I like to travel and write so I created this blog to share my travel experiences with family, friends and anyone else who's interested.
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
New Orleans Weekend - January 2012
One of those rare moments when the stars align occurred last week. My wife and I were both able to tack on a weekend trip to our business trips, me from Jacksonville, FL and she from Dallas, TX. Our kids were away at winter church camp so we decided to meet in New Orleans.
This trip was a mix of business and pleasure, we recently purchased our 3rd rental property down in the Gulfport area of Long Beach, MS and hadn't visited the property since the completed construction.
The trip was pretty much paid for by using my frequent flyer points and Hilton honor points so that's always a nice reward.
We stayed at the Roosevelt Hotel, Waldorf Astoria http://therooseveltneworleans.com/ just off Canal Street. It's just outside the craziness of the French Quarter but a short walk to all the action.
The Roosevelt is one of the nicest hotels near the French Quarter and I recommend it highly.
Prior to our trip I made reservations at 3 restaurants. This is a good idea because it gets very crowded, very fast and unless you want to wait hours for a table, at least make a place- holding reservation. We never waited more then 5 minutes anywhere.
Here are the restaurants we had diner at:
Friday
The Bombay and Martini Club in the Quarter
http://www.thebombayclub.com/
Great Shrimp and Seafood stuffed egg plant
Saturday
Pascal Manales, in the Garden District
http://www.neworleansrestaurants.com/pascalsmanale/
Turtle Soup, Barbecued Shrimp and Pecan Pie - a must! This is not a real fancy restaurant but the food is excellent and loved by locals.
Sunday
Commanders Palace- in the Garden District
http://www.commanderspalace.com/
Besides being located in the Garden District which features some of the nicest Victorian homes you'll ever seen it is also one of the best meals in town (which is why American Express featured it in one of it's commercials).
I had the turtle soup, blackened steak fillet and sauteed shrimp.
Commanders palace had been closed for two years after hurricane Katrina so I was glad to see it open and as good as ever. The service was exceptional and I recommend the strawberry shortcake, order it with diner because they start baking it early.
We had plenty of other good meals for breakfast and lunch but I only highlight the above because they are classics that should be visited.
Friday night we walked around Bourbon St and Royal Street. For newbies, Royal is for shopping and Bourbon is for drinking. All intersecting streets are combinations of the same. We were in by 12pm on Friday because we had business in Mississippi (checking out our new home).
Saturday, we rented a car and drove to Long Beach, MS to meet our property manager and tour our home. I was pleased to see how nice the beach in Long Beach is and how close it is to our home (future vacation home?).
We found the house and spent about 30 min taking photos and checking out the neighborhood.
Further east from Long Beach you run into Gulfport and Biloxi which is a very nice area with lots of hotels and casinos. We stopped to eat at a restaurant called The Oyster House so naturally I had the broiled Oysters and they were ridiculous good!
After our drive back to New Orleans, about an hour away, we started to get ready for our diner at Pascal Manals and then hit Bourbon St for some live music and libations.
We were out until about 2am which is late for us old people. It's a lot of fun walking through the different clubs and listening to the different music. Another alternative to Bourbon St is Frenchman's which is a few miles away but much more Blues oriented.
Of course we stopped at Pat O'Brien for a Hurricane (too sweet) and be warned, if you order a beer at happy hour they give you three. Every bar has a cocktail waitress trying to sell you a shot of some unknown shot, avoid the pressure and be strong (or pay $3 just to make them leave).
Sunday we spent some time in Jackson Square watching street performers and we also bought some art from Hank. Hank has Cerebral Palsy but that hasn't stopped him from making some very unique art. he paint on tiles gathered from the rubble of Hurricane Katrina. We've started collecting art from some of our trips and have a nice collection growing.
Sunday morning on Royal Street is also a good place to have brunch and a few Bloody Mary's, just ask Betsy. We had a great spot on the balcony overlooking the street action.
We also took the opportunity take a carriage ride around the city and hear a little about the history of the quarter. The highlight was passing Brad Pitt's house or as I call it Angelina Jolie's house.
We finished our day off with coffee at Cafe Du Mond and headed back to our hotel to get ready for Commanders Palace.
New Orleans has a lot of things to do and we had a great weekend. We are already considering a return visit for Mardi Gras. I never get tired of Cajun gumbo or shrimp.
This trip was a mix of business and pleasure, we recently purchased our 3rd rental property down in the Gulfport area of Long Beach, MS and hadn't visited the property since the completed construction.
The trip was pretty much paid for by using my frequent flyer points and Hilton honor points so that's always a nice reward.
We stayed at the Roosevelt Hotel, Waldorf Astoria http://therooseveltneworleans.com/ just off Canal Street. It's just outside the craziness of the French Quarter but a short walk to all the action.
 |
| Out side the Roosevelt Hotel |
The Roosevelt is one of the nicest hotels near the French Quarter and I recommend it highly.
Prior to our trip I made reservations at 3 restaurants. This is a good idea because it gets very crowded, very fast and unless you want to wait hours for a table, at least make a place- holding reservation. We never waited more then 5 minutes anywhere.
Here are the restaurants we had diner at:
Friday
The Bombay and Martini Club in the Quarter
http://www.thebombayclub.com/
Great Shrimp and Seafood stuffed egg plant
Saturday
Pascal Manales, in the Garden District
http://www.neworleansrestaurants.com/pascalsmanale/
Turtle Soup, Barbecued Shrimp and Pecan Pie - a must! This is not a real fancy restaurant but the food is excellent and loved by locals.
Sunday
Commanders Palace- in the Garden District
http://www.commanderspalace.com/
Besides being located in the Garden District which features some of the nicest Victorian homes you'll ever seen it is also one of the best meals in town (which is why American Express featured it in one of it's commercials).
I had the turtle soup, blackened steak fillet and sauteed shrimp.
Commanders palace had been closed for two years after hurricane Katrina so I was glad to see it open and as good as ever. The service was exceptional and I recommend the strawberry shortcake, order it with diner because they start baking it early.
We had plenty of other good meals for breakfast and lunch but I only highlight the above because they are classics that should be visited.
 |
| Royal Street |
Friday night we walked around Bourbon St and Royal Street. For newbies, Royal is for shopping and Bourbon is for drinking. All intersecting streets are combinations of the same. We were in by 12pm on Friday because we had business in Mississippi (checking out our new home).
 |
| Betsy on Bourbon Street |
Saturday, we rented a car and drove to Long Beach, MS to meet our property manager and tour our home. I was pleased to see how nice the beach in Long Beach is and how close it is to our home (future vacation home?).
 |
| Long Beach, MS - White Sand for miles |
We found the house and spent about 30 min taking photos and checking out the neighborhood.
 |
| The newest rental in Long Beach, MS |
 |
| The kitchen |
Further east from Long Beach you run into Gulfport and Biloxi which is a very nice area with lots of hotels and casinos. We stopped to eat at a restaurant called The Oyster House so naturally I had the broiled Oysters and they were ridiculous good!
 |
| I almost ordered 2 dozen! |
After our drive back to New Orleans, about an hour away, we started to get ready for our diner at Pascal Manals and then hit Bourbon St for some live music and libations.
We were out until about 2am which is late for us old people. It's a lot of fun walking through the different clubs and listening to the different music. Another alternative to Bourbon St is Frenchman's which is a few miles away but much more Blues oriented.
 |
| Pat O'Brien's, flaming fountain and hurricanes |
Of course we stopped at Pat O'Brien for a Hurricane (too sweet) and be warned, if you order a beer at happy hour they give you three. Every bar has a cocktail waitress trying to sell you a shot of some unknown shot, avoid the pressure and be strong (or pay $3 just to make them leave).
Sunday we spent some time in Jackson Square watching street performers and we also bought some art from Hank. Hank has Cerebral Palsy but that hasn't stopped him from making some very unique art. he paint on tiles gathered from the rubble of Hurricane Katrina. We've started collecting art from some of our trips and have a nice collection growing.
 |
| Hank and his art |
 |
| More of Hank's art in Jackson Square |
Sunday morning on Royal Street is also a good place to have brunch and a few Bloody Mary's, just ask Betsy. We had a great spot on the balcony overlooking the street action.
 |
| Brunch and Bloody Mary's on the Balcony |
We also took the opportunity take a carriage ride around the city and hear a little about the history of the quarter. The highlight was passing Brad Pitt's house or as I call it Angelina Jolie's house.
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| Who Dat? Two tourists in a carriage. |
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| Jackson Square |
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| The Cornstalk Hotel |
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| Just because you can doesn't mean you should. |
We finished our day off with coffee at Cafe Du Mond and headed back to our hotel to get ready for Commanders Palace.
New Orleans has a lot of things to do and we had a great weekend. We are already considering a return visit for Mardi Gras. I never get tired of Cajun gumbo or shrimp.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
2011 Olympia Weekend: Highlight Reel
2011 Olympia Weekend: Highlight Reel
You know as the new year begins, so do those New Years resolutions. Well this years is probably similar to everyone else, lose some weight, exercise more, eat better. For inspiration, I found the above link summarizing the dedication of the Mr. and Mrs Olymipa contestants. I always am impressed by the dedication of these competitors. I've been to only one Mr. Olympia competiton but really enjoyed the show and the pre-contest convention.
I started my diet weighing in at 225, an all time high for me. After about a week, I've already dropped 6 lbs on to my goal of 185. That's a total of 40 lbs but I think I can do it if I eat well, quite drinking beer and exercise daily.
For those of you who are also dieting, I found a pretty neat web site that allows you to track you daily diet and exercise progress. It's called MyFitnessPal.com, they also have a pretty cool mobil app for your iPhone that allows you to enter your meals and see if you are staying within you calorie range. It's also good for checking food selections before you order.
Good luck with your own resolutions!
You know as the new year begins, so do those New Years resolutions. Well this years is probably similar to everyone else, lose some weight, exercise more, eat better. For inspiration, I found the above link summarizing the dedication of the Mr. and Mrs Olymipa contestants. I always am impressed by the dedication of these competitors. I've been to only one Mr. Olympia competiton but really enjoyed the show and the pre-contest convention.
I started my diet weighing in at 225, an all time high for me. After about a week, I've already dropped 6 lbs on to my goal of 185. That's a total of 40 lbs but I think I can do it if I eat well, quite drinking beer and exercise daily.
For those of you who are also dieting, I found a pretty neat web site that allows you to track you daily diet and exercise progress. It's called MyFitnessPal.com, they also have a pretty cool mobil app for your iPhone that allows you to enter your meals and see if you are staying within you calorie range. It's also good for checking food selections before you order.
Good luck with your own resolutions!
Created by MyFitnessPal - Free Weight Loss Tools
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Park City, Utah
I just returned from our annual ski trip which we usually take the week between Christmas and New Year's, this year however, we went the week before Christmas. We returned to Park City Utah where we visited three years ago. We even stayed at the same resort, Hotel Park City. The HPC is a five star resort and we stayed in the same cottage (#5) which has a perfect view of the ski runs and lake. The cottages are separate from the hotel and are away from all the noise of the hotel. Each cottage has (3) fireplaces, one which is on the patio next to the private hot tub. The cottages all have leather furnishings, flat panel LCD's, wireless Internet and a small kitchen for light meals. It's convenient to Park City Mountain Resort, Deer Valley and Canyons. Downtown Park City is 5 miles away. They also have one of the best spa's I've every been in. 80 minute deep tissue massage after 4 days of skiing and boarding never felt so good. This property also has a Ruth Chris steak house on site and a free daily skiers buffet for breakfast.
We did a combo this year, 2 days snowboarding and 2 days skiing. We also opted to fly into Salt Lake City instead of the usual drive in from California. The flight was only 1 1/2 hours and the drive to Park City was 30 minutes. I can't get to Big Bear that fast. Flying made sense since I paid for the tickets with my AMEX and Delta Sky Miles points (the best deal in the world for frequent flyer's).
Other destinations we considered this year included: Whistler, Mammoth, and Vail. We did mammoth the last two years and were really looking for a new spot we haven't visited but after calculating the cost to fly, time on the mountain, and value for the money, Park City topped the list.
As a side trip, we took a 2 hour detour to Olympic Park, site of the 2002 Olympics for ski jumping, bobsled, skeleton, and free style jumps. They have a great museum on the site featuring the history of skiing, local ski areas and of course the Olympics of 2002 where the US finished 2nd overall. My real intention for going was to have a ride on the bobsled's. For $200 you can ride the actual bobsled down the track that those crazy Jamaicans flew down in the Olympics. Unfortunately, they were working on the ice so we didn't get our ride.
For info on The Hotel Park City see http://www.hotelparkcity.com/
For info on the Park City Olympic Park see http://www.utah.com/parkcity/olympic_park.htm
We had a great time as usual, I really like Park City because it has a lot of character from the early 1800's and since the winter Olympics, they have made a significant investment into the infrastructure of the town so it's very top notch as a ski destination.
The snow in Park City is very dry due to the fact that the moister picked up from nearby Salt Lake creates a much fluffier power then anywhere else I've skied. What this means it that the precipitation to snow yield is about 8x's the average resort destination so they always are pretty reliable for good conditions.
Here are some pictures from our trip.
We did a combo this year, 2 days snowboarding and 2 days skiing. We also opted to fly into Salt Lake City instead of the usual drive in from California. The flight was only 1 1/2 hours and the drive to Park City was 30 minutes. I can't get to Big Bear that fast. Flying made sense since I paid for the tickets with my AMEX and Delta Sky Miles points (the best deal in the world for frequent flyer's).
Other destinations we considered this year included: Whistler, Mammoth, and Vail. We did mammoth the last two years and were really looking for a new spot we haven't visited but after calculating the cost to fly, time on the mountain, and value for the money, Park City topped the list.
As a side trip, we took a 2 hour detour to Olympic Park, site of the 2002 Olympics for ski jumping, bobsled, skeleton, and free style jumps. They have a great museum on the site featuring the history of skiing, local ski areas and of course the Olympics of 2002 where the US finished 2nd overall. My real intention for going was to have a ride on the bobsled's. For $200 you can ride the actual bobsled down the track that those crazy Jamaicans flew down in the Olympics. Unfortunately, they were working on the ice so we didn't get our ride.
For info on The Hotel Park City see http://www.hotelparkcity.com/
For info on the Park City Olympic Park see http://www.utah.com/parkcity/olympic_park.htm
We had a great time as usual, I really like Park City because it has a lot of character from the early 1800's and since the winter Olympics, they have made a significant investment into the infrastructure of the town so it's very top notch as a ski destination.
The snow in Park City is very dry due to the fact that the moister picked up from nearby Salt Lake creates a much fluffier power then anywhere else I've skied. What this means it that the precipitation to snow yield is about 8x's the average resort destination so they always are pretty reliable for good conditions.
Here are some pictures from our trip.
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| This is the view from our porch, Hotel Park City |
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| The Old Barn on the road to Park City |
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| I'm ready to snowboard |
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| Brooke and Brad prepare to take off |
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| Brooke and Bradley getting along outside our cottage |
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| Betsy and I outside our cottage |
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| Deer Valley is probably the nicest ski resort I've been to, they have bathrooms that look like a hotel. |
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Mountain Bike Riding in Whiting Ranch
I live on the edge of the Cleveland National forest in South Orange County. It's not much of a forest but it does have extensive mountain bike trails running throughout the hills of my neighborhood. I'm fairly new to mountain biking, but I enjoy it over other forms of cardio exercise.
Last July, 2010, I purchased my real mountain bike (not the Huffy version but a real mountain grade bike). Now I've been riding a bike since I was a kid and I like to think I have normal balance and basic bike riding skills, however, now that I am in my 40's now I know that my mind and body don't always agree on our collective capabilities. Although I was pretty good at making bike ramps and jumping the neighborhood kids when I was 11, I have lost a little of my Evil Kenevil edge, case in point.
My first outing with the new bike was with some of my friends in the neighborhood, who have been riding for a while. I was confident I could keep up and go to all the places they were taking me, after all I've been riding a bike since I was 5. Well, my first outing resulted in a classic over then handle bar, pile drive, right on my shoulder. That's right, day one on the mountain.
Apparently, the speed of a downhill rider, going too fast, and who apply's too much brake to the front wheel without properly shifting his weight to the back of the bike, results in a gravitational pull over the handlebars. If said rider also stays clipped to his pedals by his new fancy biking shoes he then goes over the hadlebars and the bike stays attached.
I had a 5th degree shoulder separation that apparently was not treatable with ice and/or Ben Gay. After surgery, physical therapy and lot of weight lifting with 5lb pink dumb bells, I am back on the bike!
I've been slowly getting back into the bike riding and gradually going further with each outing. I have not fallen again but. I fully expect I will. I just hope it doesn't hurt as much as last time.
I wanted to share a video I took while mountain biking this week which really explains why I enjoy it. While riding I encountered a family of deer. To most people, this isn't a big deal but in south OC, urban development has nearly made the site of a deer, non-existent.
I can ride my bike less then a mile and I feel about as far from the urban city as you can. In addtion to deer, I've see the usual rabbits and squirels (who no doubt enjoy playing chicken with the bike riders) but also coyote and once a mountain lion (not all animals are a welcom site). I made this video especially corny and it's ok if you get teary eyed at the site of a deer or my poor iphone photography skills.
Here is the link to the video..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIr9_Oy0lQ4
Last July, 2010, I purchased my real mountain bike (not the Huffy version but a real mountain grade bike). Now I've been riding a bike since I was a kid and I like to think I have normal balance and basic bike riding skills, however, now that I am in my 40's now I know that my mind and body don't always agree on our collective capabilities. Although I was pretty good at making bike ramps and jumping the neighborhood kids when I was 11, I have lost a little of my Evil Kenevil edge, case in point.
My first outing with the new bike was with some of my friends in the neighborhood, who have been riding for a while. I was confident I could keep up and go to all the places they were taking me, after all I've been riding a bike since I was 5. Well, my first outing resulted in a classic over then handle bar, pile drive, right on my shoulder. That's right, day one on the mountain.
Apparently, the speed of a downhill rider, going too fast, and who apply's too much brake to the front wheel without properly shifting his weight to the back of the bike, results in a gravitational pull over the handlebars. If said rider also stays clipped to his pedals by his new fancy biking shoes he then goes over the hadlebars and the bike stays attached.
I had a 5th degree shoulder separation that apparently was not treatable with ice and/or Ben Gay. After surgery, physical therapy and lot of weight lifting with 5lb pink dumb bells, I am back on the bike!
 |
| This is my repared sholder, a small pin and pully system holds it back together! Does this picture make me look too thin? |
I wanted to share a video I took while mountain biking this week which really explains why I enjoy it. While riding I encountered a family of deer. To most people, this isn't a big deal but in south OC, urban development has nearly made the site of a deer, non-existent.
I can ride my bike less then a mile and I feel about as far from the urban city as you can. In addtion to deer, I've see the usual rabbits and squirels (who no doubt enjoy playing chicken with the bike riders) but also coyote and once a mountain lion (not all animals are a welcom site). I made this video especially corny and it's ok if you get teary eyed at the site of a deer or my poor iphone photography skills.
Here is the link to the video..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIr9_Oy0lQ4
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Plugged up
So we've been having some issues with the toilets in my house, they constantly get plugged. This is an annoyance for all in the family but it is pretty embarrassing for our guests. After evaluating the situation, the problem stems from new tile which after installed raised the height of the throne beyond the required distance needed for it to be properly attached to the flange.
So,in addition to fixing the problem, I also decided to purchase three new thrones that are low flow and give this important room an updated look.
I noticed that after the Plummer left, one of the installed toilets has prevented the door from being closed. I'm not sure why the Plummer didn't dry fit this first to make sure the door would close. Maybe he thought we are one of those families who have an open door policy when we do our business, but I can assure you that we are not. I can also assure you that the situation is not acceptable to my son and daughter who share this particular bathroom. They don't even like to share the bathroom as it is but open doors, that just won't fly.
The toilet situation will be resolved by weeks end. It just goes to show that my projects never seem to go as planned.
So,in addition to fixing the problem, I also decided to purchase three new thrones that are low flow and give this important room an updated look.
I noticed that after the Plummer left, one of the installed toilets has prevented the door from being closed. I'm not sure why the Plummer didn't dry fit this first to make sure the door would close. Maybe he thought we are one of those families who have an open door policy when we do our business, but I can assure you that we are not. I can also assure you that the situation is not acceptable to my son and daughter who share this particular bathroom. They don't even like to share the bathroom as it is but open doors, that just won't fly.
The toilet situation will be resolved by weeks end. It just goes to show that my projects never seem to go as planned.
Saturday, July 30, 2011
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