by Krista | Oct 26, 2010 | Gulliver Tuesday
Brrr!! It’s been cold, rainy and oh-so-blustery today. I’m huddled under three quilts with a heating pad in my lap to keep me nice and toasty as the storm rages.
On such a night it pleases me no end to go back through my photo albums, looking at pictures of warm, sunny places with dear friends. So today I’m going to do just that, and drag you along on a stroll through the back streets of Cozumel, Mexico.
As much as I love stunning monuments and historical buildings like the tower below, I am always drawn to the side streets, back alleys, and neighborhoods of the places I visit. This is where the real citizens of a place live, shop, and visit with their friends.
I explored Cozumel with my friend Amy and we stayed at the lovely Allegro Cozumel all-inclusive resort. We were both exhausted upon arrival and spent our first few days on the beach snoozing and soaking up healing sunshine. Then we were ready to explore!
We went to the main strip of Cozumel, wandering past jewelry vendors, eying the fabulous lacy white hammocks that swayed enticingly all over the island and deciding that no, we really did not need to take any back with us. Then we headed down a side street and meandered happily through town. Amy loves to look at local pharmacies and grocery stores to get a feel for a new country, and I’m a fiend for Farmer’s markets and restaurants. We found plenty to delight us both.
I was intrigued by the gates and bars guarding every home we saw. By themselves they could’ve been austere, stark, and decidedly unwelcoming, but the instead the inhabitants planted flowering vines that clambered everywhere softening hard edges and making even security look beautiful.
It was a great way to spend an afternoon. What things make you feel like you’re seeing the “real” side of a city or country?
by Krista | Oct 19, 2010 | Gulliver Tuesday
Today I was chatting with my brother Ryan as we hashed out plans for our family trip to Germany and Holland this Christmas. My smile got bigger and bigger as he cited things he’s put on the schedule already: Christmas concert, Christmas markets, road trip through Belgium. I can’t wait!!! 🙂
Such discussions and dreamings sent my memory back to a gorgeous road trip I took through Germany a couple of years ago with my sister-in-law Kendra and friend Amy. Armed with passports, an exceedingly large bag of candy, and a rather finicky GPS system, we drove all over Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Luxembourg, stopping wherever our fancies took us. Will you join me as we vicariously meander through mountain meadows, gaze up at stony peaks and look in wonder at hidden lakes?
These places reminded me so much of driving through the Rocky Mountains in Canada. Well, minus the castle. 🙂 Do you like road trips? What is the most beautiful scenery you’ve experienced on one?
by Krista | Oct 12, 2010 | Gulliver Tuesday
It’s feeling particularly Fall-ish this evening with brooding skies and dried leaves skittering across the pavement. It’s the sort of night that makes me long to bundle up in sweater, scarf and sassy boots and visit England. That’s just what I plan to do March 26-27, 2011 during the Travel Bloggers Unite (TBU’11) conference in Manchester.
It’s been a lifelong dream of mine to visit England, and I’m so excited that my first trip there will be with a whole slew of fabulous writers, photographers, and travelers gathered to learn from stellar experts in areas such as podcasting, creating videos, and becoming savvy in business and public relations.
Early this year I started reading the Simply Zesty blog and have learned so much from their posts and delightfully informative videos. I’m so thrilled that Niall and Lauren will be coming in from Ireland to speak.
I’m also really looking forward to learning about podcasting from Kelvin Newman and affiliate marketing from Kevin Brown.
TBU’11 is the brainchild of my friend and travel expert Oliver Gradwell. A very funny guy and super hard worker, Oliver has done a fabulous job organizing a first class event that is not only going to be great fun, but highly informative and beneficial to both beginner and experienced bloggers.
For more information visit the TBU’11 website, follow them on Twitter @tbloggersunite using hashtag #TBU11, or visit them on Facebook. I’d love to see you there! 🙂
As our beautiful Indian Summer is replaced by crisp Autumn mornings, rainy afternoons and blustery nights, my imagination turns once again to hot, sunny mornings in Cancun, Mexico. While I loved nearly all the food on this trip, one of my favorite things was breakfast. Every morning we were treated to a dizzying selection of freshly baked breads and pastries, ripe fruits, beautiful vegetables and cold cuts, and an array of hot dishes, from ratatouille and Mexican-style chard to build-your-own omelets and crispy fried potatoes.
I’m afraid I stuffed myself rather happily during my 4-day stay, and loved every moment of it. 🙂
What is your favorite breakfast while on vacation?
(If you’d like to know more about this resort in Cancun, it is the Cancun Caribe Park Royal Grand. I spent four days there last month courtesy of Royal Holiday.)
by Krista | Sep 28, 2010 | Gulliver Tuesday
I woke at 2:30 a.m., made it safe and sound to the airport and am happily munching on a toasted bagel while I wait for my flight. 🙂
I am absolutely thrilled to bits to have my friend Tuula sharing a guest post here today!! I have never met Tuula in person, but online she is one of my favorite people with her kindness, jolly spirit and supportive nature. Tuula is an American living in France and writes a beautiful blog sharing her adventures in France and Italy. (Click here to visit her Le Petit France blog and say hello.) Today she takes us with her on a shopping trip through a Roman market.
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As the temperatures begin to cool, and I find myself selecting over-sized scarves instead of sundresses, I can’t help but find myself in a very romantic mood. Call it the changing of the leaves, the anticipation of hearty meals capped with full-bodied wines, or simply the chance to slow down and explore the changing world around me, but fall is most certainly one of my favorite seasons.
And one of my favorite things to do during the fall months is explore: new regions, off-the-beaten track villages, and most certainly…town markets.
When I lived in Rome, I often worked near the well-know Testaccio market. Famed for many things, including the infamous “tomato man” who knows exactly which tomato works for each & every pasta dish (no small feat my friends), the market also retains its legendary status based on its proximity to another Roman foodie institution: Volpetti – a must-do stop for an with a love from gourmet Italian items (yeah, figure that includes just about everyone..). And while Provençal markets tend to become a bit subdued during the fall months, the Testaccio market is anything but quiet. Vibrant, colorful, and oh-so-Italian, the market is a perfect opportunity to explore the heart of Roman neighborhood-life.
And for that taste of neighborhood life, there’s nothing like arriving early (around 9am) and taking in the morning’s activities. There’s the women who washes and prepares the puntarelle (a Roman chicory) to be bagged and sold at her stand; the men who clean, prepare, and artfully display the fresh fish trucked-in from the Lazio coast; and since the majority of customers are locals who do their shopping there every day, there’s certainly no shortage of lively conversation. Topics range from pleasant inquires about shopper’s families to outright debates on anything from the correct ingredients for a traditional Roman Amatricana to the current shortcoming of the Roma soccer team.
And, if you get particularly lucky, you might just find yourself in front of some of Made in Italy’s finest apparel. Surrounding the market are shoe and clothing stalls that have incredible bargains if you’re willing to do a bit of searching. For around €15, and a bit of luck, you could come home with a pair of “Yes, I bought them in Italy aren’t they gorgeous?” handcrafted shoes. It happened to me one day, and yes, I bought two pairs.
Ahh, the sights & sounds of Rome mixed with a few pairs of gorgeous shoes- enough to make any gal happy about the change of seasons.
by Krista | Sep 21, 2010 | Gulliver Tuesday
The Villa Trotta in southern Italy is a place of beauty, respite and peace. When my friends and I stayed there last spring, one of my favorite things about it was how quickly it felt like home. A good 15-30 minute drive from the nearest town, it became our own private world.
We did our washing and hung it out to dry like proper Italians.
We washed dishes looking out of this window.
And after fetching pasta, bread, vegetables and wine from the local markets, we cooked in our very own little kitchen.
That was pure bliss to me. My friend Nat and I had such fun steaming purple artichokes, roasting green beans, and stirring pots of simmering tomatoes and garlic into thick, rich sauces.
One night after a long, glorious day exploring the Isle of Capri, we came home wanting simple comfort food. We found it in chilled white wine, chewy bread slathered with Nutella, and fried potatoes with red bell peppers, onion, garlic, and Italian sausage.
We brought our plates out onto the terrace and sipped, nibbled and visited as we watched the sun set over the Adriatic. Bliss.
After you’ve had a long day shopping, hiking or exploring, what is your ideal comfort food?
For more information on Villa Trotta or other reasonably priced vacation villas in Italy, click here.
This post is my contribution to Wanderfood Wednesday at Wanderlust and Lipstick. Click here to find more delicious food from around the world.
by Krista | Sep 14, 2010 | Gulliver Tuesday
As my friend Amy and I drove along the coast of Cozumel, I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the tumbling turquoise waves crashing onto the white sand beaches. The sun was blazing hot, toasting us the moment we stepped out of the car, but the salty ocean breezes cooled our skin and tossed our hair and all I could do was stare in awe and wonder.
I had just been through a gutting time in my life and my heart was raw and aching. Tears filled my eyes as I tipped my head back and looked up at the palm fronds dancing against the the bright blue sky, felt the hot sand cover my feet, heard the gulls shrieking as they swooped over the waves.
It was in this place, with a dear friend who tells me regularly: “You do know I’m your biggest fan right?” that I began to heal. The torn, gaping holes in my heart were soothed as I saw the waves pounding against the rocks, always shaping but never destroying. Deep inside hope took root, urging me to believe that life could and would be beautiful again. The painful memories were still there, but new memories were building on top of them, bringing with them that rich comfort of true-hearted friendship and the chance to start over stronger, wiser, and braver because of the pain.
It was also in Cozumel that I drank my first glass of Sangria on a sultry night by the beach. Sangria, that heady mix of red wine and fresh fruit that speaks to me of tropical breezes and fiesta music and renewed hope. Today I mixed a pitcher of Plum Lemon Sangria and oh, it cheered my heart and made me smile. Life indeed is beautiful again.
L’Chaim!
As promised yesterday, here are the three winners of the Artisan Salt Giveaway!
- Shenais
- Pat
- Barbara from Moveable Feasts
I will be having another giveaway soon and can’t wait to share it with all of you!!
In the meantime, is there a place that helped provide healing, hope or a new start in your life? I’d love to hear about it. 🙂
This is my contribution to Wanderfood Wednesday.
Plum Lemon Sangria
(serves 2)
Ingredients:
2 cup red wine (I used Malbec)
2 juicy plums, sliced thinly in wedges
1/2 lemon, sliced thinly in wedges
1-2 tsp real maple syrup
Directions:
- Combine all ingredients and lightly muddle. Allow to sit 30-60 minutes for flavors to meld.
- Sip and count your blessings.
