Lake George - a local trip for those that love the outdoors

For Jason & my 2nd wedding anniversary, we decided to do a fun & local trip to Lake George, New York. Lake George is a beautiful & cute town, but its prime season is the summer; there isn't much else to do for the rest of the year.

Jason & I drove up from Queens, NY, which took about 3 1/2 hours. On the way up, we stopped at the Taste New York rest stops, which are AWESOME! Taste New York is fairly new. It's a small store chock full of locally made food! We got these amazing cheese crackers from Saratoga & fresh ginger ale from Brooklyn.

When we arrived at our hotel in Lake George, we dropped our bags & went out on the town.

Before you go to Lake George, it's good to know in advance that it is not a fancy town with the best food or hotels. You go there for the scenery, wineries & breweries, & outdoor activities.

Jason & I went to Lake George Distilling Company. We were able to taste 3 whiskeys each for $5 & we got a free shot glass with the tasting! Although I'm not a huge whiskey fan, it was a great experience.

We also went to Adirondack Winery. We purchased the 2-person tasting, which was well worth it. We got to taste 9 delicious wines with incredible homemade apple cider cheese. We ended up buying a case of wine & 2 small containers of cheese.

Our last adult beverage experience was at the Adirondack Brewery where we bought a case of cider after sampling different beers & ciders. For a very affordable price, you can get a flight of beer, which contains 5 beers to sample.

After our delicious adult beverage adventures, we went parasailing. I have been parasailing twice in my life, but it was Jason's first time. We got our life vests & harnesses put on & went out on the lake with another couple & 2 of the parasailing crew. Jason & I went first & the crew was nice enough to take photos & videos of our whole experience. It was just as amazing as I remember. While we were in the boat for parasailing after our turn, one of the staff members recommended that we go zip-lining. So immediately after parasailing, Jason & I jumped in the car to Adirondack Eagle Flyer.

When we got to Eagle Flyer, we had to sign waivers, get weighed, & get our gear on. Then we took a 10 minute bumpy & dusty drive up the mountain to the 2nd biggest zip-line in America. I was ready to have an amazing adventure until I got into the truck. I saw how high it was & how there was a bit of a drop in the wire. I panicked all the way up the mountain & as I sat hooked up to the line watching the guy's finger on the button to open the gate. As I was saying, "I DON'T WANT TO DO THIS," he pushed the button. Jason & I went shooting out the gate at 50 MPH. It was amazing & there was no drop! Thank God. I enjoyed it so much that we did it immediately after for 1/2 price. It was one of the coolest experiences & I'm glad I didn't chicken out.

After zip-lining twice, we went to the saloon next to the zip-line. The drinks were great & the decor of the saloon is amazing. FYI if you're into horseback riding & target shooting, they also do it at Eagle Flyer. You can certainly spend your whole day at Eagle Flyer doing fun outdoor activities. 

Jason & I weren't thrilled with most of the food in Lake George except for S.J. Garcia's. I don't know why the ratings are so low on Yelp for this place because it was Jason & my favorite place in town other than Caffe Vero. The food was great along with the service, but the drinks were so-so. Caffe Vero, on the other &, was the greatest in every way. The pastries were so fresh including the bagels & they had an awesome selection of cream cheese. This family-friendly establishment is a must-go-to in Lake George.

Until next time 💗

Follow me on Instagram: @arielview13

A Newbie's Guide to New York City

(list of great tourist attraction options pictured above)

Before my husband, Jason & I knew each other, he ventured out to New York on a J1 summer visa (& later received the J1 year-long visa). Through his experiences, now knowing a lot of Irish people on visas, & being a native New Yorker, I've compiled a list of critical things you need to know before you depart on your New York J1 Journey:

1. Don’t call New York City “The Big Apple.” You’ll be spotted as a tourist in seconds.

2. When you land at JFK, Newark, or La Guardia Airport, taxi drivers will come up to you asking if you need a ride. Don’t take these cabs! They’ll charge you an excessive amount as soon as they sense any sort of accent or unfamiliarity with the city. Either download Uber or Lyft & request a ride, or stand in line & take a yellow cab. It’s handy to know where you’re going before you get in the cab & approximately how long it will take, so they don’t lead you out of the way & charge you more money.

3. NEVER buy a full-priced Broadway show ticket. You can either stand in line at Times Square or South Street Seaport at TKTS, or the better option is to download the TodayTix app & get even lower prices right from your phone (use promo code DOMAU to get discount tickets on TodayTix!) 

4. Don’t eat in Times Square chain restaurants unless you want to get ripped off. For a list of amazing eats, send me a message on Instagram @arielviewyoga

5. Most New York neighborhoods have Facebook pages. There’s even a page specifically for J1’ers. Network through as many pages as you can before coming to New York & it’ll be a lot easier to find a job when you arrive.

6. Make a copy of all of your important documents (license, passport) & send a copy to close family members & friends in case of an emergency.

7. Know where your local immigration center & consulate are. Immigration centers can also help you find employment.

8. If you already have a smartphone, make sure it is unlocked before coming to the US. Buy an American SIM card, & you’re ready to go. If you plan on staying for a couple of months or longer, Walmart has great ‘no contract’ plans for a low cost.

9. After you get your phone & you have oodles of data, you can download the app, Moovit. Moovit lets you know what buses & trains are near you & the times they are coming. It uses GPS to track where you are on any type of transportation in NYC. It's super handy (especially for directionally challenged people like me).

10. Everyone has to eat, but not everyone has the money for luxurious meals on a budget. Don’t fret, my pet! Dollar Slice to the rescue. That’s right. 1 slice of pizza costs $1. You just have to know where to look (or know how to Google). FYI, Dollar Slice pizza places are mostly in Manhattan.

11. Many people think they’re going to go on a shopping spree when they get to New York, not taking into consideration the astronomical prices. If you want to get American brand-name clothes, check out the Jersey Gardens Mall. Take a bus from Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan. Don’t forget to bring your passport! Your passport is the key to getting a huge book of coupons so you can shop 'til you drop & it’s all tax-free.

12. There are so many free/cheap things to do in the city; you just have to know where to look. Check out www.timeout.com/newyork to see what’s happening near you. Museums, botanical gardens, zoos, etc., have specific days that have discounted or even free admission. Another handy site for the whole state of New York, not just NYC, is www.iloveny.com. Know before you go!

13. If you plan to stay in New York on an extended visa or even for the summer & don't plan on getting your driver's license, get a New York City ID. Click HERE for the application. The NYC ID will also get you discounts on museums, zoos, etc. Some bars & clubs take this ID. FYI, Age cards are not an acceptable form of ID when trying to enter a bar. I know, it states your age, but NY & most states want a state ID or a passport. You might as well get the NYC ID so you can keep your passport safe at home.

14. People don't realize how much they'll be using the subway in New York until they get here. Check out the best ways to save that work for you by seeing the different metro plans the MTA offers: If there's anything I missed or if you need recommendations, give me a shout!

Until next time 💗

Follow me on Instagram: @arielviewyoga

4th of July weekend in Washington DC

It's been a while, Ariel Viewers & it's great to be back.

This past weekend, my husband, Jason & I went to Washington DC for the weekend to celebrate Independence Day.

We drove down to our AirBnB in Cleveland Park, which is a town outside of the city center. Cleveland Park is very accessible to the metro to get you where you need to go & AirBnB was way cheaper than any of the hotels around (& you get an entire apartment to yourself). The metro stations are much cleaner than New York, but it is more expensive. In DC, the cost of the ride depends on where you're going, unlike NY where you can travel anywhere for a flat rate. Also, the purchase of the card itself is $2.

Jason & I purchased 2 Hop-On-Hop-Off Bus Groupons to explore the city. Buying these Groupons saved us $30 total. We bought 24-hour passes & saw all the things we wanted to see. If you want to explore the museums, I suggest buying a 48-hour pass.

We also went to the Smithsonian National Zoo, which is in Cleveland Park. We had a great time seeing all the animals & it's totally free!

In addition to the sites, we thoroughly enjoyed the food! We visited:

1. Medium Rare - we went here for brunch & we had amazing steak tips & eggs plus bottomless mimosas, bloody marys, etc.

2. Filomena Ristorante - very good Italian food. We had ravioli & gnocchi. The best part of the whole meal was the strawberry cheesecake. Jason & I agreed that it was the best cheesecake we had ever eaten.

3. Das - I visited this Ethiopian restaurant about 10 years ago & it is just as good. We had the vegetable sampler & added beef tibs. Ethiopian bread that is served with the meal is delicious & very spongy. I was very happy to have gone back.

4. Old Ebbitt Grill - The steak & eggs on the brunch menu were amazing. I was not thrilled will the alcoholic beverages that were offered during brunch, but the fresh orange juice was delicious.

5. Georgetown Cupcakes - Be prepared to wait in a line down the block, but it moves pretty quickly. If you don't feel like waiting, order your cupcakes a day ahead of time & pick them up!

We also visited a few bars:

1. ENO Winebar - This was pretty expensive so we only stayed for one drink. However, the ambiance was great & so was the service.

2. Jackpot - This bar was a fun time. The bartender is hilarious-quite the entertainer. You get popcorn with your drinks, & the bartender can whip you up to anything based on what you like. The prices are fair & the atmosphere & vibe are great. Also, I found out that I like beer! Normally I hate it, but the bartender had me try a mead beer, which is a beer made with honey rather than wheat. It was delicious!

3. Rí Rá - A super fun Irish pub that livens up at night. We were there during Derek A Dempsey's set & I must say that I have never seen such a great performance at a bar. He is so talented in all sorts of music styles & he gets the crowd on their feet. I can't wait to see him perform in NY this week! 

Overall our trip was a fantastic one. I can't wait to go back to Washington DC next year for the Cherry Blossom Festival!

Until next time 💗

Follow me on Instagram: @arielview13

A Turkish Delight

I know I haven’t been very active on my blog lately, but I have good reasons! My head has been scrambled since being back from Europe due to my amazing boyfriend moving to New York in 27 days, our job & internship search, & our apartment search. On top of that, the weather has been horrible in New York compared to Europe, but I do not miss the Veneto pollution-I thought New York was bad, but you have no idea. In any event, I can finally sit down & share my Turkish adventures. Istanbul is a fantastic city full of life, prayer over the loudspeaker 5 times a day, delicious & affordable food, & amazingly beautiful (& cheap! 1 Lira is worth $0.40 at the moment) shopping.

Mom & I stayed at the Tria Hotel, which was not a good hotel but was in a great location. Surprisingly, Best Western is a great option in Turkey & conveniently located in the hotspots of Istanbul. Here are notes I took of some places we visited:

•The restaurant Mostra is known for their fish, but I had delicious lamb & salad. The sauvignon blanc & mezze plate were also delectable.

•The restaurant Lezzet-I Sark was very tasty. We did not like the lamb, but the chicken was delicious. What was astonishingly good was the Kunefe, which is a sweet cheese pastry (it sounds strange, but you must try it).

•Many will recommend the Grand Bazaar, but it is highly overpriced for items you can find at local Mom-and-Pop shops where they’re willing to give you a deal like Çakus Rugs.

•The Arasta Bazaar was nice & more willing to cut a deal, but still not as good as the side shops. 

•The Spice Market was my favorite market. They had the best quality spices & teas, souvenirs, & will vacuum seal everything to take back home with you. I highly recommend the Spice Market.

•The Blue Mosque was pretty cool. Enter through the side tourist entrance & see the great architecture from the inside. Be sure to have your legs and arms covered and women must cover their head.

•Mom really wanted to see the Pera Palas Hotel where Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie was set. We had wine & tea & enjoyed the nice atmosphere after such a tough commute finding the place. If you want to visit the hotel, take the Tramvay (aka tram) to Taksim & then walk around aimlessly asking people where the hotel location is-Good luck.

•Mom & I never reached the Asian side of Turkey (but we did see it from afar). If you want to go to the Asian side, you must cross the Bosphorus Bridge. If you ask someone how to get to Asia, they pronounce it Ah-see-uh. I was wondering why no one knew what Asia was…Oops!

•Last, but certainly not least, you MUST visit Çakus Rugs (Kurban Çakus) at Mimar Mehmet Aga Cad. No: 5 34122 Sultanahmet. These are one of the side shops that I was talking about. This is your one-stop-shop for Turkish jewelry, clothes, beautiful lamps, ceramics, & rugs. The men who own the stop are the sweetest, friendliest salesmen you will ever meet & they have the best prices in town. Definitely visit this shop if you plan to shop. If you can’t find the shop, here is their number: +90 212 638 56 68.

Mom & I also went on a dinner cruise with entertainment & the unlimited drink package; it was well worth the money. The food was okay, but the entertainment was very enjoyable, the views from the boat were gorgeous, & Mom & I certainly drank our money's worth. I was also recruited (or pushed on stage by my mother) to compete in the belly dance competition. Let’s just say I won a gold medal.

Moreover, EVERYONE should get a Turkish bath. It is the utmost form of pampering you'll ever receive. They exfoliate, moisturize, & massage your entire body. They also give delicious fruit tea & Turkish delights & the whole experience takes place inside a palace-like Mosque; I called it a water palace. They separate the men & women to 2 different sides of the building so you can be naked & free as a bird.

Overall my trip to Turkey was a delight & great last trip with my mom. I definitely recommend everyone visit Turkey. Travel & enjoy ☺

Until next time 💗

Follow me on Instagram: @arielview13

My first visit to Ireland & the Irish Family Initiation

I had a fantastic time in Ireland & I am thankful to have been able to immerse myself in the culture through my boyfriend, Jason's amazing family. I was also very lucky to be able to experience delicious Irish home cooking every single night & eat a full Irish breakfast (thanks Stephanie & Paddy!)

Jason took me to the leprechaun museum, which is great to hear stories about leprechauns & to take photos sitting in giant furniture.

We also went to the Guinness Storehouse despite my strong dislike for beer. It is a fascinating museum of the history of Guinness & at the top is a bar where we tried a free Guinness with the purchase of our museum ticket (& I can still say that I do not like beer, YUCK).

Then the fun continued at Newgrange, which is a beautiful sight to see & I think one of my favorite parts of my 9-day trip. The landscape & scenery are beautiful & for a city girl, it is nice to get a change of scenery. There are symbolic markings on the rocks that no one knows the meaning of that is near the cave entrance. The tour guide was very passionate about the site & showed us what it was like with no light & how it would be like to live there. Newgrange reminded me a lot of Stonehenge so if you like Stonehenge, you will definitely like this.

I had a great time being a tourist & visiting all the tourist sites, but the main reason for my Ireland trip was to meet Jason's whole family at his brother, Robbie's wedding. The reception was at Ballymagarvey, which looked like a quaint castle. There was food, lots of drinking, & Jason & I danced as if we were on "Dancing with the Stars," or at least that is what we thought. I had the best time meeting all of Jason's family & bringing in the New Year with a kiss from Jason.

I also got to experience the nightlife scene at the Palace in a cute town close to Jason called Navan. Jason & I drank, mingled, &danced all night long. I did not realize how much Jason & I love dancing until now.

I loved Jason's family; I felt very at home & if I were close to a city, I would move to Ireland in a heartbeat. Ireland is friendly, clean, & obviously, I love it because Jason & his awesome family are there. Who knows, I may be living out there sooner than I think depending on how things go. Fingers crossed!

Until next time 💗

Follow me on Instagram: @arielview13

Florence, Italy with Jason

Jason & I took the train, TrenItalia down to Florence. Mom has booked us a fast train ticket but we had gotten on the slow train by mistake bringing us in an hour later. On top of that, we were charged 50€ extra for being on the wrong train. Jason & I were pissed, but things were fantastic when we reached Florence.

My friend, Lorena lived in Florence for 1 semester & is also Italian so she was able to recommend delicious places:

1. Lunch/Dinner at Gusta Osteria (Via de Michelozzi 12/R).
2. Dessert at Gelateria dei Neri (Via dei Neri,9) near the Duomo. They have great gelato & cannolis.
3. Lunch at All' Antico Vinaio (Via dei Neri, 65R). The best sandwich shop I've ever been to.
4. Dinner at Academia (Piazza San Marco) recommended by my friend, Kieran. All of these eats are very affordable on a shoestring budget, authentic, & delicious.

If you're looking for nightlife, look for the Lochness Lounge along Via di Benci. There's a great hookah place next door & many bars surrounding that street. Jason & I had plenty of wine, got a hookah to share, talking, & acted silly while getting lost in the streets of Florence. It was a memorable night for sure.

Jason & I also visited the Duomo. We had clearly purchased tickets online & printed them as the ticket said to do, but the bar code was too small to scan & the people working there could care less about 2 English speakers. Be sure you have a large bar code to scan or be savvy like me & bring it up on your smartphone & enlarge it (I know, genius).

We looked around the museum, which I didn't think was that impressive, but maybe because Jason & I were still angry about the whole ticket situation. We then walked ALL THE WAY up the bell tower & got amazing pictures of the views of Florence. I definitely recommend touring the Duomo. 

I must also mention Hotel Casci. The staff was so friendly, the hotel was clean, & the room was reasonably priced for its amazing location (right next to the Duomo, nightlife, & all the restaurants I mentioned). I would definitely recommend Hotel Casci to have an amazing Florence experience without breaking the bank.

Unfortunately after such an amazing trip, we hit problems again. We had to switch trains in Padova to get back to Vicenza. We pulled into Padova late but had about 3 minutes to spare to catch the next train. The door was open & we were about to get on when the conductor put out his hand blocking us from getting on & the doors shut. TrenItalia has HORRIBLE customer service & treats their American (or maybe all foreign) customers like dirt. It's too bad TrenItalia is the only train choice. All I can say is be on time & ask the conductor if you're on the right train before getting on.

Despite the horrible customer service at the Duomo museum & with TrenItalia, it was a wonderfully romantic & perfect trip to Florence. Thanks for booking it, Mom!

Until next time 💗

Follow me on Instagram: @arielview13

Venice, Italy with Jason

I've been to Venice before with my friend, Alexis & her family.

Although it is beautiful, it's a very smelly city due to crowding & polluted water & the people aren't very friendly. 

Nevertheless, I took Jason, my fabulous beau, to Venice making it my second visit. It was still smelly & many things were closed (reposo [you may know it as siesta or a midday break] is from 2-4 so try to avoid exploring during that time), but we make the most of it.

We walked around & got lost down desolate alleyways.

We then found the gondola rides. It was 80€ for 30 minutes, but I told them that it was too much so we got a 20-minute ride for 50€ instead.

Always try to bargain when buying high priced items or services in Europe.

The gondola ride was beautiful & so romantic; Jason & I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it.

The gondola driver told us the history of Venice's different sites. It was quite an experience, especially with the one I love the most.

Until next time 💗

Follow me on Instagram: @arielview13