Category Archives: Trip Reports

PSA: How NOT to Transit Between Airports in New York City

Posted on July 5, 2018 by Shelli. 13 Replies

Sometimes when traveling I think I’ll save some time and energy, but in this case my choice was a total bust. There are so many articles that tell you HOW TO get from one airport to the city center or from one airport to another, but unfortunately I’ve got a story about how NOT to get from one place to another! This may not pertain to most of you, but if it helps even one other person from making the mistake that I made, I’d be pleased.

I needed to get from JFK International Airport to EWR Newark International Airport. Strange but true. It’s not often we transit from one airport to another, I know. After doing some research I opted for a company called ETS Airport Shuttle that offers direct shuttle service between the airports without going through NYC. Even though it cost $34, I thought I’d save time and also the stress of transiting through NYC and then getting out to EWR.

a group of people with their arms up in front of a plane

Image source: https://www.etsairportshuttle.com/

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How Do You Celebrate the Fourth of July?

Posted on July 4, 2018 by Grant. 2 Replies

Good morning everyone, happy Fourth of July! Ever since I was a young kid, I have always loved the Fourth of July. I love the great food, the warm weather, the loud noises, and the beautiful fireworks. Thanksgiving and Christmas are late in the year, but the Fourth of July is a smack dab in the middle of the year. I have celebrated the Fourth of July all over the country and over in Europe (they don’t care much about our Independence Day), but I always love coming to Southern California to see my family.

Yesterday was a really long day of travel. I flew from Malta to Amsterdam to Seattle to Orange County. That was a heck of a travel day, but I know the trip was worth it to be home for the Fourth of July holiday. I don’t have big plans, maybe go to the beach for a few hours, then over to my grandparent’s house for a BBQ and to watch the fireworks. It’s not the most amazing Fourth of July, but I always look forward to the holiday.

So enough about me. How do you celebrate the Fourth of July? Do you do a big BBQ? Do you go on a harbor cruise to watch the fireworks? Or go out to a baseball game with your friends and family? Please share what the Fourth of July means to you, I would love to hear. That’s all from me, go out, have fun and be safe!

Shelli’s World Coffee Tour – Coffee Houses in Madrid, Spain (Part 2)

Posted on July 3, 2018 by Shelli. 4 Replies

I guess it’s time for a true confession. I’m a coffee snob. And when I travel, I have a passion for supporting local roasters and coffee houses. Let’s just say I’ve BEAN Around the World and I’m feeling like now is the time to start sharing the love… and caffeine, one city at a time. Recently, I had a wonderful holiday in Madrid, Spain. And though it was hard to tear myself away from the incredible pinchos and rioja, I did explore the coffee houses, and I’m glad I did. I drank plenty of coffee, talked with baristas, and I’ve got lots to share with you. Let’s open the TWG cafe society doors and talk coffee, Madrid style. If you haven’t had a chance to read Madrid coffee-part one, I suggest you do because it offers an in-depth explanation of the general coffee scene and talks about how people in Madrid typically drink coffee.

two cups of coffee with a leaf design on the foam

Beverages at Toma Cafe. Image source: http://tomacafe.es/

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Greetings from Malta! 3 Photos from this Beautiful Mediterranean Island

Posted on July 2, 2018 by Grant. 4 Replies

Good afternoon everyone, greetings from Malta! Sorry I have been missing in action lately. I was in Athens for a few days, then in Crete for a few days, then in Malta the last week for a wedding. I haven’t been on my computer much this trip, which is a nice change from most of my trips. I already wrote these 2 posts about Athens (Small-Group Culinary Walking Tour and Using Uber in Athens). I am going to do a post about Crete (Radisson Blu, fishing village, and ATV tour of the island) and then a few posts about Malta (the ATV and kayak tour we went on and some other sights we saw). I am also going to share some of the technology that I used on this trip to make my vacation a little easier.

If you have any questions about Crete or Malta, please let me know and I can answer them in the comments. If it is a good question, I might even write a blog post about it. I will be back to San Francisco in a few days, so stay tuned for those posts. Have a great 4th of July everyone!