{Maple Fig Glazed Lamb Bites with Goat Cheese and Walnut Dust}
Panzano, Denver
{Nobu Lobster Taco}
Matsuhisa
{Spicy Tuna Tartare}
bol
{S'mores Cupcake}
Mountain Cupcakes
Showing posts with label Restaurants. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Restaurants. Show all posts
Lunch at the Florist's Shop
Ham & brie croissant for me, quiche lorraine for sister, garden salad and cappuccino for mom, delicious all around. Very decent coffee and all bread/pastries by art of bread georges perrier.
Where: Valley Forge Flowers in Wayne, PA
Where: Valley Forge Flowers in Wayne, PA
This Week I'm Loving
Food: Nakama Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi Bar, Pittsburgh
Nakama is a trendy restaurant at 17th and Carson in the South Side. I have only been to their Sushi Bar (which is outstanding, by the way) but tonight I'll be heading over with my entire immediate family - four parents, four sisters, two brothers, in all - to celebrate.... drumroll please..... see below:
Event: Graduation Day
Book: Cover Her Face by P. D. James
Last November, when I was still in London, I went to her book signing at the Foyle's on Charing Cross Road. I am a big fan of Ms. James and her detective novels - I used to read them before heading to the UK because her writing is so quintessentially English. Cover Her Face is one of her earliest novels featuring Adam Dalgliesh.
Film: The Hunger Games!
Nakama is a trendy restaurant at 17th and Carson in the South Side. I have only been to their Sushi Bar (which is outstanding, by the way) but tonight I'll be heading over with my entire immediate family - four parents, four sisters, two brothers, in all - to celebrate.... drumroll please..... see below:
Event: Graduation Day
Book: Cover Her Face by P. D. James
Last November, when I was still in London, I went to her book signing at the Foyle's on Charing Cross Road. I am a big fan of Ms. James and her detective novels - I used to read them before heading to the UK because her writing is so quintessentially English. Cover Her Face is one of her earliest novels featuring Adam Dalgliesh.
Film: The Hunger Games!
The Porch at Schenley
One day, the Porch at Schenley just appeared. If you want to make the argument that the "one day" was my first day back on campus in seven months, be my guest, but I'm sticking to my story.
So anyway, the Porch mysteriously appeared one day and caught me quite by surprise. I noticed it on my way to the Cathedral of Learning, when I casually glanced to my right and saw through enormous windows a chef dismantling a gigantic carcass of meat - what might once have been a cow. Well after that the Porch had my attention, and from the outside looking in through the glass exterior of this modern building I saw a pleasant little restaurant.
The Porch at Schenley is a newcomer to Schenley Plaza but a welcome addition. The Plaza is arguably the closest thing Pitt has to a quad, and we students love to stretch out in the grass or meet friends at the cafe tables on the corner near the food kiosks. There is also a carousel and a permanent tent. Already the Porch is a popular place to spend happy hour on warm afternoons, and that it precisely what drew my friends and I there today.
If you did not know, this semester I have been working as an intern at the University of Pittsburgh's Study Abroad Office. I adore the SAO staff and I love the work that I do - namely, advising undergraduate students and publishing a monthly newsletter to those abroad in the current term. There are four other interns who I now consider friends, and we decided to plan an "intern happy hour" to celebrate a great semester and a wonderful experience.
We linked up around 5pm and the place was packed. From the six beers on tap I chose a Belgian white called White Lightning which was pretty decent. It was a nice way to unwind after the chaos of bomb threats (over 140 now) and finals week. I am still curious about the food - I might have to go back for the late night half price pizzas. Maybe the verdure al forno?
The Study Abroad Office crew: Moriah, Emily, Larissa, Bryan, Robyn, and yours truly
Event: Passion Pit concert at Carnegie Mellon's Carnival
Book: Booky Wook 2 by Russell Brand
Film: Alpha Dog
This movie is underrated. Rent it sometime!
This Week I'm Loving
Food: Tonic Bar and Grill, Pittsburgh
Before heading to the theater on Thursday I'll be filling up at this restaurant on Liberty Avenue downtown.
Events: Anoushka Shankar Sitar Performance at the Byham Theater and Cobra Starship Concert at the University of Pittsburgh
Anoushka Shankar will be performing traditional Indian sitar music at the Byham Theater downtown on Thursday, April 12th. Anoushka was trained by her famous father Ravi, who I am told introduced George Harrison to the sitar in the 1960s. According to her Bio on the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust website, she has performed on with artists such as Sting, Elton John, and half-sister Norah Jones.
It's sort of funny to plan for Anoushka and Cobra Starship in the same week because musically their genres are about as far apart as you could get - from classical Indian sitar to modern American synthpop.
Sunday April 15th is Bigelow Bash: a day-long spring festival held annually in the center of Pitt's campus. In the afternoon, the winner of Battle of the Bands will open for a big name in music - last year we saw Ke$ha, this year we will see Cobra Starship. There is always surplus energy bouncing around the crowd, and it's a great excuse to spend the entire day with your friends. If the bomb threats end, if the terrorist is caught, it the issue is resolved (the count reached 31 when four dorm buildings were evacuated between 4:30 and 6:00a.m.) then this concert could become a good venue for stress relief and celebration.
Book: The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
Film: Faces International Film Festival at Carnegie Mellon University, Final Weekend
Before heading to the theater on Thursday I'll be filling up at this restaurant on Liberty Avenue downtown.
Events: Anoushka Shankar Sitar Performance at the Byham Theater and Cobra Starship Concert at the University of Pittsburgh
Anoushka Shankar will be performing traditional Indian sitar music at the Byham Theater downtown on Thursday, April 12th. Anoushka was trained by her famous father Ravi, who I am told introduced George Harrison to the sitar in the 1960s. According to her Bio on the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust website, she has performed on with artists such as Sting, Elton John, and half-sister Norah Jones.
It's sort of funny to plan for Anoushka and Cobra Starship in the same week because musically their genres are about as far apart as you could get - from classical Indian sitar to modern American synthpop.
Sunday April 15th is Bigelow Bash: a day-long spring festival held annually in the center of Pitt's campus. In the afternoon, the winner of Battle of the Bands will open for a big name in music - last year we saw Ke$ha, this year we will see Cobra Starship. There is always surplus energy bouncing around the crowd, and it's a great excuse to spend the entire day with your friends. If the bomb threats end, if the terrorist is caught, it the issue is resolved (the count reached 31 when four dorm buildings were evacuated between 4:30 and 6:00a.m.) then this concert could become a good venue for stress relief and celebration.
Book: The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
Film: Faces International Film Festival at Carnegie Mellon University, Final Weekend
This Week I'm Loving
Food: La Casa Wine & Tapas Bar, Pittsburgh
This week I'm taking Amanda out for a belated birthday dinner in Shadyside at this Moroccan and Spanish tapas restaurant. Back in 2006 Amanda and I went on a girls only vacation to Barcelona with our Mom and our Nana, and we loved patatas bravas. We probably ate them once a day on that trip! I see them on the menu, so we'll definitely have to try Omar Mediouni's rendition of our favorite Spanish small plate.
Event: Phillies-Pirates Baseball Game (and Tailgate)
I was raised on baseball, and I love a chance to root for my home team - Go Phils!!
Books: The Tiger's Wife by Tea Obreht
Film: It's Complicated
This is a movie I can watch over and over again. Meryl Streep is a wonderful actress, and I get such a kick out of that line: "Turns out, I'm a bit of a slut!" I'd also love to have her life - beautiful house in Santa Barbara, successful bakery and chocolate croissants at midnight.
This week I'm taking Amanda out for a belated birthday dinner in Shadyside at this Moroccan and Spanish tapas restaurant. Back in 2006 Amanda and I went on a girls only vacation to Barcelona with our Mom and our Nana, and we loved patatas bravas. We probably ate them once a day on that trip! I see them on the menu, so we'll definitely have to try Omar Mediouni's rendition of our favorite Spanish small plate.
Event: Phillies-Pirates Baseball Game (and Tailgate)
I was raised on baseball, and I love a chance to root for my home team - Go Phils!!
Books: The Tiger's Wife by Tea Obreht
Film: It's Complicated
This is a movie I can watch over and over again. Meryl Streep is a wonderful actress, and I get such a kick out of that line: "Turns out, I'm a bit of a slut!" I'd also love to have her life - beautiful house in Santa Barbara, successful bakery and chocolate croissants at midnight.
This Week I'm Loving
Food: Limoncello Ristorante, West Chester PA
I'm drooling just thinking about the seafood risotto with enormous scallops, and any restaurant that brings a complimentary shot of limoncello with the bill is all right by me.
Events: My Birthday! And St. Patrick's Day
The St. Patrick's Day parade is the largest parade of the year in Pittsburgh, and even though I'm only half Irish, I'm celebrating one hundred percent.
Book: Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese
The best book I've read in a while. A much-needed break from reading textbooks.
Film: Les Choristes
I'm drooling just thinking about the seafood risotto with enormous scallops, and any restaurant that brings a complimentary shot of limoncello with the bill is all right by me.
Events: My Birthday! And St. Patrick's Day
The St. Patrick's Day parade is the largest parade of the year in Pittsburgh, and even though I'm only half Irish, I'm celebrating one hundred percent.
Book: Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese
The best book I've read in a while. A much-needed break from reading textbooks.
Film: Les Choristes
This Week I'm Loving
"What's this?! A new blog post?! Whatever could this mean?!"
Drumroll, please......... I've decided to resurrect my blog from its three-month hiatus!
I am very excited to return to the blogosphere. With two months to readjust to my American lifestyle, I finally feel able to resume my beloved semi-regular posts.
"But why did you stop?"
The obvious answer would be: I stopped blogging because this was ostensibly a travel blog, and I was no longer abroad. Another acceptable answer might be: I am overwhelmed by written assignments as it is. I am a full time student (Psychology major, Comparative Political Science minor, French Language and Culture minor, Certificate in Western European Studies) and a communications intern in the Study Abroad Office - which translates to tons of reading and writing for school, as well as publishing a monthly newsletter for Pitt students abroad. Throwing a blog into the mix seemed too daunting.
"That's understandable. So what made you change your mind?"
Really, this is what I am passionate about - and who says that you need to leave home to travel? I love to try new things, which in a way makes me a tourist even in my home state. Furthermore, blogging does not have to be a huge commitment. What I can commit to is this: Every Monday I'll give you a snapshot of what's inspiring me and what my week looks like, and maybe later in the week I can follow up with a more in-depth post about one of the restaurants, books, or events.
We'll take things slow until graduation on April 29th, after which I'll be making new travel plans (which will involve a passport, I promise). Stay tuned!
________________________________________________________________
Drumroll, please......... I've decided to resurrect my blog from its three-month hiatus!
I am very excited to return to the blogosphere. With two months to readjust to my American lifestyle, I finally feel able to resume my beloved semi-regular posts.
"But why did you stop?"
The obvious answer would be: I stopped blogging because this was ostensibly a travel blog, and I was no longer abroad. Another acceptable answer might be: I am overwhelmed by written assignments as it is. I am a full time student (Psychology major, Comparative Political Science minor, French Language and Culture minor, Certificate in Western European Studies) and a communications intern in the Study Abroad Office - which translates to tons of reading and writing for school, as well as publishing a monthly newsletter for Pitt students abroad. Throwing a blog into the mix seemed too daunting.
"That's understandable. So what made you change your mind?"
Really, this is what I am passionate about - and who says that you need to leave home to travel? I love to try new things, which in a way makes me a tourist even in my home state. Furthermore, blogging does not have to be a huge commitment. What I can commit to is this: Every Monday I'll give you a snapshot of what's inspiring me and what my week looks like, and maybe later in the week I can follow up with a more in-depth post about one of the restaurants, books, or events.
We'll take things slow until graduation on April 29th, after which I'll be making new travel plans (which will involve a passport, I promise). Stay tuned!
________________________________________________________________
Food: Fork Restaurant, Philadelphia and Morimoto Restaurant, Philadelphia
On Saturday, I'll be visiting the Philadelphia International Flower Show in center city. Afterwards my parents, my sister and I plan to dine at Fork, where our family friend Terence Feury is the Chef. I'll also have the chance to try Morimoto, one of the twenty Stephen Starr restaurants in Philadelphia, before heading to the Art Museum for some colorful post-Impressionism.
Event: The Van Gogh Exhibit, Philadelphia Museum of Art
Van Gogh's vibrant sunflowers and evocative paintings of the countryside in Provence always bring me back to those five months in Aix. I had the chance to visit Saint-Rémy for a long lunch chez Lolo, just across the street from the hospital where Vincent painted Starry Night. The collection is on tour in Philadelphia through May 6, 2012.
Book: Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls
Film: The Counterfeiters
A very good movie about a Jewish counterfeiter named Solomon, or Sally, who is forced to produce counterfeit money to fund the Nazi war effort. He chooses his team from among the concentration camp inmates, saving them all from the physical labor and humiliation to which the other prisoners are subjected, but introducing a new kind of moral dilemma: would they rather die than continue to work with the knowledge that their project is prolonging the war?
Book: Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls
Film: The Counterfeiters
A very good movie about a Jewish counterfeiter named Solomon, or Sally, who is forced to produce counterfeit money to fund the Nazi war effort. He chooses his team from among the concentration camp inmates, saving them all from the physical labor and humiliation to which the other prisoners are subjected, but introducing a new kind of moral dilemma: would they rather die than continue to work with the knowledge that their project is prolonging the war?
Prague
I have mixed feelings about Prague. Undeniably Prague is a beautiful and interesting city, and yet my trip there left me feeling slightly unsatisfied.
Why do we travel? There are so many articles on the internet that attempt to answer this question it's absurd. First of all, who is this "we"? Students? Americans? Mankind? And second of all, how could there ever be one reason or even an exhaustive list that explains why anyone who ever left their home did so? I just don't believe it's possible.
For instance, Psychology Today published an article in October 2009: "Travel to Create Your Self" by Robert Fuller, Ph.D. In this article, Fuller puts forth his theory on why "we" travel. To summarize:
The only thing I can say with certainty is why I travel. I travel to learn. I travel for a challenge. I travel to create a home. I think that an important goal of traveling is feeling that in some capacity you have gotten to know the city - things like mastering the public transportation, the customs, or the language. Or finding a favorite cafe, perhaps making a friend. Especially as a study abroad student, I am constantly trying to create a home in some way everywhere I go. On this rating scale London feels like home as much as Aix-en-Provence does, as much as Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Florence, and New York City do. I have never struggled with this as much as I did in Prague. I did put effort into it, and yet by the time I left I hadn't fully achieved that level of familiarity and enjoyment that I am always seeking. In this instance, I think the difficulty was directly related to how prepared I was to travel there - not very. I know the experience would have been entirely different if I had planned the trip more carefully or used contacts to find a friend of a friend to show me around.
Undeniably Prague is one of the most beautiful cities I have ever visited. The Vltava river, Prague Castle, Old Town Square, Charles Bridge... But I never stopped feeling like a tourist - either promoters were trying to pull my friend and I inside with offers of cheap meals or discounted tickets, or the staff did not want to serve us because we could barely manage "hello" and "thank you" in Czech those first two days. There were fewer happy moments when I felt as though I could blend into my surroundings than in Vienna or Oslo.
That said, Amy and I still had a good time in Prague despite some rainy weather. We left Vienna by train early Monday morning. In an effort to save money we booked a ticket to Brno, just over the border, where we disembarked to buy tickets for the second half of the journey in marks, the Czech currency (although we had to unload our suitcases, run to the ticket office, and reload in quite a hurry we did save a lot of money). First on the agenda, as ever, was to find and check into our hostel. I had booked Artharmony Hostel, located on the fourth floor of a building in New Town, based on location and affordability. It was wonderful - both the hostel and the man at reception could best be described as peaceful and welcoming, there was free internet access on the computers, and our room (the Jan room) was cozy and clean with a fun Egyptian theme. Liberated of our suitcases, we walked down the wide road Ječná towards the river. The scenery was beautiful, and we stood on a bridge (or most in Czech) to survey the landscape in silent appreciation. As we walked north along the Vltava, our view of Prague Castle and the trees in their fall colors improved.
Our next move as tired and hungry tourists was to turn directly into the chaos of the King's walk, where we were certain to find English-speaking citizens to serve us. To stave off our hunger, we stopped for a pint of beer at the first acceptable bar. Amy chose Pilsner Urquell and I chose Budwar, the original (and not awful) Budweiser beer! No relation to the American brand. The rest of the night was spent exploring the Old Town with Prague sausage from a street vendor for dinner. And really, the beer was so good that who cared what we ate that night?
Our first mission on Tuesday was to find a guide book in English to research our sightseeing options and learn a few Czech phrases. The best and closest option seemed to be Wenceslas Square, and sure enough, we found a three-story bookstore with an Eyewitness Top 10 Travel Guide tucked away in a corner. Over breakfast we picked out the art galleries at Veletrzni Palace, one of several buildings which collectively form the National Gallery. We had to combine a subway journey and an overground tram to reach the building in Holešovice, but the art was well worth it. The majority of the galleries and exhibitions contained 19th and 20th century French art, as well as modern and contemporary Czech and European art. After several hours of beautiful artwork, interrupted by just one quick coffee in the cafeteria, we crossed the street to try Bohemia Bagel for a light lunch (our guide book recommended this restaurant, but only go there if you are really homesick for an American bagel!).
Back in the more central districts of Prague, we watched the astrological clock in the Old Town Hall sing out the hour. And in the afternoon, we happily went shopping for jewelry! The exchange rate and the abundance of garnet in the Czech Republic meant that Amy and I could realistically shop for fine jewelry on a college budget for the first time in our lives. Amy fell in love with a beautiful ring - there was a light green moldovite stone in the center surrounded by deep red garnet stones in a sideways tear drop shape.
We found dinner locally (relative to our hostel), and it was the most authentic and delicious meal yet [Restaurace U Pomniku, Gorazdova 1]. My meal was savory goulash with knedlicky (dumplings) and, of course, beer - Master Zlaty 15° for me and Gambrinus 10° for Amy. By listing the Top 10 Czech beers, our guide book had challenged us to find and sample all of them. We couldn't go home that night without finding at least one more - luckily, Krusovice was on tap at the first bar we tried. Easy! Not to mention yummy...
Success:
2. Pilsner Urquell
3. Krušovice
4. Budvar
7. Gambrinus
On Wednesday, my final day in Praha, Amy and I headed up to Prague Castle - the top sight in the city. It was a slow and steady hike up the steps of Hradcany hill, and it was a proper workout. And after all our huffing and puffing the actual castle was closed! In lieu of Prague Castle, which was closed for restorations, an art exhibit was offered in its place. The paintings were respectable enough, but the design of the space made the exhibit feel a bit spare.
St. Vitus Cathedral was very, very beautiful. It was even colder inside than it was outside, I felt like I was in a refrigerator. Our tickets also included the Basilica of St. George and the Golden Lane, where I did some souvenir shopping in the tiny historic houses.
This was the rainiest day yet, not to mention chilly, so we fortified ourselves at lunch with roast pork with cabbage and dumplings before walking through the rain, sans umbrella, in search of the Lennon wall. If you haven't heard of it, this is a graffiti wall created after Lennon's assassination.
We signed our names and then crossed the famous Charles bridge over the Vltava, stopping inside the church on the opposite bank - I believe it was Kostel svatého Františka z Assisi - for warm drinks. Just the smell of cinnamon and nutmeg sprinkled on the foam of my cappucino was enough to revive me. We sipped slowly and relaxed, long enough to allow some of the damp to leave our clothes. The rest of the afternoon was pleasant enough - we walked into Josefov (the Jewish Quarter) past the Old Jewish Cemetary and along the upscale shopping street Pařížská.
In the evening, I re-packed my suitcase and researched bus routes to the Airport and Amy and I went out for one last beer (or several...). By that point, we had sampled four of the top ten Czech beers, but had yet to try #1: Staropramen. Don't worry: we found it later on tap at the bar in the Imperial College Student Union in London. And it was delicious. And we were happy.
In the morning, Amy and I ate a continental breakfast of pastries and coffee at the main train terminal before parting ways. Amy was staying until the evening and had plans of her own for the day: the Museum of Communism, Kafka's house, fried cheese. I was moving on to Norway.
I must say that although we struggled to feel at home in Prague, we still had a nice time and I would really like the chance to return one day and try again.
Why do we travel? There are so many articles on the internet that attempt to answer this question it's absurd. First of all, who is this "we"? Students? Americans? Mankind? And second of all, how could there ever be one reason or even an exhaustive list that explains why anyone who ever left their home did so? I just don't believe it's possible.
For instance, Psychology Today published an article in October 2009: "Travel to Create Your Self" by Robert Fuller, Ph.D. In this article, Fuller puts forth his theory on why "we" travel. To summarize:
- The excitement of fear, and the satisfaction of overcoming that fear. "Fear is part of what makes travel enlivening and relevatory."
- To break down stereotypes, see for ourselves, and gain a fresh perspective. "As we struggle to reconcile what we're experiencing with what we take for granted, we strip away what's arbitrary in cultural practice and approach what is universal."
- Travel is transformative. In taking ourselves out of our typical surroundings, we learn about who we are - who we are becoming confronts who we used to be.
The only thing I can say with certainty is why I travel. I travel to learn. I travel for a challenge. I travel to create a home. I think that an important goal of traveling is feeling that in some capacity you have gotten to know the city - things like mastering the public transportation, the customs, or the language. Or finding a favorite cafe, perhaps making a friend. Especially as a study abroad student, I am constantly trying to create a home in some way everywhere I go. On this rating scale London feels like home as much as Aix-en-Provence does, as much as Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Florence, and New York City do. I have never struggled with this as much as I did in Prague. I did put effort into it, and yet by the time I left I hadn't fully achieved that level of familiarity and enjoyment that I am always seeking. In this instance, I think the difficulty was directly related to how prepared I was to travel there - not very. I know the experience would have been entirely different if I had planned the trip more carefully or used contacts to find a friend of a friend to show me around.
Undeniably Prague is one of the most beautiful cities I have ever visited. The Vltava river, Prague Castle, Old Town Square, Charles Bridge... But I never stopped feeling like a tourist - either promoters were trying to pull my friend and I inside with offers of cheap meals or discounted tickets, or the staff did not want to serve us because we could barely manage "hello" and "thank you" in Czech those first two days. There were fewer happy moments when I felt as though I could blend into my surroundings than in Vienna or Oslo.
That said, Amy and I still had a good time in Prague despite some rainy weather. We left Vienna by train early Monday morning. In an effort to save money we booked a ticket to Brno, just over the border, where we disembarked to buy tickets for the second half of the journey in marks, the Czech currency (although we had to unload our suitcases, run to the ticket office, and reload in quite a hurry we did save a lot of money). First on the agenda, as ever, was to find and check into our hostel. I had booked Artharmony Hostel, located on the fourth floor of a building in New Town, based on location and affordability. It was wonderful - both the hostel and the man at reception could best be described as peaceful and welcoming, there was free internet access on the computers, and our room (the Jan room) was cozy and clean with a fun Egyptian theme. Liberated of our suitcases, we walked down the wide road Ječná towards the river. The scenery was beautiful, and we stood on a bridge (or most in Czech) to survey the landscape in silent appreciation. As we walked north along the Vltava, our view of Prague Castle and the trees in their fall colors improved.
Our next move as tired and hungry tourists was to turn directly into the chaos of the King's walk, where we were certain to find English-speaking citizens to serve us. To stave off our hunger, we stopped for a pint of beer at the first acceptable bar. Amy chose Pilsner Urquell and I chose Budwar, the original (and not awful) Budweiser beer! No relation to the American brand. The rest of the night was spent exploring the Old Town with Prague sausage from a street vendor for dinner. And really, the beer was so good that who cared what we ate that night?
Our first mission on Tuesday was to find a guide book in English to research our sightseeing options and learn a few Czech phrases. The best and closest option seemed to be Wenceslas Square, and sure enough, we found a three-story bookstore with an Eyewitness Top 10 Travel Guide tucked away in a corner. Over breakfast we picked out the art galleries at Veletrzni Palace, one of several buildings which collectively form the National Gallery. We had to combine a subway journey and an overground tram to reach the building in Holešovice, but the art was well worth it. The majority of the galleries and exhibitions contained 19th and 20th century French art, as well as modern and contemporary Czech and European art. After several hours of beautiful artwork, interrupted by just one quick coffee in the cafeteria, we crossed the street to try Bohemia Bagel for a light lunch (our guide book recommended this restaurant, but only go there if you are really homesick for an American bagel!).
Back in the more central districts of Prague, we watched the astrological clock in the Old Town Hall sing out the hour. And in the afternoon, we happily went shopping for jewelry! The exchange rate and the abundance of garnet in the Czech Republic meant that Amy and I could realistically shop for fine jewelry on a college budget for the first time in our lives. Amy fell in love with a beautiful ring - there was a light green moldovite stone in the center surrounded by deep red garnet stones in a sideways tear drop shape.
We found dinner locally (relative to our hostel), and it was the most authentic and delicious meal yet [Restaurace U Pomniku, Gorazdova 1]. My meal was savory goulash with knedlicky (dumplings) and, of course, beer - Master Zlaty 15° for me and Gambrinus 10° for Amy. By listing the Top 10 Czech beers, our guide book had challenged us to find and sample all of them. We couldn't go home that night without finding at least one more - luckily, Krusovice was on tap at the first bar we tried. Easy! Not to mention yummy...
Success:
2. Pilsner Urquell
3. Krušovice
4. Budvar
7. Gambrinus
On Wednesday, my final day in Praha, Amy and I headed up to Prague Castle - the top sight in the city. It was a slow and steady hike up the steps of Hradcany hill, and it was a proper workout. And after all our huffing and puffing the actual castle was closed! In lieu of Prague Castle, which was closed for restorations, an art exhibit was offered in its place. The paintings were respectable enough, but the design of the space made the exhibit feel a bit spare.
St. Vitus
St. Vitus Cathedral was very, very beautiful. It was even colder inside than it was outside, I felt like I was in a refrigerator. Our tickets also included the Basilica of St. George and the Golden Lane, where I did some souvenir shopping in the tiny historic houses.
This was the rainiest day yet, not to mention chilly, so we fortified ourselves at lunch with roast pork with cabbage and dumplings before walking through the rain, sans umbrella, in search of the Lennon wall. If you haven't heard of it, this is a graffiti wall created after Lennon's assassination.
We signed our names and then crossed the famous Charles bridge over the Vltava, stopping inside the church on the opposite bank - I believe it was Kostel svatého Františka z Assisi - for warm drinks. Just the smell of cinnamon and nutmeg sprinkled on the foam of my cappucino was enough to revive me. We sipped slowly and relaxed, long enough to allow some of the damp to leave our clothes. The rest of the afternoon was pleasant enough - we walked into Josefov (the Jewish Quarter) past the Old Jewish Cemetary and along the upscale shopping street Pařížská.
In the evening, I re-packed my suitcase and researched bus routes to the Airport and Amy and I went out for one last beer (or several...). By that point, we had sampled four of the top ten Czech beers, but had yet to try #1: Staropramen. Don't worry: we found it later on tap at the bar in the Imperial College Student Union in London. And it was delicious. And we were happy.
In the morning, Amy and I ate a continental breakfast of pastries and coffee at the main train terminal before parting ways. Amy was staying until the evening and had plans of her own for the day: the Museum of Communism, Kafka's house, fried cheese. I was moving on to Norway.
I must say that although we struggled to feel at home in Prague, we still had a nice time and I would really like the chance to return one day and try again.
Curry Night & Flea Market, east London
At the risk of sounding like my professor (no offense, Anthony!), the cultural significance of a curry night in England cannot be over exaggerated. In the last two months, I have noticed that Indian cuisine is at least as prevalent in London as British cuisine. I first experienced curry on the plane from America - I was served chicken curry on a British Airways flight, and I wasn't quite prepared for it. To be honest, I had never been properly introduced to Indian food.
When CAPA offered a free "curry night" in east London, I was curious. Not one to turn down a free meal, I signed up tout de suite. Fifty or so students turned up at SHERAZ Bangla Lounge on Brick Lane. Before the meal began our professor, Dr. Gristwood, gave us an introduction to the food, the restaurant, and the area.
FOOD
I would have expected Britain's national dish to be a hearty meal of roast beef and yorkshire puddings, or maybe some salty fish and chips wrapped in newspaper. But no, according to former foreign secretary Robin Cooke (and popular opinion) chicken tikka masala is "Britain's true national dish."
RESTAURANT
The restaurant is located on Brick Lane, in London's East End. The next segment of the introduction took an unexpected (and unappetizing) turn toward murder. Sheraz Bangla is supposedly located on the site of the pub where serial killer Jack the Ripper's first victim downed her last pint in 1888! Below is an illustration of the discovery of Mary Ann Nichols' body. Mary Ann was the first of his 'canonical five victims.'
AREA
East London has long been an area associated with poverty, immigrants, and crime. Various immigrant communities have settled there over the last two hundred years, including Hugenots, Jews, Bangladeshis, and recently, Somalis. But the East End's reputation is recovering, and its residents are no longer strictly immigrants. Walking around the area I saw plenty of hipsters on Brick Lane and fashionable young professionals closer to Spitalfields Market.
My meal was excellent: chicken with Saag sauce (spinach in medium spices), a side of Bombay Aloo potatoes, and naan. I also tried some of Kristina's chicken in Korma sauce (a yellow sauce with a sweet coconut flavor).
Afterwards, Kris and I decided to do some shopping. My friend Aalia had recommended that we come down the street to the American Apparel London Flea Market once we had finished eating. We had absolutely no clue what to expect. At around 8:00pm, we arrived at the Old Truman Brewery at #81, as per Aalia's directions. There was a long queue out front, but we decided to wait and see if it would move quickly. It did, and about five minutes later we were allowed to enter the warehouse...
Inside, there were racks and racks and racks of discounted clothing. We searched through endless rows of dresses and leggings and tank tops. In the end, I bought five things. Usually I try to save rather than spend, but it's against my beliefs to
turn down quality clothes at 75% off. I walked away with two thick acrylic scarves, a lace and raglan shirt, a bodysuit, and pink tights for just £30 ($46). Not bad for thirty quid!
In other news, my beautiful cousins sent me a Halloween card and it made my day! My aunt is Japanese, and the girls are learning to read, write and speak Japanese alongside English. On the inside of the card, both sides are decorated with drawings, Japanese characters, and a few short and sweet sentences in English. Thank you, Maya and Julia! I'm sending my love to you stateside!
Also, I will be traveling through Prague, Vienna, and Oslo in the coming week. Although I have traveled extensively for my twenty-one years, I'm a bit nervous. I've been to most countries in western Europe, the Caribbean, and even to South America, but this will be my first time traveling to eastern Europe and Scandinavia. It's time to rally my sense of adventure (and my roommate Amy) and prepare for an amazing trip! The night before a trip is like Christmas Eve to me, as if I bought myself a fabulous gift back in September and had to wait to open it! OH, WAIT - I DID! A trip to Austria, Norway, and the Czech Republic :) Wish me Bon Voyage!
** I know that I haven't written much in the past three weeks. My mom and stepfather, Jamie, were here to visit from the 6th through the 17th, and I couldn't find the time in between class, my internship, and pretending to be a tour guide. However, I promise updates on their visit soon. Hopefully there will be plenty of photos of Windsor Castle, Devon and Cornwall, and the Oyster Festival in Falmouth!
Also, I will be traveling through Prague, Vienna, and Oslo in the coming week. Although I have traveled extensively for my twenty-one years, I'm a bit nervous. I've been to most countries in western Europe, the Caribbean, and even to South America, but this will be my first time traveling to eastern Europe and Scandinavia. It's time to rally my sense of adventure (and my roommate Amy) and prepare for an amazing trip! The night before a trip is like Christmas Eve to me, as if I bought myself a fabulous gift back in September and had to wait to open it! OH, WAIT - I DID! A trip to Austria, Norway, and the Czech Republic :) Wish me Bon Voyage!
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