July 15, 2024

Back in my Happy Place!

I'm back! No trip home would be complete without a visit to my happy place Ocean City, New Jersey! I took NJ transit from 30th street station to Absecon ( stop before Atlantic City)  and my good friend Bonnie picked me up. Easy Peasy! Bonnie and Steve are the friends that hooked me up with my fabulous stay in Mexico for the month of January and offered me a stay in their lovely OCNJ home, this weekend. Bonnie is a beach and bike lover like myself and Steve is all about the fishing! I got in many bike rides courteous of my friend Laureen's beach cruiser, that Bonnie and Steve are currently housing for Laureen and Joe, since we have all sold our OCNJ homes.

On Thursday night after dinner, Bonnie and I went for a walk down to my old neighborhood. As we came up to the block, a huge rainbow lit up the sky and when we walked to my old house lot - I saw pansy flowers randomly popping up all among the plowed lot!

I took this as a special Hi and so happy to see you here, from Mom and Dad! So many great memories here!

Got to have some great beach time and circle conversations with my brother Michael and wife Joyce and friends Aida & Joe DeColli & Bonnie - also got to catch up with old neighborhood friends Kyle and Brian & Rose.

HOI ' AN, VIETNAM

By Pat Patrick • August 25, 2026
Next stop on the VIETNAM FUN TOUR is HOI'AN - The City of Laterns! I had arranged a private car to take us between all the major locations and towns for the 5 days we were touring the interior. He delivered us to Hoi'An in just about an hour from Ba Na Hills . Here we stayed 2 nights and had lots of relaxing time built in. Again the heat was oppressive! The driver recommended below tailor to me as I mentioned I might want to have a dress custom made as that is another thing the town is known for with 24 hour turn around.

HOI'AN, VIETNAM - Day 2

By Pat Patrick • August 25, 2026
Coconut Boat Tour sounds perfect to keep the Fun rolling! The hotel offered a tour, with pick up and return, so easy peasy!

BA NA HILLS - Part 3

By Pat Patrick • August 24, 2026
I had dubbed this the Fun Tour of Vietnam! We could have gone to all the historic war memorials and museums, and I totally respect and am grateful to All those who gave so much. I just didn't want that, to be my only insight into Vietnam and it's lovely people. In the morning, we again explored more of the village and our room stay included a huge buffet breakfast. We checked out by 10:30 am and took the cable car back down by 11 am to meet our driver and head to our next stop.