Put Curacao on your list! Our quick Island getaway ~

Planning a beach trip and Curacao came up as one of the choices.  Neither of us have been and everything I read about the island sounded like we would enjoy our time there.  We wanted to use Craigs Hilton points.  Hilton Curacao offered beachfront as well as reasonable amount of points per night so that made the decision easy and we booked.

I can say that if you haven't had the opportunity to visit Curacao definitely put it on your list!!

Through the visit Curacao website you can fill out your passport info and breeze right through the airport upon arrival with their Egates system.  We did it and no line for us, will say I was saddened that my passport didn't get stamped but moving right through was really nice!

Outside we had a group taxi that dropped us right at the hotel lobby and this was our view ~

Already I felt comfortable and relaxed!  

The hotel staff were so pleasant and friendly within minutes we were up in our ocean view room.

It didn't take us long to start exploring around the hotel ~

 2 restaurants 2 bar areas, beautiful pool area, beach, dive shop, car rental, coffeeshop, casino, health spa/workout area, ruins really great hotel amenities.

The first full day we decided we would take the hotel shuttle to Willemstad and wander the city area.  What a treat!  Walked across the Queen Emma Bridge pontoon bridge.  This bridge swings open instead of up!

We did a little shopping along the way to the floating market.  

Boats come in from Venezuela with fresh produce and goods.  A little bit of everything here!

Great day spent wandering the city, friendly people, affordable, good food and drinks, you can walk as much or as little as you want and have a great experience!

We found that almost everyone we spoke with was multi-lingual, speaking English, Dutch, Spanish and the local Papiamentu.  I came home thinking I really needed to work on a second language!  We always felt comfortable even though I am sure we looked the tourist part.  The local currency Antillean Guilder is accepted everywhere but honestly we didn't exchange that much and used US $ or credit cards easily.  It was easy to move around the city and talk with locals as well as other travelers.

The next day we opted for a rental car.  I love city buses but touring the island with city bus seemed limiting and we wanted to head completely up one side and down the other stopping along the way so rental it was.  As we traveled out it did seem there were less and less bus stops so glad we had the car.

We went along noticing that the north side was cliffs and rough waters after rounding the tip of the island the water was calm and the beaches were abundant, each had a little different feel.

Our first stop was Playa Forti where there is cliff diving.  No one diving this day weekends usually busier we were told but still a beautiful beach and ocean view.  We were ready to snorkel but not cliff dive so off to the next beach~

World famous Grote Knip this is a stunning beautiful beach with crystal clear waters for snorkeling.

We spent the most time here totally enjoying the afternoon!  

There is little snack bar/food and restrooms.

We did stop few more beaches taking time to snorkel and check out the area.  Each was just as beautiful and welcoming!

Our last day we hung around the pool and beach at the hotel getting some sun and snorkeling there.  

 

I have a lot of places I want to see so unless I have family or know someone at a place I often don't re-visit it as there is always somewhere new.  Curacao is an exception. I would book a trip back.  I still feel there is more to experience and enjoy.   Also would take our daughter who is a diver as there are numerous dive shops and areas that I believe would be spectacular!!

Sedona Arizona Day trip

I had only visited Sedona Arizona 1 time before many years ago.

Put it on your list it is majestic and truly beautiful!

We decided we would do it as a day trip.  

3.5 hrs for us that is doable!

Even the rest stops along the way have gorgeous views!

As soon as you get off the freeway at the Sedona exit you start to see the well know rock formations 

~ Bell Rock and Cathedral Rock ~

The colors change with the light and each direction holds a new view.

We each had a must see/do...Cierra wanted to walk across 
Devils Bridge and I wanted to see Cathedral Rock at Sunset.  

1st up was Devils Bridge.  It is a pretty solid hike, flat ground, washes then up through the rocks.  Take water and don't rush it.  

When this is your path you know you are off the beaten path!

Once you reach the top the hike is all worth it!  The views are incredible and the bridge well as a mom I told her seeing it was enough, 
but if you get here you have to go across...well she did I didn't!

 She says its wider then it looks, I took her word for it.

Next up was Cathedral Rock.

Driving around you can see Cathedral Rock but we ended up on a small side road and found a perfect sunset view.

This was so beautiful, quite, just mesmerizing.  The colors changed as the sunset happened and we just stood there taking it all in.

One quick selfie before we lost the light...Yes we might have used a jacket on the roof of the car as a tripod but it worked!

What a great day! 

 I can't say enough about the views,  enjoyable hike (made you work but definitely doable) 

and it is always a good time hanging out with Cierra! 

The town itself looked like it would be fun to explore, galleries, shops and there are so many more hikes around~ 

need another day trip!!

Niagara Falls

Everyone knows someone that has said come and visit!  Well we are lucky to have great friends who said come and visit and offered a room in their home as well as a car they had for us to drive.  We just needed to make our way to Buffalo NY.  Can't hardly pass that up for very long so off we went on a side trip to visit Ivy and Lloyd in Buffalo as well as see Niagara Falls!

Changed our tickets packed up and flew from St. Thomas to Miami to Charlotte to Buffalo.  Ivy and Lloyd live literally minutes from the Buffalo airport and were so kind to come over and pick us up. They were working some the next day so we headed out to see Niagara Falls and we decided to drive over into Canada for the fun of it.

*worth mentioning here don't drive friends car out of the country without a signed note from friend*

Leaving US fine, coming back a little difficult, whose car, where is she why does it have Tennessee plates, what's in the trunk (not sure as never looked, pls Ivy don't have anything bad in your trunk), put your phone down, turn car off and give me the keys...it's a push button car doesn't need a key but ok.  After a few more checks and questions we can come back into US YAY!!
If you get a chance the view from the Canada side is extremely beautiful and really opens up the whole falls try to get over there too ~ but make sure you have your passport and car title/owner info!

Niagara Falls is a sight to see!  

Incredible amount of water over the falls and beautiful views.  Really not expensive to visit and you can add extra excursions as you want.  We did the Maid of the Mist boat tour and highly recommend.

We parked in the main parking area for the US side Niagara Falls park Prospect Point and walked right down to the side of the falls.  Parking was $10.00 for the day.

The "we were here selfie"

As you walk down the walkway it opens up right to the top of the falls

We took it all in wandering down the pathway face timing family to share the experience and then headed down to catch the Maid of the Mist boat tour.
Truly an experience right there at water level it is incredible, the sound, the mist Wow!!

The view fron the Canada side is spectacular ~

If you get the chance make the trip!     

 Our friends have a boat on the river above the falls and when they got off work we headed out to the marina to have a sunset ride.  Leave it to Ivy to have the champagne and snacks ready to go.  What an amazing evening floating along with the mist of Niagara Falls in the distance, water a little cold for my taste but Lloyd jumped right in.

A view not everyone gets to see, the mist off the top of the Niagara Falls, this river feeds into the falls, the buoys show where you can't go past with boat.

We ended the night with late dinner in downtown Buffalo.  If we get back I want to check out downtown more ~ food, waterfront, seems there is a little bit of everything.  

Machu Picchu ~ part 1 the idea & the packing

We weren't sure where we wanted to go but knew it was going to be International.  Cierra had seen my moms scrapbook from her time in Peru with Amazon/Andes Expedition Explores Natural Health & Healing and from there the Peru/Machu Picchu idea came to light.

I am not big on tours, be there, be here and follow along.  More the wing it and see where we land kind of traveler.  That being said I do like to feel a little grounded and have some idea of what & where plus I don't want to miss something that is a "must see".   So a few months before our trip I started googling and reading blogs. Anything I could find on getting to and staying around Machu Picchu.  Mom sent her info she had saved, pamphlets and maps.  

Machu Picchu Peru is a truly majestic Inca ruins situated above the Sacred Valley and voted one of the New 7 Wonders of the World. When going be aware of the seasons ~ December, January, February, and March are the rainy seasons.  We went March 12 - 18 and saw signs of rain but were lucky and had perfect weather!  The currency is the Peruvian nuevo sol (PEN) and language is Spanish.

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We decided to have money exchanged prior and our local bank did it at no charge a week ahead.  We exchanged $450.00, at the time of our travel that equaled 1,420 PEN and I carried 2 credit cards.  Few things to note on our packing list...power converters - some blogs said it was the converter/adapter with pins and others said flat plug- I puchased 2 converters/adapters, one for each of us Insignia Travel adapter & converter & iConcepts World Wide travel adapter converter  we used the Pins in Ollantaytambo and the flat in Cuzco so you may need both adapters.  I purchased a cheap rain poncho at Walmart but never used it.  Was thankful we had purchased a Small backpack, this brand folds into itself so makes it so easy to travel with! A North Face light jacket as the evenings were little chilly and early am in Machu Picchu was cool.  Granola bars & snacks. Sunscreen (very important as even on cloudy days the elevation is higher and sunburning is fast & painful).  A blog we had read said use regular shampoo as bug lotion so we had little travel samples for "bug lotion" and regular insect wipes.  Our time wasn't bad for insects but I do believe it really depends on when you are there. Passport, credit cards and the bulk of our Sols I wanted to carry in a RFID protected money belt, I wasn't sure about this as never wore one but I had it on from Lima on and really forgot it was there as it is comfortable and didn't show. (After some thought and reading on the money belt I think next time I will use a "dummy" wallet instead as someone could grab your waist and feel the money belt). Comfortable hiking shoes and socks, extra camera batteries and extra sd cards. 

We kept luggage to a min. one small roller each and 1 messenger bag.  

Remember to tell your credit cards you are traveling and find out about your phone service, we have Verizon and could add International for the month.

* next blog post ~ Machu Picchu part 2 the adventure begins...

Machu Picchu ~ part 2 the adventure begins

Ready to go, vacation days all set and 2016 Spring Break Machu Picchu trip is happening!!

So our basic plan is to fly to Cusco, take a Collectivo (bus/van) to Ollantaytambo, stay there couple of nights, take train to Machu Picchu then spend day or so in Cusco on way home...

A couple of days before we left I went ahead and purchased the Machu Picchu tickets ***They are not available for purchase at the entrance, you must purchase them in advance*** we used Tickets for Machu Picchu, you do pay an additional 20% I believe but you can print them out at home and you are done. There is a daily limit on tickets so check ahead and watch your days if traveling during the high season.  We added the Machu Mountain in case we wanted to hike more from what I can tell it is the less severe of the 2 additional hikes.  There are places to purchase in Peru but I just wanted to have them done.  The other purchase I did ahead was the Peru Rail train tickets from Ollantaytambo round trip to Machu Picchu.  ***these you can purchase online but you must go to a train ticket office with passport and the credit card used for purchase at least 4hrs prior to departure to get tickets***

The only other thing I booked ahead was a hotel in Ollantaytambo La Casa Del Abuelo.  It had good reviews and I wanted a place 1st couple of nights to start.

Out of Phoenix Arizona we catch a flight to Dallas Texas.  I was assigned a middle seat in the back of the plane and was thinking ok not such a long flight not a problem.  Cierra was towards the front of the plane.  I get back to my seat and to my left is "Baylor", a Jr college student headed back to school from his spring break in California, to my right is "Air Force"  3 yrs in a special unit just left some paratrooper training...  Cierra where are you this is the perfect seat for you not me!!!  Had great fun talking with them and the flight time flew by! Arrive in Dallas and are looking forward to the flight that evening out to Lima Peru.  As an employee of an airline there are travel ups and downs...the down here was we couldn't get on the flight to Lima that night so we are over night our first night in Dallas.  Thank you Motel 6 for the quick and easy room and the next day, all day, in the airport.  Dallas Ft Worth airport has lots to do...

Ride the Skylink, play games in Admirals Club, Check out the art displays, do selfie luggage pics and  when all else fails sleep...

That night we are on our flight out of Dallas and headed to Lima!

We arrived in Lima first thing in the morning and were booked on a LAN flight couple of hrs later from Lima to Cusco.  An earlier LAN flight had cancelled so the flights were pretty full after seeing that we changed over to Avianca and had a great flight from Lima to Cusco.  Thank you Avianca!  (Right past security in the Lima airport the Peru Rail has a small ticket area, we picked up our train tickets that we had pre paid for there).

Met another airline employee and her daughter on our flight and shared a cab into Cusco from the airport. Parted ways there as we were catching the Collectivo to Ollantaytambo and they were at a hostel up the street.  Now the Collectivo is somewhat of an experience in itself.  The van/minibus is parked in an alleyway and only leaves when it has a min. number of passengers.  After 2.5hrs of waiting with a backpacker from South Korea we had enough riders mostly locals~ we thought we were ready~ drove around the block and came back to get the smaller minibus~ then we were off.  The drive was about 2 and 1/2 hrs I believe and it is everything everyone says about it fast, slow, hold your breath passing, slide one way, slide the other and astounding views. 

We arrived into Ollantaytambo and found our "home away from home "  La Casa del Abuelo.  Close to the town plaza, short walk to the train, great room, nice bathroom, clean, hot water and very friendly helpful staff. 

Unloaded the bags and headed off to find something to eat and explore.  Hotel recommended and gave us a discount coupon for a great place just up by the plaza Uchucuta restaurant.  We enjoyed our first ever Coca tea and I have to admit it was truly good tea so sad I couldn't bring some home!!  The meal was great too!

 

Such a big sandwich we actually had half each left over and packed it with us into Machu Picchu for lunch!

*Next blog post~ part 3 our day in Machu Picchu~