Trip Review: Istanbul to Athens

What do I even call this trip?  
EurAsiaAfr?  

I do not know, but I do know that I had a great time!

4 countries:  Türkiye, Cyprus, Egypt, Greece 
3 continents:  Europe, Asia, Africa

With a cruise in the middle.  

WOW, that was a lot of ground to cover!  I loved every minute.  I always get asked what was my favorite trip and honestly every trip is my favorite.  I find I am a better person when I am traveling!

FAVORITES

Turkish Hamam

Pyramids and Sphynx

Delos Island

Greek Food

Santorini sunset was amazing!

I had three British Airways flights and must say all were amazing! I was in business class so I can’t compare how things were in the back of the plane.

NOT SO GOOD

Istanbul.  While it is a beautiful city, I found it crowded and not exactly what I thought it would be.  Of course the taxi scammer will never be forgotten, but as a solo female traveler; it is a one and done for me.  There are other places in Türkiye that I would like to visit so maybe I will be back in the future.

Crowds.  I have read for years about how locals really do not like cruise ships stopping due to the crowds.  I did not understand as it brings in so much money when the people visit.  This trip I got it.  They are correct especially at some of the Greek island stops.  Most days we were the only ship in port but it was nearing the end of the season.  I can not imagine what Santorini would be like with 5 ships!  I do not know the solution but when people stop coming will they complain about the lack of revenue those people brought to their town?

Panama Canal cruise review

After 4799 nm I am back in America.  It was a great trip, and I visited three new countries too!

Highs:

·       Panama Canal passage
·       Guatemala
 
Lows:
·       room noise; the coughing next door was awful!
·       needed more sea day activities
·       long bus rides to get to excursions

Southern Caribbean Cruise Trip Review

1570 nautical miles complete

I really loved the cruise but not going to lie it was fast paced with so little downtime!  I looked at this cruise itinerary as a way to decide which islands I would go back to visit on a non-cruise trip.  So where would that be?  
1.  St. Johns USVI
2.  Bonaire

I thought these two islands were the best mainly because they were not overrun with tourist and seemed more relaxed.

Portugal Trip Review

I have had Portugal on my list for a long time!  I am so glad I was able to spend two weeks exploring but of course there is so much I did not get to see or explore.  After 27 hours of travel to get home here’s a recap of my favorites and not so favorites.

The Azores was really the star of the trip.  I know I complained a lot but honestly it was my favorite part of the two weeks.  I loved the off the beaten path, the scenery, and not many tourist!  As I think back, I was in awe of the beauty even though it took a lot of grit to do the hikes. 

Don't get me wrong . . . I loved the cities I visited but the isolation and nature won me over!

Favorite Cities

1.  Cascais

2.  Porto

3.  Sintra

4.  Lisbon

Trip Stats

Flights: 9

Miles hikes:  34.3

Miles walked:  51.7

Ubers:  8

Hotels: 6

pastel de nata:  not enough!

Day 16: the end

Miles Traveled: 4452 nautical miles

Ports Visited:  6

New Countries Visited:  1

Medical Evacuations:  4

Ship Time Changes: 5

Meals Solo:  32

Meals with “Friends”:  1

New Foods Tried:  2 (reindeer and musk ox)

Towel Critters:  7  

Movies Watched:  9

Photos Taken:  1,359

Cups of Tea:  a lot

Positive Covid Test:  1

Favorite Photos . . . you knew it would be of the icebergs . . . near and far!

An Unforgettable Experience

This cruise to Greenland was more than just a vacation; it was a visit to a place that seemed like such a mystery. I was completely captivated by the majestic icebergs, the wildlife, the people, and their culture.  I had no idea what to expect but that is exactly why I was so excited to visit Greenland.  And most of all so thankful we were able to visit all three planned ports in Greenland too.

Germany Trip Summer 2023

We had a great trip!  Every time I am in Europe the thought of living there for an extended time pops into my head.  I tell myself one of these day!  Here is what I had to plan our trip and from there it all fell into place!

Colin's To Do Picks

Minatur Wunderland in Hamburg, Germany

World War 2 Museum Gdansk, Poland

Drink beer

Visit where I was born!

Drive on the autobahn

Heidi's To Do Picks 

Cologne, Germany 

Nuremberg, Germany

Kaltenbrunn, Germany

Weiden, Germany

visit school where I worked

So I cheated a bit by just picking cities.  I knew I would be doing the planning and exactly what I wanted to see in each city.

A few things that we both commented on:

1.  cost of water . . . is a lot!  We both drink a lot of water and at meals our bill was usually half water!

2.  laid back . . . One of the reasons I love Europe so much!  I always talk about this and now Colin knows exactly what I mean.  No one rushes you and it is okay to sit for hours just buying one drink

3.  orderly driving . . . even though there are areas with speed limits on major highways, there are also parts where there are not . . . Colin was amazed at how everyone followed the driving rules.  I gave him a quick run down on how important it is to only pass on the left, never go faster than any car to your left, if you pass be sure to move over as soon as you clear the other car, and always watch your mirrors for fast approaching cars.  He did amazing driving . . . I know he was stressed but also know he loved every second that he drove!  Of course it helped having a nice BMW car to drive too!

What we enjoyed the most . . .

Favorite Meal

Colin:  Bratwurst at Cologne Bahnhof  (Day 2)

Heidi:  Weiden Brewery meal (Day 11)

Favorite Hotel

Colin:  he doesn't care

Heidi:   PEIRDREI Hotel Hamburg and Hanza Hotel and Drei Raben Hotel   

Favorite Experiences

Colin

1.  driving on the autobahn (Day 12)

2.  Rodelbahn (Day 12)

Day 12 was also the day we could not find his prescription glasses!

Heidi

1.  Just being there!  I know, I know that's not an answer.

2.  Closure and Peace . . . I wrote about it on Day 11

3.  Day 7 . . . just learning, remembering, and having fun

Favorite Place

Colin:  WW2 Museum in Gdansk (Day 8)

Heidi:  Stutthof Concentration Camp in Poland (Day 7)

2020 Travel

An update of our travel so far in 2020 . . .

I am beginning to wonder when or if we will be able to travel.  It has been six months since our last trip.

2019 Review

I know some will find it hard to believe but this year we traveled less than usual.  Even though we were not on the road as much we still managed to explore some cool places with fun experiences too.

Colin's Favorites
1.  skiing at Copper Mountain
2.  White House for Medal of Honor Ceremony

Heidi's Favorites (in no specific order)
1.  llama Hike in Utah
2.  riding bikes on Mackinac Island
3.  relaxing on beaches of Cabo San Lucas and Turks & Caicos
4.  White House for Medal of Honor Ceremony . . . it was historic, emotional and awesome!

I use an app on my phone called Tripit . . . I started using it in 2011.  I love it and it is free!  It keeps all your trip plans organized which makes it easy to keep hotels, activities, and flights organized.  They have a feature that keeps track of you Travel Stats which I just discovered.  So here is the Distance Traveled for 2019:

Washington DC Review

There really are no words I can write on how I feel about the last few days. I was nervous.  I was hesitant. I was hopeful.  When I think about it I get teary eyed and just have so much love, respect and appreciation for everyone we saw.  The White House was unbelievable, witnessing a Medal of Honor placed around the neck of a very humble and deserving man was historic, and the Pentagon speech was touching and had me ready to sign up.  As all the official events were over we returned to our hotel room. I asked Colin what was the best part of the trip and without hesitation he said “the people” and I could not agree more.  I know the events of Fallujah have forever changed so many of those great men and women of Alpha Company 2-2IN 3BDE and their families.  I also know that seeing us is a reminder of a very painful loss.  I could feel the hesitation to approach us and completely understood. While we did not get to talk to everyone, just seeing them is all I needed.  I was amazed at how full my heart was just watching them all interact and reconnect.  It was great to hug, talk, and meet many of them.  Colin was only 5 weeks old when Sean left for Iraq so for Colin it was the first time to hear directly about his dad from those with him in Iraq.  The simplest stories were so good for him to hear.  While we haven’t talked about how it felt to him . . . I know it meant the world to him.  He has never smiled so much and the pride on his face was evident.  Colin did amazing in a tough situation, and I was so proud of him.  For me it was good too.  I managed to hold my emotions together until I sat down to write this on the plane home . . . a thought from the events will pop into my head and make me emotional but in a good way.  The tears might also have something to do with the fact that today 21 years ago Sean and I were married.  I really just lived in and enjoyed  the moment.  There really are no words!  I really just enjoyed the moment.  Being in the company of so many amazing people is what it was all about! I left with a full heart and so glad we went! It was healing and rewarding.  I can not thank David Bellavia enough for reaching out and inviting Colin to attend . . . thankfully I got to tag along! 

If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. 

1 Corinthians 12:26

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Wce_o4_FBU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjt_cizvTYo&feature=youtu.be

https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2019/06/27/watch-medal-of-honor-recipient-david-bellavia-talk-about-the-threats-america-still-faces/?sfns=mo

https://www.dvidshub.net/video/694450/hall-heroes-induction-ceremony-speech-ssg-david-g-bellavia

https://www.thebatavian.com/howard-b-owens/video-david-bellavia-reflects-on-receiving-the-medal-of-honor/540355

Summer 2018 Review

Just like that Summer 2018 is over!  It is hard to believe as this year summer break seemed to go by so fast!  I enjoyed all our trips and the time we spent at home too.  Some days it was nice to be lazy and wear pajamas all day.  Here is what we enjoyed the most . . .

Heidi
1.  Iceland
2.  Canadian Rockies

It is hard for me to pick just two because I can always find something I like about everywhere I travel.
If I had to pick two specific things I loved this summer?
They both were in Iceland; Diamond Beach and Puffins!

Colin
1.  visiting cousins in College Station; twice
2.  Alaska . . . cruise

We both agreed that Canada was our favorite trip together!

And here is my funny story of the summer . . . I really was so looking forward to our trip to Sanibel Island.  We had a good time despite the awful conditions of the red tide.  Thankfully we were able to collect shells the first day we were there.  I brought back a lot of shells.  The day after we got home I opened my suitcase and the smell almost knocked me over it was awful.  Do you know how hard it is to get shells to not smell?  After a lot of trial and error this is how I finally solved the problem . . .

Yes, I boiled them on the BBQ grill!  I had read to microwave them but there was no way I was going to bring that stink inside my house.  They are so pretty and do not stink any more . . .

Fredericksburg Winery Review

I am not a huge drinker and honestly know very little about wine but here is what we enjoyed the most at each of our stops . . .

William Chris Vineyards 
-great outdoor patio area
-large open area with yard games
-wine tasting was very personal and laid back outside
-100% Texas grown
-2017 Cinsault was our favorite wine here.

Southold Farm + Cellar . . .
-best views of the area
-off the beaten path
-our tasting host was very fun and told great stories
-wines had fun names too; Trust the Pain, Devil Makes Three, Love Habit

Barrons Creek Vineyard 
-a lot of tour van groups
-super crowded so did not do a tasting
-beautiful grounds with onsite lodging villas
-had fun activities throughout the day like grape stomping and live music

Fat Ass Ranch and Winery 
-very relaxed atmosphere
-on site food truck 
-cheapest wine tasting 6 wines for $10 plus keep glass
-live music and fun vibe
-Country Peach and Texas Red were our favorite wines here.
-Prickly Pear JalaRaspberryPeno was least favorite; but glad tried!

Grape Creek Vineyard 
-best entrance and scenery as drove up
-very crowded parking lot
-did not stay because all guest in your group had to do a tasting!

Becker Vineyards 
-off the main road
-beautiful grounds and entrance
-on site food truck
-tasting area crowded so did not do a tasting

Signor Vineyards
-very new and only opened couple months ago
-beautiful inside and out!
-did a tasting and the staff was the best!
-our favorite tasting; very generous with the pours
-wine seemed super strong
-2017 Pinot Gris and 2015 Tempranillo were our favorite wines here.

Iceland Trip Review

I had no favorites, because I loved it all!

As you can tell Iceland is bigger than you think!  I spent a lot of time on my three bus trips (36 hours in total) and barely scratched the surface of all Iceland has to offer. 

If I had to rank my top three places . . .

1.  Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon
2.  Diamond Beach
3.  puffin tour

I enjoyed each and every minute of my time in Iceland.  While the weather wasn't the greatest it did not hamper my trip.  This is the only photo of me this trip . . .

. . . it is the only downside I can think when you travel solo!

Alaska and Canada Trip Review

Our trip ended a week ago and it was a week of being sick and miserable.
I finally feel human again! 
So here is a short recap of what we enjoyed the most from our trip to Canada and Alaska.

Heidi's Favorites

1.  Hubbard Glacier

2.  Banff National Park specifically Peyto Lake

3.  weather . . . it was crazier than Texas and had all 4 seasons in one day!
4.  food . . . we ate a lot!  Shockingly, I gained 0 pounds!

Colin's Favorites

1.  Gold Panning
2.  Eating
3.  Snow

It was a great trip!  We all survived after spending over 375 hours together!

Texas Road Trip: Spring Break REVIEW

Our Spring Break has come to an end which is okay.  I am usually sad when trips end, but it is time to get back into a routine.  Well and start planning summer trips too!  It was a good trip; simple, some what close to home, last minute, a few bumps along the way but we survived!  Texas is B-I-G and much more diverse in the landscape than I ever imagined, and we only traveled a very small section.  I can't wait to get out there and see what else there is to find in our state!

Miles Traveled:  1,514.6
Miles Walked:  12.55 miles
Counties Visited:  46 (Texas has 254)
Hotels/Cabins:  7
Nights On the Road:  7
Flat Tires:  1
New Tires:  2
Tears Cried:  way too many
Memories Made:  never enough

Day 14: back to Texas

As with all things in life this too must end.  I am sad but look forward to my next trip across the pond!  Yes, it is already in the works.  I booked this trip using miles.  If there is one thing I have learned about the flight to Europe it is when you fly to Europe you sleep on the plane because you normally arrive in the early morning and when you fly back to the US you nap a little but mainly stay awake.  So, when I booked my flight I booked Business Class for the flight home!  It was a lot of miles but so worth it.  Since I was in a premium cabin, I knew I would be able to use the fast lane for security and that would save some time and not have to arrive super early.  We also stayed at the Hilton Amsterdam Schiphol which is connected to the airport.  I was up and ready to roll by 8:00am from my 10:20am flight.  Got in line to drop my suitcase and headed up stairs to security.  The agent even reminded me that I could use the express lane once upstairs.  And this is when it all went down hill . . . the man would not let me use the fast lane.  He gave me some story that I had to be top tier no matter what cabin my seat was in . . . I knew I was right as my boarding pass even had it listed on there too but no matter what he refused so I got in line with everyone else.  I was not happy but the line was not that bad, and I had nothing but time.  I went right to the gate, and they were starting the secondary security screening so went ahead and did that and we soon boarded the plane.  My seat was 5J . . .

. . . and then a couple was separated so offered to switch to 7A . . .

It didn't really matter to me as long as I had a cool lay flat seat!  It was time to take off . . . Good Bye Amsterdam . . .

Not too long after we took off the food service started . . . appetizers . . . which were yummy!

The main entree . . . steak with potatoes and the grossest looking spinach . . . my steak was well done but the lady across the aisle had one that was a perfect medium rare . . . I was jealous, and she didn't even eat it all!

The dessert was a sundae of vanilla ice cream with hot caramel, hot fudge, whipped cream, and nuts!

The sundae was really good!  And then I started enjoying my seat by laying flat and taking a nap or two and watching movies.  It was SOOO worth every mile (54,000 if you are curious) and thankfully I still have enough miles to do it a few more times round trip.  Colin has enough miles to make the trip with his own miles too!  Before I knew it 8 hours had passed . . . we are served the hour from landing snack . . . BBQ sandwich, fruit, and sea-salt chocolate mousse . . .

It was a quick process once landed . . . since I have Global Entry it literally took 30 seconds at immigration, waited 10 minutes for my suitcase, and 30 seconds at customs.  I was to my car quickly, and ready to tackle the two hour drive home.  Funny thing is my parking at the DFW airport was triple the cost of my flight.  I laughed.

Home is always good but my heart is still in Europe!

Trip Stats
number of flights:  5
total miles traveled:  13,665 miles (plane, train, ferry, bus)    
calories consumed:  too many
photos taken:  495  
miles walked:  68.4 miles
memories:  PRICELESS

Summer 2016 review

Summer has been over a few weeks and I can not believe it!  School is back in session and we are both slowly getting back into our routine.  I can't help but think about our summer travels and recap that it has come and gone.  When I return from a trip I throw all the accumulated maps and brochures in a pile . . .

. . . oh man do I ever end up with a lot of stuff.  I always have good intentions to organize them just in case I need something in the future.  I haven't been good about this task, but it is on my to do list for this year!  In the past people have asked me specific questions about trips or activities and have been able to go find the information so I know it will be helpful in the future.

So our summer fun review . . . I hardly ever travel and leave disappointed.  Each trip has something that was fun or memorable.  Without a doubt Colin says his favorite memory this summer was swimming with the dolphins in Bermuda.

He smiled the entire time and that made it all worth it!  I find this funny because it was one activity that wasn't planned and just happened.  I guess it goes to show sometimes the unexpected is the best.  As for me, each trip had a high point but personally the most memorable was the week in Washington state.  I just loved being outdoors and the weather was so refreshing and cool . . . nice escape from the Texas heat.  Driving around the Olympic Peninsula was everything I thought it would be . . .

For many years I can remember reading about Mount St Helens and standing there looking at her was really pretty cool!  I am often asked how I can spend so much time away from home during the summer.  As Colin gets older it is really harder to pull him out of school so we are limited to travel when school is on break.  Financially it is expensive since that is when everyone else travels too, but my happy place is away from home . . . it sort of helps me forget about the stress of solo parenting and to just enjoy the moments!  I know someday Colin will not want to or be able to travel with me so our time together is priceless.  Trust me he complains about being away from home but deep down I know he enjoys it too.  And just like that my flight tracker says 0 . . . zero . . . nada . . . nein . . .

. . . hmmmm I think it is time to start planning some trips especially with all those miles just sitting there!

California day 5

It was a super lazy wake up as today we head back to Texas.  We have used all three days of our tickets so this morning will hang out at Downtown Disney by visiting some of the shops . . . of course we ended up at this store . . .

. . . and then had a yummy lunch and shared a caramel apple by the hotel lobby fireplace . . .

. . . before heading to the airport for our flight home.  It has been a fun week but sort of glad to be headed home too.

TRIP REVIEW of our FAVORITES

COLIN
1.  s'mores on the beach
2.  all the roller coasters
3,  churros


HEIDI
1.  fire on the beach
2.  sitting on beach listening to waves while reflecting on life
3.  Disneyland

Grand Canyon Review

I tell you it was the most wonderful experience . . . renewed my inner soul and cleared my mind too.  I proved to myself I could do it . . . to set out to accomplish something that seemed so difficult was the best feeling ever . . . best feeling ever . . .

We hiked down South Kaibab Trail, spent two nights at Bright Angel Campground, at least a dozen hikes to Phantom Ranch, hiked River Trail, and hiked up Bright Angel Trail . . .

The mules were amazing . . . I would so pay for them to carry my stuff again . . . not sure I could ever ride one but the signs say it all . . . the mules have the right of way and the employees at Phantom Ranch will tell you the mules are the hardest workers there . . .

. . . apparently someone got hungry and ate part of the sign!  We checked all the blocks on this sign . . . been there, done that, but didn't get a t-shirt . . .

While my backpack was so neatly organized for the trip out,

. . . coming home it was a bit of a mess!  It is hard to pack in the dark . . .

Now I am not a camper so I had to invest in some supplies . . . basically everything except clothes!  I did a lot of research.  I was invited and accepted to go on this trip in late August so I had very little time to train and prepare.

SHOES and CLOTHES . . .  
My first concern was my feet and a good pair of shoes.  I read many reviews on hiking books versus trail running shoes . . . I went with Brooks PureGrit3 ($89 on sale) . . . from the minute I put them on my feet were happy!  I am very picky on shoes and wanted a pair that were comfortable from the start; I was sold after trying them on!  They were so comfortable, and I wore them everyday after I got them even if just around the house.  I also bought a couple pairs of  WrightSock double layer anti-blister socks ($9 each on sale) . . . again my feet were super happy with both products.  I did get a small blister on the 'rest day' after doing the 1.7 mile hike but it was between my toes and never bothered me on the hike up; not sure how I got it, but I did.  A few days after getting home, two of my toes on my left foot were very painful so I took off the polish.  I also ended up with two purple bruised toes . . . they don't hurt that bad and thankfully I could wear flip flops to work this week!  I think I came home pretty lucky since many people in the group had some really terrible blisters after the hike down!  As far as clothes, I wore a pair of zip off pants and took one extra pair of just the zipped off shorts, two sleeveless shirts, two short sleeve shirts, and one long sleeved shirt with a hood.  I wore the same clothes for a couple days and no one cared!  It was all about being comfortable, and I was the entire time even sleeping in the same clothes . . . hey I did have deodorant!
SLEEPING . . .
When it came to supplies, I really wanted the lightest possible equipment (that did not cost a fortune) since it was on my back.  Now sleeping in a tent is something that is totally foreign to me . . . I researched and most tents were expensive (between $150-$200) so I bought several inexpensive (less than $45) tents and set them up in my yard.  I kept the Ozark Trail Ultra Light Back Packing Tent with full fly (discount store that starts with a 'W') which cost me $42 (never used the fly but had just in case), and for a sleeping bag spent $40 on the Ozark Trail 40F Lightweight Sleeping Bag also from the same store.  I admit that I was a bit chilly the first night even though the rating was to 40 degrees and the temperature was in the 50s.  I was fine after I put on a sweatshirt.  I slept on a Klymit Static V mat which was awesome; I went cheap and bought it as a refurbished model on ebay ($32).
COOKING . . .
While we were with a group that would have super cool stoves to boil water, I took a small Esbit Solid Fuel Stove ($23) that used this solid compressed fuel cubes, man they smelled awful but did the job!  As far as food, I took Kind bars, nuts, turkey jerky, instant grits, ramen noodles, cup of soup powder packets . . . things that were easy to eat or just required hot water.  I even went so far to take items out of the original packages and put in a smaller bag to free up some weight.  I tell you I was a bit obsessed with the number of pounds/ounces/grams at times!  I also took a foil package of chicken breast (similar to tuna) with crackers to make chicken salad; if you look at the photo you will notice packets of mayonnaise, salt, pepper, and relish (thanks Chick-fil-a).  Since I knew we had one dinner at Phantom Ranch, that meant I could take out a meal!  I struggled to cut food because I knew I needed it too so took extra just in case!  I will say that I did buy some of those 'energy gels' packets and they were awful!  The one thing that did keep me going the last 3 miles on the hike up were Honey Stinger Organic Energy Chews in Pink Lemonade flavor.  I kept the bag in my pocket and would suck on one from time to time; they were yummy and apparently helped give me energy.  I also took some energy gel that was awful!  I took one taste and about gagged so in the baggie it went to throw away!  I think it was best to take and eat safe foods that my body was used to and would not have a bad reaction or end up sick!
MISCELLANEOUS . . .
My backpack was the biggest expense but it really was amazingly comfortable and can see using it again.  I researched this a lot because I was worried about my back hurting but finally went with the Osprey Tempest 40 ($140).  It was roomy and never once hurt my back or shoulders!  I did have a pair of trekking poles and had planned on taking them but they were super heavy.  The night before I flew to Phoenix, I went to REI to see if I could find something lighter.  I found two pair and 'trekked' around the store for a bit.  While I had my mind set on the Black Diamond poles they were not adjustable and the height was a bit off so I settled on the REI Traverse Power Lock Cork Women's Trekking Poles ($89).  They were lightweight and the cork grips were small which I liked.  Now, I will say they did disappoint me many times on the hike but was so thankful to have them.  I can't remember the number of times I had to adjust them to the correct height (105cm) because when I would use them they would collapse; they might be returned but man they were a lifesaver . . . however when I got home, I adjusted the screw on the locks and that seemed to fix the problem.  These poles now have sentimental value so probably will keep them, LOL.  Overall, I was very pleased with what I took and would make very few changes if I did this again.  Again?  Oh yes, just like childbirth you sort of forget about the pain and can't wait to do it again!