Anthony Bombaci

Nine year ago, we visited Barcelona, Spain, had a chance dinning at Enoteca Bombaci, the restaurant named for chef Anthony Bombaci at The Hotel Arts. The food was exceptional delicious with impressive cooking technique. I remember we had some kind soup with goat cheese ice-cream, unbelievable tasty and different that blow our mind away. Five minutes later , the chef was at our table greeting us.

Five years later, one night we were dinning at Nana, perched on the 27th floor of Anatole hotel overlooking the Dallas cityscape. We saw on the menu, Bombaci is executive chef and we liked...NO WAY,....YES WAY. He was at our table greeting us. He liked WOW, he remember us once at his restaurant in Barcelona. We are so happy to see him and Nana is very lucky to has him as a chef in Dallas. Since then, we always come to Nana to support him.

Bombaci is clearly a global player in the food world. His stunning, artistic presentation, his dishes are high level in every sense. He combines classical training with focuses on French, Mediterranean, European cooking that shows in his kitchen with high concept technique. He like fruit to balance out savory ingredients, like bananas and cilantro, green apple yogurt and agrula, pear ice-cream and baby green, beef or tuna tartare with wasabi sorbet, passion fruit and soy sesame coulis. One thing I clearly noted that his home-made ice-cream and sorbet are extremely fine silk texture. It unbelievable elegant melt into the mouth. I also noted his cooking in Dallas is not widely wild creative as in Barcelona, So the question "Is Dallas ready for his cooking style?".

Anthony Bombaci.

Tuna tartare with wasabi sorbet.

Scallop with pineapple and coconut flavor.

Me:

I wore Marni dress, Ysl shoes.

Nha Trang, VietNam

I went back home 9 years ago with my husband to show him my country where i grew up. We had a chance to visit Nha Trang, our favorite place in Viet Nam, besides Ha Long bay and Hoi An.

Nha Trang is a coastal city and the capital of Khanh Hoa province, on the south central coast of VN. It is well known for its prestine beaches and excellent snorkeling, scuba diving and is fast becoming a popular destination for international tourists, attracting large numbers of backpackers. It was the site of the Miss Universe 2008 pageant.

Nha Trang bay is among the world's most beautiful bays. Visiting a fishing village and taking a fresh lunch at the island are among the fun things to do. I highly recommend it to those who have a chance to travel to Viet Nam.

Nha Trang beach.

Lady selling tropical fruits along the beach.

I wore a Vietnamese traditional dress (called Ao Dai), 9 years ag0 . Sorry for bad quality picture.

Here is something extra; 9 years later, I dress my girls in Ao Dai (Vietnamese traditional dress). What do you think? I love to dress them up.

Watery Wednesday

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Jack Creek

The Woods jewelry

Let don't talk about food, traveling to places, either culture. Let talk about shopping and let visit the store 4510 in Dallas.

Melisa who is a sale person at 4510 called me to come to take a look at Buddha necklaces from Kimme Winter collection. Too bad, there were nothing that I love. Instead, I saw some jews from The Woods jewelry line. They are in Aspen and each pieces is hand made with rare material.

The shorter necklace, the chain is made of horn and the pendant inlaid with rose diamond, also horn-both woolly mammoth horn. The longer necklace has a moon pendant and I like it because of its chain.

The ivory bracelet, the beads are made of woolly mammoth tusk and the piece hanging is horn. The beads of black bracelet are black coral, it is Abejas jewelry line from Houston. I think these two bracelets are compliment together.Before I bought these jews, I was thinking... should I? because I do not want their deaths gave up for my jews. Since they are extint species so I think it is ok. I also learn from google that mammoth is a common menber in the fossil record, but unlike many others are often not actually converted to stone, but are actually preserved since their deaths. This is in part because of their massive size and partially because of the persistence of the frozen climate in which they had lived and, therefore, died.

Me: I wore Matthew Ames dress, Pierre Hardy shoes.

Rings F21.

Pennsylvania, Gettysburg Battlefield Resort

What a great way to teach history to the children! Go to gettysburg camping and step back in the time. There you live on the historic border between North and South, can visit battlefield and the cemetary for the soldiers, take part at the events of the Gettysburg Battlefield Resort that want to remember American Civil War.

Well, Gettysburg Battlefield Resort is not only about the war. You can explore Pennsylvania countryside and enjoy it's beauty during your stay at rv camping gettysburg where you will find a park, a river and a lake, all the possibilities for fishing and relax on water and walking trails. Maybe you prefere swimming pool? You will find it there too. The stay in the Gettysburg Battlefield Resort is very funny because there are many different attractions and things to do.

Gettysburg Battlefield Resort is the best pa rv camping. It is situated not far from different important and very interesting cities. Even the nation's capital is only 1 hour and half of drive away from it. But you will find eveything you can desire near your RV. A store and cafè and ice-creams for your children. To feel it more relaxing, they offer 3 days and 2 nights of free camping.

Where The Sun Is Shining

It's the holy truth: I can't live so more. Rains, rains, rains, rains. Cold and dark. For months and month. Oh my dear god, could you give us at least some days of sun her? Only some days. 4 or 5. I would stay all them in the yard, on the sun. I want only to feel it's rays on my face.

So I asked where is the life not so dark as in Italy this year? And somebody answered me: there is a happy place on this Earth, where the weather is always good, the temperature of the air is around 20-25°C and the sun is shining 340 days a year. The name of this place is Azores.

Sincerely, I don't believe that it is really so as people describe. If you ask me, I will say you that Italy is -generally- a sunny country too. Generaly. But not this year. From other side, it's unpossible that islands in the middle of the ocean have always good weather...
But... I would like to visit this beautiful place. Look at these photos:


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Donostia-San Sebastián

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And if we began to speak about Basque's part of the world, I wanted to share with you the new interpretation of the Atlanti's myth. They say, Basques are the direct discendants of the people that went away from the Atlantis after the catastrophe happend with the island. (Read my post The Ghost Of Atlantis too) There ae different "signs" that it could be really so. The particular culture, language, some similar sides with the other people living on the Atlantic coast just in the places the habitants of Atlantis could reach with their boats...

On the photos one of the Basque's cities, Donostia-San Sebastián.
So beautiful... I would like to visit it.

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Bahamas

Hello everyone,
Time is passing fast, summer is on its way. Many of you are probably thinking about a break from work or school....for a little vacation. To get an idea where is your next destination : beach, mountain, big cities or little town to relax. Therefore, I would like to share with you our spring break vacation at Bahamas.

We stayed at the Atlantis Hotel, Nassau island. It's massive and has everything from casinos for the adults, a shopping village, an array of restaurants from casual to fancy, a night club, a movie theater for the teenagers, a water playground for the kids, and Dolphin Cay where you can swim with them. They also feature five different towers for different prices depending on how much you want to pay for the stay, you can get a good deal , $399 for 3 nights. It's like they built their own city. The hotel is incredible and has impressive service.

Oh, the water rides are unbelievable, from the scary pyramid slide called "Leap of Faith" to the lazy river ride... And aquarium is simply amazing, it's the world's largest open air aquarium, stocked with thousands of marine animals including sharks and sting-rays (it's the biggest sting-rays I've ever seen on screen or in person), six exhibit lagoon, waterfalls.... It's quite the experience and truly fun for everyone.

The Bahamas, originally called "Baja mar", for the Spanish term meaning shallow waters or sea, the name"Bahamas" effectively means "The Island of The Sea" . The beach has white sand accompanied by a beautiful turquoise blue ocean. The Bohemian people are extremely nice and honest. They love meeting people and making friends. The kids really want to go back soon.

The Atlantis Hotel:

Me and the girls: The wooden bridge at Atlantis:

The terrorizing pyramid slide:

And the bravest 7 year old going down the slide:

Sting-ray:

The fish has a sad face(forgot its name):

To me, The Bahamas is great for everyone because you could relax at the beach, ride exciting water rides, get your heart beating at the casino, and be wild at a night club, choose from many different restaurants, spend your money at shopping village....

I hope you enjoy my sharing and thank you all for your kind comments and supporting me ;)

Museums Of Modern Art

As I told you before, I learned to appreciate modern art when I visited different specialized museums in Finnland.I was very impressed by visiting them because there were interesting forms not only of paintings but sculptures and other creations too. I thought, many of them seemed to be part of the nature that was around them.

One of the persons that collected paintings of the modern painters was Solomon R. Guggenheim. When he had a very great collection, he wanted to show it to other persons and created the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation to manage his collection. This foundation has today different museums all over the world. The main site is New York (first photo The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum). It was the second museum of his foundation. On the second photo is the other museum of the Foundation, in Bilbao, Spain.


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My World Tuesday

My World Tuesday click here

Unforgettable Vacation In NC Luxury RV Campground

If you like nature and camping, you have to consider a stay at Sycamore Lodge RV Resort,
a rv park nc. This private park is a luxury RV campground, but if you have not a RV you will find onsite private cabins there. The campsites are so big that the largest RV's can be parked in that areas. And to make your decision for stay at Sycamore Lodge more attractive there is a 3 days and 2 nights free camping offer.

Sycamore Lodge is one of the higher rated nc rv parks. All the complex is immersed in greenery. There is a great variety of trees there. Near the Rv-s grow pine, sycamore, dogwood, oak and magnificent magnolia trees, there are lakes where you will find good places for fishing, spectacular landscapes and natur trails. For those who prefere it, there are a swimming pool and a Jacuzzi complex or you can pass relaxing hours playing or reading or communicating with other guests in the lodge. Visiting the site of Sycamore Lodge you will discover all other accommodations and amenities they offer.

Very important is that this rv park north Carolina is situated not too far form the towns, known tourist attractions, one of the nation's legendary and historic golf communities. So if you like to visit museums or local events you have this possibility. But the Sycamore Lodge Resort offers theme weekends all the year too. And if you like shopping, you will find a nice shop there.

Knights Templar Places In Europe

You surely will remember my post To Visit Places Of Teutonic Order where I began to write about the places connected with the Knights of military Monastic Orders.

(Photo)
There were not many of them in the history. Knights of St. John, Knights of St. Thomas as the less known. The most known and that you can find so much to read in all languages are Knights Templar.

The Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon (Latin: Pauperes commilitones Christi Templique Solomonici), commonly known as the Knights Templar or the Order of the Temple (Wikipedia)

By the way, did you know, that these orders included nuns too? I did not know about it. I thought, they were only for men...

Well, if you want to visit places related to templars, you have go in France first of all. There are many misterious places and castles in Italy too. You can find them in UK as well. Very interesting places are in Puglia, a province of Italy, where you can visit private churches and strange castles with nothing except the external wall.

On this photo is the templar's monastery in Tomar, Portugal


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What Are Our Men Looking For

In this difficult for many persons period when everybody looks not only for cheap tours and flights but often remains home, touroperators adopt every modern psychological tool to give to the tourists all they can desire. So the surveys are very popular. One of these wanted to discover what men and women look for when they plan their vacations.

The result was surprizing in one sense.

Yes, men and women want relax, when they go in vacation.
But men want
1/ sex
2/ sightseeings
3/ sport
4/ parties

women are interested in
1/ sightseeings
2/ shopping
3/ sex
4/ sport
(parties wanted less than 1% of women)

Both men and women say bad weather and bad hotel are the reasons of the ruined vacation.

Dear women, so don't believe your husband if he wants to go alone in vacation!!!

Tuscany with Children

Hi, Everyone!

Today I want to discuss a Topic which many people have been writing to me about. Families are interested in traveling to Tuscany with their children, but never seem to make up their minds and get going because they consider it a destiny more suitable for adults. However, even though Tuscany offers the most varied activities, especially cultural ones for adults, it can also be a fun place for children as it’s a region which bustles with popular festivals and celebrations and with many points of interest for the little ones.

Most of the families who travel to Tuscany organize their holidays in a “democratic way”, trying to strike the perfect balance between the vast cultural offer and entertainment and fun for the little ones.

Most of the rural houses, villas and hotels in the region have a swimming pool and, therefore, on many occasions the whole morning or part of the day is spent in visiting the area, while a couple of hours in the afternoon are allowed for enjoying a refreshing bath in the pool, a true gift for all the family. Likewise, the fields and gardens surrounding the accommodation are ideal for children to have fun in a fantastic natural landscape.

Besides the cultural visits in the city, we can mention, for example, Pinocchio Park, a place which will awaken the curiosity and fascination of both kids and adults. The park is located in Collodi, 10 km away from the famous Montecatini Terme, 15 km away from Lucca and 32 km away from Pisa.

The fantastic Parco di Pinnochio was built in the town where the author of the story, Carlo Lorenzini (better known as Carlo Collodi) spent his early childhood. The park is not the typical fun fair, but a suggestive and fantastic trip through the famous story by means of the most varied works of different artists, who express, in their own language, the most personal vision of this classic story.

From March 1 to October 31 the park offers the most varied activities both for kids and adults’ entertainment: puppet shows, story telling, magic, pictures taken in Gepetto’s workshop as well as a wonderful exhibition of the attractions of the time, which have been carefully restored with artisan precision.

The excursion to this beautiful park and the visit to the neighboring towns can provide a perfect opportunity for plunging into the world of fantasy we have so many times enjoyed thanks to this famous wooden toy.

Besides this proposal, in Pistoia we can find one of the best zoos in the region, famous for being a center devoted to the conservation of the lynx and the Apennine wolf.

For those traveling to Florence “Il parco delle Cascine” is one of the main parks in the city, which is full of families with children during the week end and happens to be the true lung of Florence.

To obtain updated information about traveling funfair attractions and shows for children you should consult the newspaper La Nazione or the information section on Tuscany of La Republica paper, as they have the most complete information as regards these kinds of proposals.

I’m sure that surrounded by such a wonderful landscape like that of Tuscany, ideal for any sport or outdoor activity, and with the wide variety of options the region offers, there won’t be single child who will not enjoy his Tuscan holidays to the utmost!

I hope this information has been useful for the moms and dads that follow us!

Regards,

Beatriz.

New Laws To Remember Before You Depart

There are many stories about tourists that had great problems and even finished in a prison because they did not respect "special" laws of this or that country. I wrote about it some times in this blog and continue this theme while I found some new information about laws that were accepted in the last period or will be accepted in short time.

If you plan to visit Dubai, you have to know bikini, short rocks, public kisses and alcohol will be forbidden there from this summer.


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The other country adopting a new law to know is Japan. From April is forbidden to smoke in public places there.


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They speak about biometric visas and controls in different countries ut it is not sure else.

Finally, if you want to go in Bangladesh without money and hope to live begging there, you have to know that it is forbidden now in this country.