My A-Z Travel Challenge


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:

Six Thunderbird F-16s in delta formation flyin...
Image via Wikipedia

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:

English: WonderWorks in Orlando, Florida
Image via Wikipedia

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:

Port Charlotte Beach Complex

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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It is that wonderful time of the year… again


It is December…again. Just like it was just Monday… and it is now Saturday, again. Time is passing by so quickly I can barely catch my breath!

Bok Mansion's entrance

As of Thanksgiving day–Christmas officially arrived; never mind it was already here since before Halloween. I love the holiday season, even when they begin to sneak in Christmas carols on the radio when I am not paying attention. I happened to notice this when I began to hum along, suddenly it hit me–I am humming “It is a wonderful time of the year… la, la, la….

Dont’ get me wrong, I love the holiday season; the songs, the trees, the Menorah and the candles,  the Kwanzaa celebrations, lights everywhere, Macy’s windows, Rockefeller Center, etc… (hey, I lived in NYC for over 20 years, the “melting pot” as it is known, and we all celebrated together) but Christmas is my favorite.

Winchester Roller Skates, 1960s

Christmas is what I grew up with in Panama; my first recollection of a Christmas present was getting a pair of Winchester Roller Skates, and these were nothing like the rubber skates of today. I mean, these were steel and I felt like a powerhouse when I clamped them on my shoes. I was about five years old when I got the first pair of training Winchesters, fell many times and promptly learned how to skate. By the time I was a teenager I was a pro on those babies; my siblings and friends will have skate parties on the streets, (no rinks, for us daredevils) and we ran competitions to see who could make the most pirouettes without breaking a bone, and then we held on to each other in groups of ten or fifteen kids to form a train or “cola” (long line), and proceeded to jump over the many sets of steps found in “Paseo Las Bovedas”; that memory will be forever etched in my mind. So much fun and… there was always a broken bone and a trip to the emergency room, lol!

Pretend play is not the same as the real thing

Kids today don’t get such physical workouts, like we did. Everything happened outdoors, we played with hacky sacks, which we made ourselves (from old socks filled with lentils), and rode bicycles, roller skated on the streets, went swimming, played every kind of ball there was: baseball, basketball, soccer… you name it. We were fit, brassy and healthy! Today it is all about Nintendo, Xbox and the like, kids and adults can even pretend they are being active by playing games (indoor) on their Wii. What’s up with that?

I don't wanna...

Enough of that, I am afraid I am dating myself; but yes, I am a child of the age of Aquarius, and the Beatles, and The Temptations, and Aretha Franklin; but make no excuses for that–they were the best of times to grow up in. There’s no mountain high enough to keep me from getting to you…

Here are some pictures I took last week when we were in Orlando and ventured 45 minutes out-of-the-way of the usual sites, to visit Bok Tower Gardens. We enjoyed their Christmas decorations, quiet surroundings and gardens; it was a beautiful experience, and I highly recommend it!

Bok Tower, in the distance

I will post some more pictures during the month as I am now officially–in the Christmas and holiday spirit!

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