First stop: Ess-A-Bagel

I heard about this bagel shop in the BetterBidding.com forums and it was 3 blocks from our hotel.

We had no idea what to order, because there also seemed to be a lot of fish options.

The day we went did not look like this photo. Every table was packed and there was a long line to order at the counter. The older gentleman taking our order totally flirted with me and warned Daniel to take care of me. It was funny. Apparently, a wink and a smile from a blond pregnant woman will get you good service in NYC.

Next up: Rockefeller Center

It was a few blocks walking distance from the bagel shop. It was awesome walking up to a site that I have seen on television so many times before. Just that morning I saw an ice skater on the Today Show filming there.

We walked around and went into the NBC store.

I know I am tiny in this photo, but I love that you can see my boots in it. I had also managed to find some inexpensive maternity skinny jeans to wear with them. I never felt like I stood out in a crowd (other than my preggo belly.) Almost everyone had their jeans tucked into their boots.  Also, almost no one was wearing sunglasses that day. It was interesting to watch and see what other people were wearing.

Top of the Rock: An observation deck 70 floors above Rockefeller Center

A view from the window heading up to The Top of the Rock

A view of Central Park to the North

A view of the Empire State Building to the South

The highest floor of the observation deck was closed, because of high winds. It was a little freaky being up there while it was so windy. Then while we were up there it began to SNOW big fat flakes! We went back down to Rockefeller Center and it was still snowing. That was exciting for this Texan girl who has only seen snow about five times in her life.

Next stop: Times Square

Here we are in Times Square

Times Square is what I expected, crowded and busy. I remember looking up and seeing the Hershey’s shop where Project Runway had a challenge. I am a little bummed that I didn’t make it down to Mood for a “Thank You Mood!” shirt. But really that shirt isn’t that cool anymore.

The temperature was getting cold and we headed to Junior’s for a NY style Pastrami on Rye and authentic NY style cheesecake. The place was super crowded, so we ordered ours to go and rode the subway up to Columbus Circle.

Thankfully it was starting to get warmer, but I was getting tired of walking. So we grabbed a pedicab and rode around Central Park.

Central Park

Bethseda Fountain

The Mall/ Literary Walk in Central Park

Frozen Lake and The Boathouse Restaurant

The San Remo

Daniel and I didn’t want to think about where that blanket had been. We were cold and it worked. Our Egyptian pedicab driver spouted a lot of pop culture references about the park. We had no idea if he was telling the truth or not, but he was certainly entertaining.

After Central Park we walked across to the Columbus Circle mall to warm up while we waited for our early dinner reservation.

Columbus Circle mall

Columbus Circle

At the top of the mall is Chef Thomas Keller’s restaurant Per Se.  The minimum you would spend there is $300 a person for a 9 course prix fixe menu. Daniel and I didn’t eat there, but it was really cool to see where it was.

Daniel and I read books at the crowded Dean & Deluca in the Border’s shop. It was a nice break in the day.

Bar Boulud

I chose Bar Boulud, because any time Chef Daniel Boulud came on Top Chef to judge the contestants they were always in awe of him.  He has a five restaurants in NYC and we chose the most casual one. Plus the website with it’s beautiful photos and Jack freakin’ Johnson music instantly hooked me. I also liked the location of the restaurant. I could see the Lincoln Center from my seat.

When I tried to make a reservation at 5:00 p.m. two weeks in advance the only times they had available were 3:45 or 7:30 p.m. Our show was at 8:00, so I went with the 3:45 p.m. reservation. They were only serving brunch at that time, but it was still amazing. The service was as excellent as it should be.  I haven’t eaten in many restaurants with their own sommelier.

Pineapple and Lime Tart with Carrot Ice Cream

After Bar Boulud Daniel and I did a whirl wind of sight seeing on our way back to the hotel.

Lincoln Center

The Plaza

The Apple Store

The Big Piano at FAO Schwarz

Chewbacca in lego form

After FAO Shwarz we walked down Fifth Avenue to our hotel to rest and change before our show. I did stop along the way to look at the iconic Tiffany’s windows. I was sad I didn’t have a pastry with me to reenact the famous scene.

Wicked

After a cab ride that took us in the wrong direction and then running 3 blocks we made into our seats just before the show began.

The show is about to begin!

The show was brilliant and I am glad that I didn’t know the ending beforehand. Ga-Linda was our favorite character. I recently read “Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister” which is also by the same author who wrote the book “Wicked” is based on, so I was familiar with his comedic, Brother’s Grimm style. It was exciting to see an excellent show on Broadway!

When we left the theater it was windy and 23 degrees outside. I had worn a dress and I was freezing! I really wanted some Italian food and used my Yelp app to find a restaurant in the theater district. There didn’t seem to be too many Italian restaurants near our hotel.

Scarlatto

We were too tired and hungry at this point to take any photos. When we arrived the hostess told us that their credit card system was down and they were only taking cash. We didn’t want to go anywhere else. It was late, cold, and we were very hungry. I sat at a table while Daniel used his Chase Bank app to find the nearest ATM. I am so glad he found one a block away.  (Daniel edit:  The app found an ATM, but it was a rinky-ding one inside of an Econo Lodge lobby.  I chose to walk back to Times Square to use one there).

The calamari had fried zucchini in it and it was delicious. We ate it all! My pumpkin ravioli with a sage butter sauce was simply to die for. I really enjoyed Scarlatto. We were one of the last two tables to leave.

We hailed a taxi back to the hotel and crashed after our long day. Next up: Sunday!

The typical trip that I am referencing is from 10 to 14 days, but I would use these tips for longer itineraries.

• Pack only what you can carry

The first time I went overseas was for a trip to Hungary and Italy.  I didn’t know what to expect and I made the classic rookie mistake of packing way too much.  I only had two pieces of luggage, but one was a hulk of a rolling suitcase and the carry on was a larger sized backpack.  Subconsciously I probably was thinking “There’s extra space – use it.”   While this approach made sense at the beginning of the trip, two weeks in after making multiple city stops and sometimes staying in a room with four other guys where space was at a premium and I didn’t have access to any furniture but a bed, the behemoth suitcase became an albatross that needed constant care and would hinder me while I tried to nimbly negotiate a busy train platform or street intersection.  Rolly luggage is no friend of ancient cobblestone lined streets.  I quickly adopted the tenet of only packing what I can carry easily and even then keeping it very light so that I can have the freedom to pick up things along the journey.

• Be Non-Crisis Oriented

One personality profile that I learned about in missions training was the Crisis Oriented vs. Non-Crisis Oriented person.  The crisis oriented person is not necessarily always looking for or always involved in a crisis, but they desire to be prepared for each an every situation that they may encounter.  On a trip this translates into rigid time schedules, and packing for every possible problem.  Conversely the non-crisis oriented person is not necessarily flippant and unprepared, but simply takes more of a laid back approach to things.  Not every contingency needs to be covered and prepared for and a certain level of pleasure can be taken in the unknown.  Related with my dismissal of heavy baggage has been my realization that people in other parts of the world have toothpaste.  I know that may come as a shock to some people, but it is a certifiable fact that people around the world lead long and fulfilling product-filled lives.  What I’m trying to say is: If you need something while on a trip, more than likely you will be able to find a store to sell it to you whether it be baby wipes for your infant or a beach towel to sunbathe on Lido beach.

• Plan on doing laundry while on the trip

Wearing a piece of clothing once and then carrying it with you for the rest of the trip is just plain impractical.  Doing laundry on a trip has taken three forms for me:  hand washing in a bathroom sink in China, a public laundromat in Italy, having my clothes laundered for me in the Philippines.  A laundry stop allows you time to relax and journal, pack less clothing, and get a glimpse of a non-tourist part of your destination.  When Amanda and I were doing our laundry in Venice we met a couple from, of all places, Austin, Tx.  I have a super non-clothespin laundry line that is made of braided elastic bands which helps in the event of washing clothes by hand.

• Don’t be afraid of the paper

In my every day life I try to be as paperless as possible.  Emailed bank statements instead of mailed.  Google Calendar instead of paper planner.  iPhone with Bible app vs bringing a paper Bible to men’s study.  But, on a trip I make it a point to bring a small notebook that fits into the pocket of my cargo shorts.  In the notebook I’ll put pertinent information like travel itinerary, flight numbers, hotel addresses, and bus schedules.  I’ll also use it at each meal to record everything that I did since the last meal.  At lunch I’ll write down what I did in the morning, anecdotes that can’t be reflected in pictures, or a quote that wouldn’t be funny or make sense at any other time or place  (“All we are saying is give llama’s a chance”).  At dinner I’ll do the same, and at Breakfast I’ll fill in any notes from the previous day.  You can also use it to write down what you ate – Charlotte Marscapone, Lobster flavored corn puffs.  In the hustle and bustle of a trip so many details can be lost if left up to memory or “I’ll write it down later”.

• Have one splurge

Finally, bring one comfort item that you pack no matter the impact on space or money.  My splurge item when traveling is a good pair of sunglasses.  My current pair of Oalkey’s is beyond my normal $10 sunglasses budget and their case is big and awkward to put in a carry on, but they are comfortable and protect my eyes while in a sea of humanity at the Spanish Fallas or on a boat in the middle of the Bohol sea.

What are some tips that you follow to pack for traveling overseas?

Our recent trip to San Diego was all about the peeps. We met Staci and Jeff (and their two adorable daughters Chloe and Claire) for the first time in the flesh. We got to meet Oliver, our friend Michele’s S.O. Also, Amanda met a friend blogger, Deb from sandigomomma.com.

We did some tourist stuff like going to the San Diego Zoo (Pandas!) and the Getty Museum in L.A. (Monet!), but the real fun on this trip was connecting with people and decidedly not (as previously blogged) shopping for a cute beach bungalow.

Staci, Claire, Chloe, and Jeff. Chloe looks like she’s getting kissed by the gorilla!

Ace trying to crash the family-couch time.

Ace and Chloe watching some TV.

Claire letting me know what’s happening on the San Diego Zoo bus tour.

Amanda and Deb after getting some interview footage for our upcoming show.

Oliver, Michele, and us after having some delicious Thai food in downtown Pasadena.

We are still in California visiting our friends Staci, Jeff, and their two little girls. Right now we are in Oceanside, which is north of San Diego. Tomorrow we will be heading to LA to see our friend Michele get commissioned for Servant Partners.

Yesterday we went to the zoo. There was absolutely no parking. So we drove up to the entrance and unloaded. We convinced a family to drive them to their parking space and take their space. The mom got in the van and said to her daughter, “It’s okay, you are with mommy.” She even had a close spot. It was brilliant. Seriously, there were many vultures in the parking lot.

I don’t have the cable with me to upload pictures, but they will be coming soon!

Have a great weekend!

Crossing the Border

Church from street

Before

After

Chris working it

Men’s BBQ Night

Iglesia Torre de Oracion

Trusses about to go up

Setting up the trusses

Worksite

Me – proving why I should stick to computers

My best contribution to the project – juggling

Roofers

TAQUITOS!!!

]]> http://www.teamespinoza.com/rccc-mens-mission-trip/feed/ 5 http://www.teamespinoza.com/no-transporter-needed/ http://www.teamespinoza.com/no-transporter-needed/#comments Thu, 19 Jul 2007 05:08:14 +0000 Daniel http://www.teamespinoza.com/2007/07/19/no-transporter-needed/ When we travel to visit family in Houston the drive usually takes 4 hours: 3 hours of country Interstate to get us to Houston, and another hour to get us through the city and down I-45 to League City. I’ve known Amanda for five years now and have made this drive numerous times.

This past trip I got to thinking about the act of travel. The thought process was partially brought about by the 8 hours out of 26 I was spending in the Camry. Also by an email I received from a friend that is currently on a short term mission trip:

A few quick things you could ask for us…
ask for energy and health. we begin our 70 hour train ride this evening.

That’s right 70 hours! Almost three days in a train. Having experienced what they are going through (for a measly 24 hours), I can relate. Now, It would be easy when faced with a situation of being in a train for three days, a plane for 15 hours, or a car for hours to start questioning your journey and downplaying the experience. You go into survival mode and just try to make it through. “Wake me up when we get there.” “Are we there yet?” “Beam me up Scotty!”

I believe that getting there is vital to the journey. Just like life, if you are solely focused on your destination, you miss so much in the step-by-step process of arriving.

Here’s to all of us who are still “getting there.”

Grandma, Grandpa, and Aunt Renee enjoyed spending time with Annabelle.

On the drive back we had a chance to spend time with Amanda’s long time friends, Charllot and Danny. Charllot, along with holding the dubious honor of “The one that taught Amanda to eat while driving”, provided the subject for this post by telling us a story of how she got her daughter, Kelly, to stop using a pacifier: One day Charllot decided it was time for the binky to disappear, and when Kelly asked “Mommy, where is my binky?”, Charllot replied “Your binky went to be with Jesus.” Kelly immediately understanding the implications of this comment was forever relieved of her reliance on her pacifier. Now if only all challenges in parenthood were this easy to overcome.

Also, we dropped in on Tyler and Amy at their new house in Katy, TX. We had a great time crashing their pad and meeting Tater (dog) and Tot (kitty).

We have been planning our “baby-moon” for a while, and could never settled on a destination. For planners like us to not be able to decide on the first part of a plan has been aggravating. Too near, too far, too much time. Too hot, too cold, never just right.

So we decided to take a few days and unplug. No work, no internet, no cell phones, no friends or family. Just us, an overnight bag, and a ragtop Mustang named ‘Kelly’. When we were dating we would take long drives in the Hill Country, exploring highways, parks and restaurants. The best part of it all was simply enjoying being together.

Although we don’t have a destination, we have time. I think that’s all we need.

After the zoo we continued around Balboa Park. Just like SA’s Zoo is surrounded by Brackenridge Park, this zoo is surrounded by a park. But unlike SA, SD’s park has a lot more to offer. Just a few things we saw: Spanish architecture, vikings, crafts, fountains, a cult, a wedding, picnics, botanical building, museums, koi, tarot card readers, and the odd saxaphone player.

We’re heading home tomorrow, gaining not only two time zones but thirty degrees give or take.

Oh, and the subject line comes from the game we saw (and heard) two sea lions playing in the marina from the balcony of our hotel room.