Category: Uncategorized

Thrift Shopping in London

On By Travels with MelindaIn Europe, London, Shopping, Thrift Shopping, Travel, travel hacks, travel tips, UncategorizedLeave a comment

Who doesn’t love a bargain? Whether you want to upcycle those thrift store finds or wear them as you find them to style an original look, London is the perfect place to find unique fashion pieces at great prices.

I’ve always loved shopping for unique items not only for the thrill of the “find” but also for affordability and sustainability. Instead of “throw away” cheap fashion like you would find at H & M and the chain stores which only really last for a few wearings before they are no longer in good shape, some of my finds have lasted for years for myself and the previous owners. A Levi denim shirt at a “boot” sale in London, jewelry galore, a vintage scarf, and lots more from this trip-so much that we had to buy more luggage to go home! Plus, instead of looking like everyone else, you are able to style a unique outfit that looks like no one else but you. We discovered two great stores next to each other in the Covent Garden neighborhood that you should definitely check out next time you are in London.

PICKNWEIGHT https://picknweight.de/pages/london

Whatever you are looking for, if you have the time and dedication to go through all the racks crammed full of items, you won’t be disappointed. PICKNWEIGHT sells their vintage and secondhand clothes by the kilo. Based on the color of the security tag, you pay a certain price. There are convenient weighing stations throughout the store with pricing signs so you can weigh your purchases before going to the register to see how much you are going to spend.  With stores all over Europe, this is obviously a popular concept. There was a wide variety of American brands like Levi’s, Carhartt, Dickies, and American sports team’s t-shirts and hats. We even found a Boise State University Broncos shirt, which is the college football team in our hometown in Idaho. We picked up a vintage t-shirt, denim shirt and sweater vest for about 50 GBP, which I felt was very reasonable.

Rokit Vintage Clothing

Vintage Clothing | Retro Clothing | Rokit Vintage Clothing

From Kate Moss to Amy Winehouse, Rokit Vintage Clothing has styled London celebrities; unique outfits for nearly 40 years. Starting in Camden Market and expanding to multiple locations in the UK, Rokit not only sells second-hand and vintage clothing but upcycles fashion into limited edition pieces they sell at their stores.

A much different shopping experience from the next door PICKNWEIGHT store, where racks are packed together and merchandise is displayed from top to bottom, Rokit has space to walk between the racks. Separated by categories, you can easily find what you might be looking for and each piece is individually priced. Here, Thom scored a black velvet tailored blazer that appeared to be never worn with pockets and back vents still stitched shut for only $55 GBP. He plans to style this jacket with jeans, a white t-shirt and his Docs. Perfect! I got a Joseph Abboud men’s denim shirt for $15 GBP, again in perfect condition.

Now, how to get all this good stuff home to Idaho?? The options were to ship or buy another piece of luggage and check it on the way home. I’m not a fan of checking luggage ever but for this trip being gone for over a month in the winter, we just had to check some and, because of my airline status, we didn’t pay to check 2 pieces of luggage each. So, it was much cheaper to buy a suitcase (at TJ Maxx or thrift store for under $50) which I have also had to do on every previous Girls Trip, rather than shipping a big box home. For our next trip to Italy in May and all future trips, we bought two collapsible bags that I’m sure we will fill up with all kinds of finds. No more luggage will fit in my basement! I plan to hit the resale stores in Milan, the fashion capital of Italy. Who knows what kinds of designer deals I’ll get???? Enjoy the journey!

Moulin Rouge the Musical-London

On By Travels with MelindaIn adventure, England, Europe, London, Theater, Travel, travel tips, UncategorizedLeave a comment

Moulin Rouge the Musical in London’s West End is the best musical I have ever seen, and I get around! Now, I have never seen Moulin Rouge the movie, but I did go to the original Moulin Rouge live show in Paris last year on our Girls Trip 2023. I had no idea what the Moulin Rouge Musical would be about-would it mirror the dancing/singing extravaganza like the original live show, or would they take that setting and weave a story around it with acting? It turned out to be the latter with a huge stellar cast crafting popular tunes around the story of Satine, the lead act at the Moulin Rouge in Paris being wooed by a poor songwriter and a rich Baron who could save the show for her and her castmates.

The costumes, the staging of the ensemble dance numbers, and the high energy of the cast were all spectacular and the historic Picadilly Theater a stunning venue. I found myself not knowing where to look next because there were amazing performances being executed all over the stage and auxiliary balconies. I think you could see this show many times and still not be able to appreciate and catch all the individual talent. It is truly an extravaganza for the senses!

Does it parallel the show at THE Moulin Rouge in Paris? Not at all and that’s okay. There are some brief can-can dance numbers but that’s about it. If you are coming to the musical to see lots of bare women, that is certainly not the case like it is in Paris, where costumes are teeny tiny and the T & A’s are bare.

I really appreciated the diversity of the musical cast that covered the gamut from short/tall, slim/full-bodied, male/female/trans. Too many times, especially for dance casts, they want everyone to be the same height, the same hair, the same skin, and the same body. Too much sameness is boring. It’s great when a production is inclusive and diverse.

Whatever your taste in theater-musical or drama-find a show to see in the West End while you are in London. Enjoy the journey!

TICKETS

  • Demand pricing affects the ticket prices. Weekends are popular and the most expensive.
  • If you absolutely MUST see a show on your trip, then pay full price and book it in advance so you secure the seats you really want. Check out the view from the seat you are purchasing-most apps will show you this. There are “limited view” seats which are cheaper if you don’t mind seeing the only part of the stage.
  • If you are able to be flexible and buy tickets the day of the performance, you can save money but you probably won’t get the best seats or perhaps you can buy great seats but not sit together. It depends on your priorities.
  • We bought our tickets online from the theater (https://moulinrougemusical.co.uk/london-tickets/) the day of the show after one of my early meetings cancelled and my day freed up. After comparing prices to the TodayTix app site, which is typically the cheapest site, the theater site offered a package deal including early access to their Ambassador Lounge, free program, and refreshments. So, I could pay the same price on the TodayTix app for the seats without the lounge or get the seats plus the lounge from the theater site. We went with the premium experience with the lounge. Enjoy the journey!

AMBASSADOR LOUNGE

  • Luxury cozy lounge in the theater with maximum capacity of about 20 people with lovely wait staff. Yes, please!
  • Nibbles and alcohol were included in the ticket price. Bring on the champagne!
  • Best part of the lounge experience were the private bathrooms you had access to before/during/after show. I will never forget running up several flights of stairs at a performance of Hamilton in Vancouver, Canada with my sister after seeking out a less crowded women’s bathroom in the lowest level of the huge theater at intermission, standing in line and finally using the facilities right before the curtain went back up. Intermissions are typically 20 minutes for theater shows and, in that time, the hundreds of women in the audience have to hope that the lines move quickly at the 20 or less stalls in the Ladies Room. Ridiculous!
  • We also got complimentary programs with this package deal.

SEATS

  • Most theaters are small and beautiful. They are tall not wide and, if you have any fear of heights, don’t book the top balcony seats because they are WAY up there.

NO FILMING/PHOTOS

  • Every theater probably has different policies and methods with regards to filming/photos of the show but please follow whatever they announce. There are reasons for these restrictions-it is distracting for both the audience and the cast if everyone is taking pictures vs. watching the show. Also, for musicals there are problems recording copyrighted music. At the theater where I volunteer as an usher back in Boise, the security team actually takes the patron’s phone if they choose to tape/take pictures when told not to and they make them erase it and, if they refuse, the patron can be arrested. Don’t be that person! The photos in this article were taken before the show started.
  • At the Picadilly Theater, you can take pictures prior to the show starting while they have some of the cast on the stage posing. We got great pictures and stopped once the ushers walked up and down the aisles with the paddles that said “no filming/pictures” right before the show started. The gentleman next to me took a picture during the show and the usher immediately walked next to our row angrily waving their paddle at him. Shame!!

MERCH/PROGRAMS

  • If you want to buy show merchandise, the best idea is to get to the theater early to avoid lines. During intermission and after the show, these usually small booths where they sell the merch are swamped.
  • Programs are not automatically handed out at most theaters. You can purchase one from ushers stationed around the theater.

REFRESHMENTS

  • Picadilly Theater has an unusual policy of allowing patrons to purchase their beverages (alcohol and non-alcoholic) and bring them into the theater to sip during the show. These refreshments are in glass cups. WTH! The seats in this theater are a tight fit with no cup holders though that wouldn’t help with the wine glasses. It is carpeted throughout, but still can you really trust your audience to bring those glasses back to the bar??? Watch your step at intermission and after the show because those glasses are rolling all over the floor under the seats.

London-Tap to Pay Tips

On By Travels with MelindaIn England, Europe, London, Travel, travel apps, travel hacks, Travel technology, travel tips, travelling, UK, UncategorizedLeave a comment

Technology is deeply integrated in any visit to London so be prepared to “tap to pay” and even “tap to pee”! Need to ride the Tube to get anywhere? Tap to pay. Need to go to the loo? Tap to pee. Going through Customs? Scan your passport. At a museum? Scan the QR code to hear about the exhibit or tap to donate to the museums. After a trip to London, you will go to other countries and wander why they aren’t as technically savvy as London. How to make a trip to London go smoothly? Follow these tips!

There are various ways to “tap” to pay. You can tap your credit card if it has a chip. You can tap your phone if it has Google Pay or Apple Pay. If you don’t have either of these methods, for public transportation, you can get an Oyster Card to do the “tap to pay”. Purchase the Oyster Card at one of the service desks at the major train/Tube stations and add money (called “topping off”) as you go in order to ride the Tube or buses. But the easiest and safest way to tap all over town is to use your Smart watch for all tapping. It eliminates getting out your credit card/phone every time and risking theft or misplacing it. Use a VISA for your payment because AMEX sometimes isn’t accepted. We used all these methods as sometimes Thom had some issues with his watch, credit card and phone not working so he relied on the Oyster Card when that happened. Be prepared! You don’t want your companion to be able to go through the turnstile at the Tube and you are left behind not being able to tap in to be with them.

As you enter the front door of the bus or go up to the turnstile in the Tube, hold your payment type (Smart watch, credit card, Oyster card or phone) about an inch away and you should see the light go from yellow to green. If it goes red, it means it isn’t working, which is not to say that it won’t work if you try it again. Wait a second or two and try again, perhaps at another turnstile. We had this happen numerous times and sometimes on the fourth try, it would go “green”. On the bus, if tapping is wonky, the driver will sometimes just wave you in to sit because you are delaying the forward motion of the bus. Remember, you must tap in for the Tube and tap out as well. For the bus, you just have to tap in.

Public bathrooms do exist in London and the nicest facilities that are staffed with an attendant, aka not the street latrines that I avoid at all costs, do cost money. The tech savvy bathrooms have a “tap to pee” model where you tap to get access into the bathrooms. The one I used in Covent Garden market was $1.50 euros and well worth it because it was warm and clean. You may find some bathrooms haven’t been updated yet and require a $1 euro coin to enter so have some of those handy if you visit London.

I appreciate how quick the Custom lines are at Heathrow even with the crush of people moving through this airport. You just scan your passport page and off you go! No waiting in lines to talk to a live person and get a stamp. I have had to wait hours before going through Customs (India, I’m looking at you!) so my sincere hope is that all countries embrace the UK technology and gets with the program. Automate now and save us all some time. Enjoy the journey!

Churchill War Rooms-London

On By Travels with MelindaIn adventure, London, Museum, Travel, travel tips, travelling, UK, Uncategorized1 Comment

Although I would not consider myself a war buff, in advance of our London trip, I read Erik Larson’s book, “The Splendid and the Vile”. It was a fascinating read to prepare me to visit Churchill War Rooms. This nonfiction book by Erik Larson is based on diaries, first person accounts, military records, etc. that chronicle how Winston Churchill led Britain through WWII to ultimate victory. Visiting this unique “frozen in time” museum is a great addition to any visit to London.

Housing the incredibly well-preserved underground bunker, which served as the control center where the British government ran their war efforts in WWII, you will learn what it was like to live and work beneath the streets of London for months while bombs shook the walls. They won the war, walked away from the war rooms and left everything “as is” to this day. So not only will you learn all about the character and actions of Churchill himself but what it was like for those that worked for him and worked, ate, and slept in the bunker.

Upon entering the underground space at Churchill War Rooms at your designated ticket time (purchase online prior to arriving), the entry fee will get you the audio tour, that will allow you to punch in the #’s on exhibits throughout the space to learn more. In addition to the audio tour, there are stations throughout the museum with videos to watch. I would recommend at least two hours to take it all in for a complete experience.

It is truly fascinating to see how a war was run prior to the internet and technology. No drones, no computers, no cell phones. Just a few rotary phones including the “hot” line from Churchill to President Roosevelt asking for US assistance, which was vital to defeating Hitler’s forces. The map room illustrates the low-tech way that the British tracked their forces on land and sea with pushpins on wall maps. You also get to see Churchill’s pink velour onesie (see pic below) that he liked to wear-what a fashionista he was! His collection of hats is also part of the museum.

VISIT INFO

While most government-run museums like the British Museum are free in London, this museum is 32 euros (under 5 free) and I felt it was worth the expense. Check out the awesome gift shop on your way out. Of course, they sell liquor as all museums do in the UK plus lots of tea and tea-themed merch. “Where there is tea, there is hope.” It was the tea apparently that got them through the war, probably heavily laced with liquor. For the kids or yourself, the Churchill duckie with a cigar is a unique souvenir. We collect rubber ducks for the grandkids and, trust me, this is a great addition to the collection! We already have a Queen Elizabeth duck from our last trip so they can play together.

Situated next to the lovely St. James Park and close to other key attractions like Parliament and Big Ben, plan a whole day in this area of London. Enjoy the journey!

Enjoying Afternoon Tea in London

On By Travels with MelindaIn Food, London, Travel, travel tips, travelling, UncategorizedLeave a comment

I had always thought the cost of an afternoon tea to be absurdly expensive in London, but I finally decided to give it a go while on our latest trip. So glad we did! I researched the various popular places for afternoon tea (Fortnum & Mason, the Ritz, etc.) but finally made our reservation at St. Ermin’s, a gorgeous historic hotel near Westminster where we have stayed many times in the past. I have always been so impressed with their high level of service, so I felt sure that an afternoon tea would be special there, and it was indeed the perfect experience.

Our reservation was for 1 pm during the week and it was pleasantly not crowded in the cozy tearoom up the majestic staircase at St. Ermin’s. Settling into our comfy oversized upholstered chairs, we were able to consider the tea menu for our first pots. My first choice to try was a lovely Sencha Gojiberry and Pomegranate Green Tea that ended up being my favorite of the day. Thom went with the classic St. Ermin’s tea to try first. Arriving with our pots was also a timer so that we poured our cups at the perfect brewing time for the best cuppa. Enjoying our tea, our tower of treats came soon after. I was able to get a vegetarian selection of sandwiches (they can do gluten free too!) and Thom got the meat version. There were all delicious and while I originally thought there was no way we would eat it all, we quickly dispatched the savory AND sweet selection, enjoying every single bite and sharing so we could taste each item.

My favorite sandwich was a tasty combo of smashed avocado, tomato, vegan feta, cress and Thom loved the smoked salmon with lemon crème fraiche. As far as favorite sweets, Thom liked all the chocolate ones but we both liked the strawberry and basil trifle served in the little glass cup. Very British!

After the tower of treats was demolished, there was still more tea and food to come! Be sure to allow an hour or two to enjoy your afternoon tea. So much food and tea! Clearing away our dishes to refresh with new ones, our server delivered the final course of freshly baked scones, plain and with raisins, served with clotted cream and jam. We asked our server their preferred way to layer scones with clotted cream on the bottom of the jam or the top. She shared her favorite way to enjoy this UK staple, so we went with her expert opinion and spread the cream (thick like softened butter) and then topped it with jam. With this course, we chose the chai tea served with the milk already added. The spicy tea complemented the scones perfectly.

At $45 euros per person, the afternoon tea not only filled us up with yummy tea and food but gave us a lovely London experience we will never forget. For $55 euros you can add a glass of champagne. Other teas at fancier places can easily cost you up to $100 euros a person. Wherever you choose to go, be sure to make reservations in advance-here is St. Ermin’s site: https://www.sterminshotel.co.uk/eating-drinking/afternoon-tea/ When you visit London, find a lovely afternoon tea to enjoy one afternoon. Relax, sip and enjoy the journey!

Exploring Hampstead and Highgate Cemetery

On By Travels with MelindaIn adventure, London, Travel, travel tips, travelling, UK, UncategorizedLeave a comment

If you want to get out of central London and take a quick Tube ride to explore new sights, I highly recommend a day spent wander around Highgate Cemetery for hours, then ending your day with a cozy dinner at the historic Spaniard’s Inn. Another day, boutique shop and enjoy a leisurely pub meal in Hampstead, followed by taking in a movie in a luxurious historic theater. I love London and there are unlimited things to do but sometimes it’s nice to get out of the city and have a new adventure!

Highgate Cemetery

Highgate Cemetery is one of the earliest private garden cemeteries in England and well worth a visit. It truly is a “garden” cemetery because nature has taken over and shaped its landscape. There is none of the maintenance like cutting back growth and mowing that you might see in other cemeteries. The large monuments are covered in vines, tilting from tree roots that have grown wild, and vegetation rules everywhere. This is a “for profit” cemetery that lured middle class and upper-class burials away from the more common church graveyards that had become crowded in the 1800s in London.

Allow yourself a few hours to wander this historic Victorian era cemetery north of London. Thom loves cemeteries so we try to check out any interesting ones as we travel. There is an admission fee of $10 and tours are available for $8 more-card payments only/no cash. We opted to wander on our own around both the East side and the West side, each with their own creepy charm. Don’t forget to go in the teeny tiny gift shop where they sell tickets on the East Side and get your unique Karl Marx doll refrigerator magnet. One of a kind! We told them they need to sell stickers (which we collect) but the cashier said they won’t let them sell them and that they had to fight to get the Karl Marx magnets. Okay. Their loss of income. Check open/close times online Highgate Cemetery as they vary by season. When we were there, the last entry was at 3:30 pm, which makes sense especially in the winter when it gets dark at 4 pm. You do NOT want to wander this place at night. Remember Dark Shadows? We went home and immediately watched the movie Fantastic Beasts, which they shot on location in Highgate (substituting for Pere Lachaise Cemetery in Paris, another great place we have visited)

There is a very small amount of parking at the entrance. We took an Uber there and home. Only took about five minutes to get one. There are some bus stops nearby as well but not really anywhere to walk from/to and no close by Tube stations so plan your transportation accordingly.

West Side Cemetery

This side was the first to open of the two in 1839. Stay on the paths. Don’t disrespect the very old dead people. Use the maps you can get where you buy tickets to read about the people buried here and to make sure you don’t get too lost. We headed down the main drive to the far back to check out the Circle of Lebanon, Egyptian Avenue, and the Terrace Catacombs (great scenes in Fantastic Beasts of these spots). Speaking of beasts, when we saw a huge lion statue guarding a gravesite, we looked up and saw that buried under the lion was George Wombwell, the owner of several travelling animals shows and the statue represents Nero, his very own lion. This side is the most “prestigious” area to be buried. George Michael is buried on this side-I didn’t even know he was dead. He is described in the pamphlet as “one of the most significant cultural figures of the MTV generation.”

East Side Cemetery

Your entry ticket covers both sides, so we had to check out this side too because Karl Marx is buried here. Lots of flowers left here for Karl by visitors. As we wandered back, we saw a simple headstone that had bowls of pens left by visitors. Hmmm…a writer perhaps? Consulting our guide and looking at the engraving we discovered that buried there was Douglas Adams, author of Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxies, a favorite book of Thom’s. You never know who you will find at the cemetery!

Spaniard’s Inn

After a long walk amongst the dead at Highgate, we were hungry and nearby just happened to be the lovely Spaniard’s Inn, established in 1585. We grabbed an Uber and a few minutes later were able to enjoy a wood-burning fireplace, low (not for those with any height) wood beamed ceilings and cozy wood booths. Mentioned in Dickens’ The Pickwick Papers and Bram Stoker’s Dracula, this place oozes British charm. The food was very good as well! I had a warm goat cheese salad; Thom had the traditional Shepherd’s pie, and we shared a sticky toffee pudding. Our booth was near the front window on the street, where that section of road is a “blind” which means with no signing whatsoever, cars and buses have to navigate a section that is only wide enough for one vehicle. In the old times, carriages and horseback riders could make it through but, because there is a historical gatehouse on one side and Spaniard’s Inn on the other and neither could be torn down to widen the road, they just somehow make it work. We saw many a vehicle backing up because the opposing driver was more aggressive and drove into the blind first. Chaos! Let’s just say that the double decker bus always won the right of way and rightly so.

I would recommend reservations if you are going at peak dining hours. They have a huge garden dining space that doubles their capacity in the summer.

Hampstead

Eager to check out another village close by, we took the Tube to Hampstead, known as the place where Harry Styles lives. It is certainly more posh than our village. How so? Well, there were many clothing boutiques, optical stores and cafes/pubs. Our village has more ethnic groceries/cafes and thrift stores-absolutely no boutiques. It was fun seeing how the other half lives. Lots of fancy folks walking around with their dogs. It’s easy to see why if you have the money, you live here in the lovely quaint village and commute to London, about 20 minutes away by Tube. If you have time, check out the luxury movie theater, Everyman, that is an intimate space with overstuffed chairs or couches with full bar/food service to your seats. It is just lovely, and I wish we had this theater experience back home. I would go all the time. Enjoy the journey!

British Museum-London

On By Travels with MelindaIn London, Museum, Travel, travel tips, travelling, Uncategorized1 Comment

A visit to the British Museum feels like a trip around the world both visually and physically because you will walk until you drop and still not see it all. Opened to the public in 1759, the museum’s 8+million pieces in their permanent collection focus on human history, art and culture. Even though I’ve been fortunate to take several trips to London over the last few years, I had never gotten around to going there. So, on our recent trip to London, we made it a priority and, even though you could spend days there and still not see everything on display, we spent a few hours soaking up all the history we could in an afternoon and plan to go back again soon. The British Museum is definitely a “must see” for your trip to London. Enjoy the journey!

Over the ages, there has always been controversy over all the relics taken from various countries all over the world by the British and housed in this museum. “Welcome to the British Museum-a museum of the world, for the world.” is the museum slogan and very appropriate. After seeing a fraction of the collections, you have to wonder if they left anything at all in Egypt, Greece, etc. for the citizens to enjoy but who am I to judge? I suggest you suspend the politics to enjoy seeing and learning from the exhibits that are here in London…for now.

The museum is broken down into geographic areas: Africa, Americas, Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece and Rome, Asia, Europe and Middle East. Along the way, you may encounter museum staff engaging with patrons at a hands-on learning table. They let kids and even Thom handle the centuries old items! Must-see objects include:

  1. Rosetta Stone
  2. Parthenon Marble Sculptures
  3. Lewis Chessmen (most famous chess set in the world)
  4. Egyptian mummies-elaborate sarcophagus and skeletons
  5. Hoa Hakananai’a Easter Island Statue (watch Night at the Museum-Dumb, Dumb give me gum, gum!)

Planning your trip: Visit | British Museum

Plan on spending some time in line going through security screening. It was fairly chaotic when we walked up with a line designated for those with tickets, but the security guards were directing people into that line even if you didn’t have tickets. We are used to navigating crowds, so we just walked into line and kept going as there were openings. So, after about 10 minutes, we were through and walking into the main rotunda atrium. Grab a museum map so you don’t get lost and off you go! There is no entrance fee, but you can donate if you want. Photography is permitted.

There are free “highlights” and “eye-opener” tours led by museum staff-all are listed in the brochure for certain galleries. You can also download a free Rick Steves walking tour from his site or go to Audio app | British Museum and download their walking tour via the Apple App Store app or Google Play Store app. Lots of ways to learn and enjoy the many exhibits!

Families can take advantage of free family activities on the weekends. Just head to the Families Desk and get a special brochure listing all the events. Families can also borrow a backpack full of activities at the museum making for a very kid-friendly environment.

Eating at the Museum

I like a museum that has options to grab a snack, but they go all out in the refreshment category at the British Museum. From top to bottom, there are cafes in many places with everything from coffee to sandwiches/pizza to the Great Court Restaurant at the top where you can get afternoon tea, mains and a full bar. We were hungry by the time we made it to the top floor. We were able to walk right into the lovely restaurant and get a seat (or you can make reservations) and enjoy a cheese plate and tea. It was a lovely break to rest and hydrate before seeing some more great history. Note: they don’t allow food or drink outside the designated cafes in the museum.

My Passion for Travel!

On By Travels with MelindaIn adventure, pet sitting, Travel, travel tips, travelling, Trusted Housesitter, Uncategorized, wanderlust1 Comment

My passion for travel began with my first airline trip in high school to compete in a national speech contest. I lost the competition but loved the adventure. I began to dream of taking my next trip immediately, though it was years before I got to leave my hometown again. Once I did, however, there was no turning back. I still start planning my next trip immediately after returning home. “Always be travelling” is a lifestyle I embrace! My frequent work trips to NYC after college fueled my love for big cities and also presented me with the unique opportunity to meet a certain wild and crazy New Yorker, who became my husband and travel partner–35+ years together exploring the world and still so many more countries to see.

Adulting interfered with any travel as we began raising a family and didn’t have the time nor the money to travel extensively. As soon as the last one left for college, however, we were THE happiest empty nesters, our first European trip determined by the cheapest airfare I could find from Seattle, which just happened to be Barcelona. It was a fabulous trip filled with tapas and Gaudi gawking. Thus, the global travel obsession began in earnest, both for vacations and work, including living in China for a few years for my role at Microsoft and then working in Microsoft offices all over the world, anywhere from Moscow (pre-Ukraine war-MSFT offices closed there now) to Tokyo while vacationing everywhere from Stonehenge to New Zealand. I can work remote in my current role consulting with Microsoft, so my only requirement is strong Wi-Fi. We just wrapped up pet sitting in London for 40+ days and look forward to exploring new countries (and pets!) in a similar fashion via our membership in Trusted Housesitters. Truly the good life for avid travelers like us!

I often wonder why more people don’t love travelling like I do. Recently, I read an article that recommended an icebreaker when you meet someone to ask, “Where are your favorite places to travel?” and, for me, this sounded perfect because I am always interested in hearing travel stories. Maybe a fellow traveler has been somewhere that I should go! Surprisingly, the majority of the time, people respond by saying they rarely travel and, if they do, tend to stay nearby their hometown. Why travel when you have everything you need at home-family, friends, comfortable stuff you’ve collected over the years? I get it but feel sorry more than anything for people who don’t want to travel even if they could. They are missing out on that big, beautiful world out there!

I do strongly feel that the reason the US is where they are right now is because too many people don’t leave their American “bubble” and thus don’t appreciate the US for both the good (clean air and water thanks to regulations, general prosperity, etc.) or recognize the bad (no national healthcare, increasing racism, and intolerance for LGBTQ+). Too often Americans believe that the US is the best at everything. They think that citizens in all those other countries around the globe would move to the US in a heartbeat if they could. Wrong. Every country I’ve visited (25+) has unique beauty and history that their citizens cherish despite whatever challenges they may face. I always come away from a trip to another country with clear comparisons to their way of life vs. ours, both good and bad. Think gas prices are high in the US? Try Europe prices. Don’t think we need government regulations to ensure clean air? Visit China or India where the AQI often hits a very unhealthy 200+ (US average is 37). No country is perfect but it sure is fun exploring each and every one. 

I understand not everyone has the time or can afford to travel outside the US. If you can find a job where you can travel for business and they foot the bill, I would highly recommend it. Relocating to another country for your job is even better! I was able to travel across the US and then across the world for my work with Microsoft including living in NYC for six months on a work assignment and relocating to China for two years for a work gig. Not only did they pay for all my living expenses, but I got to really immerse myself in the local culture. When my China assignment ended abruptly a year earlier than was expected, I was sad to repatriate to the US. We still had adventures we wanted to have in China and the Asia-Pacific region. I will never regret that expat experience, even though it was hard to be away from my family during that time.

What’s next on our travel schedule? Our month in London just ended in February, the jet lag is over, and now we are deep into planning our upcoming trip to Florence for two weeks, then on to Milan for a week to catch a Bruce Springsteen concert, and finally to London to see the Mets play two games. London has so much to see and do that I don’t believe we will ever be “done” with London. The more time we spend in London, the more I like it. I think we will explore a long-term pet sit in France soon. We’ve been to Paris a few times and love it, but I would enjoy settling into a smaller city for a few weeks to see what daily French life is like. The next Girls Trip will find us exploring Vienna, a place I have never been, but I hear you can find exquisite coffee there, so I’m looking forward to checking it out. Oh, the places we’ll go!

Here are my travel tips to really embrace the local culture wherever you go:

  • Take public transportation not only to get to where you are going quickly but to observe local life. The fashion you will observe on the subways is fascinating.
  • Go to places where the locals might go on a day off-try the zoo (I hugged a koala in Sydney), walk in the park (NYC Central Park is my favorite place) or visit a library (British Library in London is magnificent as is NYC Public Library)
  • Eat at a local (not a chain) pub/café. Bring your dog-they are allowed in many places like the UK. In Shanghai, we would go to trivia night weekly at the local Irish pub with other expats and had a blast.
  • Try the local delicacies if you can-Thom had haggis croquettes at the pub in London. Not my cup of tea but he enjoyed it and it’s not an item you would find in Boise.
  • Read the newspapers-yes, they still have those in Europe, Australia, etc.
  • If you pet sit, you’ll meet people walking their dogs, who will invariably be friendly and chatty.
  • Try a walking tour led by a local, which are usually free (you tip the guide). We’ve used this site: https://www.toursbylocals.com/
  • Watch the local news and tv shows-here in the UK the amount of travel/relocation shows speaks volumes about the locals’ desire visit places preferably with lots of sunshine and warmth.
  • Shop in the grocery stores even if you are staying at a hotel-great place for room snacks and souvenirs.

We are having the time of our lives travelling all over the world as often as possible. I hope you’ll start planning YOUR next adventure soon. Enjoy the journey!

Trip Prep-don’t forget these 10 essentials!

On By Travels with MelindaIn adventure, packing tips, Travel, travel essentials, travel hacks, Travel medical care, travel tips, travelling, UncategorizedLeave a comment

Now, we travel ALOT and I’m currently deep into preparing my packing list for our month in London that starts in just a few days, so I thought I would share some of my trip prep tips on what NOT to forget to pack.

Honestly, even with all my experience, I still manage to forget things that I later find that I need when I’m in a new country. So, for me AND for you, here is a list of 10 items you may not think you need until it is 1 a.m. in Lisbon or you’re roaming the British countryside by train:

  • First aid kit including ice packs and wraps.  After the hand getting crushed by the ferry bathroom door incident in New Zealand, the falling off the curb and rolling an ankle in Vietnam and slipping down rain-covered stairs in Lisbon, we learned the hard way that you may get hurt while travelling so you need a robust number of supplies to self-treat yourself just in case.  Countries in Europe have pharmacies (identified by a big green cross on the outside) but in other countries like India and Vietnam, you are SOL if you do not plan ahead.  Even the ferry in New Zealand had NO FIRST AID KIT!  That has to be against some law, right? So, depending on where you are going, pack accordingly. Note: ice is not a thing in many countries, thus pack an ice pack, the kind you smash and it gets cold quickly. Otherwise, you’ll be holding a can of Coke on your ankle like Thom did in Vietnam on vacation.
  • OTC meds (especially sleeping aids like Advil PM) because when the party on the street outside your Airbnb just gets going at midnight, you are going to need help getting asleep. Pack those ear plugs too. Or you can just go out and join in the revelry.
  • Day pack to carry the first aid kit, umbrella, raincoat, suntan lotion, snacks, when you take that train ride to Sintra for the day. 
  • Water bottle to refill as needed (remember to go through TSA with it empty!). You can fill up in the many European fountains on the streets. Just check to see if public water is clean and not going to get you sick before partaking.
  • Bluetooth music speaker is a “nice to have” to enjoy music while gazing at the water from your balcony. You can buy really small portable ones so you can stream your music at the cottage in Ireland or the beach.  On Waiheke Island, our Airbnb had a great Bluetooth Bose speaker that we used daily. When we arrived in Portugal on our next trip and there was no such thing provided, we really missed the music at night while we wrote out our stories of the day.
  • Ziplock baggies of all sizes for that lotion that leaks, the seashells you collect, the wet bathing suit you need to pack, etc. Not to mention in Europe, you need a quart size one for your liquids to get through security. 
  • Kleenex-it isn’t the same in other countries and your nose will be hurt by the roughness of local tissues. Pack a few travel packs with you.
  • Downy wrinkle releaser plus does it all and we used it every day on a recent trip. One travel size bottle lasted us for a two-week trip.  Love this stuff! You can dewrinkle your clothes, freshen up your room and even works with ironing clothes if you do that, which I don’t. 
  • Travel blanket/pillow is something I never knew I needed until I bought one and now it is my all-time favorite essential. I can use it was a pillow if needed or unzip the cover and pull out the blanket if I get cold on the plane/train and use it in the hotel room to get cozy. Slips over the handle of your carry-on. Trust me, you want this item!
  • Portable power charger bank you can take everywhere with you to charge your phone when it dies at 10 pm while you are trying to get an Uber to take you home in a rainstorm in London.  

For a packing list template, go to https://travelswithmelinda.com/packing-checklist/ and for more travel essentials, see my list of recommended items here: https://travelswithmelinda.com/travels-essentials/

Enjoy the journey!

San Diego Holiday Cheer!

On By Travels with MelindaIn California, San Diego, Travel, travel hacks, travel tips, travelling, Uncategorized, vacationLeave a comment

We were in San Diego the first weekend in December when it seemed like everywhere you looked there were holiday events taking place-on Coronado, in Balboa Park, at Seaport Village, and the streets of Little Italy. Definitely a beautiful time to enjoy warm weather and experience holiday cheer while walking along the beach!

We are thinking of bringing one or both of the grandkids with us on future trips here, so everywhere we went, we were on the lookout for experiences and places that they would enjoy. San Diego is an awesome place for kids of all ages. Here are some of the places we’ll go with the grandkids when the time is right:

CORONADO

We would definitely stay at the Hotel del Coronado with the grandkids. This historic property dating back to the 1800’s is a resort filled with everything you would want-pools, onsite gelato and candy store, many restaurants, etc. At the holidays, there is a real ice-skating rink and gorgeous decorations to enjoy as well.

After walking through the property several times and sitting in the rocking chairs on the veranda, we made a vow to stay here next time we come to San Diego, hopefully with the grandkids in tow. They seem to offer a variety of rooms/suites though we were definitely eyeing the ground floor with a patio that included nice seating around a fire pit and ocean view. How much could it cost?? Hotel del Coronado | San Diego’s Legendary Beach Resort.

What else is there to do in Coronado by the resort? Take a stroll down the beachfront and watch the surfers. While we were there, they had posted a warning not to get into the water due to issues with pollution in the water but while that warning deterred swimmers, the surfers were still out there. We even saw a pod of dolphins having fun in the surf too. I hope the polluted waters didn’t hurt any of them.

When you are hungry or ready to shop, walk Orange Avenue on Coronado which is lined with boutiques, cafes and even a large grocery store and Walgreen’s. Everything you could need is located on this one main boulevard. They even have a small movie theater showing the latest flicks and a theater with live performances.

BALBOA PARK AREA Home – Balboa Park

The 18 museums in/near Balboa Park are great for any rainy days or when you need to get out of the sun for a while. The park is free, but the museums do charge admissions. If you want to go to several, consider buying a pass that is good for 7 days-details on museum pass here: Explore | Balboa Park Explorer; About | Balboa Park Explorer

Our grandkids would definitely enjoy:

Comic-Con Museum – The Magic of Comic-Con, All Year Round (not included in the Balboa Park Museum pass)

San Diego Air & Space Museum – Historical Balboa Park, San Diego (sandiegoairandspace.org)

The San Diego Zoo is considered part of Balboa Park. We plan to spend an entire day at the zoo with the grandkids-first, it is expensive, and you want to get your money’s worth, but it is so massive and there is so much to see that it deserves a whole day and not just a few hours. Get on your walking shoes, wear your sunscreen, and get ready to see the animals. Plan Your Visit | San Diego Zoo

If we are able to visit San Diego in December, we will take the kids to see the annual theater performance of The Grinch Who Stole Christmas at the Old Globe Theater in Balboa Park Home | The Old Globe  This is a favorite movie for both of them!

EMBARCADERO

Embarcadero is a Spanish word for “landing place” and San Diego’s Embarcadero is a scenic waterfront area with a rich maritime history and culture that runs next to San Diego Bay. We stayed at the Marriott Marquis Marina, which is right on the Embarcadero, so we were able to walk this area quite a bit. We even got on a two-seater bike courtesy of our hotel and biked the waterfront. So. Fun. Here are the highlights of the Embarcadero area:

I think our grandkids might enjoy taking a tour of this enormous aircraft carrier and hearing about its history. This experience would definitely take several hours at least. After visiting the USS Midway, it’s a quick walk over to the Seaport Village which is a great place for lunch.

Worth an afternoon to shop and enjoy the various restaurants by the water at Seaport Village. We dined with relatives at the Edgewater Grill that has indoor and outdoor seating with direct water views but there are also casual taco and pizza places. Very nice!

The San Diego Symphony’s home stage, the Rady Bandshell also have a variety of other programs so check out their event schedule online before your trip. It is outside seating so even though the weather is usually perfect in San Diego, check for rain first before buying tickets and in the winter, it gets cold at night so bring a blanket. San Diego Symphony – The Official Travel Resource for the San Diego Region

DOWNTOWN SAN DIEGO

There are lots of historic sites, shopping, restaurants, and museums in downtown San Diego to check out. Got kids and you need to get out of the sun/rain? The New Children’s Museum | Think, Play, Create (thinkplaycreate.org) is a few blocks away from the Marriott Marquis Marina where we stayed this trip and also next to a great children’s outdoor playground.

I would recommend you take the Trolley Tour and hop on, hop off downtown if you see spots you want to visit. I would NOT recommend you randomly stroll around downtown on your own like we did. Even veteran urban dwellers like us who love to do this should not if they are not familiar with the area. On this trip, we decided to walk from our hotel to Little Italy on a Saturday to check out the farmer’s market there. We randomly chose a path that unknowingly took us right by the downtown jail and through a deserted section of town since it was Saturday, and no workers were around. Confronted by a person masked and dealing with obvious mental health issues in an underpass, we were able to get away and stay calm but even my New Yorker husband was rattled by the close call that could have gotten ugly quickly. So, take the trolley and enjoy the city but always be checking your surroundings and have a plan in case you get into a situation.

Our trolley driver told us that the Gaslamp Quarter is THE place to party into the wee hours in San Diego. They close off Fifth Avenue to traffic from 11 am to 3 am so everyone can just parade down the street going from bar to bar. We were so tired from walking during the day that even our best laid plans to try out a Speakeasy on Fifth Avenue did not happen. Next time if we don’t have the grandkids!

The Little Italy neighborhood is a great place to enjoy their Saturday farmer’s market (come hungry-there are lots of enticing food stalls!) and also many restaurants to savor. We got real Italian cookies (think buttery, chocolate and tasty) at the Italian grocery. Just like I remember from New York Italian bakeries!

On a previous trip to San Diego, we met relatives here and enjoyed awesome Mexican food at a café and walked around the historic buildings. The trolley stops here so you can hope off and probably eat and spend hours just wondering around. Lots of souvenir shops!

San Diego Padres play at a rare downtown field, Petco Park. Years ago, we stayed at a downtown hotel and our room looked out over the field-so close we could see the players and scoreboard. So, if you are a baseball fan, check out their schedule, get a hotel close by and enjoy! Official San Diego Padres Website | MLB.com

SEAWORLD Visit with Purpose: SeaWorld Orlando, San Diego & San Antonio – Park to Planet | SeaWorld

We didn’t make it to SeaWorld on this trip, but we will definitely include a visit if we bring the grandkids here. Plan to spend the whole day here and bring your $$$ because it is not cheap. Check around for deals and coupons but with amusement rides, animal experiences and more, it is very much like a trip to Disney World and costs just as much.

WHERE TO STAY

 We stayed at the San Diego CA Lodging | San Diego Marriott Marquis on the Embarcadero and close enough to walk into downtown San Diego. The Marriott is a huge hotel next to the convention center, where you can easily walk along the Embarcadero promenade to the USS Midway, Seaport Village, the Rady Bandshell and get the ferry to Coronado across San Diego Bay. They have multiple pools, outdoor bars by the pools and multiple on property restaurants. They have a M Club for status members, but it was disappointing in that the food selection was very limited compared to other clubs I’ve visited at Marriott properties all over the world. But we still we got free coffee, beverages and some limited snacks which are nice to have around. The huge win for us was that they honored my status suite awards and we got upgraded to the Luxury Suite on the 23rd floor with a kitchen, dining room, and balcony overlooking the water. So lovely and appreciated so much!

I don’t think you could ask for a better location unless you wanted to be on the ocean in Coronado, in which case the Hotel del Coronado is the best choice! Hotel del Coronado | San Diego’s Legendary Beach Resort.

GETTING AROUND

Arriving in San Diego at the airport, I am always surprised at how close it is to the beach and downtown area. It is smack dab in the center of it all, making it easy to get to your hotel. Our Uber was a quick 10-minute hop to the Marriott and cost about $20. We don’t rent cars as a rule when we travel, opting for public transportation, walking ALOT and Uber. San Diego has a light rail, buses, and is very walkable. We also took the ferry from the marina over to Coronado which I would highly recommend. Only $8 each way and running every 20 minutes, it is a great way to get out on the water and super convenient to the many hotels on the Embarcadero. https://www.flagshipsd.com/cruises/flagship-ferry

OLD TOWN TROLLEY TOURS San Diego Tours Voted #1 | Save Up To 20% On San Diego Tours (trolleytours.com)

Instead of the hop on, hop off buses you see in many cities, the cute trollies in San Diego take you to all the top sites. They offer one- and two-day tours of San Diego so check it out, look online for any coupons and use this as your transportation between all the sights for a reasonable $50 per person. I know our grandkids will love riding around in the open-air trolley cars. We took the one-day option and had several different drivers on the segments as we hopped on and off several times. They were all friendly and informative in explaining about the various areas as we drove through them. Time efficient AND entertaining! Enjoy the journey!