Come Fly With Me

So thrilled to be in Edinburgh, Scotland for the first time! For a true sense of the city, nothing beats the hop-on-hop-off bus.

We lucked out with the sun shining. The bus ride offered panoramic views from the open-top deck. It was fun being transported around learning about the history of the city and the importance of the places we encountered.

Edinburgh, the hilly capital of Scotland, is a city of dramatic contracts, blending a medieval Old Town with a neoclassical Georgian New Town.

We truly enjoyed the experience that the hop-on-hop-off bus offered. We did the entire loop around the City, which gave us an insight of where we wanted to explore on foot.

Marianne, Jennifer, and I had our sights set on the perfect place to explore: the Grassmarket. It is a vibrant, historic area in Edinburgh’s Old Town, located directly below Edinburgh Castle, known for its cobbled streets, stunning castle views, shops, and bustling pubs and restaurants.

One of the best parts of our trip to Edinburgh was spending time with Marianne’s dear friend Emily, who is pursuing her master’s at the University of Edinburgh.

Emily became our knowledgeable tour guide.

My favorite….a liquid history tour of Edinburgh.

We could not resist stopping at the Greyfriars Bobby statue, sculpted in 1873, which commemorates a loyal Skye Terrier who guarded his owner’s grave for 14 years. Rubbing the dog’s nose is suppose to bring good luck!

Emily took us to the Royal Mile Tavern for dinner. We were happy to have our crew member Brandon join us. The tavern was in the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town. It was a traditional Scottish restaurant bursting with charm and character and typical Scottish food.

Sadly, our fun night had to come to an end. It was time to get Emily back to her abode.

Cheers to an unforgettable first visit to Edinburgh!

CONTINUATION OF LIVING OUR BEST HIGHLAND LIFE

Less than 24 hours later, Jennifer and I worked another trip back to Edinburgh. We decided now that we knew the lay of the land, we would explore Edinburgh by foot.

A short walk from our hotel, we came upon St. Cuthbert’s Church, a Scotland Presbyterian Church. It is believed to be the oldest Christian site in Edinburgh. The church is located at the foot of the Edinburgh Castle.

We came upon this prominent Celtic cross that stands in the graveyard of St. Cuthbert’s Church. The cross is characterized by detailed stonework and traditional Celtic design. It serves as a reminder of the site’s long, continuous Christian history.

We enjoyed our picturesque stroll from Edinburg’s New Town to the Old Town. It felt like a journey through time. Jennifer and I found a quaint spot to wait for Emily to join us.

Then we set off to explore some of Emily’s favorite spots.

So much more fun to explore a city with our own private tour guide.

Wow, who knew that there is a Frankenstein themed pub in Edinburgh’s Old Town known for it’s gothic, horror atmosphere, featuring a large animatronic monster that descends periodically, along with themed drinks and food.

It was time for dinner. We went to the popular, award-winning restaurant, Makar’s Gourmet Mash Bar that specializes in authentic Scottish comfort food. The long wait did not deter us for having the most delicious dinner.

My mouth is still watering thinking about the yummy dinner I had. You first pick your protein, followed by your choice of 16 different kinds of mashed potatoes. I chose the braised beef, along with mashed potatoes with bacon and onions, which was then served with a savory gravy. Definitely found my comfort that day!

It certainly was another great day living the Highland life! Our lasting memory of Edinburgh’s historic charm and fun city will stay with us forever!

Good morning Paris! So sweet to turn the corner, in our bus from the airport and see the morning glow at the Arc de Triomphe. We needed a couple hours of sleep before we could set out to enjoy this beautiful city.

And then we were off! We didn’t have a destination in mind, so we just enjoyed a walk through the streets.

To our delight, we came upon a park, where the flowers were beginning to bloom.

Blooming flowers, singing birds, and lake breeze ease was a delightful way to spend an afternoon.

I love that I caught the bird in flight!

Afternoon tea: a sip of Parisian elegance.

We continued our stroll through the streets of Paris!

We finally made it to the Galeries Lafayette Paris. Marianne and I have been talking about going there for a long time. It certainly did not disappoint.

Galeries Lafayette is famous all over the world for its fashion incredible selection, but also for its amazing architecture. It’s world-renowned for its Neo-Byzantine glass dome.

Without hesitation, we stood in the line to go out on the glass walk. The glass walk is a 9-meter-long glass walkway suspended in mid-air at a height of 16 meters. Its prime location will immerse you in the heart of the majestic Galeries Lafayette.

We still had more walking to do before meeting some of our crew members for dinner.

With pep in our steps, we headed to the Montmartre neighborhood.

Always elated to see Sacre-Coeur, the Catholic basilica that sits on the highest hill in Paris, in the Montmartre neighborhood.

A little pause, a little sunshine, and the charm of a Paris street corner!

Bringing flavor to our evening! Our friend Chaz invited us all to join him at one of his favorite restaurant’s in Paris, the Pink Mamma. The Pink Mamma is a four-story restaurant that offers authentic Italian cuisine in the lively Pigalle neighborhood. The restaurant truly shared all the warmth of a trattoria like those found in Italy. The food was delicious.

Joy of living while in Paris is a blessing. “Let us live like flowers, wild and beautiful and drenched in sun.”

With some time between work trips, Marianne and I decided there was no better way to spend the day than in New York City.

We were thrilled to be back in our old stomping grounds, with our first stop at Rockefeller Center.

It was an unusually warm, sunny March day in New York City.

We are always struck by the awe-inspiring beauty at St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

A visit to The Plaza Hotel is always a must for us. This iconic Fifth Avenue landmark, just steps from Central Park, never disappoints-the lobby adorned with glorious flowers and crowned by a stunning chandelier.

The colors, the crisp air, the skyline peeking through the trees- makes it all perfect for a stroll through Central Park.

As our day began to wind down, we still had a few more things to do before leaving the city.

Who doesn’t love seeing the big bright lights of Time Square from a rooftop!

There’s simply no better way to close out the day than with a New York state of mind,

After a 9 1/2 hour flight, we arrived in beautiful Rio. Marianne and I were thrilled to have our SFO friend, Anne, working with us on our flight.

We woke up after our nap to beautiful sunshine!

We were ready to walk down to the beach and see what fun awaits us!

Our paradise was found!

We had some time to kill before meeting up with 2 more crew members for dinner, so we ventured over to an upscale mall to take in the Brazilian fashions.

Time for dinner!

We ate at ViaSete, a top-notch restaurant in Rio, where elevated dining meets a relaxed atmosphere. It was a perfect blend of delicious food, great company and a night full of laughs!

The next day, Marianne and I embraced the overcast skies and went for a walk.

You can find magic on the beach in Rio, even on a cloudy day!

I looked up while we were walking and my breath was caught- Christ the Redeemer breaking through the gray clouds, untouched by the gloom.

Even under gray skies, we still found joy wandering through our happy place.

Rio, you gave us more than memories. You gave us perspective. You taught us the simple joy of being present! Thanks for leaving us with warm sunshine in our hearts.

Let the fun begin! But first, we had to walk through Madrid’s airport, which is the 2nd largest airport in Europe. It is notorious for extensive walking to get to your desired destination.

It was a beautiful day for walking around Madrid. No matter where Marianne and I wind up, we always find ourselves smack in the middle of a march or protest. It was a peaceful march for Iberdrol workers. The protest was part of a larger, ongoing mobilization to ensure workers share in the company’s profits.

We love to stop in at the Olive Oil store. The store carries a variety of olive oils and beauty products made from olive oils.

Another great day, where every corner is a new discovery,

Around this corner, we found a fun cafe!

We continued on our stroll through the streets of Madrid.

Marianne and I came across these park seats. It was a perfect place to get our vitamin D boost. Sun-kissed and soulful, we were ready to move on.

Before heading back to our hotel, we found this quaint neighborhood cafe. We were happily entertained by the small children and dogs playing in front of us.

When the sunsets, Madrid illuminates. Reflecting on our day under the city glow, we found that we get so much joy in little things. Thank you Madrid for reminding us to slow down and appreciate life’s small pleasures.

So excited to be in Milan for the closing day of the 2026 Winter Olympics commonly known as Milano Cortina 2026.

The Winter Olympics were held in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. The games were spread across Northern Italy. Being the last day of the Olympics, Milan was only hosting the Men’s Hockey Game ; USA vs Canada. A couple of our crew members were eager to buy tickets to the hockey game. Sadly, the tickets were very expensive…$6000.00 dollars. The best alternative was to watch the game at a nearby pub.

Marianne and I could not resist going into the MegaStore in Milan, located in Piazza Duomo, where official Olympic merchandise was sold.

Throughout the city, Milan had fun popups celebrating the Olympics.

After wondering the streets of Milan, it was time to meet up with some crew member to witness the astonishing display of the Olympic cauldron in Milan. It represents peace, unity, and the enduring Olympic spirit connecting ancient traditions with modern spirit.

We couldn’t miss out on the nightly 3-5 minute light and music show. The cauldron, inspired by Leonardo da Vince’s geometric knots, expands and lights up, symbolizing the sun and harmony between nature and human ingenuity.

Seeing the 2026 Winter Olympic cauldron light show at Milan’s Arch of Peace evoked feelings of awe and job. It was a magical, emotional experience. So grateful for this memory!

So happy to share this incredible experience with my fellow crew members!

Life is a collection of moments and how blessed am I to get to create them with Marianne! We definitely are enjoying life one trip at a time.🩷

Another trip to London to enjoy the rain. Marianne and I had a great layover in London, on account of getting to hang out with our dear friend Jennifer. Jennifer definitely brought warmth and sunshine to our day.

Alfies Antique Market is London’s largest indoor antique and vintage market, offering four floors of goods of all kinds, from affordable treasures to high-end finds.

What better to do on a rainy day! We had a great afternoon exploring Alfies. It really was an unusual place with different staircases leading to eccentric and fascinating items. So much to see! My absolute favorite was meeting Michael, Alfie’s King of Christmas. He has an ever-present evergreen Christmas tree , which is expertly, lovingly and thematically dressed on a monthly basis. I couldn’t resist exploring this month’s tree, which was decorated with all pink ornaments!

This precious 1950’s pink ornament with it’s special pink heart came home with me!

Just a little liquid sunshine in a middle of a storm at The Larrik!

We decided to head to the pub, The Heron to have dinner. It’s a traditional pub serving beers and spirits, it also has gained a reputation for serving, authentic Thai cuisine. The food was delicious and hit the spot on this cold rainy night.

Rain outside, warmth inside. The perfect end to a great day!

Good morning sunshine! This beautiful view is from Marianne’s room. Sadly, just as the sun was coming out, it was time for us to leave London! Our layover in London was unforgettable, and we will cherish every moment we got to enjoy this beautiful city, where the present and past make perfect harmony. We can’t wait for our next visit! London is definitely our cup of tea!

Marianne and I had a short layer in London. We decided to go to a new area that we had never been to before. We took the train to explore Portobello Road in the Notting Hill district, which is a vibrant treasure trove, famous for antiques, vintage fashion and unique finds. Of course, we had to find the iconic blue door from the 1999 movie Notting Hill. It was the door the film used for the entrance to the flat shared by William Thacker (Hugh Grant) and Spike.

It certainly was a cold and rainy day in London. We did our best to keep warm by going in and out of the shops on Portobello Road. It also has an outdoor market, full of treasures to see.

It was hard to warm up! So we did what we do best!

We escaped the London rain, in a cozy, dimly lit pub, where the atmosphere was warm and inviting!

We were snug in a pub! Marianne and I have perfected the art of being cozy in London.

What a great way to start off 2026 by working to one of our favorite places…Rio!

Marianne and I were lucky enough to get out to walk the beach before the forecasted rain. It was a comfortable temp of 77 degrees.

The sea was a treacherous, churning mass of whitecaps, making the shoreline deserted!

Being a Sunday, Ipanema Beach was vibrant and lively, with the beachfront avenue closed to cars, transforming into a pedestrian paradise for walking, skating and biking! With pep in our steps, we decided to venture to Copacabana Beach, which was a little over 3 miles away from our hotel.

We soaked up the scenery before we found the perfect spot to soak up some beers.

Nothing better than having a beer right on the beach!

The calm before the storm was short lived! We were caught in a downpour!

Thank goodness we never leave home without our umbrellas! Marianne and I were ready to find a Brazilian steakhouse to consume a mouth watering steak.

We enjoyed our dining experience at Braseiro. Our meat was juicy, flavorful, and cooked to perfection.

It was a memorable day at Copacabana Beach. We were ready to uber back to our hotel.

From Ipanema and Copacabana Beach sands to mountain views, we ended our perfect day with a Brazilian kiss of lime and spirit.

Good Morning Rio! A glorious view from my patio! Marianne and I were going to do some shopping before getting ready for work.

Pure Brazilian magic!

A short detour off Ipanema Beach and we found Flip Flop heaven. Havaianas are iconic, colorful Brazilian flip flops known for being comfortable, durable, and stylish.

The Havaianas flagship store has 3 levels filled with a vast selection of colorful flip-flops.

Retail therapy works wonders!

All good things must come to an end! We needed to walk back to the hotel to rest and get ready to work back to New York.

Before settling back into our rooms, we decided to sit by the hotel pool to relax and take in the beautiful view. To Marianne’s good fortune, the hotel chefs were doing a ceviche making class by the pool. Marianne thoroughly enjoyed the ceviche, distinguished by its use of fresh, local ingredients, such as freshly caught fish, as well as its unique touches of flavor from chiles, fresh herbs and citrus juices.

I am so blessed starting off 2026 working with my buddy, Marianne. This year is about saying “yes” to adventures, exploring new horizons, and making more great memories!

Marianne and I love getting into the Christmas spirit by walking the streets of London. London looks pretty magical once the Christmas lights have been turned on.

It certainly is true that London fully embraces the festive spirit at Christmas time with all the elaborate light displays.

We then decided to stop in at one of our favorite places for a bite to eat, the Mercato Mayfair.

The Mercato Mayfair in London is a hip market at St. Mark’s Church, with old stained glass and grand architecture that offers international cuisine and drinks.

We were now full and satisfied and ready to tackle more Christmas lights!

Unfortunately, we didn’t get far before the rain came down hard.

Marianne and I got drenched. The best thing we could do now was to stop off at a cozy pub to get dry and warm up.

The next morning we worked back to New York. The following day, we would be working a trip to one of our favorite places…Paris.

Marianne and I were excited to go to The Christmas Market at La Défense. Paris’ largest Christmas market, with avast selection of gifts, decorations, and food in traditional wooden chalets.

We were chilled to the bones. It certainly was a cold day in Paris. We decided to go inside the Christmas market and discover wonderful artisan items as well as to see a fun display of Christmas gifts!

Marianne and I left the Christmas market with a sense of joy and holiday spirit.

So many more lights to see, however, it was time for Marianne and I to head back to our hotel to get a good night sleep!

Eat, Drink, & Be Merry!!
May you all find joy and sparkle in this holiday season!
MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY NEW YEAR!