Come Fly With Me

Croissants, cobblestone, and couture! Summer in Paris has officially begun!

Marianne could not resist a scrumptious croissant in Paris.

While, I couldn’t resist seeing the Bridal fashion in Paris, since I will soon be a Mother of the Groom.

The skies were beginning to darken, so we knew we needed to take cover soon.

We stumbled upon a fabulous cafe to wait out the storm!!

The Parisian rain only added to the magic; our spirits remained completely untouched.

Our second trip in June brought us to Barcelona, a place we hold very dear! We jumped on the train to take us to the iconic La Rambla area.

We found ourselves in the middle of a sea of devoted Catholics, all gathered to see Pope Leo. Excitement was in the air!

Our next trip in June was to Rome.

The best thing about Rome is that it is a walking city!

Exploring Rome feels like stepping into a living museum; every cobblestone corner tells a story. Marianna and I were completely captivated by all the unique doorways we spotted on our walk.

Turning each corner is like turning a page in a book.

It certainly was a warm day for a walk, but we persevered.

We then continued on to have dinner.

There is nothing better than ending our day with a delicious Italian feast!

Another great layover in Rome!

The following week, Marianne and I came back to Rome. We decided to chase the sea breezes on the train to escape the Rome heat!

Our 1 hour train ride brought us to Santa Marinella, a charming costal town about 37 miles northwest of Rome. It’s known as the “Pearl of the Tyrrhenian Sea,” it offers beautiful sandy beaches and waterside cafes.

We decided to make a day of it! So we went to this private beach club where we rented umbrellas and chairs to enjoy our relaxing beach escape.

The water was very refreshing with it’s crystal clear, blue water and soft, golden sand.

Salty air, sandy toes, and our hearts full of sunshine!

There was no better escape from the Roman heat than feeling the cool ocean breeze, the soft sand beneath our toes, and the refreshing water all around us.

We wrapped up the month of June by going back to Rome. Marianne and I were following in Pope Leo’s footsteps. He was now in Rome!

It was a perfect evening in Rome. We stopped at a quaint traitorria for a savoring authentic bowl of Cacio e Pepe which is a pepper cream sauce over pasta. It was divine!

Closing out a whirlwind month in the skies. From strolling the streets of Paris and the vibrant energy of Barcelona to multiple layovers soaking up the history of Rome, this continues to be the adventure of a lifetime. Happiness is crossing time zones with Marianne! Every work trip we share feels like a mini vacation!

It’s been awhile, since I have caught you up on our travels. I’m just going to give you a brief account of what we have been up to.

Jennifer and I had the pleasure to work to Paris. We are now staying at a new hotel, therefore, we decided to explore our new neighborhood.

It didn’t take us long to find a cozy cafe to take in the sights.

After staying at the same hotel for years, it’s hard to get used to a new neighborhood. However, Jennifer and I definitely were off to a flying start embracing our new Parisian chapter.

Jennifer and I then concluded the month of May with a fabulous trip to Rome.

We couldn’t resist a mouth watering pizza from Italy.

There is nothing quite like a peaceful walk back to our hotel after a great slice of pizza!

”Arrivederci, Roma,” meaning “until we meet again!”

So thrilled to be in Edinburgh, Scotland for the first time! For a true sense of the city, nothing beats the hop-on-hop-off bus.

We lucked out with the sun shining. The bus ride offered panoramic views from the open-top deck. It was fun being transported around learning about the history of the city and the importance of the places we encountered.

Edinburgh, the hilly capital of Scotland, is a city of dramatic contracts, blending a medieval Old Town with a neoclassical Georgian New Town.

We truly enjoyed the experience that the hop-on-hop-off bus offered. We did the entire loop around the City, which gave us an insight of where we wanted to explore on foot.

Marianne, Jennifer, and I had our sights set on the perfect place to explore: the Grassmarket. It is a vibrant, historic area in Edinburgh’s Old Town, located directly below Edinburgh Castle, known for its cobbled streets, stunning castle views, shops, and bustling pubs and restaurants.

One of the best parts of our trip to Edinburgh was spending time with Marianne’s dear friend Emily, who is pursuing her master’s at the University of Edinburgh.

Emily became our knowledgeable tour guide.

My favorite….a liquid history tour of Edinburgh.

We could not resist stopping at the Greyfriars Bobby statue, sculpted in 1873, which commemorates a loyal Skye Terrier who guarded his owner’s grave for 14 years. Rubbing the dog’s nose is suppose to bring good luck!

Emily took us to the Royal Mile Tavern for dinner. We were happy to have our crew member Brandon join us. The tavern was in the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town. It was a traditional Scottish restaurant bursting with charm and character and typical Scottish food.

Sadly, our fun night had to come to an end. It was time to get Emily back to her abode.

Cheers to an unforgettable first visit to Edinburgh!

CONTINUATION OF LIVING OUR BEST HIGHLAND LIFE

Less than 24 hours later, Jennifer and I worked another trip back to Edinburgh. We decided now that we knew the lay of the land, we would explore Edinburgh by foot.

A short walk from our hotel, we came upon St. Cuthbert’s Church, a Scotland Presbyterian Church. It is believed to be the oldest Christian site in Edinburgh. The church is located at the foot of the Edinburgh Castle.

We came upon this prominent Celtic cross that stands in the graveyard of St. Cuthbert’s Church. The cross is characterized by detailed stonework and traditional Celtic design. It serves as a reminder of the site’s long, continuous Christian history.

We enjoyed our picturesque stroll from Edinburg’s New Town to the Old Town. It felt like a journey through time. Jennifer and I found a quaint spot to wait for Emily to join us.

Then we set off to explore some of Emily’s favorite spots.

So much more fun to explore a city with our own private tour guide.

Wow, who knew that there is a Frankenstein themed pub in Edinburgh’s Old Town known for it’s gothic, horror atmosphere, featuring a large animatronic monster that descends periodically, along with themed drinks and food.

It was time for dinner. We went to the popular, award-winning restaurant, Makar’s Gourmet Mash Bar that specializes in authentic Scottish comfort food. The long wait did not deter us for having the most delicious dinner.

My mouth is still watering thinking about the yummy dinner I had. You first pick your protein, followed by your choice of 16 different kinds of mashed potatoes. I chose the braised beef, along with mashed potatoes with bacon and onions, which was then served with a savory gravy. Definitely found my comfort that day!

It certainly was another great day living the Highland life! Our lasting memory of Edinburgh’s historic charm and fun city will stay with us forever!

Good morning Paris! So sweet to turn the corner, in our bus from the airport and see the morning glow at the Arc de Triomphe. We needed a couple hours of sleep before we could set out to enjoy this beautiful city.

And then we were off! We didn’t have a destination in mind, so we just enjoyed a walk through the streets.

To our delight, we came upon a park, where the flowers were beginning to bloom.

Blooming flowers, singing birds, and lake breeze ease was a delightful way to spend an afternoon.

I love that I caught the bird in flight!

Afternoon tea: a sip of Parisian elegance.

We continued our stroll through the streets of Paris!

We finally made it to the Galeries Lafayette Paris. Marianne and I have been talking about going there for a long time. It certainly did not disappoint.

Galeries Lafayette is famous all over the world for its fashion incredible selection, but also for its amazing architecture. It’s world-renowned for its Neo-Byzantine glass dome.

Without hesitation, we stood in the line to go out on the glass walk. The glass walk is a 9-meter-long glass walkway suspended in mid-air at a height of 16 meters. Its prime location will immerse you in the heart of the majestic Galeries Lafayette.

We still had more walking to do before meeting some of our crew members for dinner.

With pep in our steps, we headed to the Montmartre neighborhood.

Always elated to see Sacre-Coeur, the Catholic basilica that sits on the highest hill in Paris, in the Montmartre neighborhood.

A little pause, a little sunshine, and the charm of a Paris street corner!

Bringing flavor to our evening! Our friend Chaz invited us all to join him at one of his favorite restaurant’s in Paris, the Pink Mamma. The Pink Mamma is a four-story restaurant that offers authentic Italian cuisine in the lively Pigalle neighborhood. The restaurant truly shared all the warmth of a trattoria like those found in Italy. The food was delicious.

Joy of living while in Paris is a blessing. “Let us live like flowers, wild and beautiful and drenched in sun.”

With some time between work trips, Marianne and I decided there was no better way to spend the day than in New York City.

We were thrilled to be back in our old stomping grounds, with our first stop at Rockefeller Center.

It was an unusually warm, sunny March day in New York City.

We are always struck by the awe-inspiring beauty at St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

A visit to The Plaza Hotel is always a must for us. This iconic Fifth Avenue landmark, just steps from Central Park, never disappoints-the lobby adorned with glorious flowers and crowned by a stunning chandelier.

The colors, the crisp air, the skyline peeking through the trees- makes it all perfect for a stroll through Central Park.

As our day began to wind down, we still had a few more things to do before leaving the city.

Who doesn’t love seeing the big bright lights of Time Square from a rooftop!

There’s simply no better way to close out the day than with a New York state of mind,

After a 9 1/2 hour flight, we arrived in beautiful Rio. Marianne and I were thrilled to have our SFO friend, Anne, working with us on our flight.

We woke up after our nap to beautiful sunshine!

We were ready to walk down to the beach and see what fun awaits us!

Our paradise was found!

We had some time to kill before meeting up with 2 more crew members for dinner, so we ventured over to an upscale mall to take in the Brazilian fashions.

Time for dinner!

We ate at ViaSete, a top-notch restaurant in Rio, where elevated dining meets a relaxed atmosphere. It was a perfect blend of delicious food, great company and a night full of laughs!

The next day, Marianne and I embraced the overcast skies and went for a walk.

You can find magic on the beach in Rio, even on a cloudy day!

I looked up while we were walking and my breath was caught- Christ the Redeemer breaking through the gray clouds, untouched by the gloom.

Even under gray skies, we still found joy wandering through our happy place.

Rio, you gave us more than memories. You gave us perspective. You taught us the simple joy of being present! Thanks for leaving us with warm sunshine in our hearts.

Let the fun begin! But first, we had to walk through Madrid’s airport, which is the 2nd largest airport in Europe. It is notorious for extensive walking to get to your desired destination.

It was a beautiful day for walking around Madrid. No matter where Marianne and I wind up, we always find ourselves smack in the middle of a march or protest. It was a peaceful march for Iberdrol workers. The protest was part of a larger, ongoing mobilization to ensure workers share in the company’s profits.

We love to stop in at the Olive Oil store. The store carries a variety of olive oils and beauty products made from olive oils.

Another great day, where every corner is a new discovery,

Around this corner, we found a fun cafe!

We continued on our stroll through the streets of Madrid.

Marianne and I came across these park seats. It was a perfect place to get our vitamin D boost. Sun-kissed and soulful, we were ready to move on.

Before heading back to our hotel, we found this quaint neighborhood cafe. We were happily entertained by the small children and dogs playing in front of us.

When the sunsets, Madrid illuminates. Reflecting on our day under the city glow, we found that we get so much joy in little things. Thank you Madrid for reminding us to slow down and appreciate life’s small pleasures.

So excited to be in Milan for the closing day of the 2026 Winter Olympics commonly known as Milano Cortina 2026.

The Winter Olympics were held in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. The games were spread across Northern Italy. Being the last day of the Olympics, Milan was only hosting the Men’s Hockey Game ; USA vs Canada. A couple of our crew members were eager to buy tickets to the hockey game. Sadly, the tickets were very expensive…$6000.00 dollars. The best alternative was to watch the game at a nearby pub.

Marianne and I could not resist going into the MegaStore in Milan, located in Piazza Duomo, where official Olympic merchandise was sold.

Throughout the city, Milan had fun popups celebrating the Olympics.

After wondering the streets of Milan, it was time to meet up with some crew member to witness the astonishing display of the Olympic cauldron in Milan. It represents peace, unity, and the enduring Olympic spirit connecting ancient traditions with modern spirit.

We couldn’t miss out on the nightly 3-5 minute light and music show. The cauldron, inspired by Leonardo da Vince’s geometric knots, expands and lights up, symbolizing the sun and harmony between nature and human ingenuity.

Seeing the 2026 Winter Olympic cauldron light show at Milan’s Arch of Peace evoked feelings of awe and job. It was a magical, emotional experience. So grateful for this memory!

So happy to share this incredible experience with my fellow crew members!

Life is a collection of moments and how blessed am I to get to create them with Marianne! We definitely are enjoying life one trip at a time.🩷

Another trip to London to enjoy the rain. Marianne and I had a great layover in London, on account of getting to hang out with our dear friend Jennifer. Jennifer definitely brought warmth and sunshine to our day.

Alfies Antique Market is London’s largest indoor antique and vintage market, offering four floors of goods of all kinds, from affordable treasures to high-end finds.

What better to do on a rainy day! We had a great afternoon exploring Alfies. It really was an unusual place with different staircases leading to eccentric and fascinating items. So much to see! My absolute favorite was meeting Michael, Alfie’s King of Christmas. He has an ever-present evergreen Christmas tree , which is expertly, lovingly and thematically dressed on a monthly basis. I couldn’t resist exploring this month’s tree, which was decorated with all pink ornaments!

This precious 1950’s pink ornament with it’s special pink heart came home with me!

Just a little liquid sunshine in a middle of a storm at The Larrik!

We decided to head to the pub, The Heron to have dinner. It’s a traditional pub serving beers and spirits, it also has gained a reputation for serving, authentic Thai cuisine. The food was delicious and hit the spot on this cold rainy night.

Rain outside, warmth inside. The perfect end to a great day!

Good morning sunshine! This beautiful view is from Marianne’s room. Sadly, just as the sun was coming out, it was time for us to leave London! Our layover in London was unforgettable, and we will cherish every moment we got to enjoy this beautiful city, where the present and past make perfect harmony. We can’t wait for our next visit! London is definitely our cup of tea!

Marianne and I had a short layer in London. We decided to go to a new area that we had never been to before. We took the train to explore Portobello Road in the Notting Hill district, which is a vibrant treasure trove, famous for antiques, vintage fashion and unique finds. Of course, we had to find the iconic blue door from the 1999 movie Notting Hill. It was the door the film used for the entrance to the flat shared by William Thacker (Hugh Grant) and Spike.

It certainly was a cold and rainy day in London. We did our best to keep warm by going in and out of the shops on Portobello Road. It also has an outdoor market, full of treasures to see.

It was hard to warm up! So we did what we do best!

We escaped the London rain, in a cozy, dimly lit pub, where the atmosphere was warm and inviting!

We were snug in a pub! Marianne and I have perfected the art of being cozy in London.