Over the last few weeks, I was looking through and editing old photographs when I started thinking about our bucket list for families that I made. When I was in college, my friends and I used to watch a television show about these families that were traveling around the world. They were marking things off their bucket list as they voted within the family to
Nestled in the northern part of the Caribbean lies the beautiful country of Cuba. Cuba is the largest island in the Caribbean and has a population of over 11 million people. Cuba has been inhabited since the 4th century and although many things have changed over the years, some Cuban traditions have remained constant. And one of these is its Cuban appetizers and snacks. Throughout
I've always felt that Japanese drinks should get more attention. The country's cuisine, after all, is among the most celebrated in the world—shouldn't its beverages follow suit? Over the next few paragraphs, I'll highlight some of my go-to drinks in Japan. Although many of these will be familiar to you, others might seem surprising or even strange. Just as many people have limited exposure to Japanese
The Ultimate Guide to Lederhosen Contrary to popular belief, Oktoberfest celebrates the Bavarian culture, not necessarily that of Germany as a whole. All of the beer consumed at Oktoberfest is exclusively made in Munich, to further celebrate the Bavarian culture. During the early years of this festival, lederhosen outfits were worn, yet no alcohol was served. Which is unlike the tons of beer consumed
I would say, the best time of year to visit Cuba is between December and March. During this time, you can experience pleasant weather, fewer crowds, and avoid the long lines at the Cuban pastry shops! Speaking of pastry shops, have you ever tried a Cuban pastelitos? I hope your answer is yes! But if not then you must rectify this problem as soon as
Since I had a chance to lure you guys in with my Jamaican desserts and pastries article, I guess by now I should let you in on a little secret about Jamaican Drinks. And that is that they are proud producers of some of the most amazing and tastiest drinks in the world. Jamaica is famous for a few things, and some of those are
✦ The Ultimate Guide to Savannah GA ✦ Get yourself into that Southern mood, the sweet sickness that is Savannah's lure. I call it le mal doux, which is French for "the sweet sickness". How? You ask? Try reading (or see the movie) Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil before you take on the task of visiting Savannah attractions and finding things to do in
Sicilians love their healthy and locally-grown foods such as apricots, artichokes, olives, and beans. Some of the most notable savory foods include arancini (rice balls), pecorino cheese, and stuffed eggplant. Yet aside from the yummy savory foods they have, Sicily has some of the most delicious Sicilian desserts in all of Europe. The world-famous cannoli and torta di ricotta (ricotta cake) are indispensable sweets that
From its world-class art museums to its floating flower markets, the city of Amsterdam is reinventing itself from its hedonistic side to now focusing on its rich artistic heritage. Culturally, it’s one of Europe’s most diverse and eclectic destinations. With its fascinating history that spans seven centuries, today it is a charming mix of shopping, museums, coffee houses, restaurants, and flower markets. I put together
Cuba has the largest population in the Caribbean, topping off at over 11 million people. It is well known for many things such as its genre of music and dancing (mostly from its European and African origins), its famous cigars, and the Cuban cocktail of rum, coke, and lemon/lime, known as the Cuba Libre. Cuba’s deep-rooted love for music and dancing is a great
As part of the global population, I would love to thank the Greek nation for gifting the world with many wonderful attributes. The Greeks gave the world the first theater, the Olympic games, and great philosophers such as Democritus, Pythagoras, Plato, and Socrates. Thanks to the Greeks, we have different literary forms, philosophy, democracy, architectural beauties and not to mention their great Greek desserts along
In my mind, all you need for some tasty Cuban dishes is the right seasoning, a good piece of meat, and some rice. As Cuban cuisine is the perfect mix of Spanish, Portuguese, French, Caribbean, African, and Asian cuisines and spices from drifters and settlers who came to Cuba during the early Caribbean slave trade. Today, Cubans tend to mix several fresh local ingredients with
Galapagos Islands Foods and Culinary influences Ecuador is a country with a diversity of climates, regions, and altitudes that makes it an exquisite country with many different types of traditional dishes. Depending on the region where you are, there is a variety of typical doses. And since the islands are owned by Ecuador, the dishes combine the elements of the Ecuadorian highland dishes with
Many people know the Dominican Republic for its luxury resorts and beautiful beaches and hotels, such as the gorgeous Casas del XVI in Santo Domingo. But there is so much more to the Dominican Republic than just its oceans and architectural beauty. In fact, the Dominicans have a rich European history that is a deep mix of both African and the native Taíno Indian influences. Sure, the Dominican Republic has beautiful landscapes
Greece is undoubtedly one of the most picturesque countries in Europe. This beautiful country is surrounded by turquoise-colored seas, deep blue and crisp white houses, rich landmarks, and some awesome museums. Similar to the Italian culture, Greeks love to show off their cooking and baking skills. Just like in the homes of millions of Americans, one of the Greek ways to show affection to the
One of our favorite family vacations is to travel and stay at a house or condo in the area where we want to explore in Mexico. We recently took a family trip to the Sea of Cortez in Mexico to celebrate my son's college graduation. Not only did we pack a few things that are hard to find in Mexican stores, but we also found
Vietnam is an interesting country that is located in the Southeastern part of Asia. It is home to more than 95.5 million people and hosts thousands of tourists each year. Tourists and locals alike try to avoid the busy traffic of the larger cities by traveling around by motorbike. In fact, I heard from my food tour guide that in Ho Chi Minh City
There are times when you wish you could just unwind and take a break from the hustle of your lives and spend a day out with a few friends. You could have a relaxing time together, sipping on different traditional and locally-sourced beers and having good food, without fretting about a thing. This is even truer when, either as a local or as a visiting
Louisiana Cuisine Louisiana is known for many things: music, culture, but most importantly, its cuisine! Louisiana food is often on the spicier side and known all around the world as "Cajun Cuisine". The history of recipes and foods of Louisiana is an interesting one. There are influences from France, Spain, Africa, and India. However, there are parts of Louisiana that offer a more soul food-like
South American food was one of my favorite types of food, especially Chilean food until I had a chance to try some delicious Ecuadorian food! Having a husband from Chile, I loved those handmade meat and cheese empanadas that are so easy to pack in a lunch or to eat by hand. Pastel de chocolo, a beef/meat corn pie is also one of my favorite meals. So
Start reading to learn about traditional German foods and an accumulated list of what to eat in Germany while you are there! As you know, Germany is nestled between the Alps, lakes, and the seas, as well as among other countries in central and western Europe. Germany is the land of poets like the famous Grimm brothers near the Black Forest and master thinkers like
On my last night in Dubrovnik, I wanted to do something extraordinary for dinner to top off the fantastic vacation I was having with my husband in Croatia and Bosnia & Herzegovina. He and I vacation together regularly, but honestly, this was the best trip we have taken together in a very long time. Authentic Culinary Experiences I remembered reading a National Geographic article about
An important part of any tourist experience visiting a new country for the very first time is the food. Guyana is one place where you can dive deep into the culture when searching for and tasting the local Guyanese food. In fact, in Guyana, the food appears to be a melting pot of age-old cultures, traditions, and flavors - many coming from Africa, Britain, the
Panama City Beach, Florida, is one of the most sought-after tourist destinations for a large number of Americans, especially those from the Southern and Midwestern states. Known for its sugary-white sand and turquoise water, Panama City Beach is a tourist hotspot for vacationers of all ages. This beach town caters to many different types of tourists, ranging from your typical retirees and couples to the
Isn’t it marvelous how food and drinks bring people together? How the locals want to share the way their grandparents taught them how to cook, how a certain style of cooking is popular in an area of the world, or even how a certain type of beverage is particularly well connected to the land and its people? How having the proper soil that produces that
With a history that spans centuries, Rome is a city that takes a lifetime to discover. No matter how many times I go to Rome, I always find something new. It seems to contain an infinite number of secrets and sights to behold. While many are well-known and are on the top of most travelers’ bucket lists, this capital city has its share of secret places
Update: Restaurant Benazuzu has been named the #4 Restaurant in the World!! As voted on by TripAdvisors’ 2019 Travelers Choice Awards, which have just been announced. Calling it “Great flavors unique” and “Truly an experience”! This is GREAT news for Restaurant Benazuzu in Cancun, Mexico! Benazuza, Cancun, Mexico The mysterious drink appeared at the bar, sugar cane chunks immersed in a cocktail. The bartender instructed
Japan is a food lover’s dream. With Asian cuisine that has often emigrated from its island home, Japanese food is well-known all over the world. Servings of miso soup, tempura, and, of course, sushi are common in any major city. For the traditional and the strange, the elegant and the messy, check out these restaurants in Japan’s capital that will make your mouth water, no
I was peering at him from the distorted window. His eyes smiled to his ears as I saw him wipe the sweat from his brow with the back of his wrist. He was ruggedly handsome, mid 50’s and had the roughness from years of manual labor. The lines on his face were deep and his skin tone told me he was a man who works
Getting to know Jamaica's exact location will help you discover why its offerings of deliciousness are so diverse. The tropical country of Jamaica is located in the West Indies of the Caribbean Sea, directly underneath Cuba and to the right of Mexico and to the left of Haiti. This country has been inviting guests from around the world to try its flavors, as well as
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of The Nature Conservancy. All opinions are 100% mine. It is that time of year again everyone. The time where we forget our old 2018 selves and move into our new good habits starting in 2019. It’s January and so that means it is time to start making and fulfilling our New Year’s Resolutions if
Ecuador is famous for its colorful indigenous markets. The most famous of them is in Otavalo, northwest of Quito. The Otavalo Market takes place every Saturday. The market has hundreds of stalls where locals sell their goods. This indigenous market is well known for weaving, thus selling scarves, hats, and sweaters. However, there are many indigenous markets in Ecuador, with Otavalo being the most well
In South America, there is a tiny sliver of a country nestled between the Andes and the Pacific Ocean known as the Republic of Chile. There are many legends as to why this country was named Chile including a derivation from the Mapuche word that means “where the land ends”. Others might think it has to do with Chilean food or the red chili. However,
Petra, Jordan By Night - A Practical Guide Petra by night is an after-dark, guided excursion down the Siq to the Treasury in Jordan's famous carved city. It gets mixed reviews on the travel forums and Tripadvisor about whether or not it is worth it to go while visiting Jordan. I thought it was an amazing experience and one worth doing, so don't let the
If you would have asked me a month ago what I know about Dutch food, I would have answered in 4 words...Black licorice!n Gouda cheese! Thankfully, my curiosity is always at peak levels, so when the opportunity came up to get the skinny on what’s cooking in this region with Eating Amsterdam Tours, I was all over that. This specific tour, the Jordaan Food and
