From Gnocchi in Argentina to Acaraje in Brazil, some of our favorite bloggers have food on there minds, and share with us some delightful tastes from their travels that will have you yearning for a bite! I’m getting hungry just writing about this!

- The Blissful Gutton shares some wonderful tales and mouth-watering photos of the culinary delights she partook in Argentina
- Farsighted Fly Girl tells us why a black-eye pea fritter known as Acaraje is a must have in Brazil.
- American Expat now living in Italy, Miss Expatria, takes a walk down food memory lane, as she reminisces on the memories certain food items conjure up.
- Journey Chic gives us a great gazpacho to enjoy before Fall sets in.
- In her blog, Why Travel to France, an American Expat now living in France gives us a glimpse of an array French pumpkins and squash, and show us that Harvest time is right around the corner.

Hope you enjoy this delicious buffet of tasty travel experiences!

This past weekend my best friend and I took a break from the work grind for a mini-vacay to Los Angeles. While the purpose of my trip was for educational purposes (I’m applying to grad school), it was a great opportunity to slip some vacation time in. So, I decided to extend my weekend trip and come early Thursday morning. I was so excited that my BFF decided to come with me. In my All-Girl Getaways post, I mentioned how important it is to getaway with your best girlfriends. So, I was really looking forward to the long overdue trip with mine!

Before I go on, let me tell you… I’m so proud of myself! Inspired by diva in a carry on’s motto “Real women don’t check luggage” and TravelSpark’s tips on how to travel with just a carry-on, I decided to take the challenge on this trip! Although it was only a 4 day trip, I suffer from chronic over-pack-itis, so this was a big task for me. But I did it! I managed to fit all my businesswear, beachwear, going-out wear, casualwear, six pairs of shoes, two purses, accessories, toiletries, laptop, stationery, and electronics (ipod/camcorder) into just my two carry-ons! It was hard but I proved to myself that with a little strategic planning, it was possible. Will I just do two carry-ons for our upcoming 7-day Costa Rica trip? Hmmm…let me think on that one.

Pool at The Westin Pasadena. source: The Westin

Okay, back to L.A…. After leaving LAX, and picking up our Chevy from the National Emerald Club lot, it was time to explore L.A.! We had a lovely stay in beautiful Pasadena at The Westin Pasadena. The location was great as it was within walking distance to the many restaurants and shops on Colorado and Fair Oaks Boulevards. The hotel entrance was very inviting. The living room and library near the bar area gave the lobby a warm and cozy ambiance. Although the pool was on the 4th floor, it had a rooftop feel to it, offering spectacular views of the surrounding area and the San Gabriel mountains.

The hotel rooms were nicely decorated…keeping with the cozy at home feel. I loved the dual wooden ‘closets’, which gave both of us amble space. However, the double room we were booked in was a little smaller than expected. Of course, the Heavenly Bed more than made up for that.

Okay here’s some highlights from our trip…
Thursday:
- My best friend loves The Late Late Show, so she booked tickets for us to be a part of a taping at CBS Television City. This was my first time being in a studio audience, so that was pretty cool experience.
- We met up with some of my good friends from USC for drinks at a quaint little neighborhood bar called The York in Highland Park. The Veggie Sandwich I had was yummy.

Friday:
- We found out that Diddy was going to receive a star on the Walk of Fame; so what better day to check out Hollywood than this one? Of course some of the Who’s Who in entertainment came to show Diddy support. We got glimpses of Jamie Foxx, Russell Simmons, L.A. Reid, Derek Luke, Michael Bivins, Dallas Austin, Lou Gossett Jr. and his Making da Band groups - Danity Kane and Day 26. My best friend discovered her new found paparazzi talent as she got some perfectly timed shots. Believe me…it’s not easy, and all was I getting was the back of people’s heads. For the rest of our celeb photos and more from our trip, check out our online community.

Malibu Canyon Rd. Not my photo, but captures our ride perfectly.
Source: geeksisiddiqui

- After all the craziness in Hollywood, we were ready for some peace and tranquility…and the Pacific Ocean. We programmed our GPS to lead us on our hour-long drive to Malibu. The drive there was absolutely beautiful….but a little frightening at times, as we winded through the jagged Santa Monica mountains on Malibu Canyon Road.

- We spent a wonderful afternoon in Malibu just laying out on Zuma Beach…minus the episode where a seagull mistook my leg as a toilet (That’s all I’m gonna say about that). The cliffs, blue water, and sun made for a picture-perfect scene. Unfortunately, our paparazzi extravaganza earlier that day in Hollywood wore my poor digital camera’s battery out - so I don’t have any photos (sorry). When all else fails - get a disposable! I’ll post some pics once they get developed.

- Sun and sand are wonderful, but they can make you thirsty and hungry. So we packed up and headed back east on the Pacific Coast Hwy. We made a stop at Malibu Seafood Market and Cafe. I had the grilled shrimp platter (get an order of Clams too!) Located right off the PCH (Pacific Coast Highway), you can sit on the patio and enjoy the beautiful views of the ocean. We even saw some dolphins!

- We said goodbye to Malibu and stopped by the Santa Monica Pier. I love coming here. The boardwalk and the carnival games and rides make you feel like a kid again. It was starting to get chilly…so we didn’t get to hang out long. Cold and tired, we head back to Pasadena. We planned on going out, but ended up waking up from our “quick nap” the next day. As you can see we definitely had a FULL day!

Saturday:

Breakfast at Marston’s. Pasadena.

- This day wasn’t as jam-packed for me as Friday, because I had work to do. However, we did get to make a quick late morning visit to Beverly Hills. First we had breakfast in Pasadena, at the delightful Marston’s Restaurant. This place serves an awesome breakfast. I had the California Omelette, of course!

- On your first visit to L.A. you have to see what the Rodeo Drive hype is all about. From Dolce & Gabbana to Roberto Cavalli, if you’ve got a designer itch, it can definitely be scratched here. We actually found a cute boutique on Santa Monica Blvd. that was right up my alley - Envie. A lovely sales associate named Tigrist helped me select this wonderful fragrance by Monyette Paris.

- The rest of my day was filled with work, while my best friend enjoyed the rest of her day but hanging out at the hotel pool, visiting the Norton Simon museum and stopping by our favorite L.A. fast food joint El Pollo Loco (don’t sleep on the crunchy taco, forreal!).

The Mayan. Downtown L.A.

- After finishing up my ‘duties’, it was time to hit the streets for our last night in town. Of course, the trip wouldn’t be complete if we didn’t finish it ’salsa-style’! We headed downtown L.A. to The Mayan for its Breathtaking Tropical Nights party. It is definitely a salsa club like no other. First of all it’s HUGE! With it’s Mayan-inspired decor, multiple levels, club lighting, and projector screens, the Mayan pulls you in with its sensory overload. But it’s not just the visual effects that gets you going here…it definitely all comes down to the rhythm. You get a mix of reggaeton, bachata, merengue, and the best part - the live salsa band. I had a lot of fun!

Midnight Delight

- Last but not least…after a night of dancing, I got the late night munchies and was in search of one of the many taco trucks that I’d previously seen around the city. On the way back to Pasadena, we didn’t come across very many. But just when I was about to give up…I found one! While I can’t remember the name…I just found a nifty little Taco Truck Map. Now I can always find one whenever I go back to L.A. My asada tacos with lime and cilantro, and part of my best friend’s burrito were sooo good and definitely hit the spot! Hmmm…does Atlanta have any taco trucks? Think I better just wait until I come back.

Southern Cali has become one of my favorite parts of the U.S. It’s so versatile and there’s so much to experience - there’s natural beauty, from beaches to mountains, nightlife, entertainment, great restaurants, shopping, and of course celebrity sightings! If L.A. could just get a handle on the smog…my allergies were workin’ overtime during this trip. Nonetheless, I enjoyed every minute of my getaway with my best friend, and can’t wait to do it again.

Until next time…

On the road, again.

“There are no early wake up calls and absolutely ZERO boring sightseeing guaranteed (leave that to when you retire). Sleep your hangover off in 3-star luxury”.

This is an excerpt from the Thirsty Swagman’s World’s Biggest Pub Crawl website. A beer lover’s heaven…you not only experience international traveling, you get to hit up some of the best bars and pubs around the world. Thirsty Swagman has several tours which include hotel accommodations, VIP passes, land transportation, and more.






Upcoming Trips:
Euro Hard n’ Fast Tour 2008
September 24h - October 5th
Begins during Oktoberfest in Munich
11 nights. 4 cities - Munich, Maria Alm, Prague, Düsseldorf .
Starting at $US 2,790.

South America Gone Wild
November 17 - 30, 2008
12 nights. 3 cities - Miami, Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires.
Starting at US$ 3,650.

The Ultimate Tour - Around the World 2009
mid March - April 2009.
80 bars. 11 cities. 4 continents.
Starting at AUS$ 11,900.

This is definitely not a vacation for the weary or weak stomached. If you can handle it…check it out and let us know!

While making my weekly trip to the grocery store, I came across this very creative wine bottle displayed at the front of the wine section. The jetsetter in me immediately loved the boarding pass label and the airline luggage tag around the cork. It was a combination of two of my favorite things…travel and wine. Boarding Pass is an Australian Shiraz that could be a cute gift idea for frequent fliers and wine aficionados alike.

If you prefer a real taste of Australia, Qantas Airlines is offering several web deals such as:
AussieWeek Special to Sydney, Melbourne, or Brisbane (LA, San Fran, or Honolulu departures) from $998
Qantas Aussie AirPass (includes direct flights from New York) from $1099
Canadian Aussie AirPass (Vancouver departure) from C$1199


Hey…either ‘Boarding Pass’ sounds good to me!

Our last day in Rome was truly a sight-seeing marathon. We had to mark off as much as we could on our “Must See” list….Due to our late night salsa partying, we got off to a later start than anticipated. We hopped on the Metro, and headed to Vatican City. The Vatican Museum is another site that is a must for comfortable shoes, as you will be led down hallway after magnificent hallway filled with the most exquisite wall and ceiling paintings that you will ever see. Of course the grand finale is the legendary fresco paintings in the Sistine Chapel illustrated by Michaelangelo.

After grabbing some lunch at a nearby pizzeria, and some ‘frada’ bag shopping, we hopped on the Metro again to the Colosseum. Because we were on a time crunch, we opted for an independent tour of the Colosseum, but guided tours were also available.

The days are shorter in Italy in November. It began getting darker a little after 4pm, and we knew we only had a little more time left one more attraction - the Trevi Fountain. Legend has it, if you toss a coin over your shoulder into the fountain, you shall return to Rome. Consider that a done deal!




After some final shopping in Rome, we tucked in to prepare for our train ride to Venice the next morning. We boarded our train, traveled through the beautiful Italian countryside, and five hours later approached the enchanting city of Venice.

We stayed at the nice and cozy Hotel Abbazia. This hotel was also conveniently located a few steps away from the Venice train station. This close location was key to a relatively easy transport back to the airport. Because Venice is a city of canals and no roads, this isn’t always the easiest (or cheapest) thing to do…so make sure you’ve looked into ground transportation options with your hotel prior to your departure, especially if you have an early morning flight.

Venice is such a charming place that’s best taken in slowly. Our time in Venice was less fast-paced compared to our visit to Rome. We didn’t have an extensive ‘to do’ list, so we able to leisurely explore the winding walkways and bridges over picturesque canals.

Some our favorite places and things in Venice:
Murano glass
Venetian masks
Fat and greedy pigeons in San Marco Piazza
Gondola ride down the Grand Canal (the more the merrier….and cheaper!)
Gelato, gelato, gelato
Street vendors at Rialto Market
Vaporettos (Waterbuses)

Good Eats in Venice:
Cafe Brek
Great little spot for a cappucino and one of their delicious sandwich wraps.
AeOche
Cute little American-style pizza chain. Good for a quick bite. Ever had a fried olive stuffed with mincemeat? Well here’s your chance.

Italy was an incredible trip. There is definitely so much more to explore in this beautiful country. Our sampler was definitely an appetizer, and can’t wait to come back and experience the full course!
For more details on our Italy vacation check out the discussion board at our JetSet Globetrotter Community

Forbes Traveler features a yummy collection of its 10 Signature Drinks from around the world. If you’re adventurous enough, follow that drink!
This round’s on me…

1. Singapore - Singapore Sling
2. Denmark - Akvavit
3. Cuba - Mojito
4. Brazil - Caipirinha
5. Spain and Portugal - Sangria
6. China and Japan - Sake
7. Peru and Chile - Pisco Sour
8. Iceland - Brennivin
9. South Korea and Japan - Soju
10. Italy - Negroni

In May 2007, we visited lovely San Juan, Puerto Rico for 5 days/4 nights. Instead of traveling during Memorial Day weekend, we started our trip right after the holiday. This enabled us to get better airfare rates and hotel availability than if we had traveled during the busy holiday weekend. Ebonee found a great deal through American Airlines’ AAVacations program.

We stayed at the San Juan Marriott Resort and Stellaris Casino in the Condado Beach area of San Juan. The hotel was close to the airport, and even better…right on the beach! One of my favorite features of the hotel was its open lobby/lounge, which I discovered at night turned into one of the best salsa clubs in Condado!

Although the island of Puerto Rico is considered to be small in size (100 by 35 miles), it’s big on things to do. After devoting some time to much needed relaxation on the beautiful beach, we rented a car (GPS is the best!) and ventured out to take in more Puerto Rican sights.
Our first stop was the absolutely beautiful and lush El Yunque National Rain Forest

You can either hike up the mountains of El Yunque to get this spectacular view or make the winding drive up….we chose Option 2.

Old San Juan

Next, we headed to Old San Juan.
This historic area of the city is known for its colonial-style pastel buildings, as well as its majestic fort, El Morro.

El Morro

The next day, we saved the best for last… We caught a taxi and made a visit to the Casa Bacardi, home of Bacardi Rum. You can take a free tour of the Bacardi Distillery and learn its history, but make sure you get your two complimentary drinks, it makes the tour much more fun!

After drinking the Bacardi…learning about Bacardi…even be given a demonstration on how to properly serve and order Bacardi at the bar….you will ultimately be led to the gift shop to make grand purchases of Bacardi. Who would have guessed! Was this tour really free??








Okay, we’ve talked about the beach, the rainforest, the fort, and the Bacardi…what about the food? Puerto Rico is definitely filled with a diverse and delicious blend of cuisine fit for virtually any palate. From Puerto Rican to Italian to Mexican to Fuddruckers. It you want it, they’ve got it!

Here are some of my favorites.
Breakfast:
Danny’s International. Location: 1351 Ashford Ave., Condado, San Juan. Cost: under $8.
Delicious and inexpensive. Good pancakes and eggs. Wish we had found it sooner!
Lunch:
Tiajuana’s Bar & Grill Mexican..Puerto Rican style!
Dinner:
Cana (formerly Cafe Bohemia). In Old San Juan. Good drinks. Check out the melted candle ’sculpture’ on the back wall.
Via Appia. This Italian spot seems to be a Condado favorite, because it is very busy on Sunday evenings as everyone starts to wind down from a day at the beach. If you go on this day, be patient. If you don’t have patience…order a pitcher of Sangria, and you will slowly start to get some.
Authentic Puerto Rican cuisine:
Luquillo Beach Restaurant Row. On our way back from El Yunque and Luquillo Beach, we found this little ‘food court’ along the roadside with a number of vendors selling their home-style fare to the locals.
For more dining choices, Escape to Puerto Rico.

Of course, we’ve got the map…so now it’s time to Go to Puerto Rico!

Coming soon… The Diva Chronicles : Italy