The #OronaSquad in New Hampshire: A 4th of July Train Experience

I have been observing the 4th of July for 11 long years now. But I don't really celebrate it like most Americans do not because I'm NOT an American. In fact, I AM. Well, that's what my passport says. You know what I mean.

The 4th of July should be celebrated with family. Though I have my American family to celebrate with it would be more special if I have my Filipino family to enjoy it too.

A Day in Boston

Boston, Massachusetts is just a couple of hours away from Maine. However, it's not very often that I get the chance to visit it. I can come up with 2 reasons -  traffic and traffic.

It's a good thing that I have a friend who loves to drive and doesn't really mind traffic. Well, not as much as I do.

Californication Day 7 (Part 2): Nothing Happened in Vegas

We woke up early the following day despite the fact that we went to bed late. As tourists, we didn't want to waste time in bed because we are on a mission. We need to cover as much of Vegas as our schedule would allow.

So we hit the strip early in search of Pinoy breakfast.

A Filipino Restaurant we found at the strip.

 My favorite comfort food - Tocilog.

Did a little walk along the strip.

Checked out some stores.

Went souvenir shopping.

 Cranking up this little machine for souvenir coins to add to our collection.

Had fun people watching.

 Inside the hotels... it's always night time.

And just enjoyed the sight around us.

It was also our last day in Vegas. We checked out a little early. While waiting for our bus to L.A. we banged some slot machines. After all we are in Vegas and it's not complete if you don't do a little gambling, right?

 

I did win though but lost too. 

This is one of 'MERICA Posts Series. A regular post dedicated to my HOME away from home.

Read more about my 'merica HERE as I share my experiences in this land of amazing People, Culture and Traditions.

Californication Day 6 (Part 1): What did happen in Vegas

Our Sta Monica escapade which concluded my 5th day in California technically ended with a hearty meal at one of the restaurants that Carmen brought us to. Too bad I was too overwhelmed to even remember where it was and the name of the food I ordered. Anyway, the following day we woke up early to take my first trip out of L.A. with my dear cousin Joey.

Snow-capped mountain

Our destination... Las Vegas, Nevada!

Arriving early that morning at the strip.

The trip took only about a couple of hours so we got there early for sight seeing. We stayed at the Excalibur Hotel and at this early in the morning, Vegas was just a typical sleeping town... sleepy.

Joey and I were the only souls in the street at this early so we can't ask anybody to take our photos together.

But when the night fell, I was amazed how the city was transformed. It was simply magical. We wasted no time in the Sin City. Right after we checked-in in our hotel, we hit the strip and explored every nook and cranny there is until night fall.

 In front of the Caesar's Palace.

We checked out almost all the hotels and casinos just like any other tourist for that matter. The sights and sounds were too overwhelming for a country girl like me. I didn't like it.

Inside the Caesar's Palace Hotel and Casino

A little tired checking out all the trendy boutiques.

Colorful glass art at the ceiling of the Bellagio Hotel Lobby.

The Fountain. For now - but will surely have a repeat of this in Roma soon. wink*

The strip came alive when when the night falls.

And of course, as for me and my cousin, vacation will not be complete without checking out the "happiest place on the planet." Wink***

After an hour of browsing and getting awed by the wonderful collections inside this wonderful place on earth... we left happy. It was indeed amazing how that "little blue box" made me happy! Just a hindsight. wink***

It was a little chilly that particular night and it spitted snow for few minutes as we headed back to our hotel. It was so funny how the people in this part of America was so excited to see snow when we in my part of America dreaded it. LOL.

We went to bed early to recharge and refresh for the next day's hectic schedule. Thus, Vegas Part 1 officially ends at lights off.

----------------------------------------

More Info on Vegas Destination:
1. Caesar's Palace
2. Vegas
3. 20 Great Things to Do in Vegas

This is one of 'MERICA Posts Series. A regular post dedicated to my HOME away from home.

Read more about my 'merica HERE as I share my experiences in this land of amazing People, Culture and Traditions.

Californication Foodies (Part 1)

My California vacation in 2010 was one of the most memorable vacations I had. The highlight of the trip was basically food. Well, that and - shopping!

From the day I flew in from Maine to the time I was about to board the plane out of LAX... food was involved.

So to give you an idea of my food experience I decided to present my food-opportunity-of-sort with matching photos to drool on. LOL.

As soon as my cousin Joey and her most loyal boyfriend JV picked me up at the Union Station, JV drove us straight to Salu-Salo Restaurant where I had my first Pinoy food in California.

The next day, I had a hearty meal at a Thai Restaurant near Joey's condo unit with Carmen - one of my favorite students (shhhhhh) in High School.

After 4 years of being in America, I finally got the chance to have my favorite siopao from Chowking when I met up with my long time friend Ate Emz whom I have not seen for over a decade.

And during this vacation, I finally met in person 3 amazing "virtual" friends I met through blogging. My TSS Sistahs are no longer "virtual", they are for real and our friendship grown stronger and deeper.

Yes, this is only a partial treat of my food adventure in California. As the title says... Part 1 - therefor, you are in for more tasty treats as I will give you 4 parts of this tasty adventure of mine. Chow!

This is one of 'MERICA Posts Series. A regular post dedicated to my HOME away from home.

Read more about my 'merica HERE as I share my experiences in this land of amazing People, Culture and Traditions.

Californication Day 5 (Part 4): Sta. Monica concluded my Day 5 in CA

So we said goodbye to Rodeo Drive, Baby and went straight to Sta. Monica to complete our itinerary of the day. It was a fine sunny day and by this time, it was a little milder compared to the temp earlier.

Sta. Monica Beach is another must-see when you are in California. And at that time of the year I would not pass that rare opportunity just to be near the beach because back in Maine, it was freezing cold and snow-covered.

 The Pacific Pier is one of the attractions around here. This is a playground for kids and kids-at-heart alike.

 And since I was already there, I had to take a shot of the balloons just for the heck of it.

 And I was right on target. A little kitty stuffed toy was a cute reward for the little hard work.


Here are some useful links about Sta. Monica:
1. Visit Sta. Monica Pier
2. What to do in Sta. Monica Beach

This is one of 'MERICA Posts Series. A regular post dedicated to my HOME away from home.

Read more about my 'merica HERE as I share my experiences in this land of amazing People, Culture and Traditions.

Californication Day 5 (Part 3): Rodeo Drive, Baby!

Oh yes, after we got observed or rather we observed the great Griffith Observatory... we drove to one of the famous destinations in California for celebrities like me [wink] - Beverly Hills. LOL

Me at @ Rodeo Drive

It's a tradition. Since when? I don't know. I just made it up, okay. Or maybe I was in my Pretty Woman mode at that time. Well, I remember something - when in Beverly Hills... Rodeo Drive, Baby! Yeah, it's a line in the movie. Or it was just one of my many alibis when I want to go shopping. LOL.

@ Via Rodeo stairs near Tiffany Store

But one thing is sure though. I got a driving force to see the hotel where Edward (Richard Gere) and Vivian (Julia Roberts) fell in love. Why? Pretty Woman is my favorite movie of all time. It's not that I can relate to it... but who doesn't like modern day fairytale stories? So yes, I saw it and it felt pretty indeed.

Me in front of The Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel

And since I was in my Pretty Woman moment I strutted and walked up and down Rodeo Drive admiring the holy shrines of high end consumerism. I walked by the same place where Vivian walked and walked pretty-womanly. hahaha on my way to the sacred shops of Tiffany's and Louis Vuitton. LOL

Me, waiting for the green light as we headed to check out other stores

It was such a wonderful experience to be in a place where everything is beautiful and insanely expensive even just for a brief moment.

The stairs going to Via Rodeo where the grand tree was standing.

Oh well, even just for a brief moment I was in wonderland but reality sank in when I realized I cannot afford any of the merchandise they had in the store. And I woke right up when I noticed that nothing was on "sale or clearance". Whew, what a bad dream.

Carmen, Joey and I - taking a little break from window shopping

Honestly, I didn't buy anything at Rodeo Drive. Why, would I? The "Edward" of my life was left in Maine so "Vivian" had to settle on admiring those pricey purses at LV and beautiful jewelries at Tiffany's. After spending a few more minutes checking out the latest in fashion at different high end stores we hopped in the car and set forth to Sta. Monica to conclude my Californication Day Five.

This is one of 'MERICA Posts Series. A regular post dedicated to my HOME away from home.

Read more about my 'merica HERE as I share my experiences in this land of amazing People, Culture and Traditions.

Californication Day 5 (Part 2): We got observed

The 3 most beautiful roses of the Pasadena Parade of the Roses decided to move on and ended up at the Griffith Observatory.

With Carmen and Joey at the grounds of Griffith Observatory.

One of the most famous landmark in Los Angeles, California... my visit in LA will not be complete without taking a look.

Admiring the Griffith Observatory up close and personal

 
And taking a look didn't mean just that. It took more than just looking and observing and posing. The observatory is huge. It sits on top of a hill over-looking downtown LA. The view from above is spectacular. And from this vantage point I was trying to locate my cousin's apartment. I failed. LOL

Looking down at Downtown Los Angeles from the Observatory.

The Observatory is quite intriguing to me since the first night of my visit to LA. It was the first thing I saw through my cousin's bedroom window when I opened my eyes in the morning and the last thing I saw when I closed my eyes at night... and the only thing that I used to predict what kind of day it would be... it was but natural for me to get my curiosity checked.

With Joey in front of the Observatory after exploring the facility.

So Carmen drove us back up to LA and on to Griffith Observatory as soon as we got our way out of Pasadena. We explored one of LA's iconic architectural wonder and one of the Southern California's most visited and popular attractions.We went inside the building but didn't get the chance to take photos. I really don't remember if taking photos is not allowed or if we were just overwhelmed by the great architecture and everything inside it.

With Joey at the spiral staircase around the side of the building.

We went up some stairs and saw some cool stuff that I really don't know what they are for. Well, they are for astronomical reason of course, LOL we just didn't spend more time reading signs because there were hundreds of people inside.

Posing with the Hollywood sign in the background.

Griffith Observatory sits on the southern slope of Mt. Hollywood and from the park's ground, you can see the Hollywood sign from the distance. We didn't waste more time in the observatory because we still have 2 more places to go to in our itinerary for the day.

We headed back to our car as soon as we got out of the building and headed straight to our next destination - Rodeo Drive, Baby!

Important Links about the Griffith Observatory:
1. A History of Griffith Observatory
2. General Information about Griffith Observatory
3.Griffith Observatory Calendar

This is one of 'MERICA Posts Series. A regular post dedicated to my HOME away from home.

Read more about my 'merica HERE as I share my experiences in this land of amazing People, Culture and Traditions.