Santiago, Chile

This is my new best friend for the night, 80's one hit wonder, Miguel "El Negro" Pinēra! Did i happen to mention he's also the brother of the newly elected Chilean President Sebastian Pinēra? That's just how i roll when i'm away from home.

London Lovers

Busy London

It was a very busy morning in London when i arrived. No wonder Heathrow is notorious for delays!! Off to Primark!

Elvis lives....in West Queen West?!?

This was happening as i awaited my taxi at my local supermarket

Today's post is brought to you by the letter S

S is for Saturday, Sorrento and SUN!!!

Good morning sunshine! Let's hope you last all day long. I took the scenic route to Sorrento's port, which took me just under an hour to walk, along the mediterranean at times. It was beautiful and i arrived just in time to catch the 11:45 ferry to la Isola di Capri!

What a gorgeous day, and the view from the base of the island is magnificent, so many things to take in. The lemon groves, the villas, the funicular and windy streets. Unfortunately, the funicular that transports one up to the top of Capri does not operate in the off season, but that's ok, i was planning on walking up (and then rewarding myself with some much deserved pasta!!) It is a hike, but i recommend it (otherwise there is a bus that will take you for 1.40 euros). Once at the top, the "centro" is comprised of two restaurants (it is the off season) that are packed with tourists. I decide to take a look down some of the side streets in hopes of a smaller, quieter cafe in which to accept my prized pasta. I think i could have walked all the way to Anacapri (the other side of the island) and still not have found a one.

I opted to take the bus to Anacapri, in hopes of going to the famed Blue Grotto before attempting to find another place to eat my meal. Closed. High tide. Bright side: found a 3rd restaurant in which i was able to sit on the patio and partake in a caprese salad and pasta di caprese....when in Caprese, right?


Listening: Excuses - The Morning Benders
Drinking: A wine that starts with S to be sure

Buon compleanno a ME!

Yay it's Birthday! Yay french toast! Yay Verona!




What a lovely way to start the day, waking up late and lazily enjoying home made french toast and then setting off for the fair city of Verona. As soon as you turn the corner and view La Porta Nueva di Verona, you can see why Shakespeare chose to write about this beautiful little city. I'm sure many things have changed, but some things are still standing. There is a castle and moat; a smaller version if the colosseum (which still holds concerts!) ans so many intricate little streets to lose oneself.



The sole purpose of today's trip was to visit the Juliet's "balcony" - which i belive was constructed for the purpose of tourism in 1936. However, there really were two families by the names of Capulets (Capello/Capuleti) and Montagues (Montecchi), however neither of them had children named Romeo and Juliet. The house that resides on Via Capello is indeed the family residence and now has a balcony and statue in Juliet's honour. Also, there is the Club of Juliet, made famous by the film, Letter's to Juliet. This club was founded in 1972 and began answering letters that had been written to Juliet and left near the house. It is not as romantic as the film, there is no stone wall with letters place into tiny crevases, but simply you can leave your letter on the writing table inside the house (6 euros entry to the house) or actually walk up to the Club's 2nd level office and place it in a little post box. I opted for the latter, and glad i did. I was able to meet on of Juliet's "secretaries".




A very short distance from the house is located a beautiful square, Piazza delle Erbe, with a small market of venetian masks and other wares. It was starting to rain (again) so we walked back to the train station and onwards to Bologna and my birthday bash at Cafe Paris!

more pics to come

Monday is for Modena, ParMa and Milano



You think i would learn. Especially after yesterday. My alarm didn't go off, so i had a late start on Monday but off i went to Modena (yum balsalmic vinegar!). By the time i walked into the center of town, and found the tourist bureau for a map, the one thing i wanted to see, Borso d'este's Bible - believed to be the most decorated book in the world- at the Biblioteca Estence, was closed. The Duomo, a 12th century UNESCO world heritage site, was covered for restoration. Monday bloody Monday



Off to Parma! Parmasian cheese! Parma-ham! Parma's Duomo has some frescoes by Correggio that i wanted to see. Silly me, it's siesta time and everything is closed for the next 2 hours. Perfect. If i wasn't meeting Maxime in Milan for our V-day dinner, i might have stayed, but i think i finally learned. It just wasn't meant to be today, give into it already and just go to Milan.



The Duomo in Milan is one of the largest Gothic Cathedrals ever built. To the left of the Duomo is the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele. A glass domed gallery filled with restaurants, cafes, and high-end shopping. The designer of the dome, Giuseppe Mengoni, fell from the roof just days before completion in 1877.




Dinner was my first taste of pizza! It was great, i chose the parma-ham ('tis the region) and fungi which was really good. Can't wait to taste some more!






Listening to: Next Girl - The Black Keys
Drinking:Water
Reading: Italian at a Glance