Continent #4 & Blue Footed Boobies

So... it's got to be a good day at work when you get an email saying that blue footed boobies are in my future, right?!

That is the email I received yesterday confirming that work was sending me to the Galapagos to experience our amazing product down there!  

I leave this afternoon and it will be 10 nights of new adventures and lots of animals... can't wait!

Plus, I have never been to South America before so I am so excited to visit a new Continent.

Can't wait to take my own pictures of these little guys!

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Not your Grandma's cruise ship

For most people when they think of cruise ships, they think it is all buffets and old people. 
While that may be sorta true :) cruising has really come along way in just the last 5 years. 
I have mentioned on here before that I work for a cruise line, and I think it is one that has really redefined the industry. 
I don't like to talk about work much on the blog, because it is pretty much the same thing every day, but this past weekend I participated in the two 2-night inaugural sailings we had for our newest ship. 
The sailings were invite-only events to introduce her (ships are always "her") to the North American media & trade. 
The ship was the fourth one in a "class" of ships we have in the fleet.  These ships are so beautiful, sleek and chic... they offer our guests a truly Modern Luxury vacation. 
Take a look at some of the amazing spaces onboard...  

The Lawn Club with oversized Adirondack chair & yes, that is real grass

What would a Lawn Club be without some lawn games?!

Art Studio where you can take beading, painting, etc. classes 

Pool area

Solarium

My favorite chairs onboard, so comfortable.  Definitely nap-worthy!

Tree in the atrium with the Hideaway behind 

Comfy reading nook in the Hideaway 

Another reading spot in the Hideaway

The cruise line is an authorized Apple reseller and all of our internet
cafes are being converted to iLounges.  You know how busy Apple
stores are in your mall?  It is pretty much the same scene here.

Cellar Master Wine Bar

Lots of enotech machines and wine choices 

This one is for my family - Peju wine!  Yum!

Martini Bar 

Love these silver chairs and the textured wall behind them

Shopping Gallery

Quasar, the nightclub 

Love the yellow they incorporated into this Quasar and love that carpet, so fun!

On the weekend sailing Kenny G. was onboard and performed a concert in the atrium Saturday night.  Check out my crappy BlackBerry pictures.  

I didn't have my camera with me because I thought "Why do I need a picture of Kenny G", but then got caught up in the excitement I just had to have a picture.
He sounded truly amazing! 
The ship was piping the music from the concert through to the other venues onboard (lounges, restaurants, etc.).  I was having dinner with some co-workers at the creperie and it was really nice to be able to hear the music from the concert! 
Kenny G. even performed the theme from "Titanic", which sounded beautiful. 
Before he played that song he told the crowd "You'll think this song is so appropriate or really, really, really inappropriate" :) 


As the ship returned to NY harbor on Sunday morning, we went under the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge.  You know, the bridge that is Mile 1 of a certain marathon.  I could see the flood lights on Staten Island which I can only imagine was for the Athlete's Village.

Just ignore all the salt on my stateroom window!

A fun, useless fact... I have visited the Verrazano Family winery in Tuscany and they have a piece of steel from the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge.  Somewhere on that Bridge is a piece of rock (or stone) from the winery in Italy.

Beautiful morning in Manhattan

It is nice to have a little break from the office.  Spending 5 days working on a cruise ship is always ok in my book! 
This fall has been a little hectic with travel and there may be one more trip in my near future... as in tomorrow.  I find out today for sure and then I will let you know!

San Francisco

Two weeks ago (wow I do a great job of keeping up this blog...) I was in San Diego for work.  Since work was done at 5pm on Friday, I decided to fly up to San Francisco for the weekend.  While I love San Diego and would have loved to have spent more time there, I was looking forward to visiting my cousin Amanda who moved to San Francisco in August.  Also San Francisco is my favorite US city ever, so I could not wait to get up there!
I got there late Friday night, so we just hung out at her place where she showed me her new purchase... Apple TV.  Omg, I fell in love and now have one of my very own :)  That is probably why I haven't been good with keeping up the blog.
Saturday morning we headed out for 10 mile runs.  Mandy is like minutes faster than me per mile, so she went with her friend Katie and I headed down to Fisherman's Wharf on my own.
What a great city to run in... what a great city overall... love it there!

Ghiradelli

Sea Lions at Pier 39

The Rock - Alcatraz

The Bush Man taking a break.  Scares my mom every time!

Golden Gate Bridge

Saturday afternoon we headed out of the city and up to Sonoma for some wine tasting!

I know this is just a bridge, but it is so beautiful!

We even got to meet up with my one of my BFFs, Jamie, in Sonoma!  She lives nearby and left her husband alone with the 3 kids for the afternoon.  His first time with all 3 kiddos - thanks Wyeth!  We hit up two wineries but did not get a single picture together.  Oh well, we were all way too busy talking and catching up.  Fun day!

I've never been to CA wine country in the fall,
so I loved seeing all the grapes ready for the harvest!

Saturday night and Sunday included a lot of walking around town and stopping at one amazing place after the other for food & drink, just what you want to do on a relaxing weekend in San Francisco!  If you have never been, go now.  Best city ever.

View from Mandy's roof deck - amazing!