Just Because

Great 1st time around, fantastic the 2nd time around! nom nom nom

Seriously - i think if I wasn't doing what I was doing now, I'd be perfectly content taking pictures of food and new places I've visited. Then again, who wouldn't right?

You can never go wrong with lamb chops 

This was a chicken & pork dish - but special mention goes to the awesome red rice and the cinnamon saba!

I know i JUST posted this pic - but it was just divine. Sweet lamb tapa with scrambled egg drizzled in truffle oil & garlic red rice?! YUM! 

Tasty squid ink pasta. Al dente goodness!

This was heaven - truffle cream pasta

That it is! 

Jumbo red velvet cupcakes for the new graduates!

Called crispy milk but it's pretty much deep fried panacotta. SO. DARN. GOOD!

Crunchy on the outside, delicious on the inside!

Summer '11: Amsterdam, Netherlands

My usual frame of mind when I travel is "Spending money to go all the way here, so will jam pack my days with every possible thing to do". You will most definitely see this true of many of the trips I've blogged about in the past. 

Amsterdam leg was initially planned to roll out in the same manner, day trip to other towns in the Netherlands as well as trip to the nearby towns in Belgium. But the few days hubbed in Amsterdam played out a little differently than planned. Blame it on Amsterdam's super relaxed vibe, beautiful surroundings and fabulous weather that particular weekend? Or possibly easy-going hosts (with cozy home and yummy home cooked food) combined with our bodies needing to recharge from a week of running around Italy and France? Maybe. But at the end of the day, it was EXACTLY what we needed for our vacation - an honest to goodness BREAK. 

My first time as well in the Netherlands and I totally fell in love with it. 

• Albert Cuypt Market
• Lots of wandering around Amsterdam and easy-going days 
• Merienda with an old classmate (whom I haven't seen in 11 years!)
• Van Gogh Museum
• Vondelpark
• Anne Frank Museum
• Dinner at Bistro Bij ons & awesome Citron Tarte & chihi at Palazzo Plazo
• Watching Gay Pride Parade with awesome all veggie dinner!
• More walking about Amsterdam (Red Light District, Jordaan, etc) 

Summer '11: Vatican City

They weren't kidding when they said the Catholic Church is loaded. The Vatican City and its vast collection of art and history is RIDICULOUS. Exploring the Vatican with a tour group was the way to go when we went; crazy lines and ridiculous heat will make you pay almost anything to get into the museums faster. With so much to see and pushy crowds inside, it was great to have live commentary feeding into my ears as my eyes took everything else in. Plus I love hearing historical gossip/trivia, which our guide peppered her tour with.

Loved the gallery of maps and all the intricate floor mosaics. Special mention as well goes to St Peter's Basilica. Loved the ornate ceilings and the details around the domes and was bewildered at how absolutely MASSIVE it was. In the same way I was surprised by the Sistine Chapel's small size. The difference between a basilica and chapel couldn't have been any more well defined by these two examples.

Trip to the Vatican marked the end of our Italy leg and half way mark of our summer travels.