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I wasn’t able to sleep in so I decided to wander up to the top deck incase there were any whales to watch. Apparently, between 4 and 6am we were passing through the Icy Strait that had prime wildlife watching opportunities. What they forgot is that at that time it is still dark so even if there were things to see, it would have been impossible unless you had night vision.
I grabbed up some breakfast and settled into a quiet corner near the front of the ship. I was surrounded by giant windows from floor to ceiling so I decided this would be a good place to set up shop. I began to feel a little cold so I took a stroll down to the blanket guy on the Lido deck. He cheerfully gave me three of the red tartan patterned woolen blankets. I tucked them around myself back at my table and waited.
Several hours went by as I watched people come and go out of the dining room. The sky brightened and now I could make out the edges of the mountains through the rain. Yes, it was raining so now I was extra glad that I had secured a spot inside. I watched the little speed boat with the National Park Rangers pull up beside our slowing ship. Not long after that the Ranger commentary began through the loud speakers throughout the public areas of the ship. It was quite informative and most certainly enriched my experience of Glacier Bay.
When it finally came time to start seeing the good stuff, I called Darren who was still sleeping down in the room. I had missed this the first time I went to Alaska and didn’t want him to have that same misfortune. Also, I needed him to bring me my coat. The rangers kept encouraging us to head outside to get a real taste of this magical place. I resisted for a while but when we came upon Margerie Glacier, I decided to brave the elements.
Ofcourse I had seen glaciers before, heck, I even climbed one in New Zealand. But there was something different about this place. I guess the fact that it is so protected and untouched by humans. Its really quite a natural spectacle. There was a feeling of utter beauty that overtook me as I surveyed the huge mountains of ice. The light shade of blue from the crevaces of the giant shards almost seemed to glow. It was a sight to behold.
We were lucky enough to witness the calving of the glacier which means ice falls off the face into the water below. To add to the immensity of the moment is a loud crack also known as “white thunder”. I was mesmerized sitting patiently waiting to experience the great glaciers move. It was a feeling not unlike staring up at the night sky waiting to see a shooting star.
Though the weather was cold and rainy, we did get a few minutes of sun. There were lots of little ice “bergs” floating around in the turquoise water, some with seals lounging on top. I was also quite impressed at the magnificent wispy clouds tumbling over and draping themselves around the mountains. How could something make me feel so small and insignificant yet so honored to be connected to this level of grandeur? It was neat.
In all the excitement, I ate myself up a storm. Ug. I know what this means. To the gym. But not before I retired back to my cabin to have myself a nap. All this fresh glacial air was exhausting! I cuddled into my bed and was out for the next couple hours.
When I woke, I hit the gym for a solid 2.5 hours all the while keeping my eyes trained on the water. I was able to see several seals, whales, and many kinds of birds through the windows in front of my treadmill. It wasn’t too hard to locate them as the dedicated nature photographers out on deck would all run over to a spot and point their cameras when there was something to be seen.
I worked myself out so hard that I developed a blister on my toe. Ouch. I really need to get to the bottom of this weight situation. I feel like no matter what I do, I am not losing but gaining. I met a passenger onboard with medical background who said it may be a hormonal thing. I hope its just something that I can handle myself because I won’t be anywhere near my doctor for some time.
I dressed up for dinner which happened to be the second of the formal nights for this portion of the cruise. At supper I inquired from Tim, one of my favorite servers, just what was in my favorite red cabbage dish I had been eating religiously every night. He went away for a while then returned with some good news. I could eat till my hearts content because there was no fat in it, just some red wine vinegar and sugar.
After dinner, I met up with a younger party crowd but only lasted about an hour. I am exhausted and have to get some real sleep. Most of these people are nearing the end of their trip so can afford to party hard. I, on the other hand, have a long way to go yet.
Grateful for the surreal color of glacier water.
Posted on September 19, 2009. 2 comments
This morning I was up and at’er at 7am. After a small snack to kick start my metabolism, I did some work on the treadmill. Then I hit the stretching class which is light and airy but I like the group energy. Next I threw some weights around and pushed some more cardio before having a protein filled omelette. I was sweaty and red faced as I had run from the gym to get to the breakfast station before it closed. The egg dude seemed amused and I was touched when he took the initiative to design me a special dish according to what he thought I needed.
I was in great spirits as I headed into the small (and I mean tiny) town of Skagway. I am pretty positive I have been here before and remembered the train and old fashioned buildings. It reminded me a lot of Fort Edmonton except is nestled into the mountains. Even though it was overcast and rainy, I took lots of photos as there were so many pretty scenes.
I kind of purposely set out on my own today so as to get my missions accomplished. Not like yesterday. First thing, I found several stores with headphones. In fact, the Radio Shack had a real selection and carried my favorite brands. After much deliberation, I settled on a new type of SkullCandy ear buds. These ones kind of wrap around the ear which will be perfect while I am working out. The Skagway RadioShack seems to have a sort of flaw in their pricing system as there were lots of different levels and extra options that all cost the same. Needless to say, I got a stylin’ red set with a mic and volume adjust for the same price as their most basic plain jane model. Score.
Next I hit the local grocery store where I found my bottle of detergent. I was tempted to buy these strange new 3-in-1 washer/dryer sheets but I passed. They would be perfect for traveling because of their lightweight and size but I don’t need fabric softener or cling-free. I got a bottle with 30 loads which I know is excessive for a 5 week trip but my fishing buddy Greg and wife are taking half.
Though it had started to drizzle, I couldn’t stop smiling. I was grinning stupidly to everyone who crossed my path. I was feeling happy and excited to get back to the ship and wash some clothes. I don’t know why but it really is the simple things that do it for me. There is really nothing like having freshly cleaned laundry.
After a nice lunch in the dining room where I chose potato pancakes and trout, I went back to the gym. I sweated it out a little, then threw a load in the washer. I donned my swimsuit and headed to the pool for some laps. Still in my robe, I picked up my damp sweet smelling clothes and carted them down the hall to my room.
Darren and I took some cards from the Taboo game I had borrowed from the library to play at dinner. We took turns trying to make the other guess the subject without saying the obvious clues. It was fun and by the end, I figured we were getting pretty good at it. I was happy to have my red cabbage again and it tasted even better with the Alaskan King crab legs that was on offer.
I tried to order the honey-vanilla frozen yogurt that had delighted me at lunch but apparently they were out. The head kitchen dude came to my table to assure me they would make sure they would have it for me tomorrow and every day after that. I wondered if this was such a good thing considering I am trying to lose weight, not gain. It is proving quite difficult to drop pounds when there are so many tasty treats being shoved in your face every five minutes. Darren and I agreed that the “dessert pushers” were relentless and wondered if they got some kind of commission based on the sugar consumption of the passengers.
I am pretty exhausted now and think I should turn in early. Tomorrow we are finally cruising Glacier Bay which is the highlight of this trip. I missed it last time I did this itinerary back in Sept 2001. They cancelled all the good stuff due to 9/11 occurring on Day 2 of our trip. Suffice to say, this cruise has been quite an improvement on my last somber experience with Alaska.
Grateful for being responsible for my own happiness. And clean clothes.
Today’s port was Juneau and I had a mission to accomplish. I wanted to get headphones and pick up laundry detergent. I think I failed on both accounts. I guess I kinda got some headphones but its all for naught because I think I am going to have to take them back. I sit here tired and frustrated beyond belief, wondering how the day ended up this way.
I had the best intentions and even started the day off right with a healthy egg white omlette, fruit and yogurt. It was the first time I had breakfast in the formal dining room and I was quite impressed with the accuracy of the service. I made sure to fill out a comment card so that the server would get credit for his patience with me and my gazillion special requests.
After grabbing up a coffee to go which was right beside the gangway, I pinged my ID card and went out. The day was crisp but it was a lovely view as I wandered towards the downtown. There were mountains everywhere and I was quite impressed by the magnificence of it all. As there were about six ships docked, you can imagine the crowd of cruise goers that were plowing down the narrow streets. There were 4 mega ships in port.
Jewelry, watches, perfume, smoked salmon, and furs seemed to be the things to buy here. Not to mention the loads of souvenir shops that were attempting to “liquidate” now that the season was near over. I barely glanced inside because I had seen all this before. I was not here to buy junk I couldn’t use. But try as I might, I was having trouble finding a decent pair of headphones at a fair price. I bit the bullet and decided that it would be in my best interest to head over to Costco. If they didn’t have anything, then there was a few other big box dept stores nearby that would likely suffice.
Rather than pay twenty dollars for a cab ride, which would clearly defeat the purpose of trying to save some dough, we took the bus. The high energy and humorous driver was well worth the buck fifty it cost to ride the 20 mins out of the center. This guy was small town entertainment at its finest and I really appreciated his spunk.
We jumped off when we were directed by our overzealous driver and headed into Costco where I found one lonely set of ear buds. I hummed and hawed before the iPod section caught my eye. How and why what happened next, I will never know. For some bizarre reason, I impulse bought an iPod touch. It was the silliest thing ever, especially since I barely believe in the one I have which was a gift, not a purchase I consciously made.
Sure it came with a set of headphones. Sure the return policy was solid and I could take it back to any Costco worldwide. Sure the thing connected to wi-fi. Truly, none of those reasons should have inspired me to shell out two hundred bucks on a flimsy piece of proprietary hype. Ug. I had buyers remorse almost immediately. Perhaps that is what drove me to drink.
Darren happens to be one of my beer loving friends, so I thought it would be nice for him to get to see the Alaska Brewery. It just so happened to be around the corner so we bounced in to take the tour. Sample after sample, we tasted them all (8 in total) and though I tasted the variance, I still don’t love beer. I did, however, like the pretty labels and the bubbly staff who were working there.
After drinking up a storm, Darren refused to make the second stop to find detergent. I was a little peeved because I had stopped at the brewery solely for him. I begrudgingly got back on the bus and wondered just how I was going to get my laundry done over the next month and a half. I couldn’t even secure a box of soap suds!
I tried to distract myself from my conundrum with my new toy but it wouldn’t let me play. It wouldn’t even let me turn it on until I installed iTunes on my netbook! I groaned as a second wave of buyers regret washed over me. This kind of silly game playing is precisely the reason I try to stay away from Apples sticky technological web.
I decided to just try to enjoy my small Alaskan mountain town public transit ride. The locals were a bit of a gong show and I noticed that a lot of the kids were with child or awkward gangster wanna be’s. I was glad that I didn’t have to endure this type of painful drama on a regular basis.
After hopping off the bus, I hightailed it back to the ship for lunch in hopes that maybe a spot of food would raise my mood. Turns out it didn’t work at all. I even had half a cookie but no dice. Infact, I felt worse for it. I wondered why my face was so flushed and if maybe I was having a reaction to something I had eaten. Knowing full well that I have no allergies to speak of, it finally dawned on me that it must have been the beer. It wasn’t that I drank a lot, but now that I am a non-drinker, my tolerance is really low.
I decided to sleep it off. I layed down for a few minutes with no success then popped up to head back into town. I was determined to get this new contraption working if it was the last thing I did. I seemed to have forgotten all about the laundry at this point.
I headed up to the public library in speculation that they would have some sort of internet set up. I was right and they had several terminals as well as free wi-fi. After a good fifteen minutes of trying to connect, I gave up. I waited at the equally slow elevator to head into the downtown to find a better connection. After wandering around and trying several hot-spots, my frustration was intensifying. I could get low signals but at this rate it would take me hours to download the program.
I finally ducked into a coffee shop which promised me a secure line if I bought something from them. I sipped my Americano as I scanned the room for a power outlet. Would you believe that every socket in the whole building was covered save for TWO! And of course, those two were being used. After inquiring as to how long the power hogs would be, I plopped down in a chair to wait. As my battery was at only 7 percent, I wasn’t going to start the download only to have it shut down half way through.
Finally, I was able to get it all figured out and got the silly little black rectangle to turn on. It was a bittersweet victory as I I realized I had run out of time and to hightail it back to the ship. I didn’t even have a chance to play with much less adjust the settings. As I navigated the now almost empty streets at top speed, I made the decision to work out immediately when I got back. Surely this would bring my stress levels down.
After a solid workout, I headed up for a late dinner. I found the quietest corner I could and ate a whole lotta lettuce, shrimp, and fruit. I felt a lot better and realized that rather than complicate things, I should choose the straightforward path. I suppose buying the new techie toy was perhaps not the best choice. I should have just stuck with getting the headphones. Lesson learned…when in doubt, K.I.S.S.
Grateful for simplicity.
Woke up super early this morning in anticipation for some fishing in Ketchikan, “the salmon capital of the world”. After a light breakfast, we grabbed a coffee then headed down the gangway to meet the charter. A lovely gentleman called Greg from Australia was to join us making us four on the boat. After we squared up and bought our licenses, we climbed into the truck and Robby drove us to the pier.
The morning was a little nippy but it made for some stunning views across the lake. The surrounding mountains were shrouded in long thin flat bottomed clouds which seemed to slice them in half. It was a scene I was very accustomed to seeing in New Zealand, I sighed wistfully at the memories.
Our guide and captain Robby was a little strange to say the least. He never really looked at us, staring off up into the clouds most of the time. I tried to engage him in conversation but he wasn’t having it. He was a little rough around the edges and I never really connected with him but he seemed to like Darren a lot. He pulled out a calendar to share with him and they bonded over women jokes. It was slightly offended but I guess I shouldn’t expect much more from a dirty old fisherman. The fatherly type Greg must have sensed my discomfort and compensated by engaging me in intellectual conversation. I could tell it was designed to distract me from the crude comments made a few feet away and appreciated his effort.
After picking out numbers out of a hat, it turned out the order was me, Darren, then Greg. Over the next few hours, we all took turns reeling in the coho salmon which occasionally graced us with their presence. We got a few close encounters with some bald eagles swooping down to grab up some fish. They were strong yet graceful and everything about them emanated power.
The sun came to burn off the low fog in the distance but then went just as quickly, taking the slightly warm air with it. I zipped up my jackets and pulled my layers around me tighter. I wasn’t sure why but I couldn’t seem to shake the chill that was permeating my mood.
I was kind of relieved when it was time to pull in the lines and head in. None of us wanted to keep our catch so we let Robby have them. We were dropped off near Creek Street and wandered back slowly towards the ship. There were touristy stores full of salmon everything and tall totem poles marking certain properties.
After getting back on the ship and grabbing some lunch, I decided to lay down for a nap. I didn’t nap however and decided it would be wise to get to the gym. I hadn’t really exercised yet today and perhaps that was contributing to my lackadaisical mood. I know that in the past when I had forced myself into some kind of physical activity, it almost always elevated my state.
Just coming on was Transformers the Movie which I hadn’t seen yet so I hiked the treadmill for an hour before hitting some lower body work. There was a small crowd gathering on the deck outside the window and I glanced over to where their cameras and binoculars were pointed. Sure enough there was a pod of whales off in the distance. I smiled at how lucky I am to be able to witness such majestic beauty as a part of my day. In the empty hardwood floor aerobics studio, I finished off with some abs and pushups. It felt invigorating to stretch my spine out at the end and I was sure that I was indeed several inches taller as I walked out of the gym.
At dinner, I ordered the sole over lentil salad and a side of my favorite cooked red cabbage. I was pleasantly surprised by the spicy robust flavor of the lentils which complemented the delicate flakey white fish perfectly. The sweet cabbage balanced the dish perfectly and I made a mental note to replay this choice again at least once over the next month.
After dinner I retired to the hot tub and pool for a relaxing dip. I had pulled a muscle the other day and realize that I should find some other ways to get exercise. I swam laps in the pool for just under an hour and found it ideal for a light meditative way to keep fit. The water was warmer than usual which helped my weary muscles loosen up.
Now I am about to turn in for the night but not before I order what I would like for my fruit delivery tomorrow. Every other day they replenish a bowl which along with my growing nut collection makes for a healthy snack.
Darren is out partying with some of the crew but I just don’t have the desire to be social at the moment. I guess I understand that between the cordial chats with lunch tablemates and random meetings in the library, I have as many connections as I can handle at the moment. I need to pace myself. After all, at this point, I have barely completed 10 percent of my cruise.
Grateful for the long haul.
Posted on September 17, 2009. Add a comment
Today I woke up early to say my goodbyes Carley and Jonny thanking them for their generous hospitality. It was really good to finally meet my little cousins new family. She has grown up a lot over the past few years and maturing into a fine young woman. Cody also surprised me with the level of wisdom he has already attained at just 21. I am quite excited to watch him develop into his potential. I didn’t realize how much I missed my little cousins and vowed to keep better tabs on them.
I was whisked off to breakfast with Uncle Don and Lynn before they dropped me off at Canada Place. After an emotional and heartwarming discussion, I was truly grateful to be able to reconnect with my favorite uncle. I waited calmly in the long line that snaked though into customs before being able to board the cruiseship.
After dropping my stuff off in the room, I kept to my plan and headed to the gym. I was the only one in there jogging on the treadmill which was nice but I realized would probably not happen again for the duration of my trip. Workout areas are known to be very busy on long voyages such as the one that I was embarking on. I watched “Ever After” as I plugged away and realized that though I was sure I had, I don’t think I’ve seen this movie after all. It was a cute romantic comedy and just as the credits rolled, my cardio workout ended.
I was just about to jump in the shower when Darren, my cabinmate showed up. After I cleaned up, we set out to explore the ship. I think we covered a good three quarters of the public areas before we even set sail. It is Darren’s first time and I was happy to follow his lead. It was amusing to watch how excited he was to go to the very front and then the very back. He made all sorts of aft/stern/starboard jokes, all terminology I still, a seasoned cruiser haven’t bothered to memorize.
I acquired my $25 coffee card which gives me unlimited brewed coffee as long as I have it in my hot little hands. This is a must as the regular coffee is a syrup and is unpalatable even for lightweights like me. I also get 15 specialty coffees with this magical card which may come in handy on those long arduous sea days between Alaska and Japan.
Next Darren wanted to participate in the muster drill which although I resisted a bit, finally gave in. As it was his first cruise ever, I would never forgive myself if he didn’t know how to put on the giant awkward bright orange life preserver. Heaven forbid the poor boy drown because of my complacent arrogance.
After checking out a few books in the library (not a fun experience due to the rude book Nazi who snarled at me for asking a question), we headed out to the main deck to watch as the ship pulled away from downtown Vancouver. It was fun, if not a little windy, to see the lovely costal city float by. There was even a pleasant running commentary over the loudspeakers citing cultural and historical facts.
We decided to head down to dinner at around 7pm and were seated at a cozy table for two near the window. I tried to keep the meal light, having already indulged a bit too much at breakfast. It was all for naught when the decadent flourless chocolate cake and rich bananas foster over hazelnut ice cream came. I decided that I would have to spend a good half day in the gym tomorrow but hell, it was worth it.
Grateful for bargains.
Posted on September 15, 2009. Add a comment
Well, summer is officially over. That means its almost time for me to leave. My plan was to stick around for the hottest months camping, bonding with my family, regaining my health, and preparing for my next big adventure. Mission accomplished.
I was able to get out into nature quite a bit over the past few months. My mom and I decided we could squeeze in one last three day stint out at Lake Miquelon Provincial Park. I believe the kids went back to school today which is why the campground seems relatively quiet even though we are placed next door to the play park.
Last time we were out here we stuffed our faces with the biggest juiciest Saskatoons ever. Our hands and mouths were stained purple for the duration of the trip. I was on a mission to find out if one could overdose on these wild blueberry-like delights. We plucked them right off the forest of trees which were hanging heavy with the fruits. They had matured into the size of small grapes and were bursting with flavor. We talked about making a pie (or ten) but alas, I couldn’t control myself to save any. My appetite was insatiable. Although we gathered darned near a bushel, I couldn’t pass a tree without nabbing a couple and popping them in my mouth.
There are several walking tracks such as the Beaver Loop, the Fox Loop, and the Grouse Loop, the latter being almost 4km. Though we spent a couple days exploring, we didn’t encounter any other hikers on the hilly tree canopied trails.
My favorite part was discovering the old broken down abandoned homestead hidden along the path. As my mom and I peeked into the dark wooden shell of a farmhouse, I imagined what the family who lived here must have been like. My mom wondered out loud how many babies would have been born here. What a peaceful place to choose to live, nestled deep in the lush forest.
Grateful for wild berries.
Posted on September 4, 2009. Add a comment
I made my way to the gym faithfully everyday to offset the Melted Chocolate Cake that I consumed religiously every evening. It was to die for and even as I write these words, I salivate wistfully remembering the sweet rich gooey dessert. I was glad to have televisions on the treadmills so I could distract myself from the miles and miles it would take to burn off the calories.
The main topic of conversation throughout the trip was that of the passing of Michael Jackson. They played his songs over the sound systems whenever music was appropriate. In the last show of the last night, a tear came to my eye as the dancers paid tribute to the pop icon during their performance.
After we disembarked from the ship, I met up with my friend Mike who I hadn’t seen for seven years since New Zealand. We caught up over fries and a turkey burger next the water alongside the financial district where he worked.
It was the first time I saw the World Trade Center remains and looked up at the adjacent hotel where I stayed just months before 9/11. I remember peering across through the glass window of my room deliberating with my ex-fiancee if we should go up to the lookout at the top of the Twin Towers. Then suddenly came the weirdest freak rainstorm pelted Manhattan…so we never did. It’s strange to me that there is still a huge gaping hole 8 years later. I heard that they are going to rebuild and I see all the construction chaos but it doesn’t seem like anything has been started yet.
I made my way back to Harlem and said goodbye to Marshan. Then I packed my bag and met up with Sarah who kept me company on the 45 min bus ride to the airport. After a long day of traveling from planes, trains, automobiles, I was relieved when we finally touched down in Edmonton. I was delighted when a motherly lady named Jennifer sitting next to me on the plane insisted she drive me home rather than having me SkyShuttle so late at night. After enduring a barrage of kitty kisses from a overjoyed Monster, I fell into my big comfy bed and was asleep before my head hit the pillow.
Grateful for different modes of transportation.
Posted on June 30, 2009. 3 comments
I met Marshan on my last Transatlantic cruise, and thought she was pretty brave, independent, and charismatic. I am always looking for good travel buddies so it seemed like a good idea to plan a trip. We both have a lot of freedom so we decided on a long term cruise over the Pacific.
As 30 days is a long time in small quarters, we thought it best to take a short “test” cruise from her hometown New York. A short four day dress rehearsal would reveal our level of compatibility and then we would decide if we could stand each other for a couple months in the fall. We boarded the Carnival Triumph and headed up to New Brunswick. Both of us had been on this ship before, though for me, the memories are quite foggy. As I reacquainted myself with the boat, I fondly (but vaguely) remembered the party cruise of 2000 with Sonya.
We were in a suite which was my first time with a balcony and I must admit, it was heavenly. In fact, I loved it so much I spent most of the four days lounging around taking baths in the Jacuzzi tub. It was a real treat to lay in bed at night watching the stars from the window. I can imagine how much more use one would get of the balcony on more southern itineraries. As it happened, the weather was not top notch, so I didn’t spend as much time out there as I would have liked.
It was my first time to the Maritimes, and St. John was a blast from the past. I took Marshan to Tim Horton’s for her first TimBits and coffee explaining to her the whole Canadian fascination Timmys. After the experience, she was reformed. Sounds like she will trade Dunkin’ Donuts for her new favorite “Yum Hortons”. As we perused the Antiques and Used bookstore, I was charmed by the odd little trinkets they sold.
I waited for Marshan to have a pedicure in the beauty school and then we wandered around the market then the waterfront. All in all, my impression of Eastern Canada was quiet, laidback and somewhat slower pace than the rest of the country. Some may call it boring but I thought it was quaint.
The rest of the cruise home was pretty foggy and chilly so there wasn’t a lot to do top deck. I did enjoy an impromptu session of Tai Chi that a few passengers gathered for in the room I happened to be reading in. I also had a good time watching the hypnotist who put on a few shows, one late night revue more racy than the rest. I was shocked into a fit of embarrassed giggles when a few of those volunteers in trance did unmentionable things to their chairs.
When we confronted one of the participants after the show, it was clear the whole thing was not staged. The shade of red his face turned once he realized his antics (he was instructed with the suggestion that he would remember ALL once he looked in the mirror, which we placed him in front of), was a telltale sign that this was the real deal.
Grateful for deep relaxation.
Posted on June 28, 2009. 1 comment
I was able to meet my long lost friend Sarah from Sudan who worked in the Chrysler Building. We attempted to compact 7 years of our lives into an hour while sipping on frozen coffees. Obviously, we ran out of time and vowed to meet up again the next day and have a proper visit.
I hurried along into the subway and made my way to Union Square where I was to meet Moniquea. I found the “man on the horse” but realized I must have just missed her. I caught up to her and her friend at the restaurant. I wasn’t able to finish my lunch but I did somehow find room for the donut that followed.
The air was hot and sticky as we ambled down the streets popping into the Donut Pub, the Pickle Guys, Economy Candy, and the Donut Plant. We explored a market that housed all sorts of interesting delights. We sampled what may well be the most disgusting cheese I have ever tasted. It was like a whole mouthful of farm. Gross.
I decided to test some commercially made kombucha which has a distinct vinagery flavor. It is supposed to have more than a billion live organisms inside and is touted as very healthy. I guess I hoped it offset the four donuts and muffins that had stolen away into my belly.
Grateful for donuts.
After flying all day, with one stop in Minneapolis, I landed in La Guardia airport in New York. Just married and newly transplanted Canadian friends Moniquea and Colin were waiting for me with open arms. We rode a bus and a train to their flat in Queens, catching up all the while.
As we were all a little peckish, we wandered down the street to find a bite to eat. We finally settled on a little Thai place with quirky bright colored décor. We left with full bellies and padded our way back home as the sun went down. I loved checking out the vibrant fruit stands outside the markets and the various bakeries selling their flakey treats.
The next day, I made my way into Manhattan where I would spend time exploring. Since I have been to New York many times before, I bypassed the typical tourist traps. Instead I found my way into the giant New York Public Library thinking I would be in the presence of billions of books.
Down at the bottom of the stairs I found rooms full of genealogy reference materials and a small children’s library. I climbed up to the top of the stairs and found high ceilings painted with exquisite murals. The woodwork and marble created quite an elegant atmosphere. It was no wonder that Carrie from Sex and the City chose this venue for her wedding.
I made my way further into the large halls filled with long dark wooden tables and chairs. I admired the classy chandeliers complimenting the natural light streaming through the huge windows. The only thing missing from this library was the books! There were a few stacks lining the outer walls but not nearly enough to call this a proper lending institution.
One of the security guards informed me that this was a reference library and books were ordered from other floors and picked up from the wickets. People were not to take books away from this building. Well, now it all started to make sense.
Grateful for books.
