If you have followed this blog for any length of time you know that Roberto loves his pizza. Being from Rome, Italy, although not THE capital of pizza that Naples is, he still knows a thing or two about what pizza should really be like (if you would like to see what we think makes a pizza great, check out this article ). So as always, when we change living locations we are always on the quest for the best pizza around (if you want to see where the best pizza in the US is that we have found so far, check out this article ).

If you live in Saint Augustine, Florida or have ever spent time here, you know there are tons of pizza joints. One night we were in the mood for a slice so we decided to check out Pizza Time’s Brooklyn style pizza on St. George’s Street. Now as you know, generally we are not big fans of New York style pizza. The crust is much more floppy than the classical Italian version and so it never quite meets up to our crunch standards. But Pizza Time displays many of their pie choices in the window and they looked really good. Plus I loved the sign in the window saying: “I’m Italian, I don’t need a recipe!”
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BY KARI HOEL
PHOTOS BY KARI HOEL

I think most visitors to Bangkok are struck by the size of the city. It is big, both in terms of geography and population. And not all of it is pretty. But the city has it all – culture, history, shopping and nightlife. You just need to bring a good guidebook in order to find it all.

My husband and I stayed in the Siam Square area, which is the primary shopping district, and we used our guidebook a lot (Thailand Travel Guide and Bangkok Encounter Guide, both published by Lonely Planet), which made it possible to find some wonderful places. We lived it up a bit, and stayed at the Amari Watergate Hotel and Spa. Everything was very nice: The room, the service, the view, the food, not to mention the pool area on the 8th floor. It is a big business-like hotel, so you do not get a warm fuzzy feeling when walking into the large, air-conditioned lobby. However, when you are determined to spend some time shopping, the Amari Watergate is a good location as the big shopping centers are very close by.

I have already mentioned the s-word. Bangkok is famous for its shopping opportunities, and rightly so. I spent a lot of time at MBK, Paragon, Siam Center and Central World Plaza – four large shopping complexes. As we stayed in Bangkok both in the beginning and end of our trip, I did ”research” in the beginning, then went back and actually spent money when we returned. I was a bit surprised that it was difficult to find stores that had Thai-inspired clothing. Last time we were in Bangkok was four years ago, and I am not sure if there were more non-western brands back then, but there were probably fewer shopping centers. The price is still a bit lower than Europe, but it might be a close race. The selection, however, is good! And if you are able to find a good tailor, you can get some great deals on custom-made suits, dresses etc.

As for the more lasting experiences: Most of the cultural/historical sites are in the Ratanakosin District. As this was our second time in Bangkok, we had seen many of the temples the first time we were there. This time we took a boat trip on the Chao Phraya river, which was a very pleasant way to spend a few hours and at the same time see Bangkok from a different angle. The boat left from Saphan Taksin, which is at the end of one of the SkyTrain (metro) lines.
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STORY BY: Kari Hoel
PHOTOS BY: Kari Hoel

Three days in Cambodia is too little, but enough to find out that the Angkor temples are among the world’s most incredible sites.

A little bit of geography: The Angkor temples are 7 km from the town Siem Reap. Siem Reap is in the north-western part of Cambodia, and it has an international airport. My husband and I flew there from Bangkok, which was an efficient way to travel as we had limited time. Travelers whose funds are more limited than their time, get there by bus/taxi, or by boat from Phnom Penh.

Most visitors to the Angkor temples rent a tuk-tuk with a driver. We decided to combine exercise and sightseeing, so we rented bicycles instead. We loved it! The bikes very not very good (the rental price was USD 2 per day), but it did not matter as the area is very flat and easy to cycle around regardless of the quality of the bike. Also, Cambodian drivers are courteous and drive carefully (in sharp contrast to Thai drivers), so we were not worried about being run down by maniac drivers.
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I have been to Cafe del Hidalgo many times for Gelato. Boy is it good. I am so happy that they don’t always have Nocciola (Hazelnut) or else I would never have gotten the chance to explore the other many wonderful flavors. One day, I was out on an errand and I decided to try their espresso. Whenever I go to a new coffee place to try their espresso drinks, I always get a latte, so it is the standard by which all coffee places are judged.

My latte at Cafe del Hidalgo was alright but it was not as good as some of the other places I have been, like Mystic Bean, which I will be doing a write up on later. I was also disappointed that it was served in a paper cup, even though I was having it there. This is not just a complaint about Hidalgo, but most coffee places now. I remember the days when you went to a coffee bar and if you were having a drink there they served it to you in a regular coffee/ espresso/ cappuccino cup. I miss that and I hope the coffee bars will go back to that someday. There is something nice about that.

I still may go back to Cafe del Hidalgo and try one of their fancy specialty coffees, but most likely I will just stick to the Gelato!

A bright soul has left this world. At the age of 30, my bellydancing teacher, Rose Champagne has left on the final journey into the unknown after a battle with brain cancer. She already beat it five years ago and had her whole life ahead of her. When I left New England, she had just gotten married and bought a new house. She had it all – a wonderful husband, a new house and a fabulous career doing what she loved. She was one of those shining stars, someone with a beautiful soul who kind of glided through the world. She was the kind of person everyone wanted to know and be around. She was someone who stood out in a room. She was kind, and loving and beautiful. I knew her but briefly and from afar, but she affected everyone she knew with her grace. I pray for her family that must go on without her.

To my teacher Rose Champagne. Rose, it is hard to believe that a spirit so strong and beautiful and full of light has left this earth. There is always a bit of emptiness felt in the world, when a light as bright as yours leaves this realm. I ask that your spirit be as free now, as it always was in The Dance now that you are free from the physical limitations of your body, which whirled with such grace and beauty as you walked among us for too brief a time. You taught us how to be free in our own dances and to let the ancestral spirit flow and sway with our bodies. You taught us how to communicate through dance and let loose. You gave so much to us all and I want to thank you and send you with gifts of the sweetest baklava and delicious dark Turkish Coffee, for the journey you have left to travel.
May you be at peace.

This restaurant which is often touted as a place for tourists is in fact, great for tourists because it has a fantastic view of Matanzas Bay and The Bridge of Lions. You can see seagulls, fish and even dolphins playing in the water below you. But it is also a fun place for locals when you need to get your fix of watching crazy seagulls and attempt to feed them without getting your fingers bitten off! Kids will love it, too, as this place is more than food, it is also entertainment.

We had a great experience at The Santa Maria when my Dad and Stepmom were visiting a few weeks ago. We were going to take them to the A1A Alehouse, so they could get a nice view of the water and city, grab a pint of beer and enjoy the food, but they were closed for renovations. So A1A missed out!By this time we were so starving we didn’t know what to do. The belly was taking over the mind, so we ended up at The Santa Maria. I am really glad we did because I am sure this is exactly the kind of place I would have overlooked since it is right on the water and I have a theory that a good view does not always equate to good food. But I was happy that The Santa Maria proved me wrong.
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I always have a few rules of thumb when dining at a new restaurant. I like to try places that serve food I normally do not prepare at home. I love eclectic restaurants, small establishments that are family owned, that cater to people with various dietary habits, not because I have one, but because it means the chef is usually creative and cares about satisfying a wide variety of patrons – not just mainstream palates. I especially love restaurants that tell you about their food – what ingredients are in the dishes, what sources they get their food from, is is organic, fair trade, etc. This tells an awful lot about a place and I care a lot about the answers. It has to do with quality. I care about quality. I fancy myself a pretty good cook – I have a whole other blog devoted to it, so if I am going to go out to eat, I want the restaurant to have some of these aspects. That or a killer ambiance, but that can be another whole kind of experience.

All of the times we came to St. Augustine before we lived here I wanted to try Casa Maya. It is known for its Mayan cuisine, which to me, means real Mexican / Northern Central American food – not the stuff you get at Taco Bell or Moe’s. By self describing as “Mayan” – you can already surmise that it is done to set them apart from that contingent. I love when I go to an ethnic restaurant where the real cuisine is unfamiliar to me and I don’t recognize anything on the menu. This usually is a signal that the food is authentic to that region. Such was the case at Casa Maya. After being disappointed by Acapulco, several months ago, I was loosing the battle with trying to convince Roberto that Mexican food is really good.
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These guys have got my number. I do believe that coffee is a crucial part of life. Not just any coffee but GOOD coffee. I admit I may be a coffee snob, but I feel myself very fortunate to know a bit about coffee and that I have a desire to learn more and more. If you look through this blog or my other blog TheLeftoverQueen you will see much about my love of the bean. So when we relocated to St. Augustine, I made it my personal mission to seek out the best of what St. Augustine has to offer by way of coffee. I will also be enjoying many of the eating establishments here as well, so stay tuned for more. But now, for the coffee.

I love the look of Crucial Coffee. This adorable little coffee shack on the corner of Cuna Street, right near the Castillo de San Marcos is so inviting. It does remind me of those coffee shacks in New England I so love. It is unassuming yet brings attention to itself with brightly colored doors and twinkling little lights. You just can’t help not to go in.
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Jenn’s TravelCloseup has just changed hubs. We have moved from Ocala, Florida to the beautiful coastal city of St. Augustine. The Oldest city in The United States, founded in 1565 and discovered in by Ponce de Leon. His Fountain of Youth is still here. It has the effect of giving you the giggles.

We are going to have a lot to explore in St. Augustine – lots of historic sites, beaches, restaurants, cafe’s, etc. You can even visit this bar that has no electricity and is lighted at night by lanterns! I can’t wait to check that place out.

We are settling into our new place, so stay tuned for some adventures in St. Augustine! Or if you live in this great city, you may see us at one of our new favorite cafe’s – The Bunnery on St. George Street.

In the spirit of giving, do something simple for those less fortunate:

Please Forward Widely!

URGENT ACTION ALERT!! DEADLINE APPROACHING!
YUCCA MOUNTAIN, SACRED TO THE SHOSHONE & MAJOR FAULT ZONE, IN
IMMINENT DANGER!
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY MOVES PLANS FORWARD TO TURN YUCCA MOUNTAIN INTO
NUCLEAR WASTE REPOSITORY.
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD DEADLINE JANUARY 10, 2008.

Public hearings have not been well attended, statements mostly in
favor of the plan to put all of the nuclear waste in the country in
this one sacred place. Activists were told that if we do not go on
record with a statement, we will have no legal recourse later on.
Local papers & media spin have recently stated that opposition to the
nuke dump had dropped of since the passing of Corbin Harney. The
nuclear reps are confident to the point of acting like it’s a done
deal. WE KNOW THAT’S NOT TRUE! LETS PROVE THEM WRONG! TAKE ACTION &
MAKE YOUR COMMENT NOW!!

Yucca Mountain is sacred to the Shoshone as an herb gathering site,
for rituals, and as a part of their stories. Yucca Mountain is known
in Shoshone language as Snake Mountain. Indeed it looks like a
snake. It is said that the snake was headed north when it froze where
it is. Further more it is said that it will move again and “flip
around”. Geologists say that there are thirteen different fault lines
running through it.

Citizens can make an oral statement at the scheduled public hearings
or fill out a form and mail it in to EIS Office U.S. Department of
Energy Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Mgmt, 1551 Hillshire dr.
Las Vegas, NV, 89195-7308 or by e-mail at EIS_Office@ymp.gov.
HERE ARE TALKING POINTS: http://www.h-o-m-e.org/Yucca/index.htm

“The eyes of the elders are on us. The fate of the unborn is
rolling toward the cliff, the voice of Corbin Harney is ringing in my
ears, “It’s on your shoulders now…”. Info from Bear Dyken.
mdyken@goldrush.com.

YUCCA MOUNTAIN FACT SHEET, TALKING POINTS, & MORE INFO: Healing
Ourselves & Mother Earth http://www.h-o-m-e.org/

The DOE released two Draft Supplemental Environmen-tal Impact
Statements related to repository changes and rail transportation of
high-level waste in Nevada.

Inyo County CA- Excellent Draft Impacts Assessment Report Comments
due by 1/10/08