We met people in different kinds of circumstances . Some of them stays for awhile and teaches us lessons while some stays a little bit longer and become our friend , while others are just gift from the universe for they are the ones we called SOULMATE
We walk in a path of lessons , of light that sparkle in a different directions.
We met souls with beautiful colors that sometimes blends with us while other times clashes that with the luminous light that we are projecting .
At times we stumble a color so unique that our hearts are drawn to embrace the keleidoscope of its shades . We love them with our hearts and trust them with ourlives .
Some of them treasure us like gold while others hold on to us like treasures .. Different phases , different stages.
But here is what I know .. when you find that light so precious as gold who loves you without any if’s and respects your boundary with kindness , understanding with no prejudices .
She your safe haven on a stormy day , the sun behind the dark clouds and the wind in midst of a desert . She is fierce enough to correct with love and compassionately listen to your pleas .
She is the gift that universe gave. She is your friend , your soulmate .
Path of light , path of respect .. friendship delights a soul .
I look at the road of hope .. horizon of chances I step forward as my heart beats for the sunrise of chances Moving forward onward New hope ,new road … my passage of life will take the turn to a wonderful start. I reach for the sun.. I raise my head for the air …l am almost here .. my passage my hope
My sun of hope shines across me . Shine on me , light upon me as I look unto my passage of hope .
We walk through that path … no regrets only gratitude for the lessons learned ….
Luncheon at Le Jules Verne was an experience to keep .
This restuarant is located at the third floor of the very known Eiffel tower . A classy way of visiting this impressive tower with a private elevator , a receptionist and your own private access to the observatory deck of the tower . With Chef Frédérick Anton ( has been a 3 stars since 2007) leading the service you would expect nothing but perfection on every cuisine that is served . Both the meal and wine were perfectly thought out .
We had the five course meal with two amuses and glasses of savory rose champagne.
Chestnuts in caramel sauceSea UrchinsCauliflower mousse with caviarLemon crab Naturally cooked Cod with spicy jusSmoked lamb
Our food varies from Sea urchin to very tasty smoked lamb . The dessert was the highlight. It was called ” The chocolate dessert” , the chocolates were presented and made into temperature ( warm and cold ) you must start at the warm chocolate mouse then topped it with the cold chocolate.
The chocolate dessert
This will give you one mouthful of food orgasm… It is bitter , salty ,hot, sweet and cold or I should say magic …. We closes our luncheon with a coffee paired with these cute chocolates and sponge orange cakes to nibble.
Sometimea delicious things comes in small portions
As the skies cried her heart out .. Two friends enjoys the savory rose champagne at the top of the Eiffel tower .
Savory rose champagne
P.s
My dear friend ended her 50th birthday celebration here with a small complimentary mango sorbet with a handwritten in a thin chocolate sheet “happy 50th birthday Ralla ” by the chef 🙂
A friend of mine once told me a story about a hermit crab and how it changes it’s shell once it becomes too small for them .
This story is one of my reminder everytime things get tough , uneasy and change is inevitable . Like a Hermit crab i should be ready to adopt the changes that are coming , let go of attachments and just move on with the lessons that I have learned from my previous experiences .
Life’s constant variable is change . We grow in a space and at times leave people that no longer embraces our new views . We are constantly face with situations that needs for us to be flexible, patience and brave .
I am in a dawn of change …My heart longed no more to the ones that I used to be passionate . She seeks no more the company of those who used to give her a smile.
I am moving forward , I am letting go of something to be able to embrace a much better future ..
Look up , take a breath , whisper a mantra ” I am water , I am air , I am the universe within me” . I am ready …
No matter what I will always choose to love , to be happy and to be kind ..
Giralda Tower is one of the iconic tower in Seville. At 104.2 meters or 32 floors it has dominated the skies of Andalusia for 800 years. An impressive Gothic design , it’s beauty does not only radiates outside but as well as inside . After all this is one of the four Unesco Heritage of Seville
Giralda tower
JO AND Beth
They have been friends for quite a while now . They have experienced the hardest storms of their lives but still manages to rise up. They are now both enjoying their pension years
My admiration for these two women become more deeper when we have visited Seville ,Spain a couple days ago .
Part of the trip was to explore the Iconic Cathedral and its renown tower . Being a history geek I was very excited to get inside since I have read that Christopher Columbus was buried here . ( that is for later to write about )
The mausoleum of Christopher Columbus
The Climb
Jo and Beth roamed around the Cathedral, admiring the gothic / moorish design of walls. Me, being me looked for them and told them to join me to the top of the tower.
None of us have expected that the climb would be so steep.
I went ahead and Edgar the husband of Clair would follow them indiscreet. Beth would just sing a praise song while holding the hands of Jo ..
Jo is a burned survivor. Forty- five percent air capacity of her lungs was damaged during the fire . She has some joints problem too . To be able to climb the Giralda tower would be a great challenge for her. A step at a time …a breath for every rounds she made it holding Beth’s hand .
As they approached the 32nd floor at their own pace tears of joy and contenment flows down into their eyes . While Edgar and myself cheered their conquest!
Exhausted but victors Tears of JoyThe proud nanny
Reflection
Beth and Jo are the two epitome of women who doesn’t know how to give up . No matter how hard life will treat them they would move ahead at their own paces, carrying the faith within them . It is this faith that gave them hope, the same hope that push them to persevere.
Yes , they have been through the darkest moment of their lives .. but like the climbed that they did in Giraldo Towers they did it at their own pace with faith in their hearts and if things really gets rough they would stop and cry they never questioned God instead they bow down humbly … take a breath and continue with their respective journeys
They have conquered the top , survived the battles now it is time to rejoice, enjoy and be grateful of what life will bring them .
The victory dance as they approaches the exit of the tower Beth and Jo fearless yet soft at heart .
“Courage isn’t having the strength to go on – it is going on when you don’t have strength.”
― Napoleon Bonapart
The Giraldo crew .
Special thanks to Edgar who took good care of them
We start here , my sister from another mother Klara and myself did our almost nightly chat . A random talk about everything that happened to us ( which I really love with our friendship) . I became fond of Klara ever since I met her in NYC ( I will be talking about this friendship more later in my future write ups) . So out of nowhere I have asked her about St.Patrick’s Day and when it is .. we talked after this nightly chat I have already booked a ticket for Ireland . I am going to spent St. Patrick’s day for the first time ( not bad for someone who is almost celebrating her golden birthday ).
What has followed next warmth my heart it made me feel loved and special . The rest of my Irish- filipino friends took time to spent and made this experience special … here we go
March 17 …
This was my first Ryanair flight .If I would base everything through the reviews that I have read … It will honestly scared me . Thus , I don’t really expect anthing with this flight . In fact , I am bracing myself for the worse scenario case .
In the plane it was comfy ( I bought a seat with extra leg space 🙂) . Ryanair left and landed on time .. We could not asked for more .
In the plane when everyone was boarded .. my seatmates an american and frenchman have started chatting about what they have been expecting about this festive event . They have chatted themselves through my dreams.
We have landed the passengers gave the pilot an applause and a shout out from a Flemish passenger ” zuipen to the max ( getting drunk to the max ) ” . french passenger answered ” Santè”
Welcome committee
While I chatted myself through immigrations with my fellow green passengers . My good friends were outside waiting for me ..and also having their own festive moments
The Rose and his two torns
After almost an hour waiting for thier message to come and informed me that they were waiting outside . I went out and then I discovered that they were also waiting for me ….the waiting game is on
We got reunited and ready for the St.Patrick’s Parade to witness .
The ANHS 89 ST. PATRICK’S tapok starts now
St .Patrick’s
After almost two years of not celebrating this event it was expected to be very crowded and very festive . This event symbolizes not only the yearly St.Patrick’s but also freedom .. the near normal feeling of what the world was prior to the covid pandemic.
The basic covid safety rules was no longer respected ( I guess some of party goers already have a respected amount of alcohol in their system.)😄😄 More so it is very fun to walked in between these crowd with a mask of course for some precautionary measures, especially that in this event 1.5 meters distance can no longer be respected or practiced .cj,
Green and very festive folks
We haven’t see a lot about the parade itself .. if you want to watch and battled yourself with these green people and the street barricade you must be very peristent .But you can also watch through the monitors of all the cellphones who have been recording the event.
We blended
I got myself a face paint to fully be immerse with the crowd ..
Irish flag on my forehead or should I say my third eyeMe asking this street painter Oohh one must document this too
Hunger strikes
After the squeezing in and out , walking in between the crowds it is time to eat. Bong made a reservation at Wings a world cuisine buffet restaurant. Here you can eat any cuisine, asian , turkish ooh vegan and vegetarian too desserts is a plus and oooh the bottomless drinks for a reasonable price. I love to believe the ” reasonable price” since Bong treated us … Thank you Bong!
We all agreed that we made the right choice by abondoning the parade and listen to our stomachs . When we were done with our lunch , On our way back to our car ( we were heading to Howth) the waiting was unbelievably long . Bong even said that when the time comes for these waiting people to have their lunch it will probably dinner then .
Take notice the super long waiting crowd
Happy tummy is all we need as we continue our St. PADDY’ s day . Let’s go Howth
Howth
Howth is an Irish Village on the Howth peninsula east of central Dublin and only 20 mins drive from east dublin ( depending with the traffic of course ) . It is known for its Fish and Chips , posh houses , awesome pier and my own conclusion amazing early spring sunset .
Howth pier
Before taking a walk to the pier, We went to starbucks ( yes ! After all these years we are still a starbucks believer🙂). Had our coffee and charge dying cellphones . At this age especially when you are travelling a dying cellphone means missing out taking dramatic pictures of the wonderful views .
The starbuck charging break
As we embarked in the pier , I pointed my phone lens to the sunset here and then I fell in love . It was a beauty and by force Bong , Maricar and Claire became my subjects with my picture taking quest .. I have even asked and directed a teener on how to take these pictures the way I have imagined them to look like .
Bong’s heart shape hands Madame Maricar as pretty as the sunset Bong imitating Bono Dusk in HowthContemplationYou and I are connected .. no distance ,nor space can go in between us .. you and I are binded in this beauty of nature.. My sister from another mother My subjects … thank you for the patience
Howth is pretty and posh . We will explore this village more next time
March 18 ( day 2 ) Powercourt waterfalls , Wexford and sumptous dinner
Breakfast at Premier Inn was worth it .
We started our day with a sumptous breakfast . A typical Irish breakfast with plenty of coffee ( on my part)
As always breakfast has always been the time ( even during our previous trips ) where planning of the day was made or I should say bucketlist places to be visited were being discussed .
Intial plan … We will be having roadtrips visiting Powercourt , Wexford and we shall were the rest brings us as long as we will have dinner at Klara’s place .
First stop Powerscourt waterfall , Wicklow
This is considered to be the highest waterfall in Ireland with approximately 121 m of cascading water that is set at the parkland foothill of wicklow mountains .
Powerscourt waterfall
There was also a beautiful hiking trail that we have not fully explored. We were more awed by the cascading waters of powerscourt . We took some pictures .. it was here that I have discovered that our Bong is not so crazy with heights , so is Maricar and Klara . I have asked them to climb with me a little bit higher to have this wonderful picture of the falls but they told me it is safer on the level that we were standing. Me being me love heights and challenges made my way up near this beautiful waterfalls .. I bribe a lady to take a picture of me ..the result was magnificient
Freedom!!
The rest of the crew took a picture near enough to waterfalls
A nice spot for picture taking as I see it. But there was a couple that sat there for quite awhile and I believe took three hundred pictures of the same angle . Determine to “steal” the spot subtly I stood there near enough to invade their small private space .. it was that not too rude it is more of a silent message of ” we want you guys to vacant the space it is our turn” it worked 🤣🤣🤣. Thus, asking a nice fellow to take a couple of family picture of us
My ANHS89 EU Fam
After Wicklow , we were planned to go to Glendalough a glacier valley with the Irish monastic style . Unfortunately we have detour due to the long waiting hours due to traffic. We went to Wexford instead walk around a bit have our coffee break at the nearby Italian pastry shop .
South of Ireland
Wexford it’s time to go .. Let’s meet Edgar, Klara’ s husband who is a magnificient cook .
When we arrived at Klar’s place we were met by Toby and Scarlett their four legged babies .
Edgar made a very delicious vegan version of bibingka ( a kind of filipino dessert) , a home made pancit canton and of course Bong’s Humba favorite . We could not thank Edgar enough for the delicious filipino cuisine that he cooked for us . Klar is one lucky momma
Chef Edgar Us and Bibingka
Time to pack and fly home
My flight was very early , it was 4:30 am when Bong , Maricar and Klara took me at the airport .
After my bagage was drop off …it was really time to say goodbye to this three wonderful host.
I am beyond touched Bong, Maricar and Klara for taking time off from all their daily routines . For spending time with me and make sure that I will have a good time .
To Bong who kept on asking me ” if I am okey or I am having a good time” .. Yes , Bong your shade of thoughtfulness made Ireland more colorful .
Maricar , despite of your busy schedules who have choosen to spent time with me . Thank you for making me special for squeezing me in between your momma duties , madame nurse and a businesswoman. It is good to see you after almost 4 years.. ❣️
Klara, you are my sister from another mother and we both feel our emotions with each other than verbalize it.. I will see you soon in Belgium ..I love you😘😘
Departure area…last groupie
I will be back Ireland ….
Memories are made of special moments shared with wonderful people . This was ANHS 89 eu mini tapok in Ireland
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