. A steal for what is inside.
After the Tate, I walked over to the Southbank Center for a drink. It was a lovely walk and got some great views of city center and an engagement!
Then, I crossed the bridge over to Covent Market to the Dolce & Gabbana annual pop-up.
After going to Capitol Reef National Park, I decided to stop in Glenwood Springs for a couple of days. I stayed at the Glenwood Hot Springs Lodge both nights because included with your stay are passes to the hot springs. The lodge is also perfectly located to enjoy the Yampah Spa and Vapor Caves. If you have never been in a vapor cave I HIGHLY recommend it. It is unlike anything I have ever experienced before. Just remember, you can’t stay in the caves for too long and you need to stay hydrated! The accommodations at the lodge are lovely and the staff is very helpful. The pools are extremely relaxing and the slides are fun for the whole family. Stays include a delicious breakfast that is available in the cafe of the hot springs pool area across the street.
There is a bridge that takes you over the river and into the downtown where you can find all sorts of delicious things to eat and drink. The downtown strip is home to breweries, delicious restaurants, and artisanal desserts.
In addition to the hot springs, vapor caves, and adorable downtown you can take a short hike up to Doc Holiday and Kid Curry’s gravesites located in the Linwood Cemetery. The views from the Potter’s Field are gorgeous. It is a bit of a steep hike, but there is a bench placed in the best spot for resting and viewing pleasure. Don’t forget to add a memento to the tree!
Don’t forget to enjoy the views of the hot spring pool on your way back at night.
I wish I would have asked people about this park before planning our trip because the online world does not do this park justice! I read a couple recommendations online that this park was great for driving though and there wasn’t too much to do or see. I took that advice because after reading about and visiting Zion National Park the online world was correct. Try to avoid the crowds by getting there early and the Narrows smell like pee for a reason. Anyhow, I took the advice as a drive through on the way to Boulder, Colorado from the Los Angeles area.
Unbeknownst to me, my GPS rerouted me because of flash flood warnings. I’m sure there’s a setting/operator issue that I need to look into after this trip, but I digress. Therefore, I spent a bit more time getting to my hotel and saw the beauty of that part of Utah. I stayed at the Broken Spur Inn and Steakhouse and is that ever a misnomer. There is nothing broken at all about this place. Great steaks, great wine, and a great bed after a long drive. I was especially lucky the night I arrived there because my dinner was highlighted by a tremendous lighting storm. I’m not sure if the lightning enhanced the wine or vice versa but it was a delight for the senses.
The next morning I woke up and drove the couple of miles to the park. There was a moment when I turned a bend and my mouth dropped open. The beauty of the area is so overwhelming I had to pull over to take it all in.
The pictures do not do the road into the park justice. I was floored by how gorgeous the colors are. They are colors you only see in nature and you can’t capture how spectacular they are with a camera. Then, I got to the park and the landscape became even more incredible.
There are so many hikes, trails, and places to visit in the park! I though it was just a drive through and look at the wrinkle in the earth park, but I was so wrong. I’ve since been informed there is even a working apple orchard in the park! I wish I would have known before going! After seeing views like these…
I want to go back and do the park the justice it deserves! My take away from this experience is that the internet world can be right about the Narrows smelling like pee, but it can underestimate the beauty of nature. Either way, you have to get out and experience it for yourself so you can be the judge.
If that isn’t the tag line for this campsite: it should be. The turn for the campsite is tucked off the 101 freeway. Hidden, in plain sight on the northbound side of the 101, by a perilous left turn across two lanes of high-speed oncoming traffic. However, once you make your way across the freeway and down the road about a half mile, you will find the entrance to the campsite.
Entrance to the campsite
It’s a relatively small campsite with only 39 sites. The sites are typical with a park bench and fire pit. Some spots appear to give you more of an opportunity to cozy-up with your neighbors than others. I had a lovely spot that backed up to a lush hill and was a quick stumble to the beach in the morning. The facilities by the entrance to campground were clean and well-maintained.
There is a lovely hike right next to the campsite. As you walk up the hill to the trail you get a lovely aerial view of the campsite. At the top, you can see the tracks for Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner and a stunning view of the Pacific Ocean.
Obviously, the main attraction is the beach. It has everything! Beautiful rock formations, a bird sanctuary pier, palm trees, lifeguards, and warm sandy coastline perfect for napping while listening to the waves crash.
It was a beautiful beach and well worth the beautiful drive up the coast.
I have been hearing about the wine tasting in el Valle de Guadalupe for a few years, but since it’s so close to Los Angeles it has always been easy to put it off for another day. Recently, I found myself without any plans over Memorial Day weekend and decided to take the Carnival Cruise down to Ensenada and book an excursion to the wineries. It was incredible!
Long Beach
The cruise left from the Long Beach harbor and you could start boarding at 11 in the morning. I had to work, so I couldn’t board that early, but I was able to make it by 2 and I’m glad I decided on the later time because since I had purchased the “Bottomless Bubbles” package it starts after you check-in with your muster station. I know that some people scoff at the 15 alcohol drink maximum with this package, but I just can’t imagine reaching it. I’m sure there are people that do, but I am not one those people no matter how hard I try. No judgment, if you have achieved the 15 drink maximum by the way! You’ll see why I say this later!
Day at Sea
The second day was spent “at sea”. On this cruise it meant being parked in the ocean and enjoying the day. I spent the day in the adult-only section of the boat called “Serenity”. It is a lovely section of the boat with comfortable lounge chairs, bright yellow towels, and a conveniently located bar! I spent the day drinking Bloody Mary’s, Mojitos, and Sangria. This was my view for the entire day while I soaked up the sun and relaxed.
People always talk about the food on cruises and I must admit that it’s lost on me. I enjoy food, but I think I enjoy the taste of the drink a bit more which leads to me not paying too much attention to the food. I did have a delicious Indian dinner one evening and the fried oysters appetizers were lovely. My favorite desert is the Carnival Lava Cake with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!
The second largest flag in Mexico A picture of people taking pictures with the Ensenada sign!
The wine tasting meets at the dock at 845 in the morning. It sure felt early after spending the day before enjoying the sun, fun, food, and drink. It was a rough start, but I made it! Our guide Karla met us on the dock and got us lined up and on the bus quickly and efficiently. The bus ride into the valley was spent with Karla sharing engaging stories and fun facts about el Valle and Ensenada. I had no idea that Ensenada is home to five universities (offering 79 different programs) and the second largest flag in Mexico!
A beautiful day for wine tasting!
The excursion was for two wineries and a free bottle of wine. The first winery was LA Cetto.
Wine barrel
Upon arrival, you are greeted by your host that walks you around the facility and explains the wine making process. It’s always nice to have a refresher on the process so you remember why wines taste different before you start drinking (tasting)! The facility is gorgeous! Very well maintained grounds! The tasting room is spectacular! The staff are very welcoming! The wines are delicious! I bought quite a few while we were there!
The next winery was just down the road, but what a completely different experience! The second vineyard was La Casa Dona Lupe and it was lovely. You can purchase delicious food, bread, jams and spreads, aqua frescas, and a delicious jarra de Sangria. The covered area for enjoying your wine overlooking the vineyards is breathtakingly beautiful. We were lucky enough to see a very talented violinist while we were there and his musical contribution enhanced the natural beauty of the la casa.
When the wine tasting was done, I opted to be dropped off in the city center and things went awry very quickly. The next decision was obviously made under the influence of alcohol and I am going to blame it on it just like Jamie Foxx and T. Pain taught me to do! The next stop on our day out in Ensenada was to go tequila tasting. Makes sense, right? Well, not really. Especially when you consider that tequila isn’t made in the state of Baja, but that’s a discussion for another time.
I entered into the tequila tasting establishment and I took no notice of the name of the place, but was instantly greeted by warm and welcoming people that ushered me upstairs to the area for tasting. I was advised the tour had just begun and I was more than welcome to join. Gleefully, I joined the group of tourists that were being guided around to look at pictures of how tequila is made. I started looking at the pictures a bit closer and had the feeling of deja vu.
Sticker of authenticity
When we looked at the picture of the bottle I realized in an instant that I had gone to La Hacienda Dona Engracia in Puerto Vallarta during November and had drank their delicious tequila! Now, I was beside myself with glee and couldn’t wait to get my drink on! If you have not had the opportunity to visit the real location I strongly recommend adding it to your must-do list. The same delicious tequila is still available at their Ensenada location, but the pictures don’t do the actual location justice. Aesthetic of location aside, I must admit their flavored tequilas taste just as delicious no matter where you are!
After the tasting, it was time for food. I strolled down the street and enjoyed some fish tacos with all the fixings. Next, I went to a restaurant for some queso fundido and beers. Then, I staggered over to the boat to pass out with wine, tequila, beer, and delicious food-filled bellies. I spent the night dreaming about all the beauty Mexico has to offer. The next morning, I woke up in Long Beach, feeling refreshed and excited for the next adventure!
I have been to the central coast of California many times, but I have never camped. I have had the opportunity to stay in beautiful hotels and Airbnbs, but I have never camped! I wish I would have known sooner about the Heart San Simeon Campsite because I would have camped!
After stopping at California Fresh Market in Pismo Beach to peruse their delightful selection of beers and spirits; we continued the awe-inspiring drive along the 101 to Highway 1.
When we arrived at the site, I was impressed by the views in the Creek Campground Upper Section (sites 1-35). Most of the sites have peek-a-boo views of the ocean or a direct view of the ocean. According to the California Department of Parks and Recreation this is one of the oldest parks in the system, but it doesn’t show its age. The facilities are well taken care of and very clean. The camp host has firewood for sale and there is even a horseshoe pit in the lower camping section.
We had our usual set-up with the Tepui tent by Thule and a couple of Yeti coolers to keep the beers cool. We were lucky enough to have a site with a tree and a peek-a-boo view of the ocean. This allowed for the blissful sounds of the ocean as we fell asleep and magnificent views when we woke up in the morning.
The beauty of the site came once we walked down to the lower campground and discovered it leads out to a breathtakingly beautiful and serene beach.
We were able to sit and listen to waves in complete peace and quiet. It was a beautiful place to connect with nature and witness its majesty.
We were lucky enough to make a new and very wise friend when we returned to our campsite. This wise new friend was smart enough to make this area her home. I only wish I would have known sooner because I would have camped.
Felicity Arvizu takes on... 