Athens, Greece- The birthplace of Western Civilization

Standing before the Parthenon fulfilled a lifetime dream and exceeded all expectations!

 After watching different guides with groups of 20 to 50 people straining to hear as they walked about The Acropolis, we opted for the intimacy and insights of a private guide. It was not much more expensive than a "herd" tour and infinitely more enjoyable. Maria I. Skiniti brought the Parthenon to life for us. Her knowledge of history and events and the way she related the impacts of those events and designs to us today was nothing short of masterful. I am enclosing her contact information as one whom I highly recommend to anyone traveling to Greece. (email: mskiniti@hol.gr; +30 (694) 4350 913)

Fast facts about the Parthenon

The Propylaea, built in the time of Pericles by the architect Mnesikles, is the monumental entrance to The Sacred Rock -The Acropolis and the Trilogy of Temples: The Temple of the Virgins –The Parthenon, The Temple of Policies-The Erectheon, and The Temple of Victories-The Temple of Athena-Nike. Many buildings, sites and traditions in the US were influenced by the works at the Acropolis. The Philadelphia Museum and its massive staircase (remember the Rocky movie) are replicas of the Propylaea. The Greek Macedonian Star (which means “information”) can be found in the CIA Headquarters, Grand Central Station, Marriott Hotels and Caesar’s Palace, to name a few. What a fascinating place.

Handcrafted and fitted with care while you wait, Melissino's was incredible. I join Sophia Loren, Jackie O., John Lennon, Barbara Streisand and others in proclaiming this quaint little shop a true treasure. Above, Pantellis is personally making my sandals. http://www.melissinos-art.com/

Temple of Olympian Zeus

 

 

Changing of the guards at The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier 

A view of the Parthenon from my balcony at the Hilton Athens. This marvelous hotel is truly fit for a Queen. Queen Sofie of Spain, with Greek origins, stayed on the floor above me throughout my visit.

Reverse view- the Hilton Athens from the Parthenon.

Rhodes, Greece-Myrovolies, Palace of the Grand Masters; Medieval City, Acropolis of Lindos

The Acropolis of Lindos

Below: The Palace of the Grand Masters, a medieval castle to match my childhood fantasies.

Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes Link 

Greece is a delightful assault on the senses. It is my ideal destination with ruins, ancient sites and dazzling architecture by morning, beaches and a dip in the Aegean in the afternoon, and fine dining surrounded by happy people and lively music by evening. What more could one ask for? I love this place! (Best traditional Greek food and atmosphere: Myrovolies:Lachitos 13 Medieval Town Rhodes Telephone: 22410 38693)
 Rhodes Hilton Hotel Link

Aloha from Paradise: O'ahu, Hawaii

As a beach and sun-loving being, it should come as no surprise that I truly felt like I was in Paradise during the week I spent on the island of Oahu. However, I believe one would be hard-pressed to find anyone spending time there who didn't feel similarly. The views, the weather, the water, the beaches, the food...what's not to love? And though I thoroughly enjoyed each of those things, I was also delighted with the numerous inexpensive island activities we were able to experience, thanks in large part to a chance meeting with AlohaBruce (Twitter Handle), otherwise known as Bruce Fisher of Hawaii-Aloha.com. Bruce set us up on a private tour of the North Shore with an adventurous guide named Hilton Blackwell and also arranged for a private tour of the Pacific Aviation Museum, one of the Top 10 aviation sites of 2010. We had an absolute blast! Additionally, we were able to pay our respects and be at Pearl Harbor for the historic 69th anniversary, December 7th, of Pearl Harbor Day. (See upcoming Pearl Harbor and Pacific Aviation Post for details and photos.) 

FREE: Breathtaking view of Waimea Bay and the Jumping Rock (first large rock on the right that juts into the water) from Pu'u Mahuka Heiau State Park. FREE:  This park houses the 250 year old ruins of a Hawaiian Temple dedicated as a luakini heiau (sacrificial temple) which included ceremonies for success in war. 

The volcanic rock walls and floor are all that remains.

FREE: My friends taking the dare-devil 30 foot plunge off Jumping Rock, while Hilton swims towards shore after his jump.

Down the road a few miles from the Dole Plantation is a teriific roadside stand called  Kahuku Land Farms. We stopped there with Hilton  for a fresh mid-day snack after working up an appetite. (For under $5) When I say fresh, I mean fresh. We ate sugar cane freshly cut from the fields, pomegranate and coconuts freshly picked from the tree, and freshly cut pineapples which came from the nearby Dole Plantation. Now don't laugh, but there are some things I had never really taken time to consider and while I was here, I had to stare at a few of them. For instance, it never occurred to me that pomegranates grew on trees or that pineapples grew in plants from the ground. Sheltered existence? Perhaps, but I blame it on my cold climate upbringing. Nevertheless, it has now been remedied.

I had my first taste of sugar cane here, which I was informed you suck on like a sucker, don't bite off and chew. It's GOOD! (Which instantly had the old commercial ringing in my ears "C & H, Pure Cane Sugar, from Hawaii, growing in the sun" ... Vintage C and H Commercial on YouTube ) We also tried sweet corn and fried banana.

Sunset Beach

Turtle Beach

This big guy is only 40 years old, so you can imagine how big some of the older ones get. It was so cool to get in the water and be absolutely surrounded by sea turtles.

Know before you go: It is against the law to touch a sea turtle. More importantly, and what I wish they would post, is the reason behind this law. Sea turtles grow tumors wherever humans touch them, which eventually leads to their death. The signs should read Touching Kills the Turtles. People would be much less likely to do it if they knew the consequences.

Not only does the North Shore Blue Water Shrimp & Seafood Co. have outrageously delicious plate lunches of garlic shrimp and seafood, but the steak there is divine! 

For a much acclaimed and an sinfully scrumptious dessert, a stop at Matsumoto's is a must. It won hands down as  the best shaved ice we tasted on the island. I had the Hawaiian flavor shaved ice complete with ice cream, but I'm sure any flavor of this divine treat would suffice. 


East O'ahu 

 

Enjoying time with new friends, Bruce and Yaling Fisher of Hawaii-Aloha.com, who invited us to their home in Koko Marina to discuss must-see sights on the East Shore of O'ahu. Below I've highlighted those recommendations and second it with my own now, having been to them.

Hanauma Bay

Free: Halona Blowhole

Free: Eternity Beach
 Made famous in the movie From Here to Eternity
(44 Second Video Clip of Kissing scene on this beach in, "From Here to Eternity")

FREE: A view of Sandy Beach Park

 Free: Makapu'u Point and Lighthouse

Free: Lanikai Beach

 Located in the ritzy area of the island where President Obama is known to stay, this was one of the gems I was thrilled to learn of.

Know before you go: Unlike many places you'll visit, there are NO closed beaches in Hawaii. What this means is that even on the most posh and luxurious areas of the islands, the beaches are public. So we enjoyed this beach, which was sparsely populated while others waded through the sea of people on Waikiki.

Waikiki and Honolulu

MELE KALIKIMAKA YouTube: Bing Crosby's Mele Kalikimaka

FREE: We enjoyed many strolls along this picturesque beach.

 There are many guide books available for Hawaii, and I did purchase Frommer's Hawaii for Honolulu and Waikiki. I found it useful as I planned the trip. However, once we reached the island, I was thrilled to get my hands on a copy of Oaho Revealed written by local author Andrew Doughty, which revealed many less known areas to explore.

Top 5 Things to Do in Park City

It is no small feat to narrow down a voluminous list to just 5 when picking things to do in Park City. I can't imagine a more ideal place. Unlike some hard to reach resort towns, Park City is just 36 miles from the Salt Lake City International Airport, so getting to these breathtaking mountains is quick and easy. Once you arrive, here are the Top 5 things to do:

    

Photo Credit Donna McAleer; Ski instructor at Deer Valley

1) Ski.

Deer Valley has been named the #1 ski resort in North America by readers of Ski magazine for four years running. With 300 inches of snow annually, Deer Valley is a mecca for skiers. The great thing about all Park City ski resorts is that they limit lift ticket sales so the slopes aren't overcrowded and skiers can thoroughly enjoy themselves. Deer Valley Resort covers four mountains, so there's plenty of beauty to explore. They also offer snowmobile tours, sleigh rides, and snowshoeing. Don't miss the nine bowls, eight peaks, 3,300 acres and 50 groomed runs at Ski Magazine's #5 North American pick, Park City Mountain Resort  or the fresh powdery slopes and America's first heated-seat-orange-bubble-lift at the #18 resort, The Canyons.

Couple these experiences with a stay at one of the numerous luxury resorts around and you will partake in both world class snow and service.

Photo of my friend Cindy taking on the mountain.

2) Hike and Bike.
There are trails for the novice and the extremist here and the surrounding scenery could not be more beautiful. Park City is a must see destination for any lover of the outdoors. This site is a great resource for Park City Biking and Hiking Trails.

Photo Credit Park City Gallery Association

3) Enjoy the Main Street Gallery Stroll.
On the last Friday of every month, from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm the Park City Gallery Association hosts this event for locals and visitors alike. You'll hear musicians and be treated to appetizers, wine, beer or other refreshments as you stroll over 25 galleries along Park City's Historic Main Street and around town. The art and music are always unique and the refreshments aren't too bad either!

Enjoying the Earth Wind and Fire Outdoor Concert at Deer Valley

Gourmet Picnic Basket -Photo Courtesy Deer Valley Resort Website

4) Attend an Outdoor Concert. 

Pack your picnic, blanket, and favorite beverage and prepare to rock the night away at any number of free outdoor concerts. There is something happening nightly here during the summer. If you're not in the mood to pack your own meal, Deer Valley has a Gourmet Picnic Basket (salmon or beef) that is out of this world and goes well with any of their venues: Wednesday evening's free concerts which feature local artists, St. Regis' "Big Stars, Bright Nights Concert Series,” with the Utah Symphony, or big names like BB King and Earth Wind Fire from the United Concerts Group. It just doesn't get any better than enjoying your favorite music under a blanket of stars.

Photo courtesy of UOP Website

5) Go to Utah's Olympic Park.

In addition to taking a ride on the world's steepest zipline, you can experience the venue site for the 2002 Winter Olympic bobsled, skeleton, luge and nordic ski-jumping events. "UOP also boasts a 750,000 gallon freestyle training pool into which skiers and snowboarders hurl themselves all summer long. Public activities include guided tours, two award-winning museums, Saturday freestyle pool shows, two different ziplines, the Quick Silver alpine slide, and the heart pounding "Comet" bobsled ride." There is something here for all ages to enjoy!

Photo via Google Images

6) Attend Sundance Film Festival
(Yes, I added an extra one. I know my Park City friends will dis-own me for mentioning this one, but this is an event that sets Park City apart!)

This magical festival has become a star-studded event and put Park City on the map for many around the world. Luckily, you don't have to be an A-lister to view the independent films and meet with the directors to get their insights into their work. That incredible opportunity is open to anyone with a ticket. (There is a love-hate relationship for most folks in town as the influx of people make getting to work and around town difficult. In fact, most just hibernate for 10 days. However, the throngs of celebrities and their entourages are a welcome boon to the local economy!)

My NASCAR Initiation; Sprint Cup Series, Phoenix, Arizona

 This was my first NASCAR event and, as a guest of sponsor Kimberly Clark, I felt like a winner from the moment I arrived at Phoenix International Raceway. With Pit and Garage Passes in hand, my friend Rebecca and I set out on a two-day exploration of this unknown (to us) world of racing. As we were led to meet the drivers before the warm up laps on the first day, I told Rebecca to take as many photos as possible of the drivers, because I didn't know who anyone was! (In fact, there are some shots below I could use help identifying, help NASCAR Fans!) I'm not trying to be insulting to the drivers or their fans when I say they are unknown to me, this is just a world I have never before explored. We all have to start somewhere!  It was a fascinating experience to meet the drivers, spotters and pit crews and learn about all of the factors that come into play during a race. I loved listening to the spotters talk to the drivers on my headsets during the race. It somehow made the race more personal and engaged me fully. At the end of two days, we discovered we could be as "fan-atical" as the best of them.

Two wild and crazy guys who wanted their picture taken with us.

Trophy Girls: Me and my pal, Rebecca, with the Wypall 200 Trophy.

Posing with Carl Edwards, the pleasant and very nice winner of both the Saturday Wypall 200 Race and the Sunday Kobalt Tools 500 Races.

#7--Go Daddy Car of Robby Gordon prior to the race.

The legendary Richard Petty.

Driver (anyone, anyone ?) and Carl Edwards

  

Since I did not have any specific driver allegiance at the beginning of the race (aside from the fact I was pulling for Carl Edwards after having met him) this visor was given to me by a Tony Stewart (14) fan.

The human race outside of the race. Fans gathered to hear Kurt Busch (2) interviewed before the race.

Getting the autograph of  David Reutimann, driver of the TUMS sponsored vehicle.

The weather in Phoenix was great and, all in all, my first NASCAR experience was an educational and phenomenal one. I hope to be invited back for more!