When Italian immigrants moved to this Manhattan neighborhood in the late 1800s, they brought their customs, food and language.
Italy continued to suffer from droughts that destroyed the Southern farmlands and encouraged cholera, malaria, and parasites. With the Italian economy struggling Italian young men moved to America in an attempt to make and send money back to their families still living in Read on...
When you have a dinosaur lover in your family, you know you have to do a road trip to see the real skeleton as soon as it arrives at Auckland Museum. You make plans, sort out and pile two adults, two kids and two dogs into the car and go.
Along the way, all you hear about is the You learn more about it than you ever needed or wanted to know. You are over the half an hour into the very long jou Read on...
Before a more serious sparkling wine and red wine lover, I drank my fair share of beer. With lower alcohol, I found out I was better off drinking beer than Scotch!! I still enjoy a cold beer on a hot summer day. I have been fortunate to drink beer on every continent except Antarctica. Let me share with you some of my most memorable, though the price might be a little hazy and forgotten. My most me Read on...
Took the train from Montreal to Quebec City. The three hour ride was in a very rural and farm country area and included on the train was dinner and drinks. During our stay in Quebec City, we stayed at Hotel Le Priori. Nice hotel right in lower Quebec. Always amazed at people who are Found out the person who checked us in speaks 4 languages - English, French, Ukraine and Russian. Those last two mu Read on...
The Croats use a peka, a dome or terracotta, cast iron, or steel lid that is heated by burning wood beneath it. After it is heated, the food to be cooked is placed in a round tray underneath the peka. The peka is used primarily to cook fish or octopus. But potatoes and vegetables are always a addition, often the star of the dish (who else says that?). The potatoes tend to suck up the flavor of th Read on...
The day dawned clear but cool but we figured we could run to shorts and sandals as it was going to reach a balmy 16 degrees!
We headed off South on the road to Balclutha, near the mouth of the mighty Clutha river than supplies much of NZs power. There, we called into the Information Centre for some good maps and guidance on the must sees.
Our first stop was to be Nugget Point via Kaka Point and Read on...
The AirBnB we are staying in is actually the front unit of a pair of units. The bedroom we are sleeping in must adjoin a bedroom in Unit 2, the occupants of which like to wake to the sound of heavy metal music. Fortunately we have already been awake on each of the last three mornings when their heavy metal ‘alarm has started blaring through the wall.
Today we went sightseeing in Silverton. Silv Read on...
The site around Trafalgar Square had been a significant landmark since the 1200s. For centuries, distances measured from Charing Cross have served as location markers.
Nelsons Column is flanked by fountains designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens between 1937 and 1939 and guarded by four monumental bronze lions sculpted by Sir Edwin Landseer.
The empty plinth in the corner of the square, the Fourth Plint Read on...
Crossing the Ohio was a milestone. I felt the Midwest taking shape, defined by the river, invisible to the eye but always present. Parkersburg was large and surprisingly industrial. Barges traveled the waterway. A huge lock lined the Eastern Shore. I felt I was moving into new territory. The road gradually flattened and the forests diminished as I drove West, still in the Alleghenies. Half way to Read on...
We see our apartment in the daylight for the first time. Its very big. It didnt seem so big last night when we were wandering around in the pitch black backstreets trying to find it. Its on the top floor, and its got a massive terrace right above the seafront with excellent views out over Marsaskala Bay.
Were a bit tired after a long day of travelling, but we eventually manage to rouse ourselves Read on...