A few months ago, I received a fortune cookie with this premonition:
"You will travel far and wide, both pleasure and business.
"

Subsequently, weeks later I got this one: "Friends long absent are coming back to you.
"

Although I take fortune cookies with a grain of salt (no pun intended), I still like to keep the ones that say something positive. I like to read them when I find them again and remind myself why I kept them. These two specifically came to mind these past few days, since, for the first time ever, I decided to travel to somewhere I had never been on my own to both visit friends and gain new experiences, other than those provided by Florida or Puerto Rico, where I have been living my whole life.


The destination? Boston. Why Boston? Well, my friend Michael, who I have known since I was eight years old, decided to move there in July. I played around with the idea of coming to visit him and when I let him know about it, he was very excited. The very thought of knowing one of my friends was excited to see me propelled me to do a daring move and buy a round-trip ticket to go visit his new hometown. I did not know much about Boston. In fact, I could not point out in a map where it was to save my life. I flunked American geography apparently.


I sure know where it is now. And part of it is actually in my heart, for this trip to Boston that just occurred last weekend (a long 5-day weekend to be exact) has been one of the greatest adventures and experiences of my life. I had to do it. I had been stuck for some time doing the same routine and if I did not break out of it soon, I was surely going to crack. Boston provided a much-needed relief and pause to the somewhat monotonous routine I had by now established in theme park land Orlando. Everything was new and great.


But it could not have been that way without the addition of another important ingredient: Charlie. Weeks before my trip I had mentioned my Boston adventure to my (then) friend John, who quickly reminded me of Charlie. It had been so long since I had seen him, that I had forgotten that he was from all the way over there. I decided to contact him (on myspace...where else, right? he he), without much hope of getting a response. After all, this guy had not heard from me in about three years, so I really did not know what to expect. However, the very next day I received an e-mail from him saying that he would be available to hang out and show me around, along with all his personal info. I was happy to receive his reply and immediatedly added his contact information into my phone.


Initially my friend Phil was supposed to pick me up at the airport, but he had class. And I came to find out he didn't have a car either. My friend Michael, where I was staying had to work until 3 p.m. That's when I called Charlie and asked him about the possibility of him picking me up and he was more than happy to do so. I was very grateful. So, flash forward to Thursday afternoon...12:38 p.m. to be exact, and I'm standing outside the airport, in the arriving flights section, freezing to a cool 38 degrees. I had never ever in my life experienced such low temperatures. And with that new experience, my trip to Boston officially started. Charlie picked me up a few minutes later and gave me a highly informative tour around downtown. Then we went to his old folks' home and then back to his apartment. Along the way, I was amazed at the architecture, the beauty of the picturesque city and its skyline, and most importantly, I was in awe of the different colors of the leaves. I had gotten myself to Boston just in time to witness this colorful spectacle. It was beautiful...and I took quite a few pictures of it too.


We ate sushi in Chinatown and then he dropped me off at Michael's house. They got along really well, which made me happy. Michael and I made plans and headed out downtown to celebrate the arrival. That was my first time riding the T.


From there on, many adventures continued to happen, most of which were chronicled in photos or video. The highlight of the trip was New York. We barely made the bus on time! But we did...and four hours later we were in the city that never sleeps. I was star-struck! New York looked like nothing I had ever seen or experienced before, except what I had seen in the movies. It felt like walking on a real live movie set, except it's not. I saw my first Broadway play in Broadway: the honor went to Disney's Mary Poppins, and it was phenomenal. The only problem was that it did cut a cool 2 and a half hours out of our walking around in New York expedition, so by the time we reached Central Park (which quite incoveniently was blocked off due to some race that was going on), we barely had any time to make it all the way to experience everything else, including: 5th Avenue, the Chrysler Building, the Empire State Building and Rockerfeller Center. Oh, and let's not forget H&M! I was disappointed not to be able to see Central Park or Grand Central Station and the World of Disney, among others, but I really can't complain...at all! It was still just fucking amazing!

Throughout the weekend, we went to the movies, walked around Quincy Market and Newbury, attended a Halloween party and even (drum roll please) ate at Boston Market...I know: hilarious. Then on Monday, my last day there, I had to pack my stuff. It was sad to know it was all over...or was it? Charlie came over to Michael's to pick both of us up and we decided to take one last little tour: this time to Harvard Square. So before leaving Boston, I actually got to see the famous Harvard University, along with all the nice shops in that area. As if that weren't enough, Charlie then took us to the Gardens, where he gave us a history of everything in town, from Paul Revere to the story of "Make Way for Ducklings," a very popular local book. He even made me a friendship bracelet, with the help of a certain willow tree.


As time grew near to leave, Charlie and Michael said that they would miss me. That meant the world to me. Once at the airport, I took my stuff out of Charlie's car and hugged them both. As the car drove off into the distance, I couldn't help but wonder when I would be back. I know I will be back there someday...and probably very soon. But until then, I have to say that this whole trip was incredible...a true experience that I'm so happy I decided to reward myself with. I appreciate so much what my friends did for me while I was there. Without them, my trip would not have been as successful. I miss them every day. They truly outdid themselves.


Oddly enough, the jet back home only had 14 passengers. I fell asleep and three hours later the sound and bump of the plane tires hitting the ground as we landed woke up abruptly and I was already in Orlando. Needless to say, I have a new perspective on life: I have to do as much as I can...for God knows when I'll be able to do it again. I can't live on regrets and sometimes it may require a risk...but one that will be altogether worth it. Thank you, Michael, Charlie, Danny, and the cities of Boston and NYC...Fidel is now a new man. Not completely different, but definitely happier and more accomplished.