Come Fly With Me

Fete De La Musique In Paris

The Fete de La Musique also known in English, as Music Day, was held June 21, the summer solstice. It took place all over France. To our good fortune, with my SFO buddies, we were in Paris on this special day!

We started our day by taking the train to the Lourve to listen to music. It was early in the day, so we did not get to enjoy the big concert at the Louvre, which would start at 9pm. However during the day, they still had music being played on the stage using big speakers for all us music fans to hear.

We took cover under a shady tree and listened and sang along to some classic rock from the US. In Paris, the Fete de la Musique is an all day affair. The city truly comes alive in the evening as the sun goes down. While some of the concerts and performances start earlier in the afternoon, the atmosphere intensifies after dark, with music filling the streets, squares and parks until late into the night.

It was time to move on and wonder the city to find musicians performing!

It was a very warm day in Paris, nonetheless, we did not let the heat deter us from having fun!

We ventured over to the Luxembourg Gardens. The gardens are split into French and English Gardens. The Gardens offer a haven of peace in the heart of the city.

We never stopped looking for the music, laughing all the way!

We found shade at the beautiful Medici Fountains The fountain is in a shady corner of the Luxembourg Gardens built in 1630.

The night excitement was getting well underway, more crowds and music was being performed in the streets and courtyards. It was light out til past 10pm. It was a perfect night for dancing.

It was a grand day shared with special friends at the Fete de La Musique in Paris.

WALKING, SHOPPING AND EATING IN PARIS

Jennifer and I were happy to be going back to Paris on our next trip. We had nothing planned, only to get out and enjoy walking the streets of Paris.

First stop, Maison Louvard, the birthplace of the crookie in Paris. A crookie offers magnificent blend of a crisp croissant and a half baked cookie dough.

Deliciousness in every bite!

Now it was time to shop! We went into vintage stores to see what treasures we could find. All I can say is my hands were full at the end of the day!

Have you heard of the Labubu craze?? Everyone wants one, but they are nowhere to be found. Labubu is a brand of collectible plush toy monster elves. It got popular when pop stars and tv personalities started showing them off on their purses and backpacks. I had a mission to get my great niece Emily one. We heard they could be found at Popmart in Paris. Jennifer and I located one on the map and walked over. We turned the corner to see a huge line outside of Popmart. We knew everyone was eager to get their hands on a Labubu. Of course, we joined the line. After about 20 minutes, we noticed people were coming out of the door looking very happy or very disappointed. We couldn’t wait to get inside. A French woman in front of us understood our English and kindly turned around and said, “Popmart had no Labubus to buy, people were in line to pick up their reserved orders.” So disappointed, but not completely deflated, Jennifer and I stayed in line determined to get a glimpse of one of these labubus and maybe to our good luck find one we could still buy. After about 20 more minutes, we were let inside.

Our nice French lady was correct, there were no labubus to be seen or to be bought. So what does two defeated shoppers do?? We go find a cozy place for a cold beer and a bite to eat.

Cheers to a great day in Paris!! Paris certainly knows how to plate happiness!

Our first 2 trips in June were to Italy. It has been almost a year since we have been back to Rome, one of the oldest cities in the world and the 3rd most visited city in Europe. We were elated to be back!

Being in Rome, especially in 2025 is a unique experience due to it being the Jubilee Year, which brings larger crowds and a festive atmosphere. The Jubilee Year is a Holy Year for Catholics, occurring every 25 years. It’s time for spiritual renewal, pilgrimage, and the remission of sins. Of course everyone hopes to get a glimpse of Pope Leo.

VILLA BORGHESE

Since is was a warm day, we decided to stay away from the tourist attractions and go to a park. which we had never been to before. Villa Borghese is a landscape garden in Rome, containing a number of building, museums and attractions. It is a famous park known for its beautiful water features, including fountains and a lake. It reminded me of a small version of Central Park.

One of the most enchanting spots in Villa Borghese is the lake. Marianne and I enjoyed the charm of the lake by watching the rowers.

After the park, we stopped to enjoy a scrumptious pizza.

On the road again, we had fun walking the streets of Rome, soaking in its atmosphere, admiring ancient architecture and discovering hidden gems. Afterwards, we met the crew back at our hotel for a much needed cold beverage. Marianne and I then wondered the nearby neighborhood to find a quaint Italian restaurant.

La vita e una combinations di pasta e amore. (LIFE IS A COMBINATION OF PASTA AND LOVE!)

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35 YEARS OF COMMITMENT

American Airlines presented me a plaque and a 35 year pin, which consists of 3 diamonds and a ruby. A lifetime of stories at 30,000 feet. Cheers to 35 years of wings, wonders and unforgettable journeys.

✈️🌏✈️🌏✈️🌏✈️🌏✈️🌏✈️🌏✈️🌏✈️🌏✈️🌏✈️🌏✈️🌏✈️🌏✈️🌏✈️🌏

MILAN

Our 2nd trip in June was to Milan, one of the richest and most fashionable places in Italy. Marianne and I decided to visit Milan’s canals, known as the Navigli, which are a historic network of navigable waterways that once connected the city to the surrounding rivers. Today, the Navigli district is a popular area for its restaurants, bars and shops.

After visiting the canals, we walked the nearby neighborhood and found a charming bakery with delectable treats and breads. To our delight, we tasted the most delicious olive bread sticks. We even made a trek back to this bakery to buy more of these yummy olive bread sticks to take home.

Before heading back to our hotel, we stopped at an Italian restaurant to indulge in one of the most classic Italian pasta dishes, La Carbonara.

Carbonara is a pasta dish made with cured pork, hard cheese, eggs, salt and black pepper. It tasted rich and creamy!

Adventures in Italy have come to an end, but the memories will last forever!

The best journey takes you home! We are ready, bring on the passengers. It’s time for us two to go home.

May 24, 2025 was a very special day. It was Marianne’s Birthday! Jennifer and I decided to surprise her in London with a walking tour of the hidden pubs of London. It was a day full of laughter, fun, learning and beer!

Before our tour, we stopped in at Nespresso to get a much needed caffeine boost.

TIME TO DISCOVER LONDON’S HIDDEN PUBS!!!

We met our tour guide Will in the area of St. Paul’s Cathedral. Our group consisted of 11. All from the US. Now it was time to explore tiny backstreets and courtyards and pause for drinks in four historical pubs. Will gave us a wealth of information of London’s history along with beer recommendations.

THE COCKPIT PUB

The 1st pub we stopped at was The Cockpit, a relaxed tavern dating back to 1865. I was not the best student, regretfully, I ordered the wrong beer. To my delight, we had plenty of time at this pub to get it right. We learned that some beers are colder than others. You just need to know how they are poured!

We continued on our walking tour exploring the neighborhood’s winding streets steeped with history to get to our 2nd pub, The Punch Tavern.

THE PUNCH TAVERN

The Punch Tavern is one of London’s most historic Gin Palaces on Fleet Street since 1840s. The pub had many beers to pick from, however the pub takes pride in stocking 90 different gins. It’s a haven for gin lovers!

Jennifer had a delicious gin and tonic!

The fun continues!!

Today we cherish and celebrate Marianne!

We loved walking the streets of London to discover new building along with the hidden pubs.

THE GEORGE

The George, our 3rd tavern, is a lively and historic pub offering a warm welcome in the heart of central London.

We were feeling a sense of joy, camaraderie and a connection to British culture. Time was ticking and we still had one more pub to enjoy!

THE WORLD TURNED UPSIDE DOWN

The World Turned Upside Down is a sculpture by artist Mark Wallinger on the campus of the London School of Economics. It was revealed in 2019. The sculpture, measuring 13 feet in diameter. The World Turned Upside Down is a famous ballad from the English Revolution. One of the meanings of this sculpture is seeing the world from different and unfamiliar points of view.

THE SHIP TAVERN

Our 4th and final pub was The Ship Tavern, nestled in the edge of the tranquil Lincoln Inn Fields. The Ship is steeped in history and dates back to 1549. The pub had a warm inviting atmosphere with historical decor and enchanting candlelight.

Raising a glass to a brew-tiful day in London!

From London with love and a pint of beer with new mates!

We made it back to our hotel to continue Marianne’s birthday celebration. London was the perfect place to celebrate another great year. It was truly the ultimate playground for Marianne’s birthday celebration. We were blessed spending Marianne’s birthday in this incredible city!

Cheers to you Marianne for days filled with love, laughter and all your favorite things!

Marianna and I decided to be official tourists and signed up with a group to tour the Park Guell. Park Guell in Barcelona was initially envisioned as a luxurious housing estate, inspired by the English garden city movement, but ultimately became a public park. It was designed in 1900 by Antoni Gaudi and planned to accommodate 60 wealthy families. After housing project failed, the park was offered to the city and opened to the public in 1926.

Park Guell is a park located on a hill in the Garcia district of Barcelona.

The park offers breathtaking views of Barcelona and the Mediterranean Sea from it’s elevated vantage point!

The Park follows an architectural style inspired by nature and colorful mosaics and is Antoni Gaudi’s greatest creation.

We were so thrilled to have had the opportunity to take in the beauty of this iconic park.

It was now time to leave this grandiose park and walk down the big hill. Walking up to the park was definitely an endurance challenge and coming down was a truly a pleasure.

This isn’t just food, it’s our daily dose of happiness.

Before going back to our hotel, we went by the Sagrada Familia. It is truly an exceptional temple, which is also the work of the genius architect Antoni Gaudi.

Experiencing Gaudi’s masterpieces left us awestruck and amazed. Learning about the history and significance of these sites gave us a deeper connection to Barcelona and Gaudi’s legacy.

We began the month of May with 2 back to back trips to São Paulo.

São Paulo is a place of art, music, culture and great food. We love walking the main streets and taking the sights in.

We always end our night in São Paulo back at our hotel with a caipirinha, Brazil’s national cocktail!

We arrived back in New York the following morning. With only hours to spare, we took an essential nap. We would be flying back to São Paulo in the evening.

With sunny skies, we walked through the streets to do some shopping!

We explored new areas of São Paulo. It was a full day of going in and out of shops.

Nothing like a Caipirinha to end a good day!
“To a day well spent, and a night of rest well earned. “

It felt so good to be back in Barcelona. American Airlines only flies to Barcelona from JFK seasonally which means April through October. Being in Barcelona feels like being in a vibrant, energetic city with a Mediterranean vibe. The architecture is mixed with old and new.

Marianne and I had no destination in mind. We enjoy just walking all the iconic streets like Las Ramblas which are bustling with activity, while the historic streets in the Gothic Quarter which offers a glimpse into the past.

Las Ramblas in Barcelona is known for a large pigeon population. The city is actively trying to manage the density of the pigeons.

We aimlessly walked down different streets to see what we would come up upon.

Time for life lunch!

Feeling content, we continued our walk around Barcelona.

After checking out the Marina, we wondered through the streets of Barcelona. With are good fortune, we came upon the Cathedral of Barcelona.

The Barcelona Cathedral is located in the Gothic area dating back 500 years ago. Admission was free, so we merrily walked inside to walk the enchanting grounds.

We thoroughly enjoyed being back in Barcelona and getting to immerse ourselves in a blend of history and culture with modern energy.

Marianne and I were so happy to start the month of March in Paris. An extra bonus was working with 4 of our buddies from San Francisco. Traveling with friends for over 30 years, is like going on a family vacation.

First stop was a little shopping and a must visit to a local boulangerie. The smell was divine and the baked goods so scrumptious.

Marianne and I left the girls behind, to enjoy a stroll around Paris before meeting up for dinner. One must take advantage of the warm sun shining.

Marianne and I enjoyed our walk around Paris taking in all our favorite sights. Before meeting up with our friends for dinner, we stopped at an outdoor cafe to enjoy watching the Parisians walking by.

Dinner was at Cafe Du Commerce.

Le Cafe do Commerce offered an authentic French dining experience, with it’s classic bistro charm.

So many laughs shared with our dear friends in Paris over a delicious meal.

A journey well shared is a journey well enjoyed! Packed with friendship and ready to explore is the greatest part of being a flight attendant!

MILAN

Our second trip in March was to Milan. Unfortunately, I was under the weather and didn’t get to walk the picturesque streets of Milan. However, Marianne and I did meet up to enjoy dinner together.

MADRID

Marianne and I were ready to take on Madrid. One minute the sun was shining, the next a strong gust of wind, followed by hail hitting our faces. Without hesitation, we took cover in a nearby store. To our amazement, we found lots of fun treasures.

Always a joy to walk the streets of Madrid to experience its vibrant culture and history.

Madrid is a compact, walkable city. Walking in Madrid is a great way to experience the city’s charm.

It was time for a cold beverage.

Marianne and I had an enjoyable day exploring the heart of Madrid. It was time to jump on the bus to take us back to our hotel!

Such a great feeling, when we realize we are on the correct bus going in the right direction.
VIVA MADRID!

NEW HAMPSHIRE

My last fabulous trip in March was to the beautiful state of New Hampshire with my dear friends from home. New Hampshire’s natural beauty was enhanced by the snow, creating a picturesque winter wonderland.

Our time together was full of fun and never ending laughter. Close friends are truly life’s treasures.

It’s not that diamonds are a girl’s best friend, but it’s your wonderful friends that you surround yourself with that are your diamonds.

March was definitely filled with great walks, good eating and being merry in all wonderful places.

March was filled with great walks, good eating and being merry in all wonderful places shared by new and old friends.

Our first trip in February was back to London. Marianne and I had planned on going to a new spot called the Lookout. Even though tickets were not available, we were going to take the train over to see if we could get in.

On our way to our destination, we enjoyed the unique architecture. We were almost at our destination, when we noticed a group of people in a line. To our delight, we read a sign that said free tickets for 3pm. It was now 2:50pm. We hurriedly scanned the code, got the tickets and joined the line. We looked at each other and laughed. We had no idea what lied ahead for us.

After a short wait, we went through security and we were put on an elevator to go up!

HORIZON 22

WOW WEE! We had stumbled upon something spectacular. Horizon 22 is London’s highest free viewing platform with 300-degree views of London and it’s most icon landmarks.

Even though it was overcast and raining on and off, we were thrilled with the amazing views of the whole city.

On the way out of the building, we asked the security guard where our intended destination the Lookout was. He pointed to the door next to his building. We were steps away from the Lookout, but I believe our incredible find of Horizon 22 was meant to be.!

LEADENHALL MARKET

With excitement in the air and umbrellas in our hands, we set off to find Leadenhall Market, a place which we had never been to before. Leadenhall is a buzzy , beautiful airy market in the heart of London, that boasts a selection of boutiques, shops, restaurants and bars. It was definitely a hidden gem with stunning architecture dating back to the 14th century.

Of course, we checked out all the pubs from the outside to decide which one would be a perfect fit for us.

We definitely found our perfect pub! We loved the ambiance and the other friendly patrons at The Golden Goose.

Now it was time to find a place for dinner. We changed it up this time and found a Greek restaurant. The food was delicious.

A perfect end to a perfect day, savoring every last bite of this delicious meal. Remember don’t let a little rain stop you from going out. There are so many great adventures that await you just steps away!

BACK TO LONDON WE GO

Our 2nd trip in February was back to the rainy exhilarating city of London. On this trip, we were going to checkout another lively market.

SPITALFIELDS MARKET

Spitalfield Market brings together local creatives and artisans, independent retailers and a few well known brands under one historic roof. It was a great way to spend a rainy afternoon in London!

We truly enjoyed our visit to Spitalfield Market. It was such a colorful and rich experience with all the food and shopping. As many of you might know, I’m obsessed with beautiful scarves. I immediately fell in love with a cozy pink scarf and had to purchase it.

If you love it, buy it! Whoever said money can’t buy happiness!

With new treasures in our bags, we decided to stop off at The Golden Goose The welcoming energy was high and the cold beers were flowing.

May you all find the joy in finding your pink scarf!💗💕💗

FINDING NEW PLACES IN MADRID

My 3rd trip in February was to Madrid. It was a perfect mix of culture, food and amazing weather shared with my dear friend Karmen.

I was so excited to be in Madrid. I am watching the Bachelor and to my delight the last show was filmed in Madrid. My goal on this trip was to find the beautiful lake that the Bachelor show had filmed at.

Karmen and I were so thrilled to find the Retiro Park Lake. It’s a popular spot with the city’s residents, who go there to sunbathe and enjoy rowing boats.

We enjoyed walking around the lake, taking in the park views, the boat rowers and the different statues and everything the lake has to offer. It is definitely the “Central Park” of Madrid.

After our fabulous time at the park, we were ready to indulge in a late lunch. The hotel recommended Triana, a restaurant in the purest Andalusian food style which is food prepared in fresh ingredients , lots of seafood and olive oil.

It was an ideal place for lunch. I am not a big seafood lover, however there was a thinly slice steak on the menu which was delicious.

Cheers to Marianne in London! You were truly missed today!

Thank you Karmen for joining me in a walk around Madrid which enabled us to discover amazing new spots!

READY TO TAKE ON PARIS

My last trip in February was to our beloved Paris.

It was a gorgeous day in Paris. We took the train over to see Notre Dame, Sainte-Chapelle and walk around the Latin Quarter before meeting up with some of our crew members for dinner. Unfortunately, the lines were too long to go inside the churches.

We never let crowds hinder our good time! We continued our walk over to the Latin Quarter which is one of the oldest districts in Paris.

The Latin Quarter in Paris is a lively, historic, and intellectual neighborhood that’s home to the Sorbonne, France’s oldest university.

Marianne and I love doing what Parisians do…sit at a cafe looking out and watching the people walk by, observing the street life and enjoying the atmosphere while sipping our drinks.

It was time to walk over and meet some of our crew members for dinner at a cozy French restaurant.

It was a splendid night with delicious food and fun conversation! I especially loved the French onion soup!

As we leave Paris, Marianne and I have a sense of enchantment and a deep appreciation for Paris’ culture and beauty.

February was filled with many new treasures every time we ventured out.
“We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty , charm and adventure. There is no end to the adventures we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open.”

Great start for the new year! Three fun trips to London in January!

Marianne and I were so happy to work our first trip of 2025 with Camaryn to London. We decided to take advantage of London’s world-class theater productions! We got tickets to Hamilton!!!

Time was ticking, it was almost time for the show!

Hamilton is at the Victoria Palace Theatre in London’s West End.

Hamilton was truly a remarkable show. It was fast-paced with powerful storytelling told through modern and hip-hop music. We were thrilled to get to see Hamilton especially in London!

For our second trip to London, Marianne and I decided to explore Parliament Square Garden. It is an area of significant historic and symbolic value.

BIG BEN

Big Ben is probably the world’s most famous clock tower of the Houses of Parliament in Westminster. Originally the site of the royal palace of London. Big Ben is the name given to the massive bell inside the clock tower, which weighs more than 13 tons. An interesting note is the chimes of Big Ben were first broadcast by the BBC on 31 December 1923, a tradition that continues to this day!

WESTMINSTER ABBEY

Westminster Abbey is a royal church in the centre of London with thousand years of history. The Abbey has been the coronation church since 1066. Also, Queen Elizabeth had her State Funeral at Westminster Abbey.

So much history to enjoy!

PALACE OF WESTMINSTER

The Palace of Westminster is the meeting place of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, commonly called the Houses of Parliament.

We continued our walk on The Thames Path which is a walking route that runs along the River Thames in London and passes by the Houses of Parliament.

We crossed over the Westminster Bridge to see a beautiful view of the London Eye.

We left the Parliament Square area and headed back towards our hotel to find a Pub for dinner. We were delighted to come across The Larrik. We enjoyed a nice dinner .

Good bye London, we will be back!

Our last trip in January was another enjoyable trip to London. This trip, we decided to walk the streets and do some shopping. Rain or shine, it was not going to dampen our spirits.

We always have fun discovering interesting shops.

After shopping, we came upon a busy restaurant with delicious looking plates. Without hesitation, we went in to indulge in the yummy looking food.

For us two girls being so widely traveled, we actually did not know what type of food that we were eating. However, it was delicious! After dinner, we kindly asked the waiter what type of food we were eating….he proudly said, “Turkish.”

We still had some energy, so we decided to stop in and enjoy a night cap at one of our favorite Pubs near our hotel.

The Herron is so cozy with tables in front of the fireplace. It was a great way to end a day of walking in and out of the rain.

London has truly captured our hearts! It was a great start to 2025!❤️

What a way to end 2024! Marianne and I couldn’t believe our good fortune that we finally got a trip to Rio de Janeiro, a city in Brazil known for its natural beauty, beaches and annual carnival.

This is my grand view from my balcony at our hotel. How lucky are we to stay in one of Rio’s beachfront resorts. With the sun shining, we decided to go straight out to explore Rio’s beaches. Rain was forecasted for the afternoon. Therefore, we had to take advantage of a beautiful sunny day in Rio.

We set out to go to the most well known beaches in Rio de Janeiro , Copacabana and Ipanema. Both are considered iconic and widely recognized around the world. It was about a 30 minute walk down to the beaches.

On our way to the beach, we came upon these fun swings. I couldn’t have said it better “This Is Living.”

The beaches in Rio are known for their stunning clear waters, sunny spots and white sands with the great Sugar Loaf Mountain in the background as seen in the photo above at Ipanema Beach. The boardwalk, like all of those in Rio, is better described as a walkway fashioned from black and white Portuguese tile.

Happily, we walked about 2 miles on the boardwalk, thinking we would have time to enjoy the beautiful sand and water amongst all the beautiful people. Unfortunately, the weather changed drastically and a torrential rain storm occurred. We had to take cover quickly!!

We waited out the storm in a near by restaurant!

A perfect spot, the beer was cold and the food was yummy!

We made it back to the beach between the rain. We were the only one’s left to enjoy the beach. We would have loved to do what we do best…people watch!

We needed to take cover because the rain began to come down again hard.

We started to walk the 2 mile trek back to our hotel. Unfortunately, the rain started to come down hard, so we decided to uber back to the hotel. At first, we thought everyone had the same idea, so many cars, but none of them were moving. Our Uber driver did not speak English. After sometime, he informed us with google translation that the road ahead, where are hotel was located was closed due to the flooding water. We googled back to him that we would like to get out and walk. He googled back… NO!! It’s not safe to walk because of the Bandits! WHAT!!! After about 45 minutes of not moving, people were jumping out of cars and walking in the direction of our hotel. We informed our Uber driver that we wanted to walk. He said ok, but stick with the crowd, which we did and no bandit activity occurred. Thanks to our Angels for always looking after us!

We made it back to our hotel to enjoy a much needed caipirinha drink down at the pool. All and all, it was a great 1st day in Rio.

Marianne and I eagerly woke up early the next morning to go on a 6 hour tour to see Christ the Redeemer, the Selaron Steps and Sugarloaf Mountain.

CHRIST THE REDEEMER

Marianne and I were awestruck with the giant, mountain top statue of Jesus Christ. Christ the Redeemer is a masterpiece which expresses the feeling and the blessing of the Brazilian people. The statue is considered one of the 7th wonders of the world due to its tremendous name and its size. It is the largest monument with Art Deco design. The statue was completed in 1931 and stands 98 feet tall at the top of the Corcovado Mountain.

The view from the Christ the Redeemer is breathtaking! It is a an amazing panoramic and 360 degrees, offering view of the city, bay and ocean.

Christ the Redeemer with its open arms is seen as a gesture of embracing all who visit, regardless of their faith. It.s such a powerful symbol! Marianne and I will treasure this visit to Christ the Redeemer and will always be touched by it’s beauty.

ESCADARIA SELARON

Our next stop was to the Selaron Steps, which is one of the famous landmarks of Rio. The steps are a work of a Chilean-born artist Jorge Selaron who claimed it as his tribute to the Brazilian people. He envisioned creating a living work of art to transform a run-down set of steps. He wanted to bring life and color to the Lapa neighborhood.

The art at the Selaron Steps is a collection of thousands of tiles from around the world. The tiles are mosaic of colors, patterns and messages that represent the diversity of the world.

SUGARLOAF MOUNTAIN

Sugarloaf Mountain is a peak that rises 396 meters high (1300 feet) and presents a bird’s eye view of Rio.

Marianne and I took a cable car to the summit.

Such an awesome view of Rio from the top of Sugarloaf Mountain.

We were able to take in the incredible sight of the Christ the Redeemer.

As we walked around the top, we were astounded with the overwhelming gorgeous view of Rio!

Visiting Sugarloaf was such a rewarding experience seeing the mountains, lakes, beaches, and oceans surrounding the bustling city of Rio.

We are so blessed to end 2024 by basking in the beauty of Rio de Janeiro!
Every corner of Rio is a sight to behold. Not even the pouring rain could dampen our appreciate of this beautiful city. Our endless adventures in Rio will stay with us forever!