EXPOSED LATITUDES

The Big Easy

Posted on August 12, 2011 by Janette

That’s right, New Orleans, Louisiana!

Some charity work was long over due for myself, so my friend Ashley and I hopped some planes to New Orleans and got to work.

We were working and staying with “Hands on New Orleans,” a charity organization that helps put volunteers to work in a number of ways across the city. In exchange for volunteering, we got to stay at their bunk house (which was stocked with food) for a mere $25.00 a night…an awesome deal if you ask me.

We wanted to stay busy and try a bunch of things, so our first day we worked at a mission making lunch for about 150 people. After the food was prepared they needed our help reorganizing their food/supply pantries. Organizational skills are in our blood, so we were in heaven. We finished in no time and they didn’t have any other work for us to do, so we decided to drive to Baton Rouge for our free afternoon. It took about 1 1/2 hours, but it was a beautiful day and a beautiful drive and I got to see another state capital!!! Baton Rouge is a quiet little city, so it’s funny that the state house looks like a ridiculously huge sky scraper, but the view from the top is pretty impressive. There was also a free state museum next door that we took advantage of. We learned so much about the unique culture of the area, complete with local food styles, creole influences, jazz funerals and Mardi gras customs.

Baton Rouge, State House

Our “oil spill response” task was cancelled for the next day because the fishermen were going back to work, so there weren’t any boats to take volunteers out on the water. We were bummed, but at least it was cancelled for a good reason. We did some chores around the bunk house and then took the streetcar headed for the French Quarter to do some sight-seeing and shopping. That evening we were helping out at a Halloween party at the children’s museum. The kids were a handful, but we had fun and got out just in time to see the parade go through town. The costumes and floats were pretty cool!

Our last day of service was spent at the Lower 9th Ward Village. We were supposed to be rebuilding houses/yards, but we showed up so early, we were asked to help make t-shirts for the volunteers. So we were taught how to silk screen and for 8 hours, that’s what we did. They also fed us a delicious catfish lunch and got to meet a few of the other volunteers, some of which came from all over the world.

making t-shirts

We were pretty happy that in addition to doing some fun and diverse community projects, we also had plenty of time to explore, especially around the French Quarter. It was a delicious trip. Besides the local catfish, we also got to experience seafood gumbo, jambalaya, bread pudding, benyays, and fried alligator! Mission accomplished 🙂

Posted in adventures | Tagged baton rouge, charity work, french quarter, new orleans | Leave a comment

The Land of 10,000 Lakes…Minnesota

Posted on August 12, 2011 by Janette

Ahhh, the midwest…a place not many people think to go on vacation, and a place I’ve only flown over, never to.

I had the chance to go with a friend from work whose family was from that area, and over the course of 6 days I saw so many beautiful things!

The first thing we did the day we arrived was tour downtown Minneapolis. I got to see/experience the skyway system, which lets people move around 5 miles of the city by enclosed, interconnected walkways so people don’t have to go outside. That helps during the heat of summer and bitter cold of winter. I experienced Brit’s Pub, complete with lawn bowling. We saw the view from the observation deck of the Foshay Tower, took a walk through the sculpture garden and made our way to the cantilevered observation bridge of the Guthrie Theatre. All over the city one could see manicured gardens, clean streets, and nice people…a bit different from what most of us are used to. 🙂

Downtown

The next day, guess what I saw? That’s right…I saw the state capital building in St. Paul, which is only a few miles from Minneapolis. It’s a bit smaller, but still a gem. The state house was beautiful, as was the nearby cathedral. From there, we drove to Harriet Island to get a riverboat cruise down the Mississippi. After that we toured the limestone Wabasha street caves where gangsters used to hang out!

For our day-trip, we decided to go to Duluth, which is a few hours north on the edge of Lake Superior. We toured Glensheen, which is a large estate that overlooked the Lake, much like the mansions of Newport, RI. We ate a picnic and continued on to the River Walk before touring the William A Irvin iron ship. We also got to see the aerial lift bridge in action, which was awesome. Lake Superior is so huge that you can see it from wherever you are in Duluth, and even though it was foggy the day I was there, it was still awe-inspiring and perhaps a bit eerie!

Lake Superior

We had absolutely perfect weather for the entire trip and we made use of every minute. Before leaving my midwest experience, I got to see many small lakes (naturally), a rose garden, Minnehaha Falls, the oldest church in Minnesota, the Science Museum (with omnitheatre Arabia show) and Como Park with its live butterfly exhibit, conservatory, zoo and Japanese garden.

Much ground was covered on this trip and has excited me to see other mid western states and cities. Especially because nothing ever seemed crowded or congested, you always seemed to have space to breathe. Minnesota was so comfortable and absolutely beautiful….

Posted in adventures | Tagged duluth, lake superior, minneapolis, st. paul | Leave a comment

Costa Rica

Posted on July 31, 2011 by Janette

Costa Rica’s economy is based on tourism, so that translates to easily organizing whatever you want…and I got to see many things in the week I was there.

Two short hours from Miami is San Jose, capital city of Costa Rica. About an hour and a half after checking into the hostel, I was being whisked away on a zip-lining excursion. High up a nearby mountain about 20 minutes outside the city, there is an awesome set of 17 zip-lining platforms with fabulous views of the city down below. Our guides and photographer were great and made the whole experience exciting and fun. After an hour of working our way up the mountain to the first platform, we spent the next 2 hours working our way down, enjoying the scenery and wildlife. Afterwards, we enjoyed a delicious traditional meal of rice, beans, salad, chicken, chips and salsa, and plantains. The tour took a lot of energy on our part (plus we were still a little jet-lagged), so that meal was a much-needed end to the day!

zip lining!

The next feat to accomplish was to see a volcano 🙂 There was only 1 bus a day that went to the Irazu Volcano (now dormant and a national park), so getting up early was a must. The round-trip bus ride cost $8.00 and took about 2 hours, but it was awesome…at some points we were above the clouds! Once at the park entrance, we had a few hours to walk around before getting the bus back. It was amazing to see these huge craters, now inactive, and imagine how hot and colorful everything must have been when the area was active with liquid hot magma. Now all that remains is black soil with a few bright green plants in a freezing cold environment…this volcano is very high up. After taking plenty of photos, we still had time to grab a bite to eat and do some shopping at the tiny gift shop before getting the bus back to the city.

Irazu Volcano

Even though I’m a fan of the day trip, hanging out locally is just as nice. San Jose is a big, beautiful, spread out city with many awesome parks and buildings and simply walking around for a few hours should not be forgotten about!

A trip to Costa Rica couldn’t be complete without a visit to the beach, so Jaco…here we come! We were advised against going to a few areas, due to road construction and transportation availability. Since we wanted to do a day trip, Jaco beach on the Pacific coast is what was settled upon.

Jaco Beach (Black Sand)

Once again, I was on a bus, this time for 2.5 hours, and the scenery was the most breathtaking I’ve ever experienced. I was literally on the side of a huge mountain, switch-backing my way through as I passed tiny mountain towns, farms of every kind and bottomless valleys down below. The scenery was so stunning that I couldn’t tear my eyes off the view outside my window, even though I desperately wanted a nap.

The town of Jaco seemed like any other small beach town, only not overly pristine. A nice, raw, natural element was an uncommon but welcome sight. There were small shops and inns, tiny cafe’s and undeveloped land. It was a black sand beach, which was awesome to experience, but it also made the environment extremely hot. Compared to being freezing cold the day before by the volcano, it was weird to be in a bikini, on a beach, thinking that I was wearing too much clothing 🙂

For my last full day, I decided to do another excursion, but this time it was an all-day affair. I got picked up early to meet the group and we made our first stop in the town of Grecia. We saw a metal church that was brought over from Belgium piece by piece. It was colorful and spacious and clearly the prized possession of the town.

church in Grecia

The next stop was Sarchi. This was an artesian town where the locals sell their crafts and brightly painted items in co-ops. I purchased a bunch of little things (wooden bracelet, postcards, magnets) all for $5.00…I do love a bargain!

We had a delicious lunch at our next location before coming to the scenic stop right in front of Arenal Volcano, which is still active. Apparently volcanic soil is very fertile, and our guide pointed out all the different kinds of plants and trees we passed, including almond trees, guava, sugarcane, coffee plants, teak, cassava, rice, plantains, pineapple, papaya, etc.

Around the base of the volcano are lots of different hot spring resorts, naturally fed by the heated water. Our group was broken up and I went with 3 “ticas” to the Baldi Hot Spring resort. We had a few hours to swim, relax, and eat dinner before getting picked up and returned home. Although I didn’t see any spewing magma, there was still some majesty to swimming in a hot spring with an active volcano looming overhead.

a little slice of heaven

And if all of these wonders weren’t enough, I’d return for the aroma. The entire country smells sweet…like everyone is baking cookies at the same time. Considering my sense memories are pretty strong, I’d love to experience that sensation again!

Posted in adventures | Tagged central america, costa rica, hot springs, jaco beach, Travel, volcanos, zip-lining | Leave a comment

Icy Iceland

Posted on April 8, 2011 by Janette

The land of ice.

Cold…snowy…white…everything I pictured, yet so much more. And being only 5 hours from Boston, I couldn’t miss experiencing the tundra.

Although plans of viewing the aurora borealis were thwarted, I still got to experience a country unlike any other.

The drive from the airport to the hotel set the tone for the entire trip. There was a solitude, a peace, a calm, an utter lack of chaos that let me notice and appreciate things that are usually easy to overlook. In the van, rain drops were slowly sliding down the dark windows, like shooting stars in slow motion. I had ample opportunities to cast my wishes as the drive took a while and the light rain continued for the duration. Beyond those dark windows lay nothing but a vast expanse of black volcanic rock, creating a snow-tipped moonscape as far as the eye could see.

Reykjavik was great because just about everything you wanted or needed could be easily accessed. It’s a small city, so walking everywhere was very comfortable.

iconic church

“Suncraft”

There are plenty of pretty buildings, museums, sculptures, cafe’s and shops to keep one busy for a while. And in the middle of the city is the tourist info office where you can arrange excursions to many different parts of the country, weather depending. This is where I booked the day trip to the Blue Lagoon, a must-see for anyone visiting Iceland.

About 40 minutes outside of Reykjavik is the Blue Lagoon. It’s a man-made lagoon, which is basically a by-product of the geothermal plant next door. The 100 degree water was perfect to wade in, especially when it’s 20 degrees outside and it’s snowing! 🙂 It was a surreal experience. And if one gets board wading in the magical pool, there is also a waterfall, a sauna, and tubs of while silia mud, for you to practice giving yourself a spa treatment. The only down side was the extremely dry condition your body and hair are left in…but a small price to pay for such luxury.

The Blue Lagoon

Food was also exciting for me. I couldn’t wait to try some traditional items that Iceland was known for. First was a piece of skyr cake. Skyr is a fat-free soft cheese substance with an added bacteria culture, so it has a yogurt tast to it. The skyr cake, however, was almost like a cheesecake, only very light and fluffy…and extremely delicious. Puffin was next, and yes, I mean those cute little birds. I had a smoked puffin appetizer. The puffin strips were a bit raw for my taste, but it was ok and I’m glad I tried it. My favorite Icelandic food item, however, was a delicious horse steak with potatoes, carrots, cooked mushrooms, and a creamy pepper sauce…simply mouthwatering.

Skyr cake with blueberries and whipped cream

Puffin !!!

Icelandic Horse !!!

Of all the places I’ve been, I think I’d go back to Iceland first. There is so much to see (weather and season depending) that I’d love to hop another plane and stay for another few days. Perhaps one day….

Posted in adventures | Tagged puffin, reykjavik, the blue lagoon, Travel | 2 Comments

Marvelous Mexico

Posted on January 29, 2011 by Janette

Considering that I’m thrifty and not a 5-star hotel kind of girl, I wanted to go somewhere where a small amount of money could take me far. My research settled on Merida, the capital city of the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico.

I abhor resort cities, like Cancun, (which is where I flew into), so I didn’t waste any time getting on a bus and travelling 4 hours West, to Merida.

Peaceful, elegant, and charming come to mind when I think back to that city. I wanted to experience a traditional Mexican city without modern changes made for American tourists, and I was very happy by what I saw.

My hotel was absolutely gorgeous. It had an open-air courtyard in the center and was painted in bright colors. There was a pool on the top floor, and the view was pretty nice, considering that none of the buildings were large enough to obstruct your view.

Merida is a pretty spread-out city, but everything you want or need is within walking distance. Plenty of parks, shopping, cafe’s, and restaurants are close by, complete with dancing in the courtyards and outdoor seating to listen to live music.

Chichen-Itza

The first excursion was to Chichen-Itza. It was so hot that day, and the ruins were in an open field, so there wasn’t much shade. Plus, there were so many people everywhere. There were tourist groups of every nationality, and loads of vendors selling trinkets on all the trails. The site was amazing, but I was pretty excited to get back to the air-conditioned van to head toward our pit stop at the cenote.

cenote

Along the journey, we got to see the traditional Mayan villages where its common practice for the family to all sleep in hammocks. Pretty cool.

My next day trip to the sites of Kabah and Uxmal proved a bit more comfortable. The temperature was cooler, there weren’t any venders selling trinkets, and there weren’t hoards of people. Our little group had the places all to ourselves, which was awesome, and made for some great photo ops.

Kabah

Uxmal

Considering my trip to Mexico occurred in December, my warm-weather vacation wouldn’t be complete without some beach time. For 25 pesos, or about $2.00, I got a round-trip bus ticket to Progresso, a little town 30 minutes North of Merida. The beach, palm trees and board walk went on forever and the water was so blue. There’s something special about practicing the “art of doing nothing” on a beach in Winter, and I took the opportunity to soak up as much of the experience as I could.

Progresso

To finish off the vacation, an evening buggy ride down Paseo Montejo, under a full moon was an enchanting way to see the city. It was nice to see couples taking romantic late-night strolls and listening to live music until your eyelids grew heavy.

And, if there was only one reason to return to Mexico, I would go back for the food. I have a little addiction to Lime, and there was lime in almost every dish! (My favorite was lime soup!) The pork practically melted in your mouth, the milkshakes and performance-made crepes were unbelievably fresh and the salsa’s were mouth-watering. I couldn’t believe how much flavor the food had, which helped to make my entire memory of Mexico simply delicious.

Posted in adventures | Tagged chichen-itza, merida, mexico, progresso, Travel, uxmal, yucatan | Leave a comment

Lost in Translation

Posted on December 12, 2010 by Janette

Stones from “Lost in Translation”

The orient has always been an area of interest for me and in early 2009, I got to reap the benefits of a two-year-long preparation. After endless research and much anticipation, I embarked on a two-week excursion across central Japan. It was the experience of a lifetime.

To say Japan is beautiful is a gross understatement. Naturally, cultural differences abound. However, in my naiveté, I did not expect those differences to be lurking around every corner, and rooted deeper than the 300 year old trees. It was so refreshing to be out of my element and comfort zone. What better way to be attentive enough to soak up my surroundings and notice every beautiful detail?

Japan is all about balance, at least from what I could see. In a country where technology is king and bullet trains fly, there are also slow, arduous pilgrimages to climb Mt. Fuji on foot. There are loud arcades and karaoke bars as well as quiet, methodical tea ceremonies. Large-scale modern architecture is located next to small wooden shrines and even in the mega city of Tokyo, trees are just as sacred as commerce. And no matter where I was, life in Japan seemed to have a natural order and rhythm to it. The only exception being the sidewalks. The Japanese are so adept at riding bicycles, that walking down the street is dangerous and chaotic because they can navigate themselves with a few inches of space. And no acknowledgement is made when one is coming to pass you! But, perhaps that too balances everything out, considering that all traffic laws are followed, all cross walks are used and people even stand single file inside lines painted on the ground when waiting for the train.

Cultural pride is evident everywhere. The people I met and spoke to were overjoyed when complimented on their country. They are proud of their language, their traditions, their landmarks and their beautiful cherry blossoms. They always sounded honored to hear how excited I was to see their country and experience their culture. Likewise, they were excited to practice their English and share stories about vacationing in the US.

Gates

I was comfortable in Japan, considering that the entire trip was outside my comfort zone. Even though the food was completely different, toilets were holes in the floor and, in some remote places, no one spoke English at all, I still felt comfortable. I think I needed to experience being at the mercy of another culture. I needed the feeling of having to adapt. This trip was my first real opportunity to have that experience, and I learned that people are people. They can look different and sound different, but with a healthy respect for a new culture, there’s no reason to fear the experience. Japan was nourishing for the mind, body, and soul, and I left with a renewed appreciation for the human spirit.

Largest wooden building in the world.

In 14 days I passed through 7 cities, each different, but amazing. Tokyo and Kyoto are the places I spent a little extra time, given that there are tons of things to do and see, but all the smaller stops were just as exciting. There was viewing Mt. Fuji and experiencing some hot springs in Hakone. A day in Nara let me see the largest wooden building in the world. On the rural island of Shikoku, a stop in Kotohira let me experience a fancy, traditional Japanese inn, called a ryokan, complete with a 7 course dinner! And while staying in Tokushima, the Iya Valley vine bridge and waterfall were easy to access. Osaka was the last small city to visit, and it was filled with unique things like a shrine shaped like a lion’s head and a temple with a graveyard surrounding it. Plus, the river that cuts through the city was just breathtaking.

Shrine

Once again, I saw so many things that I had only seen in movies or read about in books, up until that point. Plus, there were countless points of interest I didn’t even know about until I happened upon them. The research paid off, the effort was worth it, and I realized that an obsession was born. I couldn’t stop there. After surviving another trip of a lifetime, I understood that my life needed to be made up of trips just like that. There are so many cultures, so many awe-inspiring things to see, and so little time.

Posted in adventures | Tagged asia, hakone, japan, kotohira, kyoto, mt. fuji, nara, osaka, tokushima, tokyo, Travel | Leave a comment

Aloha from Hawaii

Posted on November 9, 2010 by Janette

Far, far away, in the middle of the Pacific ocean, there is a place so isolated that one would naturally call it paradise. A set of islands like stones casually tossed into a lake, Hawaii is breathtaking from the air, land, and sea.

The beautiful coast

Hawaii was the first leg of a much longer journey. Departing the contiguous states and heading out over the vast Pacific Ocean was pretty cool. There was a whole lot of nothing for quite some time until finally the islands appeared. Since I always do my research before going somewhere new, I understood what the islands would look like, but seeing them in person was a whole different story. They were bigger than I thought they would be and the lush mountains were more vibrant than I expected.

My cousin Jon had been stationed on Oahu, so I got to spend almost a week with him and his wife Holly. And, they were great tour guides…we went everywhere!

One of the first things we got to do was drive along the popular vacation spots in between huge hotels that are directly opposite beautiful Waikiki beach. I understand why some people go to Hawaii just for that beach…it was awesome to watch the surfers and the boats and a sunset that was larger than life. Especially with ominous Diamond Head watching over everything in the distance.

I was fortunate enough to get a personal tour of the Pearl Harbor memorial, as well as a great seaside view of many other boats in the area. Also, a stop at “turtle beach” allowed me to get closer to a few sea turtles than I have ever been! It was so cool to see how laborious their land movements were, considering how well they glide under water 🙂

Pearl Harbor Memorial

Turtle!!!

One day we all went to the “swap meet.” It was held in the parking lot of the big football stadium and it consisted of hundreds of vendors selling all kinds of Hawaiian stuff galore. I got two beautiful Hawaiian dresses for my nieces, a pretty photo album (I love wooden crafts) and some awesome fabrics to make pillow cases with. Everything was so cheap! I’m glad I had an in with some locals, hehe.

The day we went to Manoa Falls was particularly special. We had to drive through a residential area in the mountains, which reminded me of North Carolina. (so many things do). After we got to the park entrance, we had to do a little hiking over some slick rocks to get to the 100 foot waterfall. Lots of people were out and about to take part in the adventure to see the waterfall, and it was enjoyed by all.

Manoa Falls

One of the last days I was there we explored downtown Honolulu. It was a pretty city with well manicured grounds. The capitol building was the most modern one I’ve seen, complete with an open ceiling and a moat! The Iolani Palace was the next building over, and although we decided not to go in (because it was too expensive, even though I read that it was supposed to be free….) it was still nice to admire the architecture from the outside and take some great pictures.

I felt that I accomplished so much in that week. My hosts showed me all that was wonderful about the island. I saw beaches, turtles, waterfalls, went hiking on high hills and through dense forests, passed coffee and pineapple plantations, saw another state capitol, felt the wind in my hair on the windward side of the island, got to spend time with my cousin whom I haven’t seen in years, and his wife who I met for the first time. I was very fortunate indeed 🙂

Posted in adventures | Tagged honolulu, island life, manoa falls, oahu, pearl harbor, Travel | Leave a comment

New England

Posted on October 24, 2010 by Janette

It’s like England…only newer 🙂

New England

After being here for a few years, I’ve gotten to sample much of what the area has to offer. Clearly, Rhode Island will have more notable mentions, because that is my home. However, all the other New England states are special and sweet in their own way. Below are some points of interest I’ve gotten to enjoy.

MAINE

I would consider Maine my favorite New England state, and I can’t exactly put my finger on why. Perhaps it has to do with its large coastline, or maybe it’s because it’s an edge of the country, a finger reaching far to the north, beckoning me to come see what it’s pointing at. In a nutshell: it’s beautiful.

A capital city is always a main stop on my US travel agenda, so naturally, Augusta was the first stop. It was a small, friendly city with a nice history museum and quaint surroundings. But, Portland was more my speed. A coastal city has so much to offer. Some highlights were a beautiful twilight lighthouse tour, an amazing dark cherry chocolate chip milkshake, and my first authentic “lobstah” dinner. Portland was scrumptious.

Finally, Kennebunkport was a mini stop before heading home, and I’m so glad I got to see it. There’s not really that much to see, but it’s one of the cutest places I’ve ever been. Besides the expensive homes (which is inevitable), there is plenty of small-town charm, little shops and beautiful beach.

NEW HAMPSHIRE

This was a quick get-away, but I still had a fabulous time. Of course, Concord was the first stop…another sleepy New England city, that feels more like a town. And, once again, the coastal city of Portsmouth drew me in much faster than the hills in the center of the state.

Portsmouth looked like a well taken care of city. There is nothing better than drinking sweet coconut lime juice and taking a stroll through a beautifully manicured park, down to the water. The water, by the way, seemed to have the fastest current I’ve ever seen! Also, along the waterfront, is a thriving art community. There are so many shops selling local pottery, glass, textiles, etc. It was great to see a community have such pride expressing their creativity.

VERMONT

By far, the most sleepy New England state, Vermont has a charm like no other. The whole state seems like a small town where everyone is your neighbor. In Montpelier, which is the size of a small neighborhood, no one monitors the parking meters and you get instant assistance from people on the street the moment you pull out a map. 🙂

The Ben and Jerry’s factory was a delicious stop, as well as the Morse Farm Sugar Works, where you taste maple syrup instead of ice cream. All-in-all, a tasty destination!

CONNECTICUT

People from New England seem to not be very fond of CT, but it’s great, especially for history buffs.

Mystic Seaport was a fun place to go. It’s a step back in time where you can see what life was like “back in the day.” You can also step on board a few boats and get a lesson in the seafaring lifestyle. There is much to see and do in this cute family friendly town.

You guessed it, Hartford was the next stop, and I did not allow enough time to see everything! Many famous people were from, or had lived in CT, so many of their houses are now museums. There are also some very old gravesites and the capital building was the most elaborate I’ve seen, as well as the surrounding grounds.

Hartford State House

I feel like I have just seen the tip of the iceberg, so this is definitely a place I’d like to spend some more time.

MASSACHUSETTS

There is soooo much to see! If Florence is “quintessential” Italy, then Massachusetts is “quintessential” New England. It’s a cornucopia of various historical points with perfect picturesque scenery peppered in for flavor.

Growing up around theatre, and reading “The Crucible,” sparked my interest in Salem. I happened to be there during Halloween which was…interesting. It seems like a friendly, small town with no big buildings and no hustle and bustle. It has lots of museums and protected historical sites. I’m sure the holiday brought lots of extra people to the area, flooding the city, but the costumes I got to see were out of this world.

Boston (aka Beantown) requires lots of time to explore. It’s a pretty large city. It has beautiful government buildings, gorgeous parks, museums, theatres, and nightlife galore. Boston has pretty much everything one could ever want, except cheap rent. 😉

Boston’s North End

But, if it’s R & R you’re looking for, then Cape Cod or Martha’s Vineyard may be a better location. Whether it’s driving through rows of summer cottages that are wedged between sparkling sand dunes and the great blue, or shopping for local art made with seashells and sea glass, both locations have an endless supply of things to hold one’s interest.

It’s also fun to be around the water and see all the boaters that sail in from all over the world in their various crafts for the sole purpose of doing exactly what you are doing…just enjoying.

RHODE ISLAND

I’m proud to say that this state has been my home for the past few years, and probably will be for a few more. I still remember the day I was working in North Carolina when I got the phone call accepting me to the intern program at Trinity Rep in Providence. I was elated, considering that I only applied to 3 programs, and also that I didn’t have to go back to Pennsylvania, hehe. That opportunity gave me wings, and when I found out the state motto is “Hope,” I took it as a sign that the stars were aligning themselves, pointing me in a certain direction. I had to go, and I’m so glad I did.

The beauty of Rhode Island is that there is something for everyone and it doesn’t take long to get anywhere. Plus, the public transportation reaches just about anywhere in the state.

The first place I lived was in Providence. Even though there is constant change, there is never a shortage of things to do. Every neighborhood has its historic sections and notable landmarks, as well as little museums and parks. I addition to these items, Providence also has tons of cafe’s, restaurants, pubs, clubs, and shops. But one of my favorite things to experience is “waterfire.” Usually just during the summer months, the downtown area is flooded with family’s, couples, and drunk singles on Saturday nights at sunset. In the middle of the river are burning fire pits that add a beautiful glow and aroma to the evening experience. Combine that with beautiful music, some food, spirits and street performers, and you have an enchanted evening.

The East Bay is where I live now. A few miles south of Providence is like another world. It’s very quiet and peaceful and cozy. The town has everything I need, and I can walk just about everywhere. Even though Fall is my favorite season, I always look forward to sunny afternoons at the town beach under a nourishing sun, and tranquil evenings at the town wharf, being lulled by the lapping water against beautiful boats under a luminous moon.

Newport is also a fun destination. Ocean Drive, the Newport Mansion museums, and the Cliff Walk are all must-sees while in town. Also, just North of Newport is where I went skydiving years ago…a must-do for those adventure seekers out there. Off the coast of Newport is Rose Island. There is a self-sustainable lighthouse/museum/inn on the island. You can stay for a night or a week and learn how to be a temporary lighthouse keeper! I was only there for a day and it was a cool experience.

View from Cliff Walk

Speaking of lighthouses, Point Judith is a really pretty place to visit. There is a gorgeous picnic area right by the lighthouse with the sea and horizon as the backdrop. No wonder they perform weddings there 🙂

As one of the “exotic” RI destinations, Block Island should be seen at least once. If you stay for a day or two, you can bike basically the entire island, spend a little time on the beach, do a little hiking, and reward yourself with some delicious ice cream afterwards. Once you see it, you instantly understand why people from all around choose to stand in huge lines for a ticket on the slow ferry…it really is worth it.

South point of Block Island, tempting huh?

Posted in adventures | Tagged block island, boston, connecticut, maine, massachusetts, new hampshire, newport, rhode island, vermont | Leave a comment

What happens in Vegas….

Posted on October 6, 2010 by Janette

Ahhh, the desert. This trip was very exciting for me, for a few reasons. First, I had never been west of the Mississippi. Second, I had never been to the desert. Third, this was the first trip that I had planned, from start to finish, all by myself. I kinda felt like a grown up, for a few minutes, hehe.

Truth be told, the real reason for going to Vegas at all, was to have a cheap area to stay in while getting to tour the Grand Canyon, in nearby Arizona. And, that arrangement worked out quite well. Las Vegas, NV is usually a pretty cheap city to fly into, so air travel was not expensive. Plus, I found a small hotel in the old part of the city that was cute, and quiet, for $60 a night…not too shabby. I’m definitely not a 5-star hotel kind of girl…gimme a clean, safe, quiet, cheap room, and I’m as happy as a clam! 🙂

Also, I’m not a gambler, so I wasn’t tempted to throw lots of money into the pockets of scary looking machines and people wearing funny sequined vests. Although there are opportunities lurking everywhere…besides every single hotel having at least one casino, you can also begin gambling right in the McCarran airport, hehe.

Even though it was a short trip, the few days I had to explore Vegas were lots of fun. Especially since there is a lot to see for free.

The first thing I got to enjoy for free was the scenery. Even the view from the airport was breathtaking. I didn’t know what to expect when I tried to picture what the desert was going to be like. And seeing the colors in the distant rocks, the reds, purples, tans and browns, were absolutely beautiful. The lack of trees did not seem weird at all and it did not make the view seem naked one bit. Trees would have just subtracted from the perfection.

Driving along The Strip was fun. And, I didn’t realize how long The Strip actually is. The road seems to go on forever, passing hotel after hotel after hotel. To make the journey easy on tourists, taxi’s are never hard to find, and there are also double-decker busses making the rounds every 20 mins, which is very convenient.

The Strip at night

Evening is when the city comes alive, and all the hotels have something exciting to show off. The Bellagio has a larger-than-life dancing fountain, the Mirage has a tranquil waterfall that turns into an angry volcano, and Treasure Island has a pirate ship battle in their moat! There is also the Freemont Street Experience, where a canopy covers a few blocks that are closed off to cars. The canopy is like the world’s biggest screen-saver, and every 30 mins or so, huge light shows and animations are shown, often to a different style of music. Pretty cool.

The Freemont Street Experience

In between seeing all the sights the city had to offer was a day-trip to the Grand Canyon…aka…the real reason for going to the desert. The package I chose was a door-to-door service helicopter tour, and it was fabulous. After getting picked up from the hotel and driven a short distance to the air strip, I was whisked away by plane to the Grand Canyon site. Even though the flight was short, we still got to see the beautiful topography, the Hoover Dam, and gorgeous Lake Mead. And then…out of no where, I saw cracks in the earth so large, it was as if I had a magnifying glass up to my eyes. The Grand Canyon was before me and it was indeed grand.

aerial view

I have to say, a helicopter is an awesome mode of transportation, and if they weren’t so expensive, I’d get one. 🙂 I got to sit right next to the pilot to drink in 180 degrees of unobstructed canyon view as we flew into the massive cracks. We were bobbing and weaving around pillars of rock and sheer cliffs, before touching down on a bank near the Colorado River. Then we had a leisurely boat ride down a portion of the water before having the helicopter take everyone further on, through more crevices, before bringing us to our complimentary picnic area. After we had a delicious meal, everyone had some time to look around the little gift shop before being whisked back to where we all came from. An excellent use of a long afternoon.

Deep inside the canyon

It was late October, the temperature was a perfect 75-80 degrees, the sun was shining, and it was impossible to take a bad picture of the beauty before me. I remember a sense of accomplishment washing over me as I was returning to the hotel. I had wanted to see the Grand Canyon for a long time, and I made it happen, and it was easy, and most importantly, it was everything I expected it to be and more.

Posted in adventures | Tagged desert, grand canyon, hoover dam, lake mead, las vegas | 1 Comment

Carolina in my mind

Posted on September 21, 2010 by Janette

Can’t you see the sunshine,

Can’t you just feel the moonshine?

You must forgive me,

If I’ve up and gone to Carolina in my mind.

James Taylor sings right to me…I don’t know if many people knew that…but he does 🙂 And the sentiment of the song fits perfectly with my experience of North Carolina.

I worked in the Western corner

I’m taking you back to my summer stock theatre days, where I worked in a land of make-believe. Picture it: Two months in the summer, for three years in a row, working 80+ hour weeks, in 95 degree heat, in the middle of nowhere, making almost no money. I know what you are thinking, but my time in the North Carolina hills was pure magic, (especially my very first summer there), and I learned how little one needs in life to be happy, not how much. It was a surreal experience, to say the least.

Brevard, NC is a small town located in Transylvania County, in the western part of the state. The music center I worked for was a semi outdoor venue which produced 4 operas, countless orchestral recitals, and touring performances like Peter, Paul and Mary, Burt Bacharach, Lucinda Williams, etc. During my time there, I did everything from clean the dressing rooms, to build and paint scenery, to assistant stage manage guest artist performances, to run lighting equipment for the other shows in between. Our schedule was tight, considering how much we had to do in 8 weeks. On a normal day, I would get up around 7am and walk to work, to the tune of someone practicing a cello, or upright bass, while dew drops were still on every blade of grass. Not a bad way to begin a day of work. Then, after hours of moving set pieces, or orchestra pieces, putting on a show, or just assisting with a full rehearsal of some sort, I would return to my cabin, while being serenaded by a pianist or violinist. My days were so long, that time seemed to stand still. Sometimes it seemed like a never-ending summer, but in a good way…no one wanted the enchantment to end.

I joke that I used to live in a shack in the woods behind a dumpster, but that really is true. Staff housing was located all over the wooded “campus” and mine was right behind a dumpster next to a babbling brook. The boys cabin was on the other side of the dumpster and dirt trail, and in between was the area called “roadside.” That is where we made our nightly camp fires, which lasted for hours. The crew for the music center comes from all over the US, so we would talk to our compadres about life in different parts of the country, listen to someone play the guitar/sing, roast marshmallows, play lots of Bob Marley, and stargaze into the wee hours of the morning.

The music center had a large pond on one side, and any moment of free time (during a work day) would be spent down there. There was no better way to get cooled off than a dip! Plus, it was one of the only areas of the compound that you could just listen to nature, and nothing else…incase you were tired of listening to beautiful classical music every now and again.

Days off were a different story. Everyone had an adventurous spirit, and that spirit was put to good use. No one went into “town” unless it was necessary, most of the time. It was the cutest town ever, but the crew seemed to be made up of adventure seekers, so exploring nature always came first.

Transylvania county is the land of waterfalls, and Brevard is in the middle of a rain forest. Water was everywhere, and I mean EVERYWHERE. Ponds, streams, rain, waterfalls, rivers…we were surrounded. I made it my mission to seek out as many waterfalls as I could manage, and in 3 years, I made it to 13! Considering that there were hundreds to hunt for, this may not sound like a lot, but although some were on the side of the road, others required hours of hiking. And with one day off a week (maybe), time was limited. Here is a list, incase anyone wants to do some sightseeing down there: Hickory Nut Falls, Hooker Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, Cullasaja Falls, Connestee Falls, Toxaway Falls, Whitewater Falls, Slick Rock Falls, Dry Falls, Looking Glass Falls, Sliding Rock Falls, Skinny Dip Falls and Triple Falls. And, they were all amazing….

Triple Falls

Cullasaja Falls

When waterfall hunting wasn’t on the menu, the crew would always find unique, fun things to keep everyone busy. This included going to the Hob Nob (a local bar/cafe) to listen to live Jazz on the weekends, having themed costume parties, watching movies outdoors via projector and sheet, and taking leisurely drives along the fabulous Blue Ridge Parkway (where the mountains really do look blue). And no matter where we were or what we did, the sounds of rolling water and the smell of campfire lurked around every corner.

Blue Ridge Mountains

Plus, I would always arrive a few days early and leave a few days after the season ended to take advantage of the other points of interest on my to-do list. One summer I went hangliding, which was awesome. And another summer, I got to go to Cliff Rock park, with a boat cruise down Lake Lure, and also made a stop at Grandfather Mountain to see the mile-high swinging bridge. Every where you turned, there was something breathtaking to see or experience.

Grandfather Mountain

Life there was beautiful. Even during the daily rains, through the stifling heat, the sunlight or starlight was always glinting on the water, and everything seemed to sparkle.

Carolina is in my mind quite often…. 🙂

Posted in adventures | Tagged blue ridge mountains, brevard, grandfather mountain, rainforest, summer stock theatre, waterfalls | 3 Comments

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