The Rockettes rock, and the creative team who developed this new show spent their Pandemic time well upgrading the production. If you are ever in New York City during this event – go. Given to me by my daughter’s beau as a Christmas present it will be a time I will always cherish.
While the performances were spectacular no photography or video is allowed, but the Music Hall is a masterpiece in and of itself.
What a greeting as you walk into the Music Hall.
Costume displays are present throughout the theater. There were many young ladies with Rockette dreams ogling these displays.
Don’t miss the Rockettes at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
Selected this next play as wanted to give Lin Manuel another chance. This 90 minute improv show won a special Tony award for its creativity. The engagement is 3 months till January 2, 2022, so if a fan get your tickets now, but am certain seats will be available. Performers take ideas from the audience, and with a couple musicians they sing and do vignettes based on these ideas.
Having hated Hamilton and In the Heights, both too loud and busy, (left with a migraine), did not plan on enjoying this, however, wanted to give Lin one last try. Wish I didn’t bother, and had my $78. back, however, that said many around me did enjoy whatever was going on on stage.
Caveat: Lin was great in Mary Poppins, the recent movie update.
Returned to my favorite City in the world for a 6 day stay. Was action packed and what fun! Read on….
View from a quiet Chinatown street…
Started my visit by exploring Chinatown, then on to the Jagged Little Pill. To attend a play, one must have their vaccine card, photo id, and mask on. This is taken seriously by those employees checking the information outside the theater. As a nurse concerned for my colleagues who will be entering a 5th wave this winter, risking their lives for the crazed, ignorant, stubborn idiots who are unvaccinated, I was grateful to see this process taken so seriously.
Jagged Little Pill
This play featured the songs of Alanis Morissette and was nominated for 15 Tony Awards – winning 2 of the coveted prize. In September cast members alleged mistreatment, an odd thing for a play which has nods to the black movement, rape concerns, and opioid crisis overtures.
The story line is based on a perfect white Connecticut family who adopted a black daughter years prior. The natural born son is headed to Harvard, the mother is enthralled in an opioid drama due to a car accident injury, the father is into porn, and the daughter is bisexual. It is a heady play with all these controversies, and despite music and humor thrown in the mix, it was too much. Be prepared for a sing a long as audience members sing the Alanis songs along with the cast. And having lived in Connecticut the characters are true to form – pretentious and damaged.
Prices for the play aren’t too severe – from 70 to 170 with Ticketmaster fees. It would not be my first choice but if you want a sing a long with friends, this play is for you……
It’s coming to the end of my Wild Wyoming stay. Have enjoyed seeing the West. Will miss the Wyoming people. They are truly wonderful, and this has become my most favorite stay. I will always recall the mountains and wildlife which crossed my path during walks on the local nature path.
So with much regret I will be leaving Wyoming returning to Florida for 10 days then north to another travel nurse experience.
AND
If you ever get the chance, visit Wyoming. It will remain a fond memory forever.
Never reviewed Seattle Airport. Found the place eco-friendly and into their brand, “Seattle.”
The “Brand”
OR
Had interesting restaurants with good selections..
And liked some of the decor..
Swirly seats give some privacy
Nice place for kids to chill..
Adequate spot for dogs to relieve themselves..
But the three things I liked best.
#1. Seniors at the Information Booth – they have patience and knowledge of the area.
#2. Safe Airport Sign – also should add human trafficking and place one in each bathroom.
.
#3. Flush Toilets – with water at such a premium who needs these electric monsters? How many times have you flushed once with these?? Never. These automatic water wasters flush at least 2 and up to 4 times. What a water waste. And how many times have you walked through a bathroom and had all 10 stalls flush as you walked through?? These need to be outlawed. It’s the least we can do is to flush our own excrement and a step closer in saving water, our most precious resource.
Glad to see someone is thinking about the future.
Hat’s off to you, Seattle. Probably Bill Gates is on your airport board or ever better, Melinda. She’s one mover and shaker.
Made an error in calculation on my return flight requiring 2 nights in New York rather than one. Had planned an overnight in Newark Airport as my arrival was at 8 pm and departure at 6 am., however, Newark was under construction and not allowing anyone to stay in the airport. Never like to leave an airport with early morning flights, especially in winter. Hotels are costly, and getting transport back to the airport even more problematic. Have met some fascinating folk on these airport overnights and never felt unsafe.
Newark Airport.
All that said… called Jeanie, the daughter, and she picked me up at the airport with future son in law, and Mo, the dog. Spent 2 glorious overnights in Brooklyn. Didn’t want her to rise at 4 a.m. for my early flight, however, she did as it is problematic getting to Newark from Brooklyn. While only 13 miles the cost is $90 in cabs due to the bridge tolls. Jersey transit does not operate 24 hours and NYC public transit connections are equally challenging.
Mo, the grand dog, was a little cold when he picked me up..
Jeanie lives in the 20th Avenue area of Brooklyn and for January and February I will be living there on another nursing travel assignment. She and future son in law are working the Sundance Film Festival where love first bloomed, (thank you Robert Redford), and I will be a Brooklyn girl.
Brooklyn Visit
What an interesting place Brooklyn is.. Here Russians and Chinese live together in harmony and the best of many worlds is seen in their foods. Some of my new neighborhood haunts..
No, this isn’t a garbage pick up.. This Chinese restaurant makes lunches for area businesses…
This Ionian Coast city has much charm and character. The birthplace of Mathematician and engineer Archimedes, it was once a major Mediterranean power broker.
Came across this interesting site in the bus parking lot…
Finding bathrooms in Europe is problematic. Always have a 50 euro piece with you for this event as bathrooms are not free and a big business for the locales.
After a short walk from the parking lot came upon this former post office which is now a prominent city hotel.
A marina view
And finally, the ruins, but as you can tell I am “ruined” out as this was the last day of the journey.
And next to the ruins the Church of St. Paul
Broke away from the tour and explored the city streets solo..
This large Roman Villa was built in the 4th century A.D. as the hunting lodge of a Roman patrician. Due to a natural disaster the Villa was buried and during the 1800’s unearthed to reveal the best preserved mosaics of the late Imperial era. It is a monument to the late Roman Empire with the mosaics providing esthetic as well as historical value.
Little is known of the Villa’s history. Sicily was known as the breadbasket to the Roman Empire providing wheat and other crops to feed the mainland population. It is hypothesized that the owner of the Villa was a representative of Rome who was in charge of monitoring the Sicilian farms.
Possible schematic of the Villa in 4 A.D.
Villa Foyer
Baths or Water Depository
The Mosaics
It is believed the Romans transported animals from Africa for zoos and to use in tournaments.
Hunting Scenes
Some geometric flooring designs..
The most celebrated of the mosaics. These bathing suited women are thought to be representative of those participating in Empire or Olympic games.
Another fascinating Sicilian visit…. According to our tour guide Sicily is the #1 destination in 2022 for his travel company.
It’s been a long 2 years and traveling again can be wonderful but challenging.
Some closing thoughts:
Hard mattresses- ask for a topper, fold it in half to double the cush, sleep on extra pillows.
Bring ginger candy for stomach upset. GI problems can ruin a vacation.
Bathrooms cost, if you can find them. Always have coins available. Go when you see a bathroom.
If you can’t find a bathroom hide behind a car or tree. Do what you need to do but scan the area first.. This is the worst part of Europe.
With challenging people, walk away, say nothing. We have all had a difficult year or two.
Language barriers are challenging. If only we could all speak the same language. Patience.
On the same topic learn a few words of the country’s language. I’ve had that work both ways. In France they laughed at my eighth grade French then started speaking English when they said they didn’t know how. In Spain when using a book of common phrases the train station woman picked up the book and threw it at me. Laugh. Forgive as you may be the next one needing forgiveness.
When help is offered, accept it if it feels right. Got lost at night in a small city during this trip and asked directions of a passing car. I hadn’t a clue what the driver said but knew to turn back. Five minutes later the woman returned and drove me to where I needed to turn in my walk. Took her assist, and all was good.
Solo traveler in a group – I could write volumes on this theme. If a single female stay away from married couples unless both engage in conversation with you. Women get jealous and nasty if you speak to their man. Don’t. If you have to talk to him, ask permission of the wife and if he engages you be short and not sweet.
Friends traveling together… if they invite you to join be pleasant, but remember you are the third wheel. Should they abruptly ditch you, let it roll. Remember you are there for the trip not to develop a relationship or be drawn into their issues. Brush yourself off and move on.
If a solo traveler.. best advice … smile, journal, and stay to self… You are there for the trip.
Tour guides are there for the tip and review. They represent the company and usually bend over backwards to help. On this tour, Leo, our guide, was 5 star. For those who aren’t a Leo read the mood and observe. Get all concerns together and ask questions in bulk, write questions and answers down. Don’t waste their time, and tip less. Only had to do this once in Sweden. They’ll get the hint.
Been sick on the road several times. Bring a stash of over the counter meds, band aids, etc.. from home. You don’t want to waste time trying to find a pharmacy, and then there is the language barrier. I’ll never forget trying to ask for Epsom Salts in China… If you need a pharmacy they have notable signs. It’s a green cross in Italy. Most speak some English, use hand signals if they don’t.
Phone service and internet is always a challenge, especially in mountains, and it never seems to work on the tour bus. Sent my daughter an email and it disappeared. Three hours later at the hotel the email with her answer appeared. Go figure.
Young Retiree Needs a Life 