August 17, 2015

Tanya's Daily Scoop
NEXT TRIP DEPARTS IN: 19 DAYS

Right back into the Swing of Things!

Well Hello there and Welcome Back or maybe you should be welcoming me back!

This gal just got back from a wonderful trip to the Caribbean! 
Ahhhh it was just sooooo LOVELY.

So much so, that I was searching cruises just as soon as I got to the airport in Puerto Rico - I wasn't even home yet!

Well actually to tell you the truth, I was searching future cruises while I was still on the cruise...but was limited to one site. 

And you know me - I HATE LIMITATIONS!!!

Yup, the plan is to come back and do some more exploring and relaxing with the kids just as soon as I can fit it into the calendar!

In the meantime I already have a cruise to the Bahamas planned for next October, after we do some park hopping at Disney World with friends and family!  

If you can't tell I'm already looking quite forward to this vacation! I know this trip is gonna be a blast!!

Cruise 2012

Disney Hollywood Studios, FL - 2012

So since I am just getting back home, I figured that I would share with you my TOP 6 HIGHLIGHTS from this trip and then get to work on all of the updates that I have to do. I'm waaaaay behind!

MY TOP 6 TRIP HIGHLIGHTS 

Magens Bay - St. Thomas

Anse La Raye - St. Lucia

Pitons - St. Lucia

Green Vervet Monkeys - St. Kitts

Massage on Frigate Bay Beach - 
St. Kitts

Dreams Beach - St. Martin

Now you can see for yourself why I am so eager to go back!

Ok, so now let's get down to business...
Neither Elisa nor I have any idea why yesterday's Daily was not emailed out to our subscribers! 

We hate this type of thing. UGH!

Here is a LINK for yesterday's posting (I know that I would be lost if I missed a day!) 

Here is another link that you might be interested in...I finally posted my TBT 
'Problem at the Border!'

And let me tell you just a wee bit about yesterday...
The day DID NOT go as planned.

First off the lines to get through customs were literally outrageous!

Second, when we finally got through customs and headed to the taxi line in order to grab a cab back to the Hilton Condado (where we had stayed last week and where they had told us that we could store our luggage for the day).

Third, we arrived back at the Hilton Condado and were told that we COULD NOT store our luggage unless we were current registered guests - that we had been misinformed! 
The manager had come out to explain that it is a security risk and yadda yadda yadda. 
We asked her if she knew of a place that had luggage storage - she told us that the only place was at the airport.
We inquired as to the cost and she explained that it was free, and that it is customary to tip $2 per bag - not a bad deal!

Next we took a cab to the airport (losing plenty of time each step along the way). 

And once we arrived at the airport we inquired as to where to go. We were directed to Terminal D, which we then headed... 

Once we had walked in and up to the door, we found a sign stating that they had stepped out and would return in 15-20 minutes. 

HOWEVER, there were people who were already there waiting.

We waited and waited. And waited. 

Plenty of other baggage service employees showed up, but none with a key. 

They attempted to call the "guy" with the key and there was no answer.

We continued to wait and to watch the clock tick away. Our day in San Juan was going down the toilet.

Finally (well after the 15-20 minutes) the "guy" with the key showed up and he is giving people different prices depending on what language you spoke!

Our bags would have been $10 a piece! 
We were originally told $0 (only tip), then we overheard $6 per bag, but for us we were getting the special price of $10 per bag - what a freakin' SCAM!

By this point I HAD IT! 

I was so disgusted that I decided to call off the touring/sightseeing/shopping/eating that was planned for the day and just hang out at the LAME airport for hours upon hours. 

I was sick and tired of dealing with CRAP and being misinformed! 

Can you imagine if we left the bags and then the office was closed upon our return causing us to miss our flight because of these jerks???

So we will wait until our next visit to continue sightseeing in and around San Juan, Puerto Rico.

As far as today goes, I've got plenty of catching up to take care of (this will continue throughout the week), I'll be handing out gifts/souvenirs to the family this afternoon, and the kids have a performance later this evening. 
Yup, I'm jumping right back into the swing of things!

I'll catch ya back here tomorrow for a fun filled and informative Travelin' Tuesday, with lots of plans on the horizon!

Ciao 4 Now,
-T

Elisa's Daily Scoop
NEXT TRIP DEPARTS IN: SEPTEMBER

Monday in NYC

Hello and welcome to a brand new week! 

We are making our way through the month of August pretty darn quickly!

This week, the girls' horseback riding trainer is on vacation so they do not have camp.  So, instead, 
I decided we would spend most of our time in Nassau and do a few New York City visits.

I must really be out of it, because I was all set to head into FAO Schwarz tomorrow, when I decided to snag an image of the store via a Google search and saw all the news stories pop up about the store's closing on July 15th 2015!!!

I was shocked and saddened!!  So, I told the kids we could, instead go to Toys R Us in Times Square - their flagship store. 

The World Famous Toy Store is considered just another victim of rising rents and ultraluxury retailing in New York City’s hottest shopping district, forced to close its doors on July 15, 2015. 
F.A.O. Schwarz, founded in 1862, was the oldest toy store in the United States and a fixture in New York City for 145 years. Since 1933, the store was located at 745 Fifth Avenue where it operated for 55 years. This is the location I remember well from when I was a little girl.  It then moved across 58th Street to its final location in the General Motors Building  at 767 Fifth Avenue in 1986.  This iconic toy store will be missed.

So, here's the new plan -- take the LIRR into the city; go to Toys R Us; definitely take a ferris wheel ride (which is totally overpriced and way too short of a ride); walk around Times Square; visit the M&M Store and possibly hit a few other touristy spots in the area.  

I'll admit, I'm a bit bummed and ashamed that I didn't realize FAO had closed.

But, I also found out that Toys R Us in Times Square will also be closing as well after 16 years in this location in January 2016.  WTH?? What's going on with these toys stores??

Thursday, our plan is to head into Brooklyn to visit Luna Park in Coney Island - another iconic location in New York City.  Looking forward to this trip as it's been A-HEM - a very long time since I've been to Coney Island! Going to see if I can find some old pictures from my visit there back in the 60's with my Aunt Ro for Throwback Thursday!

Yesterday... we headed out to the Quogue Wildlife Refuge.  What a nice place, nestled on the east end of Long Island!

I definitely recommend visiting if you are looking for an outdoorsy thing to do on Long Island with the kiddies.  

There are a number of resident animals, who require human care due to injuries, including a bald eagle (who is missing a wing and cannot fly :-( due to a gun shot wound), a bobcat, a number of owls and several snakes, among other wildlife in the area.

I'm guessing the trails are even more enjoyable in the cooler weather in the Fall, since today was exceptionally hot, even by New York Summer standards.

There's a number of attractions on the grounds of the refuge including a butterfly garden, a greenhouse and a nature center.

Sarah joined us for the day, which made it extra fun for the girls!

From the Wildlife Refuge, we made our way into the town of West Hampton Beach for a quick bite at Mambo Kitchen (CLICK HERE to see my previous Foodie Friday article about this little joint when it was in a different location down the street and called Cafe Mambo)

The girls went for a quick swim and pool antics before we made our way back to Nassau.

I LOVE the quote below!!! It really resonated with me on so many levels!!!

Have a spectacular day!!!
See ya back here tomorrow for Travelin' Tuesday!!

-E
xoxo