This Travel Tip Tuesday, Cherrye and I decided to collaborate on one of our favorite cities, Paris. There are so many things to love about the City of Light, so it is hard to know where to begin, so I felt it best to put together a Best of List. Now, some of you may disagree, but keep in mind, it is my best, not the best.
Best of Paris
Best Museum. I have been to many, not all, but many. So far, my favorite has been the Rodin. The building itself is exquisite, the wrought iron banister leading to the second floor is to-die-for, his works are amazing. Though the mansion is large, the small rooms allow it to remain intimate. His larger works, like The Thinker, are nestled among the gardens out back. You can even grab a nosh in the cafe.
Best Patisserie. Hands down, it is Ladurée. Each location is decorated a little differently, but they all exude that French style. The window displays are perfectly delicious, as well as the signature Ladurée pastel packaging. But the thing that keeps me coming back are the macaroons. Rose, violet, pistachio, lime and cafe are just a few of the inventive flavors.
Best Wine Bar. Though I have a handful of favorites, the Taverne Henri IV, located between the Pont Neuf and the Place Dauphine, will always top my list. The cozy atmosphere, the delicious homemade food that changes daily, and the wonderful selection of inexpensive wines make this a favorite of many locals and tourists alike. The location and the amicable owners are the real reason it holds a special place in my heart.
Best Spot For Sunset. Located at the tip of the I’le de la Cité is a small park, called Square du Vert-Galant. A lovely, serene spot to grab a park bench and relax, or smooch, like the locals do. Walk out a bit further at sunset though and enjoy the stunning array of jewel-toned colors light up the sky as the glow from the setting sun slowly transforms the bridges and buildings from cold grey to warm amber.
Best For a Stroll. Far away from the crowds and the center of the city is an area made famous by the movie Amelie. The Canal Saint-Martin, in the 10th arrondissement, is lined with trees, bridges, and locks along the canal. It makes for a lovely, quiet, picturesque and shady walk. There are several new boutiques and cafes in the area worth a visit, including the Hotel du Nord.
Best Quintessential Paris. Day or night, the I’le Saint Louis, exudes charm. With its tiny cobbled streets, romantic quays, boutiques, bridges and stunning views of both the right and left bank of Paris, it showcases a bit of everything Paris has to offer, all in the tiniest of spaces. And Berthillon, Paris’s best ice cream, is located right in the center of it all!
Best Neighborhood. The Marais is a lively section on the right bank and a perfect spot to spend a whole day. Wander the streets, pop in and out of the funky boutiques, spend some time on the Place des Vosges or one of the many museums located here. Locals flock here on Sundays, as it is one of the only places where shops are open. If you like Greenwich Village in NYC, than you will love the Marais!
Best Off the Beaten Path. Wander away from the touristy Place du Tertre, behind Sacré Coeur, and you will find the backstreets of the Buttes Montmartre. It’s a neighborhood lined with gorgeous examples of Haussmann architecture, large apartment buildings complete with French windows and iron balustrades, tiny streets with little French houses, quaint parks and passageways, a cemetery and a small vineyard on Rue St. Vincent. I love getting lost there.
—
Don’t forget,
Cherrye has her favorites for Paris too! Make sure you check it out!
This little hilltop town perched atop the Tuscan mountains is often called Medieval Manhattan, due to its many skyscrapers that seem to be longing to touch that Tuscan sun.
72 towers were originally erected within the city walls, but fewer than 15 remain today, still a sight to behold.
Tour buses barely scrape by each other, entering the stone arches to the city. Tourist can be seen crossing themselves, with wide eyes and gapping mouths, staring in amazement that they have arrived unscathed.
A popular day trip from Florence and Siena, hoards of tourists descend on San Gimignano and people clutter the streets for hours on end.
But, as the tourists pack up and leave, shopping bags in hand, a hush falls over the town. The silence is deafening. Without the sea of human figures blocking them, lovely stone facades that hide trattorias, shops and businesses line the small cobblestone alleyways and await your arrival.
This is the San Gimignano you want to see. This is the San Gimignano I love.
There is a cisterna in the center of town.
La Collegiata, for fresco viewing . And even a Torture Museum?!
Climb the old fortress, known as La Rocca and watch the sunset over the picture perfect Tuscan landscape below. There is a movie cimena here in the summer months.
And if its views you desire, climb the Torre Grosso, one of the towers still left standing, for a 360 degree panorama of the countryside.
The lush green hills, both terraced and not, dotted with terracotta homes and cyprus, unfold for miles around you and are eventually swallowed up by the big blue sky.
Even our room from the hotel had a spectacular view of the landscape
and of neighboring yards, complete with grapevines.
Vernaccia, the white wine created locally, is available in the wine shops and on every trattoria menu in town. Regional olive oil and saffron are also specialties of the area.
When darkness falls, magic happens. The lights from the hotels and cafes flood the piazzas and bring a glow to the stone walls in the town, and with it, a special feeling. We had a lovely, homemade, authentic Tuscan dinner in a romantic haven called Trattoria Chiribiri.
We were lucky enough to spot a hot tub on the terrace of our hotel, the Leon Bianco. Not caring if it was meant for guest use, we snuck up one night, hopped in and enjoyed a little spa under the moonlit and star studded sky.
When we awoke the next morning, expecting to walk onto the serene piazza, we were pleasantly surprised to see the square transformed, albeit temporarily, with a vibrant street market.
Don’t be fooled by the small size of the town, it has enough charm and activities to keep you busy longer than you would expect. Many just come for the day and leave, but for a true feel and to experience all it has to offer, stay on passed the tour buses and spend at least one night.
__________
Hotel Leon Bianco
Piazza Cisterna
San Gimignano
05 77 94 12 94
*
Trattoria Chiribiri
Piazza della Madonna
San Gimignano
05 77 94 19 48
On Monday, I posted about the Ovarian Cancer Awareness Contest, and I promised to share a recipe beginning or ending with "O", in honor of the event!
You may also remember a few weeks ago that I wrote about my birthday dinner with my ladies club. One of the dishes my friend enjoyed was a dish with orecchiette (meaning little ear in Italian), fennel sausage, sun-dried tomatoes and broccoli rabe.
I decided to experiment and try my hand at replicating that dish. In honor of Gina DiPalma, I have decided to call it:
Orecchiette Gina
(serves 2)
1/2 pound dried orecchiette pasta
good olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
6-8 sun-dried tomatoes, roughly chopped
1/2 bunch of broccoli rabe- use top third of each stalk
1/2 pound fennel sausage, removed from casing, pulled apart into large chunks
____________
Place chopped sun-dried tomatoes in a small bowl of hot water, for about 5 minutes, to plump them. Drain, set aside. Place broccoli rabe in a pot of boiling water for about 5 minutes to remove bitterness, drain and set aside. Put another pot of salted water on the boil. Add the orecchiette and boil until al dente, maybe 8-10 minutes.
Meanwhile, in a large saute pan, place chunks of sausage in pan, season with salt and pepper and brown over med-high heat. Remove when nicely browned. Turn heat down and add garlic to pan. Saute a few minutes. Add sun-dried tomatoes saute a few minutes more. Add broccoli rabe. Check for seasoning.
When pasta is cooked, strain one scoop at a time right into the saute pan. Add sausage back into pan. Stir to combine flavors. Add some pasta water if the dish looks too dry, and serve.
Buon Appetito!!
And don't forget to donate to this very important cause!
We interrupt our regularly scheduled Love Thursday post today, for a bit of self-promotion.
I have a little secret to share with you all.
After almost 2 years of writing this blog, and feeling the need to branch out a little, I started putting together a writing resume, cover letter and selecting posts to submit to different venues in consideration of freelance writing work.
I had been working on this diligently between all my other projects. I was getting some help from my mentor, and encouragement from a friend, and researching how to go about doing it, when a certain little birdie dropped me an email asking if I was interested in doing some paid freelance writing for Boots N All travel network.
I'll give you three guesses what my answer was, and the first two don't count!!
So, the editor/project coordinator contacted me to give me info on guidelines and what types of things they were looking for. I put my thinking cap on, sent over a few article ideas, and patiently nervously waited to hear back.
Every hour, I would check my email. A few days and several inches of fingernails later, the email arrived.
After what seemed like an eternity, the email finally loaded.
Sweat was beading up on my forehead as I feverishly read through the words.
They liked my ideas for several of the articles and they wanted me to start on one right away.
My *soft* deadline was in 2 weeks.
Then the panic set in. Oh God, what have I done? Why did I think I could do this? How will I come up with that many words? What if I am too busy? What did I say I'd write about again?????
So, after 2 weeks, several rough drafts, a few meltdowns and some very encouraging, positive words from my editor, I bring you my first published article.
8 Great Flea Market Destinations.
Please, feel free to click on the link above to read the article. You can only find it on the Boots N All site, as they own the rights. And if you are even kinder, you will scroll down and make a comment regarding the article right on the site. Or dare I suggest a little Stumble Upon love? A Digg? Add it to Delicious?
Geez, I know, downright shameless self-promotion! I am terrible! Pathetic!
Thank you for sharing in my moment of joy. It always feels good to be doing something that you love, but it is even better to be able to share a little piece of that happiness with all of you, my loyal readers, who helped make this day come about!!
Grazie Mille, Merci Beaucoup and Thank You from the bottom of my heart!
__________
My next article is tentatively slated for the third week in October. I will keep you posted! And I certainly hope this is the beginning of a bea-u-tiful friendship!
Photo: Molière gravesite, Père Lachaise, taken during my visit to Paris in 2005
Now, I know some of you would love to visit Paris, but for whatever reason, you just haven't made it there.
Yet.
Whether it be budget constraints, fear of flying, or your other-half not being much of a traveler, or solo travel just isn't your thing, I understand.
In these cases, armchair travels are a perfect solution. How about a virtual visit to a special place in Paris?
I share with you,a website for Père Lachaise. A cemetery on the western edge of Paris. Many famous people, including Jim Morrison, have this as their final resting place. And what a lovely place to spend eternity!
You get a lovely panoramic view of the entrance, as well as many other spots within the cemetery itself. If you really want your moneys worth, you can click on each gravesite for an up-close and personal visit, right from your comfy computer chair.
Click away my Paris lovers and please, tell me which is your favorite gravesite?
This Travel Tip Tuesday, I have decided to share some travel blogs that I love. There are so many different types of travel blogs. Ones that highlight a specific location, ones that offer advice, ones that report on the best travel deals, ones that review travel gear…the list goes on and on.
I sure do appreciate that you consider me a resource for France and Italy- offering travel tips, advice, arm chair stories and photos. But let's face it, there are soooo many travel blogs out there, I would be foolish to keep them all to myself! There are more than enough to go around.
And I am so into paying it forward; this is my way of throwing out some good karma into the universe.
Who knows maybe the karma fairy will throw a free trip into my lap as some sort good karma payment?
Well, one can hope.
Here are some of my favorites:
Budget Travel Blog. This one is an extension of the magazine and covers so much more. Current travel news, great photos, deals galore, and yes, travel tips. Whether you subscribe to the mag or not, this is one you shouldn't miss!
Spa Resorts. If you want a spa vacation, you can find it here. This one is spas. Nothin' but spas. Gorgeous pictures and delicious descriptions. Even if you don't want a spa vacation- come here just for a little zen escape.
My Marrakesh. Maryam gives us a wonderful look at her life living in Morocco. This is a great resource if you are planning a trip there. She is opening a resort of her own, so maybe you can make her home, your home, on your Moroccan vacation.
The Perrin Post. Wendy writes for Conde Nast Magazine and is considered an authority on consumer travel issues. Her blog covers a wide variety of travel topics.
Cheapest Destinations. You know budget travel is near and dear to my heart. It is no wonder I like this site! It was a Forbes Best of the Web winner. It covers travel destinations, deals, bargains, gear, books and more.
The Cranky Flier. Brett is a self proclaimed airline dork. His blog is about…you guessed it, flying. Anything you ever wanted to know about planes, airports, airlines, and fees are found here.
Gridskipper. This one is pretty cool. It covers 10 areas. New York, Paris, San Fran and the Hamptons are a few. Short post's that are long on info. Articles give recommendations on hip themed attractions complete with Google maps of the locations. Love that!
Go Green Travel Green. For all of your eco-conscious travelers out there, this is an excellent resource. This one covers green destinations, tips on green travel, green gear, green activities and my favorite, 31 Reasons to Travel Green, in pictures.
Ok, that's enough from me. Now it is your turn! I know you have your favorite travel blogs, please share them in the comments!
***
And speaking of travel blogs, visit My Bella Vita to see what travel tips Cherrye is sharing today!
Folks, today I am here with a very important message. Michelle, over at Bleeding Espresso along with a few others, have a contest going right now to recognize Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, which happens to be September. More important than prizes, is the need for donations in Gina DiPalma's honor, as well as others you may know who have had this awful disease.
Please see the details below from these wonderfully thoughtful lady bloggers.
Note: My participation won't stop here. I will be making an "O" food recipe that I will be posting this week in honor of this great cause!!
—————–
O Foods for Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month
September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. In honor of Gina DePalma, author of Dolce Italiano: Desserts from the Babbo Kitchen and Executive Pastry Chef of Babbo Ristorante in NYC, who was recently diagnosed with ovarian cancer, Sara of Ms Adventures in Italy, Jenn of The Leftover Queen, and Michelle of Bleeding Espressoare asking you to donate to the:
Ovarian Cancer Research Fund (via FirstGiving.org)
and then, out of the goodness of your hearts and to be eligible for theO Foods for Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month Contest, please do the following:
1. Post a recipe to your blog using a food that starts or ends with the letter O (e.g., oatmeal, orange, okra, octopus, olive, onion, potato, tomato) and include this entire text box in the post;
OR
2. If you’re not into the recipe thing, simply post this entire text box in a post on your blog to help spread the word about the event and Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month.
AND
3. Then send your post url [along with a photo (100 x 100) if you've made a recipe] to ofoods[at]gmail[dot]com by 11:59 pm (Italy time) on September 30, 2008.
We will post a roundup and announce prize winners on October 3.
Prizes:
- 1 Recipe Prize for best “O food” concoction: $50 gift certificate to Amazon;
- 1 Awareness Prize for only publicizing event: Copy of Dolce Italianocookbook.
———
From the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund:
- Ovarian cancer is the leading cause of death from gynecologic cancers in the United States and is the fifth leading cause of cancer death among U.S. women; a woman’s lifetime risk of ovarian cancer is 1 in 67.
- The American Cancer Society estimates that 21,650 women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer in the U.S. in 2008 and about 15,520 women will die from the disease.
- The symptoms of ovarian cancer are often vague and subtle, making it difficult to diagnose. There is no effective screening test for ovarian cancer but there are tests which can detect ovarian cancer when patients are at high risk or have early symptoms.
- In spite of this patients are usually diagnosed in advanced stages and only 45% survive longer than five years. Only 19% of cases are caught before the cancer has spread beyond the ovary to the pelvic region.
- When ovarian cancer is detected and treated early on, the five-year survival rate is greater than 92%.
Please donate to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund
and help spread the word!
You may remember then we first talked about the Where in the World I am Going on July 4th? game, one of the clues was about street lights.
Well, here is the proof in that pudding. The first street in the U.S. to be lighted with gas.
Some boats on the Newport Harbor
I love the shot of this Gorton's Fisherman look-alike in his fishing boat complete with American Flag flying proudly from the aft.
You can faintly see the Newport bridge, or Claiborne Pell bridge, which spans over Narragansett Bay, in the background.
Adirondack chairs, lined up neatly on the dock next to the Coffee Grinder, on Bannisters's Wharf. A perfect spot to sip your coffee while watching the boats sail by in the harbor. Can you hear Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay, playing?
Or the sailboats on the harbor.
How bout a ride on this one?
Italy is never far from my heart or mind, and it turns out Newport is no exception!
Bowen's Basin
Lots of shops, galleries and seafood restaurants line the wharf area.
Looking back on the city of Newport, with the Trinity Church steeple in the background.
Where are the best harbor towns you have visited? Why do you love them so?
Don't forget, today is the last day to enter the La Cucina Italiana cooking contest. Head over to Blog from Italy to get the details. Time is running out!!
Hi, I am Madison. Well, Maddie when I am good, Madison when I am not.
Now, many of you have seen my pictures on my Mom's blog, but she has really never written about me. Mom's a computer hog, so it is hard for Dad and I to get any computer time. But I was able to sneak in a little for this post.
I am seven. I am a West Highland White Terrier, but most people call me Westie for short. I never really act my age. I feel much younger!
I am a typical, energetic, smart, stubborn, terrier.
Squirrels are my fav. Well, any rodent really, since I was originally bred to hunt and kill them. I will take your arm off running after and treeing a squirrel, all the while shrieking like a stuck pig.
It really freaks out the neighbors!!
I can't help it!! I get so excited!!!
I don't like to brag, but I am smart as a whip. I watch TV and know when the animals are on…even from the other room. I bark at every dog, cat, elephant, tiger and the like. Needless to say my parents don't get to watch the Dog Whisperer or Animal Planet very much.
I think I drive them nuts with my barking. But, I am just trying to speak to my peeps!!
I know seven tricks. Sit, stay, down, come, paw, roll-over, turn-around. I know, it is impressive!
And I can spell!!! Yep. My parents have to speak in code around me now because I know words and how to spell words like t-r-e-a-t, w-a-l-k, o-u-t and c-o-o-k-i-e. And you know what happens when I hear these magic words?
I go a little bonkers until I get whatever it is they said!!! I have a one track mind like that!
My favorite human foods are nuts, grapes and don't even get me started on peanut butter. I always do this *thing* when my parents are eating, I stare at them and then at their food. To get their attention I put my paw on their thigh and I scratch it a few times. I think they ignore me, so I do it a little harder the next time. Harder and harder until I finally get scolded.
But I am so cute that they can't be mad for long.
When I sleep, I sometimes roll over on my back with all my legs in the air. Oooh, it feels so good. Like a doggie chiropractic adjustment.
And then when my Mommy and Daddy rub my belly, I loose all control of my cheek muscles and it looks like I am smiling at them.
I know it looks really silly, but it feels soooo good.
I also love to go on walks and picnics with the folks- I even like the car ride. I am happiest when I am outside.
My favorite road trip is to Grandma's. I am so intuitive, that I know when those trips are coming. There is alot of packing and running around going on and then Daddy starts packing my bag. I get so wound up that I run right in my crate and lay down. I start panting and whining, 'cause I can't wait to go!!!
Then Mom usually says, "Maddie, wanna go to Grandma's?" She thinks I don't know what's going on at this point, so just to play along, I look at her with my cute pink ears pricked up and my head cocked.
She thinks I just figured it out, but little does she know…I knew all along!
I am kinda sneaky too. I am not really allowed under the bed and the door to the bedroom is usually closed, but as soon as it opens, I make a bee-line and run right under the bed, so fast that they can't catch me. Then I lay down like a frog (that hardwood floor is so cool on my tummy) and stare at them from under the bed.
And I will only come out if Daddy says I can have a treat! Boy, do I have them fooled!!!
All things considered, I have a very happy doggie life. I love my Mom, but I have a special bond with my Dad. He is the best. He's better than a whole roast chicken.
I fell asleep on his lap on the car ride home all those years ago when they took me home from the breeder. Ever since then, he is like my boyfriend. I get a little jealous when my Mom is giving him hugs or snuggling on the couch, because I want him all to myself. I bark at her and try to get in between them, but it never really works. I end up having to share him.
Here is my favorite picture of us together.
Cute isn't he? Oh, and I was having a bad hair day here, my Groomer went a little crazy!
I have a few things I don't like. Like going to the doctor, the groomer and having my nails cut. I know Mommy say's they are all for my own good, but I still do whatever I can to get out of it!!
Well, I better go before Mom catches me on the computer.
And I know I am not supposed to beg for food, but if you liked hearing from me and you think I am cute, please send lots of peanut butter cookies!!
I fear we are running low.
We found some dried tortellini stuffed with pesto at Trader Joe's. I like to keep them around so in a pinch, when the cupboards are bare, we can at least have something for dinner.
I knew they would be easy to make, but didn't know they would be quite as delicious as they turned out to be.
Sometimes poor quality dried stuffed pastas tend to get mushy, fall apart and leak the stuffing into the boiling water.
But, not this time. Not these little babies. These remained firm and whole.
As long as it takes to boil them, add another 30 seconds for prep and then serve!
Couldn't be easier!
After boiling, draining and plating we drizzled some of our new basil oil over the top, shredded some pecorino romano cheese over them, twisted the pepper mill a few times, and sprinkled on some freshly chopped parsley and basil..and voila!
Dinner is served! How quick and easy was that?
How do you like your tortellini?
And remember…there are only 2 days left to submit your Italian Soup recipe for the La Cucina Italiana contest!!!
