Mr. Wandering Albatross and I have been watching the Beijing Olympics not only to cheer on our US athletes, but also rekindle our memories from our 2006 trip. Even then the great city was starting to prepare for its Olympic debut with new roads, signs, buildings, and countdown clocks everywhere. During the Olympic coverage, I have seen lots of the newscasters trying some of the food but none so far have been daring enough to try the baby sharks or sea urchins that we saw at the Beijing … [Read more...]
Chic Eats in Boston: Mistral
August 20, 2008 By Leave a Comment
Boston is replete with fine dining experiences, and for our birthdays Mr. JourneyChic and I like to splurge on dinner in our city. So to celebrate his last week, I took him to dinner at Mistral on Columbus Ave. Mistral bills itself as a French/Mediterranean bistro, and Boston's most beautiful people can be seen coming and going every night, keeping the valet busy. Once, we even witnessed a magazine's photo shoot taking place outside. Inside, the boxy loft-like space is warmed up with … [Read more...]
Site Spotlight: HolidayGolightly.com
August 19, 2008 By Leave a Comment
Nearly two years ago over margaritas at a Mexican restaurant, a grade-school friend suggested that we plan a trip to celebrate our 30th birthdays in 2009. This seemed like a great idea, but with a few significant challenges: - There are ten of us, spread across the country from Massachusetts to California. - We're at various stages in life, from newlyweds to new homeowners, to grad school students to PhD interns, meaning that time and money are at a premium. - Some want their significant others … [Read more...]
Foodie Fridays: Crepes
August 15, 2008 By Leave a Comment
Food is an integral part of every culture, but what I've always found interesting is how certain foods differ slightly from country to country, but are essentially the same thing. For example, I've been eating Nalesniki my whole life, usually rolled up and filled with applesauce or strawberry jam. I believe though that the French have most popularized this food, which we know as the Crepe. French crepes are usually folded into a triangle shape and my favorite is a crepe with Nutella, banana, and … [Read more...]
Eating in Athens: Lycabettus Hill
August 14, 2008 By Leave a Comment
My second dinner during a July business trip to Athens led our group to the top of Lycabettus Hill, where a spectacular view and elegant meal awaited us on another picture-perfect Athens summer night. Just as visible from Athens' streets as the Acropolis, Lycabettus Hill is formed of limestone, juts nearly 1000 feet above the city and is capped with a pretty white church called Agios Georgios. Reaching the top is no small feat - our minibus had a tough time navigating the tight turns and … [Read more...]
From the Newsdesk: Those pesky fees
August 13, 2008 By Leave a Comment
As you already know, I don't mind the fact that Jet Blue is asking people to buy pillows and blankets on long-haul flights, but there are other fees out there that really get my blood boiling - like US Airways now charging for water. Booze - totally acceptable. Soda - ok, fine. But water? Seriously? Delta and American Airlines are charging even more to book award tickets. Let's not call it an "award ticket", shall we? How about another name, like "discounted ticket"? When my husband and … [Read more...]
A Good Soaking
August 12, 2008 By Leave a Comment
If all you can bring on your trip is a carry-on and one quart-size plastic baggie, chances are you may not be able to pack enough clothes for your trip. This happened to me back in April with my trip to Paris, and by the end of the trip I was washing undies and socks in the sink with an icky Campanile Hotel shampoo-conditioner combo. So while we're on the subject of tiny travel products, little packets of Soak rinse-free cleanser would have been ideal to toss into my quart-size baggie. Each 10mL … [Read more...]
