PATRICIA O'NEILL

VIVA ESPANA!

When I lived in Ireland, regular visits to Spain were on my happy calendar. Unlike Canada, it was easy to get to, and the weather a lot warmer. To celebrate our March birthdays this year, daughter Alison and I decided to go to sunny Spain. The last time I was there, I was 30 years younger, and the only thing on my wish list was to tan myself silly on a beach by day, and disco dance the night away to Sylvia’s Y Viva Espana! Go to youtube and check it out!!

This time it was different. I wanted creature comforts, culture, and great cuisine. Two out of three ain’t bad. We scored on the creature comforts and culture. Alas, cuisine left some room for improvement! We enjoyed a great Moroccan feast one night (at Al-Yamal in Malaga), and an Indian dinner another night, which was excellent. The BEST paella was actually in Dublin — at a Spanish restaurant of course! (Salamanca)

Ali, being a seasoned traveller, suggested we stay at the Mariposa Hotel in Malaga, Southern Spain. It was perfectly located in the Centro area, a 4 star hotel, close to Malaga Cathedral, and right in the middle of all the action. The bedrooms are painted in vibrant colours — blue, green, red, orange, etc. Ornate Picasso-like sculptures graced the lobby and reception areas. As luck would have it, we were put into the blue room. Fortunately, we didn’t get the blues while in residence there. An enormous comfortable king size bed ensured we got a great night’s sleep each night, and the spacious en-suite bathroom delivered my wish for creature comforts.

Hotel Mariposa had the BEST breakfast ever! For 11 euros per person, you could eat as much as you wanted. The buffet breakfast went on until after 11 each morning and you needed the time lol! You got to squeeze your own oranges and make the most delicious juice. Southern Spain has oranges dripping from the trees. No shortage of Vitamin C. There were several selections of fresh juices, sweet and salty cereals, followed by hot food such as Spanish omelettes, scrambled eggs (which, surprisingly for buffet food, actually tasted like eggs!), bacon, sausages, fried peppers and mushrooms. For those wishing to eat less savagely, you could have yogurt, fresh fruit, ham and cheese slices, etc. You got to make your own toast if you wanted, and your own espresso, cappuccinos, or lattes, which were totally delicious!

A tray of small delicious pastries and various artisan breads completed the feast. That meal kept us going until evening, with a little cappuccino break in-between. The breakfast room had large floor to ceiling windows overlooking the busy street and was a bright and cheery start to our Spanish day. Going to bed at night, I would look forward to my big, bright, sunny, Spanish breakfast. During our stay at Mariposa, there was a writer’s group from California also staying in the hotel. Ali and I got a kick eavesdropping on their literary conversations!

We started our holiday doing what every smart traveller does — the hop on-hop off bus. Ours covered two days, and all the major attractions, which included the Picasso Museum, the Russian Museum of Art, and the fashion and automobile museum which was absolutely incredible. With my love for fashion, it was one of the highlights of my trip! The castle had incredible views, but not a lot to see inside. The modern museum was certainly worth a visit too.

I love visiting churches in foreign countries, so Malaga Cathedral did not disappoint. It was truly magnificent with its vaulted domes and stunningly beautiful religious artifacts. Centuries of prayer were ingrained in the wooden seats and pews. Situated right in the heart of the city, it’s worth a visit.

One of my favourite things to do on holidays is just to walk around a new city, dig in the city vibes, wander into small random cafes where tourists don’t normally go and observe local people going about their day. Ali and I did a lot of that and enjoyed each new adventure into the unknown, the strange, and sometimes the quirky! Window shopping is another favourite pastime. That’s where the quirky part comes in!

The fashion shops were pretty much the same as those in Dublin or London, boasting big box stores such as Zara, H & M, Massimo Dutti, Mango, etc. Spanish women are meticulous about their hair and shoes. They also love their silk scarves. My abiding memory of the Spanish Senoritas is thick lustrous hair, expensive shoes, and vibrant silk scarves. I actually returned with a few scarves which I purchased from the Fashion Museum. I met the charming owner of the Museum who told me I looked 12 years younger than my age, so I bought his book, and some scarves from his museum! Charm will get you everywhere!

Spanish families go out together at night and sit in cafes, observing life, and chatting together. It’s all very civilized. Everybody, from the grandparents to the smallest babies. So sweet to see the oldest and youngest members of families hanging out together. The city square in Cordoba was a perfect place to observe the Spanish at play, eat your olives, and lazily sip your sangria. Children joyfully following bubbles made by a busker in the square, others feeding the birds. Picture-perfect, which is what you want on holidays.

Taking the train from Malaga to Granada was an ‘experience’. One has to go through security and then find the correct carriage. Easier said than done, as the trains are enormous and people are rather highly strung. Private carriages are manned by stylishly attired staff wearing gloves who don’t like to be photographed. Way too Plebian darling! We accidently boarded the private carriage (right seat number, wrong carriage) but were soon put right by an awfully posh Spanish man, boasting an enormous moustache which could house a mouse. Unlike most Spaniards we encountered, he could actually speak English. Maybe it was because we were sitting in his seat.

I would highly recommend learning some Spanish before you go to Spain. It was an impediment trying to negotiate with the Spaniards. Everything from telling them No gracias! I don’t like cinnamon on top of my cappuccino, to asking them where the nearest toilet was. On occasion, I was almost driven to the point of playing charades to show them what I was trying to say!! So, yes, brush up on your Spanish. Spanglish did not work for me!

If you asked me what the three cultural highlights of my trip were, I would have to say, the Alhambra Palace in Granada, the Mosque Cathedral of Cordoba, and the Fashion and Autobmobile Museum. All are definitely worth a visit! The Hop on Hop off is also definitely worth the investment, and you gain free entry into several museums with it. So Bon Voyage off to Sunny Spain!

 

FACES OF ST. PATRICK’S DAY DUBLIN 2019

 

 

Growing up in Ireland, St. Patrick’s Day was one of my favourite days. It was a national holiday so we got the day off from school. Hurrah for that! It was a ‘Holy Day’ as we used to say, so we all headed to church, proudly wearing our St. Patrick’s day badges and any bit of green clothing we had. Some folk had great big bunches of real-deal shamrock on their lapels. We’d sing the Hail Glorious St. Patrick hymn with gusto and my mind would be wandering to my birthday party later that day. Since my birthday was so near St. Patrick’s Day, I usually celebrated it on the 17th. My Delisha day!

Gorgeous golden daffodils were out in full bloom, and so cheery to gaze upon. Some had little orange faces. Orange and yellow together is about as happy as it gets! Spring sunshine warmed our faces, and with the thought of summer not so far away, everybody was happy happy happy. Such a glorious time of year!

This year, I thought it would be fun to celebrate the day in Dublin. It was my first time being back in Ireland for St. Patrick’s Day since I left 25 years ago! How things had changed. Once upon a long time ago, it was all about the Parade. This year, I didn’t see much of the Parade because I wasn’t up in time to secure a spot. But, much to my sweet surprise, the fun all happened after the marching bands had finished their proudly parades.

All day long, Dublin was Alive Alive O with the sounds of laughter and happy smiling faces. I didn’t see one sour face in the crowds of sweet joyful people. Even the doggies with their green tutus had smiles on their faces and happy wagging tails! The sense of fun, unbridled joy, and perfect hope all around brought me back to those fields of golden daffodils from my childhood. And the sweet anticipation of a party to come…

I never in my life saw so much green! Seriously. Fellows wearing green suits covered with shamrocks, red wigs everywhere. Girls with black Guinness dresses and white blonde wigs posed as pints of Guinness! It took me a while to get that one. The creativity and effort expended in the costumes was something I will never forget!

Spending St. Patrick’s Day in Dublin is going to be an Annual fixture in my diary! If you want a day of unbridled fun Dublin is the place to be!

VEGAS SECOND TIME ROUND…

It was my second trip to Vegas and I know now I’m addicted! I have come to the conclusion that Vegas is for people with addictive personalities (What? never would have guessed lol). My addiction is FUN, and the more you play in Vegas, the more fun you have! It is one big merry-go-round. It really is a Disneyland for grown ups!

Vegas, for me, ticks all the holiday boxes:

• people watching
• comfort
• happy environment
• nice weather
• fashion in abundance
• shows

Second time round, we made some decisions, as one could lose the seats of their pants in Vegas. Oh yes, money could burn a hole in them — for sure! Instead of spending a lot of money eating out, we opted to stay in a luxury self-catering suite at Donald Trump’s Golden Palace. Best decision! Money saved on eating out all the time went on shows instead. Trump doesn’t own the hotel any more; many of the suites are privately owned.

The Trump Hotel was terrific value. It is the first 5-star hotel we have stayed at, and I’m sold! Having a comfortable base, air conditioning, a clean, cool marble bathroom, luxurious environment, and friendly attentive staff becomes more important as you get older. In addition, it had a kitchen. It is one of the few hotels in Vegas that does NOT have a casino and is smoke-free! That’s a bonus too. Some of the hotels are mighty smelly, as you will see when you come here.

TIP 1: BE FISCALLY SMART

On day 1, we got a taxi to a Trader Joe’s supermarket and stocked up on nice healthy food for our vacation: cheese, salads, cereal, fruit, etc. Just to think, our whole food bill for the week, including full fry ups for Kevin in the morning, would have only bought us 5 small poolside salads at Trump’s Hotel! Insane, I know. Eating out is expensive in Vegas. In addition, it is difficult to get good wholesome food.

As a Canadian visiting Vegas, our dollar pales in comparison to the US dollar, so it behoves us to be fiscally smart!

TIP 2: DRESS FOR THE WEATHER

Late May onwards, it gets hot here in the desert. Vegas is after all, set right in the heart of a desert!! Just like Dubai, it gets HOT!! Wear cool 100% cottons, or linen clothing, great for the heat. I brought the perfect clothing second time round. Also, three biggies: hat, fanny pack water bottle, and comfortable walking shoes. I met a lovely girl who told me she burnt her head!! If you colour your hair, another good reason to wear a hat!! I could not believe the amount of women who did not wear a hat in the heat — insane!! The wider the brim, the better! I brought 4 pairs of shoes, and wore the same pair every day!! Comfort is key. I should have known better!!

TIP 3: SHOP AROUND

I’m not into golfing, or more expensive pursuits…ok, I’m not a saint though! I like to shop!! Yes, Vegas is a shopper’s paradise. You can shop ’til your jaw drops from the cost of things! Remember…be fiscally prudent!! I didn’t do a lot of shopping in Vegas, as I find the selection in Canada is just as good — if not better — and a lot cheaper. The best shopping mall for regular Joes like me is the Fashion Show Mall, which is just across the street from Trump’s hotel. They have fabulous fashion shows on the hour each day. Each of the different stores puts on their own show. One day, they had a live band playing music from the Beach Boys. They were brilliant!

If you want the ultra-fashion-shops experience, wander into the high end stores you will find at Caesar’s Palace and the Venetian Hotel. Check out the Wynn and Bellagio as well! I enjoy wandering around the high end stores, especially Dolce & Gabbana, Chanel, Prada, Dior, etc. and getting great ideas on how to put outfits together. I get ‘the look’ without the price tag.

Colourful tassels are all the rage currently. They are on hats, bags, necklaces, etc. Chanel was selling a fabric necklace with a tassel for US $250 — that was the sale price! I found an equally nice one for less than $40 in a different shop. So, you can get ‘the look’ without the price tag. Just shop around. Vegas is great for this.

TIP 4: PICK YOUR SPOT

If you like to people-watch, there are several good vantage points. Remember though, just like in all top tourist zones, you pay double for your Starbucks if it is located in a popular people-watching spot. The Starbucks at Caesar’s Palace cost twice as much as the Starbucks at the Fashion Show Mall! If you want good entertainment for free, the seats around the entrance doors to the Venetian Hotel is a fabulous spot. Other great gazing spots are Caesar’s Palace, Belaggio, Cosmopolitan, and Wynn’s Hotel, which is one of the prettiest of the hotels.

You’ll see expensively clad business people from all around the world heading into conferences, leather briefcases in hand; wedding parties; tourists with cameras; hen parties with crowns and feathers; stag parties… the list is endless. My neck was sore from turning in every direction! One wedding party I saw had all the fellows wearing swish navy blazers with gold buttons on top, and bermuda shorts and hairy legs below! Fashion is fabulous to observe…

If you want to converse, talk to people in the line-up for tickets or food. When Americans are excited, and in a state of anticipation, they tell you their whole life stories. Waiting for our J.Lo tickets, a woman in front of us told us she was from Chicago, and her husband didn’t like to travel — only to Puerto Rico! So she travels on her own or with a friend. She is not afraid of being raped, she told us!! Fellows would run a mile!! She had 5 brothers and learnt how to fight at an early age… So much information in only two minutes! Entertaining and enlightening for sure!

TIP 5: SHOWS

Some people plan their trips to Las Vegas around shows, others around gambling. Let’s talk shows as they are better value for money!! One of the best things we learnt was NOT to book your show in advance. Wait until the day and go to any of the discount tickets vendors. You get your tickets almost half price if you wait until the day of the show. Obviously, tickets for hot performers like J.Lo sell out very quickly. The Cirque de Soleil shows are hugely popular and have been playing for a while now, so you get good bargains on those tickets. Currently, they have 8 totally different shows running at the moment. All are brilliant! Long-running shows are best value.

With the money saved on eating out all the time, we splurged and went to three fantastic and totally different shows. We went to see Cirque de Soleil’s Mystere, which was the show that first grabbed the world’s attention and gave the Cirque de Soleil their stellar reputation. Stunning is all I can say to describe our experience. The colour, acrobatics, costumes and music were breathtaking and so unique in expression.

Our second show, Donny and Marie, was a trip down the Osmond memory lane. Set in the Flamingo’s Hotel, the auditorium was small and intimate, reminiscent of the old days when Elvis or Frank Sinatra performed. We had tables in front of us, unlike the other huge, anonymous auditoriums, and could have drinks served to our table. So quaint! We were so close to Donny and Marie, I could see the perspiration on their faces. “Is it just me, or is it hot here tonight?” Marie asked. “I’m going over to talk to my fan over here,” she said, leading us to believe it was somebody in the audience. Next thing, she drops to the floor in front of a spinning fan, and starts cooling herself! “Ooh, that’s better!” she says with a laugh.

She was incredibly natural and charming beyond belief. In between performing, they had a huge slideshow with snippets from the Andy Williams days and other famous people they have performed with. I loved the show, for very different reasons, especially nostalgia, and the fact Donny and I are the same age! Throughout the show, there was a wonderful banter and rapport between Donny and Marie. They complement each other very well. Loved this show 100%.

All I can say about the third show is WOW WOW WOW!! There is no way a near 48-year-old woman can move her body like that! It was J.Lo. She looks even better in real life, and yes, I am convinced she had high-powered batteries in her buttocks to be able to do a booty dance like the one she did for her screaming, and at times hysterical, spectators. The show and the audience could not have been more different from Donny and Marie!

Set in Planet Hollywood, the largest auditorium in Vegas, the crowd was huge (4,600). Security was worse than at the airport. Pre-concert fashion was something else. Just watching the way ladies dressed up for the show was hugely entertaining in itself. Lots of glitter, figure-hugging frocks and expensive heels.

Passions ran high once J.Lo began. When a girl 3 rows down from us stood up and refused to sit down, obstructing the view for others, a guy behind us shouted, “If you don’t sit down, I’ll f**king kill you!” He meant it too! Later, he started throwing water at her! Funny to watch. SO different from the more genteel Donny & Marie show! The special effects, pyrotechnics, costumes, songs, etc. made this show a Vegas Spectacular! And, of course, it was J.Lo!

We loved Vegas so much, I’m thinking of calling my home Vegasville!

Hugs,
Patricia xxx