tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87514815642262589902024-03-08T02:57:24.802-08:00Immaculate ConsumptionI like pretty things. I hate bad customer service. I'll be your biggest advocate or your biggest pain in the as*. People listen to me. I like shopping for gadgets as much as I like shopping for a new lip gloss. What does all of this mean? I'm not exactly sure either, but I've always wanted a blog.@bombdarbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13924768632455887904noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8751481564226258990.post-45853400797516851502011-12-14T10:54:00.000-08:002011-12-14T10:59:51.458-08:00Chocolate Hazelnut Cutout Cookies (Nocciolini)The holidays were kicked off virtually when I entered <a href="http://loveandoliveoil.us2.list-manage1.com/subscribe?u=66bf80afd570fcb3c6194e49e&id=317a470233">The Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap</a>. Think chain letter, but better! I was sent three matches, and had to send 1 dozen cookies to each. My hard work was returned in the form of 3 dozen cookies sent to me!<br />
<br />
I wanted to make something simple, delicious and original. I found this recipe in <a href="http://www.sunset.com/food-wine/kitchen-assistant/favorite-easy-cookie-recipes-00400000048557/page2.html">Sunset Magazine</a>, care of a reader cookie submission contest. These looked delicious and came in second place! <br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iUCj9hKgQos/Tujw1rbICTI/AAAAAAAAY5Y/ariRhaFHqEw/s1600/cookie.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="271" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iUCj9hKgQos/Tujw1rbICTI/AAAAAAAAY5Y/ariRhaFHqEw/s320/cookie.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div class="directions">
<ul class="yield">
<li class="servings"><b>YIELD:</b> Makes 54 sandwich cookies
</li>
<li><b>TOTAL:</b>2 Hours, 15 Minutes
</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="ingredients">
Ingredients</h3>
<ul class="textItems">
<li>1 cup butter, softened</li>
<li>1/3 cup sugar</li>
<li>3/4 cup cornstarch</li>
<li>1 3/4 cups flour</li>
<li>3/4 to 1 cup chocolate hazelnut spread such as Nutella</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="preparation">
Preparation</h3>
<div class="textItems">
1. Preheat oven to 350°. Beat butter and sugar in a large bowl with
a stand mixer until well blended, or whirl in a food processor. Add
cornstarch and flour and beat on low speed, or whirl, until dough comes
together and is very smooth.<br />
2. Divide dough in half. Roll each portion between sheets of
parchment paper into a 1/8-in.-thick round. Stack and freeze rounds on a
baking sheet until dough is firm enough to cut, about 20 minutes.<br />
3. Lift off parchment, cut dough with a floured 1 1/2- to 2-in.-wide
cutter, and transfer to ungreased baking sheets, spacing slightly apart.
Gather scraps, refreeze, and reroll as needed.<br />
4. Bake cookies until light golden, 10 to 14 minutes, switching pan positions halfway through baking. Transfer to racks to cool.<br />
5. Spread half of cookies on flat sides with a generous coat of chocolate hazelnut spread, then top each with a second cookie.<br />
Make ahead: Up to 3 days, stored airtight.<br />
Note: Nutritional analaysis is per 1 1/2-in. sandwich cookie.</div>
<div class="nutritionalInfo">
<h4>
Nutritional Information</h4>
<div class="inner">
<b>Amount per serving</b>
<br />
<ul itemprop="nutrition" itemscope="" itemtype="http://data-vocabulary.org/Nutrition">
<li>
Calories:
<span itemprop="calories">
83
</span>
</li>
<li>
Calories from fat:
<span itemprop="caloriesFromFat">
52%
</span>
</li>
<li>
Protein:
<span itemprop="protein">
0.7g
</span>
</li>
<li>
Fat:
<span itemprop="fat">
4.9g
</span>
</li>
<li>
Saturated fat:
<span itemprop="saturatedFat">
2.4g
</span>
</li>
<li>
Carbohydrate:
<span itemprop="carbohydrate">
9g
</span>
</li>
<li>
Fiber:
<span itemprop="fiber">
0.4g
</span>
</li>
<li>
Sodium:
<span itemprop="sodium">
26mg
</span>
</li>
<li>
Cholesterol:
<span itemprop="cholesterol">
9.1mg
</span>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
<div class="publication">
Sunset
DECEMBER 2011
</div>
</div>@bombdarbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13924768632455887904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8751481564226258990.post-85701819022630212322011-12-01T18:36:00.001-08:002011-12-05T14:36:19.859-08:00Cookie swap sneak peek<div class="mobile-photo">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6FdKquu4FK0/Ttg5xIgnemI/AAAAAAAAY40/w-ttDzgdCe8/s1600/photo-711904.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5681354446188542562" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6FdKquu4FK0/Ttg5xIgnemI/AAAAAAAAY40/w-ttDzgdCe8/s320/photo-711904.JPG" /></a></div>
I had so much fun researching recipes for the Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap!! Full entry to come.@bombdarbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13924768632455887904noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8751481564226258990.post-44656556235695675602011-11-17T10:15:00.001-08:002011-11-17T10:18:40.742-08:00Weddings!Exciting times. My own wedding is in less than two months and another special wedding follows mine. I've been asked to create her cake. The inspiration is this lovely ombre cake in shades of hot pink. Trial run starts just after Thanksgiving. Stay tuned.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oDlHqYjOdZU/TsVP3_76DCI/AAAAAAAAY4c/CYGr2Srsaug/s1600/cake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oDlHqYjOdZU/TsVP3_76DCI/AAAAAAAAY4c/CYGr2Srsaug/s320/cake.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />@bombdarbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13924768632455887904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8751481564226258990.post-36860497701210597562011-06-25T15:19:00.001-07:002011-11-07T12:53:11.152-08:00Pride sail<div style="-moz-border-radius: 5px; -webkit-border-radius: 5px; border-radius: 5px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px auto; padding: 20px; width: 550;">
<br /><div style="margin: 0px auto; text-align: center; width: 480px;">
<img src="http://images.instagram.com/media/2011/06/25/3073301127b24bc6adce08d92143db4a_6.jpg" style="-moz-box-shadow: 0 0 10px #888; -webkit-box-shadow: 0 0 10px #888; box-shadow: 0 0 10px #888; margin-bottom: 0.4em;" /><br />
<a href="http://instagr.am/p/GYnpF/" style="color: #2f79c2; font-size: 0.6em; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none;">view full image</a> <br />
<div style="font-size: 0.8em;">
"Pride sail" <br />
(taken at West Beach)</div>
</div>
</div>@bombdarbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13924768632455887904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8751481564226258990.post-89859011993848975022011-06-25T15:15:00.001-07:002011-11-07T12:53:18.284-08:00sunning<div style="-moz-border-radius: 5px; -webkit-border-radius: 5px; border-radius: 5px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px auto; padding: 20px; width: 550;">
<br /><div style="margin: 0px auto; text-align: center; width: 480px;">
<img src="http://images.instagram.com/media/2011/06/25/708ac9a5b17b4670a247a55f7a2c4d2e_6.jpg" style="-moz-box-shadow: 0 0 10px #888; -webkit-box-shadow: 0 0 10px #888; box-shadow: 0 0 10px #888; margin-bottom: 0.4em;" /><br />
<a href="http://instagr.am/p/GYmuG/" style="color: #2f79c2; font-size: 0.6em; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none;">view full image</a> <br />
<div style="font-size: 0.8em;">
"3 hour tour" <br />
(taken at Stearns Wharf)</div>
</div>
</div>@bombdarbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13924768632455887904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8751481564226258990.post-58191799198221311562011-06-22T09:47:00.000-07:002011-11-07T12:53:25.629-08:00Birthday peony as big as my head<div style="-moz-border-radius: 5px; -webkit-border-radius: 5px; border-radius: 5px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px auto; padding: 20px; width: 550;">
<br /><div style="margin: 0px auto; text-align: center; width: 480px;">
<img src="http://images.instagram.com/media/2011/06/24/c39c640287824f8ab053e5a56295bb3a_6.jpg" style="-moz-box-shadow: 0 0 10px #888; -webkit-box-shadow: 0 0 10px #888; box-shadow: 0 0 10px #888; margin-bottom: 0.4em;" /><br />
<a href="http://instagr.am/p/GTIXz/" style="color: #2f79c2; font-size: 0.6em; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none;">view full image</a> <br />
<div style="font-size: 0.8em;">
"Birthday peony as big as my head" </div>
</div>
</div>@bombdarbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13924768632455887904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8751481564226258990.post-81802078725557203812011-06-04T12:47:00.000-07:002011-11-07T13:13:38.701-08:00The circus<div style="-moz-border-radius: 5px; -webkit-border-radius: 5px; border-radius: 5px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px auto; padding: 20px; width: 550;">
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px auto; text-align: center; width: 480px;">
<img src="http://images.instagram.com/media/2011/06/04/1f7a1ac65a0d4e378557b703f361d758_6.jpg" style="-moz-box-shadow: 0 0 10px #888; -webkit-box-shadow: 0 0 10px #888; box-shadow: 0 0 10px #888; margin-bottom: 0.4em;" /><br />
<a href="http://instagr.am/p/FMTzM/" style="color: #2f79c2; font-size: 0.6em; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none;">view full image</a> <br />
<div style="font-size: 0.8em;">
</div>
</div>
</div>@bombdarbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13924768632455887904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8751481564226258990.post-8078953318491663172011-05-26T12:48:00.000-07:002011-11-07T12:53:37.124-08:00Go Giants<div style="-moz-border-radius: 5px; -webkit-border-radius: 5px; border-radius: 5px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px auto; padding: 20px; width: 550;">
<br /><div style="margin: 0px auto; text-align: center; width: 480px;">
<img src="http://images.instagram.com/media/2011/05/25/41866e9843f94552aae4eafb0b2f97c2_6.jpg" style="-moz-box-shadow: 0 0 10px #888; -webkit-box-shadow: 0 0 10px #888; box-shadow: 0 0 10px #888; margin-bottom: 0.4em;" /><br />
<a href="http://instagr.am/p/Euavo/" style="color: #2f79c2; font-size: 0.6em; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none;">view full image</a> <br />
<div style="font-size: 0.8em;">
"Gigantes" <br />
(taken at AT&T Park)</div>
</div>
</div>@bombdarbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13924768632455887904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8751481564226258990.post-91682579603227480792011-04-15T11:16:00.001-07:002011-11-07T12:53:49.110-08:00ByeBye Portugal<div style="-moz-border-radius: 5px; -webkit-border-radius: 5px; border-radius: 5px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px auto; padding: 20px; width: 550;">
<br /><div style="margin: 0px auto; text-align: center; width: 480px;">
<img src="http://images.instagram.com/media/2011/04/15/b37671a0ae9849e4a076f63442e0720f_6.jpg" style="-moz-box-shadow: 0 0 10px #888; -webkit-box-shadow: 0 0 10px #888; box-shadow: 0 0 10px #888; margin-bottom: 0.4em;" /><br />
<a href="http://instagr.am/p/DLbi4/" style="color: #2f79c2; font-size: 0.6em; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none;">view full image</a> <br />
<div style="font-size: 0.8em;">
"Quite shocked my bag made it through all these airports and arrived to me on time and in one piece. " </div>
</div>
</div>@bombdarbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13924768632455887904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8751481564226258990.post-58240412948456086592011-04-12T10:01:00.000-07:002011-04-12T10:01:00.517-07:00Double Rainbows<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gGYqjRuWYi8/TaQxBs-AoDI/AAAAAAAAVFs/w-YsKrWe67c/s1600/photo-785874.JPG"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gGYqjRuWYi8/TaQxBs-AoDI/AAAAAAAAVFs/w-YsKrWe67c/s320/photo-785874.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594650542421876786" /></a></p>@bombdarbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13924768632455887904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8751481564226258990.post-29336196347070758262011-04-12T06:00:00.000-07:002011-04-12T06:00:16.391-07:00Vision<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G71wsmT0JCo/TaQw2js044I/AAAAAAAAVFg/ok3T15Y2EJ0/s1600/photo-741402.JPG"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G71wsmT0JCo/TaQw2js044I/AAAAAAAAVFg/ok3T15Y2EJ0/s320/photo-741402.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594650350955324290" /></a></p>Next time I come to this beach, it will be with the two people these swim trunks belong to.@bombdarbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13924768632455887904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8751481564226258990.post-89989504702163484242011-04-12T04:01:00.002-07:002011-04-12T04:01:37.088-07:00Tiny sidewalks<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lFjdFECZlSo/TaQwlft7BdI/AAAAAAAAVFY/rm40BkKZRRw/s1600/photo-772880.JPG"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lFjdFECZlSo/TaQwlft7BdI/AAAAAAAAVFY/rm40BkKZRRw/s320/photo-772880.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594650057828402642" /></a></p>@bombdarbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13924768632455887904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8751481564226258990.post-57155278093508932412011-04-12T00:48:00.000-07:002011-04-12T00:48:25.970-07:00Obidos<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9vyI3z-MWWw/TaMqRRmNj-I/AAAAAAAAVFA/psKU8kjSK4Q/s1600/photo-719110.JPG"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9vyI3z-MWWw/TaMqRRmNj-I/AAAAAAAAVFA/psKU8kjSK4Q/s320/photo-719110.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594361638394105826" /></a></p>@bombdarbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13924768632455887904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8751481564226258990.post-3208993553677678802011-04-11T11:19:00.000-07:002011-04-11T11:19:00.560-07:00Alcobaca<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2ThrNrCGxLI/TaMqYEJVGLI/AAAAAAAAVFI/s3SFDIYzafY/s1600/photo-748677.JPG"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2ThrNrCGxLI/TaMqYEJVGLI/AAAAAAAAVFI/s3SFDIYzafY/s320/photo-748677.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594361755042388146" /></a></p>@bombdarbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13924768632455887904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8751481564226258990.post-63265083210463714582011-04-11T10:20:00.000-07:002011-04-11T10:20:00.589-07:00Farmers Market<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VrrrzaZXehQ/TaMqh2ppK2I/AAAAAAAAVFQ/PjOjY1PzZzQ/s1600/photo-785494.JPG"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VrrrzaZXehQ/TaMqh2ppK2I/AAAAAAAAVFQ/PjOjY1PzZzQ/s320/photo-785494.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594361923218516834" /></a></p>@bombdarbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13924768632455887904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8751481564226258990.post-54265281083096182872011-04-11T09:29:00.000-07:002011-04-11T09:29:58.470-07:00Murses<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZeMn2bebu0k/TaLo9ArKraI/AAAAAAAAVEg/6aJnUGOTVXM/s1600/photo-799424.JPG"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZeMn2bebu0k/TaLo9ArKraI/AAAAAAAAVEg/6aJnUGOTVXM/s320/photo-799424.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594289821998296482" /></a></p>This sweet little nugget of a man led us on a day long, whirlwind tour of Obidos, Alcobaca, Nazare, Batalha, and Fatima. These were churches and monasteries rich in history and designated as World Heritage. <p>Bili, always waving his miniature flag of Portugal, never missed a beat in his cool Euro sneakers. Even despite having to conduct the tour (and deliver the same joke) in 5 languages.@bombdarbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13924768632455887904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8751481564226258990.post-13854436768085191472011-04-11T05:10:00.000-07:002011-04-11T05:10:24.189-07:00Chickens<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mvL1XhNLuf0/TaLqVYoXYiI/AAAAAAAAVEw/RYVYWBiqyyQ/s1600/photo-753273.JPG"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mvL1XhNLuf0/TaLqVYoXYiI/AAAAAAAAVEw/RYVYWBiqyyQ/s320/photo-753273.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594291340257485346" /></a></p>@bombdarbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13924768632455887904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8751481564226258990.post-26098241693858835132011-04-10T08:00:00.000-07:002011-04-12T00:47:55.079-07:00Riding the rails<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RVGnzS6w-FA/TaLpa4FyTmI/AAAAAAAAVEo/pzPJ0dAMizU/s1600/photo-718829.JPG"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RVGnzS6w-FA/TaLpa4FyTmI/AAAAAAAAVEo/pzPJ0dAMizU/s320/photo-718829.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594290335090101858" /></a></p>2 hours till I touch down on sand.@bombdarbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13924768632455887904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8751481564226258990.post-68723590544717724552011-04-08T14:14:00.000-07:002011-04-08T14:14:32.711-07:00Armani no no<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FPIebZ_SDbU/TZ96W72cxBI/AAAAAAAAVEU/u8I190-LNmo/s1600/photo-779513.JPG"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FPIebZ_SDbU/TZ96W72cxBI/AAAAAAAAVEU/u8I190-LNmo/s320/photo-779513.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593323796659225618" /></a></p>I seriously hope this look does not make its way across the ocean and into the closets of our unknowing men!@bombdarbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13924768632455887904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8751481564226258990.post-8616632109353935592011-04-08T14:08:00.000-07:002011-04-08T14:08:06.806-07:00Elevador de Santa Justa<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JynWJSCWZqA/TZ95DaIMRJI/AAAAAAAAVEM/mYnRe63vU5E/s1600/photo-744547.JPG"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JynWJSCWZqA/TZ95DaIMRJI/AAAAAAAAVEM/mYnRe63vU5E/s320/photo-744547.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593322361677694098" /></a></p>Did I mention they only employ dashingly handsome public servants?!@bombdarbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13924768632455887904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8751481564226258990.post-12820210867637142332011-04-08T14:00:00.000-07:002011-04-08T14:08:43.403-07:00Westside Story<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ukoxckCIl6k/TZ91m1swC1I/AAAAAAAAVEE/xGQq_lSXJrI/s1600/photo-762483.JPG"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ukoxckCIl6k/TZ91m1swC1I/AAAAAAAAVEE/xGQq_lSXJrI/s320/photo-762483.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593318572327701330" /></a></p><br />
<br />
Every building in Lisbon looks like the set of a Broadway show - complete with a grandma shouting from the window. Lisbon is far easier to navigate than Porto. After the earthquake and tsunami of 1755 razed the City, it was rebuilt on a grid just like our fair city by the Bay. I rode the Santa Justa lift today, which connects town centre, Chiado, with the Bairro<br />
Alto (thank you A for clarifying that it's not the BaRRio!). The lift was designed by a student of Eiffel, and its iron magnificance is quite odd amongst the rest of the architecture. Pictures to come.@bombdarbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13924768632455887904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8751481564226258990.post-33765030430116326932011-04-08T05:20:00.000-07:002011-04-08T05:20:58.680-07:00Sickness strikes<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qs9H_DSBc5g/TZ79Z7ZEyeI/AAAAAAAAVD8/nM2m1_gMhtQ/s1600/photo-790419.JPG"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qs9H_DSBc5g/TZ79Z7ZEyeI/AAAAAAAAVD8/nM2m1_gMhtQ/s320/photo-790419.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593186409122154978" /></a></p><br />
Trying out the Farmacia de Lisboa...@bombdarbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13924768632455887904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8751481564226258990.post-35992903573567336462011-04-07T14:08:00.000-07:002011-04-07T14:08:40.412-07:00OportoPorto<br />
Porto is a quaint little city carved into a hill above the Douro River. Maybe its the age of the city or just a lack of an engineer, but The streets are a cobbled maze of twists and turns. At times I felt like I was in Groundhog Day and was perpetually lost. Most people spoke enough English to get by, except the cab drivers. While cheap to take, there was a lot of sign language and long routes. <br />
<br />
I spent a lot of time on the message boards of the company owned site, Chowhound.com in search of both trendy and traditional restaurants. The 2 nice dinners I treated myself to were truly fabulous. I had tasting menus at both and was blown away by the culinary expertise. Hope I still get into heaven after eating baby goat...<br />
<br />
My observations so far:<br />
<br />
*There are a lot more old people here. <br />
*Portuguese STARE at anything and everything. They are curious kindred spirits. <br />
*Everyone wears pantyhose. Mo matter the outfit. <br />
*The 80's are in. Neon sneakers, whitewashed denim and fanny packs abound. <br />
*Everything is smaller. From my hotel room (just a tad larger than my wing span) to beer (a mini bottle? Come again?) No percebo Portuguese. @bombdarbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13924768632455887904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8751481564226258990.post-86278447059681646782011-04-06T15:28:00.000-07:002011-04-12T04:03:41.843-07:00Bar at hotel<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9Kj_SulCJy8/TZzpuFOTHII/AAAAAAAAVDw/xbvGe_dBwEE/s1600/photo-779605.JPG"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9Kj_SulCJy8/TZzpuFOTHII/AAAAAAAAVDw/xbvGe_dBwEE/s320/photo-779605.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592601815172717698" /></a></p>Not sure I can be so "honest".@bombdarbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13924768632455887904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8751481564226258990.post-16542203099534250732011-04-03T22:35:00.000-07:002011-04-03T22:51:41.294-07:00Bon Voyage!!<div class="mobile-photo"><div style="text-align: right;">April 4-7 ~ Porto, Portgal</div><div style="text-align: right;">April 7-11 ~ Lisbon, Portugal</div><div style="text-align: right;">April 11-14 ~ Algarve, Portugal</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RsLPC-_SHTs/TZlYDKEqzpI/AAAAAAAAVDo/nlia78SbGd0/s1600/photo-779866.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591597223623970450" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RsLPC-_SHTs/TZlYDKEqzpI/AAAAAAAAVDo/nlia78SbGd0/s320/photo-779866.JPG" /></a></div></div>@bombdarbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13924768632455887904noreply@blogger.com0