"Frozen" a toddler's Las Vegas

 

Frozen, any parent has experienced this rage with their kids now for the past six months.. I think I can sum up the experience for my 5 year old Harrison and my 2.5 year old Gabrielle as pure euphoria for this movie and soundtrack like I'm sure thousands of parents can see too with their kids.

 

To a kid this animated feature with vibrant characters and broad way music is like adults and Las Vegas

 

For Example:

 

I had to bribe the guy over the phone at Toys R Us to hold a blue ray/dvd copy for me to pick up the first day it came out and out race walk moms to the front door.

• Like in Vegas you have to bribe everybody to get into a nice room at a hotel, restaurant, prime spot at the pool, or club.  When you do think you're getting the bachelor party pad at Ceasars Palace and window view like in the Hangover, you and your crew open the windows to see the back of a building with lines of air conditioners and concrete filling your view everywhere, plus 1990's TV's in the rooms, but there was a nice grand piano!

Kids have to see the movie all the time

• Like in Vegas you have to always check out the sports books with the countless flat screens showing every sport in America at one time and then placing a bet on your hometown team to either win the World Series, Super Bowl or NCAA Championship or just parlay a few games.

 Kids are listening to the soundtrack every morning and at night getting ready for bed

• Like in Vegas you are constantly hearing and moving to the beat of house music in every hotel, casino, bar and club you enter, and by the time you get back to your hometown you still are singing word for word the one song you hear over and over again.. mine happens to be "Rich Girl" by Gwen Stefani..that was playing all the time!!

 Kids and adults sing Ida Manzel's "Let it Go" as best they can to the same rhythm, pitch and volume

• Like in Vegas you and your crew are dancing in circles with new friends you just met while trying to maintain your drink balance and sing "Hey Short e' it's yo Birth day!!.. something, something and we don't give a f___ and it's your birthday!"

 

Bottom line - Frozen makes your kids happy and always cheerful, just like Vegas does to adults, and that is all we can ask for in our homes and lives

96.8% A 

 

 

South of France and Italy Trip

My first trip overseas was a great experience, a quick four days and four nights.  I will review with you a snap shot of each place I went with my wife and give you a look at the French Rivera!

 

Nice, France - It's on the coastline, very rocky coastline.  It was not a "French" feeling but tropical like and Mediteranian.  The food was all fresh and healthy, I had red mallet filet with fresh vegetables and rice, red wine, olives, and never had a better plate of cured meats of ham, prosciutto, pancetta and sausage in my life.  The pasta was made from scratch, and the seafood, especially the mussels were exceptional.  Plus, their fresh café or coffee was not watered down, and their French bread was fantastic (obviously)!  Pictures: rocky beach, old statues, city from hotel window and food 

 

Monte Carlo, Monaco - a quick train ride away from Nice, this is where the rich and powerful come to play in the French Rivera.  I went inside the Monte Carlo Casino and had a martini at the bar in honor of James Bond.  The films Never Say Never Again, Goldeneye and Casino Royale had scenes filmed in this location.  There were yachts up and down the coastline, specialty stores of Chanel, Louis Viton, Prada, Gucci, Christian Dior, Cartier, Bulgari and others.  Pictures: Casino, yachts, sports cars in front of hotel and casino    

 

Ventimiglia, Italy - Further down the coastline by train is this northern city in Italy right on the border of western France.  The city itself felt like you were on the east coast, New Jersey, the people either all had Adidas gear on or wore jeans and a hooded sweatshirt, smokers everywhere.  The best thing was visiting the Roman Theatre, this is preserved from 2nd century AD.  At one time the theatre could seat 5,000 spectators and held various events as gladiator battles, plays, pantomimes, choral events, and orations. The semicircular form would enhance the natural acoustics, vs. Roman amphitheatres that were round.

 

The coastline was very rocky and had a clean smell to it, not a strong sea salt smell like the Atlantic or Pacific.  The Mediteranian Sea was much cleaner.  I also had a slice of fresh margarita pizza that was delicious and fresh with earthy ingredients.  Plus the chef gave me a pint glass for my travels!

Pictures: Roman Theatre, rocky beach, pizza

 

Cannes, France - The last day we went to the "Cancun" of the French Rivera, very touristy and lots of tourist traps.  Great time, everybody was eating outside and on vacation from all over Europe.  We went through an antique market in the center of town that overlooked the seaport filled with sail boats and yachts.  

 

The public beach was next, and it was perfect to end the last day on.  It was not crowed at all, still relatively cold out and not as many people out on holiday.  Imagine just cruising through town with a backpack and then strolling onto the beach, and seeing nothing but beach chairs, umbrellas, outside seating of restaurants, comfortable sand and a scenic view of the ocean.  It was only 15 euros minimum to lay in the beach chairs and you could stay there all day!  We got fried calamari, and ice cold beers.  The food was fried minnows and you ate them like French fries with a special dip, perfect!

Pictures: beach shots, fried minnows appetizer

 

To sum it up, great trip!  I had the benefit of catching all my flights in exact order, no down time getting there, but it was 12 plus hours in the air each way.  The jet lag feels like your drunk and exhausted all at once, but it is manageable.  Delta Airlines had tons of movies, plus their food was great and you could drink as much as you wanted, great trip and I highly recommend visiting Europe if you have not done so before!!

92.3% A