The Big Apple takes a bite outta my Mom

Things to Know

www.travel.gc.ca It’s the go-to for all Canadian travelers.
www.aircanada.com You can get to NYC many ways, but I have aeroplan points.
 www.rbcinsurance.com You have to have some kind of insurance when out of country; don’t leave home without it.

www.newyorksightseeing.com
www.millfordplaza.roomstays.com  It’s close to the action and everything else.  Room size gets you used to being on a cruise ship.

 www.pigallenyc.com The food and the staff were great. 

 www.tdf.org 

www.siferry.com

www.911memorial.org Very moving for everyone.

www.nyctrip.com

www.guysamerican.com Right across from Sardis.

www.manhattantheatreclub.com  Take in a show in a theatre that’s run by actors.

www.esbnyc.com The Empire State Building is a must! It’s so iconic.

www.carnegiedeli.com Line-ups seem to stretch forever… maybe next time I’ll get a pickle platter.

www.rockefellercenter.com I suck at skating, but you can rent your skates there and check out the Christmas tree.

www.wickedthemusical.com Plan on getting tickets WAY ahead of time—I had to see it in Toronto.

www.macys.com Retail therapy at its finest, or, should I say, most traditional.  The oldest wooden escalator in the city.  You have to ask: just how many Santas are there?

www.starbucks.com Everywhere!
www.theweathernetwork.com Winters can be brutal cold, summers can be brutally hot, and given the crazy hurricanes lately it’s always best to check.
www.downtownny.com
www.nycgo.com
www.tripomatic.com
www.centralparknyc.org Go for a walk or take a carriage ride.  You’d never know you were in one of the largest cities in the world.
www.nyc-architecture.com The Chrysler Building is a true piece of art.
www.tripadvisor.ca/Attraction_Review-g60763-d104360-Reviews-Chrysler_Building-New_York_City_New_York.html
http://www.serendipity3.com Frozen hot chocolate: need I say more?
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/25/nyregion/25sardis.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
http://www.opentable.com/sardis?refid=ppcggl&ref=15649&sp=ppc_g_US_Restaurants&reengagement=1&publisher_id=169194&my_campaign=Kenshoo1&ref_id=5c13abcd-03ce-49a5-90d2-9bceecbd50cc

My Mom had always wanted to go to New York City and it was her “BIG” birthday: 65^th to be exact. So I, being an amazing only child, booked us on a cruise out of New York City with stops in Florida and the Bahamas.  We also had three days/two nights before in New York City.  She was so excited.

I know my shit so we had an incredible deal: air, hotel, transfers, cruise and a hop-on hop-off sightseeing pass.  I mean we were totally set, and the hop-on hop-off was right across the street from the hotel.  Just needed a little cash for meals and maybe a show and we’re golden.

Our plane is on time land get to hotel and check in.   We head off across the street to start a tour (they offer 4 – Manhattan, Brooklyn, Harlem and a Night tour.  Of course it’s my Mom’s first time, so we hop on the Downtown Manhattan to see what she’s been waiting for.  Amazing architecture, the hustle and bustle of people, everything New York City is supposed to be.

It’s cute how excited she is.  I want to take pictures so the top level of the bus is best, since its open.  Didn’t mention it was November and cold as fuck, did I?  Cold weather? No problem! We are Canadian, we know how to layer.  Up we go!

Now, my Mom is a much better human being than me.  She of course offers me the outside seat so I can take better pictures.  The first thing I think is, “I can see my camera falling over the side of the bus.”  Of course I didn’t say anything to my Mom.  Yes, I’m probably going to hell.

Fast forward 10 minutes into our sightseeing journey.  “I dropped my camera,” she shouts.  I yell, “Stop the bus!” I jump off the bus, run as fast as I can, and lo and behold I find a couple pieces of camera and her SD card.  Back on the bus.  I tell her not to worry, I take lots of pictures, it will be OK.

Back in the hotel later that night the camera is reassembled and it does work if it’s plugged in.  Yes, I hear it’s warm in hell, but I did giggle.  My Mom adapts and forgives easier than I do.  The rest of the trip is stellar; I couldn’t complain and can’t wait to get back.

I still laugh, almost to the point of tears, every time I think of this.

All pictures are mine I don't throw my camera off moving vehicles.

I love NY

 

Hotel in NYC Comfy bed

Cold, Cold, Cold

View from in bus

One of Macy's Santa Claus

Sardis

Yum

Baked Alaska

 A Christmas Staycation at the Millcroft Inn

Things You Have To Do

http://www.vintage-hotels.com/millcroft/?gclid=Cj0KEQiAiNi0BRDaobaq3dKJhrwBEiQAyVThzRNo0NntpcWtIz2o_iW8VMMJ89uZVpS07roqU4ksqj0aAl9s8P8HAQ

http://altonmill.ca/ Add a little culture to your life.

http://www.mapquest.com/canada/on/alton-282177653?zoom=5 Do a day trip.

http://www.ospreyvalleygolf.com/ In better weather it’s close by.

https://www.tripadvisor.ca/Restaurant_Review-g1949166-d2252822-Reviews-Rays_3rd_Generation_Bistro_Bakery-Alton_Caledon_Ontario.html It’s just down the road.

Things You Need To Know

Located in the village of Alton on John Street.  Located close to Caledon and Orangeville.

Hotel is dog friendly – please call for more information on pet’s weight and restrictions. 519-941-8111

Book the Hub well in advance for an amazing view of the waterfall.  It’s spectacular in winter.

The Millcroft Inn caters to meetings, weddings and has an on-site spa.

This year I didn’t go away for the holidays but lunch at the Millcroft was just the thing to make staying at home worth it in 2016.  A nice drive in the country and a peaceful setting.  The most amazing chocolate dessert and the most incredible view of the falls while having lunch.  If I had the cash I’d come all the time.  Best thing about this place is that it is dog friendly so next time Mo can have a sleepover.

The Millcroft Inn in the Winter.

Snowmen greet you at the door.

Stunning!

The Hub a room with a view.

Lunch is served.

Who says you can't make friends with salad?

I ate the Squash Fritter on top before picture.

OMG! CHOCOLATE! CHOCOLATE AND MORE CHOCOLATE!

Tottenham, Ontario It's a Little Bit Country

Things You Have to Do

http://www.tottenham.ca/

http://newtecumseth.ca/

http://www.cedarkitchen.com/location.html Don’t let this incredibly sucky website fool you—the food and staff are amazing.

https://www.tripadvisor.ca/Restaurant_Review-g7130503-d6122749-Reviews-Cedar_Kitchen-Tottenham_New_Tecumseth_Ontario.html Don’t believe me?  They don’t have ANY bad comments.

http://www.southsimcoerailway.ca/ They have a special train for Christmas and other occasions.  They also do weddings and culinary events. The train has been featured in “Murdoch Mysteries.”

http://www.tottenhambluegrass.com/ This happens yearly and is a huge event that brings in people from all over Canada and USA.

http://www.tottenhamcommunityweek.ca/ Small towns still exist and this is also a yearly event.

Things You Need to Know

Tottenham is located on the Tottenham Road north of Highway 9.

It snows a lot in the winter.  I definitely need a friend with a snow blower.

The best place to see sunset and sunrise is on Tottenham Road in front of Rod Abrams Funeral Home. 

Best place to star gaze is north on Tottenham Road to any concession.  You can actually see stars in Tottenham but for special viewings head just out of town.

Everyone knows everybody so be careful what you do and say and who you say and do it to.

Cheaters and losers make out in the Tim Horton’s parking lot.

The local chapter of the Royal Canadian Legions has dinners every Friday except long weekends. 

A local Legion lady made a scarf tree in front of the Post Office in town for those who needed a scarf or wanted to donate scarfs

I left the city of Brampton five years ago to move to Tottenham (its housing is cheaper) because I wanted to live in a quiet town in a house with grass all around it. No one getting shot in my neighborhood is also an added bonus.  Well, grass is overrated and it isn’t that quiet.   Sometimes I think there is a whole new level of crazy going on here.  At least I can get a decent breakfast.  Thank all supreme beings for the Cedar Kitchen.

 Welcome to the Cedar Kitchen photo by Janice McKelvey

Absolutely delicious Spinach Florentine.  My breakfast.  My photo.  Janice McKelvey

Western Sandwich photo by Janice McKelvey

Rice Pudding photo by Janice McKelvey

My truck a “must have” in Tottenham.  Photo by Janice McKelvey

It's a dog person place.  Mo photo by Janice McKelvey

Dukoral and the Ring of Fire!  Nicaragua

Places You Have to See
http://visitnicaragua.us/

Monty’s Surf Lodge http://www.montysbeachlodge.com/ Gracious host and home to some of the most beautiful sunsets in the world. 

Chinandega https://vianica.com/nicaragua/chinandega We volunteered here and it was a great experience.

eon  http://www.lonelyplanet.com/nicaragua/leon-and-northwestern-nicaragua/leon   This beautiful old city has street vendors and a beautiful cathedral and is also home to nearby volcanoes.  We had the most amazing fresh juice and ice cream in a café near the cathedral.

Granada http://www.lonelyplanet.com/nicaragua/granada-and-the-masaya-region/granada  The architecture in this city has a European feel.

Hotel con Corazon http://www.hotelconcorazon.com/  Fabulous hotel that gives back.  I would definitely recommend staying here and exploring Granada.

Catedral de Granada http://www.nicatour.net/es/granada/granada_chiese.cfm Iconic and stunning, it is visible from most of the city.

Iglesia de La Merced http://www.lonelyplanet.com/nicaragua/granada-and-the-masaya-region/granada/sights/religious/iglesia-de-la-merced Please do not ring the bell!  Yes, some people did just that when we were there.  It is worth the steep staircase climb to the top just for the view.

Things You Need to Know

Nicaragua http://travel.gc.ca/destinations/nicaragua

Nicaragua’s volcanoes http://www.wired.com/2015/12/nicaraguas-momotombo-volcano-erupted-for-the-first-time-in-100-years/

http://www.volcanodiscovery.com/nicaragua.html

http://www.techtimes.com/articles/53018/20150514/tourists-in-nicaragua-have-a-hair-raising-close-encounter-with-erupting-volcano.htm

Volcano boarding http://www.volcanoboard.com/

Dukoral https://www.dukoralcanada.com/  Enough cannot be said about this must-have product.  DO NOT leave home without it.

Crystal light/purified water http://www.crystallight.com/classics  This is for those of us who cannot drink boatloads of water. 

Magic Jack App https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/magicapp-calling-messaging/id463926997?mt=8  Free app for calling anywhere in the world, from cell phone to land line only.  Necessary in volcano territory.

Together Works Society http://www.togetherworkssociety.com/  Please check out this web site.  They offer ways to participate through donations, or if you’d like to visit Nicaragua, arrangements can be made for you stay.

Being a mature student in Tourism Management at Humber College, I also have the opportunity to take a Global Citizenship Certificate free of charge.  The Certificate consists of four courses, one of which is to be completed abroad.  The school offered a two week service trip to Nicaragua.  I liked the sound of it: “Nicaragua”… it just sounds so exotic.  We stayed at Monty’s Beach Lodge in Jiquilillo, Nicaragua, for the most part and spent the last night in Granada; we also did side trips to Leon and Chinandega.   I really didn’t know what a service trip was and I had never done one before.  I had never been to Central America so I was very excited to be able to go.  I liked the sound of teaching English to children, hot weather and volcano boarding.  The school was also helping to build a house.  I was not really excited about the house-building, but volcano boarding? OMG I was so excited!  I’d never seen a volcano before.  I bragged to my friends how cool I would be: I said, “I’m so fucking awesome and I’m going to go volcano boarding,”  let’s just say I sucked on so many different levels volcano boarding that it isn’t even funny.  OK, it’s a little funny…  It’s fucking hysterical!  The moment you realize it’s not like tubing here in Canada and you have to carry that heavy ass board up the volcano?  Hmmm.  Epiphany.  Volcanoes are not nice and smooth to walk on and if you have asthma, well, the air here is not your friend.  They are also really fucking big.  Repeat: BIG!  Thank God I had help getting that board up.  Are you seeing where I’m going with this?  Nicaragua has a very active volcano range. This was a big fucking volcano. Big, big, big.  What comes up must come down, as they say.  At first I was thinking, “Ok this is good...” then, “Are those ants down there?” followed by, “What if it blows up like Krakatoa?  Your ass might be blown back to Canada.”  But I survived to tell the tale and yes, I’d do it again.  Yes, there were three eruptions — not big, but still, eruptions while we were there.  It was the only time I have called home while on vacation.  Yes, it did make the news back in Canada… the volcano, not me.

  

Me at the volcano

Beautiful Leon

Ice Cream in Leon

                                                                 

Home of the most amazing sunsets

                                                 

Incredible

                                               

The dogs at Monty's

Granada

The Great Ocean Road, Victoria Australia http://www.visitmelbourne.com/Regions/Great-Ocean-Road.aspx

One of the most breath taking views in the world is the 12 Apostles.  This is one of my favorite places in all the world.  Awe inspiring and beautiful.  Leave Melbourne and take one of the most scenic road trips in the world. Stop at the 12 Apostles Visitor Centre in Port Campbell National Park.  There are magnificent rock limestone formations.  They used to be called “Sow and Piglets” but 12 Apostles sounds and sells much better.  They never was 12.  There were more but due to erosion they will eventually disappear.  They are best viewed from above by a 15 minute helicopter ride.  http://www.12apostleshelicopters.com.au/.  Farther up the coast is London Bridge which like the children’s song fell down.  It actually fell down leaving a man and woman stranded there until rescued fueling gossip when they left before being interviewed by the press.  Rendez-vous gone wrong?

London Bridge Photo by Janice McKelvey

12 Apostles Photo by Janice McKelvey

12 Apostles Photo by Janice McKelvey

Waterfall on the Great Ocean Road near 12 Apostles

It Was Gouda for Me Amsterdam, The Netherlands http://www.iamsterdam.com/en/

Places You Have to See

The Red Light District legal sex shops and brothels.  No photos please.

The canals a must to go a canal cruises.

City Tour great way to see houses on canal and boat houses moored in canals

Rijks Museum https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/en/

Van Gogh Museum http://www.vangoghmuseum.nl/en

The Anne Frank Museum http://www.amsterdam.info/museums/anne_frank_house/

The Mint

Tulip Festival in the spring

Windmills outside city

Wind turbines off coast visible on flight into city

Things You Need to Know

Flemish/Dutch speaking but most speak some English

Very clean canals water is flushed several times per week

Very friendly and hospitable

Euro is the currency

Many hotel chains here

Dutch cheese is amazing.

The bicycles never before had I seen so many.  Just remember bicycles have way not pedestrians.

Just remember rules have changed and foreigners can no longer do drugs freely here.

Double salted licorice buy it here.

Blue and white pottery http://www.delftpottery.com/  is a great souvenir or gift.

On my escorted bus tour to Europe I met Tippy.  Tippy was travelling with her daughter and son-in-law from Arizona.  Everyone who meets Tippy loves her.  She’s wise, warm, caring, funny, and feisty and doesn’t act her age.  We had just arrived in Amsterdam and done a bit of a city tour.  We had time before our canal cruise and dinner to investigate the Red Light District.  Short time so we couldn’t get into too much trouble.  Prostitution is legal and regulated by the government.  Some drugs are legal although now not for tourists.  Tippy had already been taking pictures she shouldn’t at the border crossing in Calais so why should I be surprised.  You are not supposed to take pictures of the sex workers who sit in front in windows with the curtains open.  Tippy did.  She was yelled at and had them ducking for cover and curtains being closed but then she also had a 50ish lady pose for her.  Tippy was having a great time.  I was wondering why there weren’t men in the windows.  Fair is fair and since I’m going to hell anyways I thought I’d ask.  Then we went into some sex shops and if you have to ask you probably don’t want to know but it was far better than 50 shades of boring.  No need to inhale deeply walking by the bakeries.  Then the most fun we had was just outside the Red Light District in what our guide called the best candy shop in the city.  So we were the proverbial kids in a candy store.  The canal cruise was prefect.  Bicycles, hundred year old houses and house boats line the canals.  It is also customary in the Netherlands to leave your leaving room curtains open and have something like flowers or sculpture for people to look at.  The canals are pristine and several swans call it home.  Dinner was all you could expect from a Dutch host.  Cheese galore to start and ended with a Dutch pancake dessert.  Sweet memories.

OH LA LA Paris, France The city of love.

Places You Have to See

Eiffel Tower beautiful at night and impressive in the day. http://www.toureiffel.paris/  Please don’t buy the cheaper souvenirs from the illegal vendors.

Versailles http://www.chateauversailles.fr/homepage

Moulin Rouge http://www.moulinrouge.fr/

Boat ride on the Seine

The Louvre http://www.louvre.fr/en   

Miniature Statue of Liberty

Notre Dame

Sacre Coeur

Things You Need to Know

Croissants are sent here from heaven.  It’s against the law to sell day old bread in France.  Vive la France!

Euro is currency.

French speaking although most people speak English or another language.

Drive on the right side.

People are friendly is you are willing to try to speak French.

Dress to impress no sweat pants here.  Some places actually have a dress code.

Not all French Champagnes created equally.

Hotels are expensive but it’s worth the extra money to be close to the attractions.

Dinner is late.  Not unusual to eat past 8pm.

Metro is great public transportation.

Lines are the norm at attractions.  Buy tickets in advance or book as a group to avoid.

You’ve seen in a million times on TV leaving England on a ferry White Cliffs of Dover rising from the sea but in reality fog, grey, what cliffs I didn’t see any cliffs for a stomach churning ferry crossing across the English Channel.

We were warned by our tour guide that customs would pull people off the bus because they have to rationalize so many people working there.  I yelled out, “If you see an ugly ass suitcase let me know.”  “Janice!”  Are you kidding me?  I get off the bus and meet the officer checking out my suitcase.  Tippy illegally takes photos of my search and posts them on line.  Tippy is a character.  Senior citizen fire cracker from Arizona.  It’s not just my suit case it’s a complete and I mean oh la la complete pat down by a female customs officer.  I return to the bus no worse for wear and I express annoyance and embarrassment to my touchy situation.  When asked if I would have preferred a male customs official.  I tell them at least I would have gotten dinner if I had.  Everyone laughs and it’s time to continue our European experience.