Home away from Home

As I'm writing this post, I'm sitting on a couch back home sweet home. I can't believe its almost a week since I've left the Big Apple. It's been an unforgettable two months and oh so dreamy to be working and living the life I did this summer.

Before coming home, I had an eight hour layover in Chicago which allowed me to sneak in one short, but last adventure. Many people told me that Chicago feels like you're on water and I couldn't agreed more. With multiple lakes and rivers running through the city, beneath roads and bridges, and in between high rises, it truly is a one of a kind sight. 

Heading into downtown Chicago was pretty straight forward as you can take the blue subway line from the airport for $5 (the way back from downtown to the airport is only $2.25). Luckily, one of my roommates left on the same flight as me and had a friend in Chicago that was able to show us around, otherwise, I think we would've got lost. There aren't as many tourists as compared Manhattan, thus less signage, plus the fact that we didn't do much research so we didn't really know what to do. We wandered downtown a bit, ate, shopped, and before you knew it, I headed back to catch my flight home (my roommate stayed for a night).

For those having a lay over in Chicago, just a few things to note:

-there is NO luggage storage/lockers in the airport since 9-11, so make sure to have light carry ons with you when exploring (a backpack is best)
-Chicago O'Hare is one of the busiest airports in the States as its fairly central, so give yourself enough time to get back, go through security, and prepare for any delays (leave 2.5-3 hours before your flight, it takes about 40-60 minutes subway travel time depending on where you are)
-do lots of research of where you want to go so you can maximize the time you have during your layover

Even though I didn't do that much, it was a nice transition from the crazy busy New York to slow and steady Edmonton. Chicago was much quieter, and to my surprise less busy than I thought as one of the major business hubs in the States (or maybe it was just the area I was in).

I guess this wraps up my adventure to the Big Apple. Much learning, experiences, insights, and personal growth have been gained. Leaving anywhere is always hard for me as I get emotionally attach thanks to the relationships made in that place. Thus, 'home' is a relative term for me and I feel a piece of it will remain in New York. It's definitely bittersweet departing, but I already have future adventures in the works. So money willing, and God's plans aligning, travels are awaiting =)

So Keep Phollowing!


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Rockaway Beach

When you think of New York, scenes of rushed people, yellow cabs, high rises, and bright lights come to mind... not really sand, sun, and waves huh?
One of my friends wanted to hit up her bucket list in taking a long board/surf lesson, and so we ventured to Rockaway Beach. To be honest, I didn't really know what to expect, I hear a lot about Long Island Beach, but less about Rockaway, so this whole beach scene was a new experience in itself.

Commute wise, it was rather easy to get to by subway (approximately an hour ride), except because it's farther away from Manhattan, there are less trains, and on the weekend, even less, so plan your itinerary right to not waste any waiting around time. Also, there are no cabs at the destination itself, so be prepared to do lots of walking, or take the bus (which is pretty straight forward as there isn't a lot of options).

The beach itself was mediocre, it seemed like a beach for retired local people living in the area looking for an "affordable" view to look at and sand to lie on everyday. I use quotations, because affordable to them is probably a extremely ridiculous amount for me, but probably better priced than say the Hamptons where all the celebs reside with a gorgeous scenic view. Anyways, that's besides the point, but there isn't a whole lot to offer in terms of tourist-esque attractions here-little to no boardwalk shops, souvenir places, or fun things to do other than lie on the beach, like we did.

I'm making Rockaway sound really boring, but realistically speaking, there isn't a whole lot you can do on a beach, be it Miami or New York. So even though we would've wanted to check out more places, it was nice to just take it easy baking our backs with the sun's rays and squishing sand in between our toes.

I guess for you Edmontonians reading this, it can be compared to Sylvan Lake, but minus all the shops/hotel/food joints in the background, yes this beach was as simplest as can be.  

 HOLD UP THOUGH.

THY BEST PART HAS TO GO TO... ROCKAWAY TACOS. I don't care if the line looks long and not worth the wait, because it is SO WORTH THE WAIT. As I'm writing this, all I can remember is the amazing fish tacos I had here. Everything was made fresh to order and even though the line was long, your order comes pretty quick, so savour every bite!

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All American Philly

Monument at Washington Square Park
This past weekend I got to visit a friend I haven't seen in four years. Besides the joy of exploring new places, it's such a blessing to be able to see familiar faces I haven't seen in a while, let alone a four year reunion. I'm beyond thankful for this friend of going out of her way to host and show me around despite balancing school and work. Here's a toast to her and to this blog of Philly-ness! FYI, Philly is actually the oldest city in the States!

From New York, I arrived by Megabus and I actually got to spend the first day on my own, spending the night at Apple Hostels. If you are looking for affordable, convenient, and comfortable travel options, look no further than these two. I definitely vouch for what they stand for and highly recommend them to travelers on a budget (see their links for more info).

So with anticipative spirits and a growling stomach, the first thing I put in my mouth just had to be...*drumroll* a Philly cheese steak (PCS for short for the sake of this repetitive post), duh! and I did not regret it. As I was staying close to Market Street, I wasn't fond of the idea of making a 30min walk to the infamous long standing PCS rivals across the street from each other, Pat's King of Steaks and Geno's Steaks. Instead, I went to Campo's Deli, which was literally a 5min walk away from my hostel and known for their specialty PCS "Hoagies," basically a Philly term for subs, so my PCS had tomatoes, lettuce and onions in it and oh Philly was it delicious! I'm not usually a heavy burger/sub eater, but I was so satisfied by this concoction of steak strips + cheesy goodness.

Philly is a really easy place to navigate, so though there are tourist buses you can buy a 1 or 2 day pass to hop on/hop off, it is not necessary to check out most places. There are almost signs at every intersection/block to direct you to where you need to go downtown. I planned my itinerary based on their location and was able to attack the Liberty Bell/Independence Hall/Washington Statue/Square Park for some historic sightseeing, Chestnut/Walnut Street for some tax free shopping (on clothes and shoes only), checked out City Hall, and ended the night with an unplanned "First Friday," a monthly artsy event that happens on no other than the first Friday of each month. Located in Old City where art galleries are abundant, this social event brings out local artists to showcase their work, antique sellers to offer vintage goods (and lots of vintage jewelry at bargain able prices!), and an upbeat atmosphere for young and old to enjoy with galleries open for free to the public. This area is also very lively as there is a lot of culture going on with historic and long standing eateries (check out this cool ice cream joint, Franklin Fountain), local boutiques, bars and restaurants.

Liberty Bell
City Hall
First Friday Vintage Market
The next morning, I walked to the Italian Market on 9th Ave (not that exciting as it mainly sold fresh produce and meat products), and rerouted back to catch some glimpses of Penn's Landing (which wasn't the best view either compared to other bigger cities I've been to).

My second day consisted of checking out a more "local" side of Philly. My friend resided in Fishtown, so even driving out of downtown, you notice the difference in scenery. Less attractions and tourists are one thing, but rundown buildings, damaged properties, heaps of garbage was obvious that the city prioritize the infrastructure and image of the touristy core rather than the less visited places. Though, there was also a more hipster side to the less known whelms of Philly as well, especially near the Piazza.

My cookie sandwich
Within walking distance from where my friend lived, there was plenty of up and coming businesses and entrepreneurs adding hype to the area, especially in the food sector. Pizza Brain is one of them and is Guinness record recognized for their pizza museum and wall decked memorabilia of all things pizza, besides the fact that their pizza was one of the freshest and tastiest I had ever had. Next door and dessert partner in crime, we have Little Baby's Ice Cream, reinventing the concept of ice cream flavours and related desserts for the avid sweet tooth. I had my first ever ice cream sandwich, Thai tea ice cream between an almond fennel and chia snickerdoodle cookie (the tastes were so cool, yet so authentic at the same time.. like frozen thai tea!!).

At the Japanese House
Other than eating, which it seemed like I did a lot of, we also checked out Fairmount Park, and relaxed with a soothing visit to the Japanese Garden and house there. To be honest, it wasn't worth the admission ($6 adults, $4 students), as it was small relative to other Japanese gardens I've been to, and not that interesting. Though, this park was great for a picnic, a stroll, or even just people watching like we did as we caught a bridal party there taking pictures. On a side note, my friend also educated me on the heavy beer drinking culture in Philly as shown by the vast amount of breweries and types of beers, ales, etc. you can order when eating out, so if you're into beer, be sure to check it out.

My last day in Philly, we had coffee and a lighter lunch at Leotah's Place, a local cafe hidden in my friend's neighborhood and where one would think is a rustic cabin-like house driving by. From the exterior, it is part of a residential complex which adds to its comfortable atmosphere, and upon walking in, the decor is few, but authentic with a tribal vibe, and it feels as if you've been invited for coffee in someone's living room. This would honestly be my 'go-to' java place if I had it back home! Their aroma, unique caffeinated drinks (named after famous Americans), and small, but from scratch  food menus displays simplicity at its best.
Sitting inside Leotah's Place
Overall, it was an unforgettable weekend getaway from the craze of the big city life. Philly reminded me of life's simplest pleasures and cultivated a desire to learn more about American history and figures. I would definitely return in the future, and I don't know why I didn't think of this earlier, but I wish I made a stop at the premium outlets in philly as I could've got such a good deal on tax-free shopping! Next time!

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