Friday, June 13, 2014

Trippin'

Habitat 67 Montreal Quebec Canada
Niagara Falls Ontario Canada
Manhattan NY

The Mile High City Denver, CO  

I've gone on a few trips in the past couple of weeks. One trip was to Denver, where I was raised, for my niece's graduation and another was to Canada and NY, something I'd been planning for almost a year.

The Denver trip was the 1st time back w/most of my family. All the trees and things were in bloom, and even though there were T-storms and tornado warnings the entire time we were there, we had a great time. My youngest son hadn't been back in 7 years. He really loved it and said he wouldn't mind moving back someday. I got back from Denver on a Sunday and on the following Friday was on my way to Canada and New York for a week w/some friends.

We originally planned 2 nights in Montreal ( for Corey Hart concert), 2 nights in Toronto ( to visit Niagara Falls) and 3 nights in NYC ( to visit Statue of Liberty, Times Square, Ground Zero and Central Park). Well, the hockey play offs threw a small wrench in our plans. The concert was moved from Saturday night to Tuesday night which meant more driving.... and less time in NY =(

We flew into Montreal on Friday and spent 2 nights there. Montreal is beautiful! I was totally hating the fact that I didn't speak French because everyone speaks French there. We stayed in downtown Montreal and visited the Underground City (which is just really a mall), walked down to Old Montreal and took a boat tour. On Sunday we drove to Toronto (5.5hrs) and stayed in Mississauga. From there on Monday we drove the short hour drive and spent the day at Niagara Falls. The Falls are AMAZING!!! We took a mini cruise, did a little shopping and a lot of eating at Betty's Restaurant. We stayed a 2nd night in Mississauga and on Tuesday drove back to Montreal for the Corey Hart Concert. We said our final farewell to Canada on Wednesday and drove to NY.

The drive from Montreal to New York should take about 6 hrs but it took us a lot longer because we made a few pit stops along the way. The Adirondack Mountains are absolutely gorgeous! A stunning drive. The first pit stop was at the Black Bear Restaurant in Pottersville NY. The next was at Country Girl Crafts and Quilting, where all I bought was a pair of embroidery scissors...careful not to fall off the fabric fast wagon. Last pit stop before NYC was at Martha's Dandee Creme. So very thankful for this! YUM YUM YUM!!!!

NY is EVERYTHING you see in movies and on TV (not that I expected any different!) We finally made it to NY and it took us close to 2 hrs to actually get to our Hostel in Queens. Jackson Hole Diner is right down the street from where we stayed and they have the best sweet potato fries I've ever tasted! We rode the bus and took the subway to Manhattan. We visited Lady Liberty in the morning and spent the afternoon in Times Square. We didn't make it to Ground Zero or Central Park, which means I definitely have to get back there someday. A few things that surprised me about NY are; they have great tasting tap water, there is no sales tax on items purchased at a grocery store or clothing/footwear purchases under $110 and lastly, the price of cigarettes!!! I'm no longer a smoker but I passed a sign advertising Newport cigarettes (the brand I used to smoke) and it said $11.90/pack (includes tax)!!!! NY is not a smoker friendly state!

When I got home I told my sons all about my trip. I pulled out The Map that I had looked at while I was in NY and saw this....




Although I was sorely disappointed I missed this Quilt Exhibit, I had a wonderful adventure and I recommend visiting any/all of the places I went!

Click on links below to see pics of my trips. =)

Denver Pics

Montreal Pics

Niagara Falls Pics

New York Pics

A Thread for Life
Lyrics from another one of my favorites.


Let Them See You

Take away the melodies
Take away the songs I sing
Take away all the lights
And all the songs You let me write
Does the man I am today
Say the words You need to say?

Let them see You in me
Let them hear You when I speak
Let them feel You when I sing
Let them see You 
Just let them see You in me

Who am I without Your grace?
Another smile, another face
Another breath, a grain of sand
Passing quickly through Your hand
I give my life, an offering
Take it all, take everything

Let them see You in me
Let them hear You when I speak
Let them feel You when I sing
Let them see You
Just let them see You in me

With every breath I breathe
I sing a simple melody
But I pray they’ll hear more than a song
In me, in me

Let them see You in me
Let them hear You when I speak
Let them feel You when I sing
Let them see You