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Tag: blogging
Mushrooms in New York State
Mushrooms were everywhere during our latest hike at Sims-Jennings Preserve at Cayuga Cliffs near Lansing, New York. The mushrooms took on all colors and shapes. I do not know one mushroom/fungi from another, but loved looking at and photographing them. Enjoy!
Tucson: First UNESCO City of Gastronomy!
Did you know Tucson, Arizona was the first recognized UNESCO City of Gastronomy … part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network? I did not.
Tucson, Arizona (UNESCO designation in 2015) and San Antonio, Texas (UNESCO designation in 2017) are the only two American cities that have been designated Cities of Gastronomy. Both are multicultural communities with culinary creativeness and deep agricultural heritage. Search the topic and you’ll see an updated list with many other cities around the world with this designation!
We enjoy Indigenous and Mexican foods here at Tucson restaurants, thus I understand its UNESCO designation. The heritage crops of the past 4,000 year we’d taste: squash, chilies, tepary beans and white Sonoran wheat. Plus there are festivals such as the Agave Heritage Festival. Let’s not forget Sonoran hotdog food trucks … a must here at parking lots or some farmer’s markets.
So if you visit Tucson, zero in on restaurants featuring the foods that have long been here and enjoy! Start your meal with tortilla chips and salsa or guacamole!! At least that’s how I start my meals😀
Love Bird Behavior…Don’t Mess With My Food!
When I was a 7th grade science teacher, an activity for my students was to create a beak for a bird to dig, grab and eat the bird’s food. Dependent on the student’s research of what food the bird eats would determine the shape of the bird’s beak. Then their challenge of creating the beak and only allowed to use two of their fingers to move their created beak. Really interesting creations were made and some truly worked in picking up “food”.
Often I think of this science activity as I observe birds working to find food in the natural environment. Every so often I also see other birds try to “steal” another bird’s food. While walking along the “north trail” at Imperial Beach, CA, I did see one gull try to get another gull’s food. I suspect this happens often, yet here was my opportunity to observe the action.
Here is a western gull with food in its beak and then another gull moving closer to the gull with food.
I watched this activity between the birds for a couple of minutes and the gull with the food was having none of this annoyance from the other gull! Do not mess with my food!
New Country: Vatican City!
It’s my third day of riding buses and metro in Rome, Italy with my phone to pay as I enter each! I’m on my way to Vatican City, an independent country of 109 acres, with population of 800 … only clergy and guards, ruled by a monarch, the Pope of the Roman Catholic Church. Currently Pope Leo XIV is the first to hold American and Peruvian citizenship in that position.
However, before I get there, when I think I’ve got the hang of it all, the “tap and go” machine on the bus is not working. While researching bus transportation for this trip, there is info about being sure to pay when you enter. If an inspector ever boards the bus, they can scan your phone or see your physical ticket to know if you have paid. If you did not, there is a hefty fine.
So I asked a traveler, what do they do? He said the driver should say machine doesn’t work, or you can download an app to pay there, or hope an inspector doesn’t board. Ok I lucked out, no inspector came on! The traveler also mentioned buses will have machines not working on 1 in 3 buses. For me, this was 1 in 5! Not bad; I’ll see what happens at the end of my day.
My guided tour was the Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel and St Peter’s Basilica. It all was unbelievably beautiful!! And the public only sees a fraction of what the church actually owns.
The Vatican’s Museum is a series of galleries each with different themes. No photography is allowed in the Sistine Chapel and while there we are to be silent. An announcement was made every so often to remind people of that. St Peter’s Basilica is simply huge and took over 100 years to build to completion. Michelangelo designed the double-shelled dome but it was completed after his death.
Tickets are needed for entry to the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel, not for St Peter’s Basilica, the largest one in the world! All require entry through their security checks. Be sure your clothing is appropriate for entry into the basilica, so read their rules to know what is expected.
Here are photos which really don’t show the magnificence of it all. But I’ll try:
beatified 2000 by Pope John Paul II and canonized by Pope Francis in 2014… on the same day as Pope John Paul II.
If interested at all, tour the Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel and St Peter’s Basilica to see all in person! Photos simply do not convey the beauty of the works! By the way, it is a myth that Michelangelo laid on his back got 4.5 years to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel! My guide explained he built a curb Ed scaffolding to match the curvature of the ceiling. And it was at a height so that at all spots he could stand up with his arm extended, paintbrush in hand could paint at same level. Dripping paint in his eyes would cause eye damage; he was not laying down! And now you too know!
I’ll be back in a few days after I spend time in the countryside!
Borghese Legacy in Rome; Part 2 of 3
The Borghese Gallery is an elegant palace and worldwide famous art museum with exceptional paintings by artists/sculptors, such as Caravaggio, Bernini and Raphael. Did I know any of this before now? No, an advantage of travel … often learning something new!
A couple of days prior, I visited the villa’s gardens, about one-quarter the size of NYC’s Central Park and third largest park in Rome. This large green space of trees has statues, monuments and plenty of quiet, shady places to sit. Or choose a bench nearby a musician … one was a saxophonist, further down the path an accordionist. A couple of artists with ink and paper, another with watercolor. I loved it!
The villa/galleria was never a residence from what I understand. It was Cardinal Scipione Borghese, the nephew of Pope Paul V (reign 1605–1621) who collected works and had favorite artists. On my guided tour I discover a new name: Caravaggio. (A few days later another person points out his work to me at a basilica.) Yes, now I see Caravaggio’s use of light!
Fortunately I used the galleria’s official website, before my visit, to be prepared in knowing some of the famous sculptures and paintings. I had come to truly appreciate Bernini’s sculptures! No doubt any individual who loves art and history puts this place on their itinerary.
For many decades works were collected. But the family became bankrupt in the 19th century, so the Italian state owns it, all of it, and opened it all to the public in 1902! What a save! Here’s a few more photos, but nothing compared to what is there. Visit if you are interested in art!
Tomorrow a new country, Vatican City!
Rome, Italy: Part 1 of 3
The list of what to see when I am in Rome never seems to end! During the last 25 years I have visited the MAJOR monuments, ruins and statues. Now it was time to walk the Garbatella neighborhood away from the touristy areas. It was a nice change of pace. However, I still had museums to see!
On my way to Leonardo da Vinci Museum, I could not miss the massive Monument honoring Victor Emanuel II who was the first king of unified Italy. Nearby, I hiked steps to the entrance of the Basilica of Santa Maria in Aracoeli. The staircase dates back to 1398 on Capitoline Hill. The church is ornate! I also stopped at the Basilica of Saint Andrea della Valle. I had no idea this Baroque Church has the 2nd largest dome in Rome in height and diameter, only after Saint Peter’s Basilica!
And another basilica….
I love da Vinci’s work! Leonardo was a man ahead of his time! There was no subject called science in his day. He studied nature: the flight of birds, the movement of water and with an engineering mind solved problems. This museum displayed many of his inventions, sketches and notes plus there were interactive exhibits!
Leonardo worked with ball bearings, pulleys and springs systems while thinking how to move sand and stones and to press olives; just some examples. He studied ballistics, cannons and an idea for an armored tank. Despite those studies he was a pacifist and thought war a “beastly madness.”
Tomorrow… the Borghese family…an Italian noble family from Siena… relocated to Rome in the 16th century.
Cooking Greek Food in Athens! Part 3 of 3
Time to cook Greek food! What no pasta? Of course not, and that is why I decided to attend a cooking class in Athens, Greece! Here was my opportunity to cook milk pie for dessert, spinach pie for starter, moussaka, Greek salad and tzatziki.
We had 4 wines; sparkling wine while we cooked, white and/or red as we ate and a dessert wine with the milk pie which is similar to a creme brûlée. We started our lesson with milk pie since it needed to bake. I must say all the recipes were easy to make … and maybe I shall try to cook them when I am home!
Next we made phyllo, or filo, dough for our spinach pie. We were making individual servings. Despite my dough being very thin, it had more dough than I would want because I love the spinach within! Just need more practice with the dough!
Spinach pie! Time to bake!
I was most interested in making moussaka. I love seeing the layers…potatoes, eggplant, ground meat and béchamel on top! plus, wanted to learn how to make béchamel sauce. We had the eggplant and potatoes prepared for us so we could layer them in, along with the ground beef, but we cooked the béchamel sauce. It’s easy enough to try on my own someday.
Finally we prepared Greek salad… no lettuce, but delicious tomatoes…and tzatziki sauce… that was easy to make! All 15 of us sat down to our meal to eat what we made; I heard no complaints as we loved each thing we prepared. It was a fun, informative class!
And then I wondered, what’s the difference between souvlaki and a gyro? It’s all about how the meat is prepared. Grilled meat on skewer means it is souvlaki. Sliced meat from a vertical rotisserie means it is a gyro! Ok, great learning adventure in Athens with its history and food!
Walk to Eat in Athens Greece, Part 2 of 3.
As Greeks talk of the Mediterranean diet, I seem to see a huge number of fried food and delicious sweets! So I tried to balance the calories from my daily food intake with those calories I hoped to burn off walking. Not sure I’m succeeding, but trying counts, right?
I walked more than 5 miles to see neighborhoods beyond Athens’ city center: Koukaki and Plaka. Each is reached after walking through touristy streets with shops. While in Koukaki area, I visited the National Museum of Contemporary Art. There is an entrance fee and reduced rate for 70+ aged people. I am unsure at times about contemporary art, but kudos to artists who can create this type of art! Here was work from one artist:
The changing of the guard happens on the hour at Syntagma Square. The “Evzones” are a special unit of the Greek Army known as the Presidential Guard. They have deliberate marching movements while they change positions in front of the Monument to Unknown Soldiers in front of the Parliament Building. (I would love to know how it was decided to have pompoms on their shoes.) The monument is dedicated to all unidentified Greek soldiers who died in battle.
While walking to Varvakios Central Market, I stopped for loukoumades. Fried dough with honey and cinnamon, “the Greek Way”. I have now spoiled any lunch idea of fresh grilled fish at the central market. Few cafes are available, but it is mostly freshly butchered fish, pork, chicken and beef throughout the place. Another area has fresh fruits and vegetables.
A stop at Kostas was on my list for a pork souvlaki. This place has been here since 1950 so why not give it a go! There was a line that moved slowly (waited almost 30 minutes) as individual orders are prepared. It was worth the wait; fresh tomatoes, tender skewered pork, yogurt, and delicious pita bread. One was good for a take-away lunch for me. Do not plan to sit inside as I think there are only 4 seats.
The next day I walked throughout the National Garden. Upon my arrival I saw a desert tortoise! This walk was important for me to listen and look for birds, see the garden, lakes, plants and animals and to once again burn some calories before my street food tour!
Finally the street food tour. I had a good time with our guide and 8 other people. So….much …..food…..!!! I’m just going with photos here and will not include all the food choices! Plus we had a wine and some other alcoholic drink. I discovered I like Greek coffee, the beans were from Brazil. New to me was the heating of the water in hot sand! I’ll have to research that. Anyway, photos below and the last blog post of Athens will be tomorrow.
And there were olives, olive oil and bread, sausage, Greek yogurt with honey, meatballs and plenty to enjoy! And then I took another walk!:)
Athens, Greece: Arrival and Acropolis Hill; Part 1 of 3
Another new country coming up, Greece! East side of Italy was visited and a flight or ferry from there would be options to get to Greece.
Upon my arrival in Athens, Greece, I immediately saw the benefit of having pre-booked a car/driver for hire. The driver picked me up at the airport and drove me about 45 minutes to central Athens to my hotel. There are taxis everywhere and people trying to get a taxi. Pre-booking was slick! So I would recommend booking a driver from airport to city.
Anyway, Athens is crazy busy like other big cities! My welcome dinner was at a friend’s recommendation. The waiter delivered olives and their tsipouro, a welcoming distilled alcoholic shot! Like raki in Albania, but this was smoother. Kebab, olives and beer… yes, I arrived!
My time on Acropolis Hill and at the Acropolis Museum consumed many hours. Our guide was wonderful providing direction, information and how to pace ourselves through it all. There is so much in the museum I could still be there, but I had enough.
Here are photos from the day, but know they do not give the ruins the justice they deserve. It is remarkable to see ruins, plus the work others continue to put into the protection and restoration of the temples. I can only provide photos; enjoy.
The Acropolis Museum is an archeological site-specific museum. The architect chose to build above the ruins. Inside the museum are 3 floors of Ancient Greek structures, mythology and history. It’s a place that was amazing and yet I really only saw a fraction of it! But here was the ruin below:
I’ll be back in a day or so… have some food to eat and cook!