We planned a trip to Mexico City and one of the top experiences you should do is a hot air balloon ride. This is actually on the outskirts of CDMX, in Teotihuacan. We booked our trip through Viator, but the actual company was AL Sol Globos. There was a clear disconnect between Viator and the company. We kept getting emails telling us we had been moved to a later time, which we did not want, since the whole point is to experience the sunrise, ten late the night before, we were back on for a 4:40am pick up. The email came in after 9pm. If we had not seen it, we would have missed out on the entire experience. Horrible communication.
We were picked up at our hotel, and got the last 2 seats in the van. During the almost hour long ride in a van with no shocks every pothole felt like a personal attack. My spine learned new swear words that morning. In Spanish.
We finally arrived, just in time to watch the workers start to set up and begin the procedure of inflating the balloons. This is worth getting there early. The process is fascinating and especially watching it in the dark.
I really wasn’t afraid or nervous and our pilot seemed in control and the flight was uneventful, as far as anything scary or unnerving. The flight lasted about 45 minutes and went by quickly. It was very calm and seeing all of the other balloons looked like the sky was celebrating.
The landing was a little rough and makes you appreciate all of the people it takes to make this experience special. It is not that easy to stop a basket filled with people, that has a giant balloon attached, and get it into a trailer attached to a truck.
We had paid for the entire package that included breakfast in a cave and walking around the pyramids. We did the breakfast in the cave, which was not what I expected it to be. We decided to get an Uber and skip the pyramids, since we had flown over them and have seen ruins in Chichen Itza and Tulum. I would recommend only doing the hot air balloon ride, but that is up to you. It will definitely be the highlight of your trip.
Going to Gros Morne in August, you expect somewhat of a break in the scorching hot summer weather of the Southern United States. That did not happen. We arrived just in time for an unseasonal heatwave and no air conditioning. That did not deter us. We still had a great time exploring what NASA calls, “a geologists’ dream” …”one of the few places where you can set foot on the Earth’s mantle without digging an inch.”
We stayed in Norris Point at the Tides Inn, in the Executive King Loft Suite. It is the only 2 story room they have and it includes 2 bathrooms, a mini fridge, microwave, soaking tub, living room area and bedroom. It does not have AC, but does have a couple of fans. The majority of time, this is not an issue. It also comes with a hot continental breakfast with real eggs!
While we were there, across the street, Jeremy Charles’ King Lobster Food Truck was set up. He is a well known Canadian chef and is now making delicious lobster rolls in Norris Point. You can get a lobster roll for $25 and add 3 salads for $40. I would stick with just the roll, since the salads we had were uninspiring.
Jeremy Charles’ delicious lobster roll
Before heading out on your adventure, make sure to get a latte at The Old Store Cafe. It was there that I met the Newfoundland version of the “Soup Nazi” Can I say that? I mean it in the most loving way. She didn’t try to deny me a latte, but she was probably thinking about it. I made the mistake of asking what kind of syrups they had and another about the menu. They were met with heavy sighs. I settled on an old familiar, vanilla latte and she changed her tone and called me love. Of course I had to go every morning and was greeted with her not-quite, smiling face. 10/10 highly recommend.
Gros Morne is one of the four UNESCO sites in Newfoundland. A must do is the Bon Tour Western Brook Boat Tour. It is a 2 hour boat tour of a fjord in the Northern most section of the Appalachian Mountains, called the long Range Mountains, surrounded by deep rock walls in a lake that is 541 feet deep. The scenery is amazing and the tour is informative. To get to the actual dock you have 2 choices. Both of them require you to allow enough time to get to the destination. Arrive at least an hour and a half prior to your reservation. We walked the 1.86 miles to get there. It is a nice, scenic walk. Not hard. There were several older people walking. We stopped to take pictures, so it took at least an hour. The other option is to ride in a golf cart. It costs 10.00 per person. The day we were there, there was only one cart running, so it took a long time to get a ride. Keep that in mind.
Western Brook Pond
There are so many places to explore and stop and take a picture, that its hard to see them all in the 3 days I had. Here are a few of the places we saw.
Arches Provincial ParkThe Lighthouse at Rocky HarbourView from the Cat Stop Waterfront Pub in Norris Point
There are very few restaurants in the park. Seaside Restaurant is in Trout River and is pretty much the only game in town. Don’t make a trip just to eat there. The food is bland and underwhelming. It does have a great view, though.
Seaside restaurant view.
The best meal that we had was at Chanterelles. They had great food, and a good wine selection. Which was very difficult to find elsewhere.
Gros Morne is more than just a beautiful landscape; it is a living, breathing geology lesson. The dramatic fjords and barren Tablelands are a testament to the immense forces of continental drift, allowing visitors to stand upon ancient ocean floor and touch the Earth’s mantle. For anyone with a curiosity about our planet’s history, Gros Morne offers a unique blend of breathtaking scenery and human spirit that makes a trip to Gros Morne National Park a truly unforgettable experience.
Bon bini! Which means, “welcome” in Papiamentu. That is the native language spoken in Curacao. But you will also hear a lot of, English, Dutch and Portuguese. I recently travelled to Curacao for the second time. It confirmed, in my mind, that it is the best island I have ever been to. Curacao is the “C” in the ABC islands. It is off the coast of South America and is located below the hurricane belt.
The only downside, for me, is how to get there. There are no direct flights from Orlando. Now that the Brightline train is available, we took the train to Miami, the day before. The next morning we flew directly to Curacao.
Brightline is not a high speed train. However, you can avoid the traffic and have a stress free trip to Miami. We went first class, on the Brightline and it made the trip very enjoyable. We didn’t have to deal with traffic, there were snacks on board and wifi. It was not crowded, and the staff was helpful.
The flight from MIA to CUR took about 3 hours. Before you land, you should fill out an ED Card Digital Immigration Card Curaçao (dicardcuracao.com). This will expedite your entry. It is a small airport but it can take a while to get through immigration.
Next, you should have already booked a rental car. You will need one. Unless you are the kind of traveler who likes to stay at an all-inclusive and never leave the resort. (In that case, why not have a staycation and save money?) Fyi, many gas stations only take cash, so make sure you bring cash. U.S. dollars are accepted.
We stayed at the Marriot Beach Resort, in Willemstad. It is family friendly, but not too kid-centered that it makes it unenjoyable for people traveling without children. It has 3 restaurants, a bar and a market/coffee shop. We stayed there all but the last night. On our final night we stayed at the Renaissance Wind Creek Curacao Resort. The Renaissance also has shopping, a casino, movie theatre and is within walking distance to downtown Willemstad.
In the arty Otrobanda neighborhood in Willemstad
Mural in WillemstadWillemstad
The main reason that people go to Curacao is for the beaches and snorkeling. We went in July and here are the beaches we snorkeled at.
Playa Lagun is a small cove surrounded by rugged cliffs. You can snorkel close to the rocky edge and see coral, sponges, lots of reef fish, eels and maybe a turtle. There are 2 restaurants, a snack shack where you can get smoothies too and a dive shop. The Bahia Beach Bar is on top of the cliff and gives you a spectacular view of the water, while you eat. The food and drinks were delicious and reasonably priced.
Playa Lagun
Playa Piskado is where you have the best chance to swim near turtles. Fishermen clean and sell their fish and throw their remnants into the water, attracting the turtles. Although you can swim near them, do not touch or harass the turtles since they are endangered. This beach is more crowded and touristy so you can rent chairs and buy souvenirs.
Tugboat Beach was the best area I snorkeled at. You can rent lounge chairs, buy snacks, paint your own souvenirs, take a dive class and rent an underwater scooter, which I did. It was $45 for about 20 minutes. I attached my Gopro onto it and went out to the sunken tugboat, which is about 15 feet below the surface. It was worth it. I had already been out there a couple of times, but this was much faster, and I was able to get better video. You will see lots of tropical fish, brain coral, sponges and barracudas. The only thing that ruins the view is the large oil drilling platform.
Drilling Platform
We had lots of good food in Curacao. We tried small, local places and all of the restaurants at the Marriot Beach Resort. Make sure to also try one of the omnipresent smoothie stands. My favorite was the watermelon.
Fried snapper, plantains, and fried polenta, at Bigeye Scad.
The best meal we had was at Baoase. It is located inside the luxury resort, of the same name, in Willemstad. It was a little difficult to get into, but well worth it. We had a delicious, several course meal, on the beach. The food and service were outstanding.
My Fish DinnerEven the butter was fancyOur view while we ate
If you want to take a break from the beach, check out the Hato Caves. They are open 7 days a week from 9 am to 3 pm. The tour is given in English, Dutch, Spanish and Papiamento. You can also request additional languages. The tour is about 45 minutes and you will learn about the slaves that hid in the caves, see bats and how the caves were formed. There are only 2 spots, inside, where you can take pictures.
Hato Caves
The sad thing about Curacao are the stray dogs. It was heartbreaking to see so many. We bought some dog treats and plastic containers to feed and water some of them. Some are very skittish and have obviously been mistreated. Since the island is predominately Catholic, apparently, they view sterilizing animals the same way as humans, unfortunately. I found this online rescue that helps animals in Curacao. rescuepawscuracao.com Consider donating and helping them with their cause.
Alcatraz Island sits in the middle of San Francisco Bay, serving as a haunting reminder of America’s troubled past. Once a military fort, then a federal prison, Alcatraz has housed some of the most notorious criminals in U.S. history. But did anyone ever escape from the “inescapable” Alcatraz? Let’s dive into the history of this infamous island.
Alcatraz first opened as a federal prison in 1934, housing some of the most dangerous criminals of the time, including Al Capone, George “Machine Gun” Kelly and Robert Stroud “The Birdman of Alcatraz” . The prison was known for its strict security measures, with guards patrolling the perimeter and armed towers monitoring the prisoners. But despite its reputation as an “escape-proof” prison, a few daring individuals attempted to break free.
The “Battle of Alcatraz” – In June of 1946, a group of prisoners attempted to take control of the prison in a daring escape attempt. The attempted takeover resulted in a two-day standoff with guards and ultimately ended with the deaths of three prisoners and two hostages.
The “Anglin Brothers and Frank Morris” – In June of 1962, three prisoners – John and Clarence Anglin and Frank Morris – disappeared from their cells and were never seen again. It is widely believed that they attempted to escape using homemade rafts and flotation devices, but their fate remains a mystery.
The “Miracle Man” – In December of 1962, Joseph Cretzer and Arnold Kyle attempted to escape by overpowering guards and taking hostages. The attempt was quickly thwarted, but Cretzer gained the nickname “Miracle Man” for his daring attempt.
The “Flood Tunnel” – In May of 1963, Elmore Bollinger attempted to escape by digging a tunnel in his cell and accessing the prison’s utility tunnels. Bollinger was caught and his attempt was foiled, but it remains one of the most inventive escape attempts in Alcatraz history.
In November of 1969, a group of Native American activists, led by Richard Oakes and brothers Dennis and Clyde Bellecourt, occupied Alcatraz Island for 19 months. . The activists claimed the island under an old provision in U.S. law known as the “Discovery Doctrine,” which stated that any unoccupied land could be claimed by indigenous people.
The takeover of Alcatraz took place several years after the island had been declared surplus federal property and was in the process of being transferred to the city of San Francisco for use as a park. This transfer was part of a larger trend of federal land transfers to local governments in the mid-1960s, which aimed to transfer ownership of surplus federal lands to state and local governments for use as parks, wildlife refuges, and other recreational areas. Alcatraz was transferred to the National Park Service in 1972 as part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, which was established to protect and preserve the scenic, cultural, and recreational resources of the San Francisco Bay Area.
Alcatraz offers day and night tours. We took the day tour, since the night one was sold out. You should allot 2 1/2 to 3 hours for the whole trip, unless you opt to stay for any special Ranger or Docent tours. The audio tour is a must and is narrated by former guards and prisoners.
I recently went on a quick hike in Muir Woods and can’t wait to go back and enjoy it, at a more leisurely pace. One of the main things you need to know before going is that Muir Woods requires that you make a parking reservation, in advance. We didn’t know that until we saw it on a sign and then couldn’t get a cell phone signal. We pull up and they tell us to go to Muir Beach, about 2.5 miles away, and we should be able to get a signal. We do that and all of the spots are taken. We did get out and walk on the beach, watched the surfers and looked for sea glass. It was very chilly, but beautiful. Since we couldn’t park, my husband ended up dropping me off for about an hour, to see the sights.
A little background on Muir Woods. In 1903 William Kent and Elizabeth Thacher Kent paid $45,000 for 611 acres of Redwood Canyon. Their goal was to save the land from commercial use and logging. In addition to being a conservationist, William Kent was also a politician. The views he held sound very familiar today. In a quote to a local newspaper Kent proudly states: “I have been writing and talking about the necessity of keeping this a white man’s country for the last 30 years.” Elizabeth Kent was a suffragist who testified before Congress and protested at the White House; where she was arrested twice.
In 1908, they donated 295 acres to the Federal Government. They asked that it be named after their friend, John Muir. Muir is know as, ” The father of the national park service.”. Muir convinced the government to make Yosemite, Sequoia, Grand Canyon and Mt. Rainier, all national parks.
The location may look familiar if you have seen the films Rise of the Planet of the Apes and The Lost World: Jurassic Park, among others.
The park is open daily from 8am-6pm. Adult admission is $15.00. Children 15 years and younger are free.
Coast Redwoods are related to the Giant Sequoia. The can reach a height of nearly 380 feet. The tallest tree in Muir Woods is 258 feet high. Most of the Redwoods are between 500 and 800 years old. The oldest tree is around 1200 years old.
If you are planning a trip to Northern California, make sure you set aside time to visit this peaceful place in the woods.
Manoa Falls Trail is a moderate, 1.6 mile (round trip) trail located on the island of Oahu. It reopened on June 5th, 2021 after closing in July 2019 for safety modifications. Fencing was installed to prevent rocks from falling, gravel was added to parts of the trail as well as adding additional steps and widening the path.
The beautiful scenery has attracted several movies and televisions shows to film here, Jurassic Park, Catching Fire, Lost and of course, Hawaii Five-O.
There are several spots to rest and take pics, along the way.The 150 foot tall Manoa Falls.
When you have finished your hike you can visit the Lyon Arboretum, which house over 5 thousand plant species. Or if you just want to reward yourself with a shaved ice, Dole Whip or anything pineapple, there is the Rainbows End Snack Shop.
Curacao is the C of the ABC islands, located 40 miles north of Venezuela. It is a Country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands where Dutch is the official language, although most people speak Papiamento and English. U.S. dollars are accepted everywhere. The guilder or florin is pegged to the dollar at a stable rate of 1.77 for cash.
1- Willemstad is the capital and a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is also home to the vividly painted buildings showcased in most pictures of Curacao. To get to them you have to cross the Queen Emma floating pontoon bridge, also known as “Swinging Old Lady”. It is a must see when boats have to pass through and the hinged bridge swings parallel to the shore.
Queen Emma Bridge.
3- Swimming with turtles. Playa Grandi/Playa Piscado, located in Sabana Westpunt, is the place to snorkel with sea turtles attracted by the remnants thrown by the fishermen on the dock. It is a popular spot and one of the many beautiful places to snorkel, on the island. I just wish people wouldn’t touch the turtles.
4- If you have worked up an appetite snorkeling in Sabana Westpunt check out Jaanchies restaurant. It offers delicious food and a laid back atmosphere. If you are an adventurous eater, Jaanchies is famous for its iguana. Don’t worry they also offer more traditional meals. It also has a garden area with birds flying indoors. They may even come visit your table. It makes for an interesting experience even though I was a little worried about bird poop getting in my food.
5-Mount Christoffel. What makes Curacao interesting is that it doesn’t look like your typical Caribbean island. ChristoffelPark is the largest national park in Curacao. The terrain is very desert like and hiking to the top of Mount Christoffel involves navigating a rocky terrain and trying not to run into cactus. Just get there early because the cutoff is at 11 am, due to the heat.
6-Take a guided tour and explore Hato Caves. Be aware that there is only one spot for picture taking, so you will have to pay attention and not play on your phone. After the tour you can explore the rest of the area, on your own.
7- Try a fruit smoothie from the many trucks in the area, while you are exploring. I became obsessed with the watermelon ones and was crushed whenever a vendor was sold out.
I look forward to a return visit and checking out the A&B islands too. Bon Bini!
Construction began over 850 years ago on this Gothic masterpiece. The cathedral is constructed primarily of limestone – a flammable stone and the roof is constructed from more than 13,000 oak trees.
Trek with Kim 
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