How could I forget about Amsterdam?

I was going through my Facebook photos of all the places I've been & stumbled upon my Amsterdam album. I then went to my blog to see what I had to say about Amsterdam & was astounded to find that I hadn't written a blog post - Shame on me! So here we go...

I flew into Amsterdam & met my mom for her 60th birthday & it was time to explore.

We found our houseboat on Prinsengracht (meaning the Prince of Orange), which has the same house number as the actual home next to it indicating that they're owned together. It was clean & spacious & had a little deck literally on the water so we could watch the boats pass & wave at people.

If you're a foodie like me, I highly recommend doing a food tour anywhere you go. My mom & I took the Hungry Birds food tour & it was awesome! On food tours, everyone is happy & open to new experiences. It's a great way to make new friends while traveling.

Some places I couldn't tell you if it was on the tour or if my mom & I found on our own, but here is a list of tasty places to check out:

Van Stapele Bakery
Croquettes at Van Dobben
Kaashuis TROMP Cheeseshop 
The Pancake Bakery (right across from our houseboat on Prinsengracht.)
The Happy Pig Bakery
Koepelcafé - you'd think this was touristy food & it would be meh, but this was by far the best food we ate in Amsterdam. Get the Stamppot; you won't be disappointed.

Grand Cafe de Kroonprins - this was where we ate for lunch on the tour.
Cafe Hoppe - good for food & drinks.
Cafe Bouwman - according to reviews, the service here is terrible, but we were on the food tour & didn't experience this.
Amsterdam Cheese Museum

Kartika - authentic Indonesian restaurant. We went here with a woman we met on the food tour. The food was awesome!

We did wander through the different districts & saw some interesting people, but the food was definitely our main focus - no weed or prostitutes for Mom's 60th birthday.

Amsterdam is beautiful and friendly & I would definitely go back. If you ever go, let me know if you try any of the places I went to. Also, watch out for the bikers! They do not abide by traffic laws & there are hundreds of them!

Until next time... ciao 💗

Follow me on Instagram: @arielview13

Let's Stay Healthy!

Hi Ariel Viewers!

I hope you all are safe during these COVID-19 times. I'm thankful to have some money coming in with Jason's job & teaching a 5-year-old neighbor from my NYC 1-bedroom apartment.

This time has given me some time to reflect on literally everything. So far, I've been working out about 3 times a week & wearing ankle weights pretty much every day since lockdown. So far I've lost 7 lbs & I'm feeling good! I've also been practicing Spanish with a tutor through italki once a week. If you want to learn a new language, I highly recommend italki.

After realizing how productive & content I am at home, I've come to the conclusion that I only want to work remotely. That is why my Instagram has boomed with new content & I've hired a resume writer to target remote recruiters.

I'm on a mission to gain a bigger following, post engaging content & promote amazing products. In addition, I'd love to get a remote admin/executive assistant position so I can make a living, do what I love, & do what I'm good at.

In the past 5 years, I've really cut back on traveling & have been stagnant in New York. I want to change that!

Where should Jason & I travel to next? Where should we live? New York is no longer New & its time for a change.

2020 is certainly a year for change throughout the entire world - good & bad. My goal is to get a new & freer path so I can explore while still staying safe.

What are your goals & what have you done since the start of the Coronavirus?

Until next time, Ariel Viewers 💜

Follow me on Instagram: @arielviewyoga

We finally made it to Colorado!

Hello Ariel Viewers! It's been a bit since I've traveled & am ready to start exploring other US States (& hopefully we'll be moving to another state in the next 2 years!) Jason & I finally had our first vacation on our own & it was fantastic! We traveled through Colorado seeing Aurora, Denver, Boulder, Littleton, & many towns in between.

The first couple of nights, we stayed at Aloft Hotel, which was right in Downtown Denver. I was exhausted from our 5 AM flight from Phoenix to Denver & was already crabby. Then we found out parking was not free & after paying for self-parking, we were told valet would have been easier & cheaper. Heidi, the front desk woman at the hotel obviously sensed my frustration & sent up a gift bag to our room filled with rosé, other goodies, & a note apologizing & saying our parking cost was comped for our entire stay. I was very pleased with Heidi's customer service & definitely recommend Aloft if you want a great Downtown Denver experience. Just keep in mind that if you have a car, valet is cheapest.

Here are a few places we went to in downtown Denver:

• Tupelo Honey - Southern Restaurant - great food & service.
• Little India - TERRIBLE service. Great samosas, but I don't think I'd go back.
• Chriskindl Christmas Market - adorable little market with lots of homemade food & products.

Littleton was the most adorable town ever. It was all lit up in Christmas lights & Main Street was full of small businesses & some amazing food. For instance, McKinners Pizza has delicious pizza & iN-TEA is a cute little cafe with a huge variety of teas.

Below is a rundown of cities/towns we went to & the places we went in those areas:

Aurora

• Black Bear Diner had great service & good food but seemed a bit like a chain restaurant.

We did not like Aurora in general. There was no downtown or center of town. There were also a lot of big-box stores.

Boulder

• Bohemian Beer Garden - Croquettes & gluhwein were awesome! Great vibe for going out with friends or on a date.
• Speakeasy - License No. 1
• Village Coffee Shop
• Bramble & Hare - BEST DRINKS EVER!
• Lark Burger - fast-food burger joint with killer burgers. SO GOOD.
• Elements massage with Jodi & Natalie
• Chautauqua Dining Hall - restaurant in the mountains with great food & service.
• Radi8 - Epsom salt float tank. Call them & ask for the Groupon price. 

Foothills Tour Through the Mountains

• Little Bear Saloon & Restaurant in Evergreen - Try Little Bear Coors. I don't like beer, but that was very good.
• Muddy Bucks - Massive & delicious Cinnamon Roll & Cider
• Red Rocks
• Buffalo Bills Grave at Lookout Mountain

Other Notes About Towns We Visited
We didn't like Niwot.
Longmont was nice. We ate at the Roost & coffee at La Vita Bella (Bar & Cafe)
Lafayette (we liked it)
Louisville (Huckleberry Cafe)
Superior (not so superior)

Lastly, Urban Village Eat & Sip in Lone Tree deserves its own paragraph. When I say this is the best Indian food I've ever had (& I'm Indian, so I'd know!), I'm not kidding. We did the Chef's Tasting Menu & I couldn't believe the quality (& quantity!) of food. Every dish was better than the next. The staff's service was on point, & the decor & atmosphere were very warm & inviting. I will 1000% go back when I visit Colorado again.

Overall, our 5-day Denver trip was very eventful, delicious, & a success.

Follow me on Instagram: @arielview13

Livin' It Up At The Hotel California

I've been to California many times because a lot of my family lives there, but this trip was like no other. Since my family was busy with wedding plans, my husband, Jason, & I were able to travel a bit & see things that I've never seen before. It was certainly a trip to remember.

As soon as we arrived in California, Jason & I rented a car & went to my favorite restaurant, Aappakadai. In my opinion, they have some of the best South Indian food I've ever had (aside from homecooked meals of course).

After dinner, we checked into the Palo Alto Four Seasons Hotel, which is always a luxurious treat, & stayed there for 2 nights. Then we drove to Tracy where my grandparents live & stayed with them for 1 night & continued on to Napa.

Jason & I booked the Collective Tour on the Wine Train, which was an amazing experience. We visited 3 wineries: St. Supery, Beringer, & Raymond Vineyards. Each vineyard was unique in decor & its experience. Some stops required a brief shuttle ride from the train to the winery, which looked like a party bus. The Wine Train is also great because you can keep to yourself in your little booth, or you can socialize with the rest of your group. I highly recommend going in the off-season. Even though it's not as nice of weather, it's worth it to beat the crowd. Jason & I had a blast with our little group of 6. By the last winery, we called each other the "Wine Train Fam."

The only thing that I wasn't thrilled with was that after a large amount of money we paid, the wine was not included in the train; the ticket included tastings & food. The service, however, was superb. They were very friendly, personable, detailed, & have a great balance on those wobbly trains!

After Napa, we stayed in Menlo Park in an Airbnb. Although fancy hotels like the Four Seasons are beautiful, some Airbnbs are way more cost-effective & can be in really cool places! Ours has a gym, pool, hot tub, & was central to a lot of food, shopping, & attractions. Some attractions we were lucky enough to see were the Google & Apple Campus. Yes, the Apple Campus is restricted to the public, but I have a family friend who works there & was able to show us around! My husband was in techy heaven. As for Google, you can walk onto the campus & go to the gift shop; you just can't get into the buildings.

After staying in Menlo Park & nerding out, we drove back to Napa for my cousin's wedding at the Meritage Resort.

You know when people say they need a vacation after their vacation? I understand what they mean now. Jet lag + thousands of miles = exhausted!

Until next time! 💗

Follow me on Instagram: @arielview13

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