Miami, FL

Itinerary: Calgary-Miami-Bahamas-Cayo Coco-Key West- Miami-Calgary
When: March 2008

Trip review:
Our second cruise, this time a 5 night cruise with Royal Carribean. Like with our first cruise, we extended our trip by adding 2 nights in Miami. We stayed at the Fairmont Turnberry Isle Resort (for free!!), talking about highrollers! The resort was amazing, with a famous golf course, and we noticed we were the youngest people staying there:)

Simona's faves: It has to be South Beach...the beach, the sea, all the cafes and the great food we had! It was very hot, so got a bit burned only while walking. The scenery is beautiful and the city is very cosmopolitan, my favorite US city so far! Also liked the beach in Bahamas, the water had an amazing color! (but a bit too deep close to the shore). Enjoyed Key West and the lime pie, and the artsy feel of the town.

Chris' faves: Nassau's Paradise Island in the Bahamas and the Atlantis Resort. Royal Caribbean's private island in the Caribbean. The News Cafe on Ocean Drive in South Beach - very cool and they had live music. This is the last place Versace ate before his fateful walk home. Our tour of the Everglades on the airboat, watching the alligators.

New York, NY

Itinerary: Calgary-New York-Calgary
When: June 2008, 4 days

Trip review:
Got a great price for flight tickets (one of the few perks from Amex), so we decided to head for NY. Loved, loved, loved it! Got lucky with the accommodation too, we got a great price at the London NYC Hotel (5*) in Manhattan, so we really felt like celebs! The hotel's restaurant is overseen by Gordon Ramsey (we dined there one evening but didn't see him). Beautiful weather, not too hot- can't imagine going later in summer!

Simona's faves: the multitude of options one has- culture, entertainment...loved walking everywhere! Loved Central Park, especially that I got to celebrate my birthday eating ice cream on the grass. Wished we had more time for the Metropolitan Museum. Liked Soho and the many shops, and enjoyed the Bodies Exhibition at the South Street Seaport. Oh, and the Brooklyn Bridge at night! and many more...

Chris' faves: The amazing views from the Top Of The Rock (Rockefeller Center). The Bridge Cafe - just below the Brooklyn Bridge, which was the first establishment in New York to obtain a liquor license. A little hesitant before we entered, it ended up being one of our most memorable meals in a great atmosphere. The Armory display at The Met. The ferry ride to Staten Island and the views of the Statue Of Liberty. New York Supreme Court Building. The number of police we saw on a cab ride from the south of Manhatten back to our hotel. The NHL store. The United Nations Headquarters. Bryant Park - located behind New York Public Library.

Los Angeles, CA

Itinerary: Calgary-Los Angeles (2 days)- Catalina Island (cruise)- Ensenada (Mexico)- Los Angeles- Calgary
When: October 2007, 1 week

Trip review: This was our first cruise trip, and we loved it! Although it was a 3 night cruise, we decided to stay in LA for few more days, so we had the chance to visit some great places. The weather was great, and even if it was October, it was quite hot in downtown LA. We stayed at the Westin Bonaventure, a beautiful architectural building right downtown (see images here).

Simona's faves: Santa Monica beach, the Getty's Museum, Walt Disney Concert Hall building, the numerous fountains downtown, Rodeo Drive. Enjoyed the cruise with Royal Carribean and running the corridor to the stateroom, as well as the chocolate buffet! Less enjoyed: seeing a mugging on Sunset Drive, walking to the metro station in the evening and getting looks in the LA buses. Oh, and Chris scaring me during our brief snorkeling session!! :O

Chris' faves: Flying into the "City Of Angels" - the lights seem to go on forever! The cab driver from Hollywood who once drove Paris Hilton and said she tipped him 5 bucks - I tipped the same as Paris! San Diego Wild Animal Park (the first time we saw meerkats live). Drinks atop the Westin Bonaventure's rotating bar and grill. The Westin's elevators! (Bruce Willis' Die Hard, Clint Eastwood's In The Line Of Fire and Arnold's True Lies were all filmed here). The Hollywood Bowl!

Camera ready, smile, post number one!

We decided to keep track of all of our travels, and what better way to do it than in a blog? The idea of a blog came from Chris, a 'seasoned' blogger, who also has grand plans with this one!

The name was Simona's idea. That's because we both love meerkats- they are inquisitive, great explorers and quite funny! And they always seem to be on the loose, just like us two!

We'll post all the places we've been to, from longer trips outside the country to short trails around Calgary. Our intention is to 'keep track of our tracks' and maybe let our friends know of our favorite things we came across in our travels. Wish us luck and stay posted!

Chris and Simona
The two meerkats
On the loose!