Hi everyone! How’s August been treating you so far?! This is actually Week 3 (almost) of Victor’s visit but I’m behind on posting and keeping up to date so this is just about what we did on his second week here! I’m happy to say he finally was able to adjust to the weather. Despite us no longer having that heat wave, it was still fairly hot and nasty a couple days before, but he seemed to be okay with it now.
We both went to a public laundromat for the first time and it was pretty interesting … really convenient too! I just hate that they make us use only quarters to pay. There’s changing machines within the facility but I really wish they’d finally install a piece of technology where we can just insert our cards or something. I don’t carry a lot of small bills with me and some places want like 18 quarters for one cycle. UGH. Someone help. Besides that boring stuff, here were some of our highlights of that week.
Istanbul Cuisine
This was another Groupon deal where I paid $10 for $30 worth of food! With Groupon Select, I was able to save an extra 10% off of the actual deal, so it was even better for me. Victor and I had never tried Turkish and Mediterranean food before so I was really excited to try this. My mom accompanied us, as she had never had this kind of cuisine before – my treat!
There was literally no one else around and because of that we thought we were there when they were closed, but they really were open. The atmosphere was nice and some things about the interior actually made the place look quite elegant, such as their super padded and tufted chairs and their wall details.
Food
We were going to order from a regular menu but it turns out they still had their buffet open until 3PM, so we opted for that instead (we had no idea what to order from the menu and they were more expensive anyway).
I thought the food was quite good! Their chicken and some dish that had fries and bell peppers and drizzled all over with a white sauce were my favorites out of the buffet. I wish they had names for each of the food so I knew what they were called and an indication of whether the food was spicy or not. It was basically just kind of a mystery, but not unless you asked him to name each and every one, of course.
Dorney Park
Dorney Park is located in Allentown, PA, and besides Six Flags, it is one of the best amusement parks around here, in my opinion. What’s great about Dorney Park is that it’s both a land and water amusement park.
Victor and I carpooled with my best friend Katie and her boyfriend Sal and packed drinks and bought lunch before heading to the park. We went on a day when it was like 90° F so … it was hard. Lines were long and by the time we were up next to get in the park, we were told we had to go to Guest Services because we had pre-ordered tickets and had to pay extra because it expired at the end of June. GAH!
Regardless, we had a great time. Despite me having been here before, I actually rode on a few rollercoasters for the first time that day. I was always a chicken and the people I was with back then never really cared whether I went on it or not.
I managed to only take one picture of us when we were on the rides, which is incredibly disappointing to me because of all pictures I managed to get, it was one of me where I looked terrified!
This specific ride, Steel Force, was a 500-foot drop at 75 miles per hour. I’m used to driving at that speed, if not more, but I’m never driving from the sky falling down so … it was quite scary. If you didn’t know yet, I am not very keen on riding rollercoasters.
How do I look? Don’t mind the watermarks.
I had Victor try funnel cake for the first time too!
Asbury Park Beach
We had the chance to hit the beach with my cousin and her boyfriend. It was ultimately their choice to go to Asbury Park, but I didn’t mind it at all since I really liked that beach. Out of all the Jersey beaches I’ve been to, I think Asbury has one of the best boardwalks, besides Long Branch and Point Pleasant. I really wanted to take Victor to one of the Jersey beaches (because the last time I was up in Canada and we went to a beach, he exclaimed how crowded his beach was when there were only like 15 people there, lol) and for him to see what there was to a boardwalk. Entrance to Asbury Park Beach is fairly cheap – $7 cash per person.
Really wanted to try the playa bowls here but I was afraid of the price
Surprisingly, the water was colder than I expected! In the previous years that I went, the water was already warm early to mid-July. We went at the end of July for God’s sake! So yeah, that was a bit disappointing.
After being there for like 9 hours, we finally left. Victor ended up with painful sunburn on both feet and struggled put on jeans and socks for a few days. I was much more fortunate and just tanned a bit and had some slight peeling of the scalp.
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That was pretty much the highlight of our second week. Thanks for reading!
Until next time! ♡
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WOW you guys have been able to do so many cool things together. The Turkish food sounds sooo good and i’m v. impressed by the mega deal you got! I had never heard of dorney park but it seems so fun and the boardwalk at asbury looks amazing. I love beaches with amazing boardwalks!!
Sounds like you two had another fun week. I love Groupon it’s saved me a lot of money on stuff. The food you had at the restaurant looks delicious. I haven’t been to an amusement park in a very long time. I love the photo of you two on the ride. That so would have been me. That funnel cake looks so yummy, and Asbury Park Beach looks like a fun place to hang out in the summer. Thanks for sharing.
Oh gosh, I remember using a coin-operated machine for the first time in an Airbnb that we stayed in for two weeks and all I could think about was how annoying it was to make sure we had coins for the washer and dryer (the Airbnb host was super nice but definitely making bank off his guests).
Week 2 looks amazing and fun! I’ve never had Istanbul cuisine as well but it looks very rich and delicious. I feel like I could taste and smell the spices from your pictures already! The rollercoaster photo is also pretty funny, haha. I usually never purchase any of them because I look ridiculous in them 99% of the time.
It really seems like you’re making the most of his trip and trying lots of things which is awesome. You got such a great deal on the food! It looks like you’re having a lot of fun, love the ride photo. I think that’s how you’re supposed to look when those photos are taken! x
Sophie
http://www.glowsteady.co.uk
Aww, it sounds like you had such a nice time! That funnel cake looks super delicious!! Loved your post! x
This sounds like such a fun week. So many things to see, do and eat. That funnel cake looks so good, that’s my favorite thing to get at fall fairs or whenever I see a place that offers funnel cake.
I haven’t been to a laundromat in ages! Wow, I can’t believe they’re still old school with only taking quarters. Groupon is such a good site- especially with being able to get more for less. Mmmm, you can’t go wrong with a buffet, especially when you want to try a bit of everything. Dorney Park looks really cool! Glad you all had a ton of fun on the rides. The views out there is neat. Thanks for sharing your adventures!
Nancy ♥ exquisitely.me
Ooooh, Groupon is amazing for coming out with those deals while Victor was in town – not only do you get to show Victor around but save money as well! thE FOOD LOOKS AMAZING AT istanbul Cuisine! glad you had a fun time at Dorney pARK! that funnel cake looks amazing, by the way.
Eena ☼ cabin twenty-four
Ohhh this all looks like so much fun Hun!! That food looks seriously delicious too, hope you had an amazing trip! x
Grace Louise || http://www.gracelouiseofficial.blogspot.co.uk/
Sounds like so much fun!! I wish i could hang with my cousins but they dont have boyfriends or at least i dont think i would get along with their bfs lol
i want to go to a waterpark with my husband it seems like sooo much fun!!
this looks like such a great trip. your roller coaster picture had me laughing out loud haha. And that food looked delicious.
xx Avalon from Simply Avalon
So fun… this is what summers are all about!
http://www.fashionradi.com
You have both been able to do so many different things and make so many different memories!! The amusement park sounds like fun! You have shared some great photos! Thank you for sharing GEraldine xxx
ITS great to see you make so many beautiful memories with victor. thanks for sharing! have a great week lovely <3
https://lifewithmins.blogspot.com/
Seems like huuge fun!
xoxo
http://ysiakova.blogspot.com/
Sounds like Quite the adventure. I need to check groupon out. I can’t BelIeve i have never been to Dorney Park, and I live in Southern PA. Glad you had fun!
Haha omg girl! You definitely have to go even more 🙂
Lovely to read about your adventures. Hope that Victor doesn’t have sore feet now. Mx
I’ve never had Mediterranean food either, even though there’s a restaurant across town! That food looks SO GOOD though. I LOVE funnel cakes! I hope Victor liked it too haha. I’ve never actually been to a beach boardwalk type place… usually the beaches I go to are super remote. Or they’re somewhere like, with hotels everywhere lol. It looks like you had a great time!
Omg you have been having the best time honey i have lOved reading all about your fun adventures xx