Postcard from Kihei

Kihei, on the island if Maui, was the first place I went to in the islands. It’s changed in the past few decades, but it’s still a great beach.

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Patria: Spanish Food in Toronto

Patria Address:  480 King Street West, Toronto, Ontario Rating:   (2 out of 3 hearts) Features: Patria makes use of the open concept, with high ceilings, full-sized cross-stitch art on the walls, and and exposed beams. There is a narrow outdoor patio, great for warm weather and, with the addition of some heat lamps, could easily extend into the fall and winter season. The venue is sexy in a bright and bold way, rather than dark and intimate, and it had me longing for lingering warm weather meals on the Costa Brava. Price Range: Moderate to high. The beauty of tapas is that you can try so many different things. But that also means your bill can add up pretty fast. Consider making a mean of a meat and cheese platter with a glass of sangria if you’re looking for a value […]

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Yoshida Udon: A Meal Fit for Mt. Fuji

It was hot and filling, and best of all – it wasn’t fish! I slurped up that bowl of Yoshida Udon like there was no tomorrow. I had been in Japan for a couple of days and had been treated to gourmet meals aplenty. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner were beautiful works of art, masterpieces of flavor, and were eagerly devoured by my traveling companions. I, alone, appeared to be the one person who couldn’t face fish, often uncooked, for three meals a day. I felt bad as I pushed things around my plate, trying to be polite and look like I was both eating and enjoying this impressive presentation. This was beautiful food; it was expertly prepared and presented, but I just couldn’t face it. In that fleeting moment, I realized that I was more gourmand than gourmet. What I […]

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Traveling with MJ October Travel Link Up: Museums

Last month the monthly themed travel round up focused on History. Evidently, history related travel isn’t as compelling for you as it is for me, and we only had a few contributors. My favorite of the linked up stores was from Jennifer at JDombs Travels. Her story, A Picture of Russian Peasant Life, gave me a glimpse into Russian History. I was a political science major in college, with specialization in Soviet Studies, so that might be part of the reason why I found this story so compelling. Or, it could simply be the way Jennifer tells the story with words and photos. So what’s up this month? This month I want to know a little more about your favorite museum. If you’re a blogger and would like to participate in the link round up, here are the guidelines: Post […]

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World Map Update: Northern Ireland

With my recent time spent in Ireland post-TBEX, I’ve added another country to my visited list – Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland is officially a part of the U.K., and referred to as a country, province, or territory. Without getting into the politics of Ireland, Northern Ireland, and England, I’ll just check it off my visited list and leave the politics to others. Here’s what my countries visited map looks like now, showing that I’ve visited only a measly 14% of the world. Create your own travel map – TravBuddy

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Postcard from the Titanic Experience, Belfast

In a building that looks much like a ship itself , you can learn about the Titanic, from the drawing plans through the recovery phase. Some impressive features give you a look at a tragically romanticized disaster.

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Postcard from Galway City

Galway was one of those cities that you want to just hang out in. Perhaps a morning walk on the promenade along the Bay. Or a stroll through the Latin Quarter. Or a cold beer at a local cafe. Infinitely walkable , full of good food and great people.

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