Marcia Clarke – See, Snap, Write!
This is a concept I like, posting a picture taken with a cellphone it’s right up my alley.
Full disclosure, the only pictures I take are with my IPhone, and I must confess that I am a complete newbie when it comes to using all the features it has; as I am still in the point and shoot era of photography, and suspect I’ll always be.
These were captured in the Rockefeller Center area, on a cold New York night. Still, it was a beautiful experience!
I received this challenge from Johanna Bradley, of http://restlessjo.wordpress.com a few days ago, and it made me think…a lot;(Thanks Jo, LOL) it also made me realize I need to get going on my bucket list pronto! Therefore, if there are any travel companies out there listening, I am letting you know now–I am available for travel assignments. LOL.
A: Age at which you went on your first trip abroad:
Nineteen, when I left Panama for the very first time–went to Brooklyn, New York, on a 6-month visit, yeah!
B: Best foreign beer you have had and where:
I am not much of a beer drinker, but I prefer light beers–Heineken, or when I travel to Miami, Cerveza Panama.
C: Cuisine:
Give me some Latin or Caribbean food any day of the week, (Panama, Cuba, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, etc.) closely followed by Indian and Mediterranean. I, however, am known for trying all kinds of foods at least once.
D: Destinations, favorite, least favorite, and why:
I love big cities New York, Miami, Orlando, and Atlanta where I once lived and still have family are favorites. I also love London and Paris, and Panama of course, even though it is not a big city—it is where I come from. I do not have a least favorite destination…yet.
E: Event you experienced abroad that made you say, “Wow!”
There are many, but the first time I saw a skyscraper in New York City, that image remains etched on my mind. I was nineteen years old and it was the first time I’d been away from my parents’ watchful eyes, I will never forget it.
F: Favorite mode of transportation:
Airplanes, I want to get there fast!
G: Greatest feeling while travelling:
Anticipation, I cannot wait to get where I am going, let the fun begin.
H: Hottest place you have travelled to, where?
Florida, in July and still we went ahead and moved here, LOL
I: Incredible service you have experienced and why:
Pampering received during a 7-day cruise to Bermuda, because they catered to my every whim and I loved it!
J: Journey that took the longest:
My sister and I, took a road trip from New York to Florida, twice; just for the fun of it and with our young children in tow. I would never do that one again!
K: Keepsake from your travels:
I bought two handbags in Paris; and a few Pashmina scarves in London. I usually shop for things that are practical and wearable, not too big on keepsakes.
L: Letdown sight, where and why:
I am sure there are some, but I just cannot remember them.
M: Moment when you fell in love with travel:
The first time I got on a plane, from Panama to New York. That was it!
N: Nicest hotel you have stayed at while traveling:
We travel as cheaply as possible. However, any Marriott usually does the trick.
O: Obsession: what are you obsessed with taking photos of when you travel:
Boats, beaches, sunsets, old churches, museums, and gardens usually get my attention as well as unusual sights. Architectural structures that are unique and beautiful.
P: Passport stamps, how many and from where:
Very few in the last few years–London, Paris, Bermuda and Panama; I better get going on that bucket list!
Q: Quirkiest attraction you have visited and where:
Orlando’s only upside-down attraction, WonderWorks, an amusement park for the mind featuring over one hundred interactive exhibits for people of all ages. I had the weirdest experience upon entering the exhibit building, thought it was moving–not. LOL. That was a very funny experience.
R: Recommended sight, event or experience:
A trip to Paris, which includes a visit to Notre Dame Cathedral, the Louvre Museum and a cruise on the River Seine.
S: Splurge; something you have no problem forking out money for when travelling:
I do not mind splurging for a room with a view, and dinner at a fancy restaurant now and then.
T: Touristy thing you have done:
When I arrived in New York for the first time, I made sure to tour all the big attractions–Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty, Rockefeller Center, Central Park, and all the museums I could get into; that was a lot of fun. Who knew I would be living there for the next twenty years and would get to visit those sites over and over every time friends and family would come to visit. LOL
U: Unforgettable travel memory:
Roundtrip London to Paris on the Chunnel, which included visits to many, must see sites and some off the beaten path places.
V: Visas, how many and for where:
I can only wish, but so far none.
W: Wine, best glass of wine had while travelling, where:
The best wine I have ever drank was had in Paris, at a friend’s home.
X: eXcellent view and from where:
Sunsets on the beach, in Florida
Y: Years spent travelling:
More than I can remember, but mostly within the states. Seriously, I have to get that bucket list thing going. LOL
Z: Zealous sports fans and where:
New York Yankees fans; don’t even mention the Mets to them.
Well, this has been a fun exercise (but it made me think too much) so now I pass it on to some of my fellow bloggers. Let us see, who is next?
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This summer, I attended a business conference held in National Harbor, MD; I did not recall hearing about this city before, at least not that I could remember.
Nevertheless, I quickly signed up to attend the summer institute conference. National Harbor as it turned out, was all-good; especially because of its proximity to our nation’s capital, which I had the opportunity to visit during last year’s conference.
Aside from the obvious reasons we attend job-related conferences, there are some not so obvious benefits. One of the things I look for is location, location, location! When conferences are held in places I have never been to before, (and that includes many), I jump at the opportunity; quickly launch into a Google research project, and then get excited to learn all I can to begin plotting what to do when the workshops breakout for the day.
I love to travel, explore and see what the city I am in is all about. This morning I was looking through the picture gallery in my Droid with the intent of deleting old files to free-up some memory. I came across a few pictures, taken during my two most recent business trips and instead decided to share them with you. I will soon file them away in that digital album on the desktop I rarely ever go back into.
The Washington monument was looking magnificent on the day I took this picture. I could not ask for a better shot, and was truly amazed to see that it came out of my cell phone camera. I am by no means a photographer, but I hope for the best and expect the camera to see what I see, when I point and shoot at an object. It is always a crime of opportunity; I may or may not have the camera with me, but the cell phone? That is another story. LOL!
The sculpture shown here both took me by surprise and creeped me out at the same time when I first saw it at National Harbor. I thought, what is that all about? Its location made me
think it was making some reference to the sea gods and it looks intense and scary, at least to me it did. I have since learned it is “The Awakening”, created by J Seward Johnson in 1980 and first displayed in Hains Point, MD (another place I never heard of), for 27 years, it was then relocated to National Harbor in 2008 when the sculptor sold it for $750,000! It must be nice!
I lived in Brooklyn, NY for more than twenty years, during that time I visited every “must see” tourist site there was to see in NYC and even some you would not want to see. Every museum: Brooklyn Museum, Children’s Museum, MOMA, Guggenheim and places such as Madison Square, Empire State building, Rockefeller Center, the Statue of Liberty–any and all major attractions were part of my weekend itinerary, along with regular visits to Macy’s for shopping and FAO Schwartz to ensure the kids did not complain—I was a very smart mommy!
The point is this, there is so much to see anywhere you live that you should not let the moments of your life go by without taking advantage to enrich yourself. Gather some knowledge and share it with others. There are no excuses accepted these days since Google can take you places you have never been before. I know, it is no substitute for being there, I agree; but a “virtual trip” does not hurt anyone and if you ever get the opportunity to visit in person–you would already have an idea of what to expect when you get there.
Bon Voyage!
Chica on the Move 