North America

Day Tripping to Cold Spring

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View of the Hudson River from the train

This past weekend, once again finding ourselves in the city on a long weekend with nowhere to go, we decided to venture out of the city on a day trip. We’ve seen those posters in the subway that urge you to “get out of town” and see the all the natural beauty that New York has to offer. Lacking a car, we had to find a place that’s convenient and accessible by train. After a quick search, we came upon Cold Spring, a small historical village nestled in the Lower Hudson Valley right on the bank of the Hudson River. Continue reading →

Connecticut: Adventure Rooms

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I first heard from my sister in Canada about a new game called the Adventure Rooms.  After doing some research, I found out that there was also an Adventure Rooms in the States and one of them just so happened to be in Hartford.  Awesome! So this past weekend while we were in Connecticut visiting family and friends, we decided to give it a try.
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Deal Alert: 2-for-1 Broadway tickets

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It’s that time again when the summer is winding down and Broadway week is kicking off.  For the first two weeks of September you can get 2-for-1 tickets to a lot of shows including Lion King, Mamma Mia, Chicago and many other new and old favorites.  If you are around the city, it’s the perfect time to catch that show that you’ve been thinking of going to, but never had the chance.  The show that I’ve been dying to see is Phantom of the Opera, a classic.  If you are not from the city, Fall is also the perfect season to visit.
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My New York: Summer Streets

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Everyone came out for Summer Streets

I need to take a break from writing about Peru, so it’s time for another New York post. There are many positives and negatives about living in the city.  On one hand, the summer can be unbearable with the oppressive heat. On the other hand, there are plenty of free summer activities to choose from, ranging from free  movies by the waterfront to free concerts in the park.  When we are around on the weekend, we try to make the most of it. Continue reading →

Photo of the Week: Sunset

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IMG_6796Coco Plum, Belize

This photo was taken a few years ago on a tiny island paradise called Coco Plum in Belize.  It  is a private island about 20 minutes off of the coast of Dangriga. The place is surrounded by pristine ocean with lots of wild sea life.  It is also a short boat ride away from many great diving sites in Belize. This picture captured the setting sun in the crook of the lounge chair where we spent countless hours that week.

Every Monday of each week, I’ll share a photo with you from my adventures around the world and at home.  Most of my photos have little or no post processing.  If you would like to see more, please click the ‘Follow’ button.

California: Yosemite National Park

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View of half dome from Glacier Point

A few weeks ago, while we were on the West Coast, we decided to rent a car and drive to Yosemite. It’s been awhile since we did a road trip in North America. We used to drive all the time to Canada, but due to the time constraints and cheap airfares, we end up flying for the most part now. I love road trips because I get to be the navigator. It’s very satisfying when you can figure out how to get from point A to point B. Mind you, it’s not too hard to do that here, but in a foreign country without a GPS, it’s a lot more fun.

Yosemite different from any park I’ve been to. For one thing, it’s massive, driving from one gate to another can take up to two hours. The scenery is breathtaking, from the majestic redwoods to the sheer cliffs at Taft’s point. Everywhere we looked, we were reminded that nature is magnificent and beautiful and we are a small speck in the grand scheme of things.

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Eating in San Francisco

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A few weeks ago, we both headed to San Francisco for the Society of Actuaries Annual Health conference.  The plan was that Fausto would attend the sessions and I would work from the hotel, then we’d meet up later on and explore the city.  Since I  was going to work East Coast hours, I thought I was going to have some time in the afternoon to do some touristy stuff.  But alas, things did not turn out the way I planned, work got really busy and both of us spent most of our time holed up in the hotel room.   The only thing we had time to do was eat.  I’ve been known to eat a lot, so this post will not disappoint.  We managed to fit in a lot of food in a little amount of time.  Here is a look at our food adventure in San Francisco. Continue reading →

Photo of the Week: Fireworks

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July 4th in New York

I thought this is an appropriate photo for this week.  This picture was taken from our apartment window on July 4th a few years ago.  We just moved to New York and it was the first year the Macy’s annual firework show was moved from the East River to the Hudson River.  It was serendipitous that we got to witness this momentous show from our apartment.  We set up the tripod, opened our window wide, and leaned back with some beer and Bonchon wings to enjoy the show.  Happy Canada Day and July Fourth to all our North American friends.  

Every Monday of each week, I’ll share a photo with you from my adventures around the world and at home. This picture was scheduled for this week because we are currently hiking up the Inca Trail!  Most of my photos have little or no post processing.  If you would like to see more, please click the ‘Follow’ button.

Places I Want to Go: Wave Canyon

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Photo Credits: Mateusz Pitak [via photo.net]

Susan Sontag said it best when she said “I haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on my list“. And one of the places on my list is Wave Canyon, located near the Utah-Arizona border in Vermilion Cliffs, Arizona. This sandstone rock formation looks so surreal and out of this world, it’s not hard to imagine it as a backdrop in a sci-fi movie. From the vibrant colors to the fluid lines, this place is a photographer’s dream. It is worthy to note that access to the hike is difficult to obtain, so if you want to go, make sure you plan ahead.

Photo of the Week: Rocky Shore

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IMG_2587.jpgIsla Mujeres, Mexico

This picture was taken in Isla Mujeres, a tiny island about 10 miles off the coast of Cancun, Mexico.  Getting there takes about 20 minutes by boat or ferry from the mainland. During our stay, we rented a scooter (you can also get a golf cart if you are so inclined) to ride around and explore the area.  A short ride away, on the southernmost tip of the island is Punta Sur, the place where the rising sun first touches Mexican soil, you’ll find a sculpture garden, Mayan temple and steep naturally carved cliffs.  Walking along the path that hugs the rocky shores, you get a great views of the bay and amazingly blue water. This is a good place to sit and clear your mind as you watch the waves come crashing in.

Every week, I’ll share a photo with you from my adventures around the world and at home.  Most of my photos have little or no post processing.  If you would like to see more, please click the ‘Follow’ button.