I went to Sylvan Lake for a weekend, in upstate New York. Recently, I've been turning to airbnb first whenever I travel, mainly because I am usually travelling with two dogs, and it's easier to find dog friendly places there than through hotels. An added benefit however, is that there is a lot more charm to these private rentals. You can see the personality of the people who set up the room, apartment, or house, and it really does add to the visit. Plus, most air bnb rentals have access to a kitchen, so you can cook if you want to.
The bungalow that we rented is right next to the lake, and included oars and life jackets to use with the canoes. We took the two dogs to the lake, and they loved it. My dog Sandy even got into the water.
In my 20s, I traveled a lot internationally. I have taken a break from that since I brought my dog, Sandy, home with me in July. She is turning 15, and has been with me for half my life. I've decided to not take any trips without her for the remainder of her life, with the exception of trips that I have to take for work. Thus, recently I have been taking weekend trips to places within driving distance. It's really nice to be able to get away from the city. I realize that I took the greenery for granted as a kid, growing up in the suburbs. Now, I don't really care where I go, as long as its quiet, not crowded, and close to nature. Upstate New York has a lot of good options.
The weekend was a good example of a simple thing done perfectly. I've noticed more of these perfect simple things lately. For example, today I had the perfect spaghetti with tomato basil sauce. The pasta was done perfectly (a little on the harder side), and the basil was added late so the flavor was really strong. I've realized the trick is to heat olive oil on the stove until it's really hot, and pour it over a bowl of garlic, so the garlic is cooked but not all the way, so you retain a bit of the spiciness from the garlic. Then topped with some fresh grated Parmesan cheese. It's not a complicated dish, but when every element is done exactly how you like it, it can make your day.
In any case, we spent the weekend ordering Chinese food delivery (Americanized Chinese food), watching TV, and walking along the lake. Nothing too exciting or elaborate planned, but it was a much needed time to recharge from the craziness of living and working in Manhattan. For that weekend, time slowed down a bit.
The bungalow that we rented is right next to the lake, and included oars and life jackets to use with the canoes. We took the two dogs to the lake, and they loved it. My dog Sandy even got into the water.
In my 20s, I traveled a lot internationally. I have taken a break from that since I brought my dog, Sandy, home with me in July. She is turning 15, and has been with me for half my life. I've decided to not take any trips without her for the remainder of her life, with the exception of trips that I have to take for work. Thus, recently I have been taking weekend trips to places within driving distance. It's really nice to be able to get away from the city. I realize that I took the greenery for granted as a kid, growing up in the suburbs. Now, I don't really care where I go, as long as its quiet, not crowded, and close to nature. Upstate New York has a lot of good options.
The weekend was a good example of a simple thing done perfectly. I've noticed more of these perfect simple things lately. For example, today I had the perfect spaghetti with tomato basil sauce. The pasta was done perfectly (a little on the harder side), and the basil was added late so the flavor was really strong. I've realized the trick is to heat olive oil on the stove until it's really hot, and pour it over a bowl of garlic, so the garlic is cooked but not all the way, so you retain a bit of the spiciness from the garlic. Then topped with some fresh grated Parmesan cheese. It's not a complicated dish, but when every element is done exactly how you like it, it can make your day.
In any case, we spent the weekend ordering Chinese food delivery (Americanized Chinese food), watching TV, and walking along the lake. Nothing too exciting or elaborate planned, but it was a much needed time to recharge from the craziness of living and working in Manhattan. For that weekend, time slowed down a bit.
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