What I Covet this Summer Season!

Every season I write (or pin) down the items I want, and them narrow it to those I must have in order to compliment my ever growing closet. The key to not spend more than or what you don't really have is to study; (yes I said study) your wants/needs/must and purchase key pieces that would compliment what you already have in your closet. Now, don't forget to set up a budget and stick to it. If there is a specific item(shoe/bag/clothing) but it would bite well into your allocated budget; make sure you try to find it for less in one of the many, many discount online stores or TJ Maxx /Marshalls; if you have enough patience you will find amazing pieces for less than 1/2 the cost and most are from the current season, but no older than last season.

This summer season I want everything that screams neon /bright and color blocking so; here are a few key pieces I obtained:

 

Italy: A Love Affair with Food and History

Last year the dart landed in Italy as a vacation destination in our map. True to our motto we decided to become Italians for the 11 days we were to be there. We chose hotels in the center of each city we visited, and asked the hotel staff, (not the concierge) but the housekeepers / or front desk agents where they eat on a daily basis. By asking this, we experience an Italia not like a tourist, but as a local.

ROMA: When in Roma, do as the Roman
Our first leg of this vacation starts at the center of the Roman Empire: Roma. As we were still a bit jet lagged from our flight, we decided to take a 2hrs power nap to recharge our batteries. Once we did so, we started our adventure by visiting the Vatican City and St. Peter's Cathedral. a tour of the inside of the cathedral, as well as the Sistine Chapel was everything I expected and much more. The deep history inside can transport you to a grand era from long ago. When entering the Sistine chapel you are informed that no pictures are allowed or cameras will be revoked. Well, thanks to my magnificent skills and camera, I was able to shoot the left side of the wall :o) Ok ok, I know their reason to not permit photograps, but did you really think I was not going to try? While in the square, asked one of the guards where they ate lunch, he recomended a local pizzeteria, which is visited by all the employees during their siesta time. I cannot for the love of my memory remember the name of this place, but I can tell you that it is off the left side walking out of St. Peter's Square on Via Della Conciliazione. It will be the 2nd street to the left, and its the 1st pizzeteria on the left side of the street. Here, $10.00 US got us 4 types of pizzas, and 2 cokes, but most of all, it got us to taste one of the most amazing pizzas ever!
The next 2 days, after a good hotel breakfast, we headed out to explore Roma. We saw all the touristic attraction such as the Coliseum, the Voca de la Verita (mouth of truth), Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, The Forum, and Piazza Navona. BUT we also discovered the Jewish ghetto, the Appio Latino, where I found many of my fellow Dominicans reside, and other parts of towns which names I cannot recall, but that provided us with amazing food, wine, and fun memories. If you are in Roma, please make sure you go to Al Peperoncino www.alpeperoncino.it and have one of their many homemade  pizzas. It is off the beaten path, in the Garbatella neighborhood, the waiters do not speak much English and would not prioritize a "I'm a tourist attitude" but would treat you like the locals just like the crowd is all families from the neighborhood; but believe when I tell you it is all worth it!

FLORENCE: City of my Dreams
"I found my happily ever after home base" those were my first thoughts and words when I arrived. Florence has everything a girl like me loves; history, great architecture, culture, delicious food and wine and lets not forget about the prestigious "Via De Tornabuoni" which houses most of the high fashion label and jewelery houses. No wonder it is known as "La Culla Del Rinascimento" or the cradle of the renaissance. Here we spent 4 days (wish it was longer) discovering and learning about all its monuments such as Ponte Vecchio, the only  bridge that survived WWII intact, and which feature a multitude of shops built around its edges.The main church Santa Maria Del Fiore, which is the best known site in Florence because of its duomo (largest dome built out brick in the world) which provide magnificent views of the city and beyond - just prepare to make a long long line of at least 2 hours to get all the way to the top! Also our visit to Basilica of Santa Croce was an amazing learning experience; here, we were able to see the final resting place of some of the most illustrious Italians in history, such as Michelangelo, Galileo, and Machiavelli.

Florence is also known for its many (many) piazzes and streets. Below are a few that are a must when visiting this city

• Piazza della Repubblica, whre you can elbow with local (and expats) artists while having a espresso.
• Piazza della Liberta which has the triumphal arch of Florence
• Piazza Santa Trinita where not only you can find  several palaces from the renaissance era, but also flagship stores such as the hubby favorite shoe designer/maker Salvatore Ferragamo.
• Oh dont forget to stroll by the Via de' Tornabuoni where you can "research" about Gucci, Emilio Pucci, and Cavalli to mention a few!

Aside from its monuments, piazzes, and basilicas, Florence has a great culinary presence; ranging from its famous Mercato Firenze to local restaurants I can say I happily ate my little heart out. There are many places that claim to be real Tuscan style, however if you find them surrounding the piazzas then know you are been fooled! Real Tuscan style restaurants, are off the beaten path, and do now have a charming Italian waiter outside wrangling business inside. They do not care if a tourist comes in, but would serve them the same way they do their everyday clientele if you happen to stumble upon them. Here are two that are a must visit in  my book:

• Il Gatto & La Volpe (Via Ghibellina, 151/r) They don't have a website that I know of; and hardly do any (if at all) advertising. This place was recommended by our lovely front desk agent; when asked where she goes to unwind after a long shift at the hotel. It took us a while to find it, as is located where the locals live; but it was worth getting lost. Food was excellent, their house wine even more so, and the atmosphere was pure delight.
• Trattoria Antico Fattore (Via Lambertesca 1/3r) www.anticofattore.it.com while walking around the off the beaten path, we stumble upon this place. Its a small family owned restaurant where all you hear is the music played inside. Because we had already eaten lunch, we decided to come back for dinner. After getting lost a few times by turning the wrong alley, we found it once again. Now; this is not what I consider FDA approved and if you are squeamish about your meat not been refrigerated, then this is not for you. The first thing you notice when walking in is the big, and I mean big slab of freshly cut meat, and today's picked vegetables. When ordering steak, which they bring this slab to you, and you order based on mm. then pick your sides. We ordered the Bisteca alla fiorentina, and their stuffed zucchini flowers and their spinach with a bottle of house red. I have to say this is a meal which I still dream of today; and know I will have at the same location once I go back to Florence in the near future. Before I forget; make sure you practice your Italian, because the waiters as well as the owner's English is close to non existent!

Florence is also the most convenient post to venturing out into the Tuscan Region. I suggest you rent a car and visit the many vineyards, villas, and  drive down rolling hills to quaint little towns such as

• Siena (where we spent 1 night)  -The Siena Cathedral is a must visit. With its Gothic architectural design, and its Piccolomini Library which has the largest collection of manuscripts from Pope Pius II. Also pay close attention to the floor you walk in. There are 56 etched and inlaid marble panels which were designed by 40 of leading artists between 1369 and 1547, all from Siena except for 1 of them, who was Umbrian. Only a few panels are open all year round, but if you are lucky as we were, you will be there when they uncover the most precious ones which are under the apse and in the transepts; protected by special flooring since this is where people sit for mass; these are only uncovered in honor of the Palio and a pair of months during the year, often in September and October.
• Pisa - Yes visit the leaning tower, but most importantly, make sure you visit a few of its 20 historical churches, and the university of Pisa, which history dates back to the 12th century.
• Voterra -better known as the Italian town from the Twitligth Saga
• San Gimignano - known for its many towers and rich history dating to the 10th century, SG is a sight not to be missed. Make sure you refresh yourself with a gelato from Pluripremiatta Gelateria. Its gelato is world known, and the flavors combinations such as Blackberry & Lavander  / spicy chocolate and sour cherries are out of this world.

VENICE: A place for foodies
For me, Venice was not what I expected. Venice can be visited in two days or less. Once you have eaten your way around, and see all the mayor sites, there is not much to do unless of course, you are the for the world famous Venice Film Festival, Venetian Carnival which happens 2 weeks prior to ash Wednesday every year,or to take a week long class in the art of glass blowing (which I would love to). Yes, their quaint little alleys, (which always end on one end or another of the many canals that surround the city) San Marco, and the various museums, are great to see, however as beautiful, and romantic as the city is, it feels like a tourist trap with its many disembarking cruises, and haggling illegal street "designer goodies" vendors makes it feel like a visit to NYC

I do have to admit, Venice has some of the best seafood I have ever eaten in this lifetime; and for that alone I would go to Venice in a heart beat. If you find yourself in Venice, make sure you visit

• Osteria 40 Ladroni (by the Fondameta Della Sensa) and you will have the best squid ink seafood pasta in your life. It was so good, we end up eating dinner here for our 3 night stay in Venice.
• Al Paradiso (Off the Rialto) menu is small (20 tbls top), local and mostly based on the catch of the day. Our lunch here was so good, we even bought extra food (octopus salad) to take during our 1/2 day tour of the outer islands.

There are many places yet to visit in Italia. We are planing a tour mainly to the south of Italy, and stopping in Cicily in the next two years. And I cannot wait to continue our food trail trough such wonderful land!

Food, Travels, and Everything in Between: Las Mariposas (The Butterflies)

Food, Travels, and Everything in Between: Las Mariposas (The Butterflies): Again I find myself reading one of my all time favorite books, In Time of The Butterflies" by Julia Alvarez. This is the story of the four M...

Las Mariposas (The Butterflies)

Again I find myself reading one of my all time favorite books, In Time of The Butterflies" by Julia Alvarez.

This is the story of the four Mirabal sisters during the dictatorship of Rafael Trujillo in the Dominican Republic (yes my homeland). The sister make a conscious decision to become part of the underground movement and overthrow the Trujillo regime, and the book presents the perspective of each sister, including that of Dede, the only surviving sister.

When I was a child (7yrs - 9yrs) I had the honor of meeting Dede during our customary school field trip to the Mirabal Sister's house; back then I was not interested in what she had to say, all I care along with my classmates was the "day-off" we got from the nuns at school, in retrospect, I wish I told her how proud I was of not only been a woman, but a Cibaeña woman at that (the region where they are from in D.R.) I want to thank her for her and her family sacrifice to our country. And also tell her how thankful I am for sharing the story of "Las Mariposas" as they became to be known during the underground movement to overthrow "El Jefe" whom had the killed on a side road buy sugar cane fields when returning from their monthly visits to their incarcerated husbands.

I do recommend you read/buy/devour this book, or rent "Code name: Butterflies" a documentary by Chilean filmmaker Cecilia Domeyko, which I believe is the only one (if not so the best one) that details the true events and lives of the Mirabal Sisters, including interviews with Dede Mirabal. Both will give a new light as to how you think of that beautiful island known for its beaches, music, and laughter.

If you want something a little more mainstream, go ahead and rent out Tropico De Sangre (with English subtitles) is more of a indie film, but non the least it captures the true story of the sister, in a more traditional film setting, it was co-produced by actress Michelle Rodriguez. Dede participated in the developing of the film as well.

The Butterflies death angered everyone, that the underground movement member who had not dared to act with violence before decided to move ahead and ambushed  El Jefe and assassinate him while his driver and him where en route to an outlying part of the city. 

Patria,  Maria Teresa, Minerva

Recent picture of Dede Mirabal 

The UN General Assembly designated November 25th  as the"International Day of Non-Violence Against Women". Did you know this day was chosen in commemoration of the the sisters because this is the anniversary of their assassination?

Food, Travels, and Everything in Between: Memorable places... Unforgetable experiences

Food, Travels, and Everything in Between: Memorable places... Unforgetable experiences: From all the places I've traveled to, some I can never return, others I cannot wait until my next trip. Don't get me wrong, all have had bee...

Food, Travels, and Everything in Between: Dinner, Margaritas & Tequila!

Food, Travels, and Everything in Between: Dinner, Margaritas & Tequila!: There's not many tings I enjoy best than a dinner with the girls; and this occasion was for a dear friend's BDay celebration. The location y...

Dinner, Margaritas & Tequila!

There's not many tings I enjoy best than a dinner with the girls; and this occasion was for a dear friend's BDay celebration. The location you ask? Toloache on 50th st. Now I know there are 100's of so called Mexican restaurants, which in reality are nothing but the Americanized version of what Mexican food should be. Not Toalache, Yes, their food has a French presentation, but the flavors, ingredients, and Tequila are straight out of a real Mexican household with noise level and all!
Be ready to see, and enjoy traditional plates such as chiles rellenos (stuffed poblano chiles with ground corn, cheese, tomatoes, pork), tacos de chapulines (dried grasshoppers), and a varietal of ceviches. Their margaritas are also great, and it can be cause is not a cheap tequila used. We enjoyed the night special flavors of pomegranate, mango, and watermelon one that I swear taste just like those watermelon shape lollipops from the 90's.
And to finish off our night, we had a nice shot of Riazul Tequila with a side order of red velvet tres leches.. yes, tres leches cake made out of red velvet... How can you go wrong?!

It was a bit pricey; however I think that had more to do with our choice of drinks and tequila shots (we love love love tequila) than with the food itself. Pay a visit, and you will not be sorry!



Our Riazul Tequila shots, tres leches red velvet cake and our amazing Margaritas!



With the BDay girl :o)

 I now wonder where our next girls night out dinner date will be. Until then, I hope you take the leap and visit Toloache.