CITIBIKE, when are you coming to Astoria?

...If you don't come, I will go get you.

 While sleeping over a friends house in Brooklyn, I woke up to a beautiful warm day of the Winter. I couldn't resist but to rent the Citibike located right on the corner of Clinton with Myrtle Avenue. 

I rode from Fort Green, crossed the crowded Brooklyn Bridge, passed Chinatown, and went up on second avenue until 59th st,then crossed Queensborough Bridge to Astoria. What a work out, my legs were shot afterwords!

In May of 2013 NYC launched the solar power

 citibike stations throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn. Today, with 330 stations and thousands of bikes, citibike is a fever. Easy to use, the bikes have three gears, reflectors and  self powered lights; and bag rack. For only 10$ you can ride the bike for 24 hours and if you are a bike lover you will find cheaper to rent a bike for the year (100$/year) than to buy one. Renters can rent a bike with a credit card from a station and drop off in any  station.

Senator Mike Gianares promised in August to bring the blue bikes to Astoria.  I say:

WE are on the WAIT!!!!

The sharing bike system will most likely be set in Astoria if members of community(business) support it since it can takes away parking space, restrict emergency access to buildings, and are unsightly. Yet, for most of New Yorkers who don't drive, the system is on handy!

 It may reduce traffic contributing for a greener NYC. Don't forget, the bikes also will help to lower down the U.S. obesity average.

Who knows, the biking system will even increase tourism in Astoria! Advantages are endless...

          Business owners, don't you love tourists? ;-)

CITIBIKE Stations in
Manhattan and Brooklyn

Crossing Brooklyn Bridge

Union Square New Years Count Down

Park Avenue South View of Grand Central Station

Astoria (forbidden SIDE WALK ride)

Travel and me- BBB

        I am leaving Astoria behind, I have to confess. But it is for a good reason. I am trying to find my way though this world in which I've always struggled to.
        The majority of you who knows me noticed that I've applied for the BIGGEST BADDEST BUCKET Competition. I was thrilled to receive so many votes and support. I really felt closer to realizing my dream of traveling for a living, turning my hobby into a tangible idea. Even though the battle is not over yet and the judges are still judging me, and even though I hate to use the personal pronominal I most of time, I did a list of my reasons why I should be the winner. Here you go:

REASONS WHY I SHOULD WIN THE BBB

1.  I love adventures:  I have been in a helicopter ride, I have eating weird creatures, I have seen the ping pong show in Bangkok, I have ridden a scooter in Goa, I have taken a picture inside the Taj Mahal…
2. I want to pursue a lifelong career in reporting and blogging, that is why I went to school for!
3. I have traveled a lot and I want to do it for the travel experience, to see the world with my own eyes. I realized that the world is to big and to live in only one city forever is to deprive yourself of culture, it's a torture!
4. I want to be globally and environmentally involved and inform the viewers about the importance of living green.
5. I think it is very important to visit a country while respecting their culture and that entails adhere to the local custom by dressing respectfully when necessary, or to try speaking a few words of their language, or even buying products from the local community.
6.  I want to produce my own videos without a producer knocking my ideas down.
7.  I love interviewing people, meeting new characters, finding hiding local places, eating exotic  and weird food. I want to entertain and show people what travel is about!!!!
8. I strive for a life of constant newness. I dream about  Anthony Bourdain’s life and talent!!!
9. I don’t have the cool British accent as most of the travel host shows have, but I do have the current most desired look and accent: Brazilian.  ;)
10. Because I am a trooper, came to NY without any English and nor money when I had just become legally independent.
11. I want to make my mom proud for once! JJJJJJ

Why we travel? We travel to leave our ordinary lives behind and immerse in a journey of uncertainty  where anything can happen so that  we continue on to tell stories about it for the rest of our lives! I definitely love it!

Paradise Beach- Thailand 

Biking crusades- Brazil

Saint Patricks Day Parade- Hoboken- NJ

Back on Business

I have no words to explain how much I miss my blog! Summer has come, winter is almost over and I was out and about relentless thinking about ideas for my Astoria blog. I did take pictures of my favorites outdoors spots in the area.

The above ground Queens Subway
The above ground Subway station in Astoria can be quite noise. I know in some areas it did decrease many propriety value and MTA still cant change it. Yet, the above ground train has been part of  Queens' scenery for decades and it will continue for a while.

Astoria Boulevard Station
The Astoria Boulevard N and Q station, offers a panoramic view of both the Robert Kennedy Bridge and the Hell Gate Bridge which leads to Randall Island, and consecutively to Upper West Side and Bronx. 

I can patiently wait for the train there, staring at it, regretting summer is not here yet, missing seating on Astoria Park field while sipping a glass of wine facing the beautiful Hell Gate Bridge.

Astoria Houses near Ditmar's
Then I passed by Ditmar's Boulevard on my way back from the Park, I noticed the tree stores housing, all next to each other. It reminded of some quite and charming neighborhood of London.