Happy Columbus Day from New YorkHowdy and Happy Columbus Day! I had quite a busy day yesterday getting settled back in here at home after being away for a little over a week galavanting through New Mexico with my dear cousin and partner in travel crime, Tanya!  I started off the day with a nice leisurely walk. It was an incredibly beautiful day here on Long Island - hard to believe the weather forecast for tomorrow is rain. I managed to get most of the unpacking and laundry done, as well as helping the girls get their homework done from the week they were out on our cousin's road trip. I also had to go through a week's worth of mail, pay bills and review and update my personal calendar for the next 3 months with school events, social activities fun things to do. Considering today is Columbus Day, I thought I would share some facts and information about the annual New York City Columbus Day parade. If you love parades, but do not enjoy the gi-normous crowds and the chaos that accompany the larger NYC parades like the St. Patrick's Day and Thanksgiving Day parades, the Columbus Day parade has all the same great features but on a smaller scale.  Columbus Citizens Foundation, Parade Organizers courtesy ColumbusDayParade2014.com As and Italian-American, this parade has a special place in my heart because it celebrates Italian cultural pride. COLUMBUS DAY PARADE FACTS: * HISTORY - The first parade took on October 12, 1929, New York City and was led by businessman and Italian immigrant Generoso Pope from East Harlem down to Columbus Circle. - It is the largest celebration of Italian-American culture in the world - The parade celebrated Christopher Columbus’s explorations and the achievements and contributions of Italian-Americans in New York and the United States. - A fund-raising dinner followed the first-ever parade to benefit immigrants creating a new life for themselves in New York City. - The Columbus Citizens Foundation in New York organizes this parade each year - The parade attracts nearly one million spectators and over 35,000 spectators * 2014 GRAND MARSHAL Frank Bisignano  Annual Columbus Day Parade courtesy dreamstime.com * WHEN: Second Monday is October * TIME: 11:30am to 3:00pm * PARADE ROUTE: The Columbus Day Parade begins on Fifth Avenue at 44th Street and continues north along Fifth Avenue to 72nd Street. * LOCATION OF THE GRANDSTANDS: Fifth Avenue between 67th and 69th Streets.  If you are thinking of visiting New York City next year, Autumn in New York is absolutely lovely with its cool and comfortable weather and coming in October, you can experience this 85 year NYC tradition! Have you been keeping up with Tanya's continuing road trip adventures through New Mexico? She continued south yesterday to Carlsbad and then headed northwest three hours to Alamogordo and onto Tucsan. I wish we were still traveling with those guys and able to see the Carlsbad Caverns and White Sands National Park! Have you been keeping up with Tanya's blog and her experience with the "Bat Flight Program?" Read about the Giant Chili today! I will be back tomorrow for Travelin' Tuesday to share some helpful traveling tips!! Be well! -E  | From Saguaro to Choir on Columbus DayWelcome to another week here at Travelin' Cousins! It's Monday, and this Monday happens to be Columbus day! Now, before you go any further we need to apologize to each of our subscribers... We found out that the email server never sent out Sunday's Daily!! Please catch up HERE. Read all the scoop and drama! And enjoy all of the lovely photos that were shared by myself and Elisa. Now back to Columbus Day - Check out Elisa's side for some fun facts on this mighty little holiday! Our Columbus day will be spent touring Saguaro National Park here in Tuscon, Arizona; and then finally making our way back to Southern California and heading straight to choir! Now for a bit of catching up with what we did yesterday: The day started out in Alamogordo, we headed straight for White Sands National Monument, which sits at the base of the San Andres Mountains. 
Our little group spent some time in the visitors center, and gift shop before heading further into the park to see the dunes. We bought a couple of sleds and were amped and ready for some fun!  Parked in the middle of nowhere!   It's like sugar!  So pretty! Driving past these White Sand dunes was so amazing, and beautiful! I really have to admit how much more there was to this park, compared to what I had imagined! We found our chosen first dune and before I knew it the kids were climbing up the hill with their new sleds and ready to go sand sledding!  The kids hurrying up the dune!  Cosette about to hit the sand in a sled!  All ready to go for a ride! What fun!! Of course both Dave and I had to give it a try! I only wish that Elisa and the girls were still here to share in the good times! I know they would've really loved it!  I'm ready to come down!  Trekking out We had an awesome time exploring more of the park and knew it was time to leave when eventually the wind had picked up and we started getting pelted with the fine crystals of white sand. I would totally come back to this park for more fun times!!  Next stop Tuscon, Arizona! On our drive, we had another quirky photo op surprise along the way! I found the World's BIGGEST Chili Pepper!  This thing is huge! And then this odd/fun little cowboy town facade!
Called it a fairly early night. Had an early dinner, and then checked in (believe it or not...our reservation was lost AGAIN), sat around watching the Food Network while dozing off and dreaming about food! lol That's it dearies. Wishing that you all have a great Monday and that it kicks off an awesome week! You'll find me back here tomorrow, back in Cali and ready to celebrate Cosette's 13th birthday!!! Until then, I'm signing off.. Ciao -T |
