Pink Saturday Goes to the Travel and Adventure Show

 

It doesn't have to be far away to be a great vacation spot

Love the coast of New England

Yesterday I attended the travel show at the Javits Center. I was at the show in 2020, just before the world turned upside down and last year there was no travel show. It was great to be thinking about travel and I enjoyed seeing the different booths, even if my plans aren't very far afield right now. There were fewer booths and much less glitz and fancy displays. I had my eye on things that would be good photographs for Pink Saturday and didn't find anything that stood out. 

The Ossining (NY) train station, from a collection done by the MTA Arts for Transit  

I chose to photograph two postcards instead. The top card is part of a collection from South County, Rhode Island, a pretty stretch along the Rhode Island coast. The second card is a quick train trip from home, up the Hudson River on the commuter railroad, MetroNorth. It's especially lovely in the autumn, looking at the colors on the trees along the river. 

I enjoyed looking at the booths and brochures, though right now I'm not making any travel plans that take me very far from home. I've got two trips planned for later in the spring (Massachusetts and New Hampshire for college reunions) and a trip to Maine in the summer, so I'm feeling very grateful for those adventures to come.

My new zebra buddy

I was intrigued by the African safari trips and that's a trip to dream about. While I was perusing the displays I made a new friend and the thought of seeing zebras and giraffes in their habitat is enticing. But, with the state of the world, it's going to be the Bronx Zoo for the next while, and I'm glad for that nearby opportunity.  

I'm beginning to get into a new schedule and it feels good. I'm back to the gym (Hurray!) and will try and get there a few times a week. I stopped by this afternoon and plan to sample a class on Tuesday. I'm not trying to get everything exactly as it was pre-March 2020, because some of those things just don't exist anymore. There's a shortage of lifeguards in New York City, so our senior water aerobics classes aren't being held. I'm hoping as things settle, more life guards can be trained. What's your schedule for the week?

As ever, thanks for visiting and take good care.   

When You Wish Upon the South Star

As, I'm sure, those who know a lot more -- or even just a  little more -- about astronomy will tell you, there is no South Star.  But if there was a South Star -- equivalent to Polaris, the North Star -- next week I would be gazing at the night sky and tossing my wishes right to it.

I'm not usually one for selfies, but yesterday at the New York Times Travel Show I took a number of them. I was wishing for one that included penguins and I got my wish. I leave this Friday for Argentina and set sail on Sunday for a cruise that includes penguins and Antarctica. My dream destination for years has been Antarctica and after looking at trips for years and watching for a sale -- it was a quick three day sale -- I'm almost on my way.

I've bought my foot warmers for standing on the deck and taking pictures -- no cold feet for me! -- and have my reservations for my hotel in Buenos Aires the night before the cruise and a penguin expedition in Puerto Madryn, Argentina. I also discovered via Facebook tonight that a lovely couple I met on the cruise I took to Iceland and Norway three years ago will also be on this cruise. Foot warmers, penguins and friends -- can't ask for more.    
 

Enjoyed meeting my Panda friend. 

The travel show was a lot of fun. I shared the good time with my college roommate and we walked two miles through the Javits Center enjoying the thought of all the places we might travel. A safari was enticing, but I also found fun things in New York and Pennsylvania, which are definitely more doable.

There were exhibits from many countries, and this CoffeeGirl couldn't resist the one for coffee from Indonesia. I'm going to look for coffee from Sumatra during my coffee excursions in New York.

It's hard to believe that I will be leaving for South America in just four days. I've been dreaming of this trip for years and now it's less than a week away. I've got a number of errands yet to do, another yoga class, a medical appointment and a few more blog posts to write. I'm hoping to post while I'm away and share the scenery of Antarctica with Buttercupland.

As ever, thanks for visiting and take good care.

 

Next Stop, Peru

I love to travel. I like to return to places I've enjoyed visiting -- a fourth trip to Chicago is scheduled for this spring -- and I like to visit places I've never been. For decades, literally, I've kept a list of places I want to visit and plan and research things to see on each trip. Somewhat regimented? Yes. My theory has been that if I get to somewhere once I don't want to miss anything I might enjoy. I've also scheduled my travels around work. Whether it meant not traveling at certain times of the year -- around Christmas -- or simply scheduling around events and colleagues' schedules, I tended to schedule somewhat far ahead. There wasn't a lot of room for spontaneity and I became used to it.

But that's all different now. There aren't a lot of long-standing commitments, unless I choose to make them. I did schedule this trip in the summer, but it may be the last major trip I schedule so far ahead. The big difference in this trip...it wasn't on my list of places I especially wanted to see. It sounded interesting and the scenery looked gorgeous, but for years I flipped the page in the brochure. Last summer I didn't flip the page and next month I'm going to Peru.

 Machu Picchu is on the cover of this guide I borrowed at the library today

 

I enjoy archeology sites and I'm especially interested in seeing Machu Picchu, the Incan city in the Andes. I'll also be in Lima, the capital and Cuzco, which was the Incan capital and combines both Incan and colonial sites.

 I'll also spend a few days in the Amazon, and yes, I'm hoping to see a monkey or two while I'm there. The Amazon rainforest will be very different from the cities of Lima and Cuzco, both of which have very high elevations.

I'm not exactly sure why I stopped flipping the page for the Andes and the Amazon, and really it doesn't matter. Something in me said this is the trip for now. Next month I board a plane for Miami and then another for Lima. I need to start brushing up on my high school Spanish and make sure I know how to use my new camera. Next stop, Peru and you know there will be pictures.

I enjoyed the NY Times Travel Show a lot. If I ever have doubts -- can't imagine that I will -- that there's nowhere I want to visit, yesterday's visit to the show reminded me that there are a lot of places left to see. Some I've been thinking about for a long time -- Sri Lanka -- and some I've never thought of before, like Greenland. I've got lots of brochures to read and enjoy.

I walked part of the way home yesterday after the travel show and enjoyed the spring-like day. Today it was winter and I wore a hat and heavy coat while I did my errands. The forecast for tomorrow is snow and I'm getting my boots ready.  

As ever, thanks for visiting and keep cozy!

No Snow Sunlit Sunday

Though today was a cloudy day I was delighted that there was no snow. Actually it was moderately warm -- 40 degrees -- and even leaving my gloves home wasn't a problem. I was able to make my way to the Javits Center where the NY Times Travel Show was taking place, stop for a cup of coffee and do some last minute grocery shopping without wading through snow. I will take that as a cup of sunlight.

The Travel Show was fun and I enjoyed talking with the exhibitors. There were a number of booths from Canada and it reminded me of my goal of seeing all of the Canadian Provinces and Territories. I've got quite a way to go, but I collected a lot of brochures to study.

I had fun watching a cooking demonstration of New Orleans food -- bananas foster -- and enjoyed seeing this beautiful sand castle at the Atlantic City exhibition.

I've been photographing patterns lately and the Javits Center was a wonderful place to take more pictures.

  I like the structure of the building framing the New York skyline looking north. 

The ceiling of the Javits Center

This isn't a pattern, but this was the scene when I left the building. I'm looking east and the Empire State Building and a lone seagull greet me. 

On a different note March 2 holds many memories for me.My father would have been 97 today and my parents were married on my father's birthday in 1947. 

You're always in my heart.

Stop by and join the group at Sunlit Sunday. It's a great group of bloggers.

As always, thanks so much for visiting. Take good care and have a cozy Monday!