Costa Rica Travel Diary: Day 2

Sunday Aug 6 Woke up just before 6am local time (8am EST). The sun was already up (I think it rises around 5:30) and life was buzzing all around us. After slowly getting up and organizing/ unpacking our things, we went out for a morning stroll and to check out the local shopping options. We…

Costa Rica Travel Diary: Day 1

Saturday Aug 5 Left Miami (FLL) in the morning, arrived in San Jose 3 hours later.  Airport was slightly chaotic- passport control was busy but we moved on through, everyone had to pass their luggage through a security check scanning for banned agricultural items (seeds, plants). Upon exiting the airport we were immediately surrounded and…

My Visit to the Odysseus Cave in Mljet, Croatia

All you need to know about the Odysseus Cave on Mljet Island. Quick Overview: What is Odysseus Cave: It is a small, swimmable cave on the island Mljet in Croatia’s Dalmatian archipelago. It is rumored to be the actual cave where Homer’s hero Odysseus found shelter for many years. How to get there: First get…

A Beautiful Evening in Lumbarda

Lumbarda: Croatia’s white wine heaven. Go here for dreamy views of vineyards gently sloping down to the sea. My weeklong trip into Croatia’s southern Dalmatian coast revolved around three things: nature, food, and wine. The best reds are found on the Pelješac peninsula (Plavac Mali, specifically from Dingač and Postup) and the best whites hail…

24 Hours in Palermo

Passing through Sicily’s capital Palermo? Here is your simple guide and suggested itinerary if you’ve only one day in Palermo, Sicily’s largest city. Sicily is the southernmost island of Italy and connects the Tyrrhenian and Mediterranean seas. Arguably, the food gets better the further south you travel in Italy and Sicily is no exception. Among…

The best day trips from San Marino

San Marino is a fairytale-like little country in the middle of northern Italy. The historic center is easily walkable and well preserved, it really feels like you are walking around during medieval times. No matter where you walk in the historic center, you are rewarded with incredible vistas. It is perfect for a romantic getaway….

San Marino

San Marino- a brief guide and overview. Jump to: What to do and see in San Marino Where to eat and drink in San Marino How to get to San Marino Where to stay in San Marino Best day trips from San Marino The Republic of San Marino is a tiny, landlocked country of about…

Cooking in the time of the Coronavirus

We’re all stuck at home. Maybe your favorite restaurants deliver, maybe they don’t. In any case you now have the spare time to hone in on your cooking skills, maybe find some joy and pride in creating your own plates. However, nowadays we might not be able to count on supermarkets to have specific items…

Pineapple Fried Rice

Perfect for summer entertaining, this colorful rice dish always draws “oohs” and “awes”. It’s easy to make a big batch of it to share family style. Obviously stuffing it into the actual pineapple is optional but if you’re entertaining then I think it’s a must. Though I added shrimp, this Pineapple Fried Rice can easily…

Coconut Curry Braised Chicken Thighs

This wonderful curry dish is slightly adapted from Bon Appetit’s Basically recipe. It’s a fantastic crowd pleaser with its crackly skin, tender meat, stewed potatoes and deliciously complex sauce. Absolutely include the tangy, sour salsa and toasted coconut shavings as recommended in the recipe. Here is the recipe in Spanish, looked over by several native…