Ontario California!

Really wanted to see my dog on this visit to Southern California; I certainly had the time but for the first time ever my ex denied me visitation during my window of downtime.  Heartbroken as I was, I decided to get out and explore Ontario the best I could.  I’ve always been through this city but have never really spent much time here.

Decided to take a long walk and that walk ended up being a little longer than planned.  Sidewalks ended when they probably shouldn’t have.  Roads that were on maps weren’t there anymore due to construction.  To make a long story short I ended up walking all the way to Rancho Cucamonga in a extra long detour. 

Saw a park on the map and decided to check it out.  Got there only to learn that there is an entrance fee. I would’ve had no problem paying it if the park had a back gate so I could continue my walk, but it didn’t, so I passed on entering the park.  Maybe next time.  Looked like a beautiful place.  I continued on and discovered Founders Garden outside the Citizens Business Bank Arena.  It was so peaceful and serene.  Then I ended up at the Ontario Mills Outlet Mall.  At that point I had to do a complete recheck on what state I was in. The mall is IDENTICAL to the Grapevine Mills Mall in Grapevine, Texas!!! 

Exploring the “country” side of Los Angeles was fun. Thanks Ontario!   

The Feel of Fresno!

So ending up in Fresno wasn’t on my initial plans for New Years Day.  Work called and next thing I know, this was the destination I was headed to.  Flying in, we had a gorgeous view of the Sierra Nevada’s and I must say from talking to people and asking them what there is to do in Fresno, visiting Yosemite is probably one of the only things worthwhile on the bucket list there though I’m determined on future visits to figure out what the city truly offers.

I’ll be honest and many will probably hate me for saying it.  Fresno has been one of the most saddest cities I’ve visited so far in my travels. The best way that I know how to describe the Fresno I saw, is a combination of South Central, Downtown and East Los Angeles with maybe a little bit of El Monte California mixed in there meets Tulsa, Oklahoma.  I know that’s a wide swing and just sounds weird but it truly is the only way I can accurately describe the feel of Fresno.  It’s one of those places where I can see used to be filled with so much life but now what remains are boarded up windows and empty spaces for rent. I’m sure the city has a little more life than what I saw while I was there, after all I was there New Years day so things are probably slightly different.  I can see the city being such a happening place way back in the day. It’s a place that could be reborn into something great one day but for now it just has a certain mood. I can’t quite describe it. It’s almost a city in mourning of better days maybe?

Anyway, while I was there I explored the downtown area.  Noticed a lot of loitering going on. Guess that’s pretty normal for this city from what I hear.  I saw museums and historic buildings; all closed of course because of the Holiday.  However, I was able to find a few thrift shops open and got to rummage through a few racks of goodies.  Didn’t pick up anything but it was fun to see. I enjoyed seeing the architecture of Fresno.  Old buildings always fascinate me a bit. As a kid I would wander off into spaces I wasn’t supposed to go exploring old buildings in the city I grew up in. I guess there is a nostalgia of the past that I’m drawn to.  

Anyway, that is my Fresno experience this go around.  I’m sure I’ll be back one day.  Maybe next time I’ll be able to dig into this city a little deeper and figure out it’s heartbeat a little better.  Until next time Fresno......

Goodbye 2015, Hello 2016

So it was nice warm Fort Lauderdale for me for New Years Eve.  Saw the last sunset of 2015 as I landed and the first sunrise in 2016 as I departed.  Wasn’t here long but just long enough to have a evening with some co-workers and later spend some time next to the hotel pool and enjoy some warm evening temperatures. I’m not a fan of cold so this was a nice quiet way to bring in the new year. Don’t know what 2016 has in store for me.  Hoping it’ll be a good year.....Looking ahead and thank you Fort Lauderdale for nice winter weather.

Maybe Next time Tucson

Sometimes when I’m out on the road, I just don’t have the time to get to see much.  This visit to Tucson Arizona was one of those visits. There are also times when the loneliness of travel kicks in and this was one of those days. Here are a few snapshots I did manage to get along the way. Certainly not my best work....I’m sure I’ll be back here one day. I plan to explore then....

Not a Beach Christmas

So this year I decided to try and have a beach Christmas.  That didn’t quite turn out like I planned.  I ended up in Orange County on Christmas Day and yes there are so many beaches nearby.  Instead I decided to take a very long walk to the Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve in Newport Beach.  Got there right about sunset so I wasn’t able to enjoy much of it.  These short winter days are killing me!! Think I could’ve walked for miles down the path. If I ever get back here I’m certainly going to explore more. This is a new corner of Orange County I had not known existed and I lived in Southern California for 12 years. It was nice to experience a little nature in the city....

A Portland Christmas Eve

Landed in Portland on Christmas Eve and took the train into downtown to see what there was to do.  Hit the Saturday Market for the last time in 2015. Didn’t realize it closes for several months out of the year. Turns out it won’t reopen until sometime later in 2016. It was fun looking at all the handmade goodies people were swooping up as last minute Christmas Gifts.

I then wandered over to the world famous Voodoo Doughnuts. Yes there was even a line on Christmas Eve. Stopped in to just see what the hoopla was all about. Yes I bought a doughnut but nothing super fancy.  It’s cash only and I’m certainly a credit card girl. 

I then took a walk up the street to check out Powells Books and then finished this downtown Portland tour with a stop in at Deschutes Brewery.  It was cold. It was rainy but not as bad as my previous visit.  I’m still not even close to being done exploring Portland. Until next time Portland.....   

Getting Goofy in Vancouver!

Who says you can’t be Goofy?  Just a fun figurine display in the Vancouver BC airport. Didn’t get to see a whole lot of this city as usual.  One of these days maybe just maybe I’ll be given a few hours in this Canadian city to see something more than the back of my eyelids.  Vancouver dreaming!

Oh San Diego!

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again:  San Diego is a city with so many bittersweet memories for me. I know just a few weeks ago I said I never have much time here.  Well this go-around that changed.  I got to spend a few more hours here and got a chance to take walk down memory lane. I decided for this visit I would see the city on foot and decided to get as much crammed in as I could.  

I started at Balboa Park. I’m still fascinated with Cabrillo Bridge that connects Downtown San Diego with Balboa Park.  One of these days I’m going to make it a point to photograph that bridge at dark.  I have a feeling with all the lights on the bridge, it must be so beautiful. I didn’t get that done this go-around because there were just so many places to be. While walking through Balboa park I realized how much I had forgotten just how beautiful the park is. With artists and live music everywhere it was just one of those places you could quite easily get lost in the moment. The architecture is amazing.  I grabbed a capture of The artist village which boasts a colorful ground to walk on for a fun shopping experience with a Spanish Vibe.  As I made my way over to a fountain tucked away in another corner of the park, I found a little boy and his mother making friends with a brave duck that wasn’t too proud to beg for a handout. The ducks had quite the personalities.  All in all, if you enjoy art, love beautiful surrounds and like visiting museums; Balboa Park is a must see if you’re visiting San Diego.  

The sun started to set and I decided I wanted to try make it down to the waterfront for the sunset.  I cut through Little Italy and succeeded on making my way down to the water in time for the setting sun.  Grabbed a few photos and ended up talking with a gal giving bike ride tours for tourists. She tried to sell me on her time and even gave me a great deal but it’s no secret I’ve been pinching pennies so I kindly declined.  Maybe next time.

I ended up in the Gaslamp District for dinner.  Took me a while to find a place that had any food I actually felt like eating.  I don’t know why I wasn’t more hungry.  I hadn’t really eaten all day and had been constantly walking but I guess maybe there were just some things on my mind.  After walking up and down 5th Street I finally settled on a place. I realize getting a table for 1 is usually the easiest way to go out in any restaurant. There’s hardly ever a wait. Ordered some food then my feet decided it was time for bed.  I think I had been walking nearly 7 hours straight. So I made it back to the hotel and called it a night.

It was no surprise to me when I woke up well before the sunrise. I tossed and turned for a bit but I just know me. If I can’t sleep; I just can’t sleep.  No point in trying. It was well before the sun was up but I decided that it was time to go out and get down to the waterfront to catch the sunrise.  It amazes me how the voice of the city streets change by the hour of the day.  Like every other city, San Diego is no different. 

There is one thing that is consistent on the streets of downtown San Diego - the homeless. You could be in the best corner of town and they are still there.  I found them at all hours of the day. It’s an unfortunate reality for San Diego that shouldn’t go unmentioned.

Anyway on my early morning walk, I found my way in a new corer of San Diego I hadn’t yet explored.  It was a place the bike tour gal had mentioned to me the evening prior.  I found myself at Seaport Village.  I went out to the waterfront and sat with a view of the Coronado Bridge and waited for the sun to rise.  It was a nice peaceful way to start my day and collect my thoughts.

I found a cute bagel shop on my way back to the hotel. Stopped in and got a bite and then that was it.  I had to pack my bags and say goodbye.  Really could’ve used more time here.  This was one of those nice visits to a city and I’m really grateful to have been given the opportunity to get back and explore even though it was just for a little while.  Thank you San Diego!    

Catching some ZZZzzz's in Charlotte

My stay here was too short to enjoy much of anything except some sleep.  Did grab a few photos, mostly of the airport.  Charlotte is feeling festive with those poinsettia trees at the airport.  Maybe next time I’ll have a few extra hours on the ground here to do something fun but for this visit sleep was the only thing on the agenda.....  

Portland and my iPhone didn't Behave.....

When I landed in Portland this past week,  I was excited. On this visit I actually had a little time to kill and explore but Portland decided it didn’t want to behave. It greeted me with pouring rain. Aside from seeing the inside of a hotel room and the airport on my last visit, I really haven’t had a clue what to expect from this city. It was a brand new city for me. I decided early on that I needed to trample out in spite of the less than ideal weather.  This island girl isn’t made for cold (I don’t like anything below 70-degrees) but I sucked it up.  I thought about what I should do with my time. Thought for a second about hiking but that probably wouldn’t have been smart in the pouring rain, so I settled on taking the train into downtown Portland.  I really don’t know much about this city.  I still don’t. I decided to take a few hours and walk around downtown to see what I would randomly find. Here’s a few of my captures from this adventure.  

Unfortunately, my photography was cut short since my iPhone5s decided to be stubborn as well. I’m not sure if any of you have had similar experiences but my phone will be sitting at a nice battery power (60-70%) and in the middle of taking photo’s without warning, the entire phone shuts off. It basically tells me I have no battery power, but as soon as I plug it in, it powers right back up to the power it was at. I’m starting to wonder if it has something to do with cooler weather?  The last time this happened was in Jackson Hole earlier in the year when the temps were in the 40s much like this Portland visit.  If any of you have any insight on my iphone issue I’d love to hear about it. Not sure how my winter photography will turn out if this keeps up.