Sometimes All You Need Are Photos…
…to get inspired. No words, just photographs, and you are quickly whisked away to a place that makes you happy, see what I mean. {photo source}
All posts filed under: boutique hotels
travel: it’s all about italy
What is it about this wonderful country most of us Americans can’t get enough? I can only speak for myself of course when I say I am madly in love with Italy – Rome, Florence, Venice, Genoa, and every other corner in between from the hillside small villages of Cinque Terre, to the wonderful Como district, the country the most romantic in my opinion – and very different from the well known city of love – Paris. That is where I chose to base my first novel Piazza Navona, the story unfolding in my imagination and mind, over a cup of espresso sitting in a cafe on the historic Piazza Navona. One day, while I sat in a cafe in Rome-in Piazza Navona, staring at a small stationery store, I realized I wanted to write a novel, about a woman who falls in love in Rome. But I knew I needed a twist on a story that has been told a thousand times. So in 2011, after my return to San Francisco, I began working on my first …
Travel: European Cities To Add To Your Travel Plans
I just got back from my annual trip to Europe in May, and I am already thinking about planning the next one. This year, my travel partner and I decided to change it up a bit, adding a few new destinations, seeking some adventure. We opted for Lisbon, Porto, Edinburgh, back to Madrid, then through the norm, the French Rivera, and ending up in Paris. And I have to say it was the best decision we made. Based on the article here, I would like to say that I have to agree with Porto, Salzburg, Seville, Edinburgh, Bruges, Verona being underrated destinations, but most definitely places worth seeing and exploring. As for the rest of the places on the list, I need to add to my list of places to see. The problem is, I have to wait until 2016.
what is it about rooftop restaurants
I have a favorite, which I’ve been to many time. It’s in Rome, in Piazza Navona at a five-star hotel – Hotel Raphael. This location I used in my first novel, it has much meaning to me and I spend an evening dining there every chance I get when I am in Rome. There are rooftop restaurants everywhere, and according to Bazaar online, here’s their list:
a day in lisbon, portugal
On our last day, I figured we would see the city, the old-fashioned tourist way. We left our hotel at 9:00 and walked over to a smoke shop to buy a day pass for the public transport. First train – 15 to Belem – a waterfront town if you will, with an impressive monastery, a monumental discoveries monument, and an impressive forte, several museums housing everything from archeology to coaches – all worth exploring, and pondering over. We spent a few hours sightseeing, snapping photographs and learning all about some of Portugal’s history, and yes they do have a replica of the Golden Gate Bridge even though in my opinion its a mixture of the Bay Bridge and Golden Gate Bridge. {pointers: If the 15 isn’t working for some strange reason such as the one we experienced, a head on collision with a car, take the 728 bus which runs the same route and gets you there faster I almost feel. Avoid temptation by going into McDonalds. Instead eat Honorato Burger Artisian, afterwards have the …
portugal: sintra not sinatra smartphone auto correct
If you try to type in Sintra on your smartphone you may get Sinatra and although some of us appreciate the classic artist, he is not a travel destination. Sintra is, for Portugal. We got up a little later on Sunday, since we knew within 40 minutes we would be in Sintra, and we also learned the last train leaving Sintra was at 12:50a.m. or something like that, which meant we could come and go as we please from Lisbon. But we opted to leave our hotel around ten, leisurely walking to the Rossio train station, a hop-skip from the center of town where we are staying. I looked up at the monitor mounted at a corner wall near the escalators taking note the next train leaving at 10:40, with a line a mile long to buy tickets. I wasn’t worried since according to the TV monitor there was a train leaving every 30 minutes. My travel partner however was freaked out, along with the hundred or so people in line desperate to get on …
lisbon on my way to a book promo tour
I will explain the book promo tour later. But for now, let’s talk about Lisbon. I started out with planning a trip to promote my books, mostly at the BEA- Book Expo America happening the end of May. I figured if I was going to take a trip to the East Coast, I may as well cross the pond and promote my novels in a few places in Europe also, ending up at the BEA. The tour got creative just like anything else I do. I went from a simple tour for work, and ended up including a few days to play here and there. First stop, Portugal. I’ve never been. Not sure why, I asked myself all the way to catch my flight, and then I arrived in Lisbon, thinking – what took me so long: I’ve realized the older I get the more I want someone else to worry about travel details. I mean past the planning, organizing and getting to a destination. I just don’t want to struggle with airport transfers …
travel: how I travel through france
I’ve been to France, mostly Paris, a dozen or more times, and every time I announce my plans to go, those who know me simply nod, unable to fathom the obsession I have with the country. It doesn’t matter, I am aware that only some of us understand Paris. How I travel through France is easy. I do it mostly by train, and I alternate the cities or towns I plan to visit each year, making Paris always my last stop for a week or so to simply take it all in. I walk through the neighborhoods, stopping only at a cafe here and there to rest, and people watch. I picnic by the Seine River, I sunbathe seated on a chair in Luxembourg Gardens, and I watch the sun set by the Eifel Tower. Never once skipping on visiting several old bookstores, and thumbing through books I know I would never find here in the states. That’s all in Paris. I’ve also circled the country from one end to the other, visiting castles, wineries, museums, war memorials, …
photography: rome behind the scenes
I know I am going to regret not going to Rome this year, since I do every year, but plans are a little different and my usual trip abroad will consist of a few surprise destinations. Until then I want to share with you this amazing article I found online, about photography and Rome. Two of my favorite hobbies. The interesting thing is I know exactly where the photos were taken, even the one below: {photo and article credit click here}
friday’s five interesting finds online – vol. one
Here I go again, revamping something I’ve done years ago. Sharing with you all a few interesting finds online. 1. I go to Paris at least once a year, and during my trip I shop at Monoprix for all of my snacks, and bottled water and so on. I actually look forward to doing that. So, here’s a story about Monoprix and how I will never venture out into their basements. Although it is an interesting find: 2. Twenty-Five things I didn’t know about Breakfast at Tiffany’s was an article I stumbled upon while looking up information about George Peppard-at the time the handsome actor who portrayed Holly’s love interest in the film. I was using his portrayal as research for my next novel. Anyway, here are the facts if you are interested. 3. Flight MH370 disappeared nearly a year ago (3/8/2014) and its story the most daunting. Still today, we have no idea what happened, and all of us rely on speculation, although deep down we all have a pretty good idea as to …
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