One of the things we particularly look forward to while traveling is sampling the local cuisine of the area we are visiting. During our stay in Barcelona, we discovered restaurant Taller De Tapas in the Born district. For its compact size, its menu was quite extensive, with many items to choose from. Though neither of us is a huge beans fan, one of the dishes we decided to order was the “Garbanzos con espinacas frescas y pancetta iberica”, a popular bean dish served in Barcelona. These chickpeas with fresh spinach and Iberian pancetta, along with quite a few other tapa dishes were delicious! Plus, while we were waiting, an energetic group of…
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San Juan Bautista – The City of History
What do Alfred Hitchcock, the grim tale of the Donner Party, and a historic Catholic Mission have in common? Visit San Juan Bautista, California, and discover this curious connection! Cruising along Highway 101 in the Greater SF Bay Area, some of you might be familiar with Highway 156 WEST going through Castroville (The Artichoke Capital of the World) and out to the coastal villages of Monterey County. But just 3 miles EAST on Hwy 156 you’ll find San Juan Bautista, a town where 19th century California comes to life! Once upon a time (1850-1880), San Juan Bautista was a bustling town. Home to The Coast Line Stage Company, it was…
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Edinburgh: Down The Rabbit Hole (Part 3)
Strolling to Edinburgh Castle and the Royal Mile, we felt so lucky. How often is someone welcomed to a new city with the sounds of a live concert in front of a medieval castle? And, by II Divo, no less! Their voices resonated with immense power as we walked closer towards the Heart of Edinburgh. Edinburgh Castle When you are traveling to Edinburgh for the first time, most likely Edinburgh Castle will be at the top of your list of places to visit. For us, it was a no-brainer. As with most medieval structures, Edinburgh Castle is not just a standalone castle, but a complex of buildings strategically built for…
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Edinburgh: Discover Secrets of Rosslyn Chapel in a Day Trip
With our love of lore and architecture, we couldn’t resist visiting the fabled Rosslyn Chapel, located in a suburb of Edinburgh… Roslin, Midlothian County. The Chapel is super easy to reach from the center of the city. Hop on Bus 37 towards Penicuik/Deanburn (the sign is in the front window of the bus) and enjoy your 40-minute ride to Roslin. Breakfast in Roslin If you decide to tour Rosslyn Chapel and use a public bus to get there, as we did, there is a small café in town called Dolly’s Tea Room right by the bus stop named “Original Rosslyn Hotel”, just by the Chapel. With homemade cakes and scones and freshly…
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Baylands Nature Preserve: Outdoor Adventures in San Francisco Bay Area
Driving east on San Antonio Road in Mountain View, we discovered the isolated marshlands of the San Francisco South Bay, Baylands Nature Preserve. Not knowing what to expect, we were amazed by the vast variety of birds there! We were so taken by our discovery that we wanted to encourage you to put it on your outdoor activities list for Palo Alto or Mountain View in the San Francisco Bay Area. We’ve seen this marshland area many times from a plane as we approached San Francisco or San Jose International Airports. From above, the area appears as empty wilderness, islands of grass, and well… marshes… What could possibly be there?…
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Edinburgh: Down The Rabbit Hole (Part 1)
Staring at the evening sky in Old Town Edinburgh, our eyes followed bright white seagulls navigating through narrow streets, purposefully peeking into windows of the upper-level flats. It made us wonder if these birds were the inspiration for the messenger owls of J.K. Rowling’s “Harry Potter” books. You’ll most likely catch a literary bug while wandering through the City’s streets. However, for us, exploring the city and writing about our Edinburgh adventure has turned out to be quite a challenge. Edinburgh — down the rabbit hole we go! Visiting Scotland, and Edinburgh, in particular, was a dream come true. Its vast cultural, historical, and mystical heritage is what attracted us…
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Easy No-Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Blob Cookies
Now that we’re all spending more time at home, it seems many of us have been polishing our baking skills. Digging out those old recipes hidden away in the back of the drawer, trying to recreate a childhood favorite, or going online to find something completely new. Whichever it is, any time spent in the kitchen is time well spent! Guess what? You don’t have to be a baker to make decadent cookies at home! This easy no-bake chocolate oatmeal peanut butter cookie recipe has always taken me back to when I was a kid. My mom would make these blob cookies for me and my brothers, while we argued…
