LISBON!

Aaaaaahhhh I have been so so bad with updating my blog!!! It has been months since my last post and I have so much to share! Thank you for still visiting and commenting despite my absence...I know I keep saying I'll promise to post more often, but this time I genuinely mean it!

Anyway, let's start- LISBON! Yes, actually my last post was about Palermo but about a week before I had been in the beautiful mediterranean in Lisbon, a city I am truly in love with ever since I first visited it a few years back. To me, Lisbon is an example of what could be my kind of town- a unique mix of a vibrant city with just minutes away beautiful sandy beaches and green hills...a delicious offering of scrumptious cuisine whether it be the infamous bacalhau (for you salty ones out there) or the sacred pasteis de nata (for the sweet tooths- so that would include me hehe), and to top it off fantastic weather pretty much all year long coupled with a generous culture composed of what I believe could be some of the friendliest people in Europe. Yes indeed you get my point- Lisbon is my kind of town!!!

Of course I took plenty of pictures, including some mouthwatering snaps I wanted to share with you here.

For a complete overview of my sweet & short three day trip in Lisbon, check out my Flickr stream!

Here it is: the world famous pasteis de nata (also known as Pasteis de Belem)- a must try when in Lisbon. Get ready to discover the most addictive crispy, crunchy, creamy, cinnamon-y sweet treat ever!

And other sweet temptations at every bakery in every street corner... so much to drool at, so much to try!

I fell in love with Broas de Mel (honey based chunky biscuits, with or without nuts "noz")- if anyone has a good recipe to share please tell!

And I must inform you of the most amazing gelati place we found at the Rossio train station. While we were waiting for our train to visit the beautiful town of Sintra, we very randomly discovered a gelati shop on the first floor of the Rossio station- remember- it's first floor, Rossio station...for the most creamy luscious gelati ever, with a particularly interesting array of dulce de leche flavours too.

And once you have had your first scoop trust me you will be going back again and again...just like what we did!

If you visit Lisbon, it would be a shame to not do a day trip to Sintra, a cute charming town where you can notably visit the "castelo dos mouros" (below, literally: castle of the walls, you will understand once you see it!) and try the Sintra specialty "queijada da sintra" (above) which are something of sweet cheese based tarts that are so tender that it feels like someone is giving your tummy a tender comforting hug!

Also in Sintra (but also pretty much everywhere in Lisbon), you can try shots of a typical liquor "ginja" served in chocolate cups- fabulous, totally loved those!

DO visit the beachy town of Cascais (reachable by bus from Lisbon)- take a break from the city-side of Lisbon and walk on miles of golden sand and colourful street alleys, watch the sunset and glistening water and feel the silky breeze caress your skin. Yes that totally sounds cheezy but in a totally good way!

Of course how can anyone NOT think of salted codfish "bacalhau" (above) when pronouncing the word "Portugal"? It would be unforgiveable to not eat fish in Lisbon- we had some amazing sardines & tuna in a traditional restaurant "Alfaia" (in Bairro Alto, a must-see- especially at night as that is when the area bursts with life and interesting characters). The fish is prepared in the most simple manner- just some olive oil, garlic and herbs- to allow you to savour the true taste of the fish instead of disguising it with millions of ingredients! That is how I personally enjoy fish- in it's most simple attire!

So that is it, my post has come to an end but there is more to discover visually. Lisbon is truly a great destination, definately worth a visit. It might not be as popular as Barcelona, Rome or Athens... but it is a hidden gem in the Mediterranean region, with an undefinable magical charm that will let you leave with that notorious sensation of "saudade", which apparently does not translate into any other language... but after having been to Lisbon numerous times, even though I can't find the exact word for "saudade" in English I think I might know what saudade feels like...

P.S: I was in Istanbul recently so I will try to post about that soon, and I am travelling in the Mediterranean in a few days (guess where???)...so there will be lots to share!!

PALERMO

Beautiful view on Mondello

Wow... so it has been quite some time since I last updated my blog eh! When I started this blog, I was definately conscious that it meant taking some time out of my life to keep this blog alive, but what can I say? Life just hasn't given me time these last couple of months... and having not been able to update my blog has been killing me! Plus, I've been travelling quite a bit in the meantime, and I'm dying to share with you some delicious memories I'm not ready to forget!

So, let's start with a first destination: PALERMO! Beautiful, sunny, mediterranean, tremendously Italian charming vibrant and colourful Palermo. It had been years that I've wanted to visit this city, and I am so thankful to have finally flown down there to irresistable southern Italy. I was blown away- Palermo turned out being so much more amazing then I thought it would be! From the minute I arrived until my last seconds to boarding on the plane heading back to Paris, I was infatuated by the splendour of the city, it's people...and the food! My goodness- the food- undeniably some of the best I've had in Italy (along with Napoli). If there is a heaven for tastebuds, then that heaven is in Palermo- and for your pleasure, enjoy just some of the hundreds of photos I snapped away while in Sicily- the full set can be viewed on my Flickr stream.

The land of gelati
It would be criminal to not try an authentic Sicilian cannoli- they are out of this world!

Giant cassata or mini cassatine...another Sicilian sweet specialty

Above: anise seed & almond cookies (which were amazing, I brought some back home with me). These were from "Pasticceria Cappello"- a place that I was told was a "must see"!

Below: Almond goodies, almost but not exactly like amaretti morbidi.

Above: luminously yellow cedro on the beautiful beach of Mondello.

Above: this trip was the first Couchsurfing experience I've had- I was interested in meeting locals, and didnt want to be just a tourist staying at a hotel seeing things from a distance. I met some amazing people, and was so fortunate to have the chance to try a most delicious home made pasta alla norma & spaghetti con bottarga prepared by a lovely Sicilian I met! In return, the next night I prepared a Middle Eastern dinner, it was a wonderful culinary cultural exchange!

Another must try: Arancine, a typical Sicilian specialty.

The markets are phenomenal- a must do when in Palermo. All your senses are tickled and elevated by the sights, sounds and smells... additionally animated by a colourful cast of characters at each market stand selling delicious local produce.

The longest zucchini I've ever seen! Each one measured about 1,5m in length!

Above: typical varities of street food, such as "pane ca meusa" which apparently is not just Siclian, but genuinly Palermitan.

Welcome to cheese heaven!!!

So there you are- just some of the many beautiful things I have seen in Palermo! I hope these visual memories make you want to visit Palermo too if you havent been there yet- let me tell you, it is worth it 110%! :-) Do visit the old quarters of the city, stop by Mondello and look into the turquoise waters and lie down on the sandy beaches, stroll through the incredibly charming village of Monreale, do not leave before having tried a cannolo, a scoop (or two) of gelati, stop by every pasticceria and treat your eyes with some sweetness, wake up early and walk through the markets, get lost through narrow streets and enjoy sights of laundry drying on the balconies, meet some of the friendliest people, enjoy every second and promise yourself that you'll be back again...

I will be back soon with images from another gorgeous destination... see you soon!