Family – Jeanine Consoli Travels

A Celebration Amidst Social Distancing

March 19, 2020 by Jeanine Consoli Travels, posted in European Travel, Food, St. Patrick's Day

I love the energy and excitement of crowds and the camaraderie that we experience when America shares a celebration. Being an Italian American, I never thought it was weird when my mom made corned beef and cabbage every March 17th or thought I didn’t belong when a group of my friends skipped school on St. Patrick’s Day when we were in high school. We walked across the George Washington Bridge senior year and hopped on the downtown subway to watch the famous New York City parade make its way down 5th Avenue. I marveled at the pageantry and the bagpipers. I completely subscribe to the saying, that everyone is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day.

When March approaches, I start to get excited about the prospect of spring but also about St. Patrick’s Day events. Thanks to several friends of Irish heritage, I fell in love with the traditions. I enjoy the music and the rhythm of step dancing. I adore a meal of corned beef, potatoes, and cabbage, and I cherish raising glasses of cheer with my friends, clinking glasses and saying, Slainte!

On March 17th, I always wear a traditional Aran Island knit sweater that a friend gave me years ago from her vacation in Ireland. My husband and I plan a trip there this August to experience the kind people and the beauty of the Emerald Isle. And, to fulfill our bucket list items of hitting the links and seeing the Cliffs of Moher.

Unfortunately, this year, a virus took the world by storm. We were asked to observe social distancing. Parades around the United States were canceled, and Americans were asked to gather in groups of no more than ten. Bars and restaurants closed for the time being while we all try to stop the spread of the insidious Corona Virus plaguing the world. Travel to and from the United States has halted and advisories went out to have at least two-weeks of provisions at home.

My friend Mela and I were commiserating on the phone about the state of things when she shared with me that her family of six would all be under the same roof on March 18th. She would make sure that “Lucky” would arrive a day late. You see, “Lucky” appears magically on the morning of St. Patrick’s Day to turn everything in her home green. For breakfast, the milk and OJ are green, and most of the food items are green. Of course, they serve green Lucky Charms too. “Lucky” turns the water in the toilet bowls green and hides a pot of gold somewhere in the house filled with chocolate coins and occasionally gold dollars. Sometimes he leaves trinkets too, like a shamrock charm for a bracelet or shamrock socks. It all depends on what he can bring each year.

Of all the St. Patrick’s Day traditions, I love this one most of all. Mela goes all out, and her girls (the youngest a junior in high school) have grown up with “Lucky” their whole lives. “Lucky” is akin to Santa, as everyone believes he is real (wink wink), but if you don’t believe, you don’t receive. As a family of six, Mela waited until they were all under one roof, and then he magically appeared to spread joy for St. Patrick’s Day, one day late.

In this tense time, while people are scared and life as we know it grinds to a halt, I am thrilled that “Lucky” visited the Montgomery family to bring on the green this year. Two daughters saw their semesters and their sports seasons cut short, another, a freshman, had just joined a sorority, was making friends, and had to leave her new school abruptly. The youngest, a junior in high school, had her prom, and her SAT canceled.

You don’t have to travel anywhere to experience culture. You can enjoy it at home with the people you love and the traditions you hold dear. Who knows, maybe “Lucky” will grant me a wish to see my country heal from this scourge and open up world – travel soon so we can see his beautiful land in person.

Hiking Vacation – Bringing Family Together in Fort Collins, Colorado

September 19, 2018 by Jeanine Consoli Travels, posted in Travel

A vacation to any city in Colorado provides endless options for outdoor fun during a stay. We learned that first-hand last summer when we visited Fort Collins, Colorado. My brother and my sister-in-law relocated there a few years ago and had invited us to visit. We enjoyed our time together so much that we planned to return again this August to explore more of the beautiful state they now call home.

I love traveling with my husband, my daughters, and my extended family. When you travel with a group, you look forward to it because you can engage with each other and be present, without all the distractions of social media or streaming media of any kind. It’s a time when the only thing on the agenda is to reconnect, laugh, and explore (especially when you go for a hike and the internet is unreliable).

A vacation means a change in routine, a chance to get out of familiar surroundings and experience someplace new. It’s a bonding experience, especially when you face a challenge together. Don’t get me wrong, I love relaxing on a beach or by a pool but sometimes my family wants to plan an active get-a-way. One of my favorite sayings is, “Feel the fear and do it anyway!” I often encourage my kids to go outside of their comfort zones and try something they’ve never tried before, and that saying rings true for me too. This trip we decided to plan several day hikes right around the Denver area. The plan was put into motion on our first morning. We started by trekking up to Saint Mary’s Glacier in Arapaho National Forest.

The trip from Denver took about an hour and was a lovely way to escape the summer heat because the snowpack above Saint Mary’s Lake is present all year. The website recommended that hikers take care during the winter months because of the threat of avalanches, but in the summer, it’s rated as a moderate day hike. The trail is 1.5 miles round trip up to the glacier and you can either follow the trail just to the lake or head the rest of the way up to the glacier. The trail is easy to follow at first, but once you get to the lake, the path is not well-marked. If you’re determined to get up to and onto the glacier, you can figure it out, just wear shoes with a good tread and take a few friends along. We discovered that when you take on a trek as a group, you take care of each other and look out for each other to make sure you all accomplish the goal. In a way that makes the triumph of getting to your destination so sweet.

Thank goodness we were prepared. We dressed in layers, brought plenty of water, snacks, and walking sticks. The sticks came in handy as first part of the trail was extremely rocky. It was also hot that day at the base, so we peeled the layers off immediately. We took frequent breaks for water, and while my daughters were adept at climbing the boulders and navigating the rocky terrain, the adults took frequent breaks to catch our collective breath. The elevation was about 12,000 feet to the glacier, and even though the trail was steep at the start, we were determined to reach the top.

When we arrived at Saint Mary’s Lake, we were blown away by the beauty of the surroundings. We could see the Rocky Mountains to the west and the beautiful reflection of the glacier on the water. That view was the payoff for all the hard work. Sure it was a bit daunting to scramble up the arduous incline at first, but how else would you get to see all this gorgeous scenery? We couldn’t wait to reach the glacier and take in the panorama of the area. We trekked up to the snowpack and tossed snowballs at each other, laughing hysterically when the icy crystals hit our bodies. We admired the vibrant deep yellow and purple mountain flowers that sprang up along the tiny, winding creek that led us up to the top. We sat nearby the water and listened to the trickling sound the melting snow made as it dripped off the glacier. We even put our hands in to determine how cold the stream felt. FYI, it’s freezing. We took the time to appreciate the splendor and settle into the experience with no desire to rush back to the trailhead.

After nibbling on our snacks and snapping a few amazing photos, we began the slow decline back down the trail (which was a breeze compared to the incline at the start). We all agreed that our afternoon was one for the memory books and I felt grateful that I was able to share it with my favorite people. The moderate hike also gave us the courage to plan the next day’s adventure, hitting a more challenging trail in Rocky Mountain National Park.

Fascination With Fireworks

July 9, 2018August 12, 2018 by Jeanine Consoli Travels, posted in Disney World, Travel

I know the exact moment when my fascination with fireworks began, it was in June of 1972 and I was seven years old. A few months prior, we were celebrating Christmas and my father announced that we were going on a family trip to Disney World as a summer vacation. After hearing the news, I could not contain my excitement. Even though it was a few months away, I was dancing around the living room in jubilation imagining what it would be like to come face to face with my favorite Walt Disney characters. The entire trip was a series of firsts for me. It was my first time on a plane, my first time heading to Florida, and my first time ever to visit a theme park as big as the Magic Kingdom. As a little girl, getting to go on a trip like this was mind-blowing. We went on rides, stayed in the Polynesian Hotel and rode the futuristic monorail. I couldn’t wait to wake up every day and visit the park to see my idols and get their autographs. We would go on rides, watch parades and then leave to swim in the pool during the heat of the day. Even with all obvious amazing experiences, I was thrilled to ride that monorail back and forth to the park. I even got a special pin from the conductor and a ride in the first car.

Just when I thought that vacation could not get any better, we were allowed to stay up late the first night and EVERY night that entire week to watch the fireworks from our hotel balcony. We would get in our pajamas and watch the spectacular light show that lit up the sky over Cinderella’s castle. I marveled at the beauty of the colors as they burst over the top of the spires and didn’t mind the booming and crackling noises as they rose high in the air and burst open above the park. It was then and there that my adoration of pyrotechnics was sealed.

I love to watch fireworks at any time, but especially during the summer and definitely on or around the fourth of July. Since I lived right by the George Washington Bridge from New York, I regularly saw the fireworks over Lady Liberty (a highlight of my life). These days, I make sure to locate where the fireworks will go off every time I am away for the 4th of July and I have seen fireworks in several cities across the United States. The shows never disappoint. It is comforting to know that many Americans enjoy the ritual that plays out across the nation as we celebrate our independence. It is similar to lighting the candles on the biggest cake ever – from sea to shining sea. I celebrated by observing fireworks over the Delaware River and lighting sparklers in your honor.

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