It's been an eventful Q2 for us Dragons. We volunteered for two big fundraisers for our favorite local cancer non-profit as well as continuing to volunteer for food security non-profits and much more. Dragon Guy has been doing some contract work here or there as well.
We Dragons are super excited that it's been another three months of well attended ChooseFI meetings! We have about 20 people at each meeting. Attendees have decided to do their own subgroups in different parts of town and for travel hacking. We love that Dragon Guy has reinvigorated the local FI community.
Dragon Gal had an intense 3 months of performing improv as well as coordinating a visit to the site where they'll be implementing a grant with an organization providing support services for people living with HIV.
Despite all our busy-ness, we still made time for our favorite activity: travel! We had one domestic trip and completed one international trip this quarter.
APRIL
We continued our 19 day trip, finishing up our week in Tbilisi, Georgia, then traveling to Yerevan, Armenia, and ending in Barcelona, Spain.
Tbilisi, Georgia
Day 5
- Visited the Dry Bridge Market and Dedaena Park and watched people skateboard.
- Took the Tbilisi Funicular up to Mtatsminda Park for fantastic nighttime views of the city
Clockwise from top left: night views, TV tower, Dragon Guy, funicular
Day 6
We spent got a couples massage at the Sam Raan Spa and also spent a half day trying out their infrared sauna, Himalayan salt room, warming tables, Finnish sauna, steam room, shock shower, tropical shower, and swimming pool.
Day 7
We hired a driver from Go Trip to drive us from Tbilisi to Yerevan, Armenia, a 5 hour drive, straight. We stopped along the way at Lake Sevan. The mountains around Lake Sevan were all covered in snow!
Yerevan, Armenia
Day 1
- Ate lunch at Sherep Restaurant and watched bakers making lavash and other breads while we ate.
- Took a free walking tour of the city. We saw Republic Square, Vernissage Market, and the Opera House.
Day 2
- Climbed up the Cascade.
- Walked around Victory Park. Saw the Mother of Armenia, which had some military vehicles displayed around it.
- Ate lunch at Tumanyan Khinkali. We had fried khinkali - mushroom and egg with tarragon, beef liver with onion, eggplant and walnut salad, and spa soup.
- Took a stroll around the Blue Mosque courtyard.
Day 3
- Went to the Vernaissage Market, which sold lots of wooden gaming boards (mostly chess and backgammon), antiques, rugs, and swords.
- Visited the Armenian Market, which sells nuts, dried fruit, spices, and lavash.
- Ate lunch at Anteb. The Mante Soup is a must try!
- Listened to a concert by the Mystery Ensemble at the Opera House. They played the music from The Lord of the Rings.
Day 4
- Walked through the Kond Pedestrian Tunnel and walked along the gorge.
- Visited the Armenian Genocide Memorial and museum.
- Saw the Sports Complex. Hung out at the park nearby which had nice views of a Roman bridge.
Clockwise from top left: The Cascade, Vernaissage Market, Genocide Memorial, Opera House
Day 5
Took a day tour with One Way Tour and visited the following places:
- The Arch of Charents (or Arch of Ararat). when the day is clear, people can see Mount Ararat within the arch. Mount Ararat is famous for being the landing place of Noah's Ark.
- Geghard Monastery, or the Monastery of the Spear. There was healing water from the mountains trickling into one area of the church, and people could wash their hands and faces with it for healing, which we did!
- The Symphony of Stones in the Azat River Gorge. Here the basalt rock formations look like "pipe organs."
- Garni Temple. The temple is surrounded by mountains. There's also the ruins of a church, palace, and bath house.
- Ate lunch at Larisa's House and also had a lavash making demonstration.
Clockwise from top left: Garni temple, Symphony of Stones, lavash demo, church
Day 6
Got spa treatments at the Wine and Grapes Spa. The most interesting treatment for both of us was the Wine Steam Bath.
Spain
The last leg of our 3 week trip was in Barcelona, Spain, where we attended a wedding for Dragon Guy's former work colleague. The funny thing is, Dragon Gal knew her before Dragon Guy did, but he got to know her better through their work. This was a mini coworker reunion for Dragon Guy, and it was wonderful to see old friends.
Day 1 - Walked up to Mount Juic and hung out in a park.
Day 2 - Met up with friends we met on the FI cruise in January, who happened to be traveling in Spain. Attended a pre-wedding reception at a rooftop restaurant at Arenas de Barcelona.
Day 3 - Had tapas lunch with Dragon Guy's other former coworkers. Attended wedding in Mount Juic.
Day 4 - Went to Montserrat. We rode a train and then took a cable car up to the mountain peak and walked some trails.
Parc de la Ciutadella, Montserrat, night views of Plaza de Espana, views from Mount Juic
APRIL OTHER
Dragon Gal's sister came into town for a family wedding, and we also celebrated her birthday, which happened to be the same month. We had a weekend full of events: extended family lunch at a seafood buffet, rehearsal dinner with a 10 course Chinese banquet, a fun wedding at an orchard, and a birthday brunch.
Dragon Gal went to a volunteer appreciation brunch for her work at the public library. She was excited to bring Dragon Guy along. She volunteered almost 100 hours in 2023. She won the MVP adult volunteer award! She burst into tears when her name was announced. Dragon Gal received a handmade book art award, which she treasures. She's looking forward to many more years volunteering at the public library.
MAY
California
The highlight of this month was a trip to California for a mini college reunion with Dragon Gal's friends. Her friends have adopted Dragon Guy into the friend group, so he came along. We even managed some alone time despite all the reunion the activities.
Day 1 - Went to an Angels baseball game. Dragon Guy has a goal to visit all baseball stadiums.
Day 2 - Visited Wi Korean Spa and ate dinner at a Thai restaurant with friends.
Day 3 - Hiked in Bommer Canyon and ate Korean food for dinner at friend's house.
Day 4 - Ate lunch with Dragon Gal's aunt and uncle and then had a beach bonfire BBQ with friends.
Day 5 - Visited Santiago Oaks Regional Park and ate dinner at a Poke Bowl place. NOTE: We had diarrhea when we returned home. That's the last time Dragon Gal is having seafood outside of her home city.
MAY OTHER
Dragon Gal started competing in speed puzzling events online. While she'll most likely never win, she still enjoys it!
Dragon Gal took her friend to 3 of her appointments. Her friend is battling cancer and Dragon Gal is glad she could support her.
June
Starting a Business - We are considering starting a business for speed puzzling. We started talking to various puzzle vendors and researching everything we had to do to put together an event. We ultimately decided not to create the business for now.
COVID - We hosted a neighborhood board game night this month, and we were glad to get 7 neighbors to play Dixit and Sequence together. We believe Dragon Gal got COVID at this gathering. Her symptoms were mild, and Dragon Guy never got it (we slept and ate separately the minute Dragon Gal began exhibiting symptoms).
The one good thing about Dragon Gal getting COVID was that she got so bored part way through her recuperation that she started decluttering. She got burnt out after decluttering over 3k in 4 years.
We were supposed to do a road trip out to Colorado to see some family, and we're glad we're able to reschedule that for Q3.
Favorite Books Read Q2
Dragon Gal loves reading! Here are the books she'd recommend from this quarter's reading.
A Detective by Day Mysteries by Kellye Garrett
- #1 Hollywood Homicide
- #2 Hollywood Ending
Dreadful by Caitlin Rozakis
Sister Holiday Mysteries by Margot Douaihy
- #1 Scorched Grace
- #2 Blessed Water
A Curious Beginning by Deanna Raybourn
Lunar New Year Love by Gene Luen Yang and Leuyen Pham
Death in the Details by Katie Tietjen
Ghosted by Sarah Ready
Foul Lady Fortune by Chloe Gong
FINAL THOUGHTS
We're happy we both achieved our goal of creating community; Dragon Guy through his ChooseFI meetings and Dragon Gal through her game nights and puzzle swaps. We're grateful that we were able to travel so much this quarter!
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