Dear family and friends,
I have just about completed my first week in Arizona and wanted to give you an update.
ACCOMODATIONS:
I am staying in a hotel for 3 weeks after which I will move into an apartment. The hotel is a standard room with nothing fancy. It is well located near restaurants and shopping areas and is only 7 minutes away from the office… make that 8 minutes if there is a bit of traffic… I am really forward to moving to an apartment at San Melia that looks much more like a vacation resort than an apartment. Check it out at: www.sanmelialiving.com . It includes a gym, a recreational area and a large pool with real sand where you go into the water. I can’t wait to get settled there.
TRANSPORTATION:
I currently have a Ford Escape SUV that was offered to me at the same price as my original rental. For the life of me I can’t explain why I said yes to this upgrade because the vehicle (special word for my sister Janie) is way too big for one person, even if I plan on carrying golf clubs around. And oh, get this… the gas gage went from full to ¾ after only 37 miles. No way can I afford to put that much gas into it. I must admit that I’ve put on more miles since then and it hasn’t passed the half way mark, but still…. Me with an SUV, come on! I will probably go back to change it to get something smaller and something cleaner because I don’t wash cars, LOL.
WORK:
The area where the offices are is very nice. From Day 1 everyone was expecting me and I got the royal treatment (well maybe not like Kate and William but close enough). My office is much better than the one in Montreal because it has a window where I can get more light. It is very quiet here, perhaps only 70+ people in both single story buildings. We have more than that on one single floor at the CCE. There is no food here, no food court, no vending machine, nada… NADA. Someone is kind enough to operate a little depanneur that is based on the honor system so my 1st day here when I showed up foodless, I spent 2 x .40 cents to buy 2 Krispy marshmallow treats for breakfast. One of the treats even came with sparkles on top just to add a splash of color. The other one was more boring with just a drizzle of chocolate. Yum-yum… Needless to say I hit the grocery store before coming in the following day to buy my goods. So if you come to visit I can offer you from my desk, Lipton tea, Nature Valley Sweet & Salty Nut, Go Lean crunch with almond and flaxseed or some good old fashion Kelloggs Raisin Bran (I hope I got the right brand dad). I even bought some Ziploc containers to serve as bowls for the cereal. So I’m all set food-wise. So now back to the real work… The days are very different here. I rush into the office for 6:00 AM where it is usually non-stop action until 2:00 PM. I do have small breaks here and there but out of 5 days here I haven’t been able to stop for lunch because 3:00 PM is primetime meeting time back on the East coast. So I still pretty much cater to East coast hours and after 2:00 PM my time, most everyone back home has left for the day so it leaves me with 3 hours to get some of my work done or maybe go for a nap because I’m so exhausted after the sprint of a day… Seriously, no more Guru for me. I can’t afford to fall asleep so I’m officially off the afternoon energy drink. The people are super super nice. Very friendly, where everyone says hello to everyone (my kind of people). I guess when there is only 70 people working in an office you can afford to be friendly and get to know your neighbors. I still have a way to go before I know everyone but after 6 months I think I’ll get there.
PERSONAL TIME:
This is the part that will take some getting used to. I am not much of a loner and I like being around people so until and if I make friends, it’s just me. The week nights are not much different than at home. I buy my supper on the way home, usually at AJ’s high end grocery store, go back to my room and watch TV while on Facebook. I’ve managed to speak to Jackie and Julie once each and Janie usually every day. I have to look out for my youngest sister even if I’m far far away… This past weekend the highlight was definitely my visit to the Desert Botanical Gardens for the flashlight tour that takes place from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM after dark in the desert. I don’t know what planet I come from but I was thinking it would be cold at night in the desert (I was certainly misinformed) so I wore jeans and closed walking shoes. I even had my hoody but I left it in the car thank heavens! By the time I left at 8:30 PM it was still bloody 94 degrees Fahrenheit (sorry but you lose all knowledge of Celsius once you cross the American border… I can’t even think in terms of Celsius anymore…). It was very hot but it was also well worth it. Here is the link that all my non-Facebook (argh!!!! Who doesn’t have a Facebook account in 2011…) friends can use to view my favorite pictures from last Saturday night when I had a date with a cactus or two: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150323091339643.363447.787139642&l=5403953487&type=1
On Sunday, I just took it easy. Went to the gym (boy that was rough) then to the café across from my hotel where I had a nice breakfast with cappuccino (there go the calories burned at the gym), started reading a new book (romance novel, of course) and sent an email to mom and dad who were anxiously waiting for news from their oldest daughter. I followed that up by going to the hotel pool (where were my sisters who always get me settled into my bathing suit…) at precisely 12 noon. What was I thinking? I applied my suntan lotion and once fully slathered with the white stuff I asked myself how can I last more than 5 minutes out here? Am I the only once nuts enough to want to tan when it’s above 100 degrees with NO wind or breeze whatsoever? The answer to that is a definite yes. So I braved the hot sun for 4 hours spending 90% of the time with water up to my chest and my two arms on the outside of the pool to hold my book while I was reading. For those who know me very well (or not even that well)… I always sleep when I’m tanning but this time I couldn’t or else I would’ve drowned by falling over into the water. So read is what I did with maybe just one or two short naps at my chair. After that it was picking up supper at AJ’s and watching the Emmys. Not a bad first weekend.
If you have any questions for me, just ask. I would love to hear from you even if it is just the small stuff.
Take care,
Johanne.
Monday, September 19, 2011
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Heading back to winter... in South Africa
I have to tell you that at my age I should be heading more and more into hot flash territory but instead I seem to be having a hard time dealing with cold. This past winter in Quebec was very cold and here we are less than one month away from summer and it's still bloody cold, if you ask me. So what's my solution to all this? How about a two week vacation in South Africa as they are heading into winter. I can't actually believe that I'll be leaving the relative warmth of Quebec in summer to go to SA in winter. enough complaining, because I am going to SA after all.
I'm leaving on June 7th accompanied by my sister Jackie, my brother-in-law Gerry and my niece Melanie. We are flying through Amsterdam to Jo'burg and then taking a domestic flight from Jo'burg to Capetown. It should only take us a few days to get to our destination of choice which is Hermanus, SA.
What's the special occasion? My niece Melissa (Jackie and Gerry's daughter) is getting married to Barry in Hermanus.
I'm really looking forward to the trip as this will be my first time on the African continent.
I'll be back with more exciting news once I hit this new continent.
Later folks :)
I'm leaving on June 7th accompanied by my sister Jackie, my brother-in-law Gerry and my niece Melanie. We are flying through Amsterdam to Jo'burg and then taking a domestic flight from Jo'burg to Capetown. It should only take us a few days to get to our destination of choice which is Hermanus, SA.
What's the special occasion? My niece Melissa (Jackie and Gerry's daughter) is getting married to Barry in Hermanus.
I'm really looking forward to the trip as this will be my first time on the African continent.
I'll be back with more exciting news once I hit this new continent.
Later folks :)
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Traipsing on the travertines
Having a wonderful time in Turkey! Internet access has been a challenge and tedious when found due to their different letters on the keyboard so apologies if these entries aren't perfectly proofread.
Our visit through Cannakale was very interesting and educational as it dealt with the Gallipoli Campaign of 1915 during WWI. This is a very popular site to visit for Australians and New Zealanders as they lost many soldiers in this campaign. An Australian visitor was asked to read a one page summary of the last days/weeks in the life of John Simpson and his donkey and he choked up by the time he got to the end of his reading. He had many of us in tears, that's for sure.
From Canakkale we visited Troy and Pergamum on our way to Selcuk. We visited Troy in a full fledged thunderstorm all around us (I know someone called Mary who would have made her way back to the bus subito-presto). We arrived in Pergamum at 5 PM only to find out that the site closed at 5PM. Our tour guide negotıated an extra half hour for us so we did a quick run through, run being the operative word. The ruins of this Akropolis are quite nice to visit and the view of the city and valley below is quite spectacular. I'm glad I was able to see it even if only for 30 minutes.
Arrived in Selcuk at 10PM after a very very long day. Our first day in Selcuk was spent regrouping and booking most of our accomodations for the remainder of the trip. After a good day's rest we headed off early to visit the ruins of Ephesus. They are without a doubt the best we've seen so far in Turkey. The library entrance is spectacular and I was lucky enough to get some nice pictures void of thousands of tourists that were in from the cruiseships. In the afternoon we went to a haman for our first ever Turkish bath. It is certainly a very different experience that leaves you feeling very clean and well exfoliated. We were the only tourists there at the time we went so it was funny to exchange hand signals with the Turkish ladies who did their best to explain what we needed to do next and where to go.
I've fınally made it to the travertines part of the entry. If you want to find out more about this amazing natural wonder I suggest you do a search on Pamukkale travertines and read all about it. It's almost like seeing a glacier in the desert. Hot water rich in many minerals has left calcium deposits on the mountain terraces to create this permanent white winter wonderland. You can still walk on a small section of the terraces (the Turkish people are now more careful about futher damaging them by restricting public access).
Today we took a 5-hour bus ride to Fethyie where we are getting ready to set sail tomorrow for a 3-night cruise on the Mediterranean that will take us to Olympus. Crossing our fingers that we won't get seasick. I'll tell you all about it on the next post.
Our visit through Cannakale was very interesting and educational as it dealt with the Gallipoli Campaign of 1915 during WWI. This is a very popular site to visit for Australians and New Zealanders as they lost many soldiers in this campaign. An Australian visitor was asked to read a one page summary of the last days/weeks in the life of John Simpson and his donkey and he choked up by the time he got to the end of his reading. He had many of us in tears, that's for sure.
From Canakkale we visited Troy and Pergamum on our way to Selcuk. We visited Troy in a full fledged thunderstorm all around us (I know someone called Mary who would have made her way back to the bus subito-presto). We arrived in Pergamum at 5 PM only to find out that the site closed at 5PM. Our tour guide negotıated an extra half hour for us so we did a quick run through, run being the operative word. The ruins of this Akropolis are quite nice to visit and the view of the city and valley below is quite spectacular. I'm glad I was able to see it even if only for 30 minutes.
Arrived in Selcuk at 10PM after a very very long day. Our first day in Selcuk was spent regrouping and booking most of our accomodations for the remainder of the trip. After a good day's rest we headed off early to visit the ruins of Ephesus. They are without a doubt the best we've seen so far in Turkey. The library entrance is spectacular and I was lucky enough to get some nice pictures void of thousands of tourists that were in from the cruiseships. In the afternoon we went to a haman for our first ever Turkish bath. It is certainly a very different experience that leaves you feeling very clean and well exfoliated. We were the only tourists there at the time we went so it was funny to exchange hand signals with the Turkish ladies who did their best to explain what we needed to do next and where to go.
I've fınally made it to the travertines part of the entry. If you want to find out more about this amazing natural wonder I suggest you do a search on Pamukkale travertines and read all about it. It's almost like seeing a glacier in the desert. Hot water rich in many minerals has left calcium deposits on the mountain terraces to create this permanent white winter wonderland. You can still walk on a small section of the terraces (the Turkish people are now more careful about futher damaging them by restricting public access).
Today we took a 5-hour bus ride to Fethyie where we are getting ready to set sail tomorrow for a 3-night cruise on the Mediterranean that will take us to Olympus. Crossing our fingers that we won't get seasick. I'll tell you all about it on the next post.
Monday, September 15, 2008
In Istanbul
Hi there
Just a quick word to let you know that I arrived safely in Istanbul Turkey and that I've been reunited wıth my sister Janie (woohoo).
I'ts been a busy few days visiting the main tourist attractions (Blue Mosque, Aya Sofia, Topkapi Palace, Galata Tower, etc.). All of it quite nice. My feet and right leg is killıng me but I just have to suck it up.
I'ts very hot here (at least from where I come from and the summer wasn't hot or humid) so we have to take the occasional breaks.
We're moving down to Canakkale tomorrow to visit the Gallipoli Battlefields. I hope the weather cools down a bit but I doubt it sınce we're moving south.
Take care everyone and I'll post again soon.
Just a quick word to let you know that I arrived safely in Istanbul Turkey and that I've been reunited wıth my sister Janie (woohoo).
I'ts been a busy few days visiting the main tourist attractions (Blue Mosque, Aya Sofia, Topkapi Palace, Galata Tower, etc.). All of it quite nice. My feet and right leg is killıng me but I just have to suck it up.
I'ts very hot here (at least from where I come from and the summer wasn't hot or humid) so we have to take the occasional breaks.
We're moving down to Canakkale tomorrow to visit the Gallipoli Battlefields. I hope the weather cools down a bit but I doubt it sınce we're moving south.
Take care everyone and I'll post again soon.
Monday, August 11, 2008
One month to go to Turkey and Janie - woohoo!
My next adventure begins on September 12th 2008 when I leave for a three week vacation in Turkey. I will be meeting up with my sister Janie who is in the final stages of her one-year travel around the world. To say that I am anxious is an understatement. After the awful weather we've had here in Quebec in the summer of 2008, I am definitely looking forward to a change in scenery and a change of pace. I am also very much looking forward to seeing Janie in person as it's been 7 months since I left her in Bangkok after our three-week trip through Thailand.
I am currently in the planning stages for this trip so all I can say for now is that my adventure begins when I arrive in Istanbul on September 13th and it will end when I return to Montreal on October 4th. I am looking forward to nice weather, great sights, great people and great food, not necessarily in that order...
So stay tuned for more exciting posts and pictures come September.
I am currently in the planning stages for this trip so all I can say for now is that my adventure begins when I arrive in Istanbul on September 13th and it will end when I return to Montreal on October 4th. I am looking forward to nice weather, great sights, great people and great food, not necessarily in that order...
So stay tuned for more exciting posts and pictures come September.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
The final stretch - Krabi
I definitely have fewer days left than what I've already spent but for those who know me well, I'm not itching to get back home, as I usually am at this stage of a vacation. It may have something to do with the fact that at the end of this vacation I will be leaving Janie for another 7, 8 or 9 months or it may just very well have to do with Thailand. I think it's a combination of the two. All this to say that I'm thoroughly enjoying my vacation time and I hope to do so until the very last minute.
Janie and I bid farewell to Karon early this morning when we got into a mini-van with 10 other people to go to Krabi. I was very happy not to be sitting in the front seat because I couldn't exactly see all the close calls as our driver was quite fast and aggressive on the road. I spent most of my time listening to music on my iPod and looking at the amazing scenery around me. We are now in the area where they have limestone stacks (karsts) all around so it is quite impressive to see. It certainly doesn't resemble any of the mountains we have in Canada. I also spent a bit of time fending off the Italian guy who sat/slept on the seat beside mine because he wasn't just hungover, he was still drunk when he got into the van and he was sometimes trying to get touchy/feely to which I would simply answer "Don't touch". Another funny experience for the books!
We arrived in Krabi 3.5 hours after leaving Karon ad headed immediately to our low budget hotel called "The Greenery". It wasn't too far from where we were dropped off in Krabi Town so we decided to walk. Apparently I made quite the funny sight with me lugging my huge Ricardo of Beverly Hills suitcase (it really belongs to Janie and she asked me to bring it half empty to take some of her stuff back) plus two Roots small backpacks along the sometimes non-existent sidewalks of Krabi. I for one was very happy when I saw the sign for our hotel because I was getting pooped. Our room is OK and cheap (Janie is on a budget after all...) so after a few minutes to catch my breath we were off to find sustenance (food) and to book a tour for tomorrow. We are now booked on a one-day tour of Phi Phi Islands (pronounced PP) for tomorrow and we'll see about Friday when we get back. We had lunch at May & Mark's (recommended by Lonely Planet) and had a great time talking with a couple from France (husband from the UK, wife from South of France) and the owner Martee. Got a lot of info about the king and his heir and all of the holidays in Thailand. The UK man also had many stories about Canada that made us laugh. Had the best pizza I've had in Thailand (curry pizza) with pork satay and 2 diet cokes that Janie and I split for the low price of 240 baht ($8.00 Canadian). After lunch we sauntered across the street for a well deserved manicure and pedicure (after all that walking and carrying extra heavy suitcases) for 200 baht each ($6 something). I swear I could live here forever with my retirement savings...
Janie has decided to return to Bangkok with me on Saturday so I will get to spend one extra day with her and that means I won't have to book my last night's hotel on my own (I so suck at this and she is great at it so I let her do everything...).
That's it for now.
Janie and I bid farewell to Karon early this morning when we got into a mini-van with 10 other people to go to Krabi. I was very happy not to be sitting in the front seat because I couldn't exactly see all the close calls as our driver was quite fast and aggressive on the road. I spent most of my time listening to music on my iPod and looking at the amazing scenery around me. We are now in the area where they have limestone stacks (karsts) all around so it is quite impressive to see. It certainly doesn't resemble any of the mountains we have in Canada. I also spent a bit of time fending off the Italian guy who sat/slept on the seat beside mine because he wasn't just hungover, he was still drunk when he got into the van and he was sometimes trying to get touchy/feely to which I would simply answer "Don't touch". Another funny experience for the books!
We arrived in Krabi 3.5 hours after leaving Karon ad headed immediately to our low budget hotel called "The Greenery". It wasn't too far from where we were dropped off in Krabi Town so we decided to walk. Apparently I made quite the funny sight with me lugging my huge Ricardo of Beverly Hills suitcase (it really belongs to Janie and she asked me to bring it half empty to take some of her stuff back) plus two Roots small backpacks along the sometimes non-existent sidewalks of Krabi. I for one was very happy when I saw the sign for our hotel because I was getting pooped. Our room is OK and cheap (Janie is on a budget after all...) so after a few minutes to catch my breath we were off to find sustenance (food) and to book a tour for tomorrow. We are now booked on a one-day tour of Phi Phi Islands (pronounced PP) for tomorrow and we'll see about Friday when we get back. We had lunch at May & Mark's (recommended by Lonely Planet) and had a great time talking with a couple from France (husband from the UK, wife from South of France) and the owner Martee. Got a lot of info about the king and his heir and all of the holidays in Thailand. The UK man also had many stories about Canada that made us laugh. Had the best pizza I've had in Thailand (curry pizza) with pork satay and 2 diet cokes that Janie and I split for the low price of 240 baht ($8.00 Canadian). After lunch we sauntered across the street for a well deserved manicure and pedicure (after all that walking and carrying extra heavy suitcases) for 200 baht each ($6 something). I swear I could live here forever with my retirement savings...
Janie has decided to return to Bangkok with me on Saturday so I will get to spend one extra day with her and that means I won't have to book my last night's hotel on my own (I so suck at this and she is great at it so I let her do everything...).
That's it for now.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Happy Birthday Jackie
This one's for my sister Jackie who is celebrating her birthday on January 29th. Less than two hours to your birthday here in Thailand so I wanted to send you a special message and perhaps be the first one to wish you a Happy Birthday.
Even though you are so very far in miles, you are always close in my heart. Have a wonderful day and I'll make it up to you when I get back home (soon enough!).
Happy Birthday sis,
Love Johanne.
Even though you are so very far in miles, you are always close in my heart. Have a wonderful day and I'll make it up to you when I get back home (soon enough!).
Happy Birthday sis,
Love Johanne.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
