b l o g o r e l l i

Bon día, home sweet home

We're back from España...what an amazing trip! A few photos, until I get the other 700 organized.

Project 365: Day 297

After a stopover in Amsterdam and 10 hours on two planes -- we arrived. Mark and I haven't talked for almost 35 minutes on the public transit home since we now have mobile coverage.

On another note, I'd really like to go back to Amsterdam.

Project 365: Day 296

For the last day in Barca, we decided on some gift shopping, a walk along the ocean, and ... PAELLA!

Extra credit:

Project 365: Day 295

Lots of protests and revolucions in Catalonia for decades...we even saw a few crowds organized during our walks around town. I loved all of the visual ephemera on the streets -- super graphic design fodder!

Project 365: Day 293

Walked alllll over today, including checking out Park Guell, (another) Catalan treasure by Gaudi, and the Picasso Museum (insert Blue Period joke here.) The Prof and I are adjusting to the schedule, but still aren't quite up to speed with the 9am espresso, 11-1 lunch, 1-5 pm siesta, 5-7 pm tapas, 9-11 pm dinner, midnight+ clubs and cocktails. Whew!

Project 365: Day 292

Today, the Barcelona City Tourist Bus seemed like a smart idea after spending hours and missing numerous street signs (hint, they're on the side of buildings) looking for...um, anything. The Prof and I decided to do a major (1+ hours) jump off at Sagrada Família, Gaudi's legendary -- and still unfinished -- church.

I have to say that this monument to Catholicism was one of the most amazing architectural sights that I've ever seen. All of the facades, details, textures, sculptures...just a once-in-a-lifetime.

Project 365: Day 291

We have arrived in the land of ham...managed to find our rental apartment, have lunch, and walk around for three hours before we totally crashed. Tomorrow will be more productive (I think.)

Transcontinental

BARCELONA, here we come!

(A grateful thanks to The Prof's sis for taking a delightful vacation herself at Chateau Murforelli for the week to hang out with our Boys.)

Adeu,
Blogorelli (and The Prof)

Project 365: Day 287

The Barcelona trip is a practical reason to buy some new apps!

Project 365: Day 285

Only FOUR days until The Prof and I leave for our belated honeymoon in Barcelona. My co-worker, who went to Rome in August, found some spare Euros in her wallet and gave them to me for that first tapa.

Thanks, Michele ;)

Project 365: Day 262

The Prof woke up and left early this morning, our first wedding anniversary...but he left a surprise to keep me occupied until he returned (with breakfast fixins.)

Making a paper chain...

...and counting the weeks until The Prof and I are on our belated honeymoon in Barcelona, España! Through a website that I read about in the NYT, AirBNB.com, we booked an amazing penthouse apartment (complete with king-size Tempur-pedic bed, full kitchen and bath) in the Borne area for our week away. A cheaper alternative to any of the hotels in the running, the apartment is a ten minute walk to the tourist sights in one direction or the seashore in the other.

Now on to my favorite part -- the research and making some (fluid) plans.

I'll be here in seven short paper chain links:

Project 365: Day 57

The last morning of our trip, on the way out of of Santa Fe to Albuquerque via The Turquoise Trail

Project 365: Day 57

After a FULL day of walking on Canyon Road, lunch at Cowgirl BBQ, two museums (New Mexican History / O'Keefe) and a drink at the Hotel St. Francis's newly redone bar...a romantic dinner for two at Café Pasquals.

Project 365: Day 56

After a few days of priming on lesser-mouth-burning green chili, it's time for the flaming Horseman's Haven variety.

Project 365: Day 54

Walking around town, Santa Fe

Project 365: Day 53

En route...

Off to Enchantment

Barring weather issues, here we go to Santa Fe for a week! 

I  c a n n o t  w a i t .

(photo by alasam via flickr) 

Mini-moooooon

The Prof and I are one week + a day in with this whole "marriage" thing and, so far --- not gonna lie -- it's wonderful. Hopefully we'll get shots from the wedding photographer this week, but until then, some photos of our mini-moon to the New York Finger Lakes wine region.

Do I like to drink wine?

We headed to Naples, NY, from PA a day later than planned because we wanted to help my parents disassemble and clean up as much as possible and, well, we were pooped from all the festivities.

DAY 1, Naples NY, Lake Canandaigua
Driving from PA, enjoying a relaxing start at the delightful Bristol Views B&B

DAY 2, Naples NY, Canandaigua Lake / Wintour Falls NY, Seneca Lake
Visiting some local wineries, trying to get to the bottom of the "grape pie" phenomenon, delish dinner at Stonecat Cafe

DAY 3, Wintour Falls NY, Seneca Lake / Ithaca NY, Cayuga Lake
* HAPPY 32nd BIRTHDAY TO MY HUSBAND!*
Hiking at Watkins Glen, amazing meal at Moosewood Cafe courtesy of Cho+Bobby+Linc+Cabell (a wedding present!)

DAY 4, Ithaca NY, Cayuga Lake / Syracuse NY
Trying to find Ithaca's best coffee shop for morning java, lunch at Dinosaur BBQ with Brother Jim, driving back to The Bean

36 Hours in Heaven

Ok, let's just pretend that my allusion to adolescence worked there in the title and get to the big news: The New York Times featured Pittsburgh in this past Sunday's "36 Hours" column!

Though a bit Strip District-centric, the article covered most of the essentials, including the Warhol Museum, Duquesne Incline, Oakland's universities and museums, and PNC Park. One definite oversight -- eating the classic Pittsburgh sandwich at Primanti Brothers. I am, however, interested to check out 16:62 Design Zone when I return home in August for my cousin Kris' wedding to the lovely Melinda (on their farm in a classic airplane hangar they're redoing for the reception, which is so cool.)

I think this part of the NYT article says what I've been preaching all along:
"Pittsburgh has undergone a striking renaissance from a down-and-out smokestack to a gleaming cultural oasis. But old stereotypes die hard, and Pittsburgh probably doesn’t make many people’s short list for a cosmopolitan getaway. Too bad, because this city of 89 distinct neighborhoods is a cool and — dare I say, hip—city."

WOO-HOO -- go PA!

(photo from Flickr, by NearDC...see more of his Pittsburgh shots here. Thx to JennJ for the heads up in the Comments, although I amazingly and coincidentally did see the actual printed article.)

Real Women Wear Orange, Natch, Deodorant

We have returned from our weekend away in NY, and are sitting in our non-air conditioned apartment watching the Celtics game. The past fews days were truly fun and a special way to kick off 2008's wedding season.

Upon our arrival at the Renaissance Marriott downtown, I was psyched to find out that the hotel was not only circular (there was a circular hotel in Cinti that I always wanted to stay in), but that our room had a giant flat screen television mounted on the wall and the famous Marriott Supreme Plus bed that I've read about, with "713 of the world's best coils for a premium sleep experience." Although I'm usually anti-extreme air conditioning, I gladly let The Prof crank the temp down to 65, since the weather outside was a muggy 90+ with mucho humidity.

After a short rest, we headed to Dinosaur BBQ, a juke joint and biker bar whose reputation in Syracuse is akin to Skyline's buzz in the 'Nati. I guess that I (or the Taste of Syracuse, happening a block away) was a good luck charm, because we got seated immediately and commenced eating the most delish BBQ I've had in years. To ward off food coma, we walked around "The Taste" and had some local beers.

  

Saturday morning meant a little fitness walk/run around Green Lakes State Park. To be fair, The Prof and friend Steve ran while wifey Jenna and I walked and discussed real estate. Luckily for the blogosphere, I didn't have a camera, as the temps reached toward to 90s (with, yep, high humidity) and I only brought pants = unusually SWEATY Blogorelli. After dropping Steve+Jenna off at the hotel, we headed back to a great area full of old signage so that I could take photos. The Little Italy area of Syracuse (specifically North Salinas Street) is experiencing a revitalization. I'd live there in a quick minute, specifically in this building (which I, predictably, formed an immediate crush on AND it's for sale!):

Click here to see my complete set of photographs from the Lil' Italy walk.

After taking the photos, we headed back to the hotel to freshen up for the wedding, which will be part 2 of this Syracuse series. I should explain the post's title, though: in the 90 degree heat and rush to get to the ceremony site, I forgot to wear deodorant. OOOF! Luckily, we took it easy during the dance party and also sat at a table with a nice cross-breeze.

We did bring home some local "souvenirs" from Wegmans, however...

Land of the Rising Sun

Did someone forget to tell me that 2008 is the "year of travel to Japan"?  First Jeffé + Ms. Clairvoyant, now The Dairy Queen/Skydiving in Stilettos. Here's wishing her safe travels and fun times on her vacation -- she leaves tomorrow! Hopefully, she'll ride the subway at a non-rush hour...

Freeze Frame: Asheville

Hearing about some of the trips others are taking these days (Jeffé's Harajuku Adventure in Tokyo and Jerri+Mark's Babymoon to Puerta Vallerta) motivated me to finally sort through the hundreds of digital photographs that I took in Asheville.

If you'd like to see what I saw (ok, months ago, but still)...then click below on the post continuation!

Places to Go-Go + 2007 Travel In Review

The New York Times released their 53 Places To Go in 2008. I really enjoy perusing these lists because the choices are somehow hopelessly lofty and weirdly inspriring all at once. I doubt I'll make it to Laos (#1) this year...but if the NYT thinks I could go there, then maybe I will...riiight?

I definitely don't plan, or even want, to visit Libya (#10) in 2008, but I am determined to get to "old reliable" New York City (#53) sometime in the next 11 months, especially since Muji's Soho store is now open.

A few other spotlights from the list:

#12 PUERTO VALLARTA
"Maybe it is the lasting memory of the gay icon Elizabeth Taylor's scandalous affair with Richard Burton during his filming of "Night of the Iguana" in the early 60's, but Puerto Vallarta is becoming gayer by the year and is now poised to overtake Acapulco as Mexico's leading gay beach."
(BLOGORELLI: I dunno, does anyone else thing this place just sounds...fun?)

#14 Prague
(BG: Hey, Prague is the new Prague! Tee hee. Ok, I lifted that from the article.)

#26 Oslo
(BG: Been on my "want to go-go" list for the past, um, 3 years now.)

#27 Buenos Aires
(BG: Made my 2007 list AND P. Natty and Lil' Kim already beat me there!)

#34 Lombok
"A low-key Indonesian island east of Bali, is coming out of the shadows."

40. DETROIT
(BG: Cho, when are we going on our "ladeez getaway" to the Motor City?!?)

52. TOKAJ, HUNGARY
"Backpacking wine tours? The Hungarian wine region of Tokaj is regaining its reputation for quality whites, especially wheat-colored dessert wines made from furmint grapes."

The NYT's 53 Places is also an excellent prompt to follow Kottke's lead and type out "My List of Cities 2007".

Here A, There A, Everywhere A Blogorelli
(My List of Cities 2007)

1. Providence, RI
2. Pittsburgh, PA
3. Ludlow, VT
4. Lake George, NY
5. Cincinnati, OH
6. South Yarmouth, MA
7. Provincetown, MA
8. Meredith, NH
9. Newport, RI
10. Asheville, NC

My year of travel was fairly localized. What about y'all, Inter-net?

(above, one of my favorite views of 2007...from Chimney Rock, NC)

ONE Day To Asheville!

Call it Murphy's Law (which now seems odd to say, considering that I'm cohabitating with someone whose last name IS Murphy)...things get extremely hectic this week at work, frosty temps in The Bean  force us to use our precious-as-gold heating oil supply, and I catch a head cold right in time for my "solo 30" adventure. Waaah! Luckily, Asheville's temps look to be in the 60s for most of next week and I am getting so excited for my trip!

In a move completely unlike myself, I have yet to plan one thing that I'll do or explore in the greater Asheville area. I did, however, confirm my hotel hostel and rental car reservations because, come on, I haven't turned into an alien version of myself. A quick look at ExploreAsheville.com offers relief by letting me know that I can still catch some beautiful fall foilage in the mountains or, perhaps even more tempting, get into the Christmas spirit early with Christmas at The Biltmore, by checking out the National Gingerbread House Display, or avoiding holiday season shopping rage by grabbing up a bunch of gifts during the River Arts District Studio Stroll. I'm also pretty euphoric in finding out from my limited research that there are at least *6* quality thrift stores to check out in Asheville. GoogleMap me to the nearest post office because Mama's mailing home boxes of goodies!

In all honesty, I'm mostly looking forward to just relaxing and reflecting. This past year has been a complete roller coaster. I could use a little quiet time operating on my own clock. And even though I've threatened not to return to The Bean (as I have many, many times before,) now I have to -- The Prof bought us Saturday matinee tickets to see Moscow Cats Theatre!

More tomorrow...

 

Fall In Heart With Warsaw

According to CNN, Warsaw is so hot right now. The Eastern European city, mostly destroyed during WWII and meticulously rebuilt according to its original plans, is gearing up to be the IT girl of "undiscovered" European travel destinations for 2007.

From the CNN article:
"To get a feel for the city that was known as the Paris of Eastern Europe before World War II, stroll down Nowy Świat Street, lined with restaurants, cafes, bookstores and small shops. It's part of what's known as Warsaw's Królewski Trakt, or Royal Route. On a recent visit, the music of Frederic Chopin wafted down from an open window of one of the elegant apartments occupying the upper floors.

The street is also home to a sweet Warsaw tradition. Blikle, one of the city's best-known confectioners, has been serving up cakes and pastries since 1869.

It's probably most famous for perfecting the Polish version of the donut: Fist-sized balls of sweet, fragrant yeast dough fried until they're golden-brown and covered with icing. But it's what's inside that gives them their unique taste: A filling of preserves made from pureed rose petals and sugar. They're best when they're still warm, when it's especially hard to eat just one."

Boy, do I ever love a fresh doughnut right before a busy day of sightseeing! I actually considered Warsaw for my solo *30* trip, but decided that I might like Budapest better, what with the baths and all. However, from everything I've read independently and on Warsaw's official web site, I could totally spend some time in Warsaw. The city seems fairly easy to traverse, with lots of sights, shops, and little nooks to discover. Perhaps I've found a contender for the 2008 GO-GO travel list?

Any Way I Like It

Well, Inter-net, I've decided on the location of my decadent *30* solo trip:

Asheville, North Carolina! Also known as the "Paris of the South," "Santa Fe of the East," "New Age Mecca," and "Land of the Sky," America’s "Happiest City" (Self Magazine,) and one of the "Best Places to Reinvent Your Life" (AARP.)

Naturally, I managed to fret over where to go (as I watched the US dollar divebomb) just long enough to realize the whole point of a birthday retreat (or any vacation, for that matter) is to relax. So I took a deep breath, tucked Budapest into the back of my mind, decided Barcelona might just be a richer trip with some company along for the ride, and booked my ticket on Friday afternoon.

I've wanted to check out Asheville for some time, plus I have a rental car with unlimited mileage AND a reservation for a single, solo room in a hostel named after two deceased goldfish to save money. Did I mention the hostel has a hot tub?

Italia: Inestimabile!

Tara + Hal The Norwegian are currently wrapping up their glorious year of life abroad with a visit to Norway, but I thought I would share a few of my favorite photos that they sent in the past months. Now, say the country shaped like a boot did an "Italian Fabulous" version of those Mastercard:Priceless commercials, well, I think there are some strong contenders below...

Italia: Inestimabile!

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Italia: Inestimabile!

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I think anyone can see where I headed with this one. And one more thing: put those fruity Euro-cocktails down and COME HOME SOON, you two -- the local flavor here misses ya!

Study in Contrast

And I thought my Easter was pretty great, but as Tara's photo of the Duomo plaza on Sunday morning shows -- Italians trumped us American Catholics once again...by setting things ON FIRE:

Un giorno! Un giorno!*

Tomorrow afternoon I depart for my week overseas (still v. thrilling to type those words) in Florence. Exciting! Today, not so much exciting...more just stressful with many details to tie up before leaving the country.

I came with a hare-brained scheme to either not sleep tonight or wake up around 3-4 a.m. so that at exactly 6 p.m. tomorrow, my body will think it's time to sleep and I will blissfully pass the six hours to Rome in a peaceful slumber. On my last trip to the Europe (with The Polish Princess in '01,) I did not sleep one minute of the flight over the pond. I felt like hell, and wanted to kill everyone patron taking a personal audio tour in the Rijksmuseum that day during our layover in Amsterdam.

If my original plan does not come to fruition, I am not above calling on Vic to knock me out.

I hope to post a few things tonight before I leave, to publish while I am away. But I may run out of time. So check back over the next week...but if nothing appears here, then you know I'm wholeheartedly taking P. Natty's advice to "Eat some great food and smooch on an Italian boy"...and practicing European reckless abandonment by possibly smoking and riding on a scooter!

(*un giorno = "one day" in Italian)

Ciao l'Italia!

Many things came out of my fitness instruction days. A few include lost paychecks, cancelled classes with no notice, worthless interaction wtih the baselessly pompus Mr. Super Tan Manager Man, and a man forcing me to impulsively dance the Salsa with him.

Of these things, few (actually none,) are what I would consider wholly positive…although I guess the Salsa guy was ok. One actual good thing that I can credit to Zumba, besides weight loss, is a friendship with fellow instructor Tara. She co-instructed with me after we finished our training course. She was upbeat, very kind and indesputiably a MA native. In July, she and her boyfriend, Hal (who is Norwegian,) went to Norway for a month, and then on to live in Italy. Specifically, they found an apartment in Florence.

I only saw her for a short visit over Thanksgiving, but soon we'll really have the chance to catch up because I'M GOING TO ITALY! Impulsive nature + excellent fare sale to Rome = that's amore. The Polish Princess and I spent two weeks in Italy post-graudation but I haven't been back since, and without her I have to navigate the trains by myself. This idea is a bit scary to me, but come on, it's not like I have no sense of direction or something.

[crickets]

Hey – that was supposed to be a JOKE! Anyone? Hellloooo...

Destination: The Delightful Land of Cedars

(GUEST WRITER: Cho Cho on why she wants to "Ski Leb")
---
I could tell from the expressions on everyones' faces that announcing I was really excited to visit Lebanon on my next vacation was not exactly what they expected to hear. It was more similar to the horror I faced from them in the past when I announced my fascination with Detroit as a destination du jour than I was anticipating. Apparently the Middle Eastern Wonderland-of-Plenty I've been pining for has not yet hit most people's radar as the most exciting and safe place EVER to take a vacation.

That's funny.
Cause I'm convinced that Lebanon totally RULES!

Beirut has been getting a lot of press lately due to the recent asassination of prime minister Rafik Hariri and the ensuing demonstrations during which hundreds of thousands of citizens took to the streets to protest the de-facto occupation of the country over the last 30 years by neigboring Syria. And come on, we all definitely know what we're supposed to think of Syria, even if our political stance on Lebanon itself is a bit hazy. They are totally not into western democracy, plus they've been bullying around a much cuter, smaller country; one that has an emerging art scene a coastline that would make anyone want to relax and start cocktailling and some totally skiiable mountains (see photos.)

But seriously, I first noticed Beirut when Wallpaper magazine ran a story about 5 or 6 years ago on a litterally 'underground' bar that was in an old war bunker with some killer lighting and that kind of interior design that makes you swoon. (BLOGORELLI NOTE: it is not uncoincidental that a bar would be enough of a reason for Cho patronize a tourist destination; girl likes the hard stuff and will travel for a quality G&T)

Things were quiet for a few years after that, well until this year actually, when I remembered about that bar, and went to check out a website I'd heard about, SkiLeb.com, all about skiing and snowboarding in Lebanon. With all the press Lebanon has been getting in recent months, its hard NOT to think about going there on our next vacation.

Convincing the husband might be a bigger hurdle than customs though, I'm guessing."

a ha ba...a ba ha ba

almost off for a long weekend in Bah Hahba Maine (that's Bar Harbor, Maine for those of you luckily unfamiliar with the accent around here). there will be fun, drinking, lobster, sunning and shopping - heaven!

on the 4 hour drive up, i just might play my iPod on the Shuffle setting (1762 songs strong,) something that may or may not be a good idea. i did a test run of my iPod's dj skills yesterday and this morning on the train and discovered something: it has impecable taste and "flow." much like me. hee hee...it's like listening to the best mix tape anyone ever made me.

have a great LONG weekend! and toast to the end of summer with a nice, cold, tall one!