My Wonderful Vacation in Central Vietnam 28 Jun 2024 7:37 AM (9 months ago)
On March 31st, 2023; my tour group arrived by flight to Da Nang, after spending several days in southern Vietnam. Now we were in central Vietnam. We boarded our next tour bus and proceeded on our way. Our guide purchased traditional Vietnamese Bahn Mi sandwiches(crusty bread roll filled with veggies) for us to enjoy during our lengthy drive.
Eventually we made our way to our next destination…the ancient town of Hoi An.
This coastal city is known for its historic Old Town and glorious canals. The city’s architecture showcases a variety of designs and cultures from Chinese temples to French colonial buildings to Vietnamese narrow “tube houses”, and a Japanese Covered Bridge with a pagoda.
Upon entering the Ancient Town center, one sees an iconic 17th century Japanese, commercial sailboat on display.
We strolled by several temples with ornate and colorful gates in Old Town.
A plethora of gift shops sold everything from clothing to jewelry to figurines. Several shops sold colorful and decorative fabric lanterns, which is what the town is known for. I purchased this must-have traditional Vietnamese souvenir!!
Art galleries also came across our path, including this one located in a colorful and fancy building.
We then arrived at the first destination of our sightseeing agenda.. the Phung Hung Ancient House. Shortly after exiting the Japanese Covered Bridge, the house appears on the left side of the street. This 200 year old home is known to be one of the oldest ones in the city. The structure and its interior is comprised of Vietnamese, Japanese and Chinese architectural styles. Many of its furnishings are 19th century original belongings. Within the residence is a gift shop that sells Vietnamese handicrafts.
As we proceeded our walk down the Old Town main street, we noticed the charming yellow houses, shops, and restaurants. In local culture, the color symbolizes royalty, luck, pride and prosperity. Also, yellow absorbs less heat and is appropriate for the humid weather in Vietnam. The Chinese-tiled roofs and colorful lanterns hanging from the building exteriors made for a truly local experience.
A little further down the road is the oldest house in Hoi An. The 15th century residence “Tan Ky” was originally a home for seven generations of family, as well as a trading post for local merchants and international traders.
Chinese temples reside within Old Town and are popular with tourists for their intricate architecture and enteance gates.
We visited a couple of Buddhist temples and pagodas along Old Town’s streets. This included a stop at the 18th century Assembly Hall of the Cantonese Chinese Congregation, erected by businessmen from China. The assembly hall was originally built to worship the Mazu goddess and Confucius. Hoi An was a major Vietnamese trading port during this era. This assembly hall was also where Cantonese community gathered to help each other in business and daily life. Its one of the most popular tourist attractions in this ancient town.
Once inside the courtyard, visitors are greeted by elaborate dragon statues.
Flowers, fruits, and other offerings are placed on the Buddhist altars.
As we strolled further along Old Town’s main road, we noticed many people on rickshaws, locals and tourists alike wearing Vietnamese conical hats, and gift shops galore!!
Dinnertime had arrived and I joined my tour group at a lovely restaurant in the lovely center of Old Town. I dined on a delicious meal of pumpkin soup, fried veggie wontons, greens, tofu with peppers, and a dessert of pineapple and banana. My beverage was a refreshing cashew smoothie.
Our group was given free time in the evening to stroll around town or go shopping. I enjoyed my time walking around Hoi An at night.
Street vendors were selling fruit hoisted in bamboo baskets hung by a pole.
The small coconut boats cruised upon the canal, with their lit up lanterns. For a small fee, tourists could take a ride for an hour or so. The town’s buildings looked stunning, lighted in bright colors.
I noticed the covered bridges in Old Town, along my walk. The 17th century Japanese Bridge was built by businessmen. It is linked with a legend of a monster called Namazu. This mythical creature legend states that its movements cause earthquakes and floods.
The lanterns hung between the shops and buildings of Old Town, look especially picturesque when lit up at night.
It was time to call it a night and get some sleep. The next morning, I headed down to the hotel’s restaurant for some breakfast. My morning meal was a plate of fresh local fruit including mango, dragonfruit, pineapple, and watermelon. The local Asian fruits are so flavorful!! I also enjoyed a filling plate of beans, tomatoes, broccoli, carrots, peppers, bok choy, and glass noodles.
My tour group then headed to a dock to take a small boat to Kong Island on Thu Bon River.
Residences surrounded by towering palm trees met our gaze along the waterway.
Eventually we arrived at the island. Our first stop was the oldest house, followed by a visit to a gift shop with Buddhist statues and other items and wooden carvings,
An artisan was carving statues out of wood. As we continued our walk, we entered the market where the local fruits and vegetables are sold.
Homes on the island run the gamut from small cottages to spacious residences.
Locals work on shipbuilding and small watercraft repair businesses.
We then re-boarded the small ferry, hopped in the tour bus upon arrival on land, and then headed to our next destination.. Tra Que organic vegetable village. A comical chef instructed us on how to make savory Vietnamese crepe pancakes. I prepared and cooked a vegan version of Vietnamese pancakes for myself, with the chef’s assistance.
When my pancake had cooked thoroughly, I was then show how to do crepe rolling. First step was to fill the pancake with green fresh herbs and sprouts. Then we rolled the pancake around the toppings. Finally, we dipped the pancake in soy sauce. It was truly delicious!!
The organic village kitchen prepared a full lunch for us. It consisted of pineapple, a tofu with veggies and rice bowl, salad on a wafer, rolled savory crepes with veggies. Everything was really tasty!!
After our mid-day meal, our guide gave us a tour of the organic village. He showed us the process of how to water the crops, by filling two buckets on a horizontal wooden stick, with water, then slightly tilting the buckets to shower the fields.
Up arrival back at our hotel, we were given a few hours of free time in the afternoon. I took the shuttle to the Hoi An beach. It is known as one of the top ten beaches in the world. The soft white sand, lengthy beach is stunning!! Thatch, umbrella-covered chairs line the beach for visitors to enjoy the view.
When I arrived back in Hoi Ann town, I decided to dine at “V Vegan” for dinner. My entree was a vegan cau lau with tofu skin and noodles and greens. This is a popular dish in central Vietnam, so I was excited to find a vegan version. My dessert was a yummy banana flambe.
The next morning, I arose early for breakfast at the hotel. My morning meal was a congee(Chinese rice porridge), and some tropical fruit including mango, starfruit, and dragonfruit.
On our way to the city of Hue (our next destination), we made a stop at a marble artisan shop in Da Nang. Everything from huge buddha statues to jewelry, cups, and vases were on display and available for purchase,
As we proceeded on our drive heading north, we made a photo op stop at the Dragon Bridge in Da Nang. The lengthy bridge is actually shaped like a dragon.
Upon arrival in Hue, I enjoyed a delicious lunch of fried rice, faux vegan ‘meats’, greens, carrots; soup, coconut juice at Hoa Vien veggie and organic restaurant.
Next up was our group tour of the major attractions in Hue. We visited the Citadel (Royal City) containing the King’s Palace for the imperial family, shrines(19th century), and gardens!!
During the late afternoon/early evening, we enjoyed an exciting rickshaw ride around the streets of Hue, passing by shops, markets, and city center buildings.
Our evening meal was an authentic Hue-style “Royal Feast” dinner at the Citadel. My dinner included mango juice, fried rice with carrots, green, and tofu; noodles on a wafer, a veggie crepe, veggie soup, mushrooms, bananas, and a sweet dessert formed into flowers and veggies in a vase. The fried rice entrees were creatively shaped into turtle forms, with carrots as its neck, head, and feet; while another dish was created to resemble a rooster with its body being a carved pineapple.
Now it was time to call it a night. The next morning, my group had breakfast at the hotel in Hue. My meal included passionfruit, dragonfruit, pineapple, congee, polenta cakes, and some berry fruit juice. All of my hotels in Vietnam provided really fresh and wonderful breakfast foods.
Our group then headed to the docks for a Dragon boat ride on the Perfume River in Hue. We appreciated the fun photo op on the edge of the intricately painted dragon image of the boat’s front platform.
We paid a visit to the Thien Mu Pagoda, along the Perfume River in Hue. Our group walked through the worship section and the religious offering areas within the sacred Buddhist temple!! The grounds include a seven story pagoda which is the unofficial symbol of the city.
After we left the pagoda, we paid a visit to an artisan craft shop along the route. Skilled artisans gave an incense-making demo(shaping the clay water mixture into long tube then rolling/thinning it & applying color to tip with different scents) and also showed us a bamboo conical hat-making demo(flattening Bamboo leaves, drying in sun, placing cutout paper (purple)under it for design, sewing the leaves together around the hat brim, then painting images on it)!!
Next on our itinerary was a visit to Tu Doc Tomb, also in the city of Hue.
We visited the 19th century King’s tomb, pagoda with worship area & offering, and also saw the opera with his throne and carriage and seating box. A stone tablet outside commemorates his life story!!
Our lunch in Hue was served to our tour group by Buddhist nuns at their Dong Thien Pagoda. The female monk serving us. had a traditional shaven head and wearing simple, gray attire. We ate shredded fig salad on rice wafers, veggie wontons, mushroom soup, tofu with spicy sauce, rice, string beans, and banana!! It was a satisfying vegan meal. Everywhere we dined with our tour group, my guide made certain that the meal options were vegan or could be altered to be vegan for me. Most of the side dishes and entrees throughout my trip were indeed naturally vegan, as in the greens, vegetables, soups, and grains.
After lunch, we headed back to the bus and made a stop at our final sightseeing destination of the day. The Khai Dinh Tomb is the tomb of the most recent king (1920s), before Vietnam stopped having kings. We climbed up 127 steps to get to top. After entering gate, There are life-size stone statues of royal family, warriors, horses, and elephants. They were erected to emphasize the idea that it will help the king in his afterlife. The tomb and walls are ornately decorated with images of animals, flowers, and symbols in rich gold and silver. Bronze statues of the kings are located inside the palace.
For dinner in Hue this evening, I dined at Quan Chay Lac Tam vegan restaurant. My meal selection was the vermicelli noodles with fried tofu and faux meat, mushroom and veggie soup, seaweed, green tea, and a dessert che soup with coconut and ginger in sesame seed broth. Everything was delicious!!
On our last morning in Hue, my tour group had breakfast at our hotel’s restaurant. I chose the passionfruit, dragonfruit, pineapple, bread, mango, and purple congee soup for my morning meal.
We then headed to the airport in Hue, for our flight to Hanoi.
At the Hue airport, I found a food vendor for my early lunch meal of a Vietnamese bao bun and a hot chocolate.
I really enjoyed my vacation time in the central Vietnam cities of ancient Hoi An and Hue, with their culture, historic architecture, and delicious foods. The next leg of my journey would be a visit to Ha Long Bay and Hanoi in the northern part of the country!!
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My Wonderful vacation in Southern Vietnam 6 Jun 2024 4:29 PM (10 months ago)
On the morning of March 27th in 2023, I arrived at the airport to embark on a trip to Vietnam. Ancient temples, palaces, Mekong riverboat cruises, Cu Chi underground tunnels, and organic farms were on my tour group’s agenda. Gate1Travel from the United States is the tour company that hosted my holiday abroad. They provide superb tour guides, top notch accommodations, amazing dining experiences, and the most impressive local attractions.
I had been looking forward to this fascinating destination for quite a while. My original guided tour there was cancelled and refunded during the first official week of the coronavirus pandemic in March of 2020, so I was thrilled to finally be able to visit the country!!
Logan Airport’s Dunkin’ in my departure city of Boston, Massachusetts offers my “go-to” airport breakfast of avocado toast and matcha latte with almond milk.
Gate1 booked my flights with connections on Delta Airlines and Korean Air. They provided wonderful vegan meals for me, upon my online booking request.
For my March 27th lunch, I dined at the airport in Seoul, Korea; while awaiting my connecting flight. My meal selection was a veggie and rice bowl with a side of vegan cauliflower wings dipped in sauce and vegan ranch dressing. Lunch was tasty for sure!!
During my flight, the airline served a lovely dinner of stewed tomatoes, greens, and veggies topped with pumpkin seeds; steamed rice, and a small salad of tomato and cucumbers. Dessert was a mixed fruit salad.
Several hours later a flight snack was served, possibly to deal with the time difference. A simple sandwich of raw veggies in a bun with a side of mixed fruit satisfied our late night hunger.
When we awoke the next morning and had cross time zones, we were served another meal. Another sandwich with a side of mixed fruits curbed my morning appetite.
As the day progressed during our flight, dinner time had arrived. My vegan meal consisted of a wonderful plate of zucchini and other mixed veggies cooked in a tomato sauce with couscous, a small salad, a bread roll, and mixed fruit.
Arrival at our Ho Chi Minh destination in Vietnam was at 11:30pm. I went immediately to my room to get some sleep, but with excited anticipation of the sightseeing that would commence the next morning!!
Two days had passed since leaving my home airport, The date was now March 29th. For my first breakfast in Vietnam, I joined my tour group in dining at our hotel’s restaurant. The Saigon Prince Hotel’s dining hall offered many vegan-friendly options.
My yummy breakfast included Vietnam congee(steamed mashed rice) with onions, bahn mi bread, sliced dragonfruit, green tea with ginger, and peach juice.
After breakfast, I headed to the tour bus with my group and guide.
Our first stop on the day’s tour was the Cu Chi Tunnels. These underground tunnels were utilized during the Vietnam War in the early 1970s. The network of tunnels provided hidden passage for North Vietnam troops to survive in South Vietnam during the war. They were the Viet Cong’s base during military campaigns in 1968. Food wasn’t easily available and bugs infested the tunnels. Soldiers only emerged from the tunnels during the night to fight battles, tend crops, or get needed supplies.
Some of the Cu chi Tunnel entrances were hidden under disguised faux grass “doors” or a blanket of leaves, so that the opposing army would not find them.
We continued to walk through the above ground area and saw remnants of the war, including a fighter tank.
A small thatched structure showed exhibits of the various tasks that were performed by the villagers there, such as cooking meals and working with ammunition. A short film which discusses the war, is shown on a screen within this hut.
Upon arrival back in Ho Chi Minh City, I ventured over to the Bean Vegetarian Cafe. They offer several vegan choices on their menu. This is more of an upscale restaurant in food presentation and quality, as well as the ambiance. For lunch, I chose the vegan “Bun Rieu” rice noodle soup in a tomato broth with veggies and tofu; with a glass of fresh celery, pineapple, and apple juice. My meal was absolutely delicious!!
An short time later, it was time to meet back up with my tour group for another excursion. Our guide brought us by tour bus, to several Ho Chi Minh attractions and historical sites.
The tour included the French Cathedral, the old Post Office with its ornate architecture(built in late 19th century and used for telegraph communications during the French invasion), Independence Hall(former President’s Residence where a military tanker crashed through its gate in April 1975, thus signifying the Fall of Saigon and the end of the war ), the Opera, and Dong Khoi Street(shopping outlets).
Across the road from the former post office building, resides the yellow building which became world-renowned for the infamous photo of the helicopter rescuing last group of Vietnamese people, as the city of Saigon was captured by the Northern Vietnamese. This event is considered to be the last major event of the war.
We eventually made a final stop at the Ben Thanh market, where we given some free time to shop for local Vietnamese souvenirs. Everything from clothing to jewelry to pottery to little figurines can be found there.
Upon completion of our first full day of sightseeing, it was time for dinner. The restaurant and food was included as part of the Gate1Travel Vietnam tour package. My evening meal included several different dishes ranging from appetizers to soups to entrees and dessert. A purple veggie soup, mixed local fruit, bok choy green with carrots over noodles, steamed white rice, mixed veggies in a tomato broth, flour crisp, fried veggie spring rolls, and fried tofu slices comprised my delicious and filling dinner. The local fruits and vegetables are wonderfully flavorful!!
We headed back to our hotel for a good night’s sleep after our meal. Bright and early the next morning, I awoke for breakfast at the hotel. A plate of fresh local Asian fruits(longan, lychee, mini bananas, and pineapple), rice with corn and peas, hash brown potatoes, and a small slice of bread; was a wonderful way to start the day. A fresh orange juice accompanied my meal.
First on our day’s agenda was a boat ride to Coconut Island in the Mekong Delta. I enjoyed the ride on the small boat, while sipping on coconut juice and appreciating the scenic views.
When we arrived at Coconut Island, I looked in awe at the picturesque tree-lined landscape with a huge variety of local fruit growing on trees and vines and a nice variety of colorful flowers. Cacao, longan, coconuts, bananas, and many more exotic fruit trees lined the paths during our stroll through the island village.
Also, on Coconut Island, we witnessed the process of making coconut candy, from cutting off the coconut to cooking it into paste to cutting the pieces and wrapping each one individually by hand. The machine has one spout that turns coconut into milk & the other into thicker consistency for candy!!
We even sampled the candy that was presented to us in several varieties, such as coconut chocolate or coconut pandan(a Vietnamese green leaf)!!
We also sampled the tropical fruit; such as rambutan, mangostein, jackfruit, star apple, and banana!!
Craftsman were creating a variety of items chiseled from coconuts, such as buttons, bowls,& chopsticks!!
A small canoe-like boat ride took us on a most pleasant ride, before arriving back to land for our exit. The ride was smooth, picturesque, and so tranquil, as the boat glided slowly through the reed covered waters.
We remained on Coconut island for lunch. Our tour group from Gate1Travel was given a scrumptious lunch consisting of several courses. Included were a savory vegan crepe for me, green beans and carrots, steamed white rice, veggie soup, noodle soup, and fried veggie spring rolls. The quality and freshness of the meals in Vietnam was really impressive, including meals like these at touristy attractions.
It was then back to the hotel in Ho Chi Minh, for us to relax and freshen up.
For my evening meal in Ho Chi Minh, I dined at Mang’s Mania in the downtown area near my hotel. My dinner selections were the Bicuon(veggie rice paper rolls), the vegan fennel balls for my main entree, and grass jelly with chia seed bowl for dessert. A lime, ginger, lemongrass iced tea was my beverage. Everything was incredibly delicious!!
After my meal, I decided to stroll around this downtown area to experience the sights and sounds of Ho Chi Minh at night!!
Performers played instruments, others sang, and mimes posed without any motion, as if they were mannequins. Costumed actors dressed as cuddly animals entertained children in the streets. Glowing objects and lit up balloons brightened the square, as well. Even the buildings, skyscrapers, and statue of the former President “Ho Chi Minh” were lit up with bright, colorful lights shining upon them.
Further down the downtown road, I stumbled upon the Rex Hotel. During the Vietnam War, American military officers paid visits here and daily press briefings with foreign correspondents were held. This is one of the first Vietnamese owned hotels. The rooftop deck provides a glorious view of the downtown.
I enjoyed my day of sightseeing. After a good night’s sleep, I arose early again for a filling breakfast meal at my hotel. Rice, fresh fruit(star fruit, watermelon, mango), bread and longan satisfied my hunger.
My tour group then headed to the airport for a short flight to Da Nang, in central Vietnam..the next leg of our twelve day vacation. At the airport, I found a vegan-friendly early lunch meal at one of the food vendor stalls. My meal was a cup of noodle soup with veggies and a bread roll. I really enjoyed the sightseeing in Southern Vietnam. The Cu Chi Tunnels, Ho Chi Minh historic sites, the cruise along the Mekong Delta, the Coconut Island fruits and candy-making and crafts, and the wonderful dining. I awaited my flight and my next sightseeing destination with eager anticipation.
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The Natural Wonders of My Puerto Rico Vacation 9 May 2024 4:06 PM (11 months ago)
During the Winter of 2023, I decided to “get away from the cold” in the Northeastern United States, and head to warm and sunny Puerto Rico for a three day weekend vacation in late January. The late night arrival in San Juan provided a picturesque view of the neighborhood, with the city lights shining upon the buildings, as seen from my airbnb deck. I had a full itinerary for my island stay, so it was time to get some sleep.
The next morning, I headed to La Isla for breakfast, The vegan-friendly restaurant is a large casual space with several vegan offerings at reasonable prices. I chose the Vegan Isla Brunch consisting of chickpea scramble, avocado toast, sweet potato pancakes, a side of bread, and fresh fruit. My morning beverage was a Bien Tropi Smoothie made with guanabana, dates, banana, lemon, dates, and almond milk. Everything was absolutely amazing!!
After my lovely meal, it was time to hit the town and go exploring. I decided to go strolling around San Juan’s Old Town. I walked by lovely colorful buildings along cobblestone roads. Musicians performed local salsa music at various locations in the square.
Pigeon Park is where pigeons nest in the city wall. The park overlooks the stunning San Juan Bay. Adults and children alike enjoy walking through the park and feeding the pigeons.
My next stop was at the Cathedral of San Juan Batista, which is the head of the Catholic Archdiocese of Puerto Rico. Erected in the year 1521, it is the oldest church in the United States from the earliest Spanish colonization era.
I enjoyed a refreshing piroagua from a street cart vendor, near the church. This treat is made with shaved ice and your choice of fruit syrup poured over it. I chose the tamarind flavor.
For lunch, I dined at Cafe Berlin in Old San Juan. This vegan-friendly restaurant has a really cool atmosphere. The restaurant specializes in Puerto Rican cuisine. I chose the mofongo(an iconic Puerto Rican dish) made with plantains, peppers, and onions and a side of tostones(fried green plantains). My beverage was a passionfruit juice. Everything was absolutely delicious!!
The remainder of my afternoon was spent exploring San Juan’s two forts. First, I visited El Morro. This fort was built to protect the city from enemy attacks by sea. It is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the country. The self-guided walk brought me to the fort kitchen, sleeping quarters, storerooms, the main firing battery, sentry towers, and other significant areas.
I wandered down through many passageways to the underground dungeon.
Next, I paid a visit to San Cristobal Fort. This fort was built to protect against land attacks by enemy forces. It was the largest fort built by the Spanish in the Americas. I walked by the sleeping quarters, kitchen, sentry towers, and more.
I appreciated the educational experience learning about the two forts during my visit. Late afternoon was a good time for me to spend some time at one of the local beaches. A taxi brought me to Isla Verde Beach, approximately a twenty minute ride from the center of San Juan. Sitting on a soft sand beach, gazing at the blue ocean, was the perfect way for this Northern girl to spend an afternoon on a January day!!
After an hour or so on the beach, a taxi arrived to take me back to San Juan center. My destination was the 100% HP restaurant. For dinner, I chose the empanadillas with broccoli and arroz (rice) con grandules (pigeon peas). My dessert was a guava cake with vanilla ice cream. Another flavorful meal, it was!!
After dinner, I returned to Old Juan for ice cream at the ever-popular Anita Gelato. My selection was the yummy Tropical (pineapple, passionfruit, and coconut ) vegan gelato.
I then returned to my airbnb to get some shut eye.
The next morning, I woke up early to get a start to a day of sightseeing and tours!!
For breakfast, I stopped by Fresh Mart in the Condado Beach neighborhood and picked up a tasty slice of coconut pumpkin cake.
It was then time for me to check out the local beach scene on this Sunday late morning!! I walked thought the palm tree-lined boulevard in Condado and came across a vendor cart selling pineapple juice in freshly cut pineapples. It was a refreshing beverage on a hot day and quenched my thirst during my lengthy walk. Eventually I reached a small pedestrian-walkable bridge on my way to the beach. Right there on the bridge foundation wall, was spray-painted graffiti which reads “Eat Vegan” in Spanish!!
After my brisk walk over the bridge and approximately twenty minutes further, I reached my destination.. El Escambron Beach in San Juan. The quiet, palm tree-lined beach offered changing areas, rest rooms a snack shack, and a lifeguard station. I spent an hour or so sitting on the sand and appreciating the view, in addition to splashing around in the waters.
When lunchtime had arrived, I took a taxi to Bio Shack Store Restaurant, back in San Juan. This all-vegan restaurant (and shop) has such cute decor. Their lobby area includes a couch with veggie character pillows!!
For my lunch, selected the traditional Puerto Rican dish of alcapurria with mashed plantains & a flan for dessert. Everything was so good!!
Since the sun hadn’t set yet, I headed to Condado beach to relax and enjoy the ocean view. Condado is San Juan’s lengthiest and most popular beach. Many hotels, restaurants, and shops are nearby.
Now it was time for a tour of a Bioluminescent Bay, Laguna Grande in the town of Fajardo. I had pre-booked the tour through the viator.com website which connected me to the local tour operator. My tour guide picked up passengers waiting in front of a hotel in the Condado neighborhood. The bus then proceeded to make its way to Fajardo. When we arrived at our destination, another guide from the Bio Bay kayak tour company, gave us instructions on how to paddle in teams of two and what we would be doing during our evening excursion. All of the attendees steered their kayaks to a central location in the bay, after maneuvering through mangrove bushes. Once darkness had set at 8pm, our guide tied all kayaks together by rope, so they would remain still and steady. We were then told to place our hand into the water on one side of our kayak, and swirl it around. Everyone was excited to see that the water turned a luminescent blue hue, due to the microscopic organisms being agitated from our strokes!!
My Sunday “dinner” was simple.. just snacks given to us at the bio bay.
The next morning, I took a taxi to Lana’s Healthy Bistro & Juice for breakfast. I opted for the wonderful French toast with strawberry syrup, fresh strawberries and blueberries, and green tea.
Another tour was on my agenda for the day. I booked a rainforest tour through viator.com. El Yunque National Forest is the only tropical rainforest within the national forest. A diverse ecosystem encompasses waterfalls, wildlife, and many plant species. Puerto Rico’s beloved coqui frog resides within these forests, as well. Visitors may jump off a rock formation into a stream or swing on a rope attached to a nearby tree branch.
Within another section of the rainforest, a large, slanted boulder provides a “natural waterslide” for visitors. A guide helps us climb up the slippery slope, then provides instructions on the proper body positioning to slide down its surface. I really enjoyed the exhilarating ride, while being cushioned by the flow of water from the waterfall beneath my body!! We ended up in a waist-deep stream upon landing.
Our guide brought us to lunch at the Luquillo Beach area. There are shops and several restaurants there. I dined at Edelweiss Bar & Grill. My meal was the vegan mamposteo rice with stuffed avocado. They were amazing and full of flavor.
Lunch was fairly quick, so we could enjoy a stroll along the Luquillo Beach, adjacent to the restaurant and shops. It is a lovely and picturesque little beach. No entry fee is charged to visit.
When we arrived back in San Juan center, I headed to Condado beach to spend some more time at this beautiful gem.
For my dinner near Condado Beach , I found Atabey Condado Restaurant. My meal selection was the tasty quinoa bowl with avocado , sweet corn, tomato, and chimichuri. It was time to call it a night. For this was my final evening in Puerto Rico.
When I awoke the following morning, I went for a walk along Ashford Ave in the Condado neighborhood, then perused the shops. I was happy to find a street stand vendor offering breakfast items. I opted for a superb acai bowl breakfast.
I ended the morning by paying a visit to the gorgeous Condado Beach, one last time before heading to the airport for my return flight home.
After my walk, it was time to head to the airport. I really enjoyed my vacation in Puerto Rico!! From the gorgeous beaches to the breath-taking rainforest adventures to the fun kayaking trip in the bio bay to the amazing vegan Puerto Rican foods, this was indeed a spectacular vacation!!
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A Scenic Vacation in New Brunswick, Canada 27 Apr 2024 4:36 AM (11 months ago)
During the early morning hours of August 22, 2022; I decided to embark on a lengthy drive from Boston, Massachusetts(USA) to the province of New Brunswick, Canada for a long weekend vacation.
I headed north, driving through eastern Maine until my arrival in St. John, the capital of New Brunswick. My first stop was the VEGolution restaurant, which is the city’s only all-vegan restaurant. For lunch, I opted for the doner tofu “meat” taco with lettuce and tomatoes with a side of fries. Dessert was a delicious blueberry tart.
After my meal, it was time to stroll about town to see the local attractions and historic sites!!
A Canadian flag designed statue displayed proudly on the grounds in front of a city building in the downtown area/
The City Market building showcases local items such as artwork and kitchen goods, many with the Canadian flag logo.
Around the corner, I found the historic Loyalist House. New Brunswick was a haven for Americans who fled the United States, because they were loyal to the British Crown around the time of the American Revolution War period. The Merritt family was one of those American families who had fled the USA and relocated to New Brunswick. Thomas Merritt had started a dry goods business in St. John and his family amassed wealth. In the year 1817, his son David constructed the house. The staff gave me a tour of the rooms and shared the family history with me.
King’s Square Park in uptown St. John was another lovely place that I visited in the city. In addition to being a wonderful green space for walking, several monuments reside within the tranquil park.
In 1844, the King’s Square land officially became designated as a park. The monuments were erected here in honor of individuals who contributed to the city’s history. Several trees were planted to commemorate the arrival of the Loyalists in the latter part of the 19th century. A bandstand is found in the center of the park. It was donated by a city band in 1909, in honor of King Edward VII. One will also find a statue of Charles Gorman, a local man who competed in the speed skating category for the 1924 and 1928 Winter Olympics.
After a serene visit to the park, I headed to the waterfront to experience the panoramic vista. Market Square is an area near the waterfront where shops, restaurants, and a lighthouse are found. One of the red brick buildings, a former electric plant called “Dock Street Plant”, displays sculptures called “People Waiting” They were designed by Canadian sculptor John Hooper back in 1977.
I continued my stroll around the downtown area. Artistic murals, Victorian building facades, and outdoor dining are among my encounters.
A beautiful clock displays on the main street in the city center. It commemorates the 225th Anniversary of the City of Saint John as the first incorporated City in Canada and also Loyalist Day celebrated on May 18th in honor of the American Loyalists who arrived in 1783.
Barbour’s General Store was started in Saint John in 1867 by George and William Barbour. They have been producing tea ever since then. During Canada’s Confederation years, they expanded their business to include food products. The building is now a museum where visitors can observe the experience of shopping in a 19th century general store.
Late afternoon had arrived. One of the city websites listed the times for low and high tide for the day and showed the times for when the rapids of the bay would reverse in direction during high tide, before entering into the Bay of Fundy. I headed to the Saint John River to witness the Reversing Falls.
There is a Sky Walk with a glass platform where visitors may view the Reversing Falls from an elevated level. I appreciated the stunning view.
For dinner, I went to Big Tide Brewing Company and selected their delicious red curry with vegetables and basmati rice.
The next morning, I got into my car and drove to the city of Moncton. For my morning meal, I dined at Pur and Simple. My breakfast was their tasty avocado toast with greens and a side of roasted potatoes. My beverage was a nutritious juice with greens and apples.
I made a stop at Riverfront Park. A statute in honor of several constables resides near the park entrance. A paved walkway gave me the opportunity to take a brisk walk by the Petitcodiac River. The park’s attractions include Bore Park, a skateboarding area, commemorative sculptures, and walking trails. During the Summer, Canada Day festivals are held for the community. A quick visit to the downtown area found pink storefronts and cafes.
I then headed to the famous St. Martins Sea Caves, located at the Bay of Fundy, not too far from Moncton. During breakfast at Pur and Simple restaurant earlier in the day, I had also purchased a take-away item. It was now time to eat that bagel with lettuce and tomatoes for lunch.
When I arrived at the sea caves, my eyes looked in awe at the amazing view!! The sandstone caves are formed by tides from the Bay of Fundy. Visitors may explore the caves during low tide, as it is safe to reach them at that time. I walked inside a few of the caves, as the sea water had receded during the low tide hours.
Several mounds of lengthy sea moss along the beach, provided visitors with a spot to sit and snap a few photos.
After my fun visit to the sea caves, I hopped in my car and headed to another popular tourist attraction: Hopewell Rocks!! These rock formations are also sculpted by tides of the Bay of Fundy. There are more than twenty free-standing rock formations along the shoreline in Hopewell Cape. Some are shaped like arches, while others resemble wildlife. They are also known as “flowerpot rocks”. Visitors can walk right up to the rock formations during low tide. The rock base is exposed then and one can see how far up the formation, the sea moss has grown. I enjoyed climbing onto the base of a few of them!!
My next stop was the Fundy National Park in Alma, New Brunswick!! I had a great time hiking in the forest!! The views were stunning with breath-taking waterfalls and a variety of trees, plants, and flowers within the forest!!
After my hike, I was still in the mindset to explore more of nature!! I then proceeded to Quaco Lighthouse, erected in 1835. St. Martin’s was a large ship-building center during the 19th century. The lighthouse resides on an outstretch of land by the shore, with a superb view of St. Martin’s beach and the Fundy Trail coast.
The downtown St. John area is also home to Bella’s Traditional Ice Cream shop. When I arrived back in town, I chose their flavorful, vegan lemon ice cream.
I was famished after my day of outdoor activities and hiking. For my evening meal, I decided to dine at an Egyptian restaurant called “Taste of Egypt”. My dinner was a delicious mousakka tagine of eggplant and vegetables in a tomato sauce with a side of rice. For dessert, a plate of vegan baklava was a delight for my taste buds!!
It was time to get some shut-eye!! The next morning, I walked to brunch at Marci’s Salad Re-imagined. My meal was a peanut crunch bowl of quinoa, snow peas, red cabbage, and carrots and tofu. For dessert, my selection was a fudge oat bar.
Then I started making my way southwest towards the United States border, for my return trip home. I made one additional stop in New Brunswick to the picturesque St. Andrews By The Sea. This village is adorned with colorful shops in its town center.
Murals depicting sea life and local scenes are displayed on downtown buildings.
I strolled by the waterfront, where gazing at one direction would bring my eyes towards Canada and the other side would bring the United States into view. The views were glorious during my sunset visit!!
I enjoyed a cup of vegan ice cream with some strawberry lemonade at Tall Tom’s by the waterfront.
For my dinner in St. Andrew By The Sea, I dined at Kennedy House Inn. My evening meal was a delicious stir fry veggies with rice.
As I got into my car for the long drive home, I started reminiscing about the wonderful time I spent sightseeing in coastal New Brunswick and the great vegan meals in each city during my visit!!
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My Journey to London, Stonehenge, and Bath England 31 Mar 2024 6:15 AM (last year)
During the latter part of 2021, there was quite a level of excitement across the globe. The 70’s Swedish pop group ABBA had announced the dates for their “ABBATAR” concert in London, England for the following year!! Since I am a huge ABBA fan, I purchased a ticket for the concert date of July 9, 2022!! The music group was not performing in person, but via “ABBATAR” whose images danced and sang in lifelike fashion, while their recorded music played loudly in the background . A visit to Stonehenge and the ancient Roman town of Bath, England was on my itinerary as well.
On that July 8th, I boarded my flight to the United Kingdom. The airline provided a nice vegan meal consisting of white rice, mixed veggies in a tomato sauce, with a side salad and a bowl of mixed fruit.
Prior to landing, flyers were served a fruit salad a beverage of their choice. My selection was an orange juice.
Upon arrival at London’s Heathrow Airport on Saturday, July 9th; I opted to purchase a take-away lunch at a convenience store there. My meal was a tasty vegan faux “Chicken” salad sandwich with a bag of chips and some coconut water.
Form the airport, it was an easy transfer by subway to the Covent Garden neighborhood of London where my accommodations were. This clean and safe area had it all: shopping, restaurants, and a city park. I strolled about the streets for a while, perusing the shops and boutiques.
I came across a sight that it “typical London”, a red classic telephone booth!!
I came across a huge outdoor and indoor market with lots of shops and eateries.
Floozie cookies has a bakery shop within the market. They offer a variety of cookies stuffed with jams, fruit compote, and other fillings. I purchased a flavorful, vegan, raspberry-filled cookie.
After settling into my accommodations in the Covent Garden neighborhood, it was time for a quick prior to heading over to the ABBA Arena for this evening’s concert. My dinner was a wonderful baked potato topped with avocado, greens, and tomato with a berry juice.
I hopped on the underground commuter rail and took the train for a good half hour ride. Then, a twenty minute or so walk brought me to the ABBA Arena at Queen Elizabeth Park in London. The arena was built specifically for this concert event. There were several gift shops set up both outside ad inside the venue. Concert-goers could purchase ABBA t shirts, brochures, and other memorabilia. I purchased an ABBA concert program book with photos and an ABBA plastic beverage container.
The concert hall was packed! Thousands of ABBA fans awaited the concert to begin!
The time had come!! I was super excited to see the ABBA ABBAtar images upon the stage!! They looked so lifelike!! The mages had a constant change of outfits, in the styles of their heyday. Images of Agnetha and Frida were singing and dancing, Bjorn was strumming his guitar, and Benny was playing his piano. It was an amazing experience watching these authentic-looking ABBAtars perform with all of the recorded music that ABBA fans have loved for decades.
Many of us in the audience were singing along. I was dancing non-stop and singing joyously at the top of my lungs!!
After the amazing concert, I headed back on the train until it arrived back at Covent Garden. It was time for me to call it a night and get some sleep before the next day’s sightseeing activities.
I awoke bright and early and ate a tasty onion bagel with faux meats and lettuce for breakfast. I had picked it up at B Bagel Soho on the prior day.
While awaiting the train, I glanced over in the far right direction and noticed the London Bridge and the Big Ben clock from the distance.
I got off the train in the London neighborhood where my guide would arrive by tour bus. Our itinerary for the day was a visit to historic Stonehenge, followed by an afternoon in historic old Bath. On the bus ride, I munched on a tasty banana bread snack purchased the prior day at a bakery.
Upon arrival at Stonehenge, visitors are taken by shuttlebus to the main walkway of the historic site. I was quite impressed by its size and the placement of stones. During the seasonal equinoxes, the sunlight shines through between the stones.
A small village of neolithic houses lies near the foot of the Stonehenge structure. It is believed that the workers who erected Stonehenge, lived there.
Wicker beds, clay pots, and hearths were located inside of the huts.
Adjacent to these huts, is a small museum that tells the story of Stonehenge and its neolithic village settlers.
After a couple of hours at this revered attraction, we boarded our tour bus and headed towards our next stop; the ancient town of Bath, England. The town has a more modern section with boutiques and various businesses. Our tour guide gave us some on our own to explore the town. I walked around both the modern streets and the more historic cobblestoned streets with older buildings.
For lunch, I dined at Oak Restaurant in Bath. My wonderful meal consisted of a beet root tartare, courgettes(zucchini slices), and bread with olive oil.
I then headed up a hill and over to a very historic road. For on this particular narrow street, was located the oldest home in Bath.
Sally Lund’s stone house was built in the year 1482. It is now a restaurant, However, guests can peruse the premises to take a look inside if they are not dining there.
My tour guide had told us to be sure to make a stop at the infamous Pulteney Bridge. It was designed in 1769 Georgian architecture style and is one of only four bridges in the world to have shops across its full span on both sides. I paid a visit to take an obligatory selfie by its walls.
My free time to explore the town had come to an end. The time had arrived to meet back up with our guide for an interior tour of Bath Abbey. It is also a former Benedictine monastery. Founded in the 7th century, it was also a medieval cathedral for a bishop and is known as one of the largest Perpendicular Gothic architecture structures in southwest England. Its colorful stained glass windows are stunning.
Upon completion of the Abbey visit, we followed our guide to the Roman Baths for a tour.
The Romans of Great Britain arrived at this location to worship the goddess Sulis Minerva. They were also interested in bathing in the thermal springs waters.
Guests to this attraction may visit the Roman Baths and explore the ruins of the Temple of Sulis Minerva.
There is also a museum containing a bronze head sculpture of the Goddess Minerva, and other artifacts from this period in Roman history..
We also strolled upon the original Roman pavements within the temple ruins.
We also saw several underground rooms that were used as changing rooms for those Romans bathing in the ancient spa waters.
My tour of the Roman Baths complex and the ruins of the temple was really fascinating.
Now it was time for me to experience an authentic British Afternoon tea!
I found the elegant Georgian Tearoom on one of the charming old cobblestone roads in town center.
I chose a lovely British Earl Grey tea with almond milk. British tea s often served with milk.
The tearoom setting was lovely. Beautifully patterned wallpaper with paintings of local countryside scenes decorated the walls. The tablecloths and tea sets were charming. I enjoyed both the tearoom ambiance and the tea itself. What better place to have Afternoon Tea, than in the town of Bath were Jane Austen lived and wrote and drank tea herself!
There was some remaining individual time before we had to board our tour bus, so I headed to the oldest part of town and gazed in awe at the ancient structures and buildings along each road.
The time had arrived to board our tour bus and head back to our original departure point in London. I knew we had arrived back in the city, when I noticed those red double decker buses traversing the roads.
The time for my final meal in London had arrived. I dined at the elegant, all vegan, Mildred’s Restaurant in Covent Garden. My dinner was a delicious alma bowl of quinoa, corn, avocado, greens, beets, and almond cauli al fresco with tiger sauce and omega seeds. My dessert was a butterscotch banana pudding.
As it was Summer, I was craving an ice cream to complete the evening. I walked around the Covent Garden neighborhood until I arrived at Udderlicious. They offer a few vegan flavors. I selected the vegan honeycomb sugar biscotti ice cream. It was delicious!
It was now time to get some shut eye before going to the airport the next morning for my return flight back to the United States,
The airline gave me a wonderful vegan meal during my flight. My meal consisted of rice, baked potato wedges in a tomato sauce, salad, a bread roll, and mixed fruit.
I really enjoyed my visit to England. The ABBA concert, Stonehenge visit, Roman Baths tour, and vegan dining all made it a spectacular trip!
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