Travel Tuesday: Manuel Antonio National Park

In 2009, I went on an Alternative Spring Break Trip with James Madison University to Las Cruces, Costa Rica (more later).  We worked all week and used the last day and night to have fun.  We drove to Manuel Antonio and got a hostel almost right on the beach!    We went to the beach where I got the most God Awful sunburn I have ever had, a club where we got to do some Latin dancing, and zip lining!  

Here are a few photos of Manuel Antonio (minus the Zip Line, that gets its own post).

Hanging out at the Hostel

 

Our attempt at a jumping picture

The Club

Costa Rica has my heart and I most definitely want to go back there and stay longer!

Book Club Friday: Something Blue

Something Blue 

By: Emily Giffin

Pages: 304 on Nook

Read: 8/31/12

"Darcy Rhone has always been able to rely on a few things: Her beauty and charm.  Her fiance, Dex. Her lifelong best friend, Rachel.  She never needed anything else. Or so she thinks until Dex calls off their dream wedding and she uncovers the ultimate betrayal. Blaming everyone but herself, Darcy flees to London and attempts to re-create her glamorous life on a new continent. But to her dismay, she discovers that her tried-and-true tricks no longer apply--and that her luck has finally expired. It is only then that she can begin her journey toward redemption, forgiveness, and true love."

{Goodreads} 

I enjoyed this book a lot more than I enjoyed the first book in this series.  I liked this book because I felt like Darcy grew as a person and I began to like her character. I enjoyed following Darcy on her journey to recover from a heartbreak and to discover that there is more to this world than being beautiful and being the best.  I also love Ethan's character, I think he was well developed and is one of the only characters that I liked throughout both books.  I would recommend this book for an easy read. 

I gave this book a 4/5 on Goodreads

Medieval Times

Josh and I celebrated my birthday early since both of us will  be working on my birthday.  This past Thursday we were looking for something to do and I suggested looking to see if Medieval Times was booked.  Lucky for us, it wasn't plus I had a coupon so we saved a few dollars.   There are several locations throughout the US and the closest to us is halfway between Baltimore and DC at Arundel Mills Mall in Hanover, MD.

The ticket (purchase ahead of time) includes a meal (soup, dinner, dessert) and a show!  I had originally heard that it was just jousting but it was actually more than that!  They had beautiful horses trained in Dressage and a whole skit that they played out.  It was really neat.   Not to mention it was in one of the biggest malls in our area, so of course we went early and did some shopping.

The waiting area/bar area

Josh and his beer

Falcon!

When we went in, we were seated by colored cards and were told which Knights we were cheering and which we were booing.  We were cheering for the green knight.

It is true that you are given no silverware, just like in back in the day.

I didn't take any pictures of the actual joust because I was really enjoying just watching it, but it was great!  I did get a video of the amazing horses though.  The second video is the best.

This was a great experience and I am glad we finally did it!

Afterwards we headed to Bass Pro.

We found the perfect backpacks for each of us and I think they may be on our list of future purchases! :)

Since we were technically celebrating my birthday, Josh gave me my birthday gifts early :)  Coach Purse, Wristlet and Perfume and a Zumba shirt :) Love him!

Travel Tuesday: NYC 2009

My second trip to NYC was almost a year after my first.  I have a very close group of friends and we were having a rough year with the loss of a friend, so we decided we needed a trip, even if it was just for the day!  We headed up to NYC which have of us had been to and half hadn't so it was a fun and interesting day and I got to see sites that we missed on that first trip!  Also, though the tree wasn't lit yet, they had started decorating for Christmas (we went at the end of November). 

When we got to NYC we headed straight to the nearest subway (after stopping at Starbucks, which our bus happened to drop us off in front of) and headed towards the Brooklyn Bridge.  None of us had been down this way before, so we made it our first stop. 

Our first subway trip!

Heather, Kelsey and I on the subway

After walking halfway across the bridge, we headed in the direction of the WTC site.  This was an emotion experience for me, having known three people in the towers and only one getting out safely. 

Looking out on to the site

After that we headed into China Town where some people may or may not have gotten purses (sorry no pics from China town).  We then randomly just walked.   We ran into the Irish hunger memorial and were able to get some decent pictures.   Also, my friend John was very confused by this memorial and I still remember him saying "yeah, lets not feed them, we'll just give them a memorial".

"We'll just tell people she's in Ireland"

Friends

(you may notice in some pics I have my sweater on and in some I don't ... it was a weird day where I wasn't warm and wasn't cold, I couldn't get comfortable so I kept taking it off when I got hot and putting it back on when I got cold).

Next we walked to an area where we could see the Statue of Liberty in the distance.

Kelsey trying to throw me in

The sign said no standing anytime .... so John stood there

We got hungry after this and happened upon a little pizza place called Pomodoro Pizza.  I have no idea where it is, but it was really good and you could pretty much get anything on your pizza. 

After lunch we did the upper NYC things such as Central Park, Rockefeller Center, Macy's ect. 

Empire State

Central Park

Girls and John

Girls

Me and Kels

Me and John

We ate dinner at Bubba Gump.  It was ok but I can't say I would eat there again.  It wasn't bad but I wasn't impressed either.  Not worth the money, but we had fun.

After that we walked around Time Square, spent too much time in Toys R Us, went in St. Patrick's Cathedral and just aimlessly walked around until we had to catch our bus and go back home (sad).

Our Group

Can I live here!

Me and Heather are behind the Barbie Sign

And that was our trip to NYC in 2009!  I can't wait to go back in less than a month and show Josh and my Sister around! And see a few new things!