Destination - Hong Kong

“You can leave Hong Kong, but it will never leave you.”

Nury Vittachi

The City of Hong Kong

The first time I went to Hong Kong was in 1979.  Hong Kong was still part of Great Britain at that time.  We lived in the Philippines and my daughter was on the swim team at the Navy base that we lived on.  Her team was scheduled to compete against the Hong Kong team, and parents could go along to cheer the team on.  They had a special package set up for parents, at a reduced rate.  I decided to go along.  My husband couldn’t get leave just then, so I went with other parents and we all stayed in the same hotel.  Our kids were not with us at the hotel.  The team had arranged for the kids to be boarded with the families of the Hong Kong swim team families.  My daughter was staying in a high rise apartment with a British family, who had a daughter the same age as Kim. They also had two weiner dogs.  It was a good experience for her, she got to meet people from a different culture, and they treated her as a special guest.  I met them at the swim meet, and they were a very nice family.

We spent the 3 days of the swim meet cheering our children on to what was not victory.  They were a little intimidated by the size of the Olympic-sized pool.  They had been training in a much smaller pool.  We explained they would be going the same distance, just having to turn around less, but it was still intimidating.  Plus, it was a lot colder in Hong Kong than in the PI, which was also hard on them.  So we had no winners, but we had a good time.  At the end of the meet most of the kids and parents went home.  I had arranged for us to stay 5 more days and see the sights of the city.  I fell in love with Hong Kong on that trip, and we went back to Hong Kong 3 more times in the 2 years we were stationed in the PI.



View from Victoria Peak
 It was foggy the day we were there

Now Hong Kong is part of China.  In 2010 I spent 2 weeks touring China.  At the end of the trip I decided to add on a 3 night stay in Hong Kong.  I wanted to see how much it had changed in the years since we had been there.  I was surprised at  how much it had changed, and in some ways how little it had changed.  I found areas that were basically the same, and others that were very different.  Sadly, I found out that the Junks that used to be everywhere in the harbor area had mostly disappeared.  But we had a wonderful few days re-exploring a city that I had loved.

So, if you are planning to go to Hong Kong, what is there for you to see and do in the city?  Here is my list of ideas:

Victoria Peak

Victoria Peak Tram

If a single image could encapsulate Hong Kong, it would be the panorama from Victoria Peak. Looking down at the city from this famous vantage point, you'll see one of the finest harbors on earth.  You can reach the peak via the Peak Tram.  The 120 year old funicular railway departs from its terminus on Garden Road .  The best time to go is a half-hour before sunset, and you can watch the city lights from above.  There is a restaurant there and you could have dinner over-looking the city.  We didn’t do this the last time we were in Hong Kong, but it was a favorite place to have dinner when we visited in 1979 & 1980. 

 

Temple Street Night Market

Night Market

This rowdy thoroughfare in central Kowloon starts at Temple Street's junction with Jordan Road, and terminates five blocks north on Kansu Street and looks like every B-movie director's dream of Chinatown. Under the glare of bare light bulbs, hawkers flog everything from bizarre patent medicines to counterfeit watches.  There are outdoor food stalls and fortune-tellers. Most of the things for sell is junk, but it is certainly an interesting place to walk around and people-watch.  It is part of the experience of being in Hong Kong.



Star Ferry at the Ferry Terminal

Ride the Star Ferry

Another experience you shouldn’t miss is the Star Ferry.  It will take you across the harbor in just 8 minutes, and the cost is very little.  Pay for the upper-deck which is a much more pleasant ride.  You will sail past shipping vessels of all kinds, and get a view of the Hong Kong coastline.  If you are on the 8 p.m. sailing the ferry will stop mid-harbor for a few moments so that tourists can take pictures of the Symphony of Lights, which is put on each evening.

Stanley Market & Murray House

Stanley Market area

Stanley is a town and a tourist attraction in Hong Kong which is located on a peninsula on the southeastern part of Hong Kong Island. Stanley has been a fishing village since before the British came to Hong Kong. Stanley Market is one of the must-go places for tourists when they visit Hong Kong.  The market is made up of winding lanes stocking a mind-boggling assortment of gifts, clothes, ‘antiques’, watches and other items. There is also a smattering of restaurants woven into the market offering authentic Hong Kong delicacies plus a range of waterfront bars and restaurants close by on Stanley Main Street.

Also located on the waterfront is historic Murray House a restored colonial building dating back more than 160 years. It is now home to the Hong Kong Maritime Museum. 

Harbor Cruise

Aberdeen - Floating Fish Restaurants

If you have the time a harbor cruise is a great way to see Hong Kong from another angle.  Some Harbor Cruises will take you over to Aberdeen where you will see the boat people and the Aberdeen Floating Fish Restaurants.  There are also night cruises, where you can see Hong Kong’s lights at night.  Be careful of cruises that advertise that you will cruise on a Junk.  We only saw one Junk in the harbor when we were there, but we booked a cruise which said it would be on a Junk, and it was not.  It seemed most people on the boat did not know that it was not a Junk, but I did.  You should get what you pay for.

Aberdeen Harbor

You've probably seen Aberdeen Harbor many times in movies and on television.  The fishing junks, the people, and the ubiquitous seafood restaurants. For an experience to remember, try taking a boat ride in a wooden sampan across the harbor, or have a meal at one of the huge floating restaurants.

This was our tea
 at the Penisnsula

Tea at the Peninsula Hotel
The Peninsula Hotel is one of the oldest and nicest hotels in Hong Kong. It is famous for its afternoon tea. It is a very traditional English tea, with scones, and little sandwiches and sherry. It is an event you should not miss. Yes, it is a little pricey, but it is such a nice way to indulge, and to relax your weary feet after a morning of sightseeing. I do recommend it.


Visit the Bird Park and Flower Market
If you like pretty flowers then walking through the Flower Market is a nice side-trip.  And after you walk past all those flowers, head to the Bird Park next door.  What is the Bird Park?  It is a park, with paths and trees.  It is a place that men bring their pet birds (in cages), so that they can get some fresh air.  There are also vendors who sell supplies, food for the birds and birds in cages.  Both the Bird Park and the Flower Market are on Yuen Po Street.

Bird Park
Bird Owners giving their birds some fresh air in the park

Giant Buddha on Lantau Island

Cable car ride over Lantau Island
to get to the Giant Buddha

The world’s tallest outdoors seated bronze Buddha, the Tian Tan, is a sight to behold and is located near Po Lin Monastery on Lantau Island. It was built to symbolise the harmonious relationship between man and nature, people and religion. A major centre of Buddhism in Hong Kong, the imposing image is also a popular tourist attraction.  There is public transportation that will take you over to Lantau Island.  From there ride in a cable car over the mountain.  I loved the views from there.  Once you arrive you can climb up to the Buddha and you can also visit the temple.  There are also shops and restaurants.


Symphony of Lights Tsim Sha Tsui

Hong Kong from the Revolfing Restaurant
Watching the Symphony of Lights

This nightly light show is a wonderful sight to behold. The show creates an all-round vision of coloured lights, laser beams and searchlights performing a stunning, unforgettable spectacle, all synchronised to music and narration. You can see the lights from almost anywhere in Hong Kong.  It starts at 8 p.m.  We went to the top of a revolving restaurant on one of our nights in the city.  The restaurant is on top of the Hopewell Center.  We had dinner and watched the lights.  The restaurant takes 66 minutes to make a complete revolution.

Man Mo Temple and surrounding area

Man Mo Temple

The Man Mo Temple is one of the most important in Hong Kong. Located near Hollywood Road, it was built in 1848 and is named after Man, the god of literature, and Mo, the god of martial arts. Inside, the air is thick with the smoke from coils of incense paper burned by worshipers. You can also see statues of the deities, Man holding a calligraphy brush and Mo holding a sword.  If you take the Star Ferry and then the mid-levels, it is easy to get to this temple.  The mid-levels is the longest outdoor covered escalator system in the world.  It makes getting up the hills on Hong Kong Island much easier.  The streets around the temple are quite interesting to walk through.  This was an area that I remembered from my earlier trips to Hong Kong, it had not changed much and made me nostalgic.  There are little shops and even people sitting on the street selling interesting things.  One of my favorite souvenirs of all time was purchased here.  It is a small bottle with a frog on it, and a red cap.  I love this area, it is more like Hong Kong of yesterday.

Hong Kong Disneyland

I have to mention this because there are many Disney fans who would probably go to Hong Kong and spend a day here.  It would not be my idea of a way to spend a day in Hong Kong, but it is there for those who are interested.  There is convenient transportation to the park. Themed areas there are Main Street, U.S.A., Adventureland, Fantasyland, and Tomorrowland.

A bit of nostalgia - I wish I could also tell you to visit the Repulse Bay Hotel.  However, that is no longer there.  When we visited the 4 times back in 1979 & 80, it was our favorite place to go.  We never went to Hong Kong without going out there, usually several times.  It was a wonderful old hotel that sat on the hill overlooking Repulse Bay.  It was a Southern-style mansion, with columns.  They served the most wonderful breakfast on the verandah.  You were served on silver trays, and everything was impeccable.  They also did a wonderful buffet brunch, and a buffet dinner.  I never ate anything there that I didn't love.  And the view alone was worth going for.  It was a wonderful place, and how the people of Hong Kong allowed that to be destroyed, I will never know.  I was so disappointed when I went back in 2010 and discovered it was gone. 



Giant Buddha on Lantau Island

Whatever you do while in Hong Kong you will find the city to be exciting.  There is never a dull moment.  It is a bustling city, with wonderful restaurants, lots of shopping - from high end establishments to the cheapy touristy stuff.  There is ample opportunity for people watching, and lots of sights to see.  It is different from mainland China in so many ways, and yet similiar too.  Enjoy visiting this wonderful city.

Typical street in Hong Kong

How to Unwind and Relax While on Vacation

"Every now and then go away, have a little relaxation, for when you come back to your work your judgement will be surer.  Go some distance away because then the work appears smaller and more of it can be taken in at a glance and a lack of harmony and proportion is more readily seen."

Leonardo da Vinci

 

"Relaxation means releasing all concern and tension and letting the natural order of life flow through one's being."

Donald Curtis
 

Probably the most relaxing vacation in our lives
was in our over-water bungalow in Bora Bora

Why do we go on vacation?  Maybe to get away from the everyday, to relax and de-stress?   Sure, sometimes it is a spirit of adventure, seeing new things, exploring our world.  But even then, the hope is to have fun and come home somewhat relaxed and ready to conquer whatever life throws us.

But too often people return from vacation more stressed than when they left.  Things don't always go right when we travel.  As I have said many time "stuff happens".  And how we deal with that, makes a difference on how we view our vacation when we return.

A perfect example of this is when my daughter and son-in-law planned a trip to England a few years ago.  My daughter had been looking forward to going back there for years.  They booked their trip and were looking forward to it.  The day before the trip, the airlines they had booked with went out of business.  Suddenly they were without transportation.  We scrambled and got them some air on another airlines, but they had to leave a day later, and now this airfare cost more.  They knew they would get their money back on the old airfare, because they had put it on their credit card.  But the trip became stressful before they even took off.  Some people handle stress better than others.  Do you let something like this ruin the trip for you, or do you go with the flow and say "Oh well, it happened, now we are going to have fun."  I opt for the latter.  You can't change what life throws at you, but you can decide whether it is going to get you down or not.


Mountain Tubing in Kauaii
A fun way to relax

Some people just have a hard time relaxing, no matter what they are doing.  They take that vacation, and then still spend their days worrying about work, or reading the paper and stressing about what is happening in the world.  I'm a firm believer that when you are away, you should take your mind off the everyday.  We seldom look at the news or the paper when away, the world will still be there when we get back.  As an example, we were in Spain on 9/11 and it wasn't until late of the afternoon of the 12th that we even knew anything had happened, and then only because we were told by the couple in the timeshare next door.  We probably would have been oblivious for several more days.  We were relaxing and enjoying our trip, and not paying any attention to the world news.  It was probably good in this situation that we were finally informed, but a few days of oblivion wouldn't have hurt either.

So what can you do to make sure you relax and enjoy that vacation?  Below are a few suggestions.
                                                                                                               

Going for a sail might
help to relax and de-stress you

Practice Letting Go
Your brain is always working, it's hard to relax.  You need to practice on a daily basis. At some point each day make a deliberate point of shifting out of work mode.  Keep that eternal to-do list at bay.  Put aside some time everyday where you are not tied to your phone or computer.  Taking a walk everyday can be helpful.  Going for a sail is always relaxing, and you can usually book those if you are on vacation near the water.  Or just sitting quietly and practice some deep breathing. 

Disconnect
There was a time in our lives when we were not connected every moment to a phone or computer.  If you are young, you may not remember that time.  But for those of us who are slightly older, we do remember that.  Everyone now thinks that if the phone in your pocket rings, it has to be answered.  It doesn't matter where you are, or if you are talking to an actual live person, heaven forbid that the person calling you would have to wait to talk to you.  Well I do have news for you, they are not usually that important, and they can wait.  So when you go on vacation, yes you want to stay a little connected - just in case an emergency comes up, but don't carry that phone with you everywhere, leave it turned off, or in the hotel room, and go enjoy yourself, away from your everyday world.  And make sure that work cannot reach you - remember, you are on vacation!  Trust me, your workplace will not implode while you are away. 

Swimming can be relaxing

Endure the Boredom
There you are, lying on a chaise on the beach, a book at the ready.  But instead of relaxing and reading you are worrying about what is happening at home, or about an upcoming meeting, or what to cook for a dinner party you are planning when you get home.  Fight through this.  Maybe schedule some low-stress activity, like taking a nature walk, swimming, snorkeling, yoga on the beach, or force yourself to start that book.  Or even better, schedule a massage at the spa at your hotel.

Don't Overdo Before you Go
Before I go on vacation I quite often spend that week before cleaning, and organizing my home.  I want to make sure the house is clean for the house-sitter, and that when I come home there won't be too much to do.  I feel like this will make me worry less while I am gone.  But don't overdo it.  The house doesn't have to be spotless.  Getting too involved with making sure everything is perfect before you go can put added stress on you, which will be hard to let go once you leave on your trip.



Relaxing with a beer in Croatia

Don't Over Plan Your Vacation
If you are on a tour, your plans are pretty much set in stone.  You go where you are told and for how long they tell you.  But any vacation where you are on your own, you can make your own plans.  And yes, you will probably have some of those plans in place before you go, such as air, hotel, transportation.  But don't schedule your whole vacation, minute by minute, ahead of time.  Leave time for some spontanity.  Take time to sit down and watch the people around you.  Have a beer or indulge in some sweet, and relax.  Sit by the pool or on a beach.  Even if you are on a tour, there is usually a little free time, spend that time relaxing.  And don't worry about what you are going to go see next.  Whatever it is, it will be there when you get there.

Me and my dogs at our river in Washington

Every summer we head north with our dogs to spend a few weeks at our cabin by the river.  It is fairly isolated, in the woods, no TV, no internet connection. and until this year we had no cell phone connection.  This year the cell phone did work, which is good in case of emergency, but I found I seldom used it anyway.  We spend our days on the deck, relaxing, watching the wildlife and taking it easy.  I like to go down for a swim, or float around on my inner-tube, but we don't do anything that we don't want to do.  Sometimes we get up in the morning and drive into town, to the local Starbucks, where we check our email and send back responses, and have a cup of Chai.  We have family and friends in the area that we visit, but mostly we have them come out to us, and we all enjoy the river.  This is a vacation where we do truly relax and de-stress.  We all need to do that once in awhile.

You can find a place like that where you can go and de-stress.  There are plenty of rental cabins at the beach or in the woods.  A place where you can truly get away from it all.  Trust me, you will be glad you did.

Passport and Visa Information

This is a re-post of an earlier posting.  I thought the information was worth re-posting.

"Airplane travel is nature's way of making you look like your passport photo." Al Gore

If you are going to travel anywhere outside the United States, you will need a passport. Some places also require a visa. The visa is something that certain countries require citizens of other countries to purchase before they can enter their country. Before you travel to any country, you should check to see if a visa is required of U.S. citizens. Most of the time you will have to apply for and have the visa before you leave on your trip. Some countries, such as Turkey, allow you to purchase the visa as you enter.

Traveling abroad does not have to be difficult. There are things you need to know before you go on any trip. By going to this website http://travel.state.gov/travel you can get all the information you will need to get a new passport, to renew an old passport, or to find out how to replace a lost passport. This website also has information on almost every country and what the visa requirements are for U.S. citizens. It also gives you travel warnings for areas that may be having problems. The website can also be used if you are overseas and need emergency assistance from your government. There is a whole page of travel advice and how to have a safe trip. Everyone should check out the information before heading out on a trip.

You can register with the State Department before going on a trip. The program is called The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program. You let the state department know your travel plans through this program and this will help them contact you if there is a family emergency or if there is a crisis where you are traveling. This information is private and they will not release your information without your authorization. To sign up go to https://travelregistration.state.gov

Now that you have your passport and any visa you might need, go and travel the world. It is an exciting world out there, with so much to see. And if you want a fun travel book to take along on the trip, why not find a copy of "When You Look Like Your Passport Photo, It's Time To Go Home" by Erma Bombeck. It will keep you laughing the whole trip. Enjoy, and travel safely.

______________________________________________________________
Tip: Before leaving home, make a photo copy of the inside of your passport - the page with your picture and all your information. Keep this photo copy in a separate place from your passport, but where you will have it if needed. If you should lose your passport while traveling, having the photocopy will help with getting you back home.

Street Foods

"Street cooks are magicians: With little more than a cart and a griddle, mortar, or deep-fryer, they conjure up not just a delicious snack or meal but the very essence of a place."
Unknown

 

Viet Nam, street food vendor with Banh Mi sandwiches

Whenever I travel I like to experience the food in the place I am.  Most of the time that means eating at local restaurants.  But it also means eating street food.  Street Food is any food or drink sold in a street or a market area or fair by a hawker or vendor, usually from a portable stall or truck.  Most street foods are also food that can be eaten with your fingers and are cheaper than food you would buy from a restaurant.  Almost any city you visit has street food that is very much a part of that place.  

Banh Mi Sandwich

Some people worry about eating in places such as this, for health reasons, but if you use a little common sense, it is not a problem. If you do not try something that looks good you are denying yourself an essential part of the travel experience.  Go where the crowds are, the locals know where the food is safe to eat.  And if it doesn’t look clean, then go somewhere else.  But try the local foods.

Suman, a street food in the Philippines

We lived in the Philippines many years ago.  I used to go out to the local market to buy fresh shrimp.  They would unload the boats of fresh fish early in the morning, and you could get fish and shrimp right off the boat. The shrimp were still alive and jumping. If you waited until later in the day, then it was no longer fresh, as it would have been in the open with the heat of the day, and the flies covering it.  I never went to the market later in the day.  But while there I quite often would also buy some of the Suman which is a sweet rice that was wrapped in banana leaves and cooked there in the market.  They were delicious.  I never got sick from eating there, but like I said, I got there early in the day when things were still fresh.

That was my start on street foods.  Over the years I have tried many more versions of street food.  Each country has things they are famous for.  When we visited Istanbul, Turkey, I noticed that there were many carts selling fresh corn-on-the-cob.  I love corn, and I bought and ear one day and ate it as I walked down the street.  It tasted really good.  The other street food I had in Istanbul, was simit.  Simit is a bagel style sesame bread.  I enjoyed that also.

Simits in Istanbul

Corn on the Cob in Istanbul

While in Germany we had bratwurst on a bun, cooked on a grill.  It came with onions and green peppers.  Another German street food is the pretzel, big doughy pretzels with salt or mustard.  We have some that are similar here in the states, but somehow they just tasted better there.
 

George with our friends Bonnie & Pete
Having pretzels at the Christmas Market in Germany

Baguettes in Paris

In Paris we purchased long sandwiches with tomatoes, mozzarella and basil in a baguette from a street vendor, and ate them in the park.  Another Paris treat is a crepe made with nutella. 

 



Frites in Belgium

Another place known for street foods – Belgium where you can get the crispiest, freshest fries (frites) served in a paper cup, or waffles from a street vendor.  For those who do not know, the Belgiums are the ones who originated what we now refer to as French Fries.

Israel is known for falafel balls served with pita bread.  Viet Nam has their Banh Mi sandwiches which are baguette bread filled with grilled pork and pickled vegetables.  Mexico has street tacos. 

 

We saw some really interesting street food in China.  There were scorpions on a stick and some drink that had smoke coming off of it, which seemed to be quite popular with the locals. 

Street Vender in China

Drink in China, Never found out
what it was

 

Singapore Street Food

And Singapore probably has the safest street food, and some of the best.  The government enforces health standards at all places that serve food.  Singapore is so clean, you could probably eat safely off the sidewalks.  And they are famous for their food stands, and food carts.  We went to a place that was famous for serving the local food.  It had probably 20 carts in an area with tables set up.  The tables had numbers on them, and you would order the food and they would deliver it to your table.  My mistake was that I didn’t know they had 2 sizes of plates.  I had seen little plates being delivered to the table, so I thought that is what I was ordering.  I decided to order a variety of food.  I wanted to try a little of everything.  When I realized that I was getting large plates of food, it was too late.  We had enough food to feed a small army.  We did waste some of it, there was no way we good finish it, and I’m sure the local people were laughing at us.  But everything we ate was good, and even though we ordered alot, it was cheap, so we didn't break the bank.

Hot Dog Vendor in New York

Even here in the states we have street food.   And I don’t mean all the fast food restaurants, that is not street food.  Food trucks are becoming quite popular all over the states, and many of them are now serving ethnic foods.  I know the Vietnamese Banh mi is becoming quite popular here because of the food trucks.  And if you go to New York or Chicago, you will see the hot dog vendors on the street corner, they are an institution. 

So when you are exploring a new place, make sure you take the time to also try some of the local favorites and get a taste of the place you are in.  Use common sense, yes, but be adventuresome.  Look for the crowds, and see what they are eating.  Sometimes the street food is really the essence of the place you are visiting. 

 

 o

Places Evoke Memories of Food

“It is always sad to leave a place to which one knows one will never return. Such are the melancholies du voyage: perhaps they are one of the most rewarding things about traveling.”

Gustave Flaubert

For me, experiencing new things when I travel is why I travel.  I especially love trying new foods that are specialties of that country.  I am not quite as adventuresome as Anthony Boudain.  If you watch the travel channel on television you know that he travels the world trying very unusual foods (bugs, brains, etc.)  I don't go that far, but if a country has a food that it is famous for, then I want to try it.

Dinner in China

You may say that you have tried foods from other countries from restaurants here at home.  Just because you have tried foods in the United States that is supposedly from a different region of the world, doesn't mean you have actually tried food from that country.  Restaurants here cater to American tastes, and the food is quite often different than what you will get when you are actually in that country.  As an example, I have eaten Chinese food here in the states thousands of times.  But when I went to China I found the food to be quite different from the food I had here in the states.  I enjoyed the food in China, and tried just about everything I was served, but it did not remind me of the food I had here.

Sometimes I will have a food and it immediately calls to mind a trip I have taken.  I remember having that food and it reminds me of the place where I ate it and the fun I had in that country.  Certain foods I will always associate with a place.  Moussaka is certainly one of those foods.  I had never had Moussaka until I went to Greece, now I have it often and even make my own.  None will ever taste as good as that very first taste though.  But whenever I have it, I think of sitting in the Plaka in Athens at a little sidewalk table, and I remember our waiter, who chatted with us and was quite funny.  And I fell in love with Moussaka.  I was already in love with Athens by then.

Greek Salad

Actually moussaka is not the only food I fell in love with in Greece.  The country has some of the best food I have ever eaten.  I really like the food of Greece.  I love lamb, and the Greeks use a lot of lamb in the dishes they prepare.  And Panzanella salad became a favorite, which is made with big chunks of bread.  The Greek salad is so different than the salads by that name here in the states.  The Greeks seldom use lettuce in anything, including their salads.  A true Greek salad is chunks of tomatoes, green peppers, sliced red onions, kalamata olives and fresh feta cheese, with a little olive oil and some herbs over the top.



Tapas

In Spain we went out each evening for tapas, which are small bites of food served either hot or cold, usually with a glass of wine or beer.  The tapas are served in the early evening to tide people over till dinner which is never eaten before 10:00 p.m.  Sometimes we ate so many tapas that we didn't need dinner.  But I did love the dinners there.  I really fell in love with gazpacho in Spain.  Gazpacho is a cold tomato soup.  It is delicious, and I ordered it almost every night while in Spain, as a starter to my meal.  Of coursethey are famous for their
paella and everyone who goes to Spain should try it, it is better than any paella you will get anywhere else.  And the Costa del Sol area where we were, had wonderful seafood dishes. 

Plaza Mayor in Madrid, getting ready for
the dinner crowd

One of the things I love about dining out in some of the European cities is that they dine outside all year long, in wonderful little town square areas.  They set up tables and all the neighbors come out with their kids and their dogs and they wander around the square, saying hello to each other.  The kids and the pets are playing, and people are having their dinner.  We have nothing like that here.

Tomato and Mozzarella Sandwich

We traveled to the Canary Islands in 2003.  We were on the island of Tenerife.  The food that I remember most from that trip was a tomato and mozzarella sandwich, on a long bagette type of bread.  It had basil leaves on it, and sometimes a thin sliced Spanish ham.  We were there with friends from Scotland, and almost everyday we would stop at a little outdoor restaurant somewhere and have one of those sandwiches with a beer, and watch the people, and enjoy the sunshine.  I have had other sandwiches similiar to them since that trip, but none seem quite as good as those were.  Maybe it was the company, or the sunshine, or the atmosphere, I'm not sure.  But I will always associate the Canary Islands with those sandwiches.




Squid in its own Ink

While in Croatia in 2010 I was told that the best seafood in the world was to be had there, and in particular that I should try the squid.  So one night my husband and I were at a typical outside restaurant, like the ones I described above, in a town square with children and pets, and families.  I decided to order the squid.  I have eaten squid here in the states, usually breaded, and had always enjoyed it.  When this arrived it really surprised me.  It was in a bowl, and it looked like a bowl of black rubber bands.  It was served in its own ink.  My first thought was, that it didn't look too appetizing.  My husband was looking a little askance at it.  But I will try almost anything, so I took a bite, and I was hooked.  It was delicious.  I practically licked the bowl.  It is a meal I will always remember, and it is one I loved.

In Thailand everything we ate was spicey.  We were eating some noodle dish and I bit into something that caused me to feel like I was breathing fire.  I turned bright red and started gulping my drink.  My husband laughed at me and thought I was over-reacting.  Then he bit into the same thing, and realized that it really was hot.  I do like Thai food, but I also learned to respect it for what it is, and to be careful. 

Me eating gelato in Italy

In Italy we fell in love with gelato.  Gelato is not just ice cream, it is smoother, richer and more flavorful.  It is in a class by itself.  We were in Italy during the summer, so it was hot out.  We stopped for a lemon gelato on our second day in Italy.  For the next 20 days, while we toured the country fell in love with Italy, we made a point of stopping everyday and enjoying a gelato.  Lemon is still my favorite flavor, I suppose because it was the very first taste I ever had of gelato, or maybe because it was just so refreshing on a hot day.  We tried almost every flavor available, but somehow kept going back to lemon.



Lemoncello

It is not only food that sometimes makes me think of a country.  Drinks also play a large part.  I found that the only thing I ever want to drink with either Chinese or Japanese food, is beer.  That is the drink they serve in those countries to drink.  Of course not everyone has beer, but it is the most common drink with the people of those countries.  It is what I had with every meal when I was in both of those places.

In Italy we spent a week in Sorrento, which is near Naples, Capri and Pompeii.  They are famous for their Lemoncello.  It is a lemon liquour.  It is sweet and sour at the same time.  It is an acquired taste, and I am not overly fond of it.  But when I think of Sorrento, I think of lemons, and Lemoncello.

In Spain we were served Schnapps after every meal.  We didn't order it, it was just set before us at the end of the meal.

Raki in Greece

 In Greece, it was Raki, which was put in front of us at the end of the meal.  Most of the time the Raki tasted like turpentine.  I did not enjoy it, so I would usually pass.  George drank them both, not that he enjoyed it, but he did it so I wouldn't have to.  But one night, on the island of Crete, we had a wonderful meal in the hills overlooking the town of Rethymnon.  They made their own Raki there, and it was smooth, and tasted wonderful.  I even bought a bottle to take home.  When Raki is made the right way, it is actually quite good.  Of course, Greece is more famous for its Oozo, and I also drank that while there.  I quite like Oozo, but then I also like licorice.

A Shandy

And last year we traveled with our Scottish friends across Scotland and around Ireland.  I discovered the Shandy.  A shandy is a mix of beer and "lemonade".  But the lemonade is not what we think of as lemonade, it is sparkling - more like a 7up with a slight lemon flavor.  You mix it with the beer and it is a light refreshing summer drink.  I was completely hooked on it throughout that trip.  Scotland will all be associated in my mind to the Shandy.


We are looking forward to traveling to new places soon.  Africa will be later this year, and I am sure I will have some new taste treats to look forward to there.  Some may be better than others, but I am looking foreward to trying whatever the locals prepare, it is part of the experience.  It is hard for me to imagine going to another country and instead of trying the food of the area, looking for familiar foods from home.  I know people do that, I have even traveled with some who will not try new things.  For me though, I would not feel I had really been there and experienced it, if I had not also tasted it.  So to all of you who are traveling to new places I say "Bon Apetite!"

Here is my recipe for Moussaka.  I hope you enjoy it.  It is as close as I can come to the Moussaka we had in Greece.

Moussaka
6 T. olive oil
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 pound ground lamb
1/2 Cup red wine
1 T. tomato paste
1 1/2 canned crushed tomatoes in puree
1 (1 pound) eggplant, peeled and cut into 1/4 inch slices
4 ounces cream cheese
1/4 Cup milk
1/2 Cup grated Parmessan
1 bay leaf
1 cinnamon stick
1/8 teas. ground allspice
1 teas. salt
fresh ground pepper

Heat the broiler.  In a large frying pan heat 1 T. oil.  Add onion and garlic.  Cook until softened.  Add the lamb and cook until meat loses its pink color (2 min.)  Stir in wine, tomato paste and tomates in puree, bay leaf, cinnamon, allspice, salt and pepper.  Bring to a boil.  Reduce heat and simmer covered 10 minutes.

Moussaka

Brush both sides of the eggplant slices with remaining oil and season with salt and pepper.  Put eggplant slices on a large baking sheet and broil, 6 inches from heat, until browned.  About 5 min.  Turn and broil until browned on the other side.

In a small saucepan, combine cream chees, milk 1/8 teas. salt and a pinch of pepper.  Warm over low heat until just melted.

Oil and 8 X 8 inch baking dish.  Layer half the eggplant in the dish, then half the meat sauce.  Sprinkle with half the Parmessan. Repeat with remaining eggplant, meat sauce and Parmessan.  Spoon the cream cheese sauce on top; broil until just starting to brown.  Serve hot.



Destination - Madrid and Toledo

“Madrid is enjoyed most from the ground, exploring your way through its narrow streets that always lead to some intriguing park, market, tapas bar or street performer.   Each night we'd leave our hotel to begin a new adventure in Madrid and nine out of 10 times, we'd walk

through the Plaza Mayor.”

Emilio Estevez



Madrid

Madrid is the vibrant capital of Spain.  If you are going to Spain, it is quite often the city you will fly into to start your vacation.  It is worth spending a few days here.  Madrid is different from so many of Europe’s historic cities.  It is considerably smaller and younger.  It is a city without a lot of historic sights to see.  It is a friendly city, with culture and night life and wonderful food.  It is the heart of Spain.

Plaza Mayor

My husband and I visited Spain in September 2001.  We started and ended our visit in Madrid, and enjoyed exploring the city during the 3 days we spent there.  My favorite place in the city is Plaza Mayor (Main Square).  Plaza Mayor is an historical and stunning square. The square is very large, with shops all around.  I particularly remember all the shops displaying ham.  Ham or Jamon in Spanish, is a major food of the Spanish and you will find shops to purchase Jamon all over Spain.  In the evening the Plaza Mayor comes alive with families who come out to visit their neighbors, children playing, dogs being walked, or just playing with each other, and restaurants bring out chairs and tables and serve their food along the sides of the square.  It is a fun place to people watch.



tapas

In Spain, you do not eat dinner until around 10 p.m.  If you are hungry earlier you grab a table at a tapas bar, or under the stars at Plaza Mayor, and you order tapas.  Tapas are small bites of food, both cold and hot.  You might decide on some marinated cheese and some olives, or Tortilla de patatas (Spanish omelette) or tortilla española - a type of omelet containing fried chunks of potatoes and sometimes onion.  Tapas bars quite often have several seafood dishes to choose from, and tapas are quite often heavy with garlic and olive oil.  Usually you will have a glass of beer or wine with the tapa.  I loved going out for tapas, and sometimes filled up on them, and skipped dinner.

Madrid is a city for walking. The areas that you will want to see are all within walking distance.  There is public transportation if you want to go across town, but for the average tourist you will find most things within a short walk from your hotel.  Do be careful of pickpockets though, the city is full of them, so keep things in front pockets and purses in front of you.


Plaza de Espana

The main street in the city is the Gran Via.  The lively street is one of the city's most important shopping areas. It also contains a large number of hotels and large movie theaters. But what makes this street so special is the architectural design of many of the large buildings. While walking through this crowded street, make sure you look up once in a while and admire the often lavishly decorated buildings. 

At the western end of the Gran Via is the Plaza de Espana.  It is a large square and a popular tourist destination.  It features a monument to Cervantes, and is bordered by two of Madrid's most prominent skyscrapers. The Cervantes monument was built between 1925 and 1930. It was finished between 1956 and 1957.  The tower portion of the monument includes a stone sculpture of Cervantes, which overlooks bronze sculptures of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza. Next to the tower, there are two stone representations of Don Quixote's "true love", one as the simple peasant woman Aldonza Lorenzo, and one as the beautiful, imaginary Dulcinea.

Prado Museum

If you have an afternoon and are into art, then Madrid has one of the best art museums in the world.  The Museo del Prado features one of the world’s finest collections of European art, from the 12th century to the early 19th century, based on the former Spanish Royal Collection, and unquestionably the best single collection of Spanish art. Founded as a museum of paintings and sculpture, it also contains important collections of other types of works. A new, recently opened wing enlarged the display area by about 400 paintings, and it is currently used mainly for temporary expositions. El Prado is one of the most visited sites in the world.



The Plaza de Oriente is a charming square with the Royal Palace to the west side and the opera house to the east. There you will find statues of kings, manicured garden and stone benches.



Retiro Park in Madrid

Madrid's main park, El Parque de Retiro, is not far from the city's main tourist attractions such as the Prado Museum, and is a popular and magnificent place for a stroll. Home to several sculptures, monuments, and a boating lake, it also presents an annual book fair, and there are free concerts throughout the summer. Many local families spend their Sunday afternoons here, renting a horse-drawn carriage or paddling a rowboat in the pond. But it wasn't always this democratic, as in the 17th century only the royal family was allowed to use it privately, hosting pageants, bullfights, and mock naval battles. Only a century later did it open to the public, but even then visitors had to be formally dressed to enter.

Botin Restaurante
Oldest Restaurant in the World

If you are looking for a good place to have dinner, Madrid has the oldest restaurant in the world. Anywhere billed as the world’s oldest restaurant is going to have the tourists beating a path to its crumbly portals, but El Sobrino de Botín is as famous for its roasts as for its longevity (300 years old and counting). That old Spanish favourite, cochinillo – suckling pig – is it’s most famous dish.  We had that when we visited the restaurant, and it was quite good.  I enjoyed our meal and the atmosphere of the place.


And if you are looking for a place to go out in the evening and enjoy some Flamenco dancing, which Spain is famous for, then consider the Taberna Flamenca El Cortijo.  This famous tavern is famous for its Flamenco dancing and you can have dinner there as well. If you are in the mood for colourful dresses, foot tapping rhythm and raw passion expressed through dance, this small venue offers a lively atmosphere, giving the experience an authentic feel.

Alcazar in Toledo, Spain

Less than an hour from Madrid is the city of Toldeo.  You should definitely plan to spend a few days visiting this city as well, before you move onto the rest of Spain.  Where Madrid is younger and more modern, Toledo is an old walled city, with many sights to see.  You can get to Toledo from Madrid by train in less than 30 minutes and less than 10 euros.  You can do just a day trip, and be back in Madrid that evening, but if you can, spend a night or two, it is a fun city to explore.

We actually visited Toledo at the end of our trip.  We rented a car from Madrid and drove south and spent 2 weeks exploring Southern Spain.  We then drove back north, spending a few nights in Toledo before heading for the airport in Madrid and our trip home.  I think Toledo was one of the highlights of our trip, and I was glad I had allotted a few days just for that city.

Toledo is also a city to see by foot.  If you have a car you might as well just park it at the hotel, because trying to find another parking spot will be difficult.  And there is a lot to explore while on foot.  But, unlike Madrid which is fairly flat, Toledo is built on hills, so there will be a lot of up and down the hills while walking.

 

At the highest point in the city, looms the foreboding Alcázar.  The Alcazar is a stone fortification which was once used as a Roman palace in the 3rd century, it is now the site of the Army offices and a Army museum.  You will see it towering over the city.

 

Walking around in Toledo

Plaza de Zocodover is a lively square flanked by cafes that are prime places for people-watching.
It was here that for centuries the people of Toledo enjoyed their bullfights or, morbidly, gathered to witness public burnings at the stake carried out by the Inquisition.  Today it is just a place for people to gather.

The magnificent synagogue, Sinagoga del Transito, was built in 1355 by special permission of Pedro I (construction of synagogues was prohibited in Christian Spain). Toledo's former judería (Jewish quarter) was once home to 11 synagogues. The bulk of Toledo's Jews were tragically expelled in 1492. From 1492 until 1877, it was variously used as a priory, hermitage and military barracks. The synagogue now houses the Museo Sefardi, open the same hours as the synagogue. The vast main prayer hall has been expertly restored and the Mudéjar decoration and intricately carved wooden ceiling are striking.

Map

But the main thing to enjoy about Toledo is just walking around the city and exploring all the nooks and crannies.  It is an old historic walled city, with wonderful little shops and lots of great restaurants, tapa bars and places to sit outside and people-watch.

River and bridge near entrance to Toledo

**pictures taken from the internet

There is currently a problem with blogspot and importing pictures, so I cannot use my own pictures until the problem is fixed.