Destinations

London Nights in Black and White

Here are pictures from our recent trip to London. The weather was crisp and the trees were changing. The black and white photos help capture the cool Fall evenings. Parliament Square and the Elizabeth Tower Covent Garden at Night Westminster Abby in the Evening Westminster Underground Station by Parliament Square London at Night in Black and White For more Black and White photos of London see - Fall in London. #london #londonengland #cafesandalleyways #cafesalleyways #Octoberinlondon #londontravel #uktravel #parlimentsquare #blackandwhitephotos #blackandwhitephotosLondon

Fall in London

London is a favorite destination, and we had a chance to visit in the Fall. The weather was starting to get a bit chilly, and the black and white photos capture some of the feeling of Fall in London. Leadenhall Market Christ Church Spitalfields London Bus on Brick Lane Kensington A View of Parliament from the Southbank of Westminster Bridge London is a great place to visit and Fall was a fun time for our trip. For more Black and White photos of London see - London Nights in Black and White. #london #londonengland #cafesandalleyways #cafesalleyways #Octoberinlondon #londontravel #uktravel #parlimentsquare…

Timeless Spa at the Al Maha, A Marriott Luxury Collection Desert Resort & Spa, Dubai

CafesandAlleyways
November 17, 2021
Destinations / General

It was our time to relax at the Al Maha Luxury Desert Resort and Spa. Nestled among the sands and palm groves outside of Dubai you will find this serene and majestic place. Al Maha Luxury Resort and Spa It's considered among one of the best hotels in the world. It is situated on the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve about 70 minutes from Dubai by car. Wild life are free to roam to and fro, so be on your guard. Entrance to Timeless Spa and Main Pool The spa has an exotic feel and we experienced exceptional customer service, not…

Video – Grand Canal, Venice, Italy

CafesandAlleyways
September 27, 2021
Destinations / General / Travel

A view of the Grand Canal from our room at the Gritti Palace in Venice. https://youtu.be/Abakd2mkV3k If you're interested in the Gritti Palace Hotel, here are some photos and quick write up from our stay. https://youtu.be/7XbJRTQ7M6s

Montmartre, Paris

We’re hoping to head to Paris this Fall. Here’s a quick video of Montmartre from our last trip in May 2019. https://youtu.be/dHxP0sNceq8

Covid Testing During our Stay at the Hyatt Zilara in Cancun

Those who travel abroad are currently required to complete a Covid-19 test within 72 hours of returning to the United States. The PCR test detects the presence of a virus if you are infected at the time of the test. On our recent trip to Cancun, Mexico, we had to factor this requirement into our trip planning. Our choice of hotel made this relatively simple. The Hyatt Zilara is our go-to hotel in Cancun, Mexico. As we found out, the Hyatt Zilara offers a Covid-19 nose swab test free of charge for their guests. The test meets the requirement for re-entry into the…

Las Noches de las Luminarias

This year we visited Las Noches de las Luminarias at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix. Lighted paths take you through a series of trails in which the botanical gardens are illuminated in colored lights. Sprinkled throughout the paths are places to stop and buy a drink. We saw visitors drinking coffee, hot chocolate or buying a bottle of wine. This special event ran from November 27th through December 31st. We visited the day after Christmas. Here’s a few photos from our evening. N

The Pie Hole, Los Angeles

On a hot Summer Saturday in Southern California we spent the afternoon in the City of Orange. The old town area is blocked off for pedestrians. One of our stops was the Pie Hole on the corner of Glassell and Maple avenue. We tried the Mexican Chocolate Pie Hole, the Strawberry Lavender Pie Hole, and a slice of Earl Grey Pie. The shop is located on Zirkle corner, former site of Wally’s Market. Here's some pictures from our visit. 🥧 🍊

Saving Our Trip to Paris – Why We Applied for an Air France Credit Card

As the saying goes, “Paris always a good idea”. We love visiting Paris and had a trip planned for May 2020. The flight was booked with Air France Miles. The trip was cancelled due to Covid 19. We called Air France, cancelled the flight, and the Air France miles were redeposited into our frequent flyer account. So far so good. The problem is, these miles, along with our existing balance, resulted in over 300,000 Air France miles that were set to expire in May 2021. This is over $3000 worth of travel that would evaporate unless we took action. Air France miles expire…

Water Taxi in Venice, Italy (Quick Video)

On a past trip to Venice we took a water taxi as we left for the train station. We were picked up at the Hotel Gritti and had a memorable boat ride as we left towards our next destination: Firenze. Here's a quick video. https://youtu.be/7XbJRTQ7M6s