Four Corners

The month of September was busy from a travel perspective. 

I visited the four corners. No, not the point where Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona intersect. (I was there in 2007 and it is boring...)

Four Corners (UT, CO, NM, AZ) - 2007

My scope is larger these days. I literally visited all four corners of the United States. After starting the month in Boston, I flew back to Chicago for a week in the office. From there, I spent a weekend in San Diego to see an old friend. The next week, I went back to Orlando for another work trip, followed by a long-weekend vacation in Seattle, before returning to Chicago once again. Eleven thousand domestic airline miles in one month. Crazy.   

September 2014 flights

Northeast Corner: Boston is home. It's also the most historic and dynamic corner of the country. Read all about my trip here.

Southwest Corner: San Diego is one of those cities that just makes me feel relaxed. Everyone seems so happy and they have a casual quirkiness that makes me smile. My luggage didn't arrive on my flight, but I didn't let it bother me. Instead, I just picked up my rental car and drove to nearby Balboa Park.  

Balboa Park is one of my favorite places to go in San Diego because of the Spanish architecture, the beautiful gardens, and all the activity there is to see while you walk around. There are also several museums in the area, but I have never bothered to go inside any of them. I could spend an entire day there, just soaking up the sun and people-watching.

Beautiful Spanish architecture

Saint Francis Chapel

There are countless street artists and exhibitors stationed along the grass, offering everything from stress tests to artwork. A few tents were harmlessly religious, some were zany (like the free hula-hoop area), and others were purely amusing. I talked to one exhibitor, who said the permit process for in Balboa Park is a frustrating lottery system with only 25 slots available per month (10 musicians, 10 performers, and 5 show acts). I can't even imagine the lifestyle of a street performer. It's certainly not my calling.

Caricaturist at Balboa Park

After a couple hours at the park, I met my friend for a late lunch at the famous Anthony's Fish Grotto. The restaurant decor reminds me of Red Lobster (it's very dated), but the food was tasty and the views of the water were beautiful. The entire afternoon/evening felt like a blur but it was nice to get back to San Diego for the first time in far too long. 

Dogs with shades...only in San Diego!

Southeast Corner: I think Orlando is a perfect microcosm of America. It offers a diverse population, countless outlet malls that proliferate American lifestyle of consumerism, and everything is so spread out that a car is essentially required in order to travel anywhere. I don't particularly enjoy Orlando much and I would never live there, but it is always a fun place to visit. 

My hotel was a massive convention-style complex, so everything felt very impersonal. Even the view from my room was about as bland as I have ever had in the past couple years of living in hotels. 

View from my hotel in Orlando - convention city!

Living up to its American stereotype, the hotel even had a TV embedded in the bathroom mirror. Normally, I don't watch much TV - especially in the morning - but this amenity was too good to pass up. I loved listening to the day's financial headlines on CNBC while I took a shower. 

Watch TV while you brush your teeth!

Throughout the week, our restaurant choices were seemingly endless, as all the national restaurant chains are located along International Drive. I have a love/hate relationship with chains. The food is normally generic-tasting, yet the flavors are undeniably appealing. Plus, the consistent menu offerings allow people to enter the restaurant knowing exactly what they will order. 

As a global traveler, I can understand the appeal of comfort food but I also feel like the globalization of so many restaurants has contributed to the lack of local identity. One of my favorite aspects of the North End in Boston, for example, is that locally-owned restaurants that can only be found in one place. If you are craving a cannoli from Mike's pastry, you must go to Boston. Restaurants in other cities may offer something similar, but none will be able to match the sensory connection that I associate with this pastry shop in Boston.

Nothing against Orlando. All cities have fallen victim to national chains, but I feel like the problem is magnified in Orlando. I didn't eat a single thing on my trip that will inspire me to return. 

One memory I will associate uniquely with Orlando is the Minus 5 Ice Bar, which is completely covered in ice (including the seats) and even serves drinks in ice glasses. The experience is undeniably overpriced but it is certainly unique from any other bar I have visited. 

Minus 5 Ice Bar - Orlando

I always enjoy new experiences when I travel and I am glad that Minus 5 Ice Bar helped to add a unique memory from my week in Orlando.

Northwest Corner: The final stage of my trip across America involved a long weekend in Washington. The main reason I booked this part of the trip was to run in the Bellingham Bay Half Marathon, which is located just south of the Canadian border. The city is historically known for coal and timber extraction but it is now a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts. As such, I felt that Bellingham would be the perfect place to run my first race in the State of Washington. 

The city's location along the bay allowed for some really nice views of the water and the many locally-owned businesses throughout the downtown area offered a complete contrast to the generic atmosphere in Orlando.

Leaves are already starting to change colors in Bellingham.

Is the not the cutest coffee shop ever?

Bellingham Bay waterfront

I may have watched too much of the Twilight series, but I could not help comparing Bellingham to the small town of Forks where the movies are set. The weather was misty on the day of the race and the town has quite a few historic (for west-coast standards) buildings with a really eerie vibe. Even the newer apartments in the downtown area have a very industrial feel to them. 

Old Bellingham City Hall (now Whatcom Museum)

Beautiful mural on the side of this building

Another old building that looked cool to me

Bellingham thrived during the industrial era but, like many other cities in America, was forced to redefine itself when the economy shifted. I really enjoyed seeing how the old buildings have been rescued and modernized for a new generation. I could never live in such a small city, but it was an excellent place for a quick stop-over.

After the race, I drove down to Seattle for a bonus day in Emerald City. My hotel was in a prime location - near the shopping district and the famous Pike Place Market. As I approached the market, I noticed several couples walking hand-in-hand, while the girl carried a beautiful bouquet of flowers. This is something I rarely see these days (perhaps because of my highly transient lifestyle), but I credit the nearby flower market for keeping such a traditional romantic gesture alive. 

The famous (and over-photographed) Public Market sign

Flower market in Seattle's Public Market

Across from the public market is the original Starbucks store - a landmark that attracts enough people to line up down the street. I had already been there on my last trip to Seattle and it is basically just like any other Starbucks, so I had no desire to wait in line again. As a credit to the locally-owned restaurants, there is also a famous piroshky bakery just a few doors down that attracted an even larger crowd...including me.

First Starbucks store

I walked around the corner from the market to a nearby park and was surprised by all the homeless (or homeless looking) people just hanging around, laying on the grass, and essentially crowding out anyone who may actually want to enjoy the public space without feeling like have stumbled into a shelter. There were some great views of both the city and the water, but it was difficult to appreciate them with so many sketchy people around. 

Later in the evening, I went to Pioneer Square and found the homeless problem to be just as bad. Everyone was perfectly harmless so I was not afraid to walk around on my own. It's just a shame because I will forever associate Seattle with street people littering the public areas. 

Hard to appreciate the public art with all the street people hanging around

Another great neighborhood that is diminished by street people

Many people people associate hills with San Francisco,  but I would guess that Seattle has just as many. Walking through the neighborhoods in the downtown area, I got quite a nice calf workout. I would imagine that this is an even greater challenge during the snowy winter months!  The hills are something I will keep in mind if I ever decide to run a full marathon in Seattle.

One of many hills in Seattle

I didn't make it to some of the well-known tourist attractions in Seattle this time (such as the Space Needle), but I still managed to have a nice long weekend in the Pacific Northwest. I find this part of the country to be extremely beautiful with all the pine-covered mountains and Mount Rainier visible in the distance on particularly sunny days. The city of Seattle is not very cosmopolitan, but I think the non-pretentious element is a big part of its charm. 

-- -- -- -- -- --

All of my travel throughout the month of September helped to remind me that there are so many interesting places to visit in the United States. Americans share a common national bond, but the people (and the landscapes) are so diverse. It was fun for me to experience these differences in such a short period of time. Having said that, there is so much mobility in today's society that the differences start to merge together. 

Seattle may be the birthplace of Starbucks Coffee, but people can purchase the same items in any Starbucks store across the country. The same idea holds true for any other national chain. While I was traveling across the United States in September, I made an effort to avoid the chains. I wanted to get the most unique experience in each city that I visited. Now, when I plan my future trips, I can get excited for Mike's Pastry in Boston, Anthony's Fish Grotto in San Diego, or Piroshky Piroshky in Seattle.  

View from one of my many flights across the United States in September

Boston

It’s fun to take a business trip to my home city. Especially when that city can be enjoyed with someone who has never been there before. My week in Boston helped to remind me that the place I grew up is somewhere I would like to live again... Someday.... But for now, I am content visiting for short periods at a time and departing before the excitement starts to fade. 

My hotel was located in the financial district, but I forget just how easy it is to navigate the compact city center. From the historic Quincy Market to the upscale shopping on Newbury Street, Boston is a true American jewel.

View from my hotel room in Boston

The first evening, I went to dinner with my colleague at one of the many amazing Italian restaurants in the North End. I haven’t been to this area in over a decade and I am thrilled that it is more easily accessible, now that the highway dividing it from the rest of the city has been moved underground. We could have chosen from countless restaurants, but we ended up at Vinoteca di Monica. The tables were crammed in a tiny space and the semi-open kitchen made the experience feel like we were eating in the home of our Italian grandmother. 

After dinner, we couldn’t go back to our hotel without stopping for  cannoli from Mike’s Pastry. My mouth was salivating as I debated which of the flavors I wanted to try. The amaretto was incredible and I had to restrain myself from returning the next night to try the other flavors.
 

Mike's Pastry sign lights up the night

On our last afternoon in Boston, we had some time to go on a tour of the city. The tour guide was full of great information that I hope to retain some of it so that people don’t think I am lying when I tell them I spent 22 years of my life in the Boston area. Some of my favorite facts about Boston: 

- Fenway is more than just the home of the Boston Red Sox. This part of the city was once only marshland, until land reclamation projects began in the 1820's.

Exterior of Fenway Park - the oldest stadium in major league baseball

- Just a few blocks away from Fenway Park is the oldest remaining Victory Garden in the United States. Victory Gardens emerged during World War II as a way to reduce pressure on the public food supply. Today, it is mostly filled with flowers, but it serves as a living reminder of both the contributions and the sacrifices that Americans made as part of the war effort. 

- Beacon Hill is now one of the most desirable neighborhoods in the city and its name came from an emergency beacon that once stood at the highest point in Boston. The narrow streets remain much of their historic character, including the most gas lamps of any city in the United States. Many of these lamps still burn for 24 hours per day - a tradition that began out of necessity, when the lamplighter union wages became prohibitively expensive for manually lighting and extinguishing the lamps each day. 

Beacon Hill is also home of the Massachusetts State House

- The Christian Science religion is headquartered in Boston, and the beautiful cathedral is certainly a focal point in the city. I'm still not sure how they can afford such prime real estate with only 100,000 members across the country, but it certainly adds to the overall beauty of the city. 

- Just a few blocks from the Christian Science headquarters is Trinity Church, which is honored as one of the "ten most significant buildings in the United States" by the American Institute of Architects. For me, this church is such a symbol of Boston and its reflection in the adjacent John Hancock tower adds to its appeal. 

Trinity Church reflects beautifully from the adjacent John Hancock Tower

- Harvard Bridge is 364.4 (and an ear) "smoots" long. This unit of measurement was developed in 1958 when an MIT student was laid down, end-over-end, to measure the length of the bridge. The markings are repainted each semester by the incoming class of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity). The unit of measurement was so widely accepted that bridge renovations in the 1980's actually incorporated scores in the pavement at every smoot (5'7''). 

While crossing the bridge, people are also treated to gorgeous views of the Boston skyline:

Boston skyline, as seen from the Harvard Bridge

Of all areas in the city, Downtown Crossing and the waterfront seem to be transforming the quickest. In Downtown Crossing, there are several new luxury condo buildings and a skyscraper in the early stages of construction. I remember this area to be a little seedy when I was first graduating college and I am glad to see that it has already improved substantially.

Modern touches in an otherwise historic building in Downtown Crossing

The waterfront – home to Boston’s new convention center – also feels like an entirely new city. There has been so much construction that it makes me wonder what existed there a decade ago. I can hardly imagine that such prime waterfront real estate remained undeveloped, but maybe it was more of an industrial area.

On Friday night, I attended the Boston College football game with my parents. In most parts of the country, attending a football game would be considered a popular local activity, but not in Boston. Here, college football is almost forgotten – even when BC enjoys a national ranking.

One of the reasons I chose to attend Boston College was the Division I athletics, which I feel brings such unity to the student body. This game was proof of that, as the student section was the most crowded and most lively area of the stadium. For little more than a price of a movie, everyone gets an impressive game-day experience, but the students bond in a way that simply cannot be replicated at schools without popular sports teams. The final score was a disappointment for my alma mater, but it was a lot of fun to relive all the great memories from my years as a student.

Boston College Football

Over the past week in Boston, I enjoyed seeing the city from the perspective of a visitor. Boston is so filled with history, yet it continues to transform with cutting-edge art and architecture. Learning so many interesting facts about Boston and hearing the glowing reviews from my colleague allowed me to gain a new appreciation of my home town.

I normally visit the Boston area purely to reconnect with family and friends. Occasionally, I will go into the city for dinner or drinks but most of my time is spent in the suburbs. My experience got me wondering: How many people fail to take advantage of the tourist activities in their home cities?  Sometimes, just a tour of the historic sites or slow walk with a camera in hand may be enough to renew their sense of pride in the place they live.

Christmas gifts for a professional traveler

For most normal people, a night of sleep in their own bed or an evening out with friends is nothing to get excited about.  For a professional traveler, however, these things are pretty nice gifts. I didn't have a very long Christmas list this year, but I must have been good because I got everything I wanted.  Here are my favorites:  

1) A flight upgrade

My first Christmas gift this year was from American Airlines in the form of a business-class upgrade from Paris to New York.  What a great way to start a vacation!

The experience of flying in the premium cabin really makes a huge difference in international flights - especially for someone who can't sleep sitting up.  I didn't catch any z's on the flight but it was still nice to fully recline and close my eyes for a bit.  The food is also a major upgrade. After a glass of champagne to start the trip, I had a four-course lunch that wasn't served in a foil container, and even included a custom ice-cream sundae for dessert.  

For some reason, American Airlines continues to fly planes to Europe without personal entertainment devices in coach class, so the most important benefit of this upgrade was actually being able to choose movies and shows to watch.  This may seem like a small point, but entertainment is important on an 8-hour flight!

2) A personal airport pick-up

My parents always pick me up at the airport when I come home, which is so much nicer than searching for a stranger holding a sign with the name of my hotel or sitting in the back of a taxi.   

I certainly don't have a problem with being chauffeured around in a luxury sedan to my hotels, but it's so much better when you can spend the ride with people you care about. 

3) My own bed

Hotels are almost like a home for me, but I still enjoy the sense of ease that accompanies my own bed.  I don't have to worry about the dirty people who have stayed in my room before me or whether I will find a strand of the housekeeper's hair in the sheets.  Even though I love having people to clean for me when I am living in hotels, there is a certain level of comfort that simply cannot be achieved unless I am at home.  

4) Time with family and friends

Often, my trips back home are too short to see everyone that I would like to catch up with.  This time, I was lucky enough to have two weeks off, which even allowed me with a couple nights to just relax at home without feeling guilty that I was squandering time that could have otherwise been spent seeing more people. 

5) Christmas Eve traditions

Every year, Christmas eve involves a carefully-orchestrated series of events that should never be altered.  I join my mom at church, which is followed by take-out Chinese/Japanese food with my family.  (This year, I was tired of eating out for every meal so I just paired some appetizers with a simple salad).  

After dinner, I meet up with all my high school friends at the annual Christmas Eve party.  Normally, we are confined to a side room with the most perfectly decorated tree I have ever seen.  This year, however, we were re-assigned to the dining room table, which allowed for much easier access to the desserts and alcohol.  :)

The after-party is a more recent tradition where only the most hearty souls head to another home for late-night libations.  Even though it wreaks havoc on Christmas morning, I feel like a younger version of myself when I can stay up with friends until after 3AM. 

6) A united family

I'm lucky that my extended family enjoys being home for Christmas just as much as I do.  My cousins are spread around the United States (Denver, Washington DC, New York and Boston), yet we all managed to see each other on Christmas Day.  

Annual cousin picture

Beyond just coming together physically, I am lucky that everyone on both sides of the extended family gets along with one another. There are no awkward conversations at the table or subtle insults throughout the meal.  

My brother hosted Christmas at his house, which is ideal for parties because of the open floor plan, two built-in bars, billiard room, and central speaker system that plays music everywhere.  We also discovered the "Heads Up" ipad app, which provided hours of fun as the "youngs" and the "olds" battled it out.  

7) Travel-themed gifts

Let's just face it.  I live out of a suitcase, so I obviously don't need furniture, housewares, or any other gifts that most people my age are finding under the tree these days.   

I figured that new luggage would make for a good gift but I am very specific.  It has to be black, sleek, well-branded, and lighter than what I currently use.  Otherwise, there's no point in updating.   My mom and I spent one afternoon at the mall and we must have looked like crazy people as we picked up every suitcase to inspect the weight and size dimensions like we were searching for a new home.  I suppose my suitcase is like a home since it transports all of my belongings for 3-4 months at a time.  I was so excited to find with one that fit all the qualifications...and with wheels that spin in complete circles.  Score! 

Another gift that only professional travelers would appreciate is metal collar-stays.  Most people have probably never even heard of these, but it is important when the laundry people are constantly losing the plastic ones that come with my shirts.  I can't have my collars flapping around all day!
  
8) A gym membership

Some people need coffee as part of their daily routine.  I need a work-out.  My mom knows this about me, so she always gets me a temporary gym membership when I come home.  Honestly, this means the world to me - especially during the holidays, when I have even more calories to burn.  

It's also a gift to be able to wake up whenever I want and not have to rush to the gym for an abbreviated workout before starting my day.  Throughout my break, I had very leisurely mornings and I often didn't even make it to the gym until around noon.  I know I'm a little nutty for thinking that a vacation should involve MORE time at the gym, but it felt like an adult playground next to the limited equipment options I usually have to deal with on the road.    

9) My own car

When I am traveling for work, I never have access to a car.  It's just too complicated to navigate the roads, so I normally just walk or take taxis whenever I want to go out.  I haven't owned a car since around 2005, so I am well accustomed to this type of transport.  

Having said that, I still really enjoy the freedom to drive myself around with my own car.  Whenever I visit my parents, I get to use one of their extra cars and it is a gift that I will never take for granted.  Part of me feels like I'm on vacation when I can just turn on the music and sing aloud.  I certainly can't do that when I'm riding in the back of a taxi (without people thinking I'm crazy).

10) A snowstorm

I grew up in New England.  Christmas is just not the same without some snow. The weather was surprisingly warm during the first few days of my vacation, but we got a decent storm just after the new year.  The white stuff made my winter vacation feel complete!  

11) Freedom to control what I eat


When I travel, I can't just call room service and ask for a handful of cashews or a granola bar.  I am always forced to accommodate my schedule to that of the local team, and this means no snacking and meals whenever they normally eat.  Even at dinner (when I normally don't eat too much), the waiters always look at me funny when I order just a piece of grilled meat/fish without any sides. "Steamed" vegetables always seem to be laden with oil but I don't have the audacity to instruct the chefs about how I want my food prepared.  

My preferred eating habits have always involved 5 small meals per day, including small snacks whenever I get bored/hungry.  I cook things with very little oil, eat dairy products without any fat, and avoid anything deep-fried.  

Being home is like a gift to my digestive system because I can eat whatever I want, whenever I want.  My body was not too happy about all the excess desserts over the past two weeks, but it's the holidays after all!  Fortunately, almost everything else I ate was much more healthy than I am able to find when I travel.       

12) Fond Farewell

Whenever I finish a work assignment, the local teams must be secretly happy for me to be gone.  (Sometimes it's not such a secret!)  I don't blame them because I am always a huge disruption to their normal operations while I ask questions and pry into their work.  

Trips back home are a completely different feeling, as my friends and family genuinely seem happy to have me back.  At the end of every night out, we discuss when I will be back and it always seems like too long.  For me, a fond farewell is like the wrapping paper on a gift.  It seals the memories of all that exists inside, while also making you want to tear back in and discover the contents of the package.  

This Christmas couldn't have been better and the memories of my gifts will surely come along with me to my next travel destinations.  

New England Vacation

...and just like that, a week of vacation has come and gone.  

It started with a family gathering - always a good opportunity to see everyone at once.  My youngest cousin on my mom's side is about to start college.  I'm proud of her for knowing what she loves to do and accepting a place at her dream school in New York.  As my cousins prepare for another year of college, I am reminded that I finished undergrad a decade ago...when did I get so old?

The next few days gave me some much-needed time to recharge.  No big plans.  Only random lunches with friends, running around the lake by my parents' house (multiple times), swimming in their pool, and sleeping in the middle of the afternoon just because I can. 

I made a conscious decision to avoid watching "So You Think You Can Dance", just so I wouldn't get out of sequence on Hulu.  Am I pathetic or what? 

Over the weekend, my family drove up to New Hampshire to do some zip-lining at Gunstock Resort.  They have the longest zip line in the Continental US - very fun!  

Here I am, all "geared" up

It has been a while since I visited the White Mountains outside of ski season and the views were really nice.  Weather couldn't have been better (the entire week was basically perfect). 

Views from the top of Gunstock Mountain

Flying through the air at 50 miles per hour is actually a lot less strenuous than any of us expected.  Honestly, I would recommend it to anyone - young and old.  You don't have to be in good shape at all...you just have to weigh less than 260 pounds (strict limit - they even have a scale at the registration area!) 

I was amazed by all the summertime activities at the resort.  I could have easily spent a few more days hiking, canoeing, and mountain biking.  

Check out these views from the zip line

We then ventured to my brother's summer lake house to spend some time on his boat.  I had never been to Lake Ossipee before but it is really a fun environment.  Whenever people pass each other on a boat, they wave as if they are old friends.  My brother said that waving is mandatory so his boat gets a good reputation!

Views from the boat

I have to say - my brother is quite the baller.  He really knows how to live the good life.  Maybe someday I will exchange my suitcase for a boat of my own.  Until then, I will just live vicariously through him while I continue exploring the world. 

Living the good life at Lake Ossipee

As the sun continued to set, I could see the campfires emitting a smokey haze across the horizon.  The relaxed environment really made me feel like I was on vacation.  

We went to dinner at this really great place called The Woodshed, which I would totally recommend to anyone who happens to find themselves in central New Hampshire.  The atmosphere of the restaurant was so unique and very country-looking.  Plus, I had bacon on 2 out of 3 items on my plate - how can that not be good??

The remainder of my break involved more relaxation, seeing friends, and generally having zero stress - except for the last few days, when I was alone in my parents' house.  Maybe I have seen too many horror movies, but I was genuinely scared at night.  Every noise made me nervous that someone was in the house.  I even looked inside every room before I went to sleep to make sure no one was hiding anywhere!  I enjoy many aspects of suburban living, but home security is definitely not one of them. 

People may think I'm crazy, but I actually feel safer in my hotels than I did in this friendly neighborhood.  I sometimes complain about being watched constantly by the hotel staff but at least I know they are looking out for me. After so many years of living in cities and in high-rise buildings with 24-hour security, the isolation was an unusual experience!

The past ten days have been the perfect New England vacation.  I enjoyed the comforts of home, caught up with friends/family, appreciated the freedom to do whatever I wanted, and ended up feeling totally refreshed for another four months of travel. 

The joys of returning home

Sometimes, I think the best part of travel is the excitement of returning home.  

While I waited at baggage claim in Boston, I started thinking about things I was looking forward to:

1) Eating food that is not cooked in a pool of oil. 

2) Riding in the front seat of a car 

3) Being able to drive myself around...in an automatic car...without a map. 

4) Understanding everything that people say (even if the words are said in a Boston accent...)

5) Running outside (not on a treadmill).

6) Eating breakfast without 6 people asking if I want any coffee.  (No, I don't want coffee...I never want coffee...)

7) Seeing people who have known me for more than 2 weeks.

8) FAT FREE milk...and yogurt...and salad dressing. 

9) Bravo TV

10) Swimming in a private pool, without any old men wearing speedos (gross).  

11) Not having to mentally convert another currency to US Dollars whenever I want to buy something. 

12) Cooking for myself...with 100% certainty that my food won't contain any gross hidden ingredients like mustard, cream, mayonnaise, ketchup, etc. 

Hello, Boston!  It's great to be back!