Hooliganting: Tenerife: Teide and Wine Tour

Hooliganting: Tenerife: Teide and Wine Tour: The sunrise broke over the hillside and rooftops as a sleepy gang trooped down the hill to catch the shuttle van. The destination courtesy o...

Tenerife: Teide and Wine Tour

The sunrise broke over the hillside and rooftops as a sleepy gang trooped down the hill to catch the shuttle van. The destination courtesy of Digo Sports and Christian and Franc was the volcanoes. I am still not sure what the children thought as we twisted and turned our way to the mountaintops but I was fascinated watching the clouds ripple through the valleys.

First, we had the tourist information to Las Playas de Americas. We had other folk to pick up and then we were en route. The first stop was a look out point. It was clear enough to be able to see across to Las Palmas and La Gomera. I watched the ferry and started to plot. I would love to wangle my way over there for a day. After admiring the view and the dog under the parked van, we plodded on. We stopped at a charming Bar Restaurant where we had delicious coffee. Donuts and pastries were enjoyed and then we were warned to use the facilities as there would not be others for 2.5 hours. Well, off we went only to discover that the vehicle was out of fuel. A wiggle of a turn on a twisty road was done and we coasted back down to the village. Really, it was the funniest thing as the driver had totally forgotten that fuel might be important to climbing volcanoes in a National Park.

The next stop had us pulling over to the side of the road on slick ash rock. Off we trekked, following a yellow and white striped pathway. We learned about the volcanic activity in the region and learned the names of the volcanoes, not that I remember any of them at the moment. I guess I will have to acquire a map. The walk was gorgeous with clear views and we could see the clouds wending their way into the crevasses. It was not warm and I was glad to have my black hoodie with me. The girls were heard to say that they were glad that I had insisted on capris and runners, not their beloved flip flops. It was up and down terrain and the most interesting fact for me was that walking on the lava off the trail would shred your shoes and body parts if you came into contact with it. It is that sharp. The girls opted to play with the pine drifts of needles and tree boughs instead so there was nothing to worry about with them. I was surprised to see the hikers smoking along the way though. When you know how damaging fire is to a National Forest, I was sure that it would not be allowed. If undertaking the hike, I would totally recommend sensible shoes, water and snacks for the kidlets. They were not going to make it to lunch.

The crew piled back into the vans and we pulled out to twist and turn our way back barbecue areas, sheer cliff drops, terraces and all the while climbing until we could see a see of cloud. Then, the volcano Teide appeared into view. Eventually, we were dropped at the visitor center where we had to pay to use the facilities and visited the gift shop. Black ceramics are my favorite and this shop had some great examples. Then, we hiked a bit in the rocks nearby before trekking on in the vans. We could see the cable car but did not have the option on this tour to undertake it.

Vilaflor had the winery. It was a small tucked in the hillside place where they served us a fabulous lunch. The salads, cheese, local meats and desserts meant that I still haven´t decided to eat supper yet. I am still full. But then, we toured the winery and the children were taken to visit all the farm animals. From the sheep with lambs to the chickens that followed you to Pedro the Donkey, this was a happy community of animals that loved their owner. We came away with wine and having tasted most of it, I don´t know how you are supposed to choose only two bottles.

Back to the hotel now, and the kids have enjoyed the pool. I am enjoying being warm again as it was cool up in the hills, but then, it is much colder at home. I think I understand why people come here all the time, I would if I lived closer. Let´s see what the next adventure will be.

Hooliganting: Tenerife: Siam Park

Hooliganting: Tenerife: Siam Park: What does one do in Tenerife after a full day of exploring? Why, you throw caution to the winds and put the children in charge of your adven...

Tenerife: Siam Park

What does one do in Tenerife after a full day of exploring? Why, you throw caution to the winds and put the children in charge of your adventures. After they had perused all of the brochures, it really didn´t surprise me that we sidled up to the desk to book a day trip to Siam Park. At the same time, we booked Loro Park as that makes things cheaper down the road, but that will be for a later day.

So, Siam Park is a water park. It has oodles of waterslides, water parks and a huge wave pool and beach. There is a lazy river that goes through a shark aquarium and the Tower ride that goes through the tank. I opted not to do that one. This was an amazing family adventure. The children chose their adults for the tube rides and the adults paired off with whomever was available to take advantage of the rides that required more than one body on them. I understand that I made peculiar faces on some of the more terrifying rides but nothing can be worse than having to hold the snake yesterday. (I took the girls to the mini disco and encountered an albino python up close and too personal).

Impressions of Siam Park:

1. Very large and clean
2. Great organization and friendly staff
3. Fabulous for children over 1.25 m
4. As the youngest child could only do the 1.10m - we encountered some issues.
5. The water was very chilly.
6. The foliage was lush.
7. The best water park that I think that we have been to.
8. Even if the concierge at your hotel says you can take a picnic, you shouldn´t as there are signs saying no picnic everywhere.
9. When you are at a water park surrounded by children that are not yours, please don´t smoke as it makes our experience ugly.
10. If you are staff and on your break, please don´t take your red and black snake out to play with it.
11. Lots of the rides were in the shade. We totally overdid the sunscreen.
12. Take the free bus from Los Christianos. Totally saves money on the ticket.

I would definately recommend the experience for everyone. It just helps to know what you are walking into.

We also went out to eat tonight as it is Christmas Eve. We wound up at the Belvedere Steak House. They were very busy and obviously can´t quite keep up. Our meal was wonderful but the service was sooooo slow. It took an hour to get the desserts. I was ready to go but luckily for the waiting staff, they must have sensed I was about to leave and decided to get me icecream after all. I would have paid the bill but 4 hours for a meal is a tad excessive.

Now, the children are tucked up abed. The magic key is on the door knob and the milk and cookies is on the table. I have no idea how Santa is going to manage this but I am off to see how it plays out.

Ps. My brother eats a lot. I wonder where he puts it? Piggy back rides for the girls home?

Hooliganting: England to the Canary Island of Tenerife

Hooliganting: England to the Canary Island of Tenerife: Ahhhh, now this is a lovely change from the damp and endless misty rain that the UK has been experiencing. To quote the English gentleman on...

England to the Canary Island of Tenerife

Ahhhh, now this is a lovely change from the damp and endless misty rain that the UK has been experiencing. To quote the English gentleman on the beach front at Los Christianos beach, ¨"I have no idea why people go skiing for Christmas." Other than it is really fun too. Today, dawned bright and clear. Sunshine is everywhere and I am revelling in it. But, I am ahead of myself.

Yesterday was a taxing and stressful journey, thanks to the devil of google maps. It said two hours from Bournemouth to Luton. It lied. Try four! I was good and stuck to the motorway routes. I didn´t go off road as the manpower in the group found that it was stressful enough already. The more the red dotted lines delayed traffic, the more wound up things got. Add to that feverish children, and you have a nasty day shaping up. However, once close to Luton, I decided to get off the motorway and take the back roads and it was lucky that I did. My brother caught his Ryanair flight with minutes to spare at the desk. We also made it, even though we were cutting it fine with the fuel stop, bus shuttle and so on.

Hurry up, I´m late I´m late not quite at the gate but you should hurry, yes indeed. That queue is important. However, we were delayed, and so was Ryanair. Monarch offered us priority boarding if we checked some luggage. Gleefully, I agreed and was able to get the girls settled with medicine blankets and some snacks. The plane pushed back and then it happened. The plane shuddered and rocked violently. The Captain came on and after half an hour, we taxied back to the gate. The landing gear shunt truck did not detach itself properly and instead, punctured the front tire. The landing gear was repaired and the tire changed. We left two hours later, all the while sitting on a plane. We arrived in Tenerife three hours late, just as my brother was decided to leave the airport thinking we had abandoned him. Not the case.

However, we got a taxi to the hotel and it is glorious. We are staying at the Beverly Hills Heights and it is fabulous. We have views to the sea and a pool a floor down. The village is walkable and next door had the most delicious food, very reasonably priced. The adults indulged in paella while the children had amazing pizza.

This morning, we rose and then spent some time by the poolside. Then, we tripped down the cliffside to the market and wandered the beachfront at Los Christianos. This was a grand idea until we couldn´t determine where the shuttle went from and had to clamber up the cliffs to the hotel. However, we are all in love with the cuisine and the service of the people. This is truly a lovely place and I am so happy that we decided to come here on the whim that was mine.

The rooms have a lovely balcony, a trundle bed sofa for the kids, a large master bedroom, two baths and a full kitchen and dining room. I would highly recommend this. Now, to plan excursions...water park tomorrow and volcanos later in the week.

See you soon...as I listen to Christmas carols play over the computer desk.

Hooliganting: England: Exeter, Killerton, and the A35

Hooliganting: England: Exeter, Killerton, and the A35: When I was a child, I was always encouraged to take the road less travelled, or at least to consider the  possibilities. Due to the excessiv...

England: Exeter, Killerton, and the A35

When I was a child, I was always encouraged to take the road less travelled, or at least to consider the  possibilities. Due to the excessive amount of rain, there have been warnings all across the southwest. Fog and rain leads to flooding. These are things that on google maps, you can attempt to plan around.  We rose early and headed out. Bournemouth to Poole took an unbelievable hour. Already sensing the way things were going, I face booked my friend in an attempt to let her know that once again, the roads swerve conspiring against the travelers.

The other thing that you cannot plan for is traffic. We had the luck to have a lovely view of hay floss flaying at the windscreen from behind a tractor. There were lots of opportunities to admire the sunshine and view over the moors as we watched the back end of a lorry go 30 below the speed limit.  This is English driving at its finest. This was all along the A35. In an effort to avoid some of the traffic, I found some little side roads along the way and directed the car through them. Theoretically, two cars were supposed to fit. You could see where the road had been flooded and there was a delightful stone bridge somewhere near Whimple.

Eventually, Exeter loomed on the horizon. We stopped at Killerton House for the twelve days of Christmas. We spent a delightful 45 minutes on the grounds, trying to solve the clues provided. It was a lovely decorated event. The also do the same things in the grounds but we didn't have time. For the family, this was a favorite for me. There were activities everywhere, you could run the grounds and they allowed dogs. However, I was supposed to be meeting a friend so we had a car boot lunch, and drove off.

Except the traffic in Exeter decided to have its own way again. 8 miles took a ridiculous amount of time. We crisscrossed over the motorway twice, trying to find her way down. There were traffic snarls that just didn't move. One way streets that diverted you away from your destination and car park signed tat suggested there were spaces when there were none. Yes, being on time was a none event. Add to that getting turned around while on foot and you have a recipe for disaster. Finally, we found the museum.

The Exeter museum is a wonderful place. Free admission was unbelievable as it is state of the art. Lovely coherent displays with plenty of interactively, toys and play areas, open storage and lots to ad and see. It was amazing. Two hours did not seem long enough. However, we also wanted a skim of the cathedral. It is a lovely church, but does have the proverbial scaffolding along the front.

After much discussion, we decided on pub fare for our last meal. We stopped at the hunters lodge on the A35 and cruised infor the best soup ever. Tomato and roasted peppers. Yummy. It was great for children too. The girls were in the play area for most of our stop.

We finished off the day with a ride on a double decker bus  from Poole  to Bournemouth. The girls lit up and it was a great way to end the day. Canary Islands tomorrow.

Hooliganting: England: Family Matters and Chichester

Hooliganting: England: Family Matters and Chichester: As you might have noticed, I have a lot of wonderful family in the UK. Wednesday was a day of visiting my cousins and the Bournemouth connec...

England: Family Matters and Chichester

As you might have noticed, I have a lot of wonderful family in the UK. Wednesday was a day of visiting my cousins and the Bournemouth connections of aunts and uncles. It wasn't really a touristy day, other than bowling, but it was well spent catching up with the news and seeing all the homes. Today, was more of the same.

We drove up through thick misting rain and headed back for another day with great granny. We drew pictures, and visited and reintroduced her to my brother. As she had a lunch to be at, we went to visit the Chichester cathedral. This church has the uniqueness of having a detached bell tower, roman mosaic remains under the floor and mice carved into some of the furniture. I was hoping for pipe organ playing, but got mouse hunting instead. It was far too wet to be outside anyway.

After the church option was completed, we opted to go to the new Chichester museum called the Novium. For the whopping 23.00 it cost for us to enter, we spent five minutes looking at the first floor excavation of roman foundations. We climbed the stairs to the second floor to discover a small room of books, and an open concept cube display of life in Chichester. A busy, blurred view of basic artifacts chosen to tell the story of city life, I think. It was difficult to read as the artifacts all blended together. School children raced through the space and were much more interesting to listen to so that took 10 minutes. Most of our time, and additional 30 minutes, was spent exploring the drawers on the subjects of bravery, joy, beauty, sorrow and something else. The children were engaged by the costumes and pull out drawers, but the collection felt so sparse. For the amount of money spent on this new facility, I would suggest that you have a nice window. Sorry, that it leaks. But, really, for the price, we would have been better off somewhere else. Like a restaurant or shopping...or fishbourne. Wait, they were closed. Never mind, why would we want to see that on a weekday. Oh right, people only visit museums on the weekend in this country. This has been an ongoing issue with this trip. So much is closed. I guess schools don't visit them much, which is a shame with such good resources.

So, it was onto another cousins for a lovely dinner after a last visit with granny. Then home to plot the adventures for tomorrow. Now, to find double decker bus in Exeter....here's hoping. And maybe a castle that is open?

England: Salisbury, Stonehenge and family

'twas early this morning when the alarm sounded. We got up and hit the road for Salisbury cathedral. From Bournemouth, this was an hour and a half of twisting roads, and beautiful scenery. The River Avon was bursting at the banks, but the sun shone brilliantly over thatched roofs, brick stonework and copper fields. I was impressed by the drive. I was less impressed with the traffic snarls that seemed to pop up in the middle of nowhere.

On arrival in Salisbury it was relatively easy to get a parking space. Finding change for the meter was actually more of a hassle. Fortunately, a kind lady offered to help so back to the meter I trudged and plugged some coins in. Salisbury is a lovely cathedral that features gothic architechure, a simple cloister garden for quiet and beautiful choral singing. There were stained glass window, and the children freaked out over stepping on dead people.  I was fascinated by the Magna Carta document. It had been folded and creased with water damage, but still survives in a legible format. Of course, the restoration is  still ongoing. Scaffolding still exists and it has been there since I was a child. It moves, but is still there. We explored for n hour, and also found time to visit with a cocker spaniel and a chocolate shop. Handmade chocolate? How can you resist?

From there, we drove to Stonehenge. We did the tour with the headsets, which was interesting. The headset gave the history of the site and allowed the children to access the stories in a format that they would actually listen to. On my own, I would not have paid the admission though as you get a lovely view from outside the fence. I already knew the history. However, I would have missed the shaman cleansing the site and she was worth paying attention to. Delightfully colorful and full of spiritual optimism, she made the visit for me.

The rest of the day was spent attempting to negotiate traffic, being stuck behind slow drivers and ultimately arriving an hour late for lunch. Very sorry, but lost, we arrived to spend the rest of the day with family. Food, fun, laughter and stories made for a wonderful visit. The children romped and the adults relaxed over conversation. I wish we made it across more often. Tomorrow, my brother arrives...let the chaos begin. After all, my jet lag still isn't fixed. I wonder if his will be any better?

Hooliganting: England: Poole Park and Pantomime

Hooliganting: England: Poole Park and Pantomime: I love England, especially when the rain decides to go elsewhere and allows the sun to shine. Today was a minimal driving day for us, which ...

England: Poole Park and Pantomime

I love England, especially when the rain decides to go elsewhere and allows the sun to shine. Today was a minimal driving day for us, which was a welcome relief. I think our body clocks finally got a bit more sorted as I slept happily until 10. My morning child then informed me that she was hungry, meaning get up now or I will make a mess.

After breakfast, we trundled to my cousins house for a quick cuppa. She suggested that we head for Poole Park to visit with Santa. Rounding out the girls was a bit challenging as they very quickly holed up in the bedroom with the movies and the toys. However, they were persuaded and off we went.

Poole park is lovely, nestled into waterfront and lakes and ponds. There were swans floating in amongst ducks and seagulls. The sun was out and there was a great park. The children played and the adults made sure that no one got wet. Tickets were purchased for the train, which is a miniature park chuffer. It does a slow and methodical loop to Santa's house. There, you get off and snag a carrot to feed to the reindeer. They actually have two. In the end,they were fed to the pigs that were a lot more interested in them. Then, the children posed in front of crazy mirrors. If you we're good, you we crazy shaped and if you we're bad,you looked normal.  From there, you waited to see Santa who was quite nice and gave out more presents.

We then headed off to Poole Quay. It was cold so the boats did not get as much attention as usual. We looked across at Brownsea island to pay our respects to lord Baden-Powell.  then, it was inside to Poole pottery to paint on ceramics. That occupied us for an hour or so.

In the evening, we bought last minute tickets to the Bournemouth Pavillion's  production of Sleeping Beauty. The pavilion is a lovely theatre with the old style seating, opera glasses for rent and ornate detailing. The production itself was full of cheesy humourous audience interaction, a bit of dancing and sing a long music. My girls loved it! We got our tickets with exactly one minute  to show time, found our seats and had some fun. The girls were spoiled by the gentleman in the front who gave them a lollipop each. I would recommend the experience to anyone traveling here over Christmas. The only issue now seems to be feeding the natives and getting them to sleep. It will be an early start in the morning.

Hooliganting: England: Santa and the Bluebell Railway

Hooliganting: England: Santa and the Bluebell Railway: Today, it was Cheerios to our cozy B and B in Bognor Regis and back onto the open road. At least as open a road as England has. I had really...

England: Santa and the Bluebell Railway

Today, it was Cheerios to our cozy B and B in Bognor Regis and back onto the open road. At least as open a road as England has. I had really awesome memories of the Bluebell Railway from my English childhood and thought it would be a fabulous idea to introduce my own girls to it. Off the wheels on the car went, and while I think about it, I may as well confess that I seem to have lost the keys to the B and B's front door. We drove through the twisty roads of west Sussex and got lost once along the way. I think the most fascinating thing about the drive was the pheasants that traipsed happily across the way. Home girls played their ds games, the drive was wasted on them.

So, after arrival at the railway, you had to follow the waving arms of the traffic police to find the car park.Then, a bus takes you to the depot where they had an amazing merry go round. The girls hopped on the suspended swing and followed the ride with a lucky dip gift. It was a great start. We found the station and met the engines. Bluebell is still a favorite. The whistles blew and the trains shunted. Steam whispered across the bridge and around the thrilled faces of the kids. Carolers sang Victorian tunes, while parents ran herd on their wild broods. At last it was our turn.

We boarded the train and rolled out. It was a short trip from Sheffield station to Horsted Keynes. The best part was when Father Christmas stopped by to treat the children with gift. On arrival, we found sausage rolls and hot chocolate, with Victorian games and a visit with Santa. We had 45 minutes, which was not nearly long enough, before heading back. It started raining then, so we hit the gift shop and then the road.

The experience was great for younger children. I am not sure how much older ones get from it. I would hesitate to do it again just for the sheer price of a short stay but, the trains are worth it. Train spotting anyone?

Next stop, Bournemouth. So, we drove and found the Carleton Hotel. This place is lovely. We have a full bathroom, full kitchen so I can finally feed the family on healthy food, and a separate bedroom. It is huge. The staff were very friendly and it is really close to downtown. This was worth the points. My favorite thing is the heated towel rack. Yes, it should be a good couple of days. Now, if only my cousins were about...lol. They are in hiding.
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Hooliganting: England: technology blips

Hooliganting: England: technology blips: In the land of modern technology, there are certain comforts that I have grown used to having when I travel. At the last minute, I elected n...

England: technology blips

In the land of modern technology, there are certain comforts that I have grown used to having when I travel. At the last minute, I elected not to bring my laptop computer. This means that I don't have the usual means of blogging, journaling, or entertaining myself with photo editing, scrap booking and the like. I am already reliant on other people's technology, even to write this blog. Internet cafes are going to be my friend, I can tell.

The lack of technology has already caused a few glitches, so for my North American friends, here are some critical things I wish I had known. First, print off a copy of anything that you think you might need from you emails. Sleep on the plane. I couldn't and I am still messed up time wise. On landing, go to that kiosk thing in the airport and spend the money on a SIM card for your devise, unless you are with blackberry and then that won't work. My phone is still dead to me so I now have a perfectly good spy phone, aka a burn phone. Unfortunately, I have no idea what the number is. That will be a tomorrow project.

Why was this an issue? Well, the car rental place gives you a very basic map that doesn't list all the places. It is very easy to get lost. Also, we were very badly delayed on landing etc and therefore were running very late. We had no means of letting anyone know. The phone boxes seem to be largely out of service here too. Add to this, we were driving through rivers running down roadsides, especially in Midhurst. That village had folks in thick wellingtons poking at drains, desperately trying to get rid of some water. The car got lost as well. Twice. I had nothing to do with it.

Finally, we reached Bognor. It officially has the hardest to find tourist information booth. We were all so tired, hungry and desperately needing to sleep. We found the bank,  and finally found tourist info on foot. Got directions and discovered that the B and B had been passed by twice. However, they were flummoxed as they didn't remember our booking and I was stunned as the proprietress looked just like my dads cousin. They were great and gave all sorts of advice on how to solve our technical difficulties. Back into town we trekked to the car phone shop and acquired the SIM card and my burn phone. Now, if I had the number, you could find me. Hahaha.

Our first day was spent with family. There has been lunch at the manor nursery and playtime at the playing fields in North Mundham. There were horses that were persuaded to have a chat and weather that decided to let some sunshine peek through. The little cousins ran amok while the adults chatted and caught up on all the news. English tea followed at my aunts, while dinner followed in Bognor. We had better be more active tomorrow. I feel like all we have done is eat. The children think it is brilliant. However, we will have to see what the weather holds.

And if the body clock would switch around....I have bright eyes staring at me and it is 4 am. Back to bed for me I suppose, I should set a good example. Night.

Hooliganting: You know you are tired when

Hooliganting: You know you are tired when: Like most busy moms, sometimes I manage to take tiredness and busyness to whole new levels and extremes. I have had some moments lately, tha...

You know you are tired when

Like most busy moms, sometimes I manage to take tiredness and busyness to whole new levels and extremes. I have had some moments lately, that are sometimes just too funny not to share. In fact, I have had enough of them to warrent a rather frivolous blog post just to share my version of the funny. And before you ask, these are all moments that have happened in the last three weeks or so. Really. I couldn't make this stuff up if I tried.

In no particular order, you know you are tired when:

1. You take your portable home phone with you in the van on the way to work, thinking that you have your cell phone. That, regretably, was still plugged into the charger. Contrary to my other self, the portable phone has a limited range to the end of the driveway.
2. You hunt all over for your keys, only to realize that they are in your hands.
3. You begin driving to your work and have to turn around three times back to your house in order to fetch your lunch, your file folders and your children's activity bags. 
4. On that note, you also know you are tired when you are supposed to be going grocery shopping and automatically drive to work instead. 
5. You pack for a trip and have to do it a week ahead in order not to forget anything.
6. You drive to class only to realize that you forgot your equipment.
7. You go to leave your office and lock the door, only to realize your keys are happily waiting on the inside. 
8. You start cooking a lovely supper, and zone completely out and have to cook pasta with tomato sauce to compensate for the smell of blackened scallops.
9. You go to shovel the walkway (snow) and realize that you have lost your shovel. I wound up using plywood scraps. Seriously? 
10. You go to the grocery store to buy milk, and buy everything else but.
11. You get up from your comfortable chair to go do something critical and forget why you are up half way to the destination room. Continuing on, you hope you remember when you get there and don't. It isn't until you sit back down that it comes to you.
12. You book an appointment for a day that you have to work.
13. You forget that you have an appointment and only remember when you show up at the office for an adjustment because you are injured, only to discover that the next appointment was yours anyway.
14. You forgot your payday and wonder why you have no money to spend.
15. You go to put your munchkins to bed and nearly fall asleep yourself.
16. You remember to feed the cat but wonder why you are hungry. The cat food is not appealing either.
17. You actually forget about Halloween until a couple of days before!
18. You know you are tired when you stuff your phone into the kids music bag and think "how cool is it that the bag plays music?". Oh..there it is...
19. You get to a point where you are too tired to sleep.

I know that I had more of these, but I am too tired to remember them all right now. Watch this space, I will add more as I think of them. Or do something else daft.

OK - so I have gone and done it again.

20.  When you reach in to snag your lunch and take a block of butter to work instead. Ask my co-workers, they howled!
21. When you leave your keys on the counter for 5 days and when you start to look for them - they have vanished. (If you find them, let me know as I remember NOTHING. Obviously, I missed a step somewhere.)

Hooliganting: PBR and Home

Hooliganting: PBR and Home: Sundays…the day of rest, but there isn’t rest for those that want to experience free breakfast at the Wyndham. We were up and out for 9...

PBR and Home

Sundays…the day of rest, but there isn’t rest for those that want to experience free breakfast at the Wyndham. We were up and out for 9:00 am with our breakfast at Starbucks. Lounging at the pools, eating our bagels and sipping at coffee, this seems like a way of life that I could so get used to. Sniff, I have to go home today.

But first, the PBR. Walking through the heating sun, we reached the Thomas and Mack Center and straight up we hiked to our nosebleed seats. We were lucky enough to sit next to an expert that filled us in on a lot of details about the bulls and riders. First, we had a concert by Easton Corbin and he rocked the PBR. Hands were waving and fans were singing right along. Awesome.

Flint Rasmussen went rather quiet for this event. Round five was full of the wrecks, spills and rides of a life time. The most touching moment was to see Chris Shivers retirement tribute. He has been a tremendous representative of the sport and really humble about it to boot. He was man enough to shed a tear on live television too, something I respect. He chose bulls that challenged himself and bucked off them for his troubles. He got the wreck of the night as well as he hung up on his bull rope against Monty the Bull. In the end, Robson Palermo won the average, Silvano Alves won the World Championship and Emilio Resende got the Rookie of the Year. The Brazilians are hungrier than the Canadians, Mexicans and the American’s I guess. I would have loved to have seen JB Mauney get a ride, or more Canadians ride but thems the breaks. I loved every second of it and would totally do it again. I loved seeing the children there and I loved the reverent and respectful flavor of it as well.

Cowboys!

Chris Shivers

Still on!

Flint Rasmussen

After the event and all the bells and whistles that went along with it, we trudged back to the hotel for the final time. I took the opportunity to have a free glass of zinfendal and rested my feet in the pool. Once our limousine arrived to take us to the airport, we rode away to the airport. Miraculously, the luggage was not overweight. So, we had dinner at the Chop House but the best thing? There was another Coffee Bean and Tea Company so I got another of my mocha hazelnut drinks to sip at on the plane. Yum.

Now, I am listening to the clanging of the slots as we wait for the plane to arrive to take us to the frigid cold north….doesn’t sound like a good idea, does it?

Nevada on Dwellable

Hooliganting: PBR, shopping and Jubilee

Hooliganting: PBR, shopping and Jubilee: Sleeping in seems to be an impossibility in Las Vegas. Today was no exception as we were awakened by the hotel calling to remind us tha...

PBR, shopping and Jubilee

Sleeping in seems to be an impossibility in Las Vegas. Today was no exception as we were awakened by the hotel calling to remind us that there was breakfast in 1.5 hours and were we still coming? Now, this is Las Vegas so you know we were up too late. I think the hotel staff take serious pleasure in sweetly and politely finding ways to ensure that you are too tired to create trouble. However, breakfast was lovely. I got an update on the timeshare situation at the Wyndham Grand Desert and then was presented with tickets to Jubilee for the 10:30 show.

Since we were up already, it was off to the strip. Our hotel runs a shuttle to Harrahs. We hopped on and began to weave our way through the casinos and the hotels to get to Bally’s to pick up the actual tickets for the show. Then we found the Miracle Mile shops again. My friend did another round at Victoria Secret while I spied something that I had missed the day before. The Coffee Bean and Tea Company. Oh yes…I hadn’t seen one of  those since Hawaii. My heart had palpitations and the excitement grew. Casually, I suggested that I would go there while she shopped. Ha! She left and I literally scurried into the shop and gleefully joined the line. Faster faster faster…hopping and shuffling my tapping feet….ah yes, “please may I have a frozen ½ hazelnut, ½ mocha please with two of those freshly baked chocolate croissants?” There they are, carefully being placed in bags. I had to share after all. I heard the blender whir, crushing the ice. Oh yes, it is being poured into that large clear cup. (By now the cashier is enjoying my excitement too as I am nothing if not entertaining at such times.) Peeling the paper of the straw, I stuck it into the frozen froth and sipped. Eyes rolled back into my head and to describe my expression, my friend said “You look like the cat that swallowed the canary.” I don’t think that even comes close.

My palette was in heaven so my friend took the opportunity to slip into a make up shop called Sephora. After fifteen minutes of aimlessly wandering, my nude face caught the attention of a makeup artist who decided to do my eyes. I had no idea that I could look that spectacular with just eye makeup. Smokey eyes are pretty awesome, I have to say. Of course I bought the product, are you kidding me? It even came with instructions on how to do it myself. They know how to sell their product and it feels really nice on.

The next stop was the M&M shop to collect the requested items for my muppets and then it was onto the PBR marketplace. We met Voodoo and Bushwacker, and had a close up with a lovely Dalmatian and some Clydesdales that were magnificent. I was saddened to learn that there were no Chicken on a Chain shirts being sold, but he was retiring so I guess they decided to promote other bulls. Ah well…The other thing we learned was that the Mandalay Bay is enormous and that the tram service saves your feet. It was a treat, but we did take a cab back to the hotel.

Oh dear, we quickly got changed and tried to connect with our limousine driver. However, the safe ate the tickets for the PBR. By the time we found them, he had gone on to collect his next guests. Being me, we met up with another couple who offered us a ride and gratefully, we accepted. They run a lodge up in the northern states and we can only imagine how wonderful their place must be based on their hospitable nature.

The PBR…I can’t describe it. It was Saturday night at the Built Ford Tough series, Round 4. The seats were crowded and the air was electric. More buills were ridden and the Canadians did OK. Flint Rasmussen complained about his lack of air time while making the day of a lovely fan. The cowboys did their jobs and we waited. Chris Shivers, retiring world champion cowboy versus retiring Champion Bull Chicken on a Chain. Who do you cheer for? It was an historic moment, and the round went to Chicken on a Chain at 6.5 seconds. The crowd sighed and moved on. It was also the “man enough to wear pink” night and it was incredible to see all these tough athletes and fans decked out in pink to support breast cancer awareness.

After the event, my friend and I did what we do best. We walked to the hotel and caught the shuttle to Harrah’s and walked to Bally’s. We snagged some pizza and headed into the theatre, not really sure what to expect. The show was risqué but incredible with the music and old Vegas glamour. For the family minded, definitely see it but at the child friendly show. The sets were elaborate and incredibly well done. The singing rivaled some of my favorite musicals and the stories told were delightful. I wwas surprised to see so many people leave during the performance. I guess the ladies were not peep show enough for the gentleman. I just also believe that it is rude to get up and walk out of a performance. I just listened to the music which was wonderful. Anyway, it was now one in the morning so we walked back to the hotel and packed furiously and crashed….home today after rounds 5 and 6.

Las Vegas on Dwellable

Hooliganting: Las Vegas, Grand Canyon, Black Canyon and Jabbawoc...

Hooliganting: Las Vegas, Grand Canyon, Black Canyon and Jabbawoc...: “Random acts of tourism” is a phrase that I have become rather notorious for in my travels. Being in Las Vegas, there is so much ...

Las Vegas, Grand Canyon, Black Canyon and Jabbawockeez

“Random acts of tourism” is a phrase that I have become rather notorious for in my travels. Being in Las Vegas, there is so much to see and do that it can become a sensory experience that feels crowded, overwhelming and frantic. There are choices to be made over shows, dining experiences and those street entertainers trying to earn a living. Having said all that, Las Vegas feels very subdued, well at least as subdued as Vegas ever gets. The night before, we wandered the streets with ease and without hassle. This was unusual. Perhaps this is Las Vegas at its best.

But this is me you are travelling with. While I can see all the bright lights and shopping, gambling and dining, and the show advertising beckoning, there is a larger pull. A draw that is irresistible enough to get me out of bed at 4:30 am. (And I am soooo not a morning person!) Blearily eyed, we stumbled to the elevator and crossed to the door to wait for our 5 star driver to arrive. Thankfully, he was late enough that the Starbucks had opened and we were able to get coffee for the drive. What was the draw? Oh yes, the 5 star helicopter tour to the Grand Canyon.

The tour was phenomenal. Captain Mike flew us over Boulder City to the Hoover Dam, Lake Mead, Fortification Hill and then swooped down into the Western Rim of the Canyon. It was amazing. The rugged cliffs and the Colorado River. The captain also kept up a steady flow of information. I was fortunate or unfortunate enough to have the middle front seat in the ‘copter. I was able to see absolutely everything, but I had to sit diagonally with my body so as to not impede the pilot. Women have hips, it would be wise to acknowledge that or take out that seat. Trying to describe the canyon will not do it justice and really, it is foolish to try and describe beauty that has to be experienced.

We landed at the top to visit the Gift Shop and snack bar. Shivering, we took pictures and huddled indoors to get warm as the wind was furiously nipping at our core. It is 8:00 am. Then, we flew back to the base and got dropped off at the Hacienda Hotel.

 Our tour at this time was taken over by Black Canyon River Adventures. Oh yes, we might be cold but we were not done! We drove out and visited the Gold Mines at El Dorado. This might be a new favorite stop as I was fascinated by the people that lived there and the site itself. Alarmingly, we were warned of rattle snakes, tarantulas and cactus plants that like to attach themselves to you. All this before we had to board the bus and get off to walk down a path to the Lake. Wow. The cliffs rose above our heads and the sun was brilliant off the water. We boarded the raft and got handed our lunches. It is a good thing that we ate right away as the wind picked up water and soaked us down. So much so that we had a beach stop and pulled on rain ponchos for the sole purpose of staying dry. The spray was clear and cold. But, this was so worth it. The black canyon was glorious with the lava rock formations, green waters and white sand beaches. We floated all the way to Willow Beach, Arizona.

(For those that are wondering, I have no idea why I travel to one state and wind up visiting another while there. It does seem to be a random act of tourism habit.)

Boarding the bus, we headed for home. Until our driver suggested that we could go shopping. That led to the Premium Outlets South where I shopped gleefully and purposefully. Christmas shopping is almost done! I just don’t know how it is all getting home again. It will take a bit of strategy on my part…since of course I over packed to get here…another bad habit~!

Three hours later and with enough stuff to fill another suitcase, we cabbed back to the hotel. Got changed and headed back to the strip. We found Tickets 4 Tonite and bought show tickets for Jabbawockeez. This show is wonderfully funny and entertaining, knowing that you are seeing Hip Hop dancers at their best. The humor and messaging through-out the performance makes it worth seeing. In addition, I have taken notes and have a lot more learning to do myself… We had dinner at the café before that. The food was amazing but the staff…and the service at the Monte Carlo as a whole…between the box office and the wait staff we were nearly late for our show. Just a heads up, get your tickets from the Concierge well ahead (hours!!) and eat somewhere  that respects the show times and can be honest as to whether or not you have enough time to eat. We asked and were assured that there was no problem until….there was a problem. My friend never finished her food as a result. Crazy.

Afterwards, we gambled and wandered the strip home. 1:30 am is bed time….lol. And now, for something different…sleeping until 8:00~

Arizona on Dwellable