http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/annmariemarie/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from annmariemarie en-us Sat, 28 Nov 2009 20:09:09 +0000 Sat, 28 Nov 2009 20:09:09 +0000 My Mom's friend picked us up from Manhasset in Long Island NY. The agenda of the day was for us to try our luck at the slot machines of Atlantic City. It is common knowledge among locals that it takes atleast 3 hours to get to Atlantic City from Manhasset. But apparently My Mom's friend's son made it with only 2 hours. GaspGoing Underwater Manhattan to Jersey CityFrom midtown Manhattan http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/New-Jersey/blog-363160.html Like I said before I would love to see New York City again and get to know it more at a personal level. On this second trip to New York My Sis and I opted to go around Manhattan on foot and via subway. We did a lot of walking no regrets I think it's the best way to enjoy NYC. In fact by keeping on walking we have 'discovered' an underground pathway on our way to Radio City.Food Tripping http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/New-York/New-York/Manhattan/blog-363156.html After lunch my aunt tagged us along to a trip to the mall called Fortunoff. She wanted us to see the beautiful Christmas decors on display even after Christmas Day. She says she has the habit of buying Christmas decors for the next year because they are slashed more than half the price Unfortunately there were not much decors to see anymore... they were all sold Sounds ironic huh despite http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/New-York/New-York/Manhattan/blog-363148.html I have been working straight for twenty months and I never had a vacation break as long as two weeks. My Mom and My Sis arrived from Manila a few weeks ago. I guess things have fallen into place because this was the best time to take a long break in New York with our relativesFrom BitterCold to ColdIt was 20F when we left Chicago two days ago. We took the CTA from Evanston all the way to the http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/New-York/New-York/Staten-Island/blog-363146.html I have never gone applepicking before. So when my friend Sarah invited us to go with her family to a pickyourownapple farm I instantly agreed. Perfect timing My sister is in townDestination Jonamac Orchard in a little village called MaltaTaking off from around Rosemont it took just 30 minutes when we started to feel distant from civilization. We passed by Roselle then started seei http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Illinois/DeKalb/blog-348313.html Seeing BrooklynI have seen very little of Brooklyn but it was enough to convince me of its rich diversity of people and culture. I visited Aileen who happens to live and work in Brooklyn. We exchanged a hefty amount of stories to catch up with each other 10 years is a long timeAs we walk along Nostrand Ave I notice convenience stores and ethnic restaurants constantly next to each other http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/New-York/New-York/blog-278446.html First Time Riding the NY SubwayAs early as 630am my cousin Sheila and I headed out of Midtown Manhattan for a day at Liberty Island and Ellis Island. We took the subway and ofcourse I was excited to finally see for myself what people say is a confusing labyrinth of tunnels under Manhattan. We took the MTA New York City Subway which Sheila looked up online last night. She has moved to San http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/New-York/New-York/Staten-Island/blog-278444.html This is the longest post I have ever written simply because I have seen so much of New York on my first day here My uncle and cousins enthusiastically showed me around although I know they have been to and they have seen these places many many times before. Thank you so so muchDespite its length I hope you enjoy reading this because I wish to share with you my wonderful visit to the Big App http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/New-York/New-York/Manhattan/blog-278442.html Thanks to Ayeen and her best buddy super Jimmy we traveled safe and sound all the way from Washington DC to Philadelphia to Atlantic City and back. Whew Aside from being a smooth driver super Jimmy sure has a knack of finding the best food in town When we first met him he took us to Philadelphia's Chinatown for dinner. We haven't had a decent meal that whole day but he made us feel bette http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Pennsylvania/Philadelphia/blog-225464.html This trip to Atlantic City would not have been possible if not for Ayeen's friend Jimmy who has been behind the wheel from Philadelphia to Atlantic City. He's been driving us around showing us new places to see. We crossed the Benjamin Franklin Bridge from Philadelphia to Camden New Jersey. Just a few minutes after crossing the bridge we read a sign that says Welcome to New Jersey. Trul http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/New-Jersey/Atlantic-City/blog-225463.html Center City they call it. Maybe I've gotten so used to the term downtown but Center City is pretty much what a downtown should be. However my first morning in Philadelphia broadened my initial perspective of this city. Philadelphia's Center City is not just another business district. It was once the cradle of US civilization. Civilization is a strong word I know. But let me use that http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Pennsylvania/Philadelphia/blog-225461.html 12 noon Eastern Standard Time. Our Southwest plane landed at the Dulles Airport and we rushed out to spend the afternoon around Washington DC. We only had 5 hours to spare. Unfortunately we have to barge against the early sunset because it's Fall already. As soon as we found our way out of the airport we bought 10 tickets each for the Washington Flyer it's a bus actually. While waiting http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/District-of-Columbia/Washington/blog-225460.html My cousin once asked So how are you liking it there in ChiTown I said What ChiWhatShe said ChiTown is what some folks call ChicagoOhhhhhh Okay. I thought she was referring to Chinatown. But anyways I was finally able to go to Chicago's Chinatown on the birthday of my roomie's officemate. Chow timeJust a few facts...As of this writing ChiTown's Chinatown as per Wikipedia is http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Illinois/Chicago/blog-218053.html My R took me to the Shedd Aquarium where we spent the entire day with my finned friends. 'Twas the best day ever as Spongebob would say. We have a picture together somewhere in the end of this post. Fun funSoy for the lactoseintolerant and the... err roof The Shedd is a short bus ride from St. Peters where we heard mass. In less than 20 minutes we were walking to the entrance of the aq http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Illinois/Chicago/blog-218049.html Pardon the pun. I am not referring to the movienovel Trainspotting. I just happened to travel all the way to the suburb Aurora solely through train My college professor and friend invited me to visit her in Aurora for the long weekend Labor Day weekend. Aurora is a suburb 40 miles west of Chicago. Such translates to an hour's drive from Downtown Chicago. But I don't live in Downtown http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Illinois/Aurora/blog-218052.html Chicago has the tallest building in North America the Sears Tower. Again I say North America. Others might argue that it's CN Tower. But again we are talking about buildings here. CN Tower is a freestanding structure not necessarily an inhabited building. I wrote about CN Tower here Also at a worldwide perspective there are a few more taller structures than the Sears Tower. A http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Illinois/Chicago/blog-218050.html It was a warm summer day in Chicago and we all hopped into the car to drive for less than an hour to Chicago. If you know me well enough you'd know that I was giddy that day... what's not to like I'm going to the Lincoln Park Zoo to see adorable animals and I'm going in for free Free With the zoo's map on hand we carefully manuevered in and out of the halls which grouped the animals into http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Illinois/Chicago/blog-218048.html My officemate gave me a can of Coke which has this written on it Take this can to Six Flags Great America before July 4 and get 20 off. Good thing my smart friend bought group tickets online and we saved 25 instead of just 20 for the entrance fee As early at 8 am we left Evanston and drove to Gurnee again. This time we're heading to Six Flags Great America Hurricane Harbor. I thought I http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Illinois/Gurnee/blog-217831.html Thanks to Luisa we finally broke away from our regular Saturday routine of going to the mall going to church going to the grocery store then going home. She took us to Ann Arbor Washtenaw County which is an hour away from Detroit Wayne County. Unknown to us we were about to see the other side of Michigan. Laid back Town Going to Ann Arbor we took the 696 Freeway and saw more barnyards http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Michigan/Ann-Arbor/blog-139970.html Today is July 4th my first Independence Day here in the US. My friends and I have barbeque and loads of other grilled stuff by the lake here in Evanston my newfound hometown. What is it with barbeque here in America I also remember having picnic here on another holiday called the Memorial Day. Anyway.... There are so many people by the lake... immigrants and nonimmigrants. As I walk b http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Illinois/Evanston/blog-176805.html