Craving

I was lucky enough to go on a school trip to Italy in 2005 when I was a freshman in college.

I had been wanting to go there for forever, as long as I can remember. It is calling me back.

I've been coaxing Andrew into going sometime fairly soon, I'm hoping spring/summer 2011. Back in 2005 when I went I had a brand new digital camera and not nearly as much interest in photography as I do now. I think I took around 400 pictures on an 8 day trip. I am so looking forward to when I can go back with my Nikon and bring home the gorgeous shots Italy has to offer.

Bonus points if you can name where the above photos were taken. The first and last should be pretty darn easy.

Have you been abroad? Where would you like to go back to?

Vegas, Baby

Andrew and I went to Las Vegas over Memorial Day weekend. We left early Saturday morning and came back late Tuesday night. We had booked our trip, the airfare and hotel room back in November. When we arrive at the Treasure Island the suite we had reserved wasn't available. I was incredibly irritated since I had called a few days earlier to make sure our reservation was still a go since we'd booked it so far in advance. So we get there and there is a huge line to check in. Turns out many people had reserved suites and they had double booked us all. Lovely. We ended up getting a deluxe room for the night on the corner of the building looking right down on the strip. In addition, we also got a $200 food credit which was really great as it paid for all of our food except the massive amounts of water we were drinking the whole time we were there. The first room was great because of the views, but the suite was terrific because of the whirlpool tub. We loved that thing!

We walked so much while we were there it's crazy. I think our favorite thing was the water show at the Bellagio. Pretty stunning really. We even got to see it from the top of the "Eiffel Tower" at the Paris Hotel. We also had tickets for the Bodies Exhibit which was at the Luxor and did that Sunday afternoon after we'd walked all the way down the strip to get there. The walk back was a killer.

We went thru all the "cool" hotels: The Venetian, Ceaser's Palace, The Bellagio, New York, New York, Excalibur, The Luxor, The Mirage, The Paris, MGM, and a few others I can't name off the top of my head. We also saw the classic car museum at the Imperial Palace which my dad said we had to see since Andrew is a car guy.

Overall we had a great time and only lost about $20. Oh, we also saw the Jersey Boys the first night we were there. We were expecting a concert but it was really a musical production about the story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. We had purchased our tickets back in March and were up in the balcony seating because we are cheap. When we got to our seats, we were early, the attendant asked us if we'd like to be moved down and we of course said yes. Our new seats were on the floor, seven rows back from the stage. Not too shabby for paying to be in the $72 section and getting moved to the $170 seats!

Have you been to Las Vegas? What was one of your favorite things?

Hawaii - Day 2: Pearl Harbor and Honolulu City Tour

I know it's been months since we got back from our Hawaii trip and that I haven't been posting frequently at all, but I thought now would be a good time to finish posting Hawaii photos.

And, rather than posting them one by one I grouped them all together to make only one upload.

These are from day 2, Friday, when we went to Pearl Harbor and on a city tour of Honolulu afterwords.

Andrew really liked Pearl Harbor and probably would have liked more time there. I'd been there before and to be honest wasn't too thrilled about going back, but it was one of his favorite things to see so that was good.

I'm sure you know the history. Basically, it is the result of Japan's attack which killed many people who were stationed in the harbor. The city tour included going ot Punch Bowl where many of those killed were laid to rest. The view from the top of the hill was amazing. You could see the entire city of Honolulu which, as our tour guide told us, was just plots of rice patties 60 years ago. Hard to believe, isn't it? So, yes, that was day 2.

Hawaii Day 1 (Thursday) - Sea Life Park

Our first full day on the island was my absolute favorite. We did something I'd been wanting to do for a very long time: swim with the dolphins. It was incredible. We did this at Sea Life park on the eastern coast of the island. The setting is quite lovely as part of the park looks out over the ocean as you can see from the photos. They offer a few different ways you can interact with the dolphins and last time I was there, 5 years ago for high school graduation, my Aunt Lisa and I just did the option where we touched them, did a quick photo and that was about it. Not this time around! We actually got to get in the water with them, touch and swim with them. We both got to do a dorsal fin tow and a foot push. If I could figure out how to upload the video we bought here I would, but I wouldn't hold my breath.

We were the first couple to go, I think there were 6 couples, which was a bit scary as we didn't have any demonstration of what we were to do. So Andrew went to one side and I went to the other. I was told to stand like a T, arms out and feet down. The trainer gave the dolphins their command and here they came, one on each side. Next thing I knew I could feel their bodies running under my hands until their fins hooked and off we went. It was incredible! Andrew was next and what he was told to do was lay in the water, arms and legs out in front and behind him. Then they were off and one was pushing on either of his feet propelling him up and out of the water for a distance. Then we switched. Incredible.

After our swims and everyone went we got to have our photos taken with them. Two are above. I haven't scanned them yet so you are seeing a picture of a picture, but they are still pretty cool I think. I have a frame with two side by side 5x7s that I think I'm going to put them in.

I am so glad we did that package. It was possibly the most memorable experience of my life thus far. I'm telling you, if I could have afforded it and it wasn't so far from Waikiki I would have gone back to do it again everyday we were there.

Oh, there were also sea turtles, seals and that sort of thing, but I'm thinking you can probably guess where my camera was aimed most of the time! Andrew also had his surfing lesson that day, but I don't have the photos for that on my computer yet. I'll be doing a Day 1, Part 2 continuation sometime later this week.

So...

Here I am. A few weeks later. Sorry about that. Things have been a little busy lately as you may have guessed. Let's see... I started a new job, we went to Hawaii, got a massive sumburn, came home, resumed new job, rode Star for the very first time with Andrew's help, had Andrew's graduation party, camped for 2 nights at above mentioned party, got eaten alive on legs and feet from above mentioned camping by mosquitoes, have continued to check my reader at work occasionally although have not commented, clearly have not posted to my own blog, have left you all high and dry as I promised I wouldn't.

Besides that, not a whole heck of a lot. I am posting a teaser of one of my favorite photos from our vacation. Taken on Waikiki Beach 13 days ago on our last full day on Oahu. This was the same day my massive sumburn arrived. See that umbrella? I was under it 95% of the time. How in the world did I get burned?!

I do plan to start you know, actually taking some iniative around here and post a day by day post, with photos of course!, of what we did. It's funny now that we're home, I find myself telling Andrew as the weeks progress"____ weeks ago we were doing ________." I wonder how long that will take to get out of my system.

Also, I'm pretty sure I'm getting close to my blogiversary. One year. I'd like to do something different around here for that, but am not quite sure what yet. Any thoughts?

Hope you all have been well and haven't totally lost interest in my little blog. I'm talking to you Sarah and Rachel!

A few things - Bullets Edition

• I haven't posted lately
• Andrew graduated college
• I got a job
• I am not really liking the new job
• I keep telling myself "It's x-amount of dollars per day."
• We leave for Hawaii Wednesday
• This Wednesday
• That's about 36 hours
• Um, really?
• It seems like we were just starting to plan
• And tonight we were packing
• I have still been skimming blogs, just not commenting
• New job doesn't want me on internet
• How dare them
• Still check email and reader
• Am hoping I'm not forgetting anything that needs to be packed
• Underwear? Check. Bathing suits? Check. Beach towels? Check. 7 days worth of clothes? Check. Sunscreen? Check. Camera? Check. Flip video camera? Check. Toilettries and all that? Check. A few snacks for the plane? Check. Bit of a cold that I'm hoping packs it's bags within 36 hours? Check. Andrew's laptop (in his bag) to post some photos while we're there? Check (well, after he packs it up tomorrow night).
• I think that's about it
• Hope you all have been well and don't think I've left you totally high and dry

Weekend Re-Cap & Don't forget to enter the GIVEAWAY

Post 95: Drawing at post 100 open to anyone who leaves a comment with a valid email address (only so I can email you if you win) for a $10 Starbucks giftcard.

Happy Monday! The weekend went by pretty fast, didn't it? Then again, I guess it always does. I really didn't do much mostly because Andrew left Saturday morning to spend his weekend in the library studying for exams this week.

We were able to make our flight reservations for Hawaii(!) and look at some more thing we're interested in doing. Thank you to the anonymous commenter who suggested going out to see the wild dolphins rather than the ones at Sea Life Park, but I'm pretty set on actually interacting with them and being able to do the foot push and all that. We might still go out as you suggested depending on the cost of the other activities we have planned.

I'll be talking about our trip more as it gets closer and will be asking for any suggestions from those who have been to or live on Oahu. I've only been there once before and Andrew not at all, so we have some ideas, but any from people more experienced with the area would be great.

Hope everyone has a great week and don't forget to enter the giveaway!

News

Post 94 - That leaves you 6 more chances to leave a comment and be entered in the drawing for a $10 giftcard to Starbucks!

Another reason I've been a little out-of-touch lately? Planning a trip. It's hard!

We are lucky enough to have basically free tickets so that is cutting out cost down quite a bit. I may have posted back in September that Andrew and I were going to Palm Springs with the CPA firm he works for. Well, because of the economy the trip got called off, but the tickets had already been purchased so we pretty much have a free flight wherever we want to go.

Since we went to the east coast in August to see Yankee Stadium as it was closing after last season and we heard that Fenway Park was being torn down after this season we decided on Boston. We were about to book the tickets last weekend, but thankfully looked first to make sure it really was the last season since we'd heard it through the rumor mill. Turns out it's not closing for a long time.

Then we were thinking of Orlando. I really want to swim with the dolphins and they're aren't too many places that that can be done. Andrew knew I really wanted to go so we began planning out trip there. It was so expensive for the dolphin swim! I remembered that when I was in Hawaii a few years ago I went to a place called Sea Life Park which was an awesome park and they offer swimming with the dolphins. I was too cheap to do it the last time, but as it turns out it's $270 cheaper to do it on Oahu then in Orlando.

So, we're going to Hawaii! In addition to just the swim being cheaper, going to Orlando we would have had to pay about $80 each that went over the value of the ticket plus the $100 change fee. For Oahu, we only go over by $.21! So, we are both paying $100.21 for a round trip ticket! I'm trying to convince Andrew to use some of our air miles so we can upgrade one way to first class. Preferably going home so we can end the trip on a high note. We'll see. It takes 15,000 miles one way to upgrade. We both already have miles accumulated, but both just signed up for an upgrade to our credit cards that give us a 20,000 bonus for signing up. So really, that gives us our 15,000 plus and additional 5,000 left over.

Anyways, now that you know our mileage situation, I'll be filling in more of the details as we plan them through the coming weeks. We leave on June 17th and return on the 24th, so have a bit of time between now and then as you may have noticed from the ticker on the sidebar.

We're both really excited and are having fun planning excursions for our graduation gift to ourselves. Tickets and the hotel room (2 blocks from Waikiki Beach!) will be booked this weekend. Keep your fingers crossed for 1st class!

Part 2 of many (many) pictures - New Jersey

I suppose the title is a bit misleading since I don't really have too many pictures of tourist things in New Jersey, rather just the town where we stayed. Neighbors of mine have a home in NJ and they generously let us stay with them. They have a beautiful home and it was like staying at a resort. We loved it! This is in the town square. It just struck me as a great angle for a photo.

Also in the town square, the local cafe.
This is the backyard and a fraction of the gorgous flowers they have planted. It seriously is the definition of a manicured yard.

The pool! Our saving grace on those hot days!

Two of the boys! Our friends have 3 Pomeranians who are adorable.

Us in the pool!

The town is full of old houses, the one we were staying in just turned 100, but this was by far our favorite of the ones we saw when we were walking around. It was just gorgeous. A pale yellow with dark trim, the white boarder for the wrap round deck and lovely yard. We decided we could easily live there!This house was built in 1870 and was the train station for the town.

I loved this shot!

Part 1 of many (many) pictures - Philadelphia!

We began our trip with a day in Philadelphia. It was by far my favorite place.

We did a walking tour on our own because we wanted to take as much time as we wanted to see things so ended up in front of the guided tour which was great. Less lines and in a few of the places we were the only ones in the building, besides the park ranger people of course. So, here is the Liberty Bell. Much smaller than we both expected, but since it's an icon of American history, I'm glad I've seen it. I was expecting this huge thing, but it's really only about 3 feet long and probably the same in diameter. A bit of a let down, but cool to see.

This is Carpenter Hall. I love how this photo turned out while looking up the street. The Hall is where the first Continental Congress was held. Inside there is a display showing how the building was built. It was amazing to me to think of all the people that had been in the building over two-hundred years ago. That just blows my mind.

This is Ben Franklin's grave, along with his wife. We learned that the tradition is to throw a penny on his grave for good luck. If you look closey, really closely, you can see either my or Andrew's penny in motion. I'm guessing it was his since I just sort of tossed mine anywhere and tried to take the photo at the same time. In this graveyard there are four other signers of the Declaration burried there.

Here I am posing in the same spot that Abraham Lincoln once stood. Like I said before, that just completely blows me away. Even more so when we were in Washington, DC and we got to see his actual signature and those of many others.

The building off in the distance is Independance Hall. If I'm remembering corrrectly, and the odds there are 50/50, it is where the Declaration was first read to the public and Independance was declared. Again, I could be wrong about that!

This photo was taken inside on the the buildings Ben Franklin built. He was actually the person to come up with fire insurance so the point of the building was to be fire proof. This display showed how the walls were built and towards the bottom you can see some of the bowls and pottery that were found. For being over 200 years old they were in excellent shape.

Also in the same building beside a sort of indent in the building which went underground making an area to store things and make an attempt to keep things cold. There was another one of these further back in the building that had a hole dug into the ground and was used for trash. I wonder what they did when it got full?

Here we are in the same building as pictured above. The thing we were sitting in is a replica of what Ben Franklin used to get around. You may be able to see towards the back of the seat and to the sides the rails that people used to hold it up and carry him wherever he needed to go. It was actually quite roomy!

We were in Philadelphia, had to do it: Philly cheesesteaks! They were really good! And here's Andrew taking a bit out of his and enjoying it!

We saw lots of things here, many more than I have posted photos of. There may be some more to come later on!

Leaving on a Jet Plane

Andrew and I are going to depart Thursday morning for the east coast. More specifically: New Jersey; Philadelphia; Manhattan and Washington, D.C.

The main reason for this trip (and not going on our romantic weekend on the coast staying in a caboose...how cool is that? But, no I'm over that...) is to see Yankee Stadium before it is torn down after the season ends.

We are going to be staying with some friends of ours who live in New Jersey so our housing is taken care of. What I'd really like to know is what some great things in Philly and WA, DC are. We won't have much time in Manhattan unfortunately, so we have our stops there pretty laid out. I've been there before so I have some of what I thought the best places were in mind.

We'll have an entire day in Philly and have some things picked out, but aren't too sure what is really key to see. Andrew has been to Washington, to he has some places in mind, but again, what's something great? Not necessarily a tourist trap, but something to see when you only have a day to spend.

We're kind of doing the whirl-wind trip, but it works for us until we have more time (and money!) someday. Pretty much, a day in each town. Hopefully we'll have a chance in a few years to go back to NY and Washington and spend some real time. My biggest thing is that I don't want to waste the entire day standing in line.

So, if you have any tips or terrific places that are a must see, let me know!