Lenten Sacrifices

Through my writing class, I've learned no topic is too diminutive to write about. It need not be a 3 week excursion through the Andes; it could simply be a day strolling through the second hand shops in the Lower East Side. As such, I thought I'd write a little piece on my Lenten Sacrifice (one of them) and my plans post April 24th.

My Faux Martini...almost looks real, right?

Anyone who is a friend on Facebook knows I gave up alcohol and bread for Lent. Despite one dispensation for a dear friend's bachelorette party (she demanded it...I obliged), I haven't had a sip of alcohol since March 8th. No beer, wine, or booze. It is GREAT not to feel slightly groggy from several glasses of wine the previous night, but honestly I've never felt so consistently tired before. Sure I'm up and at 'em and clear-headedly tackling the day before me, but I could sleep for weeks if given the chance.

The Real Deal....my Dispensation Martini. In comparison the impostor is obvious.

With the final countdown to Easter approaching and the appearance of flower buds and open cafe doors FINALLY arrived, here's my list of places to imbibe in the near future:

1. Forward. "Where Everyone Should Go." Craft brews & cocktails, 'wichcraft snacks, Bryant Park, great friends. May 11th from 6-9 PM. Be there. $90 all you can eat and drink - be honest, you'd spend this much anyway and half of the amount goes to charity. (Self-promotion at its finest.)
2. Birreria at Eataly. We've been teased for nine months about the opening of this 8,000 square foot rooftop biergarden and with a purported mid-May opening (I'm betting on June-July), I'm already salivating at the dynamic craft creations that await!
3. La Cava. Midtown East has a million Irish bars and general divey looking places, but yesterday I walked past this place located around the corner from my office and the allure of open windows and wafts of great vintages instantly added this to my list.
4. Maialino. We've had this one on our all around must go to list for a while. Originally we'd planned to go during Lent to save on the alcohol price, but it hasn't happened. I just want to be a fabulous person sitting in the window sipping vino and savoring Danny Meyer's elegant creations. 
5. Mayahuel. I love margaritas. I love tequila. I love Mexican food. (Revision - GOOD Mexican Food.) I've heard great things about Mayahuel from respected sources and this is apparently a must try.
6. J.G. Melon. I'm perpetually on the search for a great burger. My favorite still lives in North Park, San Diego at Jayne's Gastropub. DIVINE. But a great burger needs a great bun and great beer, two things I've been deprived of for the past 34 days so post-Lent I'll be heading to JG's (apropos don't you think?) for what's apparently a top ten NYC burger. I'll see.
7. The Yale Club. While it won't be my first martini at the Yale Club, it sure IS an amazing one. A group drink date is already planned. Can't wait!
8. Zum Schneider. Since my move Downtown last summer I've been threatening to go here with my best friend. We still haven't made it. A sunny day of beers awaits us. And maybe a sausage or two.
9. Amor & Amargo. Pop-up shops became pop-up restaurants and now pop-up cocktailers. Whatever, I'm in. Add in un sabor espanol and you're talking mi lenguaje. Love the concept, love the location. Can't wait to love the liquor!
10. BYOB. On a recent excursion to Westchester, I picked up two cases of my favorite wines (well, two of the many). Whether it's a picnic in the park or BYOB at a fun resto, I'm looking forward to a bottle of my Clos de los Siete or Kono as an accompaniment!

There you have it. Is it April 24th yet?

Travel Style... Yours vs. Mine

So my writing class has an eclectic blend of travelers - those that travel frequently, others that don't; both domestic and international frequent flyers; those that have lived abroad and others that are looking to do so. Regardless, we are all there with our distinct motivations but with the shared passion for travel in some form.

Our writing teacher, Farley, gives away the travel magazines he's already read. Last week, among the collection of "AFAR", National Geographic Travel, Budget Travel and others was a copy of Conde Nast Traveler. My classmates snatched up all of them except Conde Nast Traveler so Farley pipes up..."Nobody wants the Conde Nast?" to a silent audience. I already subscribe so I didn't say anything. "Yeah, I'm not a huge fan either," Farley replied to the nothing response. Several of my classmates chimed in, "Yeah, their mode of travel is so beyond my means it's of no interest to me." And another, "Not my style. Who even likes it?"

Shut the front door! I shouted (to myself) looking around my class for anyone else who shared my taste in travel. I mean, I get not being able to afford the adventures Conde Nast Traveler endorse but to dream of them and vicariously participate in them with a little help from the padres is TOTALLY up my alley. Luckily I recognized a kindred spirit (or two) in my Miami Food & Wine Fest friend and my Swiss Cycling friends. We locked eyes, sharing nonverbal shock and awe at the classes outrageous commentary and collectively retorted, "UM, WE DO!"

Now I know I wouldn't appreciate the luxuries of staying at The Raffles in Angkor Wat, riding the Orient Express to Machu Picchu, sailing on the Silversea Whisper around the Baltic, or bedding down in the George V in Paris if I hadn't experienced the antithesis. There was the arrival in Athens after braving the ship from Brindisi, arriving after 24 hours of travel to our "hotel" where warm water occurred twice a day and we'd missed it. That was a COLD shower. Then there was the shady hotel in Rome where we were forced to order a pizza for dinner because the neighborhood was too dangerous to be out and about after dark. The bathroom in Spain that had a sink, a toilet and a hole in the floor with a spout on the wall, doubling as a powder room and shower all at once. Or the ten hour African travel adventure using three modes of transportation to get 180 miles! The list goes on. And on.

 

I haven't won the lottery and certainly know how fortunate I am to get to travel with my family (they go only Conde Nast style), but even when traveling on my own I prioritize the right splurges and economize where I can, and with a little more due diligence I always end up on the other side of just average...usually closer to pretty fabulous. I mean, for me, it's just worth it.

"Hey Bruni" Revisited

Tonight I'm turning in my next piece for my travel writing class. I decided to revisit a short blog post I'd written when I went to Ghana back in 2008. It was amazingly challenging to make this piece flow considering how much I wanted to write about. Next week we'll see what my classmates think. If you read it let me know if you have thoughts or suggestions!

Cape Coast, Ghana

Hey Bruni!


Temporarily removed....be back later!

The Fifth Sense....and My Favorite Travel Thing

So much for anyone guessing (and even fewer even attempting) the mystery of my sensory piece from last week. Admittedly it was beyond obtuse in the sound articulation, not even choosing onomatopoetic representations but at least make a guess! Anyway....the answer was that I was swimming. The clop clop were my flip flops and the first two sounds were other swimmers doing laps. The "wallop" that became "chop" was a guy doing the butterfly and the sound transition was from my perspective above the water and then later in the water. And the harmony was our three strokes together, slowly breaking down to just my own stroke as the other swimmers exited the pool. The blanket of breeze was the initial jump into the water slowly transitioning into warm tickles as I started my laps. Read it again and see if you "see" it now!

For this week's class I have to turn in my next piece to be workshopped. It's still in development (I'm having a tough time) so I'm sharing my homework for the week instead. The genesis was an in-class writing assignment about our favorite item from our travels. Here you go!

An artist from the Artisans D'Angkor

 My Favorite Travel Thing
There’s no denying it’s bright – subtlety not its strong suit. The first hostess to greet your eye in my room, if the sun is shining just right, its luster is luxurious. And I love it. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

Imagine flying over an expanse of green, luscious fields covered in water, interrupted only by rivers, wooden and tin huts on stilts and an occasional dirt or rudimentary paved road. No factories, not even any farm equipment...just water buffalo. This was the sight we saw as we circled over Siem Reap, Cambodia. One of the most beautiful sights....no pollution whatsoever for there is nothing to pollute the apparently untouched landscape.

One of our many stops on our trip to Cambodia in 2007 was Artisans d’Angkor, a professional training school founded to help the youth of Cambodia rediscover their artisanal heritage lost during years of war, genocide and poverty. I’d been to similar textile factories in other countries from Africa to South America, but this one compelled me more than the rest. Perhaps the empathetic connection with the country I developed in the weeks I was there was partially a factor.

Cambodia is the poorest country I’ve ever experienced (the average annual salary is $300 per year, but most people make much less than that.) There are few paved roads, or cars for that matter, ramshackle dwellings, and little to no public infrastructure.  Growing up 15 miles from the Tijuana, Mexico border, we spent many weekends in the slums on charity expeditions building houses, playing with children, painting over graffiti. So the lack of plumbing, overabundance of garbage strewn everywhere and squalid living conditions weren’t new to me. What was new was the caliber of people. Despite having next to nothing, the Cambodians were the nicest people I have ever encountered – gracious, interesting, kind; they almost seemed oblivious to their condition relative to the rest of the world. Maybe ignorance truly is bliss? Given the devastation they endured under the Khmer Rouge it was hard to fathom.

At the factory we had a private tour of the silk making process from silk worms to final product. The time, excruciating detail, hours of work and collaborative effort of many that went into the gorgeous pieces was overwhelming. Each piece was flawless and spectacular. Throughout our tour we had met the artisans creating these works of art, learning their stories and how each piece came to fruition. At the end of our tour we perused the boutique showcasing scarves, purses, ties, blankets, and other crafts made on site.

Perusing the shop a brightly colored throw caught my eye.  Shades of orange, pink, yellow, red & white carefully constructed into a gorgeous 7 x 10 foot blanket. I asked about the price – “It is $250 American dollars” the response. “But who made it and how long did it take to weave?” I replied. The object of my affection took two women three months to weave. In awe of an obvious conflict of time and effort versus price I immediately replied, “Sold.” With it I took home three complimentary pillows in reds, greens and yellows. These works of art adorn my bed, always impressing visitors to my apartment. The first thing I share is their origin and labor intensive history. For a country lacking infrastructure, education and resources and having suffered the unspeakable devastation of decades of young people, the products of their human capital speak volumes of the ornate culture, history and tenacity that make Cambodia such a captivating country to experience.

**I don't have a great shot of my purchases but will add one soon!