TravelStream™ news feed for member xsplorer on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/xsplorer en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Sat, 04 Apr 2009 21:54:01 -0400 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/xsplorer/5/1212504180/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/xsplorer/5/1212504180/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/xsplorer/5/1212504180/tpod.html Sat, 04 Apr 2009 21:54:01 -0400 Madrid Spain

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Madrid, Barcelona,Sevilla, Chinchon, Spain

Madrid to me is like my second home, Im lucky enough to travel there quite often, as often as I want. Madrid has many alluring places..... Like El Retiro a place where i find peace and tranquility.. it has a  lake in the middle of the park,  where you can rent a little boat,  you'll  need to use paddles to row so its quite enchanting. Madrid has many museums and my favorite is El Museo del Prado that has been extended and has many new paintings, its about  6.euros to go in. One of my favorites places in Madrid is  bar .." El Burladero"    Echegaray 19 .. ..  where you will find Bullfighters (toreros) and such,  at night  dont go there before 1130 pm as you will find the bar empty, this bar is usually filled with a mix of madrilenos that go there  to enjoy good music while sipping a copa ~   you  can buy a copa and chat with famous Toreros   or musicians...like Antonio Carmona and famous flamenco dancers...  this is a must see Bar,  when you are in Madrid Spain........ you will never forget this place~ I have spent many nights at this bar listening to music...and talking with interesting people.~  There's also  Cardamomo in Echegaray  a  flamenco bar, they have live music on  tuesdays and wed,  for a small fee.... you will experience pure flamenco at its best.  Beautiful gitanos with their long  dark hair  ! ...  I have seen many great musicians at Cardamomo. If you continue down on Echegaray you will end up at Tocororo a cuban restaurant that serves great cuban food, mojitos are the real mccoy! Live music friday and saturdays Mondays are closed ! Great friendly service at reasonable prices. Dont miss Plaza de Espana, La Almudena Cathedral, Plaza Mayor, Casa Pata ( for flamenco) Cafe Las Chinitas also for flamenco and if your budget is modest go down the stairs  from Plza Mayor to Cuchilleros and you will find cheap shows of flamenco for about 9 euros,  but those   shows are not  like the ones at Casa Pata or Cafe Chinitas. Also a nice place to hear music really really late at night is La Solea' where musicians/dancers  go  and just  chill..... improvising and letting go of el duende!| This is located in La Latina section of madrid..... Oh I  almost forgot.. if you like Mussels the best place to eat them fresh is at El Rocio en patio Matheu close to Puerta del Sol a place where you will find few tourists,   say hi to Victor and Santi, he will find you a seat right away, this is a very small place but the food is excellent and inexpensive.......Venga' .... enjoy the pictures!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/xsplorer/12/1215969300/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/xsplorer/12/1215969300/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/xsplorer/12/1215969300/tpod.html Mon, 22 Sep 2008 21:51:52 -0400 Cascais, Lisboa Portugal!

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Lisbon, Cascais, Estremadura, Portugal

I flew to Lisbon on the 13th of July, wanting to go to Fatima.... to see the Cathedral and get blessed water from the Cathedral in Fatima. I have been flying almost for 9 days with this trip.. Brugge, Brussels, Lago di Como, Milan, and Lisboa, Portugal.  Sometimes the body just says No to going out and I really had to try  hard, to get up and venture out .... the sun was hot and it called to me.....My bedroom was so inviting, we stayed at the Sheraton this time and the bathroom in this hotel is amazing.... the glass partition from the bedroon into the bathroom is just a sight! A real beautiful bedroom ..... I told myself...... just chill and just BE on this lay over.... But couldnt....... as I always tell myself..... I will have plenty of time to sleep when im dead.!So I got up...... once again I took a shower... the shower head was soo enormous... and so relaxing... I had to take another shower before venturing out.  Got dressed in comfortable clothes as I had change plans and now I was going to travel down to Cascais... to the beach for the day.Took a bus 36/44 to the train station...... 1. 40 euro for the bus ride..... 1.70 euros for the train ride down to Cascais..... inexpensive adventure~Be prepare to "suffocate"  while taking the train down to Cascais... some of these trains dont have a/c and the ride can be quite uncomfortable.Cascais is ---------quite beautiful and charming.  The freshest oysters I had in Cascais... a pale green with a wonderful -taste of salty brine.... like it was just taken out of the sea.... I ordered 2 oysters- then I had to order one more..... how delicious they were.I walked almost my entire stay in Cascais.....-------------------------------------------------Ate Bacalhau with potatos (  Portugal is known for the best bacalhau), 3 oysters and 1/2 bottle of white  chilled to perfection wine. I was feeling quite   happy sitting at this little restaurant in Cascais, thinking how lucky I am... to be able to travel as much as I do.Walked most of the day.. taking picture..... even feeling the sand and getting my feet wet at the beach.Ive spent many lay overs in Lisbon.... since I flew there for the first time   July 13th 2008... Many things have happened since that day.. that have changed me a little bit...... I got to experience Cascais well.... Have met many different cultures  there..... now when im in Lisbon on a lay over......... I take the train down to Cascais and eat at Las Palmas..... oysters and bacalhau with vinho verde.. Im a regular there ! ;-) Who would have thought that I could fall in love with PORTUGAL! ;-) Be..................................................just BE.Enjoy the pictures of Cascais.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/xsplorer/15/1220905800/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/xsplorer/15/1220905800/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/xsplorer/15/1220905800/tpod.html Mon, 08 Sep 2008 17:11:33 -0400 Portugal ! Sintra, Fatima, Cascais!

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Fátima, Estremadura, Portugal

This was a soul searching kind of trip.I invited a friend to travel with me to Portugal... I didnt know what Portugal had in store for me.I rented a nice apt in Lisbon. with a little terrace in the back that looks at Torre de Belem. It was sight for sore eyes every morning..... while sipping my tea... I sat in the little terrace looking at Torre de Belem....  I sometimes thought to myself....... how lucky I am.I spent most of my days walking.... and taking in all that beauty Portugal posses...Ate bacalhau most of the time i was there...... Or salmon cooked in the apt.Drank their vinho verde at night with dinner..... and had pasteis de belem..... for dessert.Went to Sistra and felt it was  like a little dream....... this beautiful castle on top of the mountain...... the scent of eucalyptus..... everywhere......so very very green, the castle was magnificent..... so much wealth and beauty.I was in awe.Another day we went to Fatima...took the bus to Fatima early in the am.... .. this experience I will never forget........ It was like i had a faucet of tears........ they just poured out of me..... couldnt contain myself.... seeing so much faith around me...... this is a holy place.... where you can find inner peace and tranquility.. something i was seeking. I walked the path of the little valinhos..... the little children that saw the Virgen Fatima. Ate figs from this holy land.... It was an amazing trip for me.It sort of changed me.I was sad to leave Portugal...... but i know one day soon i will return.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/xsplorer/14/1219635660/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/xsplorer/14/1219635660/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/xsplorer/14/1219635660/tpod.html Sun, 24 Aug 2008 23:44:53 -0400 Dublin Ireland

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Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland

Dublin! Stay only one night in Dublin..( lay over)   it was a gloomy day..... couldnt get out much.Took some picture and walked back to the hotel.......Where we stay at is not a good place to walk alone at night.Ate fish and fried chips for dinner...... I was not a happy camper.I need to go back to Dublin and experience the Real Dublin.Hoping you will enjoy the dark pictures
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/xsplorer/6/1171250880/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/xsplorer/6/1171250880/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/xsplorer/6/1171250880/tpod.html Thu, 14 Aug 2008 10:10:32 -0400 Stratford Upon Avon

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Stratford-upon-Avon, England, United Kingdom

My sweet ex  mother in law came from Wigan,  England, she taught me to  love  "tea with milk". I  pick up trips to Birmingham,  just to buy their Yorshire Gold Tea .. it  has no comparison to any of the teas they sell in America...gosh  !!! Im begining to sound like my friend Baudi that lives in Madrid,   always calls the USA ... America!! ;-) I love the hotel where we stay, it sits by it self in the middle of the city.. with lots of space for a nice walk.... lines of  trees that turn deep  green in the summer.... ....also  in the summer the hotel  has  many  gardens( the english love their gardens) that permeates the entire hotel with the scent of roses.... they  have many different colors and scents ..  I sleep a sound sleep..... with my window open ... breathing the sweet scent of roses....... ! The food well,  I really cant say much about the food because it is usually Indian food ( which i cant digest well) or fish and chips .... that is it!!!.... I  enjoy  going   to the tea house around 4pm after i take my nap,  to enjoy a strong cup of earl grey tea with milk,  freshly baked  scones with  clotted milk and  apricot marmalade..... the best! There goes my diet again!This is a picturesque city.... its habitant extremely proper in their way of living.  Sometimes I cant seem  to understand what they are saying so  I just smile a lot when im there.This trip I was able to go see a play..... "Hamlet" .. it was a modern version of the ol' play...Fantastic Acting!!! ...David Tennant's acting was superb.... soo convincing at times I really thought he had gone mad!!!! Patrick Stewart was a treat to see just feet from my seat......an enchanting night in Statford..!Enjoy my picture of Straford upon Avon!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/xsplorer/10/1215456600/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/xsplorer/10/1215456600/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/xsplorer/10/1215456600/tpod.html Sat, 09 Aug 2008 21:40:12 -0400 Enchanting Brugge !

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Brugge, West Flanders, Belgium

I flew to Brussels July 5th,  after celebrating the 4th of July at home!  I was a bit tired,  yet happy to fly to Brussels, Belgium, ( I had a real interesting crew and knew most of them),   as I had flown there prior to this trip .... however  the weather was poor  that day,  and  I couldnt get out much on my lay over.I told myself this time in Brussels would have to be different,   I decided to make a plan and explore  the enchanting city of Brugge,  that is  only a few miles by train from Brussels. We got to the hotel in Brussels around 930am...... left my bags in my room and went to the grocery store about 2 blocks away from the hotel ( flight attendants ..  know every grocery stores near the hotel in the cities our company flies to). Bought a bottle of  Corsican Wine and a bottle of Chateau de Ramball Bordeaux (2004) for a future special occassion, also bought  cereal for the next  morning,  chocolates Cote d'or  and a salad just in case I couldnt get out of my room from lack of sleep and  exhaustion from flying all night.  I  always plan ahead  on a lay over.....deprivation of sleep is a constant for flight attendants,   sometimes  the body just says no, and then I wont venture far from the hotel.Back to the hotel around 10am from the grocery store, took a shower, made a cup of earl grey tea.  I could hear the bed calling my name.... Mariss.... come and rest your achy bones...... ;-) Woke up on my own around 2pm..... barely 3 hours after I had laid down.... decided right there.... to get up and start my day. The crew didnt want to do anything, most of the crew had been flying for days,  wanting only  to  relax in their rooms and just BE!! ;-)  I  walked to Brussels Centrale, the train station in Brussels,  bought myself a round trip ticket to Brugge ......" Here is where my adventure began" .....See it in pictures.!!!!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/xsplorer/13/1216516020/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/xsplorer/13/1216516020/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/xsplorer/13/1216516020/tpod.html Sun, 20 Jul 2008 10:36:24 -0400 The city that never sleeps~~~~~~~~

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New York City, New York, United States

Today I got up and told myself that I needed a body massage...been tired from all the flying Ive been doing lately.. not much sleep either.....  I  called and made an appt in Chinatown to get a massage with Sheryl... she is chinese and knows  the art of medicinal chinese massage... ..... I moan and  moan,  because after 9 days flying back to back trips.... this old body  is sore and yelling at me.....!! Sheryl,  she has strong hands and great  determination to help me with my aches and pains... when she is finished I feel like Im 30 y/o again!!Drove to Chinatown.... parked the car in a lot --- get a hold of this---  $28.00 to park my car in NYC for 2 hours....... If you can make it here .... you can make it anywhere !! ;-) New York City has become quite expensive to even park your car. Also be aware where you park your vehicle in NYC...... you GOT to read the signs over and over..... as they are quite deceiving .... and if you park your vehicle where you arent suppose to.... you can wind up with a very expensive fine or get your car towed. So be aware of that! Walked to 166 Mott Street Chinatown, to Feet  Island Inc, where I usually get massages for 1 hour... $40.00 with Sheryl.Reflexology for another $15.00 but heck im already there..... and my body said..... Come on Girl..... We need all the help we can get..... pay for it.!!! Any way... i dont want to bore you with all that.... got my massage and I felt new again......... decided since i had the car and I was in the city( new yorkers we call New York City  . ... the city), why not take  pictures and add it to the blog!  I  live 25 minutes away from the city  by car ....  before I became a flight attendant I used to  work for a major bank in the city , on Park Ave.!!   I loved it.... yet it got old.... I changed my life and job, I commuted to NYC from NJ  for 9 years...So here are my pictures of the city that never sleeps..... one place i love........ NEW YORK CITY......... !!!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/xsplorer/11/1215914580/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/xsplorer/11/1215914580/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/xsplorer/11/1215914580/tpod.html Sun, 13 Jul 2008 10:30:23 -0400 Lago di Como - Italy

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Como, Lombardy, Italy

I picked up a trip to work the flight to Milano,  I've  been to Milano before,  yet I had not done much on that lay over... " Im on  a mission lately" .... to see as much world as I can! -Told myself that on this lay over I would see Lago di Como..... I knew we would get to the hotel around 10am the next day after flying an all nighter........ I took a shower once I got to the hotel,  rested   on the bed for a little bit........ before walking to the train station in Milano Centrale to begin my journey to Lago di Como.I had done a little bit of research on the internet but that didnt prepare me to the magnitud and  beauty of Lago di Como in person.  I was there July 11th 2008, the weather was not on my side ... "overcast skies"....still.  I was determined  to see it and have my little adventure.   Lago di Como and Me!!It was quite inexpensive I might add... the train ride from Milano to Como,  was 16 euros round trip, the boat ride 6 euros for 1 hour boat ride. I stopped at a little cafe' and had the most wonderful cappucino I have ever had... foamy, topped with a bit of cinnamon and very very hot.! A jolt to my senses!I was feeling quite tired as I have been flying for days..... remember my Brugge trip? lack of sleep, jet lag, time zones, 6 hours ahead of NY! Yet as I usually tell myself....... I will have time to sleep when Im dead!So read on and enjoy my pictures of Lago di Como!!!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/xsplorer/9/1213933080/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/xsplorer/9/1213933080/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/xsplorer/9/1213933080/tpod.html Fri, 20 Jun 2008 00:21:57 -0400 " Panama Canal, Panama "

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Panama, Panama

The Panama canal was built between 1904 and 1914.....  it  was officially  opened in August of that year. It connects the Atlantic Ocean (by way of the caribbean sea) with the Pacific Ocean. A ship traveling from New York to San Francisco can save 7,872 miles by using the Panama Canal instead of traveling all the way around South America. There are 3 sets of locks  that enables  a ship to be  elevated  85 feet above sea level.We saw a ship in the distance.....  waited patiently for the ship to arrive at the canal and see how it was done with our own eyes........amazing system..... how the water will rise and accomodate the ship.. then lower the water to bring it to the other side.Here is hoping you will enjoy these picture I took at the Panama Canal.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/xsplorer/3/1199497920/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/xsplorer/3/1199497920/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/xsplorer/3/1199497920/tpod.html Thu, 19 Jun 2008 23:06:43 -0400 Athens, Greece

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Athens, Attica, Greece

This was my very first time in  Greece.  I travelled there in the winter months, it was cold in Greece also. I walked to the Acropolis with another flight attendant .. what a sight !! so much history... I wanted to touch every thing... they have guards that do not allow you to touch the marble... i wanted to kiss the ground... and feel every building...!!!!! Greece is a beautiful city..... old and decadent....history speaks in every corner.Being in the Acropolis was spiritual for me even at the risk of sounding foolish ... , some  of the buildings are still in good shape... they are  in the process of  restoring some of the buildings.We mainly walked around and got a bit lost... took a bus, back to the hotel.. I like to share that we didnt have any   tickets  to board the bus....... yet the bus driver said to us.... its ok american girls..... i'll take you to your destination..... so we didnt pay..... that would have never happened in New York City .... I was in awe.... we were there only for one day and night.... we were in Greece on a lay over... my trips are kind of short where ever I travel to.. unless I travel there on my own.At night the crew decided to go to the center of Athens... to eat..... we walked to this great restaurant where we could see the Acropolis all lit up at night.... I kept saying to myself internally.......I can't believe what im seeing.... and experiencing....... Greece....... ! We ate like we had not eaten in days... the food was fantastic ..... tomatos with feta cheese and red onion .... tarlamasala  and saitiki ( probably typing the names  incorrectly)  with pita bread to begin.... then little  grape leaves stuffed ... grilled  octopus  that i found to be made to perfection... melted in my mouth... i  can close my eyes, I still remember the scents of the food around us that night....We walked back to the hotel and had freshly made  pistachio ice cream.Hope you enjoy my pictures of Greece.....
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