Puerto Vallarta

I just spent the last week relaxing in Puerto Vallarta (PV), Mexico. It was a rather last minute vacation. Our last major vacation was back in March (Bali). We had little mini trips throughout the summer to NY, Miami, New Orleans, etc, but I was just itching for a week long trip somewhere...anywhere warm! Given the state of the economy, swine flu scares, and "current events" in Mexico, we ended up getting an amazing deal at a Westin timeshare in PV. I don't get scared off too easily from traveling :)

This is the first trip where we didn't plan out anything or do activities. We literally just lounged by the pool all day, got up to grab lunch, late afternoon 2 for 1 margaritas, lounged some more, then got up again for dinner :) Not really my style of vacation, since I love exploring and having constant activity, but we just decided to try something new. It was a welcomed change, and Neil was happy not to be dragged around everywhere. But, if you are an activity person, there's still tons to do in PV. They have several canopy tours to choose from along with typical ATV, snorkeling, diving activities, sunset cruises, etc. You can make it as relaxing or active as you desire.

The weather was fabulous for me, but scorching for Neil...about low 90s everyday. You won't find me complaining in the warmth :) The town was fairly quiet. Besides people's weariness to fly to Mexico right now, it is low season, and the town was primarily populated with Mexican tourists. They like to come out before the town is bombarded with American tourists.

We got to eat some great food, see fabulous sunsets, and always got prime spots at the pool. Besides the pool, we mostly hung out at the Malecon area in PV. This is a pedestrian friendly zone at the beach, with several restaurants, bars, and nightlife. There's also some live shows along the bridge that occur at night. Another area is the Marina, also abundant with restaurants. Our resort was right next to the Marina. Due to the low season, most tourists were in the Malecon versus the Marina. The Marina is about a 15 minute drive from downtown (Malecon), so we rented a car for the week. However, there's a convenient bus service as well. Below, I listed some places that we went to and others that were recommended to us.

It was the perfect little getaway, and should keep me put for the time being. Anyways, the holidays are right around the corner!

DINNER:
Le Bodeguita del Medio- Malecon area; the food was very average and lacked flavor, but the place is always packed. The have a live band and very active salsa dancing. You have to go after hours just to see the locals do salsa. They are amazing.
Barcelona Tapas- Malecon area; excellent for sunsets and fun spanish tapas. Need a reservation.
Si Senor- Malecon area; Mexican restaurant with fabulous mole sauces.
Las Palapas- Malecon- at beach; Ecclectic with mexican influence; outdoors; nice view of beach and sunset. Reservation recommended for beach front.
El Fogon- Marina area- fun Mexican food; great fish tacos
Caio- Malecon area; highly recommended; Mexican fusion
Astair- Malecon area; highly recommended, high-end French fusion
PiPi's- Malecon area; Mexican/Tex Mex; frequented by a lot of locals; very casual
El Aryan- Malecon area; Modern mexican
Pepes- Malecon area; good for tacos; very casual

LUNCH:
El Coleguita- Marina area- fresh seafood; good for lunch because they close around 7pm once they run out of fresh seafood
Marismos- Malecon area has a taco stand, but Marina has a restaurant- best fish and shrimp tacos in PV; it's a dive, so better for lunch
8 Tostadas- Marina area; frequented by a lot of locals
Coffee Cup- Marina and Malecon areas- great coffees, pastries, and sandwiches if you want something light; good for breakfast and lunch

Other:
Punto V- Malecon area; This place was our favorite after hours place. They played great 80s and 90s music. On nights when they have a Mexican crowd, they play a lot of spanish music. We had a blast on all nights. They serve a decent lunch as well with a nice view of the beach.
Malecon Beach Bars- you'll find random beach bars along the Malecon beach serving drinks, barbeque, and mexican food. I enjoyed sitting at the beach during the afternoon for a drink and chips/guac.

Bali

February 2009

We spent the last two weeks in the beautiful island of Bali, Indonesia. Bali is very small in size. It's easy enough to drive around the entire coast in one day. We stayed in the areas of Kuta/Legian, Ubud and Seminyak. The Balinese culture is very rich and from my observation is defined in large part by religion. They are predominately Hindu, while Indonesia as a whole is Muslim. The Balinese practice of Hinduism is can be seen in their temple ceremonies, dance performances, and daily prayers/offerings to the Gods. Every Balinese native we met throughout our trip made a mention of their rituals and ceremonies.

Bali was the most relaxing of all of our vacations. Everything there is designed around R&R....abundance of spas, beautiful villas with private pools, and beaches. We definitely did our share of relaxing, but I can only relax so much before I get "antsy". So, everyday we did a long walk in the city, making little discoveries along the way. Shopping in Bali is endless!! Often we would end our city walks with a massage/facial at a spa. Neil got totally addicted to the spas, that we would sometimes spend part of our day going "spa shopping". Yes, there are that many, and SUPER cheap. After walking/spa, we'd go back to the villa for a dip in the pool and light reading before getting ready for dinner. Of course, dinner was the highlight of my night :) Bali has an abundance of phenomenal restaurants, catering mostly to tourist population. One interesting tidbit we found out is that the Balinese typically do not go out to dinner, nor do they have the tradition of eating at defined times during the day, or as a family. This is not indicative of Indonesia as a whole (just Bali). Several locals we spoke to said that they usually cook food in the morning, and eat that same food throughout the day whenever they feel hungry. The only times they actually make a production out of eating is during ceremonial events. Due to this, you can find virtually every type of cuisine in Bali for the tourist population. We ate everything from traditional Indonesian food to even Spanish food, often prepared by top chefs.

Of all the countries that we have visited, Neil and I both agree that the Balinese are the friendliest. We felt special at every establishment...at hotels, spas, restaurants, even taxis...they go out of their way to conversate with you and make you feel welcomed to their island. This island thrives on tourists, and only now are they finally starting to get the tourist livelihood back.

Below is the breakdown of the different areas we stayed within Bali:

KUTA (3 days)

- Kuta is one of the main areas and is only about 5 minutes from Legian. It's a bustling city with a good amount of shopping/boutiques in both Kuta and Legian. Also, this area has the most options for nightlife/clubs. Kuta beach is very popular, and Legian Beach is right nearby too. Looking back, I don't think it's necessary to stay in Kuta. It's only 15-20 minutes from Seminyak, which we enjoyed much more. So, taking a taxi to Kuta for a day is more than enough.

Accomodations:

- We stayed at Villa De Daun. Our villa had a private pool and full kitchen. Minibar is complimentary. The decor of the villa was very simplistic, modern, and very clean. Breakfast served in the villa every morning. We definitely recommend this place, and it is walking distance to everything. Even though it's in the heart of the city, the villa provided complete privacy. We also got an amazing complimentary welcome "foot massage" in their spa.

Eating:

- We did lunches along Legain Beach. We enjoyed eating at Lanai, that had a great rooftop and veiw of the beach.

- We had dinner one night in Jimbaran Bay (about 20 minutes from Kuta). There are an abundance of fresh seafood restaurants along the bay, all having a gorgeous view of the sunset. We ended up at restaurant "AMC", but all along the bay appear to be the same.

- We also did dinner at Ku De Ta. This is actually located in Seminyak. Like I mentioned before, the cities are all very close by. Ku De Ta is one of the more upscale/ritzy restaurants. The menu is good, but it's a lot pricier than other even better restaurants in Bali. I don't recommend this for dinner. However, it's great for drinks and catching the sunset at Seminyak beach. We did this while in Seminyak, and the scene was really cool, and the sunset, breathtaking.

UBUD (2 days)

- Ubud, located about 45 minutes from Kuta, is known as Bali's centre for arts, dance, and music. This is where you would come to by art, fabrics, and wood carvings. There's a huge outdoor market for shopping, which is great for gifts to take home. Ubud is a very quaint town, and very different from the bustling of Kuta and ritz of Seminyak. It has a very strong character, and draws in those individual that are active in art, nature, anthropology, environmentalism, etc. You'll find a vast difference in the tourists that exist in Ubud versus the other cities. One local told us that many writers come to write their books in the environment that Ubud offers. Also, Ubud is very culturally scenic, with it's rice paddies, small villages, arts/craft communities, and temples.

We spent one day taking a bike tour along many villages near Ubud. I highly recommend doing a bike tour, as you will be able to see amazing views of the picturesque rice paddies along the way. Some of the views were breathtaking. Also, our tour guide provided us with so much information on the culture of Bali. During the bike tour, we also got to visit a coffee plantation. There, they have this animal called a Luwak, known as the "coffee cat". We were told that this cat serves the purpose of eating the coffee beans and then the droppings are used to make the actual coffee. The coffee itself is very expensive. Check out this website: http://www.animalcoffee.com/

We also spent at day at the Sacred Monkey Forest in Ubud. It is a small nature preservation having lush surroundings, a temple, and hundreds of monkeys (Balinese macaques). The monkeys are very tolerant of people, but you have to be careful around them. We were allowed to feed them, which was a blast but a little scary. One of the monkeys patted my behind and another even jumped on my head!!!

Accomodations:

- We stated at the Greenfield Bungalows. This wasn't as lush as where we stayed in Kuta or Seminyak, but it complimented the overall feel of Ubud. The bungalow was decorated in traditional Indonesian style, with traditional wood carvings and furniture throughout. Our deck overlooked rice paddies. The environment was very serene...again, very different from the other two cities. Breakfast in the villa is complimentary.

Eating:

- We enjoyed eating lunch at Tutmak Cafe in Ubud. The cafe had a continental menu, and was packing with a lot of interesting people. I noticed that a lot of "ex-pats" frequented this spot

- For dinners we went to Nomad and Cafe Wayan. Nomad did a modern take on Indonesian cuisine. It was quite good. If you go, the Indonesian Beef Kebab is mind blowing...everything else was just good. Cafe Wayan serves traditional Indonesian fare. The setting at the restaurant is gorgeous. The tables are situated in a beautifully lit, lush garden. There are some low tables too where you sit on pillows to eat. Traditional Indonesian food is typically served on a big plate with small offerings of different items all in little banana leaf bowls. The overall look is very pleasing, as is the variety. We enjoyed trying this, but we didn't love the traditional Indonesian. We found that we enjoy the "fusion" take that a lot of other restaurants did (i.e. mixing Thai, Indian, Indonesian cuisines)

SEMINYAK (5 days)

Seminyak is considered the swanky/ritzy city of Bali. You will find some of the best villas, spas, restaurants, and shopping in this area. All are in abudance! We enjoyed Seminyak the most of the 3 cities, so I'm glad we spent most of our time here. This is where we did most of our spa visits. We enjoyed the Bodyworks spa there, but you can't go wrong with many of the spas there. Just do your research and check out the rooms before reserving it. We ( I mean "I") did a lot of shopping here too! There are dress boutiques galore! We enjoyed eating here the most also :)

Accomodations:

- We stated at the Villa Kubu. This was even more beautiful than the villa in Kuta. Again, it was modern decor villa with a living room, full kitchen, eating area, bedroom, private pool, and a beautiful outdoor bathroom. Had it not been for all the spas/shopping in Villa Kubu, I could have hung out in the villa all day. Breakfast is cooked and served in the villa too!

Drinks/Afterhours:

- Seminyak has a lot of great restaurants along the beach where you can go for drinks and catch the sunset. Ku De Ta and La Luciola are both very popular for sunset drinks.

- After hours, people gravitate to the bars at Hu'u bar, Gado Gado, and the Living Room. JL. Diana Pura Street (aka "Drink Street") is also a popular street for bars.

- There are also some afterhours bars along Seminyak beach.

Eating:

- We did our lunches on the go. We enjoyed the Junction (for fresh/healthy food and drink), the Corner (freshly made sandwiches), and Lanai for beach views. We also frequented Bali Deli, which is their version of a Whole Foods/Balduccis. You can find virtually everything there. Also, you can do your shopping here if you wish to cook in your villa.

- Dinner in Seminyak is truly an experience. The options are endless as is the cuisine! Being in Bali, I tried to stick mostly to Asian cuisine. There are excellent Italian restaurants too (Ultimo and Trattoria are popular), but I didn't bother. Our favorite restaurant was Sarong, specializing in Asian fusion cuisine. The restaurant itself is absolutely stunning, and the food was so delicious, and very reasonably priced. They serve dishes like red Indonesian matarbak with paneer and chutney, red curry duck, southern indian fish curry, tandoori chicken, etc. We loved it so much that we went there twice. Ask them to make your food spicy if you prefer. We also enjoyed Antique restaurant, specializing in modern Indonesian. The curry dishes there were excellent, and very affordable. We deviated from Asian one night and tried La Sal for Spanish tapas...another great find in a fabulous, upscale setting. Our last night, we went to Chandi restaurant for modern Indonesian food. The chef there is a former chef of Nobu. The food was excellent, and again cheap. The black pepper crab dumplings are to die for!! There are so many other restaurants we would have liked to go to but did not have the time. We found a lot of our information on restaurants from Tripadvisor.com. The following tripadvisor contributors were extremely helpful: jade_du and BrigidE.

I thoroughly enjoyed Bali. It's an island rich of beauty and culture, and I'm fortunate to have had the opportunity to experience it. I hope that I've convinced someone out there to take a trip to Bali. If I can handle the flight time, literally anyone can.

Turkey

For the last couple weeks (July 4- July 16, 2008), we’ve been on the most fabulous vacation. Neil and I took a trip to Turkey (Antalya & Istanbul), with a short stopover in Rome (b/c Neil had to appease me). I have never been so depressed to return to the States! Turkey was the highlight of our trip and we can’t wait to return and experience more of its beauty, life, and food! Check out my slideshows below and write-ups. Rome was our first stop on the trip. Since I already posted on Rome in my Italy post, I’ll skip that part. After Rome, we next went to Antalya for 3 nights, and Istanbul for 5 nights. Sadly, the time in Turkey wasn’t enough...and of course Neil keeps pointing out that we didn't "have" to do Rome since we've done it before. I'll suck it up and admit that he's right...only on this blog :)

ANTALYA

Antalya is Turkey’s and much of Europe’s holiday getaway on the Mediterranean coast. The only place I have to compare it to is the Greek Islands, and it can definitely compete (not to mention the food is WAY better in Turkey). The coastline is an incredible site, and we had a beautiful view of it from our hotel balcony. We stayed at the Sheraton resort right near the beach, and right next door to an area called the “Beach Park”. The beach park is quite an impressive area. It’s a pedestrian walkway that is over a mile long and lined with beach nightclubs, restaurants, and spots to relax with drinks and hookha along the way. You’ll see club after club pumping euro music way into the morning hours along the beach side. On the other side you’ll see café/restaurants/hookha bars that are lined up with eclectic outside seating and hundreds of beanbags (yes beanbags!). ..it’s an area for pure relaxation and social gathering. It’s hard to describe so check out the pictures in the slideshow. The beach park is massive and I’ve never seen anything like it!
About a mile from the beach is the picturesque old town of Kaleici. It is a very quaint town with narrow winding streets, old houses, and ancient walls. This area also has a number of boutique hotels and traditional Turkish restaurants. I'd compare it to the Plaka District of Athens. This is also the area that people go for market shopping (Turkish rugs, jewelry, spices, etc). The markets are abundant, and they tend to harass you when you are walking by, but not in a bad way. They are extremely friendly and no harm is done if you don’t wish to buy their goods. Bargaining is a requirement and a part of the experience! Near Kaleici, is a beautiful marina on the Mediterranean. We took a short 1 hour cruise of the Mediterranean from this area. Again, this area is lined with restaurants and is very lively, day and night. Our days in Antalya consisted of spending the daytime in Kaleici and the Marina. We’d get a delicious doner kebab on the go for lunch. Doner is a seasoned cut of lamb/veal that they wrap in a thin pita or bread. The literal meaning of doner is ‘turning roast’. Stands can be found everywhere. Before making our trip back to the hotel, we would stop at one of the various cafés that overlook the sea for a drink. I'd get my daily ice cream fix...Micky D's ice cream cone dipped in chocolate! Now why don't they do that here? We’d then head back to our hotel and lounge at the pool or beach park. Then we’d have to figure out a dinner venue which was a big task, b/c the possibilities are endless. Dinner is an experience of pure enjoyment in Turkey. Food is a huge part of their culture, and dinner usually lasts a couple of hours, complete with an assortment of mezes and main dishes. The mezes are mostly vegetarian, but the main dishes heavily consist of lamb, veal, beef kebabs with chicken options as well. Turkish food is incredible and I’m still craving it! We ended up at the below dinner venues. Our favorite was the one we found all on our own. The other two were “safe” hotel recommendations (not as good as the one we found). But, you’re guaranteed better than average food at any Turkish restaurant. My rec is not to listen to a chain hotel like the Sheraton b/c they are very cautious of giving venues where the locals go. Boutique hotels do a better job of this.

• Taraca Restaurant- Located along the beach park. Our favorite restaurant in Antalya, and one of our best meals in Turkey! The mezes were excellent. The kebab meat was also perfectly spiced and delicious. This was one of the few places in Antalya (and Turkey), that serves fresh Turkish flatbread as well.


• 7 Mehmet Restaurant- Located past the beach park; suggested by hotel and I read about it in my own research. Beautiful views of the Mediterranean, so try to go before dark. Mezes and kebabs were decent. No Turkish bread here..just regular sliced baguette bread which you can ask them to toast.


• Kral Sofrasi Restaurant- On the marina; suggested by hotel. Again, no Turkish bread here. The mezzes and kebabs were decent. They really try to push the fish on you here since it’s on the marina. It’s very heavily priced, and when they displayed their offerings of the night to us, we weren’t very impressed.

One thing to note in Turkey, is that if you want good wine you’ll pay a very high price. This was the only downside I found, b/c I love wine. They just aren’t into wine there. All the locals drink “Raki”, which is an anise flavored liqueur, and they drink this stiff drink in large quantities!! It’s usually mixed w/ a little water and ice cubes. Definitely try it for the experience, but be prepared for the hangover. Neil had it a couple of nights, but stuck w/ the Efes Turkish beer that grew on him towards the end of our trip. Oh, and cheap/bad wine also ended up growing on me towards the end of the trip...see, I'm not high maintenance :) On to Istanbul, the climax of the trip…

ISTANBUL

We absolutely fell in love with the city of Istanbul during our short 5 nights. The city is simply magical and alive 24/7. I’ve never seen anything like it. The city will never give any indication as to the time or day of week…the streets are always packed with locals and tourists alike. And this city is lined by the Maramara and Bosphorous seas, so the views from almost every point/venue of the city are breathtaking. The people were very welcoming and extremely helpful. They love Americans (they just hate BUSH). I can write forever about our experience in Istanbul, but I’ll keep this post to the major attractions and good eats. We stayed in a boutique hotel, Hotel Niles, located in Beyazit (old town Istanbul). It was a little bit away from some of the major areas, but we were right next to Istanbul’s very efficient tram system that we used everyday. We loved the hotel and would recommend it to anyone. It’s very affordable, clean, and the staff is excellent. They entertained all of our questions in detail, and trust me Neil can get pretty annoying with questions. There was a new concierge that started the day we arrived (such a cutie 22 year old), and he was given the most challenging week ever w/ Neil. Towards the end, he pointed out that Neil taught him a few things about the city. As you can see, Neil put him to work...so embarrassing!
The hotel also has a rooftop terrace, providing a great way to unwind after touring the city. Oh, and it has an EXCELLENT kebab house right next door! That was our dinner one night. The hotel plated the food for us on the terrace. It was one of the best meals we had in Istanbul! The only negative to the hotel is that it has smaller than average rooms, but we managed just fine. Here is how we spent our trip:


Major Attractions/ To Do-

• Hagia Sofya, Cisterns, Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace are all must sees. I loved the Hagia Sofia especially. Topkapi Palace was also beautiful. Topkapi palace has an additional charge to see the Harem (the actual home of the Sultan). It’s really cool and worth seeing, so pay the extra 10 Lira. You can do the Hagia Sofya, Blue Mosque, and Cisterns in one day. Save Topkapi for another long morning. If you have more time for sightseeing, check out the museums.


• Grand Bazaar & Spice Bazaar- Both of these markets are worth seeing. But, as I mentioned with the shopping in Antalya, be prepared to be harassed, and it’s vital to bargain! Most don’t know what a good price is for anything, and there’s almost no way to know. If bargaining’s not your style, determine what you think it’s worth and decide not to pay more than that. It can be a time consuming and draining process though, especially if you start comparison shopping. Somehow I got sucked into a two hour ordeal w/ a vendor trying to sell me a turkish rug, and mind you, I had no intention of buying! I took Neil on quite an adventure on our bazaar day!


• Bosphorous Tour- This can be done by ferry, and most take a half day (6 hours), as they go to the Asia side where you can get off and tour. We didn’t want to spend half a day out on sea, so we found a 45 minute tourist ferry that goes from the nearby town of Ortakoy. It hits the major sites along the Bosphorous.


• Ortakoy- it’s not a must do, but we enjoyed this town. It’s very quaint and it’s where the locals go to getaway and unwind. This town has the best Potato (“Kumpir”) stands in Istanbul. It’s basically a massive potato bar with all sorts of weird toppings (cheese, sour cream, olives, peppers, couscous, spicy spreads, and even a potato salad topping!) It’s a must try. Ortakoy is also known for having the best Waffle stands. The waffles are stuffed up with any sweet fillings you desire and rolled up like a burrito. Such an awesome idea!


• Istiklal Street (“Caddesi”)- Located in the area of “Beyoglu”, this was the most amazing pedestrian street I’ve seen. Its runs from Taksim Square to the tunel square and is the pulse of the city. It’s the only place to soak up the true flavor of the city. We went almost everyday. It’s almost a mile long and lined with shops, cafes, eateries, restaurants, and side streets that reveal even more endless restaurants. It’s a wonderful place for people watching and to spend the day. You’ll find the locals stopping for Turkish tea and playing backgammon at the little tables on the walk. Backgammon and tea is a huge pastime in Turkey. There’s something for everyone on Istiklal Caddesi, and it’s pumping from the entire day and late night hours.


• Galata Bridge- This is a nice walking trip. You’ll see tons of locals fishing off of the bridge. Be sure to get a Balik Ekmek (fish sandwich) near there. Get it from one of the vendor stands and not from the restaurants directly under the bridge. It’s so much better.






• Meyhanes- You cannot visit Istanbul without experiencing a Meyhane or two for dinner. This is the local’s spot for gathering, having mezes, and drinking raki. The atmoshphere is complete with music, fun, and laughter. Don’t be surprised if the people at the table next to strikes up conversation. It’s just a big party and everyone is family. The best area for Meyhanes is on the Asmalmescit Sokak (a side street off of Istaklal Street). You can just shop around a choose one, b/c there are many, and I hear all are good. Our favorite meyhane was Yakup 2. It’s fun even if you don’t drink, and other drinks are offered besides Raki. But if you want to try Raki, a meyhane is definitely the place.


• Turkish Delight & Baklava- Can’t do Turkey without trying these. Koska Bakery had the best Turkish delight. It’s located right on Istaklal, and there’s a couple shops in Beyazit also. I didn’t even like the stuff before I tried it in Istanbul. It grows on you. Baklava was pretty incredible everywhere. We enjoyed this at the Koska bakery as well.

Istanbul Restaurants-

We ate most of our lunches from street vendors, b/c they had the best doner sandwiches and pides (Turkish pizzas!). But you can find many sit down places for lunch and cafes for drinks/snacks. Istaklal street has endless options for all cravings. Like Antalya, choosing a place for dinner is always a dilemma. This city loves to eat and it has restaurants galore. We stuck with all Turkish restaurants, although eclectic/international cuisine is abundant. Be sure to ask prices before going to a restaurant (they are use to this), and also ask if alcohol is served. There’s a minority of venues that don’t serve alcohol. But, these are usually located in more conservative sections of Istanbul. Also, be aware that any restaurant with a view of the Maramara and Bosphorous seas are going to be more expensive and sometimes not as good food as other restaurants. But, the views alone are worth it. In terms of restaurant pricing, you’ll pay quite a bit to drink alcohol, but food is generally priced fair. Here goes:

• Hamdi Restaurant (Tahmis Cad. Kalcin Sok. No:17, Eminonu; phone: 0212 528 03 90 – 512 54 24; web: www.hamdirestorant.com.tr)- Located in the old city and very popular. Make reservations in advance (even before your trip), so you can get a table on the terrace. The views are incredible and so is the food. Service is a bit rushed though due to the popularity. This place also serves fresh Turkish flatbread as opposed to just loaf bread. The pistachio and spicy kebabs are a must. Be sure to get the spicy meze made of ground nuts, cumin, and spices!


• Yakup 2- Asmali Mescit Street in Beyogul (off of Istaklal Street); This was our favorite meyhane. We didn’t even order a main course here. We just ordered a bunch of delicious mezes and raki. Must try the fried eggplant with yogurt here. Fried shrimp with peppers also delish. No fresh Turkish bread.


• Sofilya 9- Asmalmescit Sokak in Beyogu (off of Istaklal Street); Another meyhane. The food was cheaper that Yakup 2, but I didn’t find it as tasty. The boregis (cheese/meat filled Turkish pastries) were excellent though, and it was still a fun experience. No fresh Turkish bread.


• Fenir Fish Restaurant- In the Kumkapi area. This is a really fun area to dine and has all fish restaurants. It’s complete with dancing, live music, and tons of people. However, be wary that it’s very pricey for so so food. The fish wasn’t anything better than we get in the states, which I was surprised by. If you go, it’s more for the overall experience instead of the food.


• Leb-i-derya (Kumbaraci yokusu, 57/6-7 Tunel, Beyoglu; phone: 0212 293 49 89/0212 243 95 55; web: www.lebiderya.com). Right off of Istaklal, this restaurant is a must visit for a pre-dinner drink and some mezes because the views are spectacular. Be sure to go to this one and NOT the one in the nearby Richmond Hotel, b/c you won’t get the same views. It’s a very trendy place and the food is eclectic. The menu looks great, and we’ve heard great things about the food, but we decided to just do drinks and a couple apps before our real dinner. We wanted to stick to traditional Turkish cuisine on the trip. You have to get a seat on the terrace for the views….although the inside views are nice too. It is truly an amazing experience.


• 360 Istanbul- Next to St. Antoine church on Istaklal Street. The name says it all…panoramic view of Istanbul. The food is not good and pricey. So go for pre-drinks or after dinner. We went after dinner and thoroughly enjoyed the views.


• Nupera/Nutera- This is a rooftop bar/restaurant in Beyoglu off of Istaklal. Again, not great for food, but you get a beautiful view of the sunset and the city. We went for drinks.

Other restaurants that were recommended to us but didn’t have the time were Develi (kebabs, suppose to be better than Hamdi), Doga Balik (fish and nice views), Fishmekan (fish and kebabs), Kiyi (suppose to be BEST fish around), Refik (meyhane), Assk Kahve (for lunch/brunch), Hunkar (Turkish homestyle food), Sunset Bar & Grill (amazing sunset views- good for drinks, not food).

Istanbul Nightspots-
We didn’t hit up a lot of the major afterhour venues, as we were out during late hours on our Meyhane nights. Note that alcohol is pretty pricey at all the bars. We joined some locals we met at a meyhane to an 80’s rock bar called Mojo (on Istaklal). They had a pretty comical turkish coverband singer who was singing tons of 80s and Turkish songs which the crowd went nuts for. Needless to say, it was right up my alley! For euro/techno music, you can check out 360 Istanbul. Other places are Reina, Sortie, and Angelie (Reina being the most popular). They are the trendiest, exclusive, most pretentious nightclubs in Istanbul, and drinks can cost you up to 30- 40 lira easily. They also serve dinner, but I hear the food is super expensive and horrible. These clubs are right on the water along the Bosphorous, and people say that it is a must do just for that. We never made it, b/c we were too tired to deal with the ordeal, and were having too much fun just on Istaklal street. If you decide to go to Reina, Sortie, or Angelie, make a reservation for food, and just get a few drinks/apps. Then proceed to the club. If you don’t, it'll be a pain to get into the club later. I know I missed a lot of vital info, so please don’t hesitate to contact me with specific questions. We are definitely going to return to Turkey in the future and check out some of its other magical cities such as Ankara, Izmir, and Bodrum. Turkey rocks!!!

London

My cousin, her husband, and kids have been living in London for the last 10 years. The rest of us cousins in the states have always talked about visiting her, and we finally made a trip out there in November, 2007. It was a short, 4 day period, but we packed a hell of a lot in. We absolutely loved London, and definitely want to return to experience all that we missed out on.

My cousin was nice enough to let all 6 of us stay in her house in Putney. Putney is a charming town that’s only 30 minutes from the city. The neighborhoods that we walked through in Putney were so quaint and unique. The houses have rich history and detail, and they aren’t cookie cutters like you see in the states. My cousin’s house in particular was definitely a site. There is such amazing attention to detail throughout the house. My favorite detail in the house was the molding, with each room having a different pattern of molding. I almost felt like I was in an art gallery. Along with the exquisite details of the house, my cousin has great taste, and she complimented the luxury with absolute comfort.

On the day of our arrival to Putney, we walked over to her son’s private school to pick them up. That was a fun little field trip. The boys looked so adorable dressed up in their uniforms, and were so happy (and a bit embarassed) to see us. The school was definitely very prestigious. Those boys are learning so much more at their young age, than we ever did. The older one (at 6 I believe), is actually learning how to cook…already!!!! And the younger one is quite the entertainer, already doing performances at school. They are both so intelligent and so cute with their british tongues. That evening, we just stayed in Putney, and my cousin cooked us a fabulous dinner. She’s an amazing cook. We had a great time eating, drinking and bonding. The night ended in front of the fireplace with some port wine, truffles, and cheese. Perfection! My cousin knows how to entertain!

I would have been happy just staying in Putney alone. It has its own little city with pubs and restaurants. But, having traveled this far, we had to go to Proper London. So, on our first full day, we walked over to the Putney bus station, got our day pass for the double decker, and boarded. We had no idea where we were going, but just went. It was a blast!

We ended up in the historical Parliamentary area first. They also call their area the “mall” as we do in DC. Also, I thought it looked very similar to our mall. I almost felt as though I was walking down Constitution Avenue. London’s “mall” is definitely more massive though, with beautiful fields of green. We saw the “Eye”, and other historical buildings. It was neat to see Buckingham Palace. Although, I am embarrassed to admit that none of us recognized it. It just looked a little “dinky” (for lack of a better word), than what we always saw in the papers and on TV. Even more embarrassing is that one of us (NOT ME) actually asked a stranger “What is that building”. The stranger was not amused and responded rather coldly. Oh well…we deserved it :)

Anyways, after we were done with history, we walked over to the more happening areas of the city. We just walked, and walked, for what seemed like ever. The city is loaded with tons of shopping, restaurants, and bars…even on a larger scale than NY. And Harrod’s is everywhere. I guess our Macy’s would be London’s Harrod’s. But Harrod’s is a hundred times more massive. We found cute alleys, ended up in a couple of pubs for some Chandy’s (London’s mix of beer and lemonade), ate some yummy treats, and just got lost. We did literally get lost, but that allowed us to see more of the city. We finally made our way home, and had dinner in a delicious South Indian restaurant in Putney. London does Indian food justice!

The next morning, my cousin planned an outing for us to go to Portobello Road and Notting Hill. Portobello Road was probably my favorite part of the trip. It’s an enormous marketplace with vintage clothing, jewelry, furniture…you name it! They also had an incredible farmer’s market the day we went. All the food looked delicious, and the local produce, so fresh. Anyone that says that London doesn’t have good food has never been. We ended up buying a couple homemade vegetable tarts to have as an evening appetizer. We got a mushroom tart and a root vegetable tart. Trust me, you have never tasted tarts like these. After Portobello Road, we walked through Notting Hill and ended up at a Pub there. Notting Hill was absolutely gorgeous. The architecture is just beautiful. I really was amazed at how everything I saw in London (Putney, the city, the parliament, Notting Hill) all had their own character and style. Every area was so different and held its own. I was also surprised at the ambiance of the pubs we visited. Pubs in London are almost a family, civilized outing. Even my cousin’s sons came with us. You don’t go there to get “sloshed”, but instead to just relax and bond amongst friends/family in a warm/welcoming environment. And the beers are great! That evening, we went back to Putney, had some of the tarts, cocktails, and ordered pizza. The pizza was fabulous! After that, my cousin had arranged for us to go to an exclusive lounge in the city. We got all dressed up and tried to blend in with London’s “It” crowd. The fun never ends!

The 3rd day of our trip, we took it easy. All of us really wanted to check out Waitrose, London’s main supermarket. So, we went on a little shopping spree there. We bought all sorts of chips, chocolates, cookies that they don’t sell in the states. We also bought cordials. London’s big on cordials, which is a concentrated, flavored syrup that you can use to flavor water or even prosecco. Obviously, I prefer flavoring the latter, so I bought a strawberry/mint flavor. Later that day, we went to yet another pub along the water in Putney. I can’t get over how their pubs are so warm and welcoming. That night we ordered some carryout. Half of us ordered Thai, and the other half ordered Fish & Chips. I was in the fish & chips group. You can’t go to London and not have it! It was delicious!

Day 4, and it’s time to leave :( All of us were so sad. My cousin sent us off with a huge, hearty pasta lunch. We all had such an amazing time, and can’t wait to go back! Although, I hope my cousin is still living there if we go. One major point that I failed to mention, is that everything in London is super expensive. The exchange between the dollar and pound is horrible, and we literally paid double for everything. She really saved our finances and was an incredible host. I can't thank them enough! Don't let the exchange rate deter you. Everyone should splurge once in a while, expecially on a memorable experience. London is worth visiting, and only a 6 hour flight away. It has its own beauty and character that really sets it apart from the rest of Europe.

Italy

We went to Italia back in July, 2006 for 10 days. I wish I wrote about it immediately upon my return, b/c I have already forgotten so many details. Being first-timers, we did the typical route of Roma, Firenze, and Veneto. If I had to rank my favorites in order, it would be Firenze (due to Tuscany), Roma, and lastly Veneto. But, I loved them all!! Oh, and Italian cuisine is by far my favorite, and Italy only reinforced that. Going there for the food alone is worth it!

ROMA:

An Italian friend, and several recommendations online led us to stay in the region of Trastevere just outside the city. It was the best decision we made.. I don’t think we would have enjoyed Rome as much, had we not chosen to stay in this area. It was charming, quaint, and not nearly as touristy as downtown Rome. It was also just a short, 15 minute walk to all the major attractions. We stayed at the Santa Maria bed and breakfast. The b&b was nothing spectacular, but it had a very homey atmosphere, and wonderful to come back to after dealing with all the crowds and chaos in Rome. They served free breakfast and a had nice, complimentary antipasti spread at 5:00…perfect timing, b/c that’s the time we always got back from sight-seeing and were ready to just unwind on some yummy foccacia and wine. Our days were spent seeing all the history of Rome, which is absolutely beautiful (Coliseum, Vatican, Steps of Rome, etc). Check out the slideshow! I would get a gelato or two on our walks, and Neil would get a Panini or two (which I also picked at). The gelato in Italy is so creamy, yet light. I wish I could have had one at every gelatria we passed. The paninis in the streets of Rome are also awesome, much better than the ones in Florence or Venice. You can get all sorts of fillings (prosciutto, peppers, eggplant, basil, mozzarella, etc). The bread is so moist, and pressed firmly against the filling…almost like a stuffed pizza. It was the perfect lunch/snack to have on the go, as we were constantly on the go in Rome. Bring good walking shoes!! We did most of our dinners in Trastevere versus the touristy restaurants in the heart of Rome. Our favorite restaurant in Trastevere was Taverna Trillusa. They are known for their homemade pastas which they serve right in the pan in which they were made. We also had a veal tenderloin dish there, which I still remember to this day. It was super thick, so tender, and each bite so flavorful. Dinner time (around 10pm) and after dark is when Trastevere really shines. Everyone is out just enjoying themselves, from local families to college students. It’s full of energy and life…even on a Monday night! We loved just walking around at night and feeling the energy. We also frequented a chocolate bar every night…can’t remember the name. But, right after dinner, we went there to get a shot of rum in mini chocolate cups. On to Firenze….

FIRENZE:

We got on the euro-rail and were on our way to Florence. The euro-rail is such a great way to transport between cities. It’s fast, comfortable, and so easy to buy tickets. We spent 4 nights in Florence at the Villa De Medici Hotel. This hotel was also about a 15 minute walk from the major attractions. The hotel was beautiful, with a nice pool in the back, and a lovely complimentary breakfast. I love staying in hotels that are right outside the touristy area. During the walks to/from , you get to see so much more that you would have otherwise missed. Again, we spent our days seeing the major attractions (Duomo, Ponte Vecchio, etc), and grabbing tasty bites along the way. So many cafes and gelaterias to choose from!! We would go into multiple ones in a given day, because I just had to be sure to try everything.


I found the food to be better in Florence than in Rome. I really enjoyed the Tuscan influence...wild boar, prosciutto w/ melon, ribolita, and crostinis galore. The memorable restaurants I remember are Il Latini and Acqua Al 2. Both were touristy, but you would never know by the food. Il Latini was family style, with several courses of authentic Tuscan food and flowing drinks. The staff there is on a mission to get everyone loaded. They gave us limoncello shots followed by grappa…and yes, we were LOADED. We were seated with people we didn’t know, but we got to know each other by the end of the night! Acqua Al 2 was equally memorable. The staff was super friendly. Their concept is sampler courses. You can order the pasta sampler, in which they bring out 8 courses of different pastas from gnocchi to fusili. All were so tasty. The pasta everywhere was just heavenly…always done al dente, and so flavorful that it didn’t even need sauce. Acqua Al 2 is also known for their blueberry steak, which sounded weird at first, but it was so perfect. The tanginess and sweetness from the blueberry reduction sauce complemented the filet so wonderfully. I’ve been trying to recreate it at home unsuccessfully. If anyone has any recipes, please send!! They also have a dessert sampler, but we were too full for it…can’t believe I was too full for dessert!


The highlight of our trip was our day trip to Tuscany. We decided to go to the region of Montalcino versus Montepulciano. Everyone was raving about the Brunello di Montalcino (a red Italian wine, and similar to Sangiovese). Brunello is one of the best known and expensive wines of Italy. We rented a little baby blue panda car and decided to go out on our own and just discover. Another bad decision! We got lost constantly…and of course that meant we fought constantly. But, we finally made it to Montalcino with some other scenic stops along the way (Sienna and San Gimignano). The drive is so amazing and serene (even though we got lost). Tuscany is absolutely beautiful with its rolling hills, vineyards that go on forever, castles, etc. The drive is just breathtaking. So, once in Montalcino, we had some yummy crostinis and wine in town before going to the vineyards. The waiter at the café and several others recommended that we check out Altesino and Carpazo vineyards. It was a rough drive getting to the vineyards…all dirt roads. Altesino was closed L But, Carpazo was open, and we spent a good 2 hours there! The young woman who worked there was so incredibly friendly. She taught us so much about the wines and the region. The brunello, btw, was incredible!!! I’m sooo stupid for only buying 3 bottles. They were only like 25 EUR, while they sell for over $100 bottle here. She also did some olive oil tastings, and OMG…I have never tasted such fresh, fruity extra virgin olive oil. It didn’t need anything added to it. It tasted absolutely perfect on its own. I bought a bottle…it’s finished now :( By the time we were done with Carpazo, it was time to head back. I hear the Altesino is even better than Carpazo, which means we have to return. So, we left and drove thru Chianti. Another breathtaking drive! We stopped at Rocca De Macie vineyard on the way…..bought some more wine and more olive oil. The olive oil tastings are such a cool concept! The wine at Rocca was decent, but nothing like Carpazo. Rocca De Macie distributes heavily over here, but since we were there, why not just buy straight from them. On our way back to our hotel, we got lost again, of course… and somehow ended up on a pedestrian street in Florence. That was scary! My next trip to Italy will focus on Tuscany. A day there wasn’t enough, and there’s so much more wine to try!! I also would do a winery tour this time. While it was fun exploring on our own, I feel that we missed out on a lot.

VENETO:

Venice was our last destination on the trip. We were there only 2 nights, and I thought that was enough. While Venice was absolutely gorgeous and unique, we didn’t enjoy the food as much as we did in Florence and Rome. That’s probably due to bad choices on our part. We didn’t research the restaurants there ahead of time, and ended up just restaurant shopping. We also found that the people in Venice really don’t like tourists. I guess, it’s understandable, given that their entire city is constantly flooded. So, we were pretty much left to fend for ourselves on the trip. The hotel and people were generally not helpful with recommendations and suggestions on good eats. The restaurants we ended up at weren’t terrible, but not memorable either. Regardless of the food, Venice was a sight worth seeing. I mean it’s a city on water after all! The views of Venice from our hotel patio were so beautiful. One thing worth consuming in Venice are their bellinis. And where else to try it, but Venice, where the bellini was born. The bellini is a mixture of Prosecco sparkling wine and peach puree. Everywhere we went, they were serving it blended with fresh peaches. The end result was a refreshing, frothy, yummy drink. I’ve made them at home too, and will post the recipe one of these days. On the last day of our trip, Neil was totally sick of Italian food. I just didn’t understand, b/c I can eat Italian food forever, even in Venice. So, he had to just have Micky d’s for that greasy taste of America. I sat with him, looking in disgust as he chowed down on his burger. But, one cool thing was that they had mini calzones on the menu. So cute, and not bad tasting either.

Italia was a trip of a lifetime, and I am dying to go back. So, I can continue to write on. But, I don’t want to bore you anymore. If you are going to this beautiful country, and have specific questions, please let me know. I’d love to help! Ciao for now! I’m heading back to Rome in July 2008 for 3 days on the way to Turkey. I’ll take good notes this time and report back!.

Costa Rica

We went to the Guanacaste region of Costa Rica and stayed at the Paradisus Playa Conchal resort back in 2005. It is a part of the Melia hotel chain. It was a while ago, so I apologize for my lack of specifics. We were accompanied by close friends as well. I would definitely recommend vacationing with friends so long as everyone is easy going. We all loved the country, the food and the people. The locals were extremely friendly and just had a different perspective on life in general. As they say ‘Pura Vida!’ which means ‘Pure Life’. They take this saying to heart. The people also really care for their land. Every local we met was so friendly and spoke enthusiastically about their country and the importance of preserving it. We went in July, during rainy season. It did rain a good hour every day, and by rain, I mean torrential downpour. Other than that, it was hot and sunny throughout the day. The rain was actually refreshing. Also, going this time of year allowed us to see the beautiful green of the country. The other time of year is considered the ‘dry season’ and Guanacaste resembles a desert.

The Hotel had beautiful grounds and was very well kept. It was absolutely massive. You basically get around in golf carts. They also had bikes that you could use to get around. Neil loved the golf course. I loved biking on the resort and taking in the beauty. The pool is also the largest in Costa Rica (at least back then) and believe it or not, the food on the resort for the most part was great! I usually don’t like all-inclusive resorts due to the food, but we were generally happy. We did a lot of dinners off the resort, but the lunches and dinners at the resort were definitely above par.

Off the resort, is where we had the best food. We ate in the nearby towns of Brazilito and Tamarindo. I can’t recall the names of the restaurants we ate at, but all left us wanting more and reminiscing about the food for days to come. We had one of our best meals in Brasilito. We were seated right on the beach! Costa Rica has some of the freshest seafood I’ve ever had. We had lobster, grouper, shrimp , etc that were all so fresh, and so much tastier than the best seafood restaurants here. “Gallo Pinto” is pretty much everywhere . It’s rice and beans cooked with various spices. We came to love this side dish, and I haven’t been able to get a version of it since. Arroz con Pollo is also very common in Costa Rica. It usually consists of rice, sofrito, chicken and saffron. The combination is very aromatic and hearty. We had this at a lunch spot that we stumbled upon during our Canopy/Zip-line tour. That was one of our best lunches in Costa Rica.

While the food in Costa Rico exceeded our expectations, there’s obviously much more to do besides eat ...rain forests, waterfalls, zip-lining, snorkeling, atvs, monkey park etc. We did it all! My favorite activity was zip-lining. We did the canopy/zipline tour in the Rincón de la Vieja canyon, where we zip lined, rappelled, and climbed our way through the canyon. It was really an amazing experience. We found a local guy off the resort to take us to all our excursions. None of us were into doing an organized tour. So, we rented an SUV and took the local around with us. Some might find that a little sketch, but he was totally harmless. And besides, there were 4 of us, and I’m pretty feisty.

We thoroughly enjoyed Costa Rica, and there’s so much more of the country to see. Hopefully, I make my way back one day.

Until then, PURA VIDA !!!!

Playa Del Carmen

San Francisco

San Francisco

Napa & Sonoma

My sister- in- law lives in the heart of San Francisco. While we are sad that she lives so far away, we get the benefit of visiting one of our favorite cities. The rolling hills, european architecture, breath taking views, skyline, golden gate bridge, coast line, and so much more make it hands down the most gorgeous city in the US. SF is also close by to some of the finest vineyards in the world, with Napa Valley and Sonoma about an hour drive away. It is also a dining mecca and definitely hosts one of the top dining scenes in the US (if not the best). You will never run out of things to do in SF. Much like NY, you can find a new venue every day.

What to do in the city:
• Union Square- Walk around for some high end shopping, great eats, and you might even catch a festival.
• Embarcadero- This is the gorgeous waterfront drive that runs through several neighborhoods. The walk itself is so peaceful and scenic. Take a camera!
• Ferry Building- This is a great little marketplace on the Embarcadero. They have some great little shops, markets, and eateries inside. You can get wonderful wines, cheeses, oils, crafts, etc. There’s a wonderful dessert shop inside called , “Miette”. The ferry building also hosts a farmers market on select days.
• The Union Square Mall- Yes, of all places, the mall! This mall has the most amazing food court I have ever seen. You can get fresh crepes, sushi, barbeque, thai, fresh pastas, gelato, éclairs…and the list goes on. Everything’s served in real dishware too. This isn’t your typical mall food.
• Fisherman’s Warf- Historic waterfront, with fresh seafood, aquarium, and a wide array of things to do. Get your clam chowder in sourdough bowl and fresh dungeness crab here! Definitely a heavy tourist spot.
• Alcatraz- Not really my thing, but Neil loves it. It’s a former federal maximum security prison open for touring. Need tickets for this one.
• Sausalito- Quaint, charming pedestrian area along the water. It’s very serene and has some great restaurants. Check out the houses there too!
• Napa Valley- Hit the major wineries if it’s your first visit. We’ve been to Coppola, Sterling, St. Supery, Beringer, Mondavi, and a few others. Coppola was probably my favorite. Napa is a bit commercialized. Go to V. Sattui midday as they sell a ton of gourmet food and have great picnic grounds. It’s a nice place to unwind and have a glass of wine and cheese. Check out the highly acclaimed “Ubuntu” restaurant for dinner. There’s always “French Laundry” as well, but good luck with reservations.
• Sonoma- I really liked Sonoma much more than Napa. I only visited 3 wineries, but each one gave such personalized service and really took their time with us. Sonoma has a more quaint, and homey feel. We went to Ledson (gorgeous castle winery), B.R. Cohn, and Chateu St. Jean. All had excellent wines…I was partial to the reds at all. B.R. Cohn makes an exceptional extra virgin olive oil. Next time, we’ll head over to the Healdsburg area of Sonoma. I hear that their wines are amongst the best in all of Sonoma.

As far as where to eat, the possibilities are endless. The general SF areas to stick to for good eats are North Beach, Mission District, the Marina, and Sausalito. My experiences are .01 % of what the city has to offer, but here are some places I’ve enjoyed.

• Mall Food Court- You absolutely have to check this out for lunch
• Mijita- in the Ferry Building. Fast food Mexican. It has great fish tacos.
• Miette- in the Ferry Building. You must get a dessert from here. They are all beautifully presented and taste even better than they look. They have the best macaroons ever.
• Townsend- Go there for a yummy brunch.
• Yank Sing- A must go if you are into dim sum. They have this down to a science. Just don’t let your eyes take over your stomach, because you’ll end up grabbing a hell of a lot more food from the carts than you can finish.
• Slanted Door- Excellent modern asian food.
• Kokkari- Delish, and very authentic greek food. The dining room is absolutely beautiful too. Go with a group so you can share all the mezze. Didn’t particularly enjoy the grilled whole fish, but the lamb chops and all of our mezzes were wonderful. Ask for the table near the fireplace.
• Pre Sa Vi- Ecclectic, fun food having different ethnic flairs. Really pretty dining room as well. Get the lamb burger sliders off the bar menu!
• Medjool- Really fun Mediterranean tapas restaurant with a lively atmosphere. Great place to go with a group.
• Foreign Cinema- You’ll feel like you are in the “in crowd” here. It is an absolutely gorgeous restaurant with major flair. The food is great for brunch and dinner. It was actually featured on “Giada’s wkd Getaways”.
• Azuma- I’ve had some of the best sushi here. Although, I don’t think SF can have bad sushi. It’s on the water! Try Blowfish and Sushi Ra as well

We also went to some fun venues for evening drinks. Try the Redwood Room, W Hotel, Ducca Bar, Bin 38 wine bar, bar at the Clift, and Americana

We’ll be heading back to San Fran soon, so I’ll definitely update this.

Los Cabos

Since we went to Italy in 2006, we decided to have a more relaxing vacation in 2007. So, we chose Los Cabos, Mexico located on the Baja Peninsula. We went in Aug 07, and it was HOT, reaching 100 degrees almost everyday. But, I love the heat, and it made for very pleasant nights. We stayed at the Pueblo Bonito Rose resort. Neil’s coworker hooked us up with his timeshare since he wasn’t using it, so we got a sweet deal. It was a beautiful resort, with an excellent location. We were able to walk to the beach bars, town, marina, etc in no time. I love walking on vacation, because it’s the only exercise I get. And, you get to see so much more by walking around, and getting lost.

Our days started out with breakfast in the room. I actually made breakfast every morning. We bought coffee, eggs, bread, jamon, cheese, etc from a grocery store nearby. Then, we would grab some lounge chairs at the hotel pool or the beach. The beach was gorgeous, but I thought the water was a little rough, so I stayed clear. Neil would read, and I would get restless. I’m not one to relax…ever. Neil got hungry for lunch pretty quickly though, so I didn’t suffer too long. We would grab lunch at one of the beach bars, or walk into town. The beach bars were a lot of fun. We went to The Office, Mango Deck, and Baja Cantina. Margaritas and daiquiris were a daily and refreshing part of our diet. All the beach bars were really touristy, and “spring-break” like, but it was quite entertaining….as long as you aren’t the one doing the entertaining. There are A LOT of vendors on the beach. You just have to learn to ignore them. Also, be aware, that EVERYONE there is trying to sell you a timeshare. Again, just politely say no, and all is good. They are just doing their job. None of this really bothered me at all.

One thing I didn’t expect was authentic Mexican food in Cabo. I expected it to be touristy and overly commercialized. Touristy it was, but we ate some mouth watering, authentic Mexican throughout the week. We found a taco place in town, called Gardenias. It was a total hole in the wall, but wow. For $2, you will eat the best tacos ever. The shrimp and fish tacos were my favorite. They even give a personal fixins bar that contains fresh crema, pickled veggies, salsa, etc. We loved this place, and haven’t had anything as good over here. We ate at some other great places too, which I’ll get to a little later.

Some days, we’d walk over to the Marina. The marina is packed with more restaurants, bars and enormous yachts. It’s a really nice area to stroll through during the day and evening. There’s a great gelato place on the Marina too, called Senor Sweets. We took an afternoon trip to Pueblo’s sister resort, the Pueblo Sunset Beach resort, which is located on the Pacific side of Cabo. While, the location isn’t ideal, the views alone are worth it. The entire resort has breathtaking views of the Pacific ocean and you can literally see out for miles. The resort itself was also gorgeous, laid out with villas and beautiful landscaping throughout.

Ok, so back to the food. Here are the places we ate at, and a couple that we missed out on:
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The Office
On the beach. Food is really good, but very pricey. They serve pina coladas in a pineapple. Also, they serve Micheladas, a spice mix that you add to beer. I had a sip of Neil’s, and it was pretty tasty.

Mango Deck
On the beach. This was the most “spring break” type place. There’s a “tequila man” running around pouring tequila shots down people’s throats. It was a fun break in the afternoon to see people makes fools of themselves. Food not great, but 2 for 1 specials on drinks!

Baja Cantina
On the beach and Marina. Food is also not great, but 2 for 1 specials on their drinks!

Gardenias
Best tacos ever!!! Super cheap! Need I say more?

Mariscos Mazatlan
In town. We went for dinner. It wasn’t as touristy as other restaurants, with a lot of locals eating there. The food was decent. Very inexpensive. I don’t think I’d go back though.

Peacocks Restaurant
Beautiful restaurant with lovely décor that serves excellent seafood. It wasn’t as lively as others, but, this may be due to being there in the ‘off’ season. But, the food was delicious and the presentation also very artistic.

Mi Casa
Really touristy restaurant in town, but surprisingly very authentic. Everything we ordered was fantastic, from duck carnitas to spiced sea bass. This place also makes the best margarita in Cabo! I was smashed! Prices are reasonable.

Nick San
In town. Upscale sushi infused with Mexican. This was the best sushi I’ve had next to San Francisco. Must go! It’s a little on the pricey side.

Sunset De Mona Lisa
Italian/seafood restaurant with breathtaking views of the sunset and ocean. We went on our last night and got a table on the terrace that overlooks the ocean. The food was decent and definitely pricey. You are paying more for the ambiance and views though. Be sure to go before the sun sets! We barely made it! Also, make sure when making a reservation that you request a table next to the railing overlooking the sea.

Pepes
Missed out on this one, b/c we couldn’t pass over doing lunch at Gardenias. But, my friends said that it had awesome pork tacos and was really cheap.

El Meson De Zapata
Missed out on this one. My friends went, and they said it was one of the best restaurants they ate at. A lot of locals go there too. They enjoyed the seafood and Molcajetes with tortillas there.

Ediths
Missed out on this one too :( This is one of the restaurants featured on Giada's Weekend Getaway to Cabo. It’s touristy and pricey, but I hear the food is worth it. Ceaser salad is made table side, although that’s something that all the restaurants here have picked up on. The lobster is suppose to be amazing.

Other than eat, we tried to hit up some of the nightlife. We went to the Passions lounge at Nikki Beach, Cabo Wabo, and the Zoo. Nikki Beach was my favorite. We also did a few water activites, such as parasailing and jet skiing.

Los Cabos was definitely a fun, relaxing vacation. It’s nice to be able to switch it up between relaxation and exploration. I’ll definitely go back, hopefully finding more “hidden” authentic restaurants in town. This year, 2008, we’re switching it up to Turkey though…doubt I’ll be relaxing, but I’m guaranteed to dine well :)

Greece

Greece Post