It was a perfect day to wander the cobblestone streets. The weather was perfect. We were excited to have our friend Wendy (former SFO flight attendant) explore Rome with us.

Trastevere

Our first destination was to the Trastevere, a neighborhood located across the Tiber River. Trastevere is famous for its bohemian atmosphere, restaurants and wine bars, boutiques and craft shops. It has beautiful cobblestone streets lined with Roman architecture.

Trastevere was a fun neighborhood to explore. We enjoyed a yummy Roman charcuterie plate at a restaurant in the heart of Trastevere.

After our nourishment, we had some energy to do some shopping.

We relished our time wandering the cobblestone streets of Trastevere. We headed back over the river to get lost in the vibrant, timeless streets in the heart of Rome.

No matter how many time we walk these streets, Rome’s beauty still takes our breaths away.

We enjoyed a pre-dinner cocktail, at one of our favorite local Birrerias.

We ate dinner at a restaurant that a flight attendant had recommended. I would like to mention a few interesting facts about dining in Italy. Italy’s waiters will not hover or ask you how you are doing. Meals in Italian restaurants are considered a way to pamper yourself. There is no rushing. Buon Appetito!

Our trip to Rome is never complete until we end our visit with a delicious gelato.

SALUTE!

We arrived in Barcelona in the wee hours of the morning. Time to nap before we start our day.

First priority, checking out the nearby grocery store for Spanish delicacies. Wow, did we find the perfect ham with hooves and all.

Off we go by train to have some fun in the sun.

We boarded the coastal cruise boat to enjoy views of Barcelona from the water.

Marianne and I were in good hands, the Mirasestels kept constant watch on the waters keeping us safe.

Vila Olimpica

An interesting site from the water was the Olympic Village. Open to the sea and with its own beaches, the Vila Olimpica neighborhood was created as the Olympic village to provide accommodation for athletes taking part in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. Today it is a magnificent residential area.

Despite the winds, the warm weather made our boating excursion delightful.

Now it was time to enjoy the beach. In much of our surprise, we stumbled across a nudest beach. The mature sunbathers were truly experiencing nature and the beach with the liberty of being unclothed.

La Deliciosa

We decided to stop at La Deliciosa for a bite to eat and drinks. La Deliciosa is a relaxed beach bar offering food and cocktails.

The location was absolutely perfect to end our fun in the sun in Barcelona. “The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.”

We definitely had the Dream Crew working to Paris. Tracey, Marianne, Jennifer and I got on this trip, so we could celebrate our dear friend Laurie’s birthday. Laurie is a friend from Pleasanton and was celebrating her birthday in Paris with her 2 daughters.

We arrived in Paris in the morning. We slept a couple of hours before we ventured out to meet Laurie and her daughters at the Arc de Triomphe. We were so excited for the girls arrival.

Laurie, McKensie and Madelyn arrived at the Arc de Triomphe ready to have a fun filled day! We all jumped on the train. Our first stop was to Montmartre, a charming hilltop district known as a former artists village and home to the Sacré-Coeur.

Montmartre

Montmartre never disappoints. It’s one of my favorite places in Paris. Perched high above Paris, with a quaint village feel, Montmartre has been both home and muse to countless influential creatives over the years , including Van Gogh and Picasso.

We had to stop at La Bonne Franquette to have a champagne toast for the birthday girl.

Loved our time at Montmartre. It was time to move on. Next stop was at Moulin Rouge.

Moulin Rouge is a cabaret in Paris. Moulin Rouge was France’s first popular ballroom where partygoers could eat, drink, dance and watch shows.

Now it was time to walk a 3 mile walk to the Eiffel Tower for dinner and to watch the magnificent unforgettable twinkling of the Eiffel Tower at 9pm.

We made it!

We found a great restaurant to eat some yummy pizza!

The first thing we needed to do was find the best spot on the lawn. The twinkling of the Eiffel Tower has 2 purposes. First, the lights highlight the Eiffel Tower’s elegant structure. Secondly, to ensure its safe night operation. It was a magical night sitting on the lawn seeing the twinkling lights.

Very special celebrating Laurie’s birthday at the Eiffel Tower.

We didn’t want the night to end, so us flight attendants played some Rugby before going to bed. I can clearly say Marianne’s team won.

From Pleasanton to Paris, we celebrated Laurie’s birthday in Parisian style. Though we had to leave Paris, Paris will always have an imprint on our hearts.

We worked with a wonderful crew to Barcelona. One of the flight attendants offered to show us around the city. The first thing she wanted to show us is how to use the bus to get to the main center of Barcelona.

The bus was actually very easy to use. I think now Marianne and I can maneuver the bus system on our future trips to Barcelona.

Such a beautiful day walking La Rambla , considered the most well known street in central Barcelona.

We stopped at the La Boqueria, which is one of the best markets in the world.

The colors, scents and spirit of everyday Spanish life burst from the busy aisles of this famous food market. We had a nice lunch at the market and then continued our walk to the water.

Miraestels

Seeing this statue in the water was captivating. I found out it is called Miraestels, a floating icon, becomes guardian of the waters. With its watchful presence, it urges us to care for and respect the sea. Miraestels staring into heaven indicate a double vigilance.

It certainly was a beautiful day by the water.

Our crew split up, Brit stayed with us and the other 2 girls headed back to the hotel. We now needed to saunter the streets in the Gothic Quarter. It’s a charming area filled with trendy bars, clubs and restaurants.

We found a great spot for a much needed beverage.

We enjoyed our time in the Gothic Quarter. Thanks to Brit, it was an easy trip back to our hotel by bus.

Our trip to Barcelona was a lot of fun, mainly do to the kindness and fun Flight Attendant Crew that we worked with. The Flight Attendants that you work with can either make or break a trip! You never know until you walk on the plane what kind of flight attendants you will be working with.

We arrived back into New York around 2:30pm and went to the Crashpad. We were very excited to see some of our SFO family staying at the Crashpad with us that night. Making our Crashpad feel like our 2nd home, we all enjoyed happy hour in the backyard. Great way to end a great day!

So excited to get to experience Tel Aviv with Marianne. We started our journey to New York with great seats in Business Class. Nice way to have some peace before our bizarre flight to Tel Aviv.

I tried to prepare Marianne for this mind blowing flight to Tel Aviv. No words could prepare her for the craziness that she would witness on this flight. It was just what we expected…chaotic. It’s not the flight that makes this trip, it’s having a fun layover right on the beach. What we will do to make work seem like a vacation!

We tried to make it to see the sunset outside our hotel in Tel Aviv. Unfortunately, we were stuck in traffic and missed the sunset by minutes. We decided to walk the boardwalk to see the night action. There was a lot going on; Zumba, yoga, volleyball on the beach and of course lots of eateries with delicious food. Next time Marianne and I are going to try the Zumba class. We loved the music.

It was getting late, so we decided to try the restaurant on the beach in front of our hotel. Beside hearing the roaring waves and the magic of sitting on the beach at night, we found that the food was delicious.

We were not ready to call it a night, so we just turned our seats around to listen to the sweet lullaby of the sea. More adventure was about to happen in front of us on the beach.

As we were sitting on the beach a group of young men came to sit in front of us on the beach with their boom box playing fun music. The funny thing was our waiter kept checking in on us and I said to him, ” Isn’t it nice that off duty policemen come to the beach to relax.” The waiter laughingly said, ” I’m glad you call them policemen, here we call them Israeli thugs.”

As we were listening to their music, we noticed a couple from the table behind us going swimming. The waiter told us the wedding party had been partying at the restaurant all day. The woman could hardly stand. After a few moments, it looked like she was going to drown. Her date was not in good shape either. Marianne came to the rescue and told the “Policemen” about the couple drowning. They jumped up and went to the couple’s rescue. All ended well. Marianne saved the day!

We had a good night sleep. We couldn’t decide if we should take an all day tour to Jerusalem the next day. It left the hotel at 720am and returned at 6pm. Unfortunately, it would not give us much time to rest before we had to go to work that night. We decided to postpone that tour for another time. We found a free walking tour that would show us Jaffa City. Regretfully , I did not read the fine print. We showed up to meet our tour guide and found out this tour was going to be in Spanish only. The nice guy told us an English speaking tour was going to start in 30 minutes at the clock tower. Now we had to find the clock tower.

We found it and the tour guide was excellent. We learned so much about Old Jaffa.

It was time to head back. We had a sunny 3 mile walk ahead of us to our hotel. We couldn’t wait to swim in the Mediterranean Sea.

We stopped along the way and picked up delicious meat filled pitas for lunch.

Swimming in the Mediterranean Sea was refreshing. The water was warm, clean and very clear. Nothing like frolicking in the sea.

Time to say good bye to Tel Aviv. We needed to put our game faces on to be firm, but nice to our passengers on our return flight to New York.

Cheers for us for another great adventure. “Life is a journey, enjoy the trip. Aim for the sky, but move slowly, enjoying every step along the way.”

TEL AVIV

Never in my wildest dreams would I ever think I would travel to Tel Aviv. I certainly went out of my comfort zone to work this flight. I cannot put into words the craziness that takes place on these flights for 11 hours. My head is still spinning!

The Calm Before The Storm

Boarding alone was challenging. I have to mention that the majority of our passengers were Hasidic Jews. They have their own dress, customs and beliefs. They have many children. My 1st challenge with boarding occurred when some of the Hasidic men informed me that their religion prevents them from sitting next to a woman that is not his wife. I told them that they would have to figure their sitting arrangements out on their own. I was not moving anyone. I was told by other flight attendants be firm, but nice. Next they need their luggage near them for reasons you will learn about soon. They would not use overhead spaces that were available if the bin was not directly above them. So boarding is very chaotic. Everyone is walking around even when we have closed the door. It’s like our rules on the aircraft did not pertain to them.

Finally, we got everyone seated and took off. We did our beverage and dinner service right away. This flight like no other had 170 pre-ordered kosher meals. Now we have to get these special meals to their owners. We managed to get everyone a meal and drink. It seemed to me everyone was starting to settle in for the night! I was quickly mistaken.

About 4 hours into the flight, all the Hasidic men jumped up and got their suitcases down to robe their praying garments. They pray at sunrise. Majority of the men pray in front of our exit doors with a window. The men that could not get to the doors, either prayed in their seats or in the aisle. One interesting note is that the men don’t stand still. They rock back and forth in place. I felt bad for all the other paying passengers that were now awake. I was told this is how it is on every flight to Tel Aviv. The prayer time lasts 30 minutes.

We had at least 10 men at this door. Note that we had to cover our coffee bar sink with the curtain because they would take their drinking water and wash their hands in it before praying. We kept telling them to please wash their hands in the lavatory. I asked one of them why he had a white robe on? I was told that the married men wear the white robes. After praying, they put their robes away and finally went to sleep.

Now you are probably saying to yourself, ” why would Nancy put herself through that?” It’s simple……..

Tel Aviv’s entire west side faces the Mediterranean Sea. The city boasts 9 miles – of some of the best beaches in the world with clean wide stretches of sand and stunning views of the sea, white sails and surfers.

We made it to our hotel by 630pm, just in time for sunset and dinner on the beach. We stay at the Hilton Hotel on the shores of the Mediterranean, which consists of a boardwalk that goes for miles. My trip to Tel Aviv was perfect because I had Cori, my coworker and longtime friend from SFO on my trip. Cori and I have had so many fun trips while we were both based in San Francisco. Cori was so gracious to show me all the fabulous sights of Tel Aviv.

Cori and I didn’t want to miss the beautiful sunset. We walked the boardwalk until we found a perfect spot.

After the sunset, we set off to find a place for dinner. We found the perfect spot for delicious drinks and food on the boardwalk.

It was time to walk back to the hotel to get a goodnight sleep. Cori and I were getting up early the next morning to explore Tel Aviv.

It was a nice walk back to our hotel.

Good morning Tel Aviv. This was the view from my bed!

Now it was time for yoga on a paddle board in front of our hotel. No friends, I wasn’t on a paddle board, I shamelessly sat on the bench and watched these girls workout.

Cori and I got an early start on our walk before it got too hot. Our 3 mile walk was to the Old City of Jaffa.

The Old City of Jaffa

It was a pleasant walk along the water to Jaffa. It was fun to see that these beaches are dog friendly and the dogs were having so much fun in the water.

This complex was built as an inn for Christian pilgrims to Jerusalem who, during the centuries that Jaffa lay in ruins, lived among the remain of the ancient structures in 1654, the Ottoman government permitted the Franciscans to build an inn here, which become the first building in new Jaffa. In the 18th century the building was renovated and named Casa Nova. The inn remained in operation until the end of the 19th century. It now houses art galleries, restaurants and apartments.

The port of Jaffa is mentioned in the Bible and is one of the most ancient ports in the world.

Before leaving Jaffa, we crossed The Wishing Bridge. An ancient legend holds that anyone boarding the bridge, holds it’s zodiac sign and looks at the the sea- their wish will come true!

It was about a 3 mile walk back to the hotel and boy were we hot. We definitely needed to get refreshed by the hotel pool.

I can say one thing about this pool, the temperature of the pool took my breath away. It felt like an ice bath. It truly was refreshing. It didn’t stop these two polka dot girls from having fun!

What a great way to end our day! We needed to nap before our 11 hour flight back to New York. It was not as hectic flying back because these passengers never got to see sunrise. We leave at midnight and arrive in New York at 5:00am. This makes for a much calmer flight back.

Tel Aviv has been dubbed the “city that never sleeps”, Tel Aviv is a city that pulses with energy, creativity and a vibrant spirit. It may have been mayhem to get here, but I can definitely say I’ll be back!

It’s always fun flying with my friend Tracey, but I had an extra bonus flying with Tracey’s dear friend Tracy Musser. We did as the Romans do! This phrase gives tourists in the Eternal City free rein to indulge in an extra scoop of gelato or feast on carbs at every meal. As well, as signifying the benefits of following the local customs and traditions to visitors to Rome.

Vatican City

First stop was to the Vatican City. Vatican City is an independent city state located in the heart of Rome, ruled by the Pope. It is the center of authority over the Roman Catholic Church. The Vatican is the smallest state in Europe. Inside the wall lives approximately 1000 people.

St. Peter’s Square

St. Peter’s Square is located in the Vatican at the feet of the Basilica. One of the most famous squares in the world.

St. Peter’s Basilica

St. Peter’s Basilica is the church built in the Renaissance style located in the Vatican City. It’s one of the holiest temples for Christendom and one of the largest churches in the world. It’s where the Pope does mass all year round. The church can accommodate 20,000 people.

An interesting note to remember, when you are visiting St. Peter’s Basilica they still go by the Roman Catholic Churches dress code. Basic guidelines mandate that the knees and shoulders must be covered before entering the Church. The greeters at the door were very kind and handed out blue paper shawls.

After exploring the inside of St. Peter’s Basilica’s beautiful mosaics and famous artworks and the many stunning details inside, it was time to move on.

We had to cross the river to get back into the heart of Rome. Our next desired destination on recommendation was to find the pub that celebrates the Pittsburg Steelers. Tracey Butler is from Pittsburg and we were not going to miss finding this gem.

La Botticella of Poggi Giovanni

We found it!

We enjoyed a cold beverage before setting off to make it back to the Spanish Steps where we would be meeting the crew for dinner.

Venchi

A must stop on the way was at Venchi, a well known Gelato Shop! It was so yummy!

Always an adventure when walking the streets of Rome. So much to see!

We made it to the Spanish Steps. Now it was time to meet the crew for Happy Hour and dinner.

Hotel De Russie

Cocktails in an urban paradise. The Hotel De Russie is an upscale hotel that exemplifies luxurious Rome living. Rooms start at $1000.00 a night. We enjoyed a cocktail in the beautiful outdoor terrace.

I had the great pleasure of being on a Rome layover with one of my special classmates Tony Cataldo. We have flown together for 33 years.

Hosteria del Mercato

Great place for dinner. The food was delicious! Lots of laughs with my crew!

What a fantastic layover I had in Rome. We definitely did what the Romans do. We indulged in delicious gelato, savored the taste of mouth watering pasta and reveled in the beauty of Rome. It’s not even like work when you get to fly with fun loving people. You can pack for every trip, but good friends will always be the best thing you can bring.

Special bracelets were bought at the Vatican. They will always be a reminder of our memorable time spent together in Rome.

I am so happy I finally made it to a beach in Barcelona. No one on my crew wanted to go to the beach, so I got the courage to venture out myself. Another flight attendant told me to go to the W Hotel and there would be a nice beach in front of the hotel. So that’s what I did. I took a 20 minute taxi ride to the W Hotel to find my happy place.

The W Hotel is a luxury hotel located on the beachfront along the famous Barceloneta Boardwalk. This hotel has a panoramic view of Barcelona and the Mediterranean Sea.

So I found a great rock near the water’s edge to sit on to enjoy the warm water, the beauty of the sea and to marvel at the courage of all the topless women.

This was my grand seat while I enjoyed the beach.

After taking a long walk on the beach it was time to find a cold beer. I found the perfect spot. In front of the W Hotel, there was a small restaurant on the beach that offered beach chairs to enjoy your cocktail.

I enjoyed a cold Sol beer that tasted like Corona.

After a fabulous day at Sant Sebastia Beach. It was time to head back to the hotel. I was meeting the crew for dinner.

Life’s too short to not enjoy a day at the beach. A day at the beach restores the soul!

I have been flying for 33 years and my energetic fun loving friend Camaryn has been flying for 1 year. We are both based in New York. I am so happy we got to meet up on our London layovers.

After Camaryn ran 9 miles through London, she still had the energy to explore London with me. First stop was to Harrods.

HARRODS

Harrods is London’s most famous and iconic luxury department store, known for its designer retail, famous clientele for over 150 years. I wish I had taken more pictures of the luxurious counters. It have over 330 departments and 5000 brands across 7 floors, with an incredible food hall. As you roam through the store, you have a feeling of wealth and glamour.

A must have is the iconic Harrods bag that comes in all shapes and sizes.

After our retail therapy, Camaryn and I set out to find an English pub for lunch.

Camaryn found us a fun English pub! It was beautiful inside with oak panels, etched mirrors and glass work. This pub was definitely my kind of place…cold beer and a delicious lunch.

Time to move on!

WELLINGTON ARCH

The Wellington Arch is set in the heart of royal London. I t was built as an original entrance to Buckingham Palace, later becoming a victory arch proclaiming Wellington’s defeat of Napoleon.

BUCKINGHAM PALACE

Buckingham Palace is a London royal residence and the administrative headquarter of the monarch of the United Kingdom. This has been Queen Elizabeth II’s formal residence since 1936 when her father took the throne. It is said that King Charles and Queen Camilla will call Buckingham Palace their home, after renovations on the palace are completed.

It was time to walk back to our hotel. Camaryn was leaving tonight and I would be leaving in the morning back to New York.

I love walking the streets of London and seeing the architecture and luxurious properties.

It’s always fun to turn the corner and come across an Iconic Red Phone Booth. Great way to end our walk back to our hotel.

So this Oldie definitely had a great time with this Newbie. Camaryn knows how to keep you feeling young!

Camaryn here’s to many more trips together!

CHEERS, MATE!

I was so excited to get this incredible trip to Athens. Athens is full of vibrant culture, thousand of years of history, delicious food and friendly people! I can say it is one of my favorite places so far without even setting foot on one of it’s gorgeous beaches!

Before I went out to explore Athens, I visited our rooftop pool at our hotel. At night it is lively with a DJ.

ATHENS

Athens is the capital of Greece. It was also at the heart of Ancient Greece, a powerful civilization and empire. Athens houses many historic landmarks. It is known to be the birthplace of democracy and idea that all citizens should have a voice in governing their society.

PLAKA

We went to the Plaka neighborhood. It’s in the shadow of the Acropolis and ancient temples. Hillside Plaka has a village feel, with narrow cobblestone street lined with tiny shops selling jewelry, clothes and local ceramics. Plaka has lots of cafes and restaurants and of course my favorite, rooftop bars.

HYPER ASTRO ROOFTOP BAR

First stop was to the Hyper Astro Rooftop Bar in the heart of Plaka. It has a pretty terrace which offered a stunning backdrop of the Acropolis.

Fun time at the rooftop with my coworkers Annette and Margie.

After the rooftop, we met up with another flight attendant from SFO. She is Greek and took us to her favorite spots.

As we were walking up to the Acropolis, I noticed so many cats just relaxing or roaming the streets. I had to look into this phenomenon. I didn’t see any dogs. I found out that many cats were left on the streets by citizens and tourists, who often picked up cats during their stay in Greece and then discarded them at the end of their trip. Furthermore, since neutering was considered to be an unnatural process, pet cats were usually not neutered. This resulted in a large population of stray cats.

ACROPOLIS

The Acropolis of Athens is an ancient citadel located on a rocky outcrop above the city of Athens and contains the remains of several ancient buildings of great architectural and historical significance, the most famous being the Parthenon. The Acropolis was a fortress and military base during the Neolithic period, due to its position which offers a great view of the land and the sea.

So lucky to be in Athens with my Greek speaking friend Kim.

Now it was time for dinner. Kim took us to her favorite restaurant.

The view from our table at the restaurant was amazing!

I love Greek food!

Dinner was full of great food, delicious wine and fun conversation.

We made every minute of our layover count. It was getting dark so we needed to head back to our hotel. We had a 30 minute walk ahead of us.

As we walked, I looked back and I could see the beautiful Acropolis lit up on the hill. It certainly was a sight of greatness!

PANATHENAIC STADIUM

On our walk home, we came upon the Panathenaic Stadium. This spectacular stadium was home to the first modern Olympic Games in 1896 in Athens. This stadium remains the only stadium in the world built entirely out of marble. It is the oldest operating stadium in the world and it has hosted three Olympic Games.

Athens, this Ancient Greek metropolis has a lot to see and do. It has so much rich culture and history. I was so blessed to get such a wonderful layover. I can’t wait to come back. Next time I will enjoy Greece’s stunning beaches! For now, I will treasure the unforgettable memories of the vibrant city called Athens!