I never thought I’d become a snowbird but for this season, with the pandemic in full swing, spending any lengthy stay out of the United States seemed a little risky. So my dear husband relentlessly looked for a house to rent in Florida with a three month lease. We found our winter home in the gated community of Rainberry Bay.

It’s a lovely two bedroom two bath home with all the creature comforts of home. I’ve been doing a bit of cooking and we brought some of our kitchenware from home.

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The weather has been sunny and mostly in the 70s. Not always the warmest weather to go to the beach or pool but very nice all the same. We haven’t been to the pool in Rainberry Bay but have taken a swim or two at my sister’s condo.

Right outside our back door, we have a pond with a walking path around it. I believe it’s a little over a mile for one time around.

The fountain in the pond is quite pretty but on really windy days we can feel the effects of it when we’re walk along the path. Normally that might be refreshing but on the cooler days, I would rather avoid it.

There is quite a bit of bird life around the pond but thankfully no alligators to welcome us.

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We have visited Wakodahatchee Wetlands where wildlife abounds. There we get to see gators without getting too close.

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We also visited Green Cay Wetlands where I spotted a Roseate Spoonbill.

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There were many more birds and gators here since we visited last year. And Florida is having a problem with too many Iguanas.

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We walked the boardwalk which was almost two miles around if you take the extra loop.

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Bruce and I went to the driving range ay Westchester Country Club. I’m trying to improve my swing so I can get out on the golf course. I need a lot of work because I bob up and down and watch my ball. And to top it off, I pulled something in my back.

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We went to the IMAX with Linda and Stan. No 3D but the surround sound was great. We saw Wonder Woman 84 which we all enjoyed with the exception of Bruce.

Last Friday my daughter Lauren had a long layover in Fort Lauderdale on her way to The Osa Peninsula in Costa Rica. We picked her up at the airport and went to Lester’s Diner for breakfast. It was an old fashioned diner and the food was great.

Bruce went to the doctor today. He has an upper respiratory infection. The doctor did a Covid and flu test on him. Keep your fingers crossed it’s not that serious.

All in all we are enjoying our time in Delray Beach. Now to get Bruce to rest!

After 14 flights, 2 train rides, 10 bus trips, 2 live aboard cruises, 7 day cruises, several sampans, an ox cart ride, four tuk tuks, 7 taxis, several Uber’s, a cyclo ride, two rental cars, kayaks, our trip ended with a transatlantic flight.

For flights, EVAs premium economy won out over Qatar or KLM. With excellent legroom, premium economy was two seats across and had its own private section. Food was good and served with China as well as real silverware. They also provided a vanity kit which included eye mask, slippers, socks, toothbrush, lip gloss, and moisturizer. Also the all important ear plugs.

EVA Air is out of Taiwan and is part of the United family. I would definitely fly them again.

Qatar Airline provided a similar kit in economy and served food with China and silverware. In economy seats were 3 across but legroom was ample.

KLM Airlines had extra legroom in their premium economy but no vanity kit. They also used plastic utensils.

Air Asia was inexpensive but if I didn’t have to travel on it I wouldn’t. I think the bumpiest ride I ever had was on the tour from Hanoi to Kuala Lumpur. They did not offer amenities but I had paid for food. It was very poor quality. It included a bottle of water. When I asked for coffee they said that would cost me.

For hotels, the Reverie Saigon was an A+++. In fact, this was probably the best hotel I have ever stayed in. Food and drinks in mini bar were complimentary. The toilet had heated seats and a built in bidet. The room had a walk in closet with a good amount of drawer space. The bed was comfortable and they offered a pillow menu. The drapes had remote controls for day or evening open or closed.

The pool and hot tub on the 6th floor were beautiful at night, with neon lights aglow.  In the distance we could see another skyscraper with a landing pad attached.  I don’t think I’d want to land on that.

The bullet train from Madrid to Malaga lived up to its reputation.  It felt like we were going faster than a speeding bullet.  With the speed it was surprisingly steady do we didn’t have much trouble walking about the cabin.  Traveling in business class we were served a lunch.
Of course I loved Malaga.  We had a lovely little apartment in the middle of everything.  We visited with my friend Adriana and rented a car to explore Ronda.

10XTravel
It was a fabulous trip, much of it using points and miles.  I learned a bit from @10XTravel how to maximize points and miles and it paid off.

Fort Macon State Park

We had wonderful weather for most of our trip so I’m not going to complain about our last day. We knew it was going to rain so we slept in and had a late start. I thought it might be interesting to get some shots on a dreary, rainy day and I was right. Our first stop was Fort Macon State Park.

There were no tours today, maybe any day because of Covid. So we darted in and out of covered spaces, escaping from the pouring rain, within the fort learning about its history during the Civil War. After the war it served as a federal prison until 1876 and was eventually closed in 1903. It became North Carolina’s second state park in 1924.

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After our visit to Fort Macon, we headed into the town of Beaufort to get a bite to eat. We had breakfast sandwich wraps.at this cute little cafe.

In the historic section of Beaufort, the road was lined with live oaks. The homes were lovely, looking out on the inlet.

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Riding around in the rain, we took a drive to Cedar Island. The entire island appeared to be an estuary.

We stopped to read a sign about a little town called Sea Level. I am not sure how people live in this area since we couldn’t find a grocery store or gas station anywhere.

After much driving around, we decided to call it a day. For dinner we ate at Island Grill on Atlantic Beach. I had the best crab cake ever. Very little bread and big chunks of crab. Delicious. Bruce had scallops and shrimp over grits. He thought it was wonderful. What a great dinner to end our little vacay!

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Until next time!!!

Our journey south on the Cape Hatteras National Seashore began with the crossing of the Oregon Inlet. This Inlet separates the Atlantic from Pamlico Sound and it’s home to a thriving fishing industry. There are several long bridges throughout the Outer Banks and we loved traveling over them. We stopped just over the bridge for a photo op and to check out the trail to the beach.

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Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge

At Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge we took a short walk along the trail. It was midday so very limited on bird activity at this time.

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Cape Hatteras Lighthouse

The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is the tallest lighthouse in North America standing 208 feet high. It was built in 1870 and the black and white diagonal stripes were painted in 1873. Unfortunately, it was closed for climbing due to Covid but it was worth the stop.

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We stopped for a late lunch or early supper at the Froggy Dog where the catch of the day was mahi. I had the platter and Bruce had the sandwich. It was delicious.

In Hatteras We stayed at the Villas of Hatteras Landing. It was a cute little place with a kitchen and living room. We went to the local General Store to get a few supplies and snacks. We weren’t very hungry after our huge lunch.

Ocracoke Island

Bruce and I decided to take the free ferry to Ocracoke Island. I have to say it was good but we didn’t count on a two hour wait to get on the ferry. And the ferry ride was over an hour.

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By the time we arrived on the island it was 1pm and I was starved. We found a restaurant at a marina, SmcNallys, and had the same meal as the day before. It must be Mahi season.

We visited the Ocracoke Lighthouse which is not open to the public and is owned by the Coast Guard.

We visited the Pony Pens where they keep the wild ponies in pens so they don’t get hit by traffic. They do have some roaming space on the sound side beaches.

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Bruce and I stopped for ice cream at the Sweet Tooth before our ferry ride back to Hatteras.

This morning we toured the Graveyard-of the Atlantic Museum. There were exhibits about pirates, the Civil War ironclad the USS Monitor, and other shipwrecks.

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We took a brief walk to the beach and then headed out of town.

On our way we spotted a group of kite surfers in Sandy Bay. Boy does that look like fun!

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Manteo

I wasn’t quite sure where to go and where to stay when visiting the Outer Banks. I knew we wanted to drive the entire length of the Outer Banks and decided we’d stay somewhere in the northern part and somewhere further south. I had points from Chase so I booked the first place in Manteo. It was approximately a 3-1/2 hour drive from Raleigh. On our way we stopped in Plymouth to see the Roanoke River Lighthouse.

Our hotel in Manteo was nothing to write home about. The only thing I can say is I didn’t pay for it. It was a bit shabby and needed a lot of TLC. It was conveniently located near The Lost Colony site. Unfortunately the play was canceled this season due to Covid but we learned a lot about the Lost Colony in the museum. We ate some seafood at a little restaurant in a marina. It was very empty.

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Roanoke Island

The little village of Manteo was typical of any beach town with shops and restaurants. We walked across the bridge to the island but the museum with the Elizabethan II was closed on Mondays. So we walked along the boardwalk next to the inlet.

As we walked along the boardwalk we came upon the Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse. This one was built very similar to the Roanoke River Lighthouse.

Wright Brothers Museum

We crossed the Inlet on the Virginia Dare Bridge and headed up the coast through Nags Head to Kitty Hawk. We visited the Wright Brothers Museum and walked the path up to the monument.

Currituck Beach Lighthouse

Our next stop was the Currituck Beach Lighthouse in Corolla. We wanted to do a wild horse tour but they were booked until Wednesday. Maybe next time!

On our way back to Manteo we ate at a lovely restaurant in Duck called Aqua. We watched the sunset and shared a tuna dinner.

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It was a gorgeous sunset!

Roanoke Festival Park

Our next full day we visited the Roanoke Festival Park again and this time climbed aboard the Elizabeth II. This is not to be confused with Cunard’s QEII – but a small sailing vessel that carried 50 sailors.

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Also in the park we saw examples of American Indian villages. It was a small area but filled with a lot of information. There was also an inside museum which highlighted the Lost Colony and Sir Walter Raleigh.

Bodie Island Lighthouse

The Bodie Island Lighthouse was a very typical lighthouse with the white and black stripes. Unfortunately due to Covid it wasn’t open to climb. Nevertheless it was well worth a stop to see it. We also walked along the marsh where we saw a few birds and quite a few birders.

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Jockey’s Ridge State Park

Jockey’s Ridge State Park was well worth a visit. It has the tallest sand dunes on the east coast and some kids brought boogie boards to try and sled down the sandy slopes. Unfortunately it didn’t go too well. Here’s also a hang gliding school here and we were able to watch a few take off.

Alligator River Wildlife Refuge

I read about the Alligator River Wildlife Refuge where 40 species of mammals live including the black bear. From what I read, the best time to see a bear is early morning or close to dusk. We headed over there and drove miles of trails through the refuge. I really didn’t expect to see a bear when a big one came lumbering out of the dense foliage on one side of the road and crossed in front of us. The skeptic I was, my camera sat idly on the car floor not at the ready for the shot. So I missed my opportunity. However, I did see a very large copperhead and a small snake.

For dinner we shared a fried seafood platter at Dune’s Restaurant in Nags Head. it was a nice ending to a perfect day! And another awesome sunset!

My darling granddaughter turned 12 on September 30th and her Mimos and PopPop were there to celebrate. In fact, we haven’t missed a birthday yet! Our first night with the birthday girl we ate at her favorite restaurant La Cocina. She was surprised to get so many presents; she is not one of those kids who just expects it.

Bruce and I played a round of golf at 401 Par Golf. It was a beautiful day and a great way to spend some quality outside time. I think the golf lesson my daughter gave me months ago helped a bit too! We did a bit of shopping with Kadyn. We went to Joann’s Fabric Store for material. Kadyn’s new endeavor is fashion design. We also went to Michael’s for art supplies because she loves to paint.

Angus Barn

It was five days of celebrating Kadyn with our final nights feast at Angus Barn in Raleigh. The food was delicious and the place was very interesting. It’s definitely a place to go for that special occasion. Bruce and I shared a prime rib and Kadyn ordered a lobster tail. I don’t think she was that crazy about that.

During our last week in Antigua, I was suffering from a very bad stomach.  It started on Saturday and lasted most of the week.  When I was up to it we went out and did some things.

On Sunday morning we met Martha and Ted for breakfast at Escalonia.  We hadn’t been there all year and it’s a wonderful little nursery with a restaurant.  There are many beautiful flowers around.  And on our walk over we caught a glimpse of Fuego puffing.

Every time I eat at Escalonia, I order the same thing.  Mouth watering crepe with fruit, yogurt and granola.

On Sunday we saw our first procession.  It wasn’t one of the main processionals where they line the streets with carpets of flowers and seeds but from what I was told, a processional put on by all the villages marking the week before lent.

Monday Bruce and I decided to go to Casa Jackson but two rooms were under quarantine.  We weren’t sure what was wrong with the babies but apparently it was very contagious.  We played with the four children who weren’t sick but then their mothers arrived so we left.  I did not want to risk getting sick again.

I met my friend Adriana and we went to Jocotenango to a spa.  It was 199q for a 60 minute massage and use of the sauna.  That’s $27 US.  And it was a pretty good massage.

We met some friends for coffee that evening and had macadamia pie at the Cafe Contessa.

On Tuesday, we had Spanish lessons with Carmen in the morning.  I promised to continue my studies and we will do online classes with her.  In the afternoon, we hung around the park with our friends Arlene and Rick.  I saw Clara and Hortensia.  Also lots of new Mayan friends.

I will miss the park and chatting with all the people and practicing my Spanish.

We had delicious pizza at San Martin for dinner.  Probably not the best on a rocky stomach.

I spent some time at a cafe with Adriana within some ruins.  It was a lovely place.

For our last day, we had some friends over to our apartment.  Our friend John just completed a novel and he read the first chapter.  It was quite interesting and well written.  I look forward to reading the many chapters of what he calls his monster.

Bruce and I said our goodbyes to Vilma and Elda.  We bought so many beautiful runners from them and they gave us some very lovely gifts.  We had fun practicing Spanish and English together.

Adriana ate dinner with us at Cafe Contessa.  I will miss my friend.  It was great seeing her on two continents this year.  Since my stomach was rocky I had eggs, fruit, potatoes and a pancake.  It was all very good.

It was time to leave our beloved Antigua.  A place where time stands still and each moment is filled with wonders of yesterday.  Where life is simple and people are kind.  There is no rushing to get here or there but to just be in each tender moment.  When I arrive in Antigua I feel like I am home and when I say goodbye until next year, it is bittersweet because it is hard to leave.  But I must.  So today we left and flew to Miami where I was greeted by my sister Linda and brother Stan.  And here we are home too!

Friends are gone and now we are settled into our normal Antigua routine.  I try to attend a yoga class once or twice a week and Bruce heads out to the Scandinavian Gym.  I’m not sure why it’s called that because nothing about it seems Nordic.

On the weekend there was a craft fare down by the park.  Lots of vendors and things for sale.

One of the vendors was demonstrating on a foot loom.

Bruce and I stopped in the Cafe Contessa for my new, favorite drink, Rosa de Jamaica or Hibiscus tea cold.

We met up with our friend Adriana and took her to one of our favorite  coffee cafes, La Boheme, where we had a strawberry tart.  This is the best dessert in all of Antigua.

On Sunday evenings at 5:30, women gather at the corner of 6 and 6 for dinner.  This ritual was started many years ago by a woman named Deet.  The women are from many different countries and have different backgrounds.  This week some of the women have lived in Antigua for several years, my friend Adriana is from Finland, another woman was from Germany and another from England.   It’s enjoyable to get to know so many women with different backgrounds.

Monday I went to Casa Jackson to help with the babies.  The young boy I was taking care of last time I was there, who I caught a cold from, was in the hospital.  He had become seriously ill but was on the mend and was supposed to return this week.  I helped feed the little ones but several were sick so I am not sure if I will return.   Although I am not sick, my cough has lingered.

Bruce and I ate pizza at the Sunset Terrace where we had volcano views.

We spend a bit of time in the park chatting with different people. It’s been a struggle for our Mayan friends since the police have been cracking down on them selling.  Every day the police show up once or twice, in full battle gear to kick these poor ladies out.  Then they leave and the Mayan women return.  They are what makes the park interesting.  I get to practice my Spanish and they practice their English.  This year I am buying some runners that friends want to buy.   Hopefully this helps a little.

This year Vilma and Elda are making us colorful placemats.  They did two samples and we chose the one we liked.

They also make many beautiful table runners.

We visited the artisan market and saw our old friend Isaac.  We usually see his mother but she wasn’t there.  We will have to stop by again.

We stopped by a couple of other vendor stalls and chatted using our limited Spanish.

Bruce and I met our friends, Patty and Chris, for breakfast at Cafe Sky.

They have wonderful two for one breakfasts and we didn’t have to order the same thing.  I had fruit with granola and yogurt.  Bruce had eggs.

We went to a little cafe behind the Dunkin Donuts for empanadas.  It was a really cute outdoor place and the empanadas were 9Q each.

Today we returned for more empanadas.  I had one with spinach and one with shrimp.  So good.  This evening we had coffee with friends.  Afterwards, Adriana joined Bruce and I at Tres Tiempo for ceviche.  It was delicious.

We only have one more week.  I’m going to miss this place!

Whenever Bruce and I have guests in Antigua, I like to take them for a day at the spa at Santa Teresita.  On Wednesday morning, they offer a free shuttle to and from the spa.  I thought I registered for it.  In fact I sent in a request twice, but did not hear back.  So we went to meet the shuttle anyway.  They just barely had enough room to fit the four of us on the shuttle.

It takes about an hour to get there so Sandy and I squished in the back of the shuttle quickly made conversation with all the people around us.  One of the woman owns the cigar shop which Bruce loves to frequent.

We finally arrived and I think Sandy and Scott were quite impressed with the place.

After a quick change in the locker rooms, we began our hour long torture in the thermal circuit.  We went from hot water to cold water to medium water and then we did it all over again.  Actually the cold water wasn’t as cold as it has been in the past.

After the thermal circuit we went to our private sauna, steam rooms for half an hour.  The steam was filled with fragrances of eucalyptus.

We met up with Sandy and Scott for lunch on the terrace.  Bruce and I had ceviche.  It was delicious.

Santa Teresita also has a hotel connected to it.  Maya, our coordinator, gave us a tour of the hotel.

I think we may try to stay over some time when we come up for a spa day.

Our next stop was a 75 minute couples massage.  It was lovely.  Both Bruce and I fell asleep.

It was a fun filled day at the spa and I think everyone enjoyed themselves.  And Scott braved his first massage with a 75 minute long one.

For dinner we ate at the Chef’s Daughter.  Bruce and I had pizza and Sandy and Scott split a Chicken Parm.  It was ok but not the best Antigua has to offer.  The ambiance was nice though.  And Sandy was sporting her curly hair.

On Thursday Bruce and I had to get up early to do our Spanish homework.  Carmen, our maestro, was coming at 10.  What slackers we are.  We had it done just in time.

We met up with Sandy and Scott at Veinte-siete.  We really like that little restaurant.

For dinner, Scott and Sandy treated us to dinner at Meson Panza Verde again.  This night I had a Thai stir fry.  It was wonderful.

It’s time to say goodbye to our two amigos.  It was great having them here and showing them the beauty of a Guatemala.

Bruce and I were ready to rest on Valentines Day.  We met some friends for coffee, saw Juana, Clara and Ruth in the park.

Bruce bought me a necklace from Edgar.  And of course I photographed his darling daughter again.

For dinner, we stayed home and had a cheese and onion omelet with a croissant and watched Netflix.  Bruce has my cold, which I am just getting over.  Time to rest a bit.

Life is Good!

 

It’s always a little nerve-racking to me to plan a trip for other people.  What if something goes wrong?  What if they don’t like it?  I have to use a lot of prayer and meditation to quiet those voices and say if they don’t like it, then it’s on them.  However, it still is a little bugaboo.  That being said, our driver, Eduardo, arrived promptly at 9:30.

We did have some concerns early in the week, when the Guatemala government sent us an e-mail stating that foreigners shouldn’t travel through Chimaltenango due to gang activity.  Bruce looked on his map and that was directly on the route so I promptly contacted our driver who said “no worries.”   So off we went and as we approached Chimaltenango the police presence was quite noticeable.

The ride went smoothly until we reached Solola with its steep and narrow streets.  Quite hair raising as Eduardo maneuvered around oncoming traffic and we prayed the brakes would hold.

Once we passed through the town we rode on some windy roads and made a stop to use the rest rooms.  We had to pay five quetzals for toilet paper.   We also spent a few minutes taking in the vista.

Bruce and I have been to Lake Atitlan two times.  Once, the first year we came to Guatemala where we had a two night stay which was a so so visit and far from memorable.  The second time was a day trip with Bruce and Scott which was a lot of fun.  This time was to prove magical.

We arrived at Kayucos Marina and our boat was waiting for us.  The captain took a Bruce and my bags and one young Guatemalan boy handled Sandy and Scott’s.  He looked like he was struggling a bit but he didn’t want his biddies to help because he wanted the entire tip!

Casa Prana – Elegance and Style

I love being on water and we had a fun, bumpy ride to Casa Prana.  It was about a 10 minute ride to the hotel.  The only way to get there is by boat or helicopter.  I think that was one of the selling points for me.

We were greeted at the dock by Monica who lead us through a gate to the most dazzling array of color.

In the orchid covered gazebo we were greeted with cool, wet towels and Rosa de Jamaica punch.  Monica told us that there were only eight guest rooms on the property and only 3 were occupied.  We basically had the place to ourselves.

As we walked further along the path we came upon the pool which even had a lounging bed.

Around every corner was flowers and statues.  The estate, which had once been a private home has over 2000 varieties of plants and flowers.

There was a yoga studio with a view of the lake and volcano.  They also do massages in the studio.

Casa Prana also has a well equipped gym.  Who wouldn’t love running on a treadmill looking out at the lake and volcano.

And for Bruce’s cigar smoking, they had a special smoking area that had comfortable cushioned chairs and a fabulous view.

We had a little lunch because our rooms would not be available until 3.  Bruce and I shared tacos which were very good.

I ordered a fresh coconut drink and when I was finished, the waiter opened it up and cut up the fresh coconut for me!  Heaven!

There were comfortable sitting areas inside and outside.

As we headed towards our suites, we passed a volleyball court.  I’m not sure how they get a game together with only 8 rooms.  There was also a ping pong table out on the sand.

Casa Prana grows a lot of their own salad greens and herbs.

Our suites, which are called junior suites, and not attached to the main building, are the least expensive rooms on the property.  Our suites were on the second floor with a dining area where we could make tea and coffee in between.  Our rooms were lavish.  The beds felt like falling in marshmallows, so soft and comfy after the hard beds in Antigua.

The bathrooms were lovely with a large, open shower area.  It had great pressure and a lot of hot water.

And there was even a toilet closet and concrete sinks.

Candles were lit everywhere as day slipped into night.  We decided to eat under an arbor of plants and miniature white lights.

It was a very romantic setting and we were all enjoying ourselves and relishing in the alluring atmosphere.

Bruce and I shared a sashimi appetizer and Mahi Mahi for dinner.  Then we shared mango sorbet and vanilla ice cream for dessert.  Very tasty!

After dinner we took a walk around the estate.  It was lovely all lit up with candles and miniature white lights.

Oh what a beautiful morning!  We woke to the cacophony of birds not at all pleasant at 6am but persistent nevertheless.  These fairly large black birds seemed to take residence on a tree rising above our balcony  and  do kamikaze dives into a water bowl directly below.  But once we opened the curtains and gazed upon the lake and volcano all irritation from the birds was gone.

We made coffee and tea in the kitchen and then a waiter came up and asked for our breakfast order.  We had and omelet and scone. While sitting on our balcony.

Check out was at 1 pm.  We settled up with Monica and Diana, who were such gracious hostesses and told them we would be back.

Casa Prana was charming, elegant and we felt like we were living at our own estate.   The grounds were impeccable and it was enjoyable to walk around a smell the roses.
The property has a lot of stairs, so mobility is important if you want to wander about.  There are I believe three suites on the first floor.  It’s also very quiet.  So if you want a place to party this is not the right place for you.  However, they do have a pool table and we did enjoy a game of pool before dinner.

But if you want a place that is filled with breathtaking scenery, settings to have enjoyable conversations or contemplative moments, and leave with a overall feeling of well being, this is that place – Casa Prana – Be With Us