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Hi! How are you?
If you are bored and want a blast of travel goodness, scenery from the southwest and picture of critters, I got you. Check out my "shorts" playlist for that and more random goodness! Most clips are under 30 seconds and should shift your mood and maybe even inspire you to travel. Speak soon~  Its HOT outside... I am currently in south Texas (I came for the heat wave it would seem) and while I was riding the lift with another traveler their parting words were, "Welcome to HELL!" They weren't talking about the hotel (Its okay) the heat though was breaking records...  41'C translates to 105.8 F. (Thats not heat index, that's out side temp!) AT MID MORNING!  So enough of this heat! I'm ready to cool off. Let me share a fav. summer drink with you.. Cooling Lemon and Herb Spritzer
This refreshing spritzer is just what you need on a scorching summer day! It’s bright fruity flavor pairs perfectly with the warm earthiness of the culinary herbs and freshly grated ginger for a truly interesting combination. One taste and this is sure to become a new favorite! Prep time: 15 minutes (+ time to chill) Cook time: n/a Serves: 4 Ingredients 2 T. real maple syrup 1 c. water 1/3 c. fresh lemon juice 2 T. fresh mint, washed and torn into pieces 2 T. fresh basil, washed and torn into pieces 2 t. fresh lemon zest, preferably organic 2 thyme sprigs 2 t. ginger, finely minced 1 large lemon, thinly sliced 2 c. sparkling water Optional Adults-Only Version: 4 oz. vodka Directions:
 US and New Mexico flags. Happy Monday! I hope you are well and your week is off to a good start. I'm so late in posting today...Monday mornings are always busy for me because I have all the normal reports to run, plus certain other tasks that have to be done, even if we are traveling. By the time all that stuff is done it's time for online meetings with staff. Sooo long story, short- we had a very late start today, but we did a bit of exploring. If you want to read more about Roswell look here and visit here too to learn about the town.    In our quest to read the historical markers and learn more about the area we stopped at this little park. It is a very cute, and well maintained just outside of Roswell.   We were going to the International UFO Museum And Research Center downtown today, but were told that it was closed due to the pandemic. (If you are planning a visit call EVERYTHING first, there seems to be no rhythm or reason as to what is open or closed.) This museum is focused on the 1947 Roswell Crash and later UFO incidents from all over the world. It was founded in 1991 as a nonprofit educational organization and is located in a former movie theater from the 1930s. The museum is said to contain an extensive library and exhibits focused on the history of UFO encounters. The Museum was opened in September 1991 and for some reason I always seem to skip going to this one... It also has a gift store with UFO-inspired souvenirs. Maybe #NextTime  We drove around some and also changed hotels.  Last nights hotel was nice enough...but the people next door were really loud. So we only spent one night there. We changed to another place that was much more mellow.     And finished the night off with a gluten free, cheese free, loaded veggie pizza. I haven't had pizza (of any kind) this year! So this was a special treat. It was AMAZINGLY good!  I'm sunburned from walking around today. :( I have work the rest of the week, so it could be a few days till the next post...but I will see you soon!
 Meanwhile, it's time for another adventure!  At the Isleta Casino and Resort today! :D  The weather is much warmer today and look at that blue sky! We took a road trip to the casino... (No gambling pictures, but with a 30,000 square foot casino you can imagine what it was like!)  Going in for an impromptu afternoon of gambling and shopping! It's not that far from my home, but with the winding mountain roads it takes about a half an hour to get there.  Don't be fooled, the place was pretty full. It's very clean and the locals all love it.  My phone died a fast death about here, as I was walking in, lol  I had my other camera in my new vegan clutch (see previous post, lol) but took very few pictures in the resort...  Does any of this look familiar? The hotel lobby was used in the recent filming of Midnight, Texas.   Ancient and modern designs meet.  Something for everyone.  Native bead and leather work. We had a nice time and I was still back home for chai at a decent hour. #WinWin Speaking of winning, I won a bit on the slots. #GoMe! And yes, I bought baby pumpkins while I was out, lol. (Do I know how to live or what??)  See you tomorrow for the next adventure!  How many Travel Rewards Programs are you signed up for? When I travel I spilt my time between Gite's (Holiday Homes owned by individuals) and hotels. Making the decision often comes down to the location and the length of stay. When I stay in a hotel I choose a hotel chain that I am familiar with, if possible. If you have ever booked online, flew 10+ hours, boarded a train, cranky child in tow, only to get to your "Boutique" hotel to find it less than err, promised, then you learn quickly to always find a chain you can trust! And always, always stick with them! Marriott is one of my favorite hotels, because no matter where you are in the world you are assured of the quality and a fair price. Plus with over 4,000 hotels in 70 countries you can easily earn rewards!  And those rewards can be used on hotel stays, flights, rental cars, cruises and vacation packages. #Win! But don't just take my word for it, Marriott Rewards is ranked No. 1 in the Best Hotel Rewards Programs by U.S. News. They evaluated 17 loyalty programs associated with major hotel brands across several indicators of excellence and not surprisingly Marriott won!
I also am a member of Wyndham Rewards Program. The hotel group's partnered with Amtrak and numerous air carriers also allows you to earn even more miles or points. You can earn points on car rentals, too, thanks to Wyndham's partnership with Avis and Budget. So points add up quickly and more points equal more trips! And I'm a happy member of the IHG Rewards Club. With over 5,200 properties throughout 100 countries, you can find a room! Through the IHG Rewards Club, you can earn rewards within IHG's extensive network of hotels, including Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, Hotel Indigo and Staybridge Suites properties. I actually stay in IHG properties pretty regularly and am always happy with the hotel. Choose IHG for amenities and locations. I'm a member of the Hilton Honors program, but rarely stay with them. Although I'm pretty sure I didn't get my point for my 5 day stay in NYC last February. Hmmm, need to send an email tonight. My newest hotel rewards program- Stash Hotels See, one time I was in New Jersey, (read about it here) and I booked through Hotwire. So it was an "unknown" hotel, (you learn the name after you pay on Hotwire). It ended up being a property owned by Stash Hotels. I signed up for the program on a whim, because I liked the staff and the hotel was very charming. Not what you might imagine when I say New Jersey, lol. How many hotel rewards programs do you belong to? Do you have a favorite I didn't mention here? I'm actually in the middle of planning a trip today and am trying to decide if I should stay in a Gite or Hotel? It's a solo trip so I don't need the extra room and I don't plan on cooking...So I guess I'm calling the Marriott! See you at the airport!  Every great trip begins with a plan. I'm often asked how I find the best deals or the right transportation for those big, massive trips.
It's all in the planning. Don't get me wrong I love an impromptu road trip as much as anyone, but being stuck in an unfamiliar country, in a tiny train station in the middle of the night with no phone service, no taxis and a small child isn't all that much fun, especially after a 11 hour flight. #TrueStory #LessonLearned When I'm going to be staying for an extended amount of time (read months) in a foreign country I always do as much research as possible and plan ahead, booking as much as practical in advance. But even if you are just taking a week long holiday, it's wise to understand the culture and customs of the area you will be visiting. (And the Uber limits/cost of late night taxis.) Also pre-booking usually cuts cost somewhat, leaving you with more money for shopping and dinning. #WinWin Most people tell me that they would love to travel more, but seem at a loss as where to begin. What about you? Are you overwhelmed by it all? Start with these simple steps and enjoy the process.
Now get planning! There is a whole, wide world out there just waiting to be explored! See you at the airport~ 
Another throw back post..
I started blogging about ABQ and my local adventures with guest here. Then got swamped at work and totally forgot to finish. #FML Anyway, one of the places we visited was the Islets Pueblo. I didn't take many pictures because we were too busy laughing and having fun. #Truestory But, I had business on the reservation the other day and popped into the casino/resort for a coffee. (Okay, and some light slot playing.) So I thought I would file this under "Local Adventures ABQ". 
Here is your history lesson for today:
Your welcome.
It was another beautiful day in the land of enchantment.
The Resort is located at 11000 Broadway SE, in Albuquerque, NM (USA) It is 7 minutes south of downtown Albuquerque at Interstate 25 & Highway 47, exit 215.
According to the website rooms range from $99 to $150 USD a night.
Going into the resort..
Much Bigger than it looks, yeah?
I love all the native displays and artifacts. These seems to change out regularly too, so there is more than just shopping and slots here.
But there is plenty to buy, lol.
Sorry for the crappy iphone photos.
I have some of this pottery in storage from the last time I lived in New Mexico. LOL
Native bead work.
I know a lot of folks stay in the hotel at the casino. It seems really clean and nice.
Oh yeah, they have these too,
I think I've been to this casino 3 times? It is on my list to take people when they visit me. We usually go during the week, in the middle of the day. It breaks up a day of sight seeing natural wonders or shopping. The casino hasn't been crowded when I've been there and the people are super friendly, just like the rest of New Mexico. I guess I should mention the casino is very clean and modern, not like some of the cheesy casinos you see in Vegas, thank God.
The resort is on FB if you want to know more.
https://www.facebook.com/IsletaResortandCasino
I'm continuing to sort through the backlog of old posts and hopefully will be caught up soon. We have another cruise coming up + some other fun adventures. Catch you later-
 So after leaving Iceland (Insert sobbing because I didn't want to leave) we went to back New York for a few days more days. (Read about the January trip here.) It was a non stop, pleasant night flight from Iceland to JFK. When we arrived in NYC it was much colder than in Iceland and a huge storm was on the way. We left NYC a few days later just as the blizzard was hitting the East coast. Well actually we left 4 hours before they shut the airports down due to the blizzard hitting full force! #Goodtiming  My meal on the plane was actually very good. :D  Hello NYC!  Good flight and we arrived in NYC with no problems, but the immigration experience was not pleasant. But we made it...  Finally free from security!  Random airport shop pict.     We didn't pick up anything much for people as we were loaded up on Icelandic candy, lol  Some of these actually made it home!  But speaking of eating..this was an AMAZING VEGAN BURGER. My friend from Rockville Center took me out to eat..don't remember the name of the place.  Meanwhile my son was eating his weight in deep dish pizza!  I went back to Rockville Center to see friends one more time as the weather began to change. And then back across town to the hotel. I have video of the cab ride, but it's pretty blurry. So use your imagination...NYC at night is really cool. :D  Calling the Hilton home for a few days..  #Hardworking Meanwhile outside it had begun to get colder and snow..  See the snow?  But never fear, the hotel had it's own Starbucks!  #Yummy  The room-  The hotel was nice.   Peter Thomas Roth :D  Still had jet lag...seems like it was getting worse.  But I was up to see an amazing sunrise. Another amazing day and a new adventure begins!  To be continued in another post... See you at the airport! |
Author Welcome to my (I'm excited to travel again) blog, my healthy Vegan lifestyle blog and my life! It's a lot, but it's my passions and I just love to write about it. Visit the "About Me Page" to learn more. 
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