Massachusetts Travelathon

All of our Massachusetts Stops

We recently traveled to Osterville, Massachusetts for a good friend's wedding. We decided to make a mini-vacation out of it and packed in as many things as we could do.

Starting with a 6:25am flight from the happiest hottest place on earth we traveled to the center of Yankee haters. After about an hour of trying to get our GPS and iPhone Maps App to "locate" itself and stop recalculating, we found parking near Boston Common. We spent the day in Boston walking the Freedom Trail. All that walking made us hungry so we stopped by Nico and filled up on gnocchi sorrentina, wine and a humungous fettuccine seafood pot. For dessert we went on a Ghost Tour. Yep, more walking. I am guestimating we walked about 7 miles that day.

We had some time to kill on Saturday before the wedding so before heading to our Bed and Breakfast in Hyannis we stopped into LA Fitness in Walpole because we apparently didn't get enough exercise in the day before.

We left with plenty of time to spare but hit horrendous traffic on the way to the Cape Cod area. This will be the first of many times we get slowed down. Thank goodness we made in just in time to see Keri and Dave say "I Do" and then we ate lots of lobster and danced to Michael Jackson's Thriller. I vowed to myself to never dance in heels again after busting my arse on the dance floor. I wasn't even drinking ... that much.

Day three was a day spent in Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard. We read online that biking was the way to go so we rented two bikes and with our trusty map we set out for a leisurely ride across the island. I must of misheard the guy when he said "8 miles" because we soon found out it was more like 8 miles each way. I mapped our route out and we did 18 mile since we took the wrong road in the beginning. To make matters a wee worse, we really had to huff it back since our ferry to Martha's Vineyard was leaving shortly. We made it back in time and spent the remainder of the day in the "Vineyard". I indulged in a Lobster Mac and Cheese Entree at the Sidecar Cafe and Bar in Oak Bluffs. It was heavenly.

The Not So Leisurely Bike Ride

Our last day was a rainy one but we were able to squeeze in a stop at the Pilgrim Hill Museum in Plymouth and the Samuel Adams Brewery in Boston before we headed to the airport to fly home.

So we flew 1,100 miles, drove 391, biked 18 and walked about 8. I think I need a vacation from this vacation.

The Last Supper

A joyous time! A well deserved vacation, cruising the Pacific on an Alaskan Cruise. It was just what we needed. So what does one do for a week on a luxurious ship with endless amounts of food, booze and entertainment? That would be to eat, drink and be merry!

To prepare my body, stomach and soul for this trip I stepped up my work out regimen two weeks before we set sail. I cycled my little legs off and worked my core in pilates. With all the stair climbing, walking, and hiking that we planned to do I was determined not to over indulge that much but, I did. I ate new and exciting things like pheasant and mussels but I stayed away from the soup with tripe. Thank gawd I asked about that one. Tripe is the stomach lining of animals. I still can't fathom that one.

"This soup is too thin and watery. What can I add to thicken it Stuart?"
Stuart holds up cow intestines, shrugs his shoulders and asks Martha, "How about this?"
"Yes, that will work!" Martha replies.

I think I just threw up a little in my mouth. I digress. But not even the mention of tripe can steer me away from eating and eating we did do. Buttermilk pancakes, crazy good pizza, crusty bread, fresh fruit, hot chocolate, Caesar salads, yummy asparagus, salmon, haddock, lobster tails, filet mignon, cheesecake, banana ice cream and much more. I told myself that the amount of calories I was consuming was being offset by the amount of walking we were doing. Oh the lies I tell myself including that what I eat standing up doesn't count. It probably didn't help that my Rule of Thumb on how to not overindulge (when the sun goes down, put the fork down) was extended to past 9pm due to do the Midnight Sun. By the 6th night my pants had enough.

Quoting Weird Al, I sing:

If you see me comin' your way
Better give me plenty space
If I tell you that I'm hungry
Then won't you feed my face
Because I'm fat, I'm fat, sha mone
You know I'm fat, I'm fat, you know it, you know
And my shadow weighs 42 pounds
Lemme tell you once again who's fat.

Whoops. Missed a buckle, or did I?

Stop Touching Me!

Last week the Mister and I traveled across the country to Seattle for an Alaskan cruise to celebrate our one year wedding anniversary. Our trip started in Orlando with a small layover in Houston and then a Four Hour Flight (sung to the tune of Gilligan's Island) to Seattle.

We are experienced travelers. We know what to wear, bring, how to pack it, and how to stow it. Most importantly, we know proper air-traveler etiquette. For those whom are inexperienced, please take note as this will further assist you in having an enjoyable experience in your future air travels, especially if you are traveling with me.

• You cannot check your bags more than 4 hours prior to your flight so, please don't stand in line in hopes they will take your bag and then proceed to act all put out when they won't take it. That doesn't work.
• 3-1-1 Rule: 3 ounces, 1 quart size bag, 1 bag per traveler for carry on bags. No, the wine bottle is over 3.4 oz and therefore cannot be carried on.
• When your flight starts boarding, there is no need to stand and crowd near the gate when they haven't called your seat or area yet. This isn't Noah's Ark. Ya'll are getting a seat. 
• Stow small carry on items underneath your seat. 
• The overhead bins are for larger items that cannot be stowed under your seat such as suitcases, not jackets. When stowing your suitcase in the overhead bin, try to remember Ray Finkle from Ace Ventura; Laces Out! This means your wheels on your luggage are to face out. Why? It doesn't fit the other way since the bins slope inwards and secondly, your bag isn't special. Other bags need to get in there too.
• Hear that ringing? Yeah, it's your phone. If you don't, get a hearing aid.
• When getting in and out of your seat, please be aware of the seat back you're grabbing for leverage. Often times the seat likes to strike back like Star Wars when you're tray table is down. It is the weirdest thing.
• Most importantly, whether you are in your seat or in a line, please be mindful of your "personal space". This includes but is not limited to your arms, hands, legs, feet, and head. your body. Use the Chicken Dance as a guideline. If you can flap your wings and hit someone, you are too close. Adults might give you the stank eye, a vengeful sigh or children like me might tell their flight attendants that you need to Stop Touching Me!