September 15, 2015

Tanya's Daily Scoop
NEXT TRIP DEPARTS IN: 10 DAYS

When Plans go Poop...

Woo Hoo Only 10 more Days! 
I really can't wait until I'm on vacation again!
 
I know it may seem like I'm always on vacation, but let me tell you... I need a vacation!

I love vacations. I am addicted to vacations. I could live on vacation!

But the only difference between my version of a vacation and many others ideas of a vacation is that when I'm on vacation it's all about adventure and exploration. 

I'm not much about taking it easy...but that is where the exception of Hawaii comes in.
I honestly don't mind some down time when I'm in Hawaii, and the kids love that aspect about it!

So beginning tomorrow our countdown will be in single digit numbers and the excitement will continue to build. 
Guess I could and maybe should start packing here pretty soon!

But I will tell you that sometimes planning these trips can be a huge pain in the "you know what!" 
when plans don't quite go as planned.

The good thing is that when you plan like I do, you tend to catch this stuff during the planning stages and not while you are on actually vacation.

I've been having a few of "those" days...
While I've been busy working on our Spring trip Portugal/Spain/France/Andorra; I had the skeleton map of our journey all planned out and was ready to purchase the Azores inter-island flights.

Well...in addition to flights, there are some planned ferries that were in the schedule. Here's where I went wrong - I had not checked the ferry schedule ahead of time (well obviously this is ahead of time, but I mean before now), and it appears that the ferry that we need only runs twice a week - and that so does not work for our itinerary!
UGH

What does that mean - well we can opt not to take a ferry and just fly, so it would seem like not a very big deal. 
However, since some of the flights aren't that popular, some of the routes take 20+ hours! 
UGH

The problem was that if I were to add one of these long flights to our plans, it would snowball and screw up other plans, and I just will not let that happen.

There had to be a way!

So after much headache and studying of the archipelago islands, the calendar, and flight plans (it was like a puzzle with pieces that didn't quite fit together), my head was spinning...

And then I finally pieced it together. 
I only had to confirm with the airlines and it would just about be a done deal! Whew. 
Maybe that means I can finally more forward with this trip now - hotels, cars, sightseeing, dining...

Other trips which I have moved forward with also include our trip back to the Quebec Winter Carnival - flights are booked, hotel is reserved, car is locked in, and the plans continue to develop! 

One major thing that we all need for this trip is heavy weight base layers - it is FREEZING over there!

Plans are also set for Joshua Tree, where we will be hiking, camping, and setting up Dave's telescope to do some amazing star gazing - 
Boasting some of the darkest nights in Southern California, Joshua Tree National Park offers many visitors the chance to admire the Milky Way for the first time in their lives. (nps.com)

Photo credit: kcet.org

Another trip that has been in the hopper, is our 2016 Cycling Trip to the Outer Hebrides of Scotland.
This extraordinary mountain bike journey takes you through one of Europe’s last true wilderness regions, the Outer Hebrides.
Crowned the Hebridean Trail, this 280km bike journey weaves its way through seven superb islands on a variety of ancient paths, historic by-ways, mountain tracks and impossibly quiet roads.
More than another bike ride, the Hebridean Trail offers the opportunity to experience life on the islands, where the landscapes are wild and untamed, golden eagles and red deer roam free and human history dates back over 5,000 years.
The Outer Hebrides also retain a culture distinct from the rest of Scotland. 
Here you will find Gaelic as the first language and a sense of pride and tradition which make the Outer Hebrides a remarkable and unforgettable place to visit. (credit: wildernessscotland.com)

Photo credit: ngo.nationalgeographic.com

At this stage in the game we are still bouncing back and forth between going on a group tour or following a self guided tour. 

There are a few issues:

A. Food - we already know that we are kinda gonna starve on this 174 mile trail. Gotta figure out exactly how extreme are lack of eating will be, or will it just be boring backpacking foods...

B. Staying on course - it'll just be Dave and me going and we have Dave who can tend to get lost. And me who might throw a fit if I hate the trail!

C. Price - the guided tour really doesn't offer much - no dinners, and not even the bikes and yet it is rather pricey... Almost not worth it...
But will it keep us on course? 

  DECISIONS   DECISIONS   DECISIONS 

So many places to go, and only a lifetime to do it in!

Well, I've been plugging away at these trips (plus others that were just not mentioned today), and little by little I've been checking gifts off for birthdays and Christmas!

Last night we had another Board meeting, where Dave didn't do as much as say "peep"! 

Cosette was super excited that she finally auditioned for one of my favorites songs...

I WAS HERE

You will notice me
I'll be leaving my mark like initials carved in an old oak tree
You wait and see
Maybe I'll write like Twain wrote
Maybe I'll paint like Van Gogh
Cure the common cold
I don't know but I'm ready start cause I know in my heart

I wanna do something that matters
Say something different
Something that sets the whole world on its ear
I wanna do something better
With the time I've been given
And I wanna try
To touch a few hearts in this life
Leave nothing less
Than something that says "I was here"

I will prove you wrong
If you think I'm all talk, you're in for a shock
Cause this dream's too strong
And before too long

Maybe I'll compose symphonies,
Maybe I'll fight for world peace
Cause I know it's my destiny
To leave more than a trace of myself in this place

I wanna do something that matters
Say something different
Something that sets the whole world on its ear
I wanna do something better
With the time I've been given
And I wanna try
To touch a few hearts in this life
Leave nothing less
Than something that says "I was here"

And I know that I will do more than just pass through this life
I'll leave nothing less than something that says "I was here"

"I was here"
(I was here)
"I was here"
(wanna do something that matters)
(Something that says I was here)
"wanna do something that matters"
(Something that says I was here)
"I was here

It's absolutely lovely and when you hear the choir sing it, it just comes to life and is nothing less than beautiful. 
Gives me goosebumps! 
And I swear that I am not being bias at all when I say that the choir performing this song sounds even better than the recording artist and Lady Antebellum. 

I'm gonna wrap it up here and I'll quickly mention how much I've enjoyed listening to the rain since the wee hours of the night. 
I'm a Pluviophile. I just LOVE the sound of the rain!

Ok ciao my dears,
-T

Elisa's Daily Scoop
NEXT TRIP DEPARTS IN: 10 DAYS

Travelin' Focus on Siracusa, Sicily

HAPPY TRAVELIN' TUESDAY!

Another week to talk about future planned trips! 

Before I do, however, I wanted to tell you about our birthday dinner for Kelsey's 9th Birthday last night!

Me and my 9 year old girl

Kelsey's flatbread pizza

Enjoying her pizza

Dessert Tower with special Happy Birthday Candle for Kelsey

We had an intimate family dinner at Season's 52 in Garden City, which is my little girl's favorite restaurant.  

Not only did she get her favorite dinner - flat bread pizza, but there was also a lovely birthday card waiting for her at the table when we arrived and a happy birthday dessert with a special candle!!

I'm so happy her day was a happy one!!!  In the next week I will be getting her special birthday present - a riding saddle!!!  

Here's to a great year, my little Kelsey!

Back to Travelin'...
I believe last week I first shared with you, my desire to go to Sicily and Greece next Summer (2016).

Now, I have a little ink in the ointment that came up this past weekend.  In my Sunday blog this week, I told you how incredibly well Kelsey is progressing at horseback riding and how her trainer believes she will be in a good position to show next year.

That's the good news.  The not-so-good news is that my plans for the above-mentioned trip to Sicily and Greece were going to be scheduled for late June and through July.    

The problem with this is that it interferes with important riding time leading up to the shows - practice that Kelsey will need in order to be prepared for the courses and jumps that are part of the competitions.

Having said that, I'm not going to give up!  

I am going to see if there is a way to visit these destinations at some other times.  I'm thinking perhaps May might be a good time to plan a trip to Sicily.  

I'm giving some thought to the girls' school schedule and how I might be able to make this work after all.  I may need to drop Greece from the Itinerary (insert sad face), but it will just give me a reason to plan a separate trip.

Last week, I went into some great detail about Taormina, Sicily (where mine and Tanya's families originate) - the history and reasons this city is a popular tourist destination in Sicily.

This week, we are going to travel south to Syracuse or "Siracusa."

Syracuse is a historic city in Sicily, the capital of the province of Syracuse. The city is notable for its rich Greek history, culture, amphitheatres, architecture, and as the birthplace of the preeminent mathematician and engineer Archimedes.

Syracuse was the most important city of Magna Graecia. It defeated the mighty Athens in 413 and was home to many a great Greek

GREEK THEATRE, SIRACUSA, SICILY (credit: digitalmeetsculture.com)

ROMAN AMPHITHEATRE - SIRACUSA, SICILY (credit: wondersofsicily.com)

A visit to Siracusa is best if split into two parts: one dedicated to the archaeological sites and the other to the island of Ortygia.

According to thethinkingtraveller.com, "The archaeological site, situated in the northwest of the town, is home to a staggering number of well-preserved Greek (and Roman) remains. 

The main attraction is undoubtedly the Greek theatre that dates back at least until the 5th Century BC. Its cavea is amongst the largest ever built: its 59 rows could accommodate up to 15,000 spectators. The theatre is still used for an annual Greek theatre festival running from the middle of May to the end of June."

Wow, my  new timing might actually work out even better!!

The Roman Amphitheatre, another archaeological site was built in the 3rd Century AD  and is one of the largest to be found anywhere at 140m long   Much different than the Greek Theatre, the focus was for violent entertainment with gladiators and wild animals.

Lastly, The Archaeological Museum is located a short distance away, in Via Teocrito, and is home to exhibits with collections from all over the Syracuse area.

Oritigia is a very small island, only 500 meters, accessible via a small bridge from the mainland and possesses over 2,500 years of history!

From all I've read, the best way to enjoy this small island is to wander around and just "take it in."  Some historic sites include: 
The Temple of Apollo: built in the 7th Century BC and speculated to be the first great Doric temple of its kind in Sicily.

Piazza Archimede: named after the town’s most famous son.

The Byzantine Miqwe: (Jewish baths) under the Hotel alla Giudecca.

Continuing my research about Sicily, I'm amazed at how closely the Greek and Sicilian cultures and history are!!  

ISLAND OF ORITIGIA, SICILY (credit: sicily.visitor.com)

Hope you are enjoying my Tuesday features about Sicily.  More to come next week!

I'm off to get a little pampering and have my hair done today.  Such a good hair day too!!

Don't miss Tanya's "Scoop" today about her upcoming trips!!
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-E
xoxo