food - ilivetotravel's travel log

Roadside Treats on the Way to Maracas Bay, Trinidad

24 March 2014 by Raul 4 Comments

I think I must be hungry because chadon beni has been on my mind today… It is making me remember my trip to to Maracas Bay in Trinidad. On the way there, we made a stop for “Trini-Treats”, a roadside kiosk with a neat array of munchies, some familiar to me having grown up in another Caribbean island, but most quite unique to Trinidad & Tobago and, therefore, new to me. At first, I was not sure these treats were for me. Definitely not anything with coconut; coconut is just not for me. Mango slices immersed in some pickled liquid, Patsy’s channa, and other stuff I did not recognize made me wonder if anything here would be for me.

Trinidad, chadon beni, roadside stand, Maracas Bay, food, foodie, photo

My host and I beginning to explore all the offerings – a little overwhelming at first

The young writer seriously concentrating on the options at hand

Thankfully, our local host ignored our initial hesitation and got some samples of the different items. I was very pleasantly surprised. My favorite was the pears immersed in chow which is some sort of pickled liquid infused with chadon beni (culantro in other parts of the Caribbean, a strong flavored herb; with some garlic and black pepper, depends on the particular jar) – a great flavor combination!

chadon beni, pickled fruits, Trinidad, Maracas Bay, roadside food, food, tasty, treats,, Trini

Pineapple slices

Pears

Mango slices

After that, we decided to get a few more of these delicious treats before continuing to Maracas Bay where bake ‘n shark awaited… Famous “Richard’s” was closed for renovations so we just headed next door. I loved the self-serve on the toppings and had a most delicious lunch.

Maracas Bay, bake and shark at Trinidad and Tobago

Bake and shark goodness!

This “beach” food sampler is just one example of many of the great food to be experienced in the lovely islands of Trinidad & Tobago. Can’t wait to return!

Filed Under: Caribbean/C America, Good Eats and Drinks, Trinidad & Tobago Tagged With: chadon beni, culantro, food, Maracas Bay, photos, pickled fruits, spices, travel, Trini treats, Trinidad

Exploring Food and Lodging in Lake Placid

24 February 2014 by Raul 8 Comments

While visiting Lake Placid earlier this year, I spent a day exploring this northern New York town. Because it was a rainy day, we skipped some of the outdoor activities but we got to visit some neat places and enjoy good food and drinks (of course!). I shared already about the very well set up Olympics Museum, my “adventure” at the luge training facility, and my skating at historic Herb Brooks Arena (check it all out here). Having covered those sites so tied to Olympic history, I should probably share with you more of what Lake Placid has to offer. In this post, I will share about some of the lodging, food, and drinks that I enjoyed checking out during my visit.

A lodge you can dream of – and then go see for yourself!

One of our stops was the Whiteface Lodge. I had heard it was an incredible place and it did not disappoint! I was staying in the town of Lake Placid proper at the Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort which was ideally situated close to many places I visited and with a great restaurant (Generations) right on site (more on the restaurant below).

The Whiteface Lodge consists only of suites, and there are suites of every size. Even the “small” ones are well-equipped with nice kitchens, fireplaces, large screen TVs, and balconies. Some of the suites are outright “owned” by private individuals who may live there, visit there, or partially rent them back to the Lodge to then put into its reservations system. The most amazing suite was the Presidential Suite which the General Manager of the resort kindly showed us since it was unoccupied that day. I can safely say the Presidential Suite is bigger than my house!!!

Lake Placid, Whiteface Lodge, Presidential Suite, decor, travel, accommodations. lodging

The living and dining room areas of the Presidential Suite

I was impressed by the beauty of the outdoor areas and how the space is well-laid out for different activities that guests may opt to take part in. For example, there is a fire pit for making smores (I didn’t get to eat any!). The resort also has indoor spaces for every age and interest. From a two-lane bowling alley, to its own movie theater, to a game room, and to a phenomenal spa for lots of R&R.

While I did not stay at the Whiteface Lodge, I can assure you I was not going to miss its bar (open to the public) to check out its specialty seasonal cocktails and tasty appetizers while chatting with friends. Though they had a series of interesting martinis, I opted for a specialty cocktail (as I seem to have become a specialty cocktail adventurer) named Jacob Marley’s Return: Bourbon infused with apples, cinnamon, and cloves with Frenet Branca, and maple water. All these ingredients came together excellently for a cocktail perfect for the season and area of the country.

cocktail, Whiteface Lodge, Jacob Marley, Bourbon, maple syrup infused, Lake Placid

Introducing… Jacob Marley’s Return!!

As part of my visit, I was invited to try the thermal pools which was great as it was snowing and being outside in hot waters watching it snow was priceless.

Whiteface Lodge, Lake Placid, heated outdoor pool, jacuzzi

The steam from the heated pool makes for a slightly less than excellent photo but you get the point!

A different lodge

Lake Placid is big enough for more than one lodge and certainly for different kinds of them. The Adirondacks Loj, operated by the Adirondack Mountain Club, is perfect for those wanting a more basic place to stay. Sitting at the edge of Heart Lake, the Adirondacks Loj offers also more of a communal feel with shared dining room and even shared rooms (you can have a private one). The Loj seemed like a great base for hiking and its staff clearly was eager to help with information or anything else. It may be a great place to use as a base but I think I would also enjoy cold winter nights in front of the massive stone fireplace!

This photo of Adirondak Loj is courtesy of TripAdvisor

Great food everywhere. I am not complaining.

No visit to a new town is complete without sampling the food on offer. The night we arrived we went to a pub which was perfect for the mood after a five-hour drive in from the outskirts of New York City. The Lake Placid Pub & Brewery was packed yet we had no trouble finding a spot to perch ourselves on. I drank some pints of the oatmeal stout which was perfect to help me recover from the long day. That stout and a delicious flatbread pizza of the many on offer and ilivetotravel was a happy camper that night!

The next night we went Lisa G’s known for their excellent chicken wings. I had some as an appetizer but dove in for an incredible chorizo risotto with Manchego cheese that was out of this world.

Lisa G, Lake Placid, restaurant, food, cuisine, cooking, foodie

The chorizo risotto

For my beverage, I kept up the theme from the cocktail I had had earlier that evening at the Whiteface Lodge and chose a Bourbon-based cocktail: The Sassy Cider – Bourbon with maple syrup, lemon juice, some cider, and a little cayenne pepper – perfect to warm me up after a cold and wet day!

The morning I was leaving, we went for brunch at the Generations Restaurant associated to the Golden Arrow (where I stayed this weekend). With a great view of Mirror Lake, we enjoyed all sorts of good and impressive stuff, local-sourced and fresh. The cinnamon roll with strawberries and maple syrup clearly hit the right spot for my sweet teeth (in plural, because I have more than one sweet tooth).

cinammon roll. strawberries, maple syrup,, Generations, Lake Placid, foodie, cooking

Mmm!!!!

Everything we tried was great and then the piece de resistence came to us: bison burgers cooked on a Himalayan salt block. I had never heard of the concept but a large salt block is heated to high temperatures and then brought to your table. The bison burgers are laid on it and you let them cook until your preferred level of “cooked” Ir was amazing to see this salt block cook my burger. Here are the before and after pictures of this neat trick!

bison burger, Generations, Lake Placid, Himalayan salt block, foodie, cooking

Before…

After!

Now that I have shared all this with you, I am developing quite an appetite… I think you get the point: Lake Placid offers great experiences beyond its Olympic history and outdoor activities (which I hope to experience in the near future!). It sits in the beautiful Adirondacks, a blessed corner of our country and one I am glad to have discovered!

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My activities in Lake Placid were facilitated by its Convention and Visitors’ Bureau, and local businesses. Opinions my own!

Filed Under: New York, Travel Journal, US & Canada Tagged With: Adirondacks, cocktails, food, Lake Placid, lodging, Olympics, Whiteface Lodge

Photo of the Week: Dreamy Delights in Paris

21 February 2014 by Raul 3 Comments

Well, a photo of the week post is typically a one-photo deal but how could I choose between these two beauties??? Yes, I am swayed towards anything chocolate but this one tore me apart. So, without further ado, two scenes from Dalloyau in Paris.

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I just want to bury my face in these!

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For a chocoholic to say these look AWESOME is a big thing…

Filed Under: Europe, France, Good Eats and Drinks Tagged With: chocolate, food, foodie, France, fruit tart, pastry, travel

Brașov : The Gem of Transylvania

12 February 2014 by Raul 13 Comments

In 2012, I was fortunate to hike in the Transylvanian Alps in Romania for four days. It was a wonderful experience as it was trekking with purpose: to help orphaned kids in a Romanian orphanage in the town of Brașov (pronounced BRA-shov). I have shared about the hike and the service aspects of this incredible trek. But what I have not done is pay the town of Brașov its due… You see, Brașov was totally unexpected for me given my limited exposure to Romania before this trip. Also, it was unexpected after spending a couple of days in Bucharest. Brașov could not be any more different than its counterpart south of the mountains. And that may be true of many towns in Romania if my visit to Iași added further to the case…

Headed towards city council (the tower) and main square of Brașov

Brașov, Romania, Black Church, White Tower, Black Tower, Transylvania

Black Church and the White and Black Towers on the hill

German Saxons were influential in shaping the region and this town going as far back as the 12th century when the Hungarian overlords of the area brought these industrious folks to help develop the area. Brașov could be said was founded by Teutonic Knights but even after they left, the settlers stayed continuing to influence this town, so much so, that German is still an important language in the area (I found just as many people who spoke German there as English) though some of that could be due to more modern reasons too. In any case, all you need to do is look at the architecture of this beautiful town surrounding a good bit by mountains to see what I mean. You feel you are in maybe some part of Germany or Austria in the old part of the town.

Brașov, Romania, Transylvania, architecture

Beautiful buildings everywhere

Detail on an old building

Some of the key sights and sites of the town include:

The Black Church, one of the largest (if not the largest) Gothic churches in southeastern Europe
The Black Church

Clock of the Black Church
The old city gates that remain (Catherine’s which is the only original medieval gate still standing, and Şchei which is more recent from the 1820s)
The medieval city walls and fortifications, which you can get onto and walk pieces of it to see some of and go up the old towers (the White and Black towers)
The White Tower (I hope that is self-evident!)

The Black Tower, which does not look as black as the White Tower looks white!
The main square or piața (Piața Sfatului) with all the cafés and lively scene
Brașov’s main square or piata full of life (and pigeons!)

Musicians playing on a street leading to the piata on a summer night
Rope Street, the narrowest street in Romania
The first Romanian school (originally built in 1495 and re-built almost a century later into the current structure) sits next to St. Nicholas Church (which itself dates from the 16th century) and its small but interesting museum (we got a fun and lively short lecture by a priest named Vasile on the history of the school)
St. Nicholas Church in Brașov

Brașov is not only rich in history and architecture but it is also a perfect spot to explore Transylvania (which is WAY more than Bran’s Castle!) and from which to launch any summer or winter sports activities. The hiking is phenomenal with beautiful landscapes that feel untouched by modernity and I can only imagine how neat the skiing is!

Street art near the main post office

And the food, oh, the food! I loved it!

fried pork chunks, onions, Romanian food

Fried pork chunks – mmm!!!!

dessert, Brasov, Romania, food, delicious, travel

Deliciousness

Fresh from the bakery!

Here a couple of images showing the range of “interesting” to be found in doors around town!

Near St. Nicholas Church

door, tilted door, Brasov, Romania, red door

Was someone drunk? Or am I?

I enjoyed my days in Brașov before and after the hike and can safely say this is a MUST when visiting Romania.

Filed Under: Europe, Romania, Travel Journal Tagged With: architecture, Black Church, Brasov, First Romanian School, food, German Saxons, medieval city walls, Romania, tower

Anatomy of a Business Trip to NYC

10 February 2014 by Raul 15 Comments

I have been traveling for business a long time. From weekly trips to the same location for months on end (Toronto, Chile, Wichita, New Jersey) to the occasional international trip for a couple of weeks (Nice, Sao Paulo) to a day trip (Montreal, Munich). Mercifully, I have rarely been involved in the one-city-per-day-on-a-given-week – which I am grateful as that is truly loaded with all sorts of travel hell. Business travel may sound glamorous but most people will tell you it is far from it. It can be grueling, frustrating, fun, life-interrupting, rewarding – and often all at the same time.

As I was flying home yesterday from my most recent business trip, I’d thought I’d break down a sample, short business trip.

Destination: The Big Apple. Can one complain? The days were beautiful if very cold.

Empire State Building, New York City, NYC, Manhattan, blue sky, clouds, architecture

Picture perfect day!

Companions: 2 colleagues, not necessarily flying together

Purpose: Meet two companies who are partners.

Duration: The trip was to be two days worth of business meetings.

Airport of choice: LaGuardia. Pluses: It is a little closer to Manhattan, easier to get to. In addition, bad as the airport is, it is small and manageable. The flip side is that Delta flies better planes to JFK with larger business class cabins which seemingly would improve the odds of my getting my complimentary upgrades and seats that are much more comfortable in business class.

Class flown: On the way up, no complimentary upgrade: economy, exit row window. On the way back, upgraded right before boarding to bulkhead window. Bulkhead not my favorite but better than coach!

Cost: This all got decided a little over two weeks ahead of time but me being part of the traveling group was decided a little over a day ahead of the 7-day advance purchase of the ticket so the flight from Atlanta to NYC ran about $490.

Lodging: I was trying to find a hotel that had a good rate and close to at least one of the offices we were visiting and likely not too far from the places where the others were staying. None of us stayed in the same hotel but ended up within a block or two of each other. I stayed at a boutique hotel from Marriott’s Autograph Collection. Downside: no executive lounge. Upside: they gave you a breakfast voucher to the bistro that connects to the hotel which ended up being quite a good deal. And the room was not as small as I typically expect when I hear “boutique hotel.”

Friends seen: This business trip was likely to not afford me free time to see people I know including two cousins who live in NYC. However, I could not just not see anyone so I booked a flight for the night before the meetings and made sure my arrival would allow me time for dinner. So I called one of my cousins who I knew lived close by and I went to have dinner with him and his wife.

Travel hassles: Zero. Yep, you heard it. I have shared before my pet peeves about inflight experiences but none on this trip! It was a close one, though, as the morning of my arrival day, NYC had been blanketed with snow/sleet so flights that morning from Atlanta had been cancelled. The afternoon flights proceeded without issue. And one big reward: since many people stayed home, heading into Midtown from LaGuardia at 6 PM took all of 23 minutes as there was NO traffic out and about! My one concern heading into this trip was that I needed to be home early Friday night and, knowing LaGuardia and its track record on on-time departures, I was worried my Friday evening would be ruined. The flight left on time and I was home by 5:30PM -> success!

Dining experiences: My cousin and his wife took me to Stanton Social on the Lower East Side. We enjoyed a small plate dinner. The French Onion soup dumplings were awesome as were the barrio-style taquitos, the chicken and waffle, and my hot chocolate shot (dessert). The next evening, the folks we met with in the afternoon took us to a pub called Puck Fair, which ended up being about a half mile from I had eaten the night before so it turns out my dinners were centered around Houston St. Puck Fair is supposed to disappear in a few months as those buildings will be razed for new development which is a shame. The pub, which maybe has been around for a decade, is made to look ancient lending it great pub ambiance. For the second night in a row, my dinner was was small plates. This time shredded pork sandwich sliders, mini burger sliders, sausage rolls, curry French fries, cheeses, and they were all delicious. That and 4 pints of Guinness. We had a great time hearing stories and getting to know each other. Of course, hanging with my cousin and his wife was far more enjoyable but I was glad the second night wasn’t a stuffy business dinner – far from it!

Business: I had never been in NYC for business which surprises me after a long career in consulting. So it was cool to see NYC through slightly different lenses than I was used to. The business objectives of the trip were accomplished which is important since the nuisance of travel for a short visit would have felt worse had the meetings not been productive. But they were, I learned a good bit, and it is good to connect faces with names and voices. I am glad the trip took place.

On the “even better” category: Because I was upgraded on the way back, I was able to get a larger tray table which makes working on the laptop so much easier. That and my glass of wine made me very productive so all the to do’s out of the meetings were taken care of en route home so these to do’s will not pile on to my regular load of work when I return to the office on Monday. Success!

So, this trip is one for the books now (or for the blog??)!

Do you travel for business? Any stories worth sharing (as this one did not offer the usual drama of airports, loud fellow passengers, delays, etc.)??

Filed Under: New York, Travel Journal, US & Canada Tagged With: business travel, dining, food, Manhattan, New York City

2013: A Year in Food and Beverages

20 December 2013 by Raul 20 Comments

I traveled a good bit this year for both business and pleasure. As with most travel, eating out plays and essential part of the experience, as do the places at which I stay. This year offered me some memorable experiences in both areas. Here I take a quick look back at the food and beverages of 2013!

January blues: go away, I say

The year opened up with a traditional get together among a group of friends to celebrate the new year and good friendships. It is our way of extending the holidays into drab January with the cold weather and nothing exciting immediately in the horizon (like, say, spring). The highlight of the evening is an exchange of gifts but the food and wine usually shows our good taste in the finer things – at least for this little party. My favorite items are usually the sweets/desserts, as you can tell…

Mt. Kilimanjaro

However, I mis-type a little as I did have something exciting coming up early in the year: my climb of Mt. Kilimanjaro in February. Yes, the mountain is not going to be the paragon of fine dining and beverages. On the latter, our beverages on the mountain consisted mainly of water, hot chocolate, and the morning cup of coffee. Now AFTER coming down the mountain, that is a VERY different picture! That first cold beer as we exited Kilimanjaro and that first glass of cold South African wine that evening were glorious! But while we were not enjoying gourmet dishes up on the mountain, we ate well. The food may have been basic outside of the context of the hike but, during the hike, these lunches and dinners were royals-worthy. My favorite had to be when we were surprised with grilled cheese sandwiches! Comfort food indeed!

Washington, D.C.

After two years of working with a client in Washington, D.C., it was time to end my frequent travels to the U.S. capital (which I knew was going to be hard for me). I would have to say goodbye to my favorite bar: Le Bar at the Sofitel Hotel (near the White House), where I discovered the enjoyment of specialty cocktails. I know the reason God doesn’t make me President of the U.S.A.: I would be going to Le Bar for some evening relaxation a little too often!

Jordan

Leaving D.C. was hard to do but helping with that was my trip to colorful Jordan in April where the delicious food seemed ENDLESS! Whether in Amman, Mardaba, the Dead Sea, or the Wadi Rum, I do not know how I didn’t gain any weight in that trip. Or did I…

And in terms of beverage, though I had been to the Middle East before, I gained a new appreciation for drinking tea (hot tea). It may seem that what helps in warm weather is iced tea but, actually, a hot beverage is better for you – and I got to understand why! So good.

Miami

Going to Tampa or Miami is always something I look forward to because I know I will eat some the most delicious food around: Cuban food. I may be biased (OK, I AM biased) but it is just such an enjoyable feast for the palate to eat any of the number of traditional Cuban dishes. And many places around places to do so. Versailles and La Carreta are good traditional places (I enjoy the latter more) but I “discovered” El Palacio de los Jugos which is more of a take-out place than sit-down place (though there are some tables to go sit after you get your food).

Manila

My flash trip to Asia took me to Manila where I enjoyed great hospitality, exploring its history and good food. I really enjoyed M Café in Makati, where traditional food was served with some really neat twists. Thanks to my local friends for picking this place – loved it.

Atlanta

While this is a travel blog, others travel to my hometown so I think it is fair to talk about food in Atlanta. We ARE an eating out city and there are plenty of options from ethnic to mainstream to “nouveau” (whatever the proper term is for places like Local Three, 1 Kept, etc.). Lots of incredible new ideas in these nouveau-type restaurants.

Oh, and I also enjoyed a great chocolate tasting from Chocolate South at Perrine’s Wine Shop. They were innovative and tasty little creations!

Minneapolis

Before the year ended, I squeezed in a long weekend trip to Minneapolis, a city I had never visited before. I enjoyed exploring culture in this great city – and some great meals! One was at Wilde Roast Café, on the east shore of the Mississippi River – the crabcake was THE best crabcake I have ever had by a bit. The turkey meatloaf was really good and certainly made me feel much less guilty about ordering it and what was to come after the entrée: the flourless chocolate cake. It TRULY changed my mind about flourless cakes which never really knock it out of the park for me. That one sure did!

I also enjoyed brunch at Café Maude where the only bad thing was that my stomach could only handle one of their dishes! I had the hardest time deciding on ONE plate – I chose the country hash which had chicken confit, red peppers, onion, potatoes and a tomato marmalade. I did not go wrong (but the Eggs Benedict were very tempting too).

So, that wraps up my year in food though I will be having some great food still in the days left in 2013! Happy food and new year to all!

Filed Under: Good Eats and Drinks, Travel Journal, Year in Review Tagged With: beverages, Canon EOS Rebel, chocolate, cocktails, dessert, food, foodie, foodporn, Manila, miami, Olympus, photo, sweets, travel

Traveling Away from Family on Thanksgiving: 3 Things I Do that Help

27 November 2013 by Raul 5 Comments

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays: seeing family, eating well, and a valid/pre-approved excuse to just lounge around (no, I do not hit the stores!). However, it also happens to be a perfect setup for someone who likes to travel the world… The hard part about leaving the U.S. for Thanksgiving is not being with family on this date: It is hard on such a special day to not be with the family who is the source of many of the thanks I give.

However, it is also the perfect opportunity to travel for U.S. folks because you have two paid holiday days to mix with a few paid vacation days to create extra time for travel abroad. Also, it is a great time to travel because it is off-season (at least in the northern hemisphere): prices are lower and crowds are smaller without being the dead of winter.

So what makes it easier to skip being with the family on Thanksgiving? Here are three things that help me.

So the hard part is always telling my family that I am opting to travel on Thanksgiving. They have always been very supportive though I know there is a level of disappointment (actually, I feel that too). Here are three things that help me with this:

Fortunately, I think they know me well enough to expect that it could happen after it happened the first time in 2003… It does not catch anyone by surprise and that is of some help. Also, I do it only when there is just a great opportunity I cannot pass up. I do not just dream up a trip for Thanksgiving as I always assume I will be with family so, when I do travel, it it is only because of something that falls on my lap, so to speak.
It helps a lot that they know we will soon be together for Christmas so it is not prolonging not seeing other too long. Also, my Christmas visits are not a short visit: usually I spend at minimum 8 days and, depending on the year and where I spent Thanksgiving, up to 2 weeks.
Finally, I try to visit them some time in the fall to sort of make up for it and to shorten the time between seeing them in the summer and seeing them at Christmas. Cutting short the gap of not seeing each other helps some though it does not fully make up for not being together on this holiday.

pizza, prosciutto, Thanksgiving, food, travel

I was very thankful this pizza crossed my path

This approach has allowed me to have Thanksgiving dinner in Buenos Aires, Bologna, and Trinidad & Tobago so it has been fruitful! Be it with steak and fries, or a Caribbean dish – Thanksgiving meal happens!

Trinindad, food, fish, rice, tropical, travel

A delicious lunch at Veni Mangé in Port of Spain was well-deserving of thanks!

This Thanksgiving I am thankful for many things but the opportunity to travel and share the experiences is one thing I am thankful for. I am also very thankful for visitors and loyal readers to this travel site who keep me wanting to explore and share more of this world!

Filed Under: Travel Journal Tagged With: Canon EOS Rebel, family, food, holiday, reflection, Thanksgiving, travel

Manila Relaxation

18 October 2013 by Raul 24 Comments

I love to travel and explore new places. I enjoy it a lot. But I also like to relax and do not much of anything worth writing about. Yes, I have been known to cram a lot into a trip when I set my mind to it (like my Croatia/Bosnia & Herzegovina/Montenegro chaser to my week in Rome a year ago). But the diversity of experiences is what draws me to travel and that does not just mean different geographies and cultures – that also means pace. While I am not much of a beach bum (a couple of hours and I am itching to do SOMETHING), I appreciate what people find in just laying about and letting the world go on.

In my short visit to Manila I was intending to see all I could about the city in 3 days. However, there was something liberating in knowing that I could not experience all that the city is in three days so that gave me the opportunity to take the pressure off myself to do all I could (and especially after day one when I realized this is a place I would want to come back to). But what really sealed the deal was my hotel. It says something when a hotel makes you want to stay in and, I imagine, many hotels aim for that. The Marriott Manila had that effect on me. Amazingly, I was not jet lagged and needing to rest. (Jet lag actually did not affect me with sleepiness or confused time zones, something confusing in and of itself.) I. Just. Wanted. To. Be. There.

Manila, Marriott, Philippines, chocolate, sculpture, carving, art, interesting, Canon EOS Rebel, photo, travel

They love chocolate carvings/sculptures at the hotel – here one of the current President

The spaces

The room was spacious and comfortable (without being a suite). All the offerings/amenities of the room worked without a hitch (yes, EVEN the wi-fi). There was actually great lighting in the room (read #4 in my top 5 hotel pet peeves). The shower/tub combination was quite unique as was the division between it and the main room – clever.

Manila, Philippines, Marriott, room, hotel, lodging, luxury, interior design, photo, Olympus, travel, innovation. comfort

Look at the white half-wall in the background…

… and all of a sudden it opens up to “connect” the room to the shower!

The Executive Lounge, unlike most U.S. Marriotts, was huge. At non-peak times, it is easy to find a spot and feel like you are on your own, which is nice if you have work to do.

Manila, Philippines, Marriott, room, hotel, lodging, luxury, interior design, photo, Canon EOS Rebel, travel, lounge, comfort

The lounge

The lounge faces the golf course which gives it a great view…

Manila, Philippines, Marriott, room, hotel, lodging, view, interior design, photo, Olympus, travel, lounge, comfort

View of the city from the lounge (unfortunately, on a rainy day)

The lobby is a series of spaces designed to flow well and pull you in. The main seating area seamlessly integrates into the bar. You just want to hang there. And do people watching…

Manila, Marriott, Philippines, beautiful, decoration, furnishings, , Canon EOS Rebel, photo, travel

Lobby space

… or have a drink.

Manila, Marriott, Philippines, bar, light fixture, lamp, art, interesting, Canon EOS Rebel, photo, travel

The bar area faces the edge of the golf course. I like the light fixtures

Finally, facing the golf course, there are nice outdoor areas for those times when you get cold indoors (the A/C really is PUMPING!) or want to jump in the pool.

Manila, Philippines, Marriott, outdoor area, relaxation, comfort, hotel, lodging, travel, Olympus

Outdoor seating area right by the bar

Manila, Philippines, Marriott, outdoor area, relaxation, comfort, hotel, lodging, travel, Olympus, pool

Though a rainy day, a nice pool area

The food

On my first full night in Manila, after having done a walking city tour in the rain, I decided to eat in at the hotel. Since I had a slight sore throat, I asked for some chicken noodle soup. Boy, was that a chicken noodle soup! It was beautifully served and was delicious: with noodles, greens, diced up chicken, and carrots. I don’t think I have used the phrase “beautifully served” before but the solid ingredients were nicely set up in the main oblong bowl with the broth actually brought in a separate teapot-like container. I especially appreciated it because I wanted to shower before eating and the way they served it allowed me to not have to eat it as soon as it was brought to my room.

The next day, I had the choice of taking breakfast in the Executive Lounge, a hangout spot for a regular like me (the one in Santiago’s Marriott, I called my living room when I stayed there most of 2010!), or go to the Marriott Café. I opted for the latter to see what food they would offer in the buffet. It did not disappoint as it clearly had many local specialties some of which I tried and some that I did not want at breakfast (e.g., anchovies).

Manila, Marriott, Philippines, delicious, food, cuisine, Canon EOS Rebel, photo, travel

Kakiage (like tempura, in the back) and chicken tonkatsu (on the front) – delicious

On the fishier side of breakfast…

Some good-looking sushi

Location

The Marriott Manila sits very close to the Manila airport in an area called Resorts World. I am not 100% clear on the plans for the area but there are other hotels, shopping center, etc. and a lot of development going on in the area; it looks like a small town is actually sprouting. While one half of the hotel looks over the domestic part of the airport, the other half overlooks a very nice and lush golf course with the Manila skyline in the distance. I am not sure how it is during regular weekday hours but my ride to the business center of Makati was pretty easy and fast on mid-day Saturday.

I have to admit that before I came, I assumed that given its location (near the airport and not far from the Makati business district), the Marriott would mainly appeal to business travelers. Once I stepped in it, I saw how off my assumption was. Lots of leisure travelers AND many locals coming for events at the hotel.

Service – leaving the best for last (but proverbial “not least”!)

I mentioned earlier my slight sore throat. I stopped at the front desk and asked when I came in from sightseeing to find out where I could get some lozenges or something to alleviate my discomfort. The informed me that connected to the hotel, right after the entrance to the mall was a medical clinic. I thought to myself how convenient that was. Not only convenient but free. With a doctor. On a Saturday evening. Yes, indeed. Imagine that ANYWHERE in the U.S.! They really are prepared to take care of guests! The doctor just recommended something to gargle which the hotel concierge went to get for me. It really says something about a hotel when they can handle not only the “normal” stay but when something like this arises.

Which leads me to my top takeaway from this stay… The amazing staff at the hotel. They are well prepared to make you comfortable and assist you. They smile and it actually feels genuine. No wonder I just wanted to stay in, right?!

I have stayed at many Marriotts in my work life and logged many “career stay nights”. As I have mentioned elsewhere, one of the things Marriotts do best is give the business traveler a consistent experience so that you feel you are somewhere familiar. But the Manila Marriott simply blew me away. Few hotels have made me feel so welcome, comfortable, and cared for. You can bet that if – no, when – I return to Manila, I will be making a stop here!

Thanks to the Manila Marriott for hosting part of my stay. Opinions are my own as always.

Filed Under: Asia, Philippines, Travel Journal Tagged With: food, foodie, hotel, jet lag, lodging, Manila, Marriott, Olympus, Philippines, relaxation, travel

Buenos Aires: A Monument-al City

16 September 2013 by Raul 24 Comments

While on a three-month assignment in Chile many years ago, I visited Buenos Aires, Argentina for the first time to spend the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday there. In Santiago, besides Chilean locals, my co-workers included a fellow American and folks from Buenos Aires (abbreviated in Spanish “B.B.A.A.”; leave me a comment if anyone is curious why not “B.A.”).

We all had great fun in Santiago and exploring Chile together. So when the time came to book our tickets home for Thanksgiving, the other American and I thought to ourselves: why not go to BB.AA. and get to know it with our friends from work? We thought for a moment about our families and about missing the turkey, and decided (smartly) that this was our chance to see monumental BB.AA., all travel expenses paid.

Seeing some of the key sights

BB.AA. is monumental. Period. Not only because of its size but also because of its architecture too, reminiscent of Paris and Madrid, just rolled into one. Of course, it is not Paris but it gets as close as I have seen any other city outside of France to look like it.

Buenos Aires, Argentina, city, monuments, architecture, Canon EOS Rebel, church, Cathedral, Pope Francis — The very-classical Cathedral of Buenos Aires.

No visit to BB.AA. at that time could skip seeing the Plaza de Mayo, where the mothers of the people who disappeared during military dictatorship had been protesting for years (and, at the time of my visit, maybe for other reasons, according to my local friends). The plaza is in front of the Casa Rosada, the Argentine president’s residence and offices.

Buenos Aires, Argentina, city, monuments, architecture, Canon EOS Rebel, Casa Rosada, presidential palace, Evita — The “Casa Rosada” (Pink House; any similarity or apparent relationship between it, its current resident and the Pink Panther are purely coincidental). Evita made its rear balcony famous in her Broadway musical.

BB.AA. has evolved since those days, as all places do. For example, Puerto Madero has become a great area to visit, dine, etc. But in this first of my three visits to Argentina, that area was nothing like it is today; it was a blighted area.

We walked tons, visiting the cemetery where the aforementioned Evita is buried, walking down the sprawling Ave. Libertador with its many lanes that behave as one, shopping in Calle Florida, and all that good stuff. It is, like many great cities, a city one can enjoy best by roaming aimlessly.

Food. Oh, the food.

Food, oh, food. The Argentine capital is a veritable source of good food. Nothing complicated. We had Thanksgiving dinner at an Italian restaurant near Ave. Callao. Being that Argentina has tons of Italian blood for many immigrants, the meal was top notch. It wasn’t turkey but it was outstanding.

One of our co-workers invited us to an “asado” – BBQ Argentina-style. It was at his parents’ place and they grilled EVERY part of the beast. We were teased into trying a “weird” part so I opted for the kidney which seemed the “safer” thing. Not a fan of the texture though the flavor wasn’t bad…

My favorite meal was at the Costanera. I don’t know if it exists in the same format as it did so many years ago but, boy, the piece of steak was OUTSTANDING and it was buried under a PILE of REAL French fries. I ordered half a steak and it covered the entire plate – a normal size plate! A meal to remember – if you don’t drink too much wine with it.

Finally, my absolute favorite thing was Fredo‘s ice cream – really, gelato. There were many locations and every time we ran into one, we had to go in… My favorite flavor: wine cream. Out of this world or, what Argentines would say with great fervor: ¡¡¡ES-PEC-TA-CU-LAR!!!!

Monuments ‘R Us

There are many ways to describe BB.AA. but one that sticks with me is that it is just a massive collection of monuments. Wow. Every place you turn, a statue (with or without a fountain)! Incredible. Here is a series of photos showing what I am talking about…

Buenos Aires, Argentina, city, monuments, architecture, Canon EOS Rebel, Cabildo — In front of the Cabildo (or town hall). A great place to catch some shade.

Buenos Aires, Argentina, city, monuments, architecture, Canon EOS Rebel, Palermo, statue — In the Palermo area (as I pulled this photo out of the album to scan it, I realized this square and those buildings had been in an episode of House Hunters International not long ago!)

Buenos Aires, Argentina, city, monuments, architecture, Canon EOS Rebel, Urquiza, fountain Libertador — The fountain to Urquiza, an Argentine general and politician with the Ave. Libertador in the background (that speck at the top edge of the fountain is me)

Buenos Aires, Argentina, city, monuments, architecture, Canon EOS Rebel, Christopher Columbus

Buenos Aires, Argentina, city, monuments, architecture, Canon EOS Rebel — Monument to the Argentine nation

Buenos Aires, Argentina, city, monuments, architecture, Canon EOS Rebel, National Congress — National Congress and its own monument

Buenos Aires, Argentina, city, monuments, architecture, Canon EOS Rebel, statue — Statue and yours truly

Do you agree that Buenos Aires is a monument-al city?? 🙂

Filed Under: Argentina, South America Tagged With: argentina, Buenos Aires, Casa Rosada, Costanera, food, fountain, monument, statue

Landing in Sao Paulo and Experiencing It

20 June 2013 by Raul 12 Comments

As a travel blogger, I read other bloggers’ blogs because, you could say, I like the topic. I always enjoy when one of them goes to Brazil for the first time and I get to read their writings about their experience. Those writings remind me I want to go back badly. I traveled to Brazil (Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro) a few times for business in the late 1990s and found it a mesmerizing country even though I spent weekdays working. But the cool thing was that Brazil was a great experience even while working – THAT’S how great this country and its people are!

Let me jog your memory – if you are old enough!

My trips to Brazil happened in 1997 – a LONG time ago: before the Internet was prevalent, email being a young thing in the consumer space, and when flights used PAPER tickets!

Airplane ticket old non-electronic flight memento souvenir antique

Who remembers these???

Landing in Sao Paulo

Arriving in Sao Paulo for the first time I remember looking out of my plane window and seeing high rises as far as my eyes could see on final approach. It was MIND-BLOWING!

Landing Sao Paulo Guarulhos airport city urban

This pic doesn’t show the true myriad of high rises!

I remember that the airport had bank machines right when one went outside after claiming luggage and going through customs. (Exit and make a left.) I was quite impressed by that (remember, this is the late 1990s and though bank machine existed since the 1980s, international networks connecting bank machines abroad to your bank at home was not commonplace yet!). I wonder if that bank machine is still there… Anyone??

Working in Brazil

One of the things I consider myself lucky to have experienced was working in Brazil. It is one thing to go to the beaches of Rio and things like that – all wonderful experiences. But it is another to be truly in the day-to-day hustle-and-bustle in a business environment. And one thing I learned is that Brazilians are just as warm and fun at work as they are out in the beaches or clubs. I got to speak “portuñol” at work with colleagues who did not speak English. It was a fun meeting when I met with the Marketing Director at my client and he spoke Brazilian Portuguese and me in my Spanish peppered with the few words in Portuguese that I had picked up that were different than Spanish (“acho” in Portuguese, “creo” in Spanish; meaning, “I believe”).

What number, obrigado?

Another funny thing from those days that I wonder if it still exists in Brazil in “this day and age”: I worked on a high-rise building on floor 10, 11, or 12, I can’t recall. When you walked into the elevator, you were NOT supposed to press the button for the floor you were going to. No, no voice recognition back then. See, in that building and -probably many others- there were “elevator ladies.” I know, I know, that sounds like a variation of the world’s oldest profession but it wasn’t – to my knowledge anyway. They had a stool to sit on, though they weren’t always sitting on them. Their job was to “man” the controls of the elevator. You know those complicated buttons next to those hieroglyphs we call “numbers.” Yes, I am sure a legacy of some nanny state period. And when they went home, guess what? The elevators would no longer run. I learned that the hard way one day when I stay beyond their working hours (which you can imagine, were not too many minutes after 5 or 6 PM – I can’t recall). So, I walked down the stairs that night. What I did get to appreciate was how quickly they learned the floor you normally went to such that you no longer had to tell them which floor’s button they needed to press. See? They were EFFICIENT!

A convenient bridge to Rio de Janeiro

Work was in Sao Paulo but I got to take the ponte aerea (“air bridge”) to Rio for the weekends :). The ponte aerea was a multi-flight per hour air-bus that enabled the passenger to just arrive at the airport and buy a ticket for the next flight with an open seat from whichever of the three participating airlines. If I recall, back then there were three flights per hour. I REALLY appreciated not having to stress over traffic delays for a scheduled flight time (and, boy, is traffic BAD in Sao Paulo!). Mercifully, this ponte aerea ran from Congonhas airport which was right in the city versus Guarulhos, the big international airport, which is way further out. I have read since that this arrangement ended as the domestic airlines decided to go their own way in terms of flight schedules and pricing.

ponte aerea air bridge congonhas airport sao paulo brazil

Three airlines that partnered in the late 1990s on the air bridge

In any case, Congonhas (site of a few plane crashes) is known for being a difficult airport to land and take-off from given it is surrounded by high rises (clearly the city grew without proper regulations) and short runways. Before 1985, when it used to be the main airport of the city, longer haul flights had to go to Rio and then passengers would go on a smaller plane to Sao Paulo.. At the time I was blissfully oblivious to all this and just enjoyed said take-offs and landings… In any case, more about Rio in another post!

Congonhas (Source: http://xtremefast.com/information/the-world%E2%80%99s-7-strangest-airports.html)

Food in Brazil

One thing I learned to love in Sao Paulo was pao de queijo. It is the small morsel filled with cheese that you get with that shot of espresso anywhere down any street.

pao de queijo brazil espresso morsel cheese

Mmm!!!!!

It is ADDICTIVE – as are the espresso shots and any coffee for that matter in Brazil. At work, there was a young woman who worked out of a mini-kitchen, almost a closet, whose sole job seemed to be to walk around the floor wearing a maid uniform serving rounds of coffee. It was a throwback to how things must have been long ago in corporate America, think Mad Men maybe.

One thing I learned during those trips was how good food was in Sao Paulo! I am not just talking local food, though “local food” there means a high diversity of regional cuisines like form Bahia (Bargaço on Oscar Freire was outstanding!) and others. I am also talking about French, Italian, Japanese, etc. Speaking of Japanese, did you know Brazil has the largest colony of Japanese outside of Japan? They migrated to Brazil starting in the early 20th century and it is said there over a million people of Japanese descent in the country. But I digress. I had many phenomenal meals. And I wonder if any of those places are still there… La Vecchia Cucina, Charló, Gero, etc. (OK, I just searched and they seem to still be open! Now I REALLY have to go back!)

Charlo Restaurant food Sao Paulo, Brazil

One of the many restaurants in Sao Paulo that I enjoyed. I just looked in the Internet and it seems to still exist!

The food in Sao Paulo is some of the best I have ever had in one city. PERIOD!

Sorry Sao Paulo, I can’t do you justice here…

This post will not get even close to do justice to this megalopolis (that feels like one for sure!). But, trust me, Sao Paulo is understatedly fascinating. Food, art, nightlife (oh yes, I had a BLAST!), architecture and people all make it a really interesting place to visit. It doesn’t feel like London, Paris, or its closest neighbor, Rio. Because this is not a city one explores – it is a city one experiences!

Ave. Paulista in Sao Paulo, Brazil architecture

View towards Ave. Paulista

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As I wrote this post, I was amazed at how good these photos look despite being 16 years old back in the day when all photos were, umm, not digital! Thanks to my faithful Canon EOS Rebel!

Filed Under: Brazil, South America Tagged With: air bridge, architecture, Ave Paulista, brazil., Canon EOS Rebel, coffee, Congonhas, espresso, food, Gero, Guarulhos, pao de queijo, paper tickets, ponte aerea, Rio, sao paulo, travel, Vecchia Cucina

The Highlights of Food and Wine in 2012. Mostly Food.

7 January 2013 by Raul 12 Comments

2012 will be remembered by me for many reasons. Certainly the travel I did in 2012 ranks up there as do the many fun memories with family and friends. But another memorable aspect of 2012 will be the food and wine! Here is a small tour of the most memorable ones… mostly food…

BBQ anyone?

At Salt Lick, outside of Austin, Texas, the year started with some phenomenal BBQ!

Wine, wine, wine

A few wine tastings with friends and some touring allowed me to cover a lot of ground here! Virginia and Moldova stand out as unexpected wine places for me. While I was not able to bring a lot of wine from Moldova, Virginia was a different story!

WIne from Virginia's wineries: Pollock, Cardinal Point, Barboursville, King, Veritas

All but one of the bottles I bought in VA! The state can thank me later.

Deliciousness from Moldavia

As far as I understand, northeastern Romania and Moldova are known as Moldavia. The region was an independent/autonomous state between the 14th century and the 19th. I could see quite a few similarities between the two modern areas when I visited Iasi (Romania) and Moldova. One of the similarities I saw was in the food. My favorite dish was pork and mamaliga (a sort of polenta). And my favorite dessert papanași (papanash; a fried pastry stuffed with jam and soft cheese). I could eat these every day (an almost did!).

Mamaliga (polenta) and pork – typical food dish

Papanași (papanash)

A homestyle wine tasting

One of my favorite events is the quarterly wine tasting with friends. Our Frog’s Leap wine tasting (normally, we do not focus on one winery in these tastings) was outstanding and the food was a large part of that. After looking at the following pictures, could you disagree?

Cheese and crackers always good for a wine tasting

Cheese and crackers couldn’t be absent!

Lobster dip from Costco served in cucumbers

Lobster dip served in cucumbers

Chocolate bomb anyone?

I got to try one mean chocolate dessert at The Oval Room, across Lafayette Square from the White House (which I also got to tour this year!). This picture -no- no picture, can ever do this magnificent monument to desserts justice…

Chocolate S'more Bomb from The OVal Room in Washington, D.C. smore

Chocolate S’more Bomb with cookie crumble and salted caramel

Mofongo from Puerto Rico – in Tampa!

I have written about having great Cuban food in Tampa but over Thanksgiving weekend, I went for my favorite Puerto Rican dish: mofongo with fried pork chunks!! MMM!!!

Paris, oh, Paris

Forget the fancy restaurants and all that frou-frou stuff. Paris has awesome small “mere-et-pere” type of places with deliciousness galore. I am lucky to be an eternal Paris visitor and past resident. This allows me and my friends to enjoy these little-known places whenever I visit. However, I still enjoy discovering a new unpolished jewel, like the place in Montmartre where I had this delicious potato-and-egg-topped salad (along with a mini carafe of red wine!).

Of course, Paris’ chocolate houses are a must – and a tour of them should be de rigeur unless you are allergic to the stuff! I always stop by to enjoy some of Paris’ finest chocolate crafts.

Italy. What can I say?

No words are needed when it comes to Italy and food. Here are some of the images from my visit there in April (discovering new and re-visiting old places).

Suppli fried rice ball – mmm!!

White wine from Italy with Campo de Fiore reflected

I love how the Campo de Fiore is reflected in this glass of wine

Bucatini all’Amatriciana

Carbonara rocks!!

Coffee the AM I arrived… dropped our luggage at the apt and went out for breakfast. SO. GOOD.

Rome, Italy food: artichoke, buffalo cheese, tomato, basil

My plate full of our appetizers on our first night in Roma

Sweets!

Sublime gelato

Year end: always a time for food!

For Christmas eve (Nochebuena), I cook the traditional Cuban meal. Instead of showing a beautiful serving plate or bowl with the end result, I decided to leave the end result to the imagination and show you the work in progress. I love making my black beans and Cuban pernil!

Now good food didn’t end on Nochebuena. On our day trip to the charming southern towns of Newnan and Senoia, we had some really good southern food (always comfort food!) right at the square in Newnan. Those sweet potatoes were outstanding!

The year ends

The year went away like the dessert from this plate – it leaves me wanting more. What a year it was!

Filed Under: Good Eats and Drinks, Travel Stories Tagged With: black beans, chocolate, Cuban food, food, Italy, mamaliga, Moldova, paris, pernil, Romania, salad, southern food, Virginia, Wine

A Year (or the World?) Ends… Either Way, I Travel

21 December 2012 by Raul 17 Comments

Well, today is the day the apocalypse was to happen. I guess a few hours are still left so maybe I shouldn’t count my eggs just yet. BUT, if the end did happen, guess what? I can still blog from purgatory and you KNOW that would be an incredible travel story. Just hope it is not one of being stuck there forever, like when I was stuck in Europe because of the Icelandic volcano (which did turn out well) or someone else’s horrible travel story. Also, if the world did end, purgatory looks a lot like my house (and if the world did NOT end, I need to make some minor changes at home…).

So the end of anything usually calls for some reflection and be it the end of the world or the end of the year, I feel like reflecting on my very busy 2012…

A Texas tweetup in January

January saw me taking what felt like a bold step – to travel somewhere to meet people I met online. At first that has an almost dirty sound to it, doesn’t it? But I had been talking on Twitter with these three folks for many months and they were clearly people I would enjoy meeting in person and exploring with. So off to awesome Austin, Texas for the Texas tweetup! There I met in person @kirkcole, @L_e_a_h, and @LolaDiMarco. Unfortunately, a severe cold hit me on the day I traveled so I was not able to partake in all the activities but enjoyed a good day’s worth of laughing and eating in Austin!

Photo of people reflected in the fender of a car

Can you find the Austin tweetup fab 5 in the picture?

Normal in February – and other months

Traveling to DC for work permeates every month this year so my normal continued in February. Recovered from the Austin tweetup and post-Christmas parties in January, February was time to relax and be home (or in DC). Over the year, I got to check new things in DC that I had not explored yet in the last year. Doing the White House tour was a long-time bucket list item that I finally made happen. I continued exploring and enjoying many of the DC’s finest hotels like The Mayflower, the Sofitel Lafayette, and the Renaissance on 9th St. DC is a wonderful town if you get out and explore. Its many beautiful brownstones and local eateries are a joy to explore.

March Madness: Mile High Skiing

The traveling continued in March – this time a great ski trip with dear friends to Vail and Breckendridge, two places I had been dying to try for many years. The trip did not disappoint and neither did my skiing, not having skied since Valle Nevado, Chile in the Andes in 2010. Vail and Breck WILL be in a future ski trip for me, I can tell. The bowls of Vail where incredible: one bowl, then another one behind it, then another. It seemed to never end!

How thoughtful! Vail had a statue of me at the base of one of the slopes!

Amicci en Italia and diving into eastern Europe in April

April finally brought about the “long”-planned trip to Italy with two sets of great friends. Though mainly focused on Rome (a city I love re-visiting), a side trip to finally see Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast was built into the itinerary. It did not disappoint, especially our guide in Pompeii, one of the preeminent experts on Pompeii!.

But I took advantage of being on the other side of the pond to add another iconic destination I had never explored: Dubrovnik, Croatia. Its tiled roofs and architecture combined with the natural setting of its location made it a magical place for me. Of course, ever eager to see more, I decided to get further into eastern Europe while in Dubrovnik by doing day trips into Bosnia & Herzegovina (Mostar) and into the beautiful mountains and bays of Montenegro! These day trips were short, obviously, but they definitely opened the appetite to see more of these countries and this part of Europe.

View from up high of Kotor Bay in Montenegro

One of the ridges that divides Kotor Bay into 2 bays in Montenegro

Re-charging, re-connecting, and exploring Chicago

May saw a second tweetup, this time in the Windy City since we were eager to connect with other travel bloggers we had been chatting with for awhile. The Windy City tweetup had a little bit of everything: from French goodness (courtesy of the Sofitel Water Tower), Charlie’s Angels, boat tour, fallen traffic lights (not our fault!), doughnuts, cold coffee, good food, drinks (repeat), and the mob. It was a very fun weekend indeed meeting @workmomtravels, @travelingted, @jettingaround, and @elatlboy in person.

Posing in front of the Bean in Chicago at Millenium Park

Being tourists at The Bean

More fun with fellow travelers and good learnings

In June, TBEX, a travel bloggers conference, held its North America conference in Keystone, Colorado (very close to Breckenridge where I’d just been 3 months before; who knew I would be returning to the area so soon!). Besides the interesting learnings, the reception at the mountaintop on Friday night and the ensuing party at the pub at base (free!) really made the weekend a lot of fun and a good time to meet others who share the travel bug and re-connect with others. Among the great folks I met (too many to list all!): @BlBrtravel, @stayadventurous, @captainandclark, @lazytravelers, @budgettravelsac, and @travelrinserept.

A trek with a purpose in Romania and a true relic of the USSR

Romania had been a mysterious place that I had always dreamed of seeing. Not because I knew I would love it but it just called to me. A wonderful opportunity came my way to do a hike in the Transylvanian Alps with Trekking for Kids, a non-profit seeking to bring improved lives to orphaned/at-risk children around the world. We worked with the orphanage and just “were” with the kids before and after a hike through some beautiful landscapes around Brasov – we even saw castles other than Dracula’s! An experience I will never forget every which way, including it was my first multi-day hike ever!

Sphinx-like rock in the Bucegi Mountains near Omu Peak, Romania

Who knew there was a Sphinx atop the Transylvanian Alps (near Omu Peak)??

Since I was headed that way, I decided Romania (more precisely, the town of Iasi, Romania’s cultural capital) would be a great springboard to explore Moldova. So with my great guide, I explored churches, monasteries, towns (including the capital, Chisinau), and wineries in this little known former Soviet socialist republic still working to undo decades of horrible communist dictatorship. I am SO glad I made the time for this unpolished gem at the edge of eastern Europe!

The trip ended with a one-day, two-night in awesome Paris, my home away from home in Europe. Always love re-visiting my favorite areas and still finding new things to enjoy!

Time with Family in Tampa on my sister’s birthday in August

August also included a trip to Tampa where my family lives – always good to be with them, and enjoy good Cuban food and TLC! I had just been there in June (when I visited the impressively set-up Dali museum) but my Mom turned 70 while I was in Romania and my sister was hitting a milestone birthday of her own in August so I just HAD to go and celebrate with them!

Rest in September

In September, I took a break from travel. Well, non-business travel… But read on, the year of travel is not over!

Architecture and Wine: Tuscany or Bordeaux, you say? No, Virginia in October!

I finally succumbed to friends’ suggestion that I explore Virginia wine country with them. I had been wanting to do this for a long time but other travel got in the way. I took advantage of being in the DC area for work to go ahead and spend a weekend with them in wine country. And got out RIGHT BEFORE Sandy passed by! As you can read in my writings about this central part of Virginia, Monticello, Charlottesville and the countryside are filled with early colonial history and architecture as well as delicious wines. And there are close to 200 other wineries in the state to be found and explored! I was glad to have this opportunity to see more of my own country and other places will be in my sights in 2013 (like Michigan and Wisconsin thanks to friends from Chicago who write about these places!).

Cemetery where Thomas Jefferson is buried in Monticello on a fall day

OK, now I rest ‘xcept for Thanksgiving in November

So, my fun travels wrap up for the year save for visiting family again in Tampa where I discover yet another new place for good Cuban food! Someone STOP the madness! 🙂

I reflect back on the year and I am amazed at how much I have been able to see of places I have always wanted to see. And this is setting aside the twenty-something weeks of work travel to DC! The bucket list shrinks and yet I add new places I learn about. I consider THAT my most important key performance indicator – a never-ending travel bucket list!

Merry Christmas, happy holidays, and the best in 2013 for you and yours!