I have found a really great series of books on Amazon which are all guidebooks to places all over the world, but instead of just describing to you the best places to go when you get there, it also describes cultural differences as well as etiquette for a particular place. If you are inspired as I am to go to Greece someday, you should check out this book! Greece - Culture Smart!: a quick guide to customs and etiquette (Culture Smart!)
I would be curious to hear from Mel of Mel’s Diner or any other ex-pats living in Greece or any Greek ex-pats living in the US on cultural differences between the United States and Greece. That would be an interesting topic of discussion!
Has anyone seen Giada De Laurentiis’ new show on Food Network, Giada in Paradise?
As far as I can tell from the listings it is a special only. So far she has been to Santorini, which is my ultimate dream trip and Capri, which is not too far behind! When we watch this show at my house, it must sound like we are watching sports. We make all the same noises that sports fans make when their team scores a point, falls down or takes a hit to the stomach with a flying ball. We love this show, but we also are tortured by it because we want to be there more than anything else! When Giada takes a bite of something delicious you hear groans from our couch, when she steps foot somewhere we’d like to be, you will often hear a “yes!” as she starts describing a dream spot. This show is really giving me the travel bug big time, which is a great motivational tool to get me fired up to continue with all my projects and find more! Continue Reading »
We have already learned the words for hotel, youth hostel, vacancy, and no vacancy and we have learned how to make a reservation for a hotel. Now let’s learn how to say the key words for what is inside a hotel room. Continue Reading »
Did you know that you can plan your trip right here on Travelcloseup with just a few easy clicks? Just go to the Plan Your Trip page or you can just click below and check out what deals can be found by using Kayak! I am here to help you get your dream vacation plans started!
Sometimes junk mail is actually good. You know those pamphlets you get in the mail sometimes that give you little teasers about books, so you will buy the book? Well, recently one such pamphlet showed up at our house, called “Bottom Line Personal: The World’s Best Inside Information”. It had these really great tips about hotels! So I will share them with you so you are more informed for your next trip! Continue Reading »
Ho sete (oh sehteh)– I’m Thirsty Vorrei ordinare due biccheri di vino
(vor-eh-ee or-dee-nah-reh doo-eh bik-e-air-reh dee ve-noh) —
I would like to order 2 glasses of wine.
Vorrei ordinare un dolce (vor-eh-ee or-dee-nah-reh oon dohl-chee) — I would like to order a dessert
Sometimes, when you are looking for something to do on a weekend and you don’t feel like going to the movies, or going out to eat, or just getting stuck in front of the television again, there is a wonderful alternative in Downtown, Ocala! It is the Ocala Wine Experience. This little gem is a very unique place, indeed. Downstairs it is a wine shop where they sell every kind of wine imaginable as well as gourmet treats and their own beer, named for Ocala – The Horse’s Ass. But there is more, oh so much more to this place. Continue Reading »
First I have to apologize for my lax in writing posts these days! I have just been really busy with all of my projects – things are starting to have a way of just piling up! I just started this week my new job – teaching kids how to cook. So needless to say I have been exhausted upon returning home and this poor little blog has really taken the biggest hit! But stay tuned, I have a great little recommendation on its way!
Now, in case you felt like learning Italian faster than the words and phrases I provide you with here each week, you may want to invest in learning materials. I have tried several different kinds – written, oral, audio, etc. To me I like a combination. The most important thing about learning a language is to learn it organically. When you were a child, you didn’t know how to conjugate verbs, did you? But you could speak and communicate and refine your word choices along the way. So when you are learning a new foreign language I believe that you should learn with these same principles. So this week, I am featuring Conversational Italian: Learn to Speak and Understand Italian with Pimsleur Language Programs (Simon & Schuster's Pimsleur) as the product of the week and encourage all of you who have ever wanted to learn to speak Italian, really speak Italian, to take the plunge!
Now if you wanted to order this in Italian, what would you say?
Vorrei una birra (vor-reh-ee oo-na bee-ra) – I would like a beer
How about this?
Vorrei pesce con patate fritte (vor-reh-ee peh-sheh con pah-tah-teh free-teh ) – I would like fish and chips!
Now if they had British Pubs in Italy, you’d be all set! But you will probably need this if you go to the coast and are going to have some nice fried fish there! Buon Appetito!
It has been years since I have had a good Sticky Toffee Pudding.
Honestly I have only had it 3 times prior– once in Ireland, once in Scotland, once in New York City. Do you know how hard it is to find it in America? Yes, yes you can get it in a can from Heinz, but is that good sticky toffee pudding? I don’t know, I don’t think I have ever had it, unless it was served to me in one of these places. God forbid. But in just those three occasions it has become my favorite dessert. I don’t like toffee in general, so I probably never would have had it if I ordered it from a menu. But once, I was in a restaurant and I saw a server walk by with this beautiful shining pudding, plated on top of a pile of silken vanilla custard the smell was out of this world! I decided right then and there I wanted it! Sticky Toffee Pudding despite its name does not taste like toffee. It tastes almost like a spice cake, and since that first time I have been hooked.
As I have a sixth sense for finding anything Gelato related, my powers must be growing. I must have a sixth sense for all my foodie favorites. Lucky me. We arrived in St. Augustine and as we were driving up and down the side streets looking for parking, I suddenly screamed: “Sticky Toffee Pudding!” There it was written with magic marker on a white board outside The Prince Of Wales Restaurant . Again the Foodie Gods were smiling upon me. Continue Reading »
as the product of the week and encourage all of you who have ever wanted to learn to speak Italian, really speak Italian, to take the plunge!
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