Come Fly With Me

No better way for us to celebrate Marianne’s birthday in Rome, than by taking in the gorgeous views from rooftops. It felt like we were on a scavenger hunt to find these prime locations, but we persevered and found some amazing views.

Swiss Institute

Every time we visit Rome, we walk by this gated historic villa right across from our hotel. To our surprise, the gate was opened for visitors. This villa now known as the Swiss Institute stands on a hill surrounded by splendid gardens. It’s the cities second highest point. We throughly enjoyed our time looking at the maintained gardens, trees and of course the first of our many perfect views of this wonderful city.

It was time to move on to find a special rooftop at the top of the Spanish Steps. It was easier said than done. Our Google map was no help. We knew we were at the right location, but could not figure out what building we were suppose to go in. We went into one hotel and they had never heard of the Cielo Rooftop. Funny though, it was in the hotel next door.

Cielo Terrace

Perched high above the Eternal City, Cielo is known as one of the most glamorous rooftop bars, offering the most extraordinary sunset experiences and views in Rome. We did not realize that we needed a reservation or we needed to be staying at that hotel for a table. The hostess was very nice to us. She said she could sit us at an undesirable table directly in the sun not suited for their hotel guests. We were elated! The direct sun wasn’t going to hinder our good time.

We enjoyed basking in the sun and taking in the beautiful view. Well worth having sun on our faces.

Trevi Fountain

We made a stop at the Trevi Fountain to throw a coin in and make a wish. The right way to throw a coin is to toss with your right hand over your left shoulder, with your back to the Fountain.

Next stop was lunch!

Pane e Salome

Marianne had visited this hidden gem of a restaurant before. It is a tucked away modern bistro known for platters of meats and cheeses, paired with Italian wine and beers.

Lovely little place. The board of meats and cheeses were delicious.

Giro d’Italia 2024

As we continued our walk through Rome, we came across the bike riders of the Giro d’Italia (Tour of Italy) riding through Rome. It was very exciting to see how fast they flew by us. Three weeks of intense racing around Italy then coming to a close with a circuit around Rome.

Marianne and I continued on to our next rooftop.

The Raphael Hotel

The Hotel Raphael is a beautiful boutique hotel that has a rooftop terrace that offers amazing panoramic views of Rome. The hotel is in a wonderful setting beside the Piazza Navona but a world away from tourist mayhem.

We walked into this charming hotel and asked the concierge if we could go to the rooftop terrace. Again, we were nicely asked if we had a reservation and we sadly said no. She called the terrace and explained the situation and the terrace staff said we could come up. The concierge walked us to the elevator.

We were so excited to see what lies ahead. We were greeted by the hostess when we got off the elevator. The hostess said she had a table for us, but we could only stay 1 hour. The table was already reserved for other guests. One hour was perfect for us jet-setters.

I felt like we hit the lottery being able to partake in seeing Rome from this stunning terrace. The staff was very friendly and we had some watchful residents that didn’t miss any move Marianne and I made.

This darling caretaker of the terrace swooped up and grabbed Marianne’s unattended hors-d’oeuvre off her plate.

We quickly clued in on why the silver cover was on all the food, excluding the chips. Our special guests do not like chips.

Our fabulous hour was up! It was such a memorable and fun experience.

Hotel Savoy

One last rooftop to relish the incredible view. We took in the view from the rooftop terrace at the hotel we were staying at.

What a day we had seeing Rome from above. It was a fabulous way to enjoy the views and soak in Rome’s history and beauty. It sure was a great way to celebrate Marianne’s birthday.

Happy Birthday Marianne!

Marianne and I had grandiose plans for our layover in Milan. Unfortunately, we had a delay in our arrival, so we did not have enough time to venture out of Milan. So we did what we do best….we enjoyed some shopping and eating.

It was a spectacular sunny day in Milan. It felt great to walk around and enjoy the hustle and bustle of all the pedestrians.

If you love fashion, shopping in Milan is a quintessential destination. To our delight, one may always find a discount store amongst all the luxurious high end shops.

Marianne and I loved seeing the fashion these teenagers were exhibiting outside a local coffee shop. Thus, we decided to sit at an open window pub next door and take in all the youths’ clothing styles.

It was a perfect spot. We got to sit at the open window seat and watch all the Italians walk by.

It was time to move on and do some more window shopping. If you have ever traveled with me, you are aware that I always need to find a restroom. We came upon a beautiful restaurant that I felt we should meander in and see what we could find.

Such a beautiful spot. We wanted to look like we belonged, so we did not ask the Maitre D where the restroom was located. We could only imagine that the restroom that we did not find was very luxurious.

We ended our day of shopping at a restaurant near our hotel. This restaurant is known as the Chinese Italian by us flight attendants. The restaurant serves Italian food, but it’s owned by Chinese. Subsequently, the Pizza is very yummy!

As the Italians say, “ Pizza is not a trend, it’s a way of life.”

BUONANOTTE!

GOODNIGHT

The Paris 2024 Olympic Games countdown clock is located on the banks of the Seine river, in front of the Eiffel Tower, and at Port de la Bourdonnais. The clock counts down the days, hours, minutes, and seconds until the start of the games, which will take place on July 26, 2024. 

As Marianne and I walked around Paris, we witnessed all the construction being done in this glorious city. So much to do before the arrival of more than 10,000 athletes and tens of thousands of spectators to partake in the 33rd Summer Olympic Games, a 16-day extravaganza.

This is a photo of the Parc du Champ-de-Mars in Paris. It is a great place to share a bottle of wine and watch the Eiffel Tower’s lights twinkle at night. A temporary outdoor stadium is being built in the Champ de Mars, in front on the Eiffel Tower, which will host beach volleyball, blind football, judo, wrestling Paralympic wheelchair rugby, and para judo. It’s amazing how fast a grand structure can be built. It will be accommodating nearly 13,000 spectators.

In this photo, Marianne and I are on the other side of the Seine river by the Eiffel Tower, looking up at the Champ de Mars new arena being built. An interesting note is the Olympic Games will take place at 35 venues, including stadiums and sports facilities. Paris is ready to go! The motto of the 2024 Paris Olympics is “Games Wide Open.” The slogan represents the idea of bringing sport to the heart of the city.

Even with all the construction going on, it didn’t take away the beauty of the city.

We found a quaint place to quench our thirst and watch all the young children walk home from school.

We had a nice time down by the Seine River. It was a gorgeous day with the sun shining.

We always love walking down new streets and seeing how the Parisians live.

A great end to another fabulous layover in Paris.

Marianne and I have decided not to fly to Paris during the Olympics. American Airlines will be removing us from our hotel in the city and we are being placed at a hotel at the airport. We are going to leave room for the Olympic lovers to enjoy this beautiful city. We look forward to return to Paris after the Olympics.

Another great week of work with Marianne. First trip was to Milan, followed by a trip to Paris.

MILAN

Navigli Canal

Marianne and I decided to venture out to find the Navigli Canal in Milan. It was a short train ride to the Canals. In the Navigli District, we found many restaurants, bars and artisan shops. The Navigli area is centered on the two remaining canals that once encircled Milan. We had a lot of fun strolling along the Canal.

It was a Monday, so a lot of the shops were closed. However, we didn’t let that sway our good spirits. We found a cozy cafe to people watch.

It was time to move on to explore another district in Milan called the Brera District. Brera is an elegant and artsy district in a charming area in the heart of Milan. Here, you will find quaint cobbled streets, historic buildings, which are lined with fashion houses, cafes, restaurants and galleries. Of course we had to stop in at the Iconic landmark, the San Maria del Carmine Church.

We enjoyed our walk through the charming streets of the Brera District.

So much pasta to see and eat in Italy!

Another end to a great day in Milan. We were off to get a good night sleep. We would be flying back to New York, then jet setting off to the city of love, Paris.

PARIS

We arrived in Paris, with rain in our forecast. Come rain or shine Paris is an incredible city to explore. We wanted to visit the Le Marais district.

Le Marais

The Marais is one of the most popular quarters of Paris. It has old-world charm, narrow cobblestone streets, hidden courtyards and gardens, filled with cafes and great places to shop.

Marianne and I started out from our hotel by ourselves. With our good fortune, we ran into two other crew members. We decided the best thing for all of us to do is to stop and enjoy a tasty lunch together.

We were drawn to this cafe because the restaurant’s name was Marianne. How could we go wrong?

The weatherman was not kidding when it said it would be raining in Paris. After a fun lunch, Marianne and I said goodbye to our friends and continued our walk in the pouring rain to explore the different shops. Paris is still pretty and full of energy even with the rainfall.

Seeing the Arc de Triomphe on our way back to our hotel, always gives me a sense of awe. This famous monument honors those who fought and died for France during the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars. No matter how many times I see it, I’m mesmerized by its structure and beauty.

Even though, Marianne and I were feeling weathered, it didn’t stop us for enjoying a yummy dinner.

Bonne Nuit Paris

Tracey and I were lucky to work a trip together to Rome after we returned to New York from Milan. Rome is home to numerous iconic landmarks that are a testament to its rich culture. We had a lot of fun wandering the streets in Rome with no destination in mind.

The Spanish Steps

The Spanish Steps are probably the most famous stairs in the world. The 135 steps are dedicated to the holy trinity which is represented by their three tiers: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The steps were completed in 1725. Our hotel which we stay at, is very close to The Spanish Steps.

The Trevi Fountain

Next, we stopped by the Trevi Fountain. The Trevi Fountain represents a sea scene, it depicts Oceanus, God of water surrounded by the statutes.

After enjoying the atmosphere at the Trevi Fountain, it was time to find a delicious pizza al taglio (slice of pizza). Rome is famous for their slices of pizza, which they cut in rectangles and then you pay for the slice by weight. The pizza was very yummy!

Onward we went to enjoy the streets of Rome. At each corner we turned, we were met with amazement and awe of the beauty, history and all the people from around the world.

We walked a lot of steps in Rome to take in all the history which crawls from every crevice and crack. It was now time for a cold beverage.

La Botticella, a taste of Pittsburg Steelers in Rome is one of our favorite bars.
This bar never disappoints with its cold beverages, shelled peanuts and lots of fun people to talk to.

Venchi Chocolate and Gelato

The gelato at Venchi is a great way to end a wonderful day in Rome.

Time to get back to our hotel to get a good night sleep. So happy to end our great day in Rome be walking back up the Spanish Steps at sunset.

BUONA NOTTE

Good Night Rome

Let the fun begin. I was so blessed to be able to celebrate my birthday in Milan with two of my besties… Tracey and Camaryn. Marianne was with us in spirit and missed. She is on a much deserved vacation.

Such a great start to my birthday. We had a great crew working to Milan. We even had 2 more SFO flight attendants to make the trip more special.. Dana and Cori.

The Pleasanton girls take on Milan.

Before we set out to enjoy Milan, we started the day with a birthday champagne toast.

So thrilled to be in front of the Duomo. It’s such a stunning cathedral in Milan. The distinctive white marble material and Gothic architecture leave quite the impression, as does the size of the Duomo.

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II

The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is Italy’s oldest active shopping gallery and a major landmark in Milan. The Galleria is filled with luxury shops and restaurants. We found the hidden gem of a roof top bar over looking the Duomo. It was an incredible way to enjoy my birthday!

After enjoying the stunning view and beverages, we continued strolling the streets of Milan.

It was a perfect day to walk the streets of Milan. We came across a cozy bar with fun music . We had time before meeting the rest of the girls for dinner, so we decided to keep the birthday celebration going. Tracey and Camaryn were so much fun and made me feel very special.

We met at Trattoria Milanese, a real Italian restaurant. It was full of locals. The pasta was delicious. To top off the birthday celebration, an Italian musician with his accordion played happy birthday.

It definitely was a fabulous day celebrating my birthday. I loved making memories with my fun crazy birthday crew.

Good night Duomo. I am truly blessed having Tracey and Camaryn in my life. They fully embraced making my birthday and me feel very special.

Creating memories one celebration at a time! Make sure you make every celebration count.💗

What a beautiful day to be back in Paris! The sun came out to warm our souls.

Marianne and I love starting our day with a delicious croissant. It is difficult to consume a croissant, without feeling like you are perhaps consuming the very idea of Paris.

It was time to take advantage of the beautiful sunshine and walk the streets of Paris. We took the train to explore Paris’ Latin Quarter. The Latin Quarter’s home to the Sorbonne University and student filled cafes.

SORBONNE UNIVERSITY

THE LUXEMBOURG GARDENS

I just loved the Luxembourg Garden. The garden is 60 acres with ample green space for sunbathing , people-watching and just relaxing. Plenty of seats for people just to sit and enjoy.

I truly believe the Luxembourg is the place where Parisians do what the French do best – relax and enjoy the good life.

Cheer’s to Paris for reminding us to take the time to smell the roses!

Breathtaking view of the Eiffel Tower from our train ride back to our hotel. It will always be a symbol of the city we love.

LOTS OF LAUGHS IN MADRID

Marianne and I came back from Paris and spent the night in New York at our Landing Pad (former named the Crash Pad). We would be working the next day to Madrid. We knew it was going to be a fun trip because we were going to be flying with Karmen, a dear friend and SFO family member.

It was suppose to rain in Madrid all day, fortunately the rain held out. We got to enjoy walking the streets in the heart of Madrid. Exploring new places is always sweeter with your favorite people.

Our first stop was to the Mercado De San Miguel. The Mercado de San Miguel is one of Madrid’s oldest and most beautiful markets. It’s a must visit for any food lover which is located in the heart of Madrid’s old quarter. It’s a great place to grab a bite to eat with a drink.

Mercado do San Miguel being so popular was too busy for us to enjoy a bite to eat. We had to move on. By recommendation from another flight attendant, we had a new destination in mind. Getting there was another story. Same destination, but comically Marianne and I got totally different directions on our phones. Karmen was amused watching us. Thank goodness for Google maps.

Off we went to find Meson del Champinon.

MESON DEL CHAMPINON

We found it! Meson del Champinon. “El Mesón del Champiñón” was opened in 1964 with the illusion of making people spend a great time, eating well. It is a magical place to eat the best and most delicious mushroom in the world! .

We walked in to see the chef making hundreds of mushrooms in the bar area. The restaurant had a unique cave bar atmosphere. To eat the mushrooms properly , we watched a short video at the table. It was a fun experience even though, I don’t eat mushrooms.

After having so many laughs enjoying the mushrooms and small tapas plates, we were ready to keep exploring. Our next destination was to find a leather shop that had a spectacular rooftop terrace. The flight attendant that had recommended this place to us did not remember the name of the store. Not knowing the name of the shop, made us more determined to find it. We wandered the streets with no luck. We asked a police officer who didn’t know what we were talking about. However, he pointed us in the direction of the tourist bureau. We described the place that we wanted to go to and she thought she knew of the place. We were not too far from it. We would have walked right by this shop with out knowing how awesome a place it was.

The store itself was amazing, so many beautiful things to look at on the first 2 floors. Then we found the stairs to the rooftop bar. We were surprised and delighted to see how special this place was. It had a lovely ambience, so exotic and beautiful with flowers and plants. The cocktails served were so pretty and delicious.

So much fun having a layover with Karmen and exploring new places in Madrid.

Good friends are a connection to life – a tie to the past on a road to the future. Embarking on new adventures is a million times better with good friends.

It’t a start of a new year flying out of New York. Our first trip was a fabulous trip to Paris. We had one slight problem, Marianne forgot her walking shoes and socks. Marianne was a trooper, I convinced her that we could find her something that she could walk the streets of Paris in. Unfortunately, we couldn’t find much, but we found a fabulous pair of slippers. We then came up against another hurdle; it started to rain and the slippers got wet very quickly. I still thought Marianne rocked her new Parisian style.

We decided to just enjoy walking the streets of Paris, with no destination in mind.

Paris is a city built for walking.

We stopped at a great cafe for lunch.

Never a dull moment. We turned the corner and we came upon a peaceful protest. It was the police and city workers protesting for their rights. Members of the Military were there to support the protest. Marianne got all the scoop by talking to a nice officer.

It was time to head back to our hotel and have dinner. The rain and Marianne’s wet feet did not dampen our spirits.

Bonne nuit, fans de beaux reves.

GOOD NIGHT, SWEET DREAMS

We arrived back in New York. The next day we will be flying to Barcelona. We are always captivated by this admiral city, it is a city full of life.

BARCELONA

After taking our quick nap , we boarded the train to La Rambla which is the most famous street in Barcelona.

We ventured over to one of our favorite places, Mercado de La Boqueria.

LA BOQUERIA

La Boqueria is the most famous picturesque market in Barcelona. You get mesmerized by the beautiful colors and displays. It’s a must visit for anyone who enjoys food.

After our delightful sensory overload, we continued wandering the streets.

We were amazed at the photo on the right, seeing how a fire truck could fit down the street. They had to back the fire truck out. We are happy to say no fire was detected.

ANTIC TEATRE

What a great find. Marianne and Gillian had previously walked by the Antic Teatre and heard lively noises, but did not go in. Without hesitation, Marianne and I had to check this place out. We were pleasantly surprised.

It’s a local production company that stages intimate performing arts venue with a lively sizable garden. It’s a hidden gem. I can see why The Antic Teatre is known to be a secret local bar in Barcelona. Even though no one was performing when we were there, we truly loved hanging out and enjoying the fun atmosphere. This is going to be our new hangout!

After leaving the Antic Teatre, it was time to have dinner. We found this restaurant right around the corner from the Antic Teatre. We ordered a few delicious tapas plates to share. It was a perfect way to end a great layover.

“Live life with no excuses, travel with no regrets”

Wow, it’s hard for me to sum up the adventures and new experiences we had in 2023.  Marianne and I started this journey with apprehension. To much of our surprise, we dove head first into this new lifestyle with positive energy, which lead us to embrace the value of each new adventure.

Our last trip in 2023, was to Barcelona, Spain. Barcelona has a range of things to do , which never disappoints us on each new visit.

LA SAGRADA FAMILIA

La Sagrada Familia is the largest unfiinished Catholic Church in the world. It is Gaudi’s most famous works in Barcelona. It’s a giant Basilica that has been under construction, since 1882 and it’s not expected to be completed for some time.

After we left La Sagrada Familia, we walked through the neighborhood. It was full of restaurants and cafes. We treated ourselves to a cold beverage.

With recommendations from other crew members, we set out to go to Gilda’s Restaurant. We met up with Gillian, another fabulous flight attendant from San Francisco.

The owner of Gilda’s was very welcoming and wanted us to feel at home. He encouraged us to appreciate his ambulating art on the walls. He even had us wear 3D glasses to enjoy the depth of each piece of art.

HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM SAN FRANCISCO

We were so thrilled to ring in the New Year with a San Fransisco layover. Luckily, we were able to go home and spend the night with our families!

WE HAVE COME FULL CIRCLE

We started one year ago, February 2023, at our new base in New York. Our very first trip was to São Paulo. We ended our year in New York by working a trip back to São Paulo. Boy have we learned a lot! We have grown into our new role as International Flight Attendants.

On Sundays, Avenida Paulista is closed to traffic. People come to walk, dance and shop. We enjoyed this fabulous street festival with the live music and all that it had to offer.

We stopped at a cute coffee shop for a delicious cup of coffee to get more energy to carry on.

We had a fun time enjoying the festival. We found a good place for lunch.

It was time to head back to the hotel before dark. It was a nice 1 1/2 mile walk back to the hotel through the different neighborhoods.

After a full day walking in São Paulo, we decided to have dinner at our hotel accompanied with the famous Brazilian drink, caipirinha.

Can’t always be out eating and drinking! Marianne had me go to the gym the next morning in São Paulo.

Wow, what a year we have had! We overcame so many challenges, but the reward of all our new travel experiences was worth every hurdle! Looking forward to another year of unforgettable memories.💗

So blessed to have another trip to London before Christmas with Marianne and Tracey. The joy of Christmas comes when you share the beauty of the season with people you love.

All bundled and warm, we set off to shop at Harrods, the most luxurious department store.

From the moment you walk into Harrods, you feel the excitement of the Christmas shopping experience.

Shopping at Harrods is always a great experience. The staff at Harrods were so friendly and helpful. They all seemed warm and genuinely interested in our needs. We left Harrods with a smile.

Time to toast our good day of Christmas shopping.

We had our dinner at this fun pub. Now it was time to walk off our dinner and enjoy the Christmas lights.

Winter Wonderland

We walked by the Winter Wonderland which is a large annual Christmas event held in Hyde Park. It’s the world’s ultimate destination for festive fun. From rides to performances, festive treats from London’s food scene and cozy fire pit bars, there is something for everyone. Unfortunately, we did not have time to take part in the spectacular Winter Wonderland.

We continued our walk through the streets of London to bring in the holiday joy!

We continued our brisk walk back to our hotel. The temperature was dropping. All the pubs were over crowded with patrons. To our amazement, we came upon a welcoming pub that actually had some room for a night cap.

London sure knows how to make you feel festive for the holiday season.

Thank you London for giving us the magic of Christmas and more joy in our hearts. We will see you in 2024!

A Christmas bonus was spending time with our friend Jennifer back at our London hotel!❤️