BUCKET LIST TRAVEL

The Spanish have many wonderful things to boast about and one of them is their extraordinary tapas.  Eating tapas in Espana is the best culinary experience in the world.  TORTILLATAS DE CAMARONES (SHRIMP FRITTERS) 1/2 pound small shrimp, peeled 1 1/2 cups chick pea flour 1 tablespoon chopped parsley 3 scallions, finely chopped 1/2 teaspoon sweet pimenton a pinch of salt Spanish extra virgin olive oil In a saucepan combine the shrimp in water. Cover the saucepan and bring the shrimp to a boil over high heat. When water starts boiling lift out the shrimp with a slotted spoon. Set aside the shrimp let them cool and then refrigerate the shrimp. Also set aside one cup of the boiling water that the shrimp was boiled in and allow the water to cool down. Combine chick pea flour, parsley, scallions, and sweet pimenton in a bowl. Add a pinch of salt and the cooled cooking water used earlier for the shrimp. Mix well then cover and refrigerate for on...

I'll never forget the first day that I came to Stowe, Vermont. There was a feeling of acceptance so I knew it was meant for me to stay, so I cherished each day that came my way in sweet quaint little Stowe and had the grandest summer of them all.     Adrianna June 29, 1989 is a date that will always be significant to me because for many days Stowe, Vermont was beckoning for me to come and I finally followed my intuition and boarded an Amtrak train to Stowe, Vermont on the 29th of June and was blessed with the most beautiful and memorable summer of my life. In those days college kids like myself could land a summer job as easy as downloading an app these days. Within one day of arriving in Stowe, Vermont I got a job working at an adorable bed and breakfast. Not only did I get to live in the bed and breakfast and enjoy an array of job duties but I also got to work with the most adventurous and coolest guy ever. There were lots of interesting guests that I got to tak...

                                             Mark Twain Today of all days I stumbled across a little shop in a little beach town owned by a well travelled woman. This ladies shop was filled with items from various countries and within a few moments the lady and I started discussing our favorite subject "TRAVELING." We talked for a good half hour about all the benefits of traveling and before saying our goodbye's the lady shared a quote by Mark Twain the famous writer about his viewpoint on traveling. Mark Twain: "Travel is fatal to prejudice and bigotry and narrow mindedness and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired  by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime."

Surrounded by the sea the small picturesque country  Portugal is famous for it's fresh seafood. The Portuguese love eating sardines especially "grilled sardines." During the summer months "grilled sardines" are enjoyed throughout the country. Over in Lisbon the Portuguese just celebrated St. Anthony's Day from June 12-13 and "grilled sardines" were the snack of choice.  When the Portuguese fishermen bring in fresh caught sardines from their boats some of the sardines become canned to be exported to other countries and the others stay right in Portugal ready for traditional grilling by the Portuguese. GRILLED SARDINES (Portuguese Style) 25 sardines, fresh, cleaned heads and tails left on 1 cup coarse sea salt 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil dash of black pepper lemon wedges Rinse the sardines in cold water, than drain and dry with paper towels. Sprinkle 1/3 cup of salt on the bottom of a baking dish. Arrange sardines on to...

The Portuguese like their "pastel de nata." Pastel de Nata are an egg tart (custard) pastry dessert that can be found throughout Portugal.   PASTEL de NATA were created by Catholic monks in Lisbon near the early 18th century.  Highlight your visit to beautiful Portugal with some PASTEL de NATA!                        Pastel de Nata \

When I arrived in Lisbon, Portugal on the 23rd of April it was love at first sight. The architecture, the food, the lovely language, and the amazing Portuguese people were just a few of the things that made me want to stay in Portugal for as long as possible. I'm dreaming of returning back to Portugal but in the meantime I have pictures to remind me of that short but wonderful visit to one of Europe's finest countries. Although Portugal may be small in size it has charming villages, a cosmopolitan city, captivating mountains, some of the best coastline in the world, quaint fishing towns, incredible tasting porto, fresh seafood, and so much more. I'll be back soon with 5,000 words to describe all there is to know about Portugal. Obrigada!

Having recently returned from a solo journey through Morocco, Portugal, and Spain I feel so blessed that things ran so smoothly.I've learned a lot from past mistakes and now I feel that I've become quite the expert when it comes to traveling solo. Here are a few suggestions to make your travels as easy as A, B, C…… 1) Always keep your passport in a safe place. 2) Travel light, it makes things a lot easier. 3) Learn some basic words and phrases of the country you are visiting. The locals will appreciate it. 4) Book rooms through Airbnb. Hostels are great but staying in someones personal residence makes you feel more at home. Airbnb has countless listings of places to stay throughout the world. 5) Eat meals at simple non tourist restaurants. You'll be rewarded with good food at reasonable prices. 6) Explore the bakeries and food markets in the region you're visiting for tasty treats. You can snack on local favorites and experience culinary wonders. 7) Keep...