A visit to New York during Christmas to take in the festivities of the Big Apple. The city goes all out with their Christmas decorations. I stayed the first night in the Roosevelt hotel on 45th/Madison, then changed to the Omni Berkshire on 52nd/Madison for the remaining nights. The Roosevelt has a nicer, more elegant lobby while the Omni has nicer, more modern rooms with more space. The rooms at the Omni have a brighter feel and have plenty of electrical outlets.
Window Decorations
My favorite displays are the Lord and Taylor windows, with windows featuring the Christmas theme, including:
* China
* Central Park
* Christmas shop
I also liked Bergdorf Goodman, with their windows making good use of animals. Macy's had some New York themed displays, and Saks had a window display of computers.
Midtown Manhattan
* FAO Schwarz toy store, featuring a model of Statue of Liberty build out of Legos.
* Apple store, featuring an all-glass elevator which looked futuristic. We loved the Macbook Air - it is very light weight and is like an iPad with full computer functions.
* New York Public Library, which had an exhibit on lunch hour. Lunch as we know it got its roots in New York. Before lunch came around, people had a snack in mid-day then dinner in late afternoon. But with workers working longer hours, dinner came later in the day and workers were given a designated time in mid-day to have a light meal, which became known as lunch.
* Palace Hotel lobby
* Helmsley building, which looks like the Empire State Building when lit up
* Christmas Spectacular show, featuring the 85th anniversary of the Rockettes, at Radio City Music Hall.
* St Patrick Cathedral
Downtown Manhattan
* Sunday service at Redeemer Church with my friends, and I also attended their Christmas Eve service at 10:30pm - the room was packed even at that late hour.
* We had lunch in Chinatown, then grabbed ice cream at The Original Chinatown Ice Cream Factory. I loved their green tea ice cream.
* Firehouse Museum with old fire engine replica and an exhibit about Ground Zero
Holiday Train Show
This was held at the Botanical Gardens in the Bronx, and featured models of New York landmarks(past and current) made out of twigs, bark, and leaves with model trains running around. There are models of landmarks in other places, including San Francisco, Egypt, Greece, and Turkey. Very nice displays. Worth the price of admission. My favorite NYC models:
* Collection of Empire State Building, New York Stock Exchange, St Patrick Cathedral, Radio City Music Hall, and Chrysler Building
* New York Macy's
* Yankee's Statuim including the baseball field
* JFK Airport, including a Concorde and a Boeing 747
* Statue of Liberty
* Guggenheim Museum
* Old Penn Station
* Castle in Central Park
* Brooklyn Bridge
* Manhattan Bridge
* George Washington Bridge
Monday, December 24, 2012
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Israel: Jerusalem area (Nov 14-17)
Jerusalem is the holy city of Israel and is the heartbeat of Israel. Though much of the city has been modernized, there is the Old City which is surrounded by a wall. You can see elements of the city’s past (in Old City), present (most areas outside Old City), and future (ongoing construction projects). We stayed in Dan Panorama hotel. Jerusalem hotels are like New York hotels: due to high demand and limited landspace, rooms are small (by US standards) and expensive. There is an outdoor shopping mall which is a 10 minute walk from the hotel.
Nov 14: Today, we made our way north to Jerusalem. On the way, we visited Genesis Land where we rode camels to a Bedoiun tent where we had a full course lunch. It was a reenactment of Abraham’s hospitality. We all received camel riding licenses. After arriving in Jerusalem, we went to The Israel Museum where we saw the Model of the Second Temple Jerusalem, visited the Shrine of the Book (where the Dead Sea Scrolls and other rare ancient manuscripts are kept, and visited the Archeological Museum that had numerous artifacts dating back to biblical times. There is much to see at Israel Museum – you could spend a whole day here.
Nov 15: We spent today in the Old City of Jerusalem. We started with the Western wall where many people gather to pray. Next was a visit to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher where Catholics reflect on the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. We then walked through the Jewish Quarter and then had lunch. We then visited the Jerusalem Archeological Park where we walked to the Southern Steps of the Temple which goes back to Jesus’s time. In the evening, we had dinner at King David hotel which often hosts presidents, diplomats, and celebrities during their visits to Jerusalem. Dinner was a formal full course meal with salad, bread, entrée (I had the fish), and dessert.
Nov 16: We visited the Yad Vashem, Jerusalem’s version of a Holocaust museum. The museum contains lots of artifacts as well as information on the Holocaust. In addition to the museum, there are memorials and there is a Garden of Righteous with trees dedicated to those who worked to save the Jewish during World War II. We then visited Jesus’s home town of Bethlehem and had lunch at Sheperd’s Valley Village Tent Restaurant followed by a visit to Church of Nativity, site of Jesus’s birth.
Nov 17: We started the day by going up to the top of Mount Olive and enjoyed panoramic views of Jerusalem. We then visited the Church of all Nations and the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus prayed before being arrested. We visited the Garden of Tomb – a possible site where Jesus was crucified, buried, and resurrected. No one knows for sure the exact site of those events. In the Garden, we had communion to remember Jesus and his mission (same as having communion at church) and then a tour. Finally, we returned to our hotel where we had our final Israel dinner then headed for Tel Aviv airport to fly home.
Jerusalem pictures
Nov 14: Today, we made our way north to Jerusalem. On the way, we visited Genesis Land where we rode camels to a Bedoiun tent where we had a full course lunch. It was a reenactment of Abraham’s hospitality. We all received camel riding licenses. After arriving in Jerusalem, we went to The Israel Museum where we saw the Model of the Second Temple Jerusalem, visited the Shrine of the Book (where the Dead Sea Scrolls and other rare ancient manuscripts are kept, and visited the Archeological Museum that had numerous artifacts dating back to biblical times. There is much to see at Israel Museum – you could spend a whole day here.
Nov 15: We spent today in the Old City of Jerusalem. We started with the Western wall where many people gather to pray. Next was a visit to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher where Catholics reflect on the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. We then walked through the Jewish Quarter and then had lunch. We then visited the Jerusalem Archeological Park where we walked to the Southern Steps of the Temple which goes back to Jesus’s time. In the evening, we had dinner at King David hotel which often hosts presidents, diplomats, and celebrities during their visits to Jerusalem. Dinner was a formal full course meal with salad, bread, entrée (I had the fish), and dessert.
Nov 16: We visited the Yad Vashem, Jerusalem’s version of a Holocaust museum. The museum contains lots of artifacts as well as information on the Holocaust. In addition to the museum, there are memorials and there is a Garden of Righteous with trees dedicated to those who worked to save the Jewish during World War II. We then visited Jesus’s home town of Bethlehem and had lunch at Sheperd’s Valley Village Tent Restaurant followed by a visit to Church of Nativity, site of Jesus’s birth.
Nov 17: We started the day by going up to the top of Mount Olive and enjoyed panoramic views of Jerusalem. We then visited the Church of all Nations and the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus prayed before being arrested. We visited the Garden of Tomb – a possible site where Jesus was crucified, buried, and resurrected. No one knows for sure the exact site of those events. In the Garden, we had communion to remember Jesus and his mission (same as having communion at church) and then a tour. Finally, we returned to our hotel where we had our final Israel dinner then headed for Tel Aviv airport to fly home.
Jerusalem pictures
Monday, November 12, 2012
Israel: Red Sea Region and Jordan: Petra (Nov 11-13)
Nov 11: As we made our drive towards Eilat, we stopped at Timna Park where we visited a replica of the biblical Tabernacle and then went to a resort where we filled small plastic bottles with colored sand (white, yellow, red, and black). We also got to see King Solomon’s Pillars and an amazing sunset. In southern Israel, we stayed in Eilat, at Isrotel Agamim. This resort hotel has a big pool consisting of a U-shaped river that connects to the main pool area – like a river feeding into a lake. The rooms on the first floor all have balconies that have direct access into the pool.
Nov 12: Today we crossed the border into Jordan for a daytrip. We did a 2 hour bus ride to the ancient city of Petra, one of the “New Seven Wonders of the World”. Much of Jordan is desert and there is not a whole lot to see outside of the Petra. The Petra combines human creation with the natural beauty of the mountains. The entrance to Petra was through the Siq, a winding trail through the valley and between the mountains. I liked the elephant carvings along the Siq. At the end of the Siq, we saw the Treasury, amphitheater, many tombs, and Roman market road.
Nov 13: We started with a cruise along the Red Sea. When boat parked, we could see Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Israel. Some of us did snorkeling but all we could see is the blue water. We enjoyed a bar-b-q lunch before cruising back to Eilat. After the cruise we visited a stone factory and we saw a demo where an employee cut and shines stones to use in making jewelry.
South Israel and Jordan pictures
Nov 12: Today we crossed the border into Jordan for a daytrip. We did a 2 hour bus ride to the ancient city of Petra, one of the “New Seven Wonders of the World”. Much of Jordan is desert and there is not a whole lot to see outside of the Petra. The Petra combines human creation with the natural beauty of the mountains. The entrance to Petra was through the Siq, a winding trail through the valley and between the mountains. I liked the elephant carvings along the Siq. At the end of the Siq, we saw the Treasury, amphitheater, many tombs, and Roman market road.
Nov 13: We started with a cruise along the Red Sea. When boat parked, we could see Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Israel. Some of us did snorkeling but all we could see is the blue water. We enjoyed a bar-b-q lunch before cruising back to Eilat. After the cruise we visited a stone factory and we saw a demo where an employee cut and shines stones to use in making jewelry.
South Israel and Jordan pictures
Saturday, November 10, 2012
Israel: Jordan River to Dead Sea (Nov 10)
Nov 10: We started the day with a baptismal in the Jordan river. For all of us the baptism symbolized a new chapter in our spiritual walks. Next places were Gideons Spring and Gideon Cave(Judges 6-7), Qumran (discovery of dead sea scrolls), and En Gedi where David confronted King Saul (Samual 24:1-17). En Gedi was also a likely spot for inspiring many of King David’s Psalms such as Psalm 57. After arriving at Le Meridien Dead Sea hotel, we walked to the Dead Sea and took a float in it. Floating is easy to do and you cannot sink. The Dead Sea is very clean and the salt and minerals actually help your skin – my skin felt like silk. The Dead Sea is also at the lowest point on earth and is surrounded by mountains. The mountains help block the ultraviolet rays from the sun so you could spend the whole day in the sun and not get sunburned. So we started the day with a renewal in the Jordan River and ended it with a cleansing in the Dead Sea. The Le Meridien hotel was the most luxurious hotel of our trip. The Le Meridien Dead Sea hotel is a resort hotel which is a vacation spot itself.
The next morning, we took a cable car up the mountain to Masada, fortress of King Herod the Great. We saw lots of storehouses and homes of the Jewish who had fought the Romans. The views from the Masada are spectacular. We then visited the Masada Museum where we saw many artifacts from Masada.
Dead Sea region pictures
The next morning, we took a cable car up the mountain to Masada, fortress of King Herod the Great. We saw lots of storehouses and homes of the Jewish who had fought the Romans. The views from the Masada are spectacular. We then visited the Masada Museum where we saw many artifacts from Masada.
Dead Sea region pictures
Friday, November 9, 2012
Israel: North Region (Nov 9)
We started with a drive to northern Israel and visited Tel Dan, an ancient city that we reached by hiking. Nice combination of an ancient city with a Dan River (which flows into the Jordan River), a large pond, and even lizards. Next, we visited Caesarea Philippi, where Peter proclaimed Jesus to be the Messiah (Matthew 16:13-28). There is also a gate to hell near Caesarea Philippi.
After lunch we went on a Jeep ride in Golan Heights which included lots of off-roading through the terrain as well as drives through a river. We had herbal tea and fruits at Ein Shuh which is a hidden spring beneath trees and vines. The jeep ride is like doing an African safari without the animals.
More Northern Israel pictures
After lunch we went on a Jeep ride in Golan Heights which included lots of off-roading through the terrain as well as drives through a river. We had herbal tea and fruits at Ein Shuh which is a hidden spring beneath trees and vines. The jeep ride is like doing an African safari without the animals.
More Northern Israel pictures
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Israel: Sea of Galilee Region (Nov 7-8)
Nov 7: We headed up to Mount Carmel where we got views of the Jezreel Valley and the Israel Air Force. The Armageddon in Revelation 16:16-17:14 took place here. Next up was a visit to Meggido, including a walk through the tunnel that Meggido residents used to get water from the springs. We then went to Nazareth the hometown of Jesus. In Nazareth we visited Nazareth Village was a re-enactment of life in a farm and Galilean village during Jesus’s time 2000 years ago.
Our hotel in the Sea of Galilee region is in Tiberias - the Gai Beach Hotel, a resort hotel along the Sea of Galilee. The pool area is a perfect spot to enjoy a sunrise or sunset. A couple blocks away there is a large outdoor mall with stores, restaurants, and music – great place to be for nightlife. Gai Beach is in an excellent location though the rooms could use an update.
Nov 8: We started with a morning boat ride on the Sea of Galilee and we had a worship session with another boat of visitors. Many of Jesus’s miracles occurred on the Sea of Galilee including walking on the water and calming a storm (Psalm 107:29-30; Luke 8:22-25). We then visited the Mount of Beautitudes where Jesus gave a sermon (Matthew 5-7). We had a fish lunch at St Peters Restaurant – we had their specialty which is St Peter’s fish. After lunch we went to Capernaum, the town where Jesus chose some of his first disciples. Here we also saw the remains of Peter’s house and an ancient synagogue whose foundations date back to the time of Jesus. Next we went to Tabgha, traditional site of the multiplication of loaves and fishes (Jn. 6, Mk. 6), followed by a visit to the Church of Peter’s Primacy.
Sea of Galilee Region
Our hotel in the Sea of Galilee region is in Tiberias - the Gai Beach Hotel, a resort hotel along the Sea of Galilee. The pool area is a perfect spot to enjoy a sunrise or sunset. A couple blocks away there is a large outdoor mall with stores, restaurants, and music – great place to be for nightlife. Gai Beach is in an excellent location though the rooms could use an update.
Nov 8: We started with a morning boat ride on the Sea of Galilee and we had a worship session with another boat of visitors. Many of Jesus’s miracles occurred on the Sea of Galilee including walking on the water and calming a storm (Psalm 107:29-30; Luke 8:22-25). We then visited the Mount of Beautitudes where Jesus gave a sermon (Matthew 5-7). We had a fish lunch at St Peters Restaurant – we had their specialty which is St Peter’s fish. After lunch we went to Capernaum, the town where Jesus chose some of his first disciples. Here we also saw the remains of Peter’s house and an ancient synagogue whose foundations date back to the time of Jesus. Next we went to Tabgha, traditional site of the multiplication of loaves and fishes (Jn. 6, Mk. 6), followed by a visit to the Church of Peter’s Primacy.
Sea of Galilee Region
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Israel: Mediterranean Region (Nov 5-7)
Nov 5: We all met up in JFK airport and boarded our evening flight to Tel Aviv. After arriving Israel, at Tel Aviv airport and clearing immigration we met Zoharf (our tour guide and bus driver for the trip) and boarded our bus and then we headed for Joppa, a small town a few miles south of Tel Aviv. Here, Jonah attempted to flee from God. There is also a statue of the whale that swallowed Jonah to save him from drowning. Our hotel in the Mediterranean region is the Ramada Hotel and Suites in Netanya, just north of Tel Aviv. This is hotel has nice views of the Mediterranean Sea and lies along a trail for people to jog/run/walk along the sea. There is also a small area with cafes and restaurants.
Nov 6: We started the day with a drive to Gezer where the Gezer Calendar was discovered. Then we visited the Valley of Elah where the David vs Goliath battle took place as in 1 Samual 17. We then had lunch at Elvis diner, an American diner in Abu Gosh that has a statue of Elvis. Afterwords we headed to the Biblical gardens that is filled with wineries, tomb, a good luck tower, and ponds.
Nov 7: Today started with a drive to Caeserea, the main port into Israel during the time of Jesus. We got to see the Roman theater and port. After one last picture of the Mediterranean Sea, it was time for us to head inland towards the Galiliee Region.
Nov 6: We started the day with a drive to Gezer where the Gezer Calendar was discovered. Then we visited the Valley of Elah where the David vs Goliath battle took place as in 1 Samual 17. We then had lunch at Elvis diner, an American diner in Abu Gosh that has a statue of Elvis. Afterwords we headed to the Biblical gardens that is filled with wineries, tomb, a good luck tower, and ponds.
Nov 7: Today started with a drive to Caeserea, the main port into Israel during the time of Jesus. We got to see the Roman theater and port. After one last picture of the Mediterranean Sea, it was time for us to head inland towards the Galiliee Region.
Mediterranean Region Pictures
Sunday, September 2, 2012
San Francisco: Labor Day weekend 2012
My now annual summer trip to San Francisco.
1) San Francisco neighborhood walking tours: Japantown, Chinatown including a visit to a temple, and the Financial District including the site of the First US Branch Mint which has been converted to a small Asian art museum. Interesting fact: The east part of the bay used to come to Montgomery Street and then a seawall was built in the Embarcadero area and the space between Montgomery Street and Embarcadero was filled with dirt and sand expanding San Francisco. So San Francisco east of Montgomery street was once all water.
2) Day trip to San Jose via Caltrain to visit my friend Angela. I visited her church, The Home church, which is the most diverse church I've attended. There are ministries for Americans, Chinese, Ethiopians/Africans, and Mexicans. I went with Angela and 2 of her friends to the Tech Museum - San Jose's crown jewel. Like the name implies, the museum is a hands-on display of technology and its uses. There are displays where you compose music via a touchscreen, see parts of your head mixed with those of other visitors, create a roller coaster, play with the San Jose sharks hockey goalie simulator, and feel an earthquake. We got to feel an earthquake of 6.9 magnitude which is the magnitude of the 1989 earthquake in San Francisco. We even got a group picture by an infrared camera. There is also a Farmer's Market near The Home Church with fresh fruit samples - the fruits tastes very sweet. Often overlooked in favor of San Francisco, downtown San Jose is a good place for groups of friends to hangout.
3) Segway tour of San Francisco's hills. I have done segway tours before but this was my first that involved hills. The tour started out with San Francisco Maritime where we had views of Alcatraz Island and the San Francisco skyline. The tour guide mentioned the temperature of the San Francisco Bay is around 55-60 F - makes Austin's Barton Springs pool look warm by comparison. And yes, people do swim in the bay. Then came the hills, including 2 rides down the crooked Lombard street. I have driven down Lombard, walked down it, and now Segway-ed down it. Many pedestrians took pictures of us - we were like celebrities. Segway-ing down Lombard is actually straight forward (notice the irony? haha). You just lean back slightly and turn the handlebar according to the curves. We visited some hidden neighborhoods where we had great views of Bay Bridge, Treasure Island, and the Transamerica Pyramid.
4) Walk across Golden Gate bridge, one of my San Francisco traditions. This time, there is a visitor's plaza with a gift shop, garden, information displays, and models of the bridge. One model demonstrates how the bridge responds in heavy winds, vehicle traffic, and earthquakes. Another demonstrates how cable tension affects the difficulty of raising the bridge. Lower cable tension means the bridge is easier to raise but require taller towers which cost more to build. Engineers had to balance the cost of building the towers with ease of raising the bridge. Several color patterns were considered for Golden Gate bridge - one display shows the bridge in a checkered pattern.
1) San Francisco neighborhood walking tours: Japantown, Chinatown including a visit to a temple, and the Financial District including the site of the First US Branch Mint which has been converted to a small Asian art museum. Interesting fact: The east part of the bay used to come to Montgomery Street and then a seawall was built in the Embarcadero area and the space between Montgomery Street and Embarcadero was filled with dirt and sand expanding San Francisco. So San Francisco east of Montgomery street was once all water.
2) Day trip to San Jose via Caltrain to visit my friend Angela. I visited her church, The Home church, which is the most diverse church I've attended. There are ministries for Americans, Chinese, Ethiopians/Africans, and Mexicans. I went with Angela and 2 of her friends to the Tech Museum - San Jose's crown jewel. Like the name implies, the museum is a hands-on display of technology and its uses. There are displays where you compose music via a touchscreen, see parts of your head mixed with those of other visitors, create a roller coaster, play with the San Jose sharks hockey goalie simulator, and feel an earthquake. We got to feel an earthquake of 6.9 magnitude which is the magnitude of the 1989 earthquake in San Francisco. We even got a group picture by an infrared camera. There is also a Farmer's Market near The Home Church with fresh fruit samples - the fruits tastes very sweet. Often overlooked in favor of San Francisco, downtown San Jose is a good place for groups of friends to hangout.
3) Segway tour of San Francisco's hills. I have done segway tours before but this was my first that involved hills. The tour started out with San Francisco Maritime where we had views of Alcatraz Island and the San Francisco skyline. The tour guide mentioned the temperature of the San Francisco Bay is around 55-60 F - makes Austin's Barton Springs pool look warm by comparison. And yes, people do swim in the bay. Then came the hills, including 2 rides down the crooked Lombard street. I have driven down Lombard, walked down it, and now Segway-ed down it. Many pedestrians took pictures of us - we were like celebrities. Segway-ing down Lombard is actually straight forward (notice the irony? haha). You just lean back slightly and turn the handlebar according to the curves. We visited some hidden neighborhoods where we had great views of Bay Bridge, Treasure Island, and the Transamerica Pyramid.
4) Walk across Golden Gate bridge, one of my San Francisco traditions. This time, there is a visitor's plaza with a gift shop, garden, information displays, and models of the bridge. One model demonstrates how the bridge responds in heavy winds, vehicle traffic, and earthquakes. Another demonstrates how cable tension affects the difficulty of raising the bridge. Lower cable tension means the bridge is easier to raise but require taller towers which cost more to build. Engineers had to balance the cost of building the towers with ease of raising the bridge. Several color patterns were considered for Golden Gate bridge - one display shows the bridge in a checkered pattern.
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Russia - St Petersburg
Part 4 of 4
St Petersburg is often called the Venice of the North, very similar to Venice, Italy and Amsterdam, Netherlands. It was founded by Peter the Great and is Russia's second largest city. St Petersburg lies on 42 islands and has over 400 bridges and over 70 rivers and canals. Sunset is around 11:18pm and sunrise is around 4:48am. It doesn't become dark until around midnight, and even then there is still a little bit of light in the sky - this is called the white lights. Amazing it is still daylight at 11pm. Alesia served as our guide for St Petersburg.
After checking in to the Anabel Hotel at Nevskiy 88 we started our tour of St Petersburg. We visited the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood - very stunning inside and outside. The exterior design of this church was inspired by the St Basil's Cathedral in Moscow. Crossing the Neva River, we visited the Peter and Paul Fortress and the Cathedral of Peter and Paul. We then had our welcome to St Petersburg dinner at Hunter's House where I was fortunate to be seated in front of a Russia-style guitar. Afterwords, we went on a boat cruise in the canals of St Petersburg and got a nice overview of the city. Around 11:30pm, 3 of us climbed over 260 steps to the dome of St Isaac's Cathedral to enjoy the sunset. It was a real workout - the key is to pace yourself and start slow. In the end, it was worth it for the views of St Petersburg, including the St Petersburg TV tower which looks like the Eiffel Tower.
The next day, we boarded a hydrofoil for an excursion across the Gulf of Finland to Peterhof. A hydrofoil is a boat with a ski-like structure on the bottom - this structure raises the boat above water and reduces drag, allowing the boat to go faster. It is basically a cruise ship that runs like a jet ski. Upon arrival at Peterhof, we visited the Grand Palace. The palace lies behind beautiful fountains. Afterwords, we went inside St Isaac's Cathedral to experience its beautiful interior including a mosaic of Jesus. Then, we visited the inside of Kazan Cathedral - another masterpiece.
The next morning, we traveled to the Imperial Winter Palace to visit the Hermitage Museum, a large gallery of paintings, sculptures, and artifacts from all over the world and from different eras. This museum has the world's largest vase (though it looks more like a bowl). In the afternoon, we traveled to Pushkin to visit the Catherine Palace. The palace was created by Catherine the Great, second wife of Peter the third, and is yet another example of exemplary design on exterior architecture and interior including a ball room and a chess game set. In the evening, we concluded our St Petersburg visit watching a Russian folk show, "Feel Yourself Russian" at Nikolayevsky Palace.
My favorite Russia pictures
St Petersburg is often called the Venice of the North, very similar to Venice, Italy and Amsterdam, Netherlands. It was founded by Peter the Great and is Russia's second largest city. St Petersburg lies on 42 islands and has over 400 bridges and over 70 rivers and canals. Sunset is around 11:18pm and sunrise is around 4:48am. It doesn't become dark until around midnight, and even then there is still a little bit of light in the sky - this is called the white lights. Amazing it is still daylight at 11pm. Alesia served as our guide for St Petersburg.
After checking in to the Anabel Hotel at Nevskiy 88 we started our tour of St Petersburg. We visited the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood - very stunning inside and outside. The exterior design of this church was inspired by the St Basil's Cathedral in Moscow. Crossing the Neva River, we visited the Peter and Paul Fortress and the Cathedral of Peter and Paul. We then had our welcome to St Petersburg dinner at Hunter's House where I was fortunate to be seated in front of a Russia-style guitar. Afterwords, we went on a boat cruise in the canals of St Petersburg and got a nice overview of the city. Around 11:30pm, 3 of us climbed over 260 steps to the dome of St Isaac's Cathedral to enjoy the sunset. It was a real workout - the key is to pace yourself and start slow. In the end, it was worth it for the views of St Petersburg, including the St Petersburg TV tower which looks like the Eiffel Tower.
The next day, we boarded a hydrofoil for an excursion across the Gulf of Finland to Peterhof. A hydrofoil is a boat with a ski-like structure on the bottom - this structure raises the boat above water and reduces drag, allowing the boat to go faster. It is basically a cruise ship that runs like a jet ski. Upon arrival at Peterhof, we visited the Grand Palace. The palace lies behind beautiful fountains. Afterwords, we went inside St Isaac's Cathedral to experience its beautiful interior including a mosaic of Jesus. Then, we visited the inside of Kazan Cathedral - another masterpiece.
The next morning, we traveled to the Imperial Winter Palace to visit the Hermitage Museum, a large gallery of paintings, sculptures, and artifacts from all over the world and from different eras. This museum has the world's largest vase (though it looks more like a bowl). In the afternoon, we traveled to Pushkin to visit the Catherine Palace. The palace was created by Catherine the Great, second wife of Peter the third, and is yet another example of exemplary design on exterior architecture and interior including a ball room and a chess game set. In the evening, we concluded our St Petersburg visit watching a Russian folk show, "Feel Yourself Russian" at Nikolayevsky Palace.
My favorite Russia pictures
Saturday, July 21, 2012
Russia - Novgorod
Part 3 of 4
Novgorod is a nice small town with culture. Dimitri (aka Mitri) served as our tour guide in Novgorod.
In the morning, we visited the Novgorod Kremlin which surrounds the St Sophia Cathedral. We also saw the Millennium Monument which symbolizes Russia's growth and power.
In the afternoon, we visited the Yuriev Monastery and then the open air Museum of Wooden Architeture, consisting of wooden izbas (village houses), chapels, and churches. These old buildings have been preserved, inside and outside. Going inside the izbas you get to know how Russians lived long time ago. We also saw a wedding march at the open air museum - wedding marches happen frequently during summer in Russia. We had dinner at Yurievskoe Podvorie, a charming country-style restaurant near the open air museum. The restaurant lies near a garden of wildflowers. During dinner, we got treated to a special surprise Russian folk dance.
After dinner, a group of us went to the beach inside the Kremlin. We walked in the river and people-watch. Though we were in Russia, I felt like it was my USA Independence Day celebration (we were in Novgorod on July 4). We overnighted at the Hotel Volkhov.
In the afternoon, we visited the Yuriev Monastery and then the open air Museum of Wooden Architeture, consisting of wooden izbas (village houses), chapels, and churches. These old buildings have been preserved, inside and outside. Going inside the izbas you get to know how Russians lived long time ago. We also saw a wedding march at the open air museum - wedding marches happen frequently during summer in Russia. We had dinner at Yurievskoe Podvorie, a charming country-style restaurant near the open air museum. The restaurant lies near a garden of wildflowers. During dinner, we got treated to a special surprise Russian folk dance.
After dinner, a group of us went to the beach inside the Kremlin. We walked in the river and people-watch. Though we were in Russia, I felt like it was my USA Independence Day celebration (we were in Novgorod on July 4). We overnighted at the Hotel Volkhov.
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Russia - Golden Ring
Part 2 of 4
We departed Moscow in the morning and headed for the Golden Ring, a region of small cities (such as Sergiev Posad, Suzdal, and Vladimir) northeast of Moscow.
We traveled to Sergiev Posad to visit the Holy Trinity Lavra. It consists of 3 cathedrals and is the center of Russian Orthodox Christianity. There is also a flea market place outside the Holy Trinity. We then traveled to Suzdal and had a special dinner with a Russian family. Their home functions as a lodge for visitors and it has a room for hosting large groups. The Russian dinner consisted of salad (with vegetables from their garden), cucumbers dipped in salt water (almost like pickles), mushroom soup, pork with potatoes, apple pastry, and tea. We spent the night in Vladimir, at Hotel Prince Vladimir. The shower unit looks like a spaceship and has several high tech features, though I couldn't figure out how to use them.
The next day we met our tour guide Elena for Suzdal and Vladimir. We explored churches and monsteries in Suzdal. Churches often have 5 domes, representing Jesus and the 4 Evangelists Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Suzdal is a beautiful country town in Russia and lies along the Kamenka River. At St. Euthymius Monastery, we watched a bell performance. The bell performance consists of a one person orchestra. He uses his hands and feet to control cords connected to the 16 bells. Amazing he could pull it off.
In the afternoon, we went to Vladimir. We visited the Assumption Cathedral and the Golden Gate. The Golden Gate was constructed in the middle of the 12th century and remains the only preserved Russian city gate, though it was modified when reconstructed in the 18th century. Today, the Golden Gate functions as a museum. Visitors can climb 65 steps to enjoy the exhibits and a nice view of Vladimir.
Late afternoon, we traveled back to Moscow to board our overnight train to Novgorod.
We departed Moscow in the morning and headed for the Golden Ring, a region of small cities (such as Sergiev Posad, Suzdal, and Vladimir) northeast of Moscow.
We traveled to Sergiev Posad to visit the Holy Trinity Lavra. It consists of 3 cathedrals and is the center of Russian Orthodox Christianity. There is also a flea market place outside the Holy Trinity. We then traveled to Suzdal and had a special dinner with a Russian family. Their home functions as a lodge for visitors and it has a room for hosting large groups. The Russian dinner consisted of salad (with vegetables from their garden), cucumbers dipped in salt water (almost like pickles), mushroom soup, pork with potatoes, apple pastry, and tea. We spent the night in Vladimir, at Hotel Prince Vladimir. The shower unit looks like a spaceship and has several high tech features, though I couldn't figure out how to use them.
The next day we met our tour guide Elena for Suzdal and Vladimir. We explored churches and monsteries in Suzdal. Churches often have 5 domes, representing Jesus and the 4 Evangelists Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Suzdal is a beautiful country town in Russia and lies along the Kamenka River. At St. Euthymius Monastery, we watched a bell performance. The bell performance consists of a one person orchestra. He uses his hands and feet to control cords connected to the 16 bells. Amazing he could pull it off.
In the afternoon, we went to Vladimir. We visited the Assumption Cathedral and the Golden Gate. The Golden Gate was constructed in the middle of the 12th century and remains the only preserved Russian city gate, though it was modified when reconstructed in the 18th century. Today, the Golden Gate functions as a museum. Visitors can climb 65 steps to enjoy the exhibits and a nice view of Vladimir.
Late afternoon, we traveled back to Moscow to board our overnight train to Novgorod.
Saturday, July 14, 2012
Russia - Moscow
Part 1 of 4
I joined a group of 24 people, from Austin and San Antonio, on a trip to Russia.
We arrived at Moscow's Domodedovo airport in the afternoon. We met our tour guide Yulia (Julia in English) and transferred to Hotel Katerina Park. Katerina Park offers free breakfast, free wi-fi, and a free minibar. This is the first hotel I've stayed that offers a free minibar. We then had a welcome to Moscow dinner at a traditional Russian Restaurant and explored Old Arbat Street. In Moscow, sunset is around 10:17pm (which means it isn't dark until 11pm) and sunrise is around 4:47am. Made for some very long daylight. Moscow is the capital of Russia, and is Russia's largest city with 11.5 million inhabitants. Many people live in country towns outside of Moscow and commute into the city for work.
The next day we started with a panoramic tour of Moscow, visiting the Moscow State University (one of the 7 sisters in Moscow - they have the same exterior shape), World War II Memorial, the Red Square, and the Moscow Kremlin. At the Red Square, we visited the St Basil's Cathedral and then had lunch at the GUM - Russia's largest department store. The exterior design of St Basil's Cathedral fits my initial image of Russia with colorful onion shaped domes. Russians hold their cathedrals in high regard. The main reason for the onion shaped domes is it would allow the snow to roll off instead of becoming stuck on the roofs. Too much snow can damage the roofs due to excess weight. We also got treated to a choir performance at St Basils. It was interesting, if a bit unsettling, to be standing in the middle of the site of many Russia military marchings. We also got to see the changing of the guards. In the afternoon, we visited the Moscow Kremlin including the Czar Cannon (world's largest cannon) and Czar Bell (world's largest bell). Before the bell could be cast, a large hole developed as a result of a fire in 1737, and the bell never rang. We concluded the afternoon at Cathedral of Christ the Savior. In the evening, a group of us had dinner at a nice restaurant/bar/dance place near the river. After dinner we danced a couple of songs. We weren't the best but we enjoyed ourselves. And at least we had the courage to go out on the dance floor.
The next morning we visited the Tretiakov State Gallery, with a large collection of Russian art and artifacts. We then had lunch at My My (pronounced Moo Moo), a cafeteria style Russian restaurant that Yulia recommended. We did a tour of the Moscow subway. Some of the stations, especially the ones built between the 1930's and 1950's, are like art museums with statues, mosaics, and marble floors. Russians are proud of their subway system. Afterwords, we checked out the Izmailovsky Flea Market featuring Russian souvenirs.
My favorite Russia pictures
I joined a group of 24 people, from Austin and San Antonio, on a trip to Russia.
We arrived at Moscow's Domodedovo airport in the afternoon. We met our tour guide Yulia (Julia in English) and transferred to Hotel Katerina Park. Katerina Park offers free breakfast, free wi-fi, and a free minibar. This is the first hotel I've stayed that offers a free minibar. We then had a welcome to Moscow dinner at a traditional Russian Restaurant and explored Old Arbat Street. In Moscow, sunset is around 10:17pm (which means it isn't dark until 11pm) and sunrise is around 4:47am. Made for some very long daylight. Moscow is the capital of Russia, and is Russia's largest city with 11.5 million inhabitants. Many people live in country towns outside of Moscow and commute into the city for work.
The next day we started with a panoramic tour of Moscow, visiting the Moscow State University (one of the 7 sisters in Moscow - they have the same exterior shape), World War II Memorial, the Red Square, and the Moscow Kremlin. At the Red Square, we visited the St Basil's Cathedral and then had lunch at the GUM - Russia's largest department store. The exterior design of St Basil's Cathedral fits my initial image of Russia with colorful onion shaped domes. Russians hold their cathedrals in high regard. The main reason for the onion shaped domes is it would allow the snow to roll off instead of becoming stuck on the roofs. Too much snow can damage the roofs due to excess weight. We also got treated to a choir performance at St Basils. It was interesting, if a bit unsettling, to be standing in the middle of the site of many Russia military marchings. We also got to see the changing of the guards. In the afternoon, we visited the Moscow Kremlin including the Czar Cannon (world's largest cannon) and Czar Bell (world's largest bell). Before the bell could be cast, a large hole developed as a result of a fire in 1737, and the bell never rang. We concluded the afternoon at Cathedral of Christ the Savior. In the evening, a group of us had dinner at a nice restaurant/bar/dance place near the river. After dinner we danced a couple of songs. We weren't the best but we enjoyed ourselves. And at least we had the courage to go out on the dance floor.
The next morning we visited the Tretiakov State Gallery, with a large collection of Russian art and artifacts. We then had lunch at My My (pronounced Moo Moo), a cafeteria style Russian restaurant that Yulia recommended. We did a tour of the Moscow subway. Some of the stations, especially the ones built between the 1930's and 1950's, are like art museums with statues, mosaics, and marble floors. Russians are proud of their subway system. Afterwords, we checked out the Izmailovsky Flea Market featuring Russian souvenirs.
My favorite Russia pictures
Saturday, June 9, 2012
New York - June 2012
An early summer trip to New York to meet up with friends, enjoy the city, and experience cooler weather (daytime temperatures in the 60s and 70s compared to 90s in Texas).
June 1
Arrived in Newark airport. On the flight, I sat next to a woman who has done lots of world travel - many European countries and in Caribbean region. I hope to travel like her in the future. I checked into the 70 Park Avenue, my hotel for this trip. The hotel is located a few blocks south of Grand Central station in a mostly residential area. After dinner at Black Shack I went for an evening walk in Times Square.
June 2
My friends Dan and Melody came from Hartford and we went to Chinatown for a dim-sum lunch at Golden Unicorn. Great food and the restaurant had a good atmosphere. A bit pricy since a lot of the dishes looked good and we tried a bunch. After lunch we went to Central Park and walked around the Jacqueline Kennedy Reservoir then rested in the park. We had dinner in Koreatown, at Pocha 32. After my friends went to catch their train home, I ended the evening at the Empire State Building. I went up to the observation deck where I enjoyed the panoramic views of Manhattan, including views of the new World Trade Center, Chrysler building, and the Top of the Rock (building with GE in front) where we could see camera flashes from the Top of the Rock. In addition to the observation deck on the 86th floor, I also went to the 102nd floor inside the spire - the highest point in NYC. The views in the spire are mostly the same as the main observation deck except it is indoor and glass enclosed, while the 86th floor is open-air. I recommend going up to the 102nd floor on cold, windy days as you will be protected from the elements.
June 3
I went to downtown Manhattan and visited the 9/11 Memorial. The memorial pays tribute to those who died in the attacks. The memorial consists of 2 pools with waterfalls, placed where the twin towers once stood. The new World Trade Center is currently under construction and when complete will consist of several skyscrapers including 1 World Trade Center (also known as Freedom Tower) and a museum, all surrounding the memorial.
Afterwords, I went to the skyscraper museum which has information on the evolution of skyscrapers in New York and also around the world. The Tribune building, built in 1875, was New York's tallest building at 270 feet. This building was the first of many skyscrapers that would be built in New York in the coming years. The museum also shows the world's tallest skyscrapers. The height of skyscrapers are measured by
1) Ground to highest occupied floor
2) Ground to roof
3) Ground to highest point (this includes antennas, spires, etc)
The Burj tower in Dubai is the world's tallest building in all 3 criteria. The 1 WTC (or Freedom Tower) will be 1776 feet tall which would make it the tallest building in the United States (by criteria 1 and 3), and the world's third tallest building.
I then walked around lower Manhattan and saw views of Jersey City and the Statue of Liberty.
I had a fancy dinner with 20 other frequent fliers from all over the country. We all met up at North Square where we enjoyed gourmet food and many different choices of wine. I had grilled shrimp, steak with french fries, and key lime pie. I love meeting other travelers.
June 4
I spent today in Midtown Manhattan. I went to the New York Fire department museum in Rockefeller Center. Not much to see - just a fire truck replica and firefighting equipment. I then went to the Lego store. Today's Lego sets have more elaborate pieces and designs compared to when I was a kid. I love the Lego representation of Rockefeller Center including the big dragon. I had lunch in Koreatown, at Kunjip. I preferred Kunjip over Pocha 32 - better side dishes and also a nicer atmosphere. After lunch I made my way to JFK airport for my flight home.
June 1
Arrived in Newark airport. On the flight, I sat next to a woman who has done lots of world travel - many European countries and in Caribbean region. I hope to travel like her in the future. I checked into the 70 Park Avenue, my hotel for this trip. The hotel is located a few blocks south of Grand Central station in a mostly residential area. After dinner at Black Shack I went for an evening walk in Times Square.
June 2
My friends Dan and Melody came from Hartford and we went to Chinatown for a dim-sum lunch at Golden Unicorn. Great food and the restaurant had a good atmosphere. A bit pricy since a lot of the dishes looked good and we tried a bunch. After lunch we went to Central Park and walked around the Jacqueline Kennedy Reservoir then rested in the park. We had dinner in Koreatown, at Pocha 32. After my friends went to catch their train home, I ended the evening at the Empire State Building. I went up to the observation deck where I enjoyed the panoramic views of Manhattan, including views of the new World Trade Center, Chrysler building, and the Top of the Rock (building with GE in front) where we could see camera flashes from the Top of the Rock. In addition to the observation deck on the 86th floor, I also went to the 102nd floor inside the spire - the highest point in NYC. The views in the spire are mostly the same as the main observation deck except it is indoor and glass enclosed, while the 86th floor is open-air. I recommend going up to the 102nd floor on cold, windy days as you will be protected from the elements.
June 3
I went to downtown Manhattan and visited the 9/11 Memorial. The memorial pays tribute to those who died in the attacks. The memorial consists of 2 pools with waterfalls, placed where the twin towers once stood. The new World Trade Center is currently under construction and when complete will consist of several skyscrapers including 1 World Trade Center (also known as Freedom Tower) and a museum, all surrounding the memorial.
Afterwords, I went to the skyscraper museum which has information on the evolution of skyscrapers in New York and also around the world. The Tribune building, built in 1875, was New York's tallest building at 270 feet. This building was the first of many skyscrapers that would be built in New York in the coming years. The museum also shows the world's tallest skyscrapers. The height of skyscrapers are measured by
1) Ground to highest occupied floor
2) Ground to roof
3) Ground to highest point (this includes antennas, spires, etc)
The Burj tower in Dubai is the world's tallest building in all 3 criteria. The 1 WTC (or Freedom Tower) will be 1776 feet tall which would make it the tallest building in the United States (by criteria 1 and 3), and the world's third tallest building.
I then walked around lower Manhattan and saw views of Jersey City and the Statue of Liberty.
I had a fancy dinner with 20 other frequent fliers from all over the country. We all met up at North Square where we enjoyed gourmet food and many different choices of wine. I had grilled shrimp, steak with french fries, and key lime pie. I love meeting other travelers.
June 4
I spent today in Midtown Manhattan. I went to the New York Fire department museum in Rockefeller Center. Not much to see - just a fire truck replica and firefighting equipment. I then went to the Lego store. Today's Lego sets have more elaborate pieces and designs compared to when I was a kid. I love the Lego representation of Rockefeller Center including the big dragon. I had lunch in Koreatown, at Kunjip. I preferred Kunjip over Pocha 32 - better side dishes and also a nicer atmosphere. After lunch I made my way to JFK airport for my flight home.
Sunday, May 20, 2012
San Antonio Tour
After 9 months working in San Antonio, I got around to taking a tour of downtown San Antonio. Downtown is very different from the rest of San Antonio with many historical sights, the Riverwalk, Mexican-style villages, and of course the Alamo. I joined a segway tour group - like my previous segway tours they are a fun way to explore a city.
I also went up to the observation deck in Tower of America. The tower was built to be the primary structure during the 1968 World's fair. In addition to the panoramic views of the city, there is also a 4D movie with motion seats about the main themes of Texas, from wildlife to football to space exploration.
Friday, January 20, 2012
2012 Whistler Ski Trip
I joined 52 other people on a ski trip to Whistler in British Columbia, Canada (about 2 hours north of Vancouver). Though the majority of the people are in Austin, there were quite a few from San Antonio, one from San Angelo, TX, and one from Washington DC. Snow was great and plentiful which made for good skiing conditions. Temperatures were a bit colder than normal but that made hot chocolate and the outdoor hot tub at our condo complex even better. Whistler was the site of the 2010 winter Olympics and has trails along 2 mountains: Blackcomb and Whistler. Whistler Village, at the base of the mountains is a community hub with restaurants, shops, and a grocery store. Whistler Village is very well decorated - at night the place feels like Christmas with all the lights. Overall, the trip consisted of skiing during the day and enjoying community with the group through the hot tub, dinner, and the devotional/ice breaker session.
January 12
I arrived at Seattle around 9pm and spent the night at a Doubletree hotel a few minutes from the Seattle airport. One nice feature of Doubletree hotels: warm chocolate-chip cookies upon checking in.
January 13
Around 10:30am, we all met up at the Seattle airport and boarded a chartered tour bus for the drive to Whistler. Our driver, Zed, pointed out some key sites of downtown Seattle and also drove us through downtown Vancouver. Vancouver is also known as glass jungle given the number of buildings with mostly glass walls. After leaving Vancouver, we drove along the scenic highway 99 to the mountain and arrived at Aspens condos. These are nice condos with all the amenities to make you feel at home. Aspens has a hot tub and is right on the Blackcomb mountain for ski in/ski out convenience. After checking in and picking up our skis, I joined 9 other people for dinner at Black's Pub - they have some of the best hamburgers I've ever eaten.
January 14
1st ski day. I spent today doing the green trails on the Blackcomb mountain. At the end of each ski day I went into Aspens outdoor hot tub with other skiers to relax and unwind after a day of skiing. In the evening, we had dinner at China Bistro then a devotional/ice breaker session.
January 15
2nd ski day. It was sunny today and I started off by going up to 7th Heaven - I was actually above the clouds! Then I skied down some and took the peak-to-peak gondola to the Whistler mountain. After getting off the gondola at Roundhouse lodge, I skied down to the base and took the Whistler Village gondola back to the top. I then took the Peak-to-peak gondola back to Blackcomb mountain this time in one of the glass-bottom units. It was interesting to see the ground passing by, like riding in a helicopter. I ended the day skiing some trails on Blackcomb. In the evening, some of us did a sleigh ride through the mountain. It was like riding a horse carriage, only in the snowy trails. Halfway through the sleigh ride, we had hot chocolate at a furnace-heated hut.Dinner was at the Keg Steakhouse - great food although pricey even for resort standards.
January 16
3rd ski day. After 2 days of solid skiing, I took it easy today. I went with 2 of my roommates to the Whistler mountain and took the Whistler Village gondola to the top. We met up with 2 of our friends at Roundhouse and had lunch. Afterwords, we skied to the Olympic Chair trails and did a few runs there. I then skied down to Whistler base and took the Blackcomb Excalibur Gondola to Blackcomb and skied to Aspens. We had 2 dinner groups to Mongolian Grill - this Mongolian Grill differs from others in that you are charged by the pound instead of paying a flat rate.
January 17
4th ski day. I skied to the Whistler mountain base and took the Whistler Village Gondola up. I skied all the way down to the base. Took the Whistler Village Gondola up again and skied a different route down. Took the Whistler Village Gondola up a 3rd time and went to Roundhouse Lodge for lunch with other skiers. Then we went up the Peak Express lift to the very top of Whistler mountain and we saw Whistler statue. It was very windy up there! We skied a green trail to Roundhouse Lodge, then I skied down to Whistler base (that's 3 runs from Whistler peak to base!) and took the Blackcomb Excalibur Gondola to Blackcomb Mountain. I skied the blue trails to Aspens. Most of the group had a full course dinner at Old Spaghetti Factory - dinner was bread with Garlic butter, minestrone soup, seafood linguini, and spumoni ice cream.
January 18
We had an adventure getting home. It started with sub zero temperatures (Fahrenheit) which resulted in frozen locks to the bus's luggage compartment doors. It took some time to defrost the locks. Then, our flight out of Seattle to DFW was delayed nearly 2 hours due to snow, and that caused all of us to miss our connecting flights to Austin/San Antonio. It was my first time to be stranded at an airport overnight due to a delayed flight. But we were all rebooked on the first flights home the next day and we arrived safe and sound.
More pictures:
Mine
Peter's (the organizer)
January 12
I arrived at Seattle around 9pm and spent the night at a Doubletree hotel a few minutes from the Seattle airport. One nice feature of Doubletree hotels: warm chocolate-chip cookies upon checking in.
January 13
Around 10:30am, we all met up at the Seattle airport and boarded a chartered tour bus for the drive to Whistler. Our driver, Zed, pointed out some key sites of downtown Seattle and also drove us through downtown Vancouver. Vancouver is also known as glass jungle given the number of buildings with mostly glass walls. After leaving Vancouver, we drove along the scenic highway 99 to the mountain and arrived at Aspens condos. These are nice condos with all the amenities to make you feel at home. Aspens has a hot tub and is right on the Blackcomb mountain for ski in/ski out convenience. After checking in and picking up our skis, I joined 9 other people for dinner at Black's Pub - they have some of the best hamburgers I've ever eaten.
January 14
1st ski day. I spent today doing the green trails on the Blackcomb mountain. At the end of each ski day I went into Aspens outdoor hot tub with other skiers to relax and unwind after a day of skiing. In the evening, we had dinner at China Bistro then a devotional/ice breaker session.
January 15
2nd ski day. It was sunny today and I started off by going up to 7th Heaven - I was actually above the clouds! Then I skied down some and took the peak-to-peak gondola to the Whistler mountain. After getting off the gondola at Roundhouse lodge, I skied down to the base and took the Whistler Village gondola back to the top. I then took the Peak-to-peak gondola back to Blackcomb mountain this time in one of the glass-bottom units. It was interesting to see the ground passing by, like riding in a helicopter. I ended the day skiing some trails on Blackcomb. In the evening, some of us did a sleigh ride through the mountain. It was like riding a horse carriage, only in the snowy trails. Halfway through the sleigh ride, we had hot chocolate at a furnace-heated hut.Dinner was at the Keg Steakhouse - great food although pricey even for resort standards.
January 16
3rd ski day. After 2 days of solid skiing, I took it easy today. I went with 2 of my roommates to the Whistler mountain and took the Whistler Village gondola to the top. We met up with 2 of our friends at Roundhouse and had lunch. Afterwords, we skied to the Olympic Chair trails and did a few runs there. I then skied down to Whistler base and took the Blackcomb Excalibur Gondola to Blackcomb and skied to Aspens. We had 2 dinner groups to Mongolian Grill - this Mongolian Grill differs from others in that you are charged by the pound instead of paying a flat rate.
January 17
4th ski day. I skied to the Whistler mountain base and took the Whistler Village Gondola up. I skied all the way down to the base. Took the Whistler Village Gondola up again and skied a different route down. Took the Whistler Village Gondola up a 3rd time and went to Roundhouse Lodge for lunch with other skiers. Then we went up the Peak Express lift to the very top of Whistler mountain and we saw Whistler statue. It was very windy up there! We skied a green trail to Roundhouse Lodge, then I skied down to Whistler base (that's 3 runs from Whistler peak to base!) and took the Blackcomb Excalibur Gondola to Blackcomb Mountain. I skied the blue trails to Aspens. Most of the group had a full course dinner at Old Spaghetti Factory - dinner was bread with Garlic butter, minestrone soup, seafood linguini, and spumoni ice cream.
January 18
We had an adventure getting home. It started with sub zero temperatures (Fahrenheit) which resulted in frozen locks to the bus's luggage compartment doors. It took some time to defrost the locks. Then, our flight out of Seattle to DFW was delayed nearly 2 hours due to snow, and that caused all of us to miss our connecting flights to Austin/San Antonio. It was my first time to be stranded at an airport overnight due to a delayed flight. But we were all rebooked on the first flights home the next day and we arrived safe and sound.
More pictures:
Mine
Peter's (the organizer)
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