Our goal on this trip was to do some shopping, find the Christmas markets and enjoy the festive lights. Marianne and I were thrilled that our crew member Jace wanted to join us.
This artisanal shop offered traditional Spanish nougats and delicious chocolates.
Our next stop was to the Christmas Market in The Plaza Mayor. This is the most classic of all the Christmas markets in Madrid.
We then continued to walk the beautiful streets of Madrid and stop in many of their shops.
It was now time to take in an afternoon beverage and some tapas. One must keep up their stamina to be jolly and to enjoy the Christmas cheer.
With our energy restored, we were ready to do some more shopping and take in Madrid’s Christmas lights.
The Christmas lights through out the city turn on at 6pm. Madrid did not fail in creating a magical Christmas atmosphere.
The main avenues and buildings across the city twinkle with creations by renowned Spanish architects and designers.
We had a special day shopping, eating and enjoying the decked out streets with its twinkling lights. We definitely found the Christmas spirit in Madrid.
It was time for us to get into the Christmas spirit with the much talked about Christmas lights displayed throughout London. After our quick nap, we jumped on the tube to enjoy the amazing designs of lights.
Churchill Arms of Nottingham Hill
Nothing will make you feel more Christmassy than the most Christmas decorated pub in London. Of course, Marianne and I had to venture out to find this pub.
Now that we were merry, we were ready to tackle London’s spirit of Christmas. Marianne had found a walking map on instagram which would lead us to all the famous streets which had the festive lights lit up on. It was a 1 1/2 hour walking tour. It took us about 3 hours stopping along the way to enjoy the shops.
Regent Street Christmas Lights, the largest holiday lights display in the UK, light up the skies of Regent Street and St James’s. The Spirit of Christmas decorations run all the way from Oxford Circus to Waterloo Place, making it a perfect destination for an evening stroll.
Every corner we turned, more magnificent Christmas lights were displayed.
One interesting note about the glamour of the lights is that the lights are formally switched on each year by celebrities at crowded ceremonies. These “switch ons” are usually organized to create a buzz, bring people together and kick-start Christmas shopping. This year the lights were turned on November 2.
On our walking tour, we came upon the Leicester Square Christmas market.
Too our delight, we found Chinatown looking so festive.
We loved our stroll through London’s spirit of Christmas. So much to see, but not enough time to take it all in. We stopped at a pub on our way back to the hotel for dinner.
Looking at these Christmas displays filled our souls with joy. May your holiday season sparkle and shine and all your dreams and wishes come true!
Marianne and I enjoyed a brisk walk in our New York neighborhood to enjoy a beautiful fall day before flying to Barcelona.
We were ready to enjoy are Barcelona layover.
On our way by train to the Monserrat Monastery.
MONSERRAT
The Monastery of Montserrat is one of the most famous monasteries in the world. Monserrat is a spectacular beautiful Benedictine monk mountain retreat about 1 hour North West from Barcelona by train. Not only is Montserrat Monastery of significant religious importance but the natural beauty surrounding the monastery is simply breathtaking. It is now a National Park and great for hiking. It was mind blowing to realize how high up the mountain the monastery was.
Marianne and I thought we were so prepared for this adventure. We purchased a train ticket to Monserrat in Barcelona which included transportation up the mountain. We disembarked at the last Monserrat station with a crowd of people only to find out that we purchased the train ticket that included a funicular (gondola) ride up the mountain to the monastery. To our dismay, we found out the stop we needed to get off was the stop before the one we were at. Unfortunately the train going back in that direction was in 1 hour. Our goal was to hear the boys choir at 12 noon. If we waited for that train, we would miss the boys choir. It would be a 10 minute taxi ride, but there was no taxis in sight. I heard 2 American boys from Oregon complaining that they were in the same situation as us. The boys were calling for a taxi. We asked if we could join them. They pleasantly agreed.
The taxi arrived in 10 minutes. Time was ticking. Our taxi ride was slower than expected because of a bike race. We had to let 100s of bikers go by before getting on our way back to the funicular. With all our delays, we were still going to make it in time to hear the boys choir.
The funicular ride offered us a spectacular panoramic view of the Monserrat mountain and the monastery.
There was a tranquil , untouched beauty that we discovered at the Monserrat.
Boys Choir In Monserrat
The Boys Choir is home to one of the oldest boys choir in Europe. Documents show that the existence of a religious and music school goes as far back as the 14th century. Listening to the Boys Choir was going to be the highlight of our trip. We made our way to where the boys would be singing. We quickly found out the choir would only be singing at the noon mass which we needed a reservation for. Unfortunately, the mass was full. A nice usher took pity on us and opened a roped off area into a courtyard so we could listen to the mass on a screen.
It was hard to hear the boys choir on the screen, but we were blessed to be able to go into the church and receive communion.
After mass, Marianne and I lit a candle asking Virgin Mary for our prayers
We then continued to take in the beauty of the grounds.
Monserrat offered us a captivating day of spirituality and natural beauty. We left awestruck with the stunning landscape high above where the angels do sing.
I grew up in an incredible neighborhood in one of the suburbs outside Boston called Weymouth. I am so grateful for all these girls from the neighborhood. We have been friends for over 60 years. Our parents let us run fearless through the streets, play kick the can, ride bikes, sled down the hill on snowy days with everyone always on the lookout for cars and we did this without any care in the world. We felt safe!
Through the years, we have never lost touch. We always treasure our times together and always make time to create new memories, My kind sister Trish and her husband Mac opened their beautiful home to us in Naples, Florida.
After we arrived at Trish’s home and settled in, we went to the beach to take in the gorgeous sunset.
The sunsets in Naples are spectacular. The sky becomes a beautiful painting with hues of orange, pink and gold.
We started off the next day with a delicious breakfast made by Gail. She is a fabulous chef. We had eggs made to order, bacon and yummy potatoes that melted in our mouths. With full stomachs, we took a much needed walk on the beach. We still had a full day ahead of us.
Tin City
Tin City is a fun little shopping district. In the 1920s, it was home to clam shelling and oyster processing. In 1970, seven of these historical buildings were transformed into the marketplace called Tin City named because of their tin roofs. It now has unique shops and restaurants on the waterfront.
Marco Pedal Boat
Jeanne is our tour director. She always finds us fun things to do. The Marco Pedal boat is a pedal powered pontoon. We got to enjoy the spectacular views while cruising down the waterways of Marco Island. We did get to see a dolphin and enjoy looking at the multiple-million dollar mansions. The fun part of the excursion was the pedaling was optional, so we enjoyed walking around the boat and truly enjoyed the ride.
We had lots of laughs on the Pedal Boat. The Captain of the boat was very lucky he had a motor because us girls were no help when it came to pedaling.
Our fun was not finished. We were invited to stop by my brother Jack and Maureen’s beautiful home.
No matter what we do or where we are; we always have a great time just being together.
Marco Eco Tour
Our next day adventure was to embark on an unforgettable adventure on pedal kayaks in the mangrove tunnels on Marco Island.
Jeanne never disappoints finding us great things to do. Our tour guide, Rammel from this kayak adventure was awesome and truly is concerned in protecting and preserving the natural environment. He taught us so much and was funny in doing so. The kayaks were easy to navigate by pedaling. Jeanne certainly was thinking when she ordered Trish and me a double kayak, double trouble in one kayak. It was nonstop laughter, especially when Trish and I were in the mangrove tunnel and got tangled up in the plants. A mangrove is a shrub or tree that grows mainly in coastal saline or brackish water. The importance of mangroves are that they provide protection from storms ,nurseries for wildlife and fun recreation for people like us.
We were pleasantly surprised when Rammel got us through the mangrove tunnel and guided us to a shallow and secluded area to enable us to get out of our kayaks to explore and learn about the underwater wonders firsthand.
We all left this adventure feeling like we understood the importance of enjoying nature but keeping the ecosystems untouched because no human technology can replace this incredible environment.
It was time now to go back to the beach and have some fun in the sun.
After the beach, we drove down to 5th Avenue in Naples which is noted for fashion boutiques, restaurants and great people watching.
PopStroke
The next day we drove to Fort Meyer’s for a unique golf experience. Jeanne said we would be ok even though Trish and I don’t play golf. PopStroke is an outdoor golf featuring two 18-hole Tiger Woods designed putting course. Tiger Woods named it after his Dad that he called Pop.
I did come in last but enjoyed every minute of the game with the girls!
We ended our golf experience at the outdoor bar and played some cornhole along with a much needed cocktail!
It was our last night in Naples so we decided to go out for a nice dinner.
How can I sum up this unforgettable memory making trip with the girls! We may not have it all together, but together, we have it all!❤️
Marianne and I were thrilled to being flying to Milan with two of our San Francisco Flight Attendants, Petra and Jaye. Not only are we family, we have been friends for so many years. It’s fun to explore new places together.
With so much to see and do, we were unable to take a nap before setting out to take a one hour train to beautiful Varenna, Italy.
Couldn’t start our adventure without a champagne toast!
We all thought we would take a nap on the train, but we were too excited. Lots of sights to see on the train ride.
Varenna, Italy
Varenna is a picturesque and a traditional lakeside village located on the eastern shore of Lake Como, Italy. The charming old town, is home to elegant villas with botanical gardens and jaw-dropping panoramic views.
So much beauty to take in while walking from the train station to the lake.
The lakeside promenade of Varenna , built between the rock and the water on the right of the wharf, is called the Lovers’ promenade. It is a pedestrian path that leads from the wharf of Varenna to the center of the village.
As we walked, we began to notice the charming little streets going up into the interior of the village. Lots of steps to conquer!
Giardino Botanico di Villa Cipressi
Graceful grounds are located under the stunning edifice of the Villa Cipressi. This botanical garden is draped along the waters of Lake Como. It was a great place to wonder and we loved the picturesque view of the lake. It was breathtaking!
Meditation area in the garden was so tranquil. I could have sat there for a long time and marveled at the view.
We truly enjoyed our visit to the Giardino Botanico di Villa Cipressi. It’s a must do in Varenna.
After indulging in the magic of Varenna, we decided to take a boat ride to Bellagio, known as the Pearl of Lake Como.
The ferry from Bellagio to Varenna took about 20 minutes. Bellagio is popular for its luxurious villas, stunning views, and charming boutique lined streets.
We enjoyed our quick visit to Bellagio. We had to head back to Varenna to catch our train back to Milan.
On our way back to Varenna’s train station, we came across this red heart overlooking the water. It reminded me that a kind and caring friend is what our hearts always needs.
What a grand day we had in Varenna! It truly was magical with all its beauty! We left Varenna with our hearts full.
The next day Marianne and I had another trip back to Barcelona. We decided this trip we would walk the streets of Barcelona and check out the shops.
To our surprise, when we came out of the train station we found ourselves smack in the middle of a Palestine protest. We were smart enough to know that we needed to avoid such gatherings, so we quickly walked away to find some Barcelona treasures.
It was a beautiful day for shopping and taking in the sites of Barcelona.
We stopped for lunch at an outdoor cafe.
Now that we had a wonderful lunch, we needed to get back to find some shopping treasures.
We found our favorite boutique shop, La Chinata. This store has all kinds of olive oils with diverse hand made soaps, lotions, and much more all made with olive oil.
It was a grand day shopping. We found lots of exquisite items.
It was time to head back to our hotel, our hands were full and our bags heavy. A very successful day of shopping.
When we got back to the hotel, we decided to go to a tapas restaurant in the neighborhood near our hotel and dine with all the locals.
It was a relaxing night, being part of the neighborhood.
HURLING
So you must be asking yourself why the word hurling. I’m about to tell you the meaning of hurling to me. Marianne and I had a good night sleep. We were feeling great, ready to work our trip back to New York. I was working business class. Marianne was working coach. The Purser ( our #1 Flight Attendant) came to me and said she wasn’t feeling well. Fortunately, we were able to finish our lunch service for the passengers. Two hours into the flight, we got word that the captain was really sick. He was throwing up and he needed to be put on oxygen. For an international flight, we were still in good hands, we always fly with 3 pilots. I was feeling great. Still maintaining service to all the passengers. It was time for my 2 hour break. However, after laying down in the crew bunk for 5 minutes, I started to not feel well. I got up and could not stop vomiting. It was horrific. I never felt so sick. Meanwhile, another flight attendant in coach was now sick and also the 1st Officer was throwing up. We are now down 2 pilots. Fortunately, we had an American Airlines pilot as a passenger coming home from her brother’s wedding in Barcelona that came to the cockpit to help. She was so nice. She said to me, we were in good hands. Furthermore, American decided to land the plane in Boston instead of New York. The passengers were not happy; they had no idea that the crew was so sick. The plane was met by the paramedics and the 5 of us that were sick were taken off. The captain and the 1st flight attendant went to Mass General Hospital to be checked out. I refused to go to the hospital because I just wanted to go to a hotel and lay down. I was wheeled out in a wheelchair and put in an Uber with Marianne to go to a Boston Hotel.
The next morning I was feeling better and managed to fly home to San Francisco. Thank God I had Marianne by my side. We still don’t know what we had. It definitely wasn’t food poisoning. We never ate the same food. I believe it was an aggressive virus that took us down quickly. Marianne was wearing a mask the entire flight. I believe the mask saved her from this horrific virus. One never knows what the next minute will bring. One minute I’m whirling through the streets of Barcelona, then the next I’m hurling !! Being healthy is the crown that only the sick can see. I will never take being healthy for granted. May you all be blessed with good health!
The Pleasanton girls arrived in Barcelona. We certainly needed a Spanish interpreter on this layover’s escapade.
First things first, a great breakfast, a mimosa and 1 hour of sleep. We were then ready to tackle the day. Our desired destination was Sitges, Spain.
We knew where we wanted to go, but just couldn’t find anyone to help us figure out how to buy our train tickets. We figured it out all on our own. Very excited to get on our way! We shortly found out after a few stops that we were traveling in the wrong direction. We did not let that stop us. By putting all our smarts together, we were finally going in the right direction. We sat back and relaxed for our 45 minute train ride to Sitges. Now this is where the fun started; we saw all these girls getting off the train with bikinis and towels. We asked the girls, “Is this the beach!” They said yes.
Where Are We????
Where is all the action we read about? The beach was wide and beautiful, but hard to find people. We walked down the boardwalk and found a restaurant.
Not much of our English was understood, but we were able to order beers and a pizza.
We then proceeded to find the action! We walked a while and found this lone place on the beach.
The view was absolutely beautiful and the beers were ice cold. We asked the waiter if he spoke English. He said a little. I asked him where are all the people here at Sitges. He kindly told us we were not at Sitges. WHAT!!!!!
So where is Sitges? We needed to trek back a mile back to the train station and take the train a few stops further south.
When something doesn’t feel right, you need to ask questions! If it wasn’t for our curiosity, we would have believed we spent the day in Sitges. It’s time to learn Spanish.
SITGES
Sitges is a coastal town in Spain’s Catalonia region, southwest of Barcelona. It’s known for its Mediterranean beaches and seafront promenade. The compact old town and surrounding streets are filled with shops, restaurants, and bars. Sitges is renowned for its spirited nightlife and cocktail bar scene. Right up our alley!
We were so happy to be in Sitges. As usual when you travel with me, I needed to find a restroom. We found one on the beach next to a restaurant. As my luck had it that day, I got locked in the bathroom. This is not how I wanted to end my day. Fortunately, a waitress in the restaurant came over and rescued me.
We wanted to have dinner on the beach. We could not stay at this restaurant. I would be known as the girl who got locked in the bathroom. We walked down the promenade and found a quaint restaurant on the beach.
The sun was setting. We needed to head back to the train.
The Church of Saint Bartomeu & Santa Tesla, Sitges
The church of Sant Bartomeu dominates the seafront of Sitges, a powerful statement of Catholic power in white washed stone. It’s on an elevated terrace overlooking the Balearic Sea, popular for the sunset vistas.
To sum it all up, we loved Sitges and can’t wait to go back. As they say, “It’s not the destination, it’s the journey.” And you simply never know where the journey will take you.
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.
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.
Come Fly With Me 