Free Things to do in NYC: Landmarks

NYC has a vast amount of landmarks. These are all free to do. I wasn't able to get to all of the famous landmark this trip, BUT I conquered what I could!

Statue of Liberty: Take the free Staten Island Ferry to and from Staten Island. The ferry leaves quite often, however, I would avoid rush hour times due to heavy "local" traffic (many locals use this ferry). I would rather ride the ferry than pay to go stand and look at Lady Liberty. If you don't wish to stand outside, go inside and downstairs where there are less people!

Times Square: When a friend said, "The lights are so bright at night, it's like daylight," I didn't really believe her. But it's so true!!!!! Such an incredible amount of light blinds you at times! Don't fall for any tourist traps. Take your pics, people watch a bit, then leave. I recommend visiting during the day AND night.

No flash needed!

Brooklyn Bridge: It's not as long as you think and the panoramic view of the buildings on The Promenade is breathtaking!  Be wary of the cyclists zooming by! I also suggest walking it at night to see the city lights.

Grand Central Station: This is the best place to people watch in the city. Thousands of people walk through this beautiful building. Take a moment to step aside, take pictures, and watch the beauty of humanity pass by.

Chrysler Building: You won't be able to go to the top floor and take pictures of the Manhattan skyline, however, check out the frescoes painted on the ceiling and read about the history of the building.

St. Patrick's Cathedral: This magnificent church rivals some that I've visited in Europe. If you are Catholic, I highly recommend going to mass in such a massive cathedral. If you are not, try to avoid going during mass times in respect to those worshipping. You can make a small donation when you first arrive in the church before touring. This church holds the Cardinal's chair, which is the highest officiant for the United States. I did not notice if shoulders must be covered or not (I just always tend to cover my shoulders when I go to mass).

Rockefeller Center: When visiting this iconic area, go early in the morning and go to the Today Show to try and get on the morning news!

Chelsea Market: The building that Chelsea Market is housed in is the old Nabisco factory! The Chelsea Market area was the meat packing district of Manhattan. There are lots of eateries and small grocery stores to choose from. The seafood market looked delish!

9/11 Memorial and Freedom Tower: This serene solute to the victims of 9/11 brought me back to where I was when our beautiful country was attacked. Sit and stay awhile, thinking positive thoughts sending positive vibes to the family members survived by the victims.

Other landmarks to take pictures in front of (for free): Radio City Hall, Carnegie Hall, Empire State Building (is it really worth paying $35 to go to the top where most of the views of the skyline are blocked by bars and high concrete walls?), and many more landmarks that I was not able to visit in this trip!

Free Things to Do in New York City: Parks

Even though New York City is notorious for being expensive, there are many free or low-fee activities for the budget wary traveler. Most of your money will go towards accommodation, food, and beverages.

However, several of the green sanctuaries housed amidst towering sky scrapers offer a wide variety of fun, FREE things to do.

Bryant Park: Bryant Park is located south of Central Park, and it is tucked away between concrete giants. Every morning, some kind of class is offered, such as Tai Chi, barre fitness, dance classes, yoga, etc. The best part is they are all completely free!

My first Tai Chi class, and it was free!

Come back later in the day and catch a few songs from a broadway show, hear a pianist sing, play a game, learn a new language, or watch Shakespeare in Bryant Park. Check out the calendar here.

Shakespeare in Bryant Park: Romeo and Juliet

Romeo hiding amonsgt the crowd!

Prospect Park: Take a free cardio or yoga class, go on a nature walk, play games, take a walk, or just relax in this Brooklyn green space. Click here to visit the website.

Central Park: Being NYC's most famous and largest park, there are plenty of activities to satiate one's thirst for experiencing nature. Fantastic running and walking paths wind through the park. Check out Shakespeare in the Park, however, be prepared to stand in line early in the morning to get tickets. See the Met Symphony play or watch performers dance. Listen to a free concert or two, play frisbee, soak up the sun, or row a boat on "The Lake." Don't forget to visit the animals in the Central Park Zoo! For more information, visit their website. Several activities do cost money, but there are plenty that don't!

My run flew thanks to the awesome scenery!

Free Nicki Minaj concert during my run? Yes, please!

The Highline: The Highline is an abandoned elevated rail line turned park. Inspired by a similar French civic project, NYC repurposed these rails to create an oasis in the sky! This is a must do in NYC (the views are breathtaking!).

The flora is native to the area.

Beautiful escape

The parks in NYC bring nature and relief from the hectic, busy lives and buildings that surround them. Make sure to add a visit to any or all of these oases into your itinerary!

Why Playing Tourist in My Hometown Ended in Tears

Today, Memorial Day, the “Lady Lex” a.k.a. “Blue Ghost” called my name. As one of the top tourist attractions in my hometown, the U.S.S. Lexington stands solemn and mighty in our bay. It’s one of those places native Corpus Christians say, “I’ve been meaning to go!” although many never find the time. But, today I made the decision to just go, and go solo.

I will admit, I have a fascination with World War II and the American military. Trevor doesn’t mind joining me with a pint of ice cream on a Saturday night to watch “D-Day” or “WWII in HD” on the History Channel. Naturally when we travel, I’m pulled to any kind of WWII attraction (Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, Dachau, Germany, etc).

Going solo gave me the chance to take the time I wanted to read all of the captions of pictures or paraphernalia , watch all of the videos, and try the interactive components of several tours. But most importantly, it gave me the chance to meet and visit with some war veterans.

Many war veterans dedicate and volunteer their time to educating the public about the ship and their experiences. Currently, two WWII veterans volunteer at the “Blue Ghost” (one actually was a pilot who flew planes off her deck!), and I couldn’t help myself but to have a conversation with one of them.

His name is Merton Bobo, and he was proud to share his memorabilia with me that he donated to the Lexington. “I was 19 when this picture was taken,” he smiled and pointed to a picture that had a group of three smiling young men in flying gear. He was a radioman and gunman in war aircraft during the Pacific theater of WWII (Iwo Jima, along with other well known battles). He continued to proudly show off the medals he earned during the war, along with his leather “fighter” jacket with a painted picture of a guy holding a bullet saying, “It’s a dud!” “I paid $10 for a guy to paint that on for me. And these are the maps they gave us just in case we got shot down over the water or over land so we knew how to get out.” Gulp. The peril of his job was simply stated.

“You are very beautiful, Rebeca,” he said as we shook hands and introduced ourselves formally. He winked saying, “I have a good eye for beauty, too. But, beauty isn’t just a pretty face. You have to have a nice presence.” I returned his crooked smile and took his picture.

"Bobo" and Me

I happened to be touring at the right time to be a part of the memorial service complete with naval customs and handsome characters in uniform. It was unexpected, but impactful to all visiting the ship.

As the two WWII veterans slowly made their way towards the entryway, arm in arm supporting one another, with a memorial wreath, sobs and sniffles could be heard along with the sound of the waves crashing against the side of the ship. Silently the two men released the wreath into the water and a lone trumpet began to play Silver Taps. The words of the naval officer conducting the memorial service resounded in my mind as silent tears streamed down my cheeks, “If we do not do something to remember, it’s not a shame on the fallen, but a shame on us.” The crowd dispersed in silence. This memory will forever be seared in my mind.

Memorial Day isn't just a day off from work to go shopping and drink with our friends. We remember.

Signs You're About to Have an Experience You Never Thought

“We are doing this one, right?” I wishfully pointed to the map of a hike labeled three hours duration. “Oh, no. We are doing this longer one. We can tackle it in half the time, then cook hotdogs for dinner.” I read the estimated hike time he mentioned. SIX to EIGHT hours! It was already 7:30 p.m. No dinner. I reluctantly turned to follow the group. This was the first sign.

I guess I'll follow

We journeyed up the inclined steps of the path. Save for the mosquitos buzzing around my head, I enjoyed gazing at the vibrant green plants with bursts of colorful flowers. I noticed the amount of descending hikers, several forced to sit and rest due to exhaustion. What did I get myself into? The second sign.

We hiked at a steady, quick pace. A cleared area of brush indicated a vantage point. I walked toward the edge to see the immensity of Exit Glacier. The wavering lines of the crevasses beheld beautiful colors of cerulean, grey, and white. Was this real life? Another sign.

Exit Glacier

“Just get to the top,” I kept murmuring and chanting to myself as a mantra to keep my hangry (angry hunger) symptoms at bay. Now above the treeline, the vibrant green flora turned to heather (think Scottish Highlands), which turned to rocks and dirt, which turned into SNOW! This South Texas girl experienced snow four times in twenty-seven years! Curse words sprinkled my mantra. A sign for what was to come.

We literally climbed a mountain!

I trudged and mumbled along the slippery, snowy path. Loud thuds immediately put me on alert for bears until I looked up to see a giant rock barreling down the mountainside towards the path! Frozen in my place, the rock bounced right over the path fifteen feet from me. Did something not want us there? A sign.

It was midnight, the sun did not set, but was at the correct position to paint the snow all shades of pink, orange, and purple. And there it was. We walked up to the magnificence of the Harding Ice Field expanding for hundreds of miles across the horizon. The massive breadth of it all overwhelmed, consumed, and dizzied me with emotion. I was speechless and humbled by the painted colors of the sun, the majesty of the mountain peaks, and the quiet stillness of mother nature showcasing her best attributes.

Harding Ice Field

I never expected to experience nature in that way, nor to journey up a mountain to then declare that it marked one of my favorite adventures to date. Though there may be signs that beckon you to quit, the journey of persistence will surely reward.

Photos courtesy of Darren Drake.

A Cheat Sheet for Making the Most of Your Cruise! #cruisehacks (Part 2)

Here is the continuation of our cruise hacks! Remember, if you have any more ideas, leave a comment and let me know! (Disclaimer, I have only been on Carnival Cruises, let me know if there is anything different that must be included in this post).

Drink/Soda Card:  In my opinion is not worth it. Come on, you're going to be in your bathing suit most of the day, do you really need that gaseous drink to make you look more bloated? The sun bathing will be dehydrating, you will need WATER, not soda. But okay, I'll get off my soap box. If you have an addiction, then go for it. Now this card does NOT include alcohol and this is where the cruises get you. Alcohol is so expensive! The waiters will be walking around with delicious-looking drinks and you will rack up an incredible tab by the end of the day. I'm not sure if you can buy alcohol at the ports of call and bring it on the ship.

Housekeeping: You will almost always have the same housekeepers throughout your trip. These people are from countries around the world, so get to know them! Many of them are working to earn money to support their families at home. Once again, tip them well, treat them with the respect they deserve, and they will take extra care of you and get you everything you need! Most nights you will come back to an artistic towel sculpture waiting for you on your turned back bed.

Days at Sea: Days at Sea can be treacherous for some people because they dislike being "trapped" on a boat. However, cruise lines have absolutely FANTASTIC activities scheduled to cure just that! From fitness rooms with group exercise classes, spas, outdoor track/basketball court/climbing wall, to fantastic pools with slides, etc!

If those activities don't suit your fancy, dance classes (two-step, ballroom, salsa) are sometimes offered during the day. The Duty Free store on the ship offers a nice shopping experience. Also, raffles are always taking place alongside bingo.....Now these are not only fun, but worth it! My mom won TWO, yes I said TWO free cruises! One through a raffle, the other through Bingo! You can only imagine the excitement that erupted from my large family (mom, dad, brother, brother's family of 5 kids, my sister, and me). IT was a great time.

Go see the spectacular culinary showcases that are offered. For one, you get to see a part of the gigantic kitchens, two, these people are artists!!!!!! It's AMAZING what they can do (plus you can thank them for creating your delicious meals every night).

Mealtimes: Depending on the size of your party, you may be seated at a table with other travelers for mealtimes. This is a great chance to meet some interesting people! You will definitely be seeing them every night of your cruise, so be friendly and get to know them! Your table will be assigned a waiter who will serve you every time you eat a meal at the formal dining room. Tip generously and treat this person with the respect s/he deserves, and you may get an extra steak, shrimp, or melting chocolate lava cake (OMG by far my fav dessert).

You have the ability to eat breakfast and dinner in the"formal" dining room, where you will sit at a set table and your waiter will take your orders. Or you have the choice of having breakfast (if you get up in time) and lunch at the less formal cafeteria-style area. Don't expect anything spectacular besides the common breakfast foods and typical "kid-type" lunch foods, including hamburgers, hot dogs, etc. At night, a pizzeria normally opens up, and sometimes crepes or other kind of "dessert" may be featured.

Nightlife: You may be thinking, what night life? But yes, there is nighttime entertainment!!! The shows and productions the dance troupe puts on in the main theater are high quality (I seriously considered auditioning, but didn't think I could spend nine months on a ship). Drinks are served during the show!

If this kind of entertainment doesn't appeal to you, visit the many bars on the ship. From piano bars to nightclubs, you'll find it all. Different themed bars call for different drinks! After the shows are finished, many times the dancers will join passengers at the nightclubs to let off some steam. I dare you to dance with them, or just have a conversation.

And of course, I cannot overlook, the casinos!!!!!!!!!!!! If this is your cup of tea, you can stay here all day and all night!

At the end of your night of dancing, room service is often open late, so get yourself a PB&J and a glass of water to avoid a hangover and be refreshed for the next morning!

At the end of your trip, getting your luggage is a little stressful and takes a long time. Be patient. Irate people just make things worse.

These are the #cruisehacks I have for you so far! If you have any more that your think should be included, leave a comment!

Couch Surfing: Hosting or Surfing

Couch Surfing is a great, budget-friendly way to travel and meet awesome people around the world! On the couch surfing website, you set up your profile and indicate if you're willing to host as well as surf. You can restrict your potential company by number of persons, sex, kids, pets and smoking. Your user profile also allows you to write a bio and post pictures to better help others and yourself make decisions. This website can be used for more than just a cheap bed. We use to it to ask locals for their recommendations on restaurants, things to do, bars, and overall places of interest.

Our first experience as surfers was in Rome, Italy. Our host, Manuel, was very friendly and treated us to delicious Italian meals from his parent's restaurant. He gave us a tour of the city, and also came out and participated in a pub crawl with us! We still talk to him today, and even invited him to our wedding! 

We hosted some Couch Surfers this weekend for the first time! It was a great experience. Two young guys from Pennsylvania headed to South America on motorcycles (think motorcycle diaries) needed a warm place to stay. You may be asking yourself, "How do you know if they are creeps or not?!" Well, we don't however, on the couch surfing website you need to establish a conversation and thanks to social media on the World Wide Web, you can find all kinds of information and see lots of pictures. Here is their Facebook page about their adventure! Buena suerte!

Overall, I think Couch Surfing is a fun way to meet people, however, do some research. Get to know the host or surfer. Some hosts just provide you a key to the house and do not interact with you much, while others want to be friends and share fun stories.  It's up to you!

"When you hustlin', you be patient."

When in Jamaica, what is the first thing that pops in your mind (besides beaches)? I don't have to say what they try to hustle 24/7 to tourists that come from all over the globe. I've never been one to get involved with those shenanigans, however, I was pretty impressed by some hustler's unique cat calls. And here are the most common and most brilliant:

"Do you want to start the year off with some?" (No)

"Do you want to make it a good time?" (Nope)

"Want some blow?" (No thanks)

"Any last minute shopping?" (Unique, but no...)

"Want me to fix you up?" (Never)

"Do you need any today?" (Once again, no...)

"You need more than sugar cane, Mon." (No, I'm enjoying this bag of sugarcane by itself, thanks.)

From a cab driver, "If you need me to serve you, I know where to get the best." (Ummm no, I'll pass.)

These are just the ones that I was able to jot down quickly before I forgot. Walking down a street for 5 minutes, we were approached 8 times!!!!! All day, every day.

As an 85 year old woman named Apple sagely commented, "When you hustlin', you need to be patient."

BBBBenny and the Jets...

We're heading to Jamaica! AND we walk onto a 3 month old airplane! United is stepping it up!

And the blue lights change to red during the evenings for the sunset!

Still the essentials, but in a new way...

 Much better use of space!

Excited to fly in this incredible vessel!

'Twas the Night Before...

...our flight, to where you might ask?

You might get a fright, at 10:30 at night. 

This may seem an impossible task.

Well, If you insist to know, we don't know either! Ah, the joy of stand-by flying. Tomorrow I may be lounging watching the teal blue waters of the Caribbean lap the shores of Jamaica. Or, digging my toes in the sands of Mata Palo Beach in Costa Rica observing the deep blue waves of the Pacific Ocean crashing on the beach. 

Most people ask, "How do you not plan everything?" Or say, "Geez, you guys must be low maintenance!" 

But, once you travel this way, it's hard to go back. We have a general idea of the attractions and activities we are interested in doing, but leave wiggle room for unforeseen activities that locals may suggest or places we stumble upon. 

Happy new year and happy birthday to me! (Thanks Trevor for my birthday celebration flight!)

Boston Freedom Trail

Boston’s Freedom Trail is a 2.5 mile path that weaves throughout Boston passing 16 of our country’s significant landmarks. Most of these sites helped form this nation in the early rebellious years. The entire path is notable marked by red bricks. The unofficial starting point is the Boston Commons and the Visitor Center there will provide trail information, maps and other gifts. The walk is easy, free, and you control the pace. The visitor center does offer guided tours that are dependent on weather and it should be noted are only 90 mins with admission to ONE site that charges a fee. The guide will provide information not known otherwise, but we recommend going on your own.

Start off at the country’s oldest public park, Boston Common. The Boston Common was used by the public for just about everything: concerts, duels, public celebrations and even hangings. The Visitor Center neighbors the Common.

Follow the red brick road through the park to the current State House. John Hancock originally owned the land on Beacon Hill, but in 1798 the State House was completed. Head inside to view the decorative designs and the gold dome.

After the construction in 1809, the Park Street Church was the first thing travelers saw coming into Boston for many years. William Llyod Garrison gave his first public anti-slavery address here. Also in 1832, My Country ‘Tis of Thee was first recited here.

Granary Burying Ground is the 3^rd oldest cemetery in Boston and has many of the country’s founding fathers claiming this as their final resting place. Some of these famous Bostonians are John Hancock, Samuel Adams, Paul Revere, Peter Faneuil, all five men who were killed in the Boston Massacre, and many others.

The King’s Chapel became America’s first Unitarian Church. Condemned prisoners heard their last sermon here before being marched to Boston Common to be hung. President George Washington made a visit in 1789 while in Boston.

In front of Old City Hall lays a reminiscence of the site of America’s first public school, Boston Latin School. Erected in 1635, the school taught some of America’s greats, including John Hancock, Samuel Adams, Ralph Waldo Emmerson, and Ben Franklin who has a commemorating statue in front of the Old City Hall.

At the end of the street is the Old Corner Bookstore. The original building was home to Anne Hutchinson, who was banished for unorthodox religious views. However, the Bookstore went on to publish works by Dickens, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Emmerson, Longfellow, and many more.

The Old South Meeting House was built in 1729 and is the second oldest church in Boston. As the largest building in colonial Boston, it was used for public meetings, the most famous being when over 5,000 angry Bostonians showed up to protest a tax on tea on December 16, 1773. This site does have an entry fee.

Where the Boston Massacre Took Place

The British used the Old State House as their governing office during colonial times. This was the center of political and commercial life for Boston. Pay the entrance fee to tour the museum and learn more about the Boston Massacre because just below the balcony is where this famous incident occurred. The Declaration of Independence was recited from this balcony.

Right around the corner is Faneuil Hall. Faneuil gave this building as a gift in 1742. This building served as a meeting place and open market. Even today it sticks to its roots and has vendors set up inside selling a variety of things.

Make your way through the North End to Paul Revere’s House. There is a $5 entrance fee to view this house built around 1680. It might be hard to imagine that up to 8 of Revere’s 16 children lived in this house with him.

The story “one if by land, two if by sea” began at the Old North Church. On Paul Revere’s famous midnight ride, it was Sexton Robert Newman that hung 2 lanterns to warn Charleston (across the river) of British troops invading.

Inside Daily Catch

Break here for some good eating. We highly recommend Daily Catch for some Sicilian style seafood. If you are looking for desserts, go to Mike's Pastry or Maria's Pastry if you want to pick something on the way to Charleston.

We ended our freedom trail here for day 1, but came back the next day to finish it up.

The Bunker Hill Monument commemorates the Battle of Bunker Hill, one of the bloodiest battles of the American Revolution on June 17, 1775. Climb the 295 steps to the top of the monument to get great 360 degree views of Boston.

The USS Constitution is the oldest commissioned warship afloat in the world. Built in 1797, her nickname Ironsides was earned during the War of 1812, as British cannon balls bounced off her hull. Hop aboard and listen to a U.S. Navy sailor give a tour of the warship.

View of Boston from the water

After touring the USS Constitution, walk over to the water shuttle to take back to the Long Wharf ($3.25 one way).