Costa Rica In Seven Days

Staying at the Riu in Coco.

I cannot wait.

I'll update you more later.

Thai Grille

This is travel related, but only because people travel here.

I am fortunate enough to live at Topsail. Lots of people come here to visit. I constantly get "Where should I go eat?!" My FAVORITE place (mind you I can eat at all of these places all the time), is Thai Grille.

I just got back from business lunch there with Dad. The food is fabulous. The service is amazing. It is always super clean. Everyone is friendly. You can watch news/sports/whatever on the big screen in the bar while you eat lunch/dinner. Or you can have a table in the dining room.

Ray just got Fat Tire a few weeks ago. I love it. So happy it has come east coast. I was so excited today at lunch that I took a picture! I have many, many more food recommendations here at Topsail, so if you ever want to know, just ask!

So, if you came across this searching for "places to eat Topsail" please go to Thai Grille. One of my favorite things, they're open late! By late I mean after 9pm. If no one has informed you of that yet, and you are headed to Topsail... Be aware, it is hard to get food anywhere but Hardee's after 9pm.

Aruba...

Is beautiful, but really, I think I am more excited about the trip we planned today.

Yes, we were in the bar in Aruba, on the phone with a wonderful man.

I will be in Jost Van Dyke for New Years Eve. On a private boat, with plenty of my favorite people.

In the words of Jane "Lisa, you better not screw this up."

I did not burn like everyone else today.

I stayed under my hut until the sun got low, then I got some. Just enough that I can do it all again tomorrow.

Almost finished with my book. I'm sure I have more to say, and I will do that later.

Love from Aruba,

Lisa

If I could ever offer any piece of travel advice it would be this-

Pretend your luggage won't get there.

Also face the fact that, you won't either in the time you thought you would.
I spent two hours Friday trying to help a friend get from DC to New Orleans.
Then, quite obviously, when he got there, his luggage arrived before him, and was locked away.

Always, always, always carry on at least-

-Toothbrush & toothpaste (in your ziplock it's a liquid)
-Clean underwear
-Clean shirt
Depending on the climate-
-Clean Pants/shorts


Technically, if you get there without luggage, you can sleep naked, so that's all good. When you get to the point that you haven't slept in 36 hours, you have a new appreciation for a toothbrush and clean drawers.

Also, since you're carrying on a bag now. Do yourself a favor and throw in a granola bar, some peanut butter crackers, and maybe some goldfish. When the unexpected layover happens late, there is no food. Goldfish are also great to bribe the small child seated behind you so they don't kick your seat.

Unless of course, you're the carry on pro like myself. Then you take it all, except your liquids, which you ship domestically. Internationally you must do the small bag puzzle and figure out which you love more, your eye cream or mascara.

I'm not in Europe anymore...

But I did make it to Naples Florida. Barely.

We left Hampstead at 2:45am Wednesday morning.

At about 3:45ish, we are almost to Newton Grove, and a tire blows.

Newton Grove is the best place to get a flat tire. There was a Highway Patrol Man, A Sheriff, and a Newton Grove cop. It took only 20 minutes to change the tire. It would have been less, but we had trouble getting the tire out from under the truck.

So, we get to the airport later than we wanted. Went through security. Dad forgot to take his liquids out. They took his Proactive and hair gel, and through it away. Ok fine. We get on the plane. Finally get to Naples.

Walk in to the rental car place, they ask for Dad's drivers license. He dropped it somewhere between RDU-ATL-and Naples. Great.

The rest of the trip, has gone pretty well. We've had a blast. Met some great new people. Poor Dad.

Happy Birthday Mom!

If anyone can promise me that I can get home, or come pick me up in Chicago that would be great.

I am supposed to fly on a MD80 from Chicago. Yes, the plane that they have grounded thousands of this week.

AA says you can switch without penalty, which means I would need to leave ASAP, but, I can't do that!

So, I'm trying to figure it out.

Hopefully, I will be home tonight.

Bon Anniversair a Ma Mere.

En Paris

This is quite possibly my last blog entry before I fly back across the pond Friday.

We're in Paris! (After a LONG train ride here yetserday).

We have a nice hostel, but the bunk beds shake whenever anyone moves. That's a story for another time.

Tomorrow, we move to a hotel, and have dinner and a sleep over with Soph.

Today, we went to the Musee D'Orsey. I saw lots of paintings by lots of famous people. We had lunch at the restaurant there.

Can't wait to get home Friday.