Saturday already!

What a week! I haven't posted since Monday but believe me I haven't had time! Monday we saw Niagara Falls then slept in Cleveland. Tuesday, we headed for Sioux Falls but of course we stopped in Chicago for lunch and saw Michigan Lake. On Wednesday we headed for Mount Rushmore but to our surprise there was a bike rally in Sturgis, South Dakota. The road was filled with mainly Harley's.  We stopped at a place called Wall Drug tourist stop but cool! Then off to sleep at Helena, Montana. We ran into a bad storm and since our luggage is on top of the car our clothes got wet😩. We arrived in Montana close to Midnight and had to spread our clothes all over our room, it looked like our luggage exploded lol. Nothing could stop us, we were headed to Glacier National park in the morning!

Then on Thursday we headed to Glacier National Park, we went up the Going to the Sun Road, very scary, we thought we were going to die! A little narrow road up the side of the mountain, it was raining then usually the road leads you out the other side of the park but just a little setback it was closed due to a wildfire. That meant we had to go back down the same way! On the way to the top Kristy and Rosbel almost hit a bear crossing the road and of course like a concerned mom I asked did you take a picture? That little detour put us back a couple of hours but we successfully crossed Canada in spite of the obnoxious border guard and slept in Calgary. On a side note Calgary was very pretty but we didn't have time to explore.

Yesterday, Friday, by far was the most impressive day! Banff National Park is beautiful! The scenery is spectacular, the town adorable, I loved it. We went up a Gondola to Summit Mountain, a little scary(especially when you have Rosbel moving the gondola). You are being held by a thin cable! We wish we had more time, but it was amazing every time you thought you couldn't see anything prettier you did! We took the Icefields Parkway to Jasper, what an incredible drive! Now remember this is coming from me the nature lover so you can imagine the beauty, it is breathtaking! We finished our day with bear, elk, and mountain goat sightings in the wild not in a zoo. We drove to Edmonton to spend the next two nights.

We have travelled 17 states and part of Canada in basically seven days! This is a typical crazy Estenoz trip but I do have to say we miss Tito😔. He would have loved these parks, I find myself telling Arthur, Tito would love this, but hey maybe we will do a crazy road trip with Tito and Mackenzie😉. Today we will be visiting a Spanish congregation here in Edmonton and are relaxing and refueling for the last leg of our trip. So far, this has been quite a journey!

Just Pictures!!

BOSTON TO NIAGARA FALLS TO CLEVELAND

We are leaving Boston or better said left. We arrived on Saturday at 8:30 pm it took 14 1/2 hours (I hope this wasn't a prelude of things to come). I think they inputted the most traffic and toll option in the GPS. Saturday we just arrived, ate and crashed on the positive side we were upgraded at the hotel which was cool.

Now Sunday, what a day, we had the wedding at 11:00, it was very pretty, we were able to enjoy time with the family, the wedding was at Jessica's parents home (will post pics later). After the wedding we headed into the city! We loved Boston! We parked and walked, to the park, to the waterfront, went to the aquarium, enjoyed street performers, went to Mike's Pastry for cannolis, had dinner at a pub. Definitely Boston is on my list of cities to return!

This morning we said goodbye to Tito and are headed to Niagara Falls and then Cleveland to sleep. Please excuse my writing, I am not thinking clear(lack of sleep) This is the beginning of the third day and I'm already tired! What were we thinking!! Lol but so far we haven't killed each other and its been fun. I will attempt to post pictures and will try to update but for now bye bye...

We are on our way!

We are off! We left this morning at about 6 am. Our original ETA was 5:15 thanks to traffic we are now at 6:30 at Boston. But seriously traffic on Saturday where is everyone going?

Let me update, everything fit in the cars (must have been divine intervention) but my husband says if we crash, they will have to send a search party in to find our bodies. We are excited, never have been to Boston and I want a cannoli from Little Italy.  I will try to take a pic today and post if we make it there. I' m already complaining and its the first day. What did we get ourselves into (I'm no spring chicken!!) 

I will keep updating, we all know I will have plenty of time lol...

9 Days to Trip!!

We have decided to theme our trip, (at least my husband and I) "The Amazing Race". How original, I know(note the sarcasm), but I have always loved the show and would have loved to be in it, so this is our own personal version. We are going to attempt to do something memorable in most of the cities we stay or drive through. We are stopping briefly in Niagara Falls, NY, climbing the observation tower, I know I want to eat pizza in Chicago, we are driving through Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse. We are visiting the largest mall in North America in Edmonton, Canada. There is a sky tram in Jasper National Park, etc... etc... I have one week to figure out our quick mini adventures in each place, no small feat considering everything else that has to be done. Of course, consult with Kristy and Rosbel as soon as they get back from Cuba. For now, this is all, continue updating soon...

17 Days to Trip!!

Time is flying!! It has been a very busy two weeks. We had our convention, it was great and very encouraging. This past weekend Tito visited with his girlfriend Mackenzie and her mother Debbie. Happy to report, we had an amazing weekend. This is the first time we had the opportunity to spend time with Mackenzie and for those of you who know Tito, there is actually someone out there nicer than he is. She is so sweet, beautiful inside and out, my son is very fortunate to have met her. We are ecstatic!! (No I am not writing this just in case she reads this) We are looking forward to visiting Phoenix.

17 days until our trip... Kristy and Rosbel have an apartment leased, it is small but it is furnished which is a plus. They are on their Caribbean adventure right now before the Alaskan adventure, they went to Naples, Miami and on Friday they will be traveling to Cuba for a week. Then back home to pack and go. I promised details of our trip, hopefully this week and the next I can do some planning but for now I am playing catch up. More to come soon I promise.

30 DAYS!!! One month to DEPARTURE!!

     The days are getting closer and this month has been bustling with activity. We finally re-structured our trip and have accommodations. Luckily, we are able to leave Saturday morning now, which alleviates the all-night driving to make it to the wedding and allows us to do a little sightseeing in Boston Yay!!

     It has been a busy week, this weekend has been filled with anniversary celebrations! We went out with dear friends on Friday night, Saturday for lunch, and Sunday with Kristy and Rosbel. It was all fabulous! Also the many cards I received from friends and family were really heartwarming.

     We are looking forward to our trip, but first we must make it through July! We have our Regional Convention this weekend in Winston-Salem and we are staying at this great little place Le Enamorado Inn, the rates were spectacular. (lol) Then on Tuesday, the transfer of furniture from Kristy and Rosbel's house to our house, Wednesday night, Tito arrives, and Thursday, his girlfriend Mackenzie and her family arrive for the weekend. It is the first time we meet her family and only the second time we see her in person (you can understand the nerves). I will quote my son "Everything will be fine", he is the eternal optimist in the family.

     Now more on the trip to Alaska... we are happy to say that Kristy has been hired for a job in Alaska. She will start Monday as soon as we arrive, and the search for an apartment has begun on their part. I am sure Rosbel will find a job right away, he's Cuban and you know "los cubanos resuelven". But for now in his words Kristy will be his "Sugar Momma".(what are we teaching him in English!) I will put more details on my next post. For now, let's pray I survive the next two weeks...

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO US!!

     Today is a very special day, today 26 years ago I married my bestfriend, my soulmate, my one and only. I know everyone says that but in my case it's true. I look back now and yes we were young, crazy and in love. Along the way we have raised our children and have been privileged to have many friends, some are far away and we have lost touch, but all of them hold a special place in our hearts. They are part of who we are today. Our adventure continues and as my husband says our time together has been LEGEN... WAIT FOR IT... DARY!!

51 Days!

Reality Hits

     Yes, reality is hitting us and I mean not just me THE CONTROLLING MOM but my husband as well. A couple of weeks ago, Arthur realized his little girl was married and moving far away. It was a cute moment, a little funny considering that she has been married 9 months. This past month, we took our first vacation alone in 25 years, it was great, we had a wonderful time, but it was bittersweet. Yesterday, I had MY MOMENT and asked my husband do you want to move to Alaska? His immediate response is "Are you crazy?" and just like that he brought be back to my senses. It passed, just a sentimental, hormonal moment. 

     My son has been away now for almost 5 years and my daughter 9 months but they are both driving distance away if I get desperate. That will change and thus a new stage in our lives begin...

54 Days!

Route and Itinerary

    Planning began... simple so we thought, leave Saturday, Aug. 1 take about two weeks, we had no deadline Raleigh- Wasilla, my husband and I would fly back around the 18th or 19th no rush but FIRST adjustment, we have Pioneer School starting August 17, we have to be back in NC by Sunday, August 16 (No Problem) Now we WERE leaving on Saturday, August 1 in the morning but then a SECOND adjustment, Rosbel has Pioneer School the last week of July, ending August 1 thus we changed our departure date to Sunday, August 2(No worries). We would head up north through Chicago, stop at Mount Rushmore, Glacier National Park and a few other natural landmarks BUT as customary with our road trips nothing is ever that simple. THIRD adjustment, we receive the wonderful news that my nephew is getting married on Sunday, August 2 in Boston (No problem). A minor detour has to be worked in much to the complaint of ...(we will leave the complainer nameless), we now must leave on Saturday evening to arrive on time to the 11:00 am wedding in Boston. We will drive all night, attend the wedding, tour Boston.

         So far, we have traced our route Raleigh- Boston- Niagara Falls- Toledo- Sioux Falls- Mount Rushmore- Glacier National Park- Banff National Park- Jasper National Park- Wasilla. We still have to sort out some kinks. As you can see, we will be hiking and doing everything naturey(yes I know its not a word). Those of you who know me well can appreciate how much I LOVE the outdoors(note the sarcasm). At least, being in NC has prepared me a bit for this adventure. I don't even mind eating outdoors too much anymore (can you believe it). We still have to add a couple of stops between Canada and Alaska but more research is required. Any suggestions are welcome, nothing is set in stone yet. So here it is our first draft of our road trip!

97 hours so far!

56 Days

Where Kristy and Rosbel want to live!

Where Arturo and I ( or in reality I ) want to live!

57 Days and Counting!

How it all began...

     Where did Kristy & Rosbel come up with the idea of Alaska? Let me start at the beginning, after our Zone Visit in October my daughter tells me they loved the clip on Alaska and they are moving there when their lease is up on July 31,2015. And that was it, the decision was made and the planning would begin(on their part). Sounds crazy but pretty normal in our family. Preparations began, they purchased AWD vehicles, they began or better said Kristy began to reduce her wardrobe and purse collection,( she is a pretty good Ebay seller). They contacted some friends in Wasilla and thus it slowly began. It became a reality to us(parents) this past May when they went to visit and took two luggages full of clothing to leave behind if they liked it, and they did(thanks Ray and Jessica). Everyone's next question is, are you moving also? No, or as my husband would say KALE NO! We are not young and crazy we are old and boring! We know our roots, we are from the Caribbean where it is hot and steamy.  Now, for the next step itinerary and schedule...

Ray & Jessica (the culprits)

Countdown to Road Trip to Alaska- 58 Days-(Yes! Road Trip!)

         Where do I begin? I have decided to chronicle this small adventure our family is going to experience partly for fun, partly for therapeutic reasons. My daughter and her husband have decided to move to Alaska. Everyone's initial reaction is Alaska? Really? 

      Yes, really, and as loving, altruistic parents we are going to help them move and are joining their road trip in August. Honestly, I just want to make sure they make it alive.

      Of course we have mixed feelings, we have always encouraged our children to expand their ministry and help out where the need is great but Alaska? Really? Joking aside we are very proud of their decision. So the preparations have begun, and our journey is being planned by two controlling, neurotic women( my daughter and I). I will chronicle the details of our planning, how this insane idea came about, and our road trip planning. Let the adventure begin! or at least the planning, and that is half the fun!