The Insurance Doctor

Category: leisure

  • 6 London Attractions to See on a Budget

    6 London Attractions to See on a Budget

    6 great attractions in London on a budget

    After a ten day visit, I can say that London is a fantastic place to visit however it can burn a hole in your wallet or purse. Today’s exchange rate is about $1.50 US dollars for every 1 pound (Lb).

    Check out these 6 FREE must see options below:

    1. The British Museum: Ranked #15 of top 25 places to visit in the “world” in lonely planet’s august 2015 survey. It’s 1 of only 2 museums listed (the other is in Australia). This massive museum houses priceless artifacts from all 7 continents. It’s set up by country and subdivided by era. It’s also free! Was so nice I went twice. They suggest a 5-pound donation however not mandatory.

    The Borough Market, London
    The Borough Market, London

    2. Borough Market: A hidden gem located walking distance from London Bridge. Words don’t describe how interesting it is (see my FB pictures). Before 5 pm the market is loaded with tasty treats. Some of the best cheeses I’ve ever had. After 5 pm it’s filled with locals getting out of work.

    3. Tate Modern Museum: an art gallery with pieces (Picasso’s and Warhol’s) mostly from 1900-present and is 1 of 4 Tate galleries in the UK. There’s a great balcony for pictures of the Thames river and St. Paul’s. It’s located a short walk over the millennium bridge across from St. Paul’s cathedral. It’s about 75% free as there’s one floor with current exhibits that they charge for. Also, check out the lounge area with couches the unique activities for the kids. They can draw and be creative and see their drawings projected onto the wall. A 4-pound donation suggested not mandatory.

    4. Camden town: Reminds me of our Greenwich village in Manhattan. Cool hipster edgy area with interesting vintage clothing shopping and people watching. Go to their Camden market which used to be horse stables that were converted into many little unique booths. Great place to find the same goods as centre city London for less than half the price. For you shopaholics (you know who you are, lol) also visit Harrods department store. It takes Saks 5th avenue to a whole new level.

    5. The National Gallery: This gallery has one of the best collections of paintings in the world. Read the captions as I was interested to see some of the pieces were given to the gallery in lieu of paying estate (inheritance) taxes. It’s located in Trafalgar square which is a really fun place to just walk around. The architecture is breathtaking!

    6. London Rock Tour: This is a bonus tidbit although it’s not free. There are two different mini-bus tours 9-1 and 2-6 that cost about $50 each. They are run by a former band promoter named Bob. Go to Abbey road and abbey road studios. See Paul McCartney’s house, the Rolling Stones sticky fingers restaurant and get great stories of these British bands on their way up.

    Contact Rob here for your free financial review today

  • 8 Fun facts about ML Baseball Spring Training

    8 Fun facts about ML Baseball Spring Training

    This week pitchers and catchers report for spring training.  I get excited because the baseball season is beginning and winter is ending.  These minor league stadiums are a lot of fun to insurance, new york, financial planning, Queens, Forest Hillsvisit.  Enjoy these tidbits!

    1. The Florida “Grapefruit league” and Arizona “Cactus league” are a 50/50 split which 15 teams training in each state.
    2. Do you want a closer look at your favorite players than from your seat? Visit their spring training stadium where access rules are very lax.
    3. George M. Steinbrenner field (Tampa) has the same outfield dimensions as Yankee stadium. It also sits directly across the street from Raymond James Stadium where the Tampa Bay Buccaneers play.
    4. Surprise stadium (Royals and Rangers) in Arizona has a merry-go-round in the right field concourse.
    5. The foul poles at Phoenix Municipal Stadium (Athletics) were originally used at the polo grounds.
    6. Fans attending Blue Jay’s games in Dunedin, Florida get to hear both the Canadian and USA’s national anthems. They also have Labatt’s beer on tap at Florida auto exchange stadium.
    7. Bright House Network field in Clearwater, Fla. Caters to Phillies fans serving Philly cheese steaks and Yuengling beer.

    In 2017 the “Ballpark of Palm Beaches” (West Palm Beach, Fla.) will open and be the new home of the Houston Astros and Washington Nationals.

  • 5 Top Slices & Best White Pie in NYC

    Pizza is a passion of mine!  After six months, a few extra pounds and visiting 50+ places the results are in.

    1. Di Fara: Located in Midwood Brooklyn, this place is 2nd to none! All slices and pies are made by 90+ yo Dominick Demarco.  Flavors explode in your mouth.  Waits are painful but worth
      Dom De Marco, pizza maker and owner of Di Fara Pizza
      Dom De Marco, pizza maker and owner of Di Fara Pizza

      it.  You have to go at least once.  Cash only.

    2. Lucali: Located in Carroll Gardens Brooklyn, this converted candy store serves only mouth watering pizza and the best calzones I’ve ever had to boot! Cash only.
    3. Nicks: Located in Forest Hills Queens, Nicks has the feel of a 50’s diner. Pies only, they come out perfect every time and Nick’s has the best sausage topping ever! Cash only.
    4. Roberta’s: Hipster-chic Bushwick Brooklyn location, this place serves wood-fired pizza and has a great vibe. With a live Deejay and Christmas lights this place is a must visit.  Cool seating also available in their garden where vegetables are grown.
    5. New Park: In Howard Beach Queens, this no-frills spot has been serving amazing slices for over 70 years. I prefer to order their slices and pies well done.

    Best White Pizza?  Lombardi’s hands down!  The first pizza place in the USA, Lombardi’s has been cranking out pies since 1905.  This Nolita (north of little Italy) landmark restaurant uses a coal-fired oven and is cash only.

    I’m open to feedback, enjoy!

  • 5 reasons to visit Sorrento

    Wedged on a ledge under the mountains and over the Mediterranean, Sorrento is long and narrow.  Sorrento is reasonably priced and can be done either as a day trip or 1-2 nights will suffice.

    1. Stunning Cliffside views: Spectacular stretch of coastline over the bay of Naples and near Capri.

      sorrento
      Shopping in Old Town Sorrento
    2. Lemons and Limoncello: Sorrento takes it to the next level serving all types of edibles with limoncello inside.  Be careful as alcohol contents range from 14-24% potent levels for sure!
    3. Old Sorrento town: Very pleasant old city where many people speak English. Streets are narrow with colorful shops and quaint trattorias.
    4. Shopping: Wide variety of shops offering everything from leather goods, homemade sandals to creative olive and lemon products.
    5. Sightseeing: Easy to walk Sorrento boasts a wealth of elegant historic architecture, Greek, Roman and Medieval buildings

  • 5 Reasons to Visit Capri

    Still Italy’s most glamorous seaside getaway, this whale shaped island has an epic beauty!  Made famous as a vacation hideaway of Roman Emperors Augustus and Tiberius, these days Capri is a touristy island well worth visiting at least for a day trip at a minimum. I suggest going in September, October, May or June.

    1. insurance, new york, financial planningThe Blue Grotto: Capri was discovered in 1826. Some folks dismiss the grotto as an overrated touristy sight however it’s beautiful blue sunlight reflecting through the water is an impressive sight.
    2. Capri Town: Most boats and ferries will take you to the Marina Grande which is basically the port of Capri. A funicular (chair lift) is a fun short ride that takes you up 500 feet to the town of Capri where you can easily spend a full day there before venturing to other parts of the 4 mile by 2 mile “island of dreams’.
    3. High-end shopping options: For those addicted to shoes, handbags and/or men’s fashion, this place will be heaven for you!  Prices are steep however so be prepared.
    4. Hiking: Surprisingly there are a few amazing panoramic hikes available on this small island.  Emperor Tiberius’s now-ruined Villa Jovis is a very scenic 1-hour hike from Capri Town.
    5. AnaCapri: Buses go regularly from Capri Town to AnaCapri.  From AnaCapri, ride the chair lift to the 1900 foot summit of Monte Solaro for a commanding view of the Bay of Naples and a pleasant downhill hike through lush vegetation and ever-changing views.

     

  • 6 Reasons to Visit Kansas City

    If you do the proper research you will find Kansas City to be a fun, underrated and interesting place to visit.  We just returned from a 4 day long weekend and suggest the following;

    1. KC Barbecue: KC BBQ is the real deal!  My suggestions are Joe’s, the most famous place as well as Arthur Bryant’s and Gates BBQ.  You won’t be disappointed.

    Kansas City Country Club District
    Kansas City Country Club District

    2. Arrowhead and Kaufman stadiums: Arrowhead has cracked my top 10.  Unique structural design and shape as well as round reply screens set it apart from other stadiums.  We were told that the engineering firm that did Arrowhead was used for several other stadiums.

    3. Negro Baseball league Museum: This place was awesome!  There’s a mini movie theatre, cool exhibits, great history and a small field with bronze statues.  They let you run the bases as well. It’s a must.  The museum is directly across from the Jazz museum and you can see both for $15, tremendous value.

    4. Power and Light district: Cool downtown area on the Missouri border with tons of bars and restaurants as well as better than expected nightlife.  Open until 3am.

    5. Country club district area: Very interesting and high end shopping.  We were there for their 85th annual art festival.  Closed off streets with blocks of booths and progressive art.  Locals call it the “million dollar walk”.

    6. The people:  These are some of the friendliest people we have encountered in the USA.  Easy to talk to and they will welcome you with open arms, even Jet fans, lol.

  • 10 Fun & Not So Fun Facts About Puerto Rico

    After 20+ years I just spent a week at the El San Juan and learned that it’s not what it used to be.  Here’s what I found.

    The streets of San Juan, Puerto Rico
    streets of San Juan, Puerto Rico

    1. Leave your passport home: PR is a U.S. territory hence, you can ditch your passport!  Bring a valid / current photo ID though.

    2. The drinking age is 18 and currency is U.S. dollar    :  It makes things very easy to buy what you forgot to pack.

    3. There are 5 Miss Universe winners from PR: Unfortunately, I didn’t see any of them at the beach.

    4. PR has 270 miles of beaches and is an archipelago: which means there are more islands to explore.

    5. The west coast of PR has some of the best surfing and diving in all of the Caribbean: A hidden gem for sure.

    6. PR has some of the best coffee in the world: Having been on 5 of the 7 continents I rate them in my top 5.

    7. PR is the home of the world’s largest telescope: It’s called the Arecibo Observatory.

    8. PR is almost always between 70 to 80 degrees year round: Weather is steady but no guarantee.  We were just had 2 of 7 days that were sunny.  We did find that the humidity seemed lower and less bugs than before.

    9. PR is in deep debt that is currently $72B: Old town San Juan was noticeably run down with many closed businesses and less people.  There was actually a shortage of luggage earlier this year because so many people are leaving the island.

    Zip line fun in Puerto Rico
    Zip line fun in Puerto Rico

    10. Currently, PR has no bankruptcy protection: PR is in a deep recession and there’s no guarantee that the USA will bail them out.  They are having elections in may and corruption is rampant.  The relationship between the U.S. and PR is a “tricky” one.  We shall see how it plays out.

    In summary,  PR is still a fun place to visit.  That being said if you were there years ago like us you will notice the difference and might be disappointed!

  • 4 Fun March Madness 2016 Questions

    A lot of people are predicting that this will be the most insane NCAA Tourney in a long time because, well, it’s coming immediately following one of the most insane regular seasons the sport has ever seen.

    1. Increased madness? In 2015-16, teams ranked in the top 10 of the Associated Press Top 25 were beaten a grand total of 74 times, the highest total in the history of the poll. Top five teams suffered a total of 37 losses, 21 of which came at the hands of unranked teams. No. 1 teams weren’t immune to the madness, either, as five of them fell before the season hit February, something that had not taken place since 1949.m-madness-b-ball
    2. Stephen F. Austin?: While the world continues to focus its mid-major attention on Gonzaga and Wichita State, Stephen F. Austin just continues to whoop on any fool who dares to stand in its way. The Lumberjacks were the only team in college basketball to go 18-0 in conference play this season and will carry the nation’s longest winning streak (20) into the NCAA Tournament.
    3. When Will #1 seeds lose? Since the NCAA tournament was expanded to 64 teams the #1 seeds ate 124-0. #2 seeds during that same 31 year period are 117-7.  The last 2 times it happened was in 2012 when my Lehigh Mountain Hawks, led by C.J. McCollum beat Duke 75-70 and in 2013 Georgetown fell to FGCU aka Florida Gulf Coast U.
    4. Who are the lowest seeds to ever make the final 4? The lowest seed to ever make the final four is #11 and it happened 3 times. LSU did it first in 1986 followed by George Mason in 2006 and VCU did it back in 2011.

    The first week of the NCAA tournament has been known to have the highest work absentee rate as well as the lowest production rate of any non-holiday week of the year! 

  • 5 Reasons to visit Sonoma California

    5 Reasons to visit Sonoma California

     

    • Wine tasting: Obviously the #1 reason, however in Sonoma they are committed to educating Travel, wine countryconsumers on the intricacies of production, bottling and distribution. Two of my favorites are Bucher and the Thomas George vineyards. Both of them can be found on the renowned Westside road wine route!
    • Antiques: Unbeknownst to me was the bevy of antique shops mostly found in the Sebastopol area which borders Sonoma and is part of Sonoma county.
    • Seafood: The fresh seafood available in the area is phenomenal. I suggest Nick’s Cove where I had the best bacon and BBQ oysters of my life!
    • Pace of life: This area is laid back and has little in the way of major chain stores. You will see mostly mom and pop boutique shops with friendly and easy people to talk to. Life is simple and there’s a sense of time standing still
    • Micro-climate: Discover their unique climate where it can be 85 degrees during the day and a crisp 55 at night. There’s also a marine layer in some parts that help keep soil moist for optimum grape growing.

  • The Belmont Stakes: 5 Lessons Learned

    Saturday I had the privilege to watch history in the making at the Belmont Stakes. Here are five lessons I learned in the process.

    1. Dress to impress and with comfortable shoes: Lots of walking and fantastic people watching. Best variety of hats and sundresses that you will ever see!Belmont Stakes, leisure, travel tips
    2. Leave the kids at home: It’s a long day, not much for kids to do and because of the heavy foot traffic it’s easy to lose somebody.
    3. If driving get there before 10am: First come first serve with parking and it takes forever to get out. They booked the Goo Goo Dolls to play after the race so people wouldn’t all leave at the same time. Taking the LIRR (Long Island Rail Road) is a better option especially if arriving after 10am. Wait an hour before leaving either way.
    4. Walk both inside and outside: Regardless of where your seats are take a walk outside also. Great vibe and more room. You can even bring a blanket and picnic on the lawn while race watching.
    5. Get your tickets either very early or last minute: There was ticket chaos on race day as it was announced that no tickets were being sold at the track and on-line ticket sales ended at 11:30am. That changed to a 4:00pm deadline and $1,000 tickets were available for $250 from noon-3:00pm. At 3:00pm it imploded and the system crashed with so many people using internet on their cell phones at the same time.

      Contact Robert today to learn how to win in the horse race of retirement and personal finance.