allow me to introduce you to

NY-style (a.k.a. real) pizza,

Tribeca's cobblestone waterfront,

Farm-to-table cuisine from the Hamptons to Flatiron,

a Broadway classic,

spring plantings in Central Park,

homemade brunches (whole grain apple cinnamon muffin with almond butter, scrambled eggs, blackberries, sliced grapefruit)

the convenience of Union Square,

a Brooklyn brewery,

hipsters & thrift stores in Williamsburg,

NYU & Washington Square Park,

the East Village's diverse venues,

vegan ice cream,

the vibrancy of Chinatown,

 the Wall Street bull,

Lady Liberty in all her splendor (from afar),

a rest stop at South Street Seaport,

the Manhattan Bridge & the Brooklyn Bridge,

the trends of Soho without any expense,

Greenwich village's charm,

quirky New Yorkers (note: large cat on man's head),

divine wine, dinner & crêpes at a French-American bistro,

the brilliance of the way home,

and, as is if you haven't had enough, real bagels too.

bocas del toro: tres

Whew. These recaps are taken a while, aren't they? I guess that makes sense though :) Matt and I were there for a whole week!

Anyway, let's get back to business- Thursday. It started out really well. I woke up much earlier than planned, took myself out to breakfast for a fabulous cafe con leche and a mediocre bagel and egg sandwich, and then headed to a necessary yoga class at Bocas Yoga.

I felt great afterwards! Completely energized and ready to take on an active day. The sky was a bit gray so we decided to skip the beach and go explore the caves instead. It was my first time caving, and I was curious to see how I'd like it...

And astonished to find that I didn't, at all. We had to walk through water while bats flew past our heads in nearly complete darkness. Needless to say, I all but freaked out. I've always said I'm somewhat afraid of the dark but I never realized how much. Oh well, now that I've done it, I never have to do it again :). 

Once my nerves calmed down a bit, and we were safe and sound at Bocas Blended, the boys and I went to Wrappy Hour (buy one, get one half off). I was thrilled with my Greek Salad wrap. 

Then we took showers, got pretty, and went for another night on the town. Our first stop was a bar right on the water with a trampoline and swings (pictured above). Apparently it was not where the party was at though ;) so we went to bar two and three for more fun. Good times. 

the city of murals (philadelphia, pa)

Why hello there! Hope my fellow Americans and all others had a wonderful (Labor Day) weekend. I cannot believe that I've only been in Philadelphia for a day and a half. Kinda really like it here :). And spending time with one of my best childhood friends, Lene, has a lot to do with it. Let's start from the beginning...

I arrived around two thirty on Sunday afternoon. Lene was coming back from visiting family at Ocean City so we met almost perfect timing at her apartment.

After catching up and resting up a bit, we decided to explore so that my new-to-Philly friend could introduce me to her new home. As far as neighborhoods go, Northern Liberties was our chosen destination.

Please don't hate me for what I am about to say: I despise tourists. I know, I know, I technically am one, and I will continue "to be one," but, eh. 

Although I'll admit there are a few things that the visitor within me is dying to see or do in certain places, I would much rather experience a city or town like a local and walk and wander and see what I find. 

Traveling can be so much more exciting and fun that way! I wrote about it on Go Backpacking a while back.

Anyway :) following a bout of boutique shopping browsing we paused on our camino real for a Mexican dinner.

Funny little detail: we were both... starving. So much so that we practically devoured our guac and chips appetizer. I think it was good ;).

Even so, my empty stomach could not fathom any other alcohol other than a filling and refreshing beer. Allagash White all the way, baby.

For my entrée, I ordered the Cactus & Sweet Potato Burrito (which came with a side of jicama slaw and radishes) with a side of Vegetarian Black Beans. 'Twas all amazing. For those of you that are unfamiliar, cactus has a soft but crunch texture and tastes similar to a tart green bean. It's pretty good for you too.

Kept me happily satisfied for the rest of the night as I walked some more and then met Lene's friends for a late night mojito.

Despite my restless (read: too excited) sleep, I awoke bright and early at daylight and took a walk around the neighborhood as Lene and her roommate got ready.

Following a friendly phone call, I met Lene at the Philadelphia Java Company for breakfast. Psh, Starbucks ;).

I had a delicious iced coffee with a toasted and buttered multigrain bagel. 

We may have also paired with a great deal of girl talk, it's just how we do.

Then we went on another stroll threw Center City.

I believe we stopped in each and every public garden along the way? I probably what can only be known as a flower problem. Ha.

We couldn't avoid some of the sites either. But with ones like the Curtis Center, the birthplace of Ladies Home Journal and other important mags, I didn't mind at all. I am a publishing nerd.

And what would a trip into historical Philadelphia be without Independence Park?

Just enough American history to satisfy me. By the way, was it just me or is the Liberty Bell much smaller than you thought?

Afterwards we went to one of the few open eateries nearby for underground sushi.

Mmm, my seaweed salad and avocado & cucumber roll were spectacular.

For the rest of the afternoon we went antique shopping and later, "napped" as we watched Invictus. Such an amazing movie and story! I had chills by the end. 

Have I mentioned that we were in the midst of making pizza during it as well?

Soy meatballs atop tomato sauce, goat cheese, and a whole wheat crust with salad. Absolutely delightful. Lene put cheddar cheese on her half as well. Yuck! ;)

 We followed it all with a trip to a Pennsylvania Dutch Ice Cream Shoppe.

Lene and I were super adventurous and got peanut butter and chocolate respectively :).

And we spent the rest of the night drinking wine on Market Street and later wandering through seemingly all the others.

All that time the lovely Julia had been joining us too. She grew up outside of Philly and it was so so great to see her! I love my friends.

Now that my breakfast is just about digested, it's time to hit the road again. Beforehand though, I just may stop in one last garden, a magical one, or so I hear. I'll add some pictures once I get to my next stop. North Carolina, here I come!