Euro Travel & More

We loved the Bellagio Fountain when we are in Vegas and our timing always seems to be pretty great when the show begins. and this time of the year – I bet they are playing Christmas songs to go with the show.  The show is pretty magnificent – I’ve seen people cry when watching the water fountain go – it’s quite funny to be honest.  But for those watching for the first time – I can fully understand why they can get so overwhelmed because it has gotta be the most beautiful show to enjoy with a loved one or yourself.

If you asked me I prefer the night shows a lot more.   The shows are from 3pm – 7pm on weekdays for 30 mins and watch them in the evening from 7pm – 12am – shows lasting for only 15mins.  I prefer the short shows.   On weekends the show starts earlier but end at the same time.   Free to watch – so when you are in Las Vegas, make sure you spend some time watching the Bellagio Fountains and if you are lucky – you can see some street performers as well.

So it’s that time of the year again – where everyone is rushing to go on vacation or getting out of the cold weather into the warm.  Some of you might be going home for Christmas as well or visiting good friends in another continent.  But before you leave home with your kids especially if you are traveling with your kids – make sure you check if there is a nearby doctor or hospital and if you are staying in a hotel if there is an in-house doctor.  That’s what I do everytime I go on vacation with my kid – I remember how flustered I was when my kid had a temperature for days – and the nearest hospital was like an hour away.  Luckily the hospital was well – equipped with medical computer cart and all the medical equipments needed for x-ray and needles else I would be really devastated.   So before you go on your Christmas vacation, check if you can find medical help nearby where you are staying before leaving and take the number and address down – you never know what might come up during your vacation.

One can choose to take a scenic flight on this small planes or a helicopter ride if you don’t want to spend hours on a bus tour – which was what we did.  We figured a helicopter ride would be more fun  we were traveling with kids – but a planer ride was just as good – according to my cousins who went up in a 4 engine plane with Scenic.We chose the Grand Canyon Deluxe and it was worth every penny we paid for. They pick you from your hotel and there were quite a number of people waiting for the same tour but of course different planes and helicopter – then they showed us some safety video and we were on our way.The Scenic flew us over Hoover Dam, Lake Mead and finally the Grand Canyon – so if you are in Boulder – make sure you take book a tour to see the Grand Canyon.

We like resort as soon as we arrived, we were given a warm welcome by the front desk and shown to our rooms promptly.   Only minutes from the airport – this resort was managed by the Hilton group from what we’ve heard.  We had a whole strange of the Ocean view for watching the sunset and sunrise – additionally – there were restaurants, grill and a bar for those who wants to stay in the resort and relax.  About 10 minutes towards Kapaa, you can find beaches you can swim in – so don’t be disappointed that you don’t find one in the resort itself.

We loved the pool and since we didn’t have any kids with us – we were able to sun tan as long as we want.

Beautiful palm trees and lots of greens.

Waterfall by the pool.

Hot tubs and gym were available here – and they weren’t even crowded.

We took morning laps here before breakfast.

The rooms were nice and clean and unlike some resorts in Hawaii – this one is carpeted – I don’t like the ceramic flooring.  A free shuttle service is offered by the resort to the surrounding shopping center – and if you want to drive around the island you can – it’s pretty easy to get around. Parking was a wee bit expensive for a resort – but oh well, it’s better to have our own car since we like to venture out and check out the island.  Live music in the bar for you to end the evening and retire to bed.

I had been meaning to write about White Point Beach Resort for a few weeks now – and yes – for those who have been to White Point Beach Resort – you will be kinda sad like I was.  I know that White Point had planned to renovate in 2012 from a  government  loan and now to have it destroy by fire – will cost more money to renovate? or will the insurance take care of it.  What was the caused of the fire – I don’t think we know anything about it till now.  The resort had been operating for many, many years now and is a very popular destination for weddings and holiday makers.  Below are some pictures of the resort taken during our various visits throughout my years in Canada.

I think most of my vacations are for shopping and it’s specific shopping needs for different places – like my eyelash growth products , I need to get it at a specific country and a specific mall.   And usually when I am on a shopping vacation – I try not to bring too much in my luggage with me – that way – I have lots of space to buy new stuff – to bring home with me.  My shopping spree can sometimes be quite adventurous and if I needed something badly – and I can’t get it from one mall – I would hunt it down – from place to place.  But like every woman who goes on a shopping vacation, we usually come home with more than we had planned to buy but we can’t help it – we love looking pretty right?  and eyelashes, beauty products  – like Kose – where I can’t get it here – I just have to get it when I go on vacation.

If you are visiting France – Paris – you  have to go see Nice as well – love the weather in Nice – and everything and everybody is so beautiful in Nice.  One of the things I loved to do in Nice is the Farmer’s Market – early in the morning.

Dried fruits as you can see here – they have so much food to offer – in Nice – I never missed it.

Grains and herbs.

Fresh seafood – and they don’t smell fishy at all.

Squids for grilling.

Candied fruits – so cute and delightful to look at.

More dried goods.

All kinds of beans.

South Of France – Nice has this special restaurant the Nisa Socca Rue de Sainte-Reparate in Vieux Nice, just a few metres from the Cours Saleya marketplace – that you have to visit – and when you are there – you have to try their Pissaladiere.  So if you want a true French dining experience – I strongly recommend you this place.   They compare the pissaladiere  with pizza – Italian pizza is what I think it is – or the closest – I would describe it.   The Nisa Socca is a busy little place – and pretty crowded – so do go early and get a seat.

I was in Peru – traveling for work when we met some people on the same trip – they were from United States – and we shared a few glasses of wine together and chatted and became friends – but that was like 20 years ago.  We kept in contact after the trip and updated each other yearly of our adventures, our lives and work and though we never did travel again to the same places again – they have visited Asia and I had gone to the States to visit them.  Traveling don’t only bring you more insight on the culture of different places but for me – it allows me to meet more interesting people – who became friends.   And when a long time traveling friend – has a new born baby – what do you do?  send a delicious baby gift of course!!   We are so lucky – because some 20 years ago – we can just go on the internet to get gifts for your oversea friends – you have to mail them thru’ snail mail – now with emails and online gift store and flower stores – there is no excuse not to celebrate life !

If you are in Halifax with children – you have to go for a cruise in good ole Theodore – for it must be fun for the kids.  We didn’t go – because the weather wasn’t so nice.  But the next time we are in Halifax in the summer – we have to remember to give Theodore the tugboat a try.

It was quite a windy day – even in June – it was quite cold and the water was choppy.

Theodore looking really good here.

There is also a gift store just on all of Theodore the tugboat – but they were expensive – but nevertheless a novelty everyone must bring home from Halifax.